The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 150 - 146 Giving Gifts

Chapter 150: Chapter 146 Giving Gifts

After Ruo Xuan left, Xuanyuan Que summoned the old shopkeeper and inquired how much silver he had at present.

The old shopkeeper’s heart leaped with joy. The young master was truly starting to take an interest in worldly matters, and even began to pay attention to his own wealth.

The worst fear is to be without desire or want, as those without desires are not human. Which normal person would have no desires?

"Master, apart from your monthly stipend of one thousand taels of silver, you also have the income from businesses, estates, and workshops gifted by The Emperor and left to the master by the Empress. These together yield about fifty thousand taels a year. Furthermore, there are gifts from the Empress Dowager, the Zhenguo Duke, the Crown Prince..."

"State the total amount of stored silver," Xuanyuan Que interrupted him.

"Yes, young master now has five hundred and thirty thousand taels of stored silver."

The young master could be said to be the richest among all the princes, having amassed several hundred thousand taels of silver at such a tender age.

However, a significant reason for this was because the young master had lived such a reclusive life.

Other princes would engage in social reciprocations with others. The imperial kin and nobility, prominent officials, and powerful courtiers—whenever there was a banquet held by any of them, gifts had to be presented. The purpose, of course, was to secretly win over the ministers.

Every prince spent no small amount of silver every month on social reciprocations. Moreover, they needed to reward their servants and build their own power bases, all of which required countless taels of silver. It could be said that the princes were always short of silver.

Now, who among them, like the young master, would not attend any banquet held by the imperial kin, nobility, or courtiers, nor present any gifts?

It was only others who brought gifts to him. Reciprocate? Impossible!

Naturally, you could choose not to give him anything, and he wouldn’t blame you. But who would dare to do such a thing?

The young master was dearly loved by both The Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and even the Crown Prince cherished him. Anything nice would be reserved for him first. If he held no grudges, would The Emperor and the Empress Dowager remain untroubled?

Even the ministers felt that the gifts given to other princes could be less substantial, but they didn’t dare do the same with his.

As for rewarding his servants? The young master wished he could do without any servants at all. To expect a reward from him for their service was out of the question.

The young master’s ledger saw a daily influx of gold, and his expenditures were always zero, zero, zero...

Therefore, although the young master was only five years old, he was already very wealthy.

Although the young master only received and never gave out silver as rewards to his servants, all the palace maids and eunuchs in the entire Imperial Palace wanted to be assigned to serve the young master.

And those who had served the young master were all completely loyal to him, faithful and true.

Why they remained loyal until death to the young master is not to be mentioned.

Xuanyuan Que now understood that he had several hundred thousand taels of stored silver. "This time with the confiscation, do we also have businesses, estates, and workshops in other cities besides the Capital City?"

"Yes, young master, we do."

"Then, old shopkeeper, take some silver and procure some fine businesses, estates, and workshops," Xuanyuan Que instructed, handing over the list Ruo Xuan had just picked out. "Also, purchase these items."

"Yes!" the old shopkeeper respectfully affirmed, then asked further, "Young master, a few days ago the Crown Princess Consort gave birth to the great imperial grandson. As customary, shall we prepare a full moon gift for the great imperial grandson? Also, The Emperor and the Crown Prince have prepared birthday gifts for the young master, which should be arriving in a few days. Would you like me to bring them back to the Capital City for the young imperial grandson at the same time?"

Oh, the young master was not always solely on the receiving end. Sometimes, he would send a basket of fruit to the Crown Prince, The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Zhenguo Duke, the Zhenguo Crown Prince, and others.

Don’t underestimate this basket of fruits. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager would be happier to receive it than ten thousand taels of gold!

Because a basketful of fruits had been personally cultivated by the young master. Although they cost nothing to produce, their value was immeasurable in silver.

Only those who had tasted the fruits grown by the young master’s own hand understood this.

A full moon gift? Mortals are such a hassle, always keen on fabricating reasons to receive gifts.

Full moon gifts, first birthday gifts, birthday gifts...

