Qi Zhenzhen looked at them. Each note was fifty taels, and she roughly calculated that judging by their thickness, there were at least twenty of them.
That made it a thousand taels.
Although the Lin family had a small business selling pickled cabbage, their income was at most three to four hundred taels. Before that, the Lin family had no business at all. Even if they had savings, it would be at most a hundred taels.
Qi Zhenzhen looked at the Lin family's old matriarch with a confused gaze.
"Your eldest and second uncles earned it. Take it with peace of mind," the Lin family's old matriarch said resolutely. The elder Madam Zhang on the side also tried her best to persuade Qi Zhenzhen to accept it.
"It's the seashell business," the old matriarch explained. "Speaking of which, it's also your credit. If you hadn't proposed this matter first, they wouldn't have thought of this way to make money."
After the explanation, it turned out that the Lin family's eldest and second uncles had made a fortune from colorful seashells. However, it was a one-time deal, and sustained profits were impossible. Even so, they had earned over two thousand taels. The Lin family could now be considered well-off.
Although she didn't lack this thousand taels, Qi Zhenzhen thought about it and decided to accept the old matriarch's kind gesture. Reciprocity deepened family bonds.
"What are my eldest and second uncles doing now?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"They haven't thought of anything specific yet. They worked day and night to earn more before everyone else did, and they were exhausted. They're resting for now," elder Madam Zhang said with a smile. "In the past, we wouldn't have even dared to dream of having over a thousand taels. We're not greedy people, and we're quite content."
"Indeed. With this much money at home, I couldn't sleep peacefully for a while," the old matriarch also said, patting her chest.
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. The Lin family were all decent people, oh wait, except for little Madam Zhang.
"Having earned so much money, did your second uncle's wife say anything?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"She's envious. Your maternal grandmother directly stated that if she delayed the two men from earning money, she would immediately send her back to the Zhang family. Doesn't she miss the Zhang family? Then let her go back to the Zhang family to live a good life," elder Madam Zhang said, covering her mouth and laughing. "What good life could she have if she really returned to the Zhang family? You were present last time when their family caused trouble at home, Zhenzhen. Those people clearly wanted to take advantage of our Lin family through your second uncle's wife. If they couldn't get their way, they wouldn't treat your second uncle's wife well. It's a pity that what others can understand, your second uncle's wife cannot. She's usually quite shrewd with others, but when it comes to that brood from the old Zhang family, a few words of flattery and she loses all sense of direction. I'm truly amazed!"
Qi Zhenzhen could empathize with this point, as she had witnessed the people from the Zhang family.
Over there, Fei Xu and Er Xi returned from their stroll and were immediately alerted upon seeing little Madam Zhang rummaging in the kitchen.
"Who are you, and why have you come to our home?" Er Xi, being impatient, asked directly.
Fei Xu, being steady and thoughtful, knew that if there was someone in the house, they wouldn't have let someone in without knowing. Therefore, this person must be someone their young lady knew.
Fei Xu pulled Er Xi back. "Madam, please be careful. There are many杂物 in the kitchen. Don't trip and fall, it would be bad if you injured yourself."
Little Madam Zhang was also sizing them up. They were pretty and dressed elegantly. What was their status?
Recalling Qi