Xuanyuan Que remembered that it was almost the end of the year, and both he and that flower were born on New Year’s Eve.

It was just that because a day in the heavens equates to ten years on earth, his body had entered the cycle of reincarnation one step ahead of hers, which is why he was now two years older than she.

"Then prepare a birthday gift!"

"Alright, the young master is so thoughtful to even consider sending gifts for the little prince’s first birthday as well, the Crown Prince will surely be delighted when he finds out," Shopkeeper Gu reassured himself even more, feeling glad that the young master, having spent a lot of time with Lady Xuanbao, was indeed becoming more and more considerate.

Xuanyuan Que: "..."

He had been talking about that flower’s birthday gift, what first birthday gift? But let Shopkeeper Gu misunderstand if he will.

Xuanyuan Que recalled that the jade pendants Ruo Xuan sent him and his grandmother a while back had a Little Immortal Technique cast on them to ensure safety.

He spoke again, "Go to the storeroom and pick out some jade articles, for both adults and children alike, pick out extra, I’ll see what to send."

Then he too would give them peace.

Whether it be the current Emperor or the Crown Prince, both were destined to be enlightened rulers, and in this worldly life, he only wanted to live leisurely and freely, so he still had to ensure they lived long and prosperous lives.

"Alright, this subordinate will go and select them right away," Shopkeeper Gu happily complied, hurried off to find jade pendants, and took the opportunity to tell the Xuanyuan dowager about Xuanyuan Que’s improvement.

The Emperor and Crown Prince in the Capital City would probably be so overjoyed at receiving jade pendants from the young master that they wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Ruo Xuan was unaware that because her birthday was approaching, others too were receiving gifts because of her.

After she came down the mountain, she first went to see the new house belonging to their family. The house had started construction more than half a month ago; the foundation had already been laid, and the walls were erected.

Tomorrow, the workers building the house would stop for the New Year, and after the Lantern Festival, they would resume with the roof beams, laying tiles, and then the carpenters would come in to layout the garden.

Ruo Xuan calculated the time, and they would probably be able to move in around March next year.

The next day, Ruo Chuan drove the family carriage with Ruo Hang and Ruo Bo, the two children, carrying two baskets of spring couplets and ten New Year paintings into the city to sell.

Meanwhile, Ruo Xuan rode in Xuanyuan Que’s coach, accompanied by Shopkeeper Gu into the city to check on the shop, and incidentally to deliver the "Blessed Guanyin Bringing Children" painting to her aunt.

Because Shopkeeper Gu was accompanying the two children, Ruo Family’s people were very reassured, so they let Xuanbao go along.

Ruo Xuan first went to Yongxinglong Grocery Store to deliver the "Blessed Guanyin Bringing Children" painting to her aunt.

This time, Old Lady Zhang was much more enthusiastic upon seeing Ruo Xuan, her heart pounding as if she saw her own grandchild: "Xuanbao has arrived! Come, come, quickly come inside and sit!"

Then she shouted, "Rui’er, cousin Xuanbao is here! Quickly come out and take her inside to play."

The aunt and her husband also called her inside.

Even Zhang Xiaoli, hearing of Ruo Xuan’s visit, came running out in a hurry.

Ruo Xuan refused, saying, "No, I still have to check on the shop, I’ll come and play with my cousin when I’m free next time."

Then she told her aunt where to hang the painting and hurriedly got on the coach to leave.

Zhang Xiaoli, watching Shopkeeper Gu driving the coach, felt he looked familiar, "Mom, don’t you think the coachman driving the carriage looks familiar?"

Old Lady Zhang who had seen him once could generally remember; her daughter liked to visit Bogu Pavilion, and she had accompanied her daughter there once, unfortunately, the items inside were too expensive for them to afford: "That’s the shopkeeper from Bogu Pavilion."

"Right, right, right, that’s Bogu Pavilion’s shopkeeper, but why would Bogu Pavilion’s shopkeeper become Ruo Xuan’s coachman?"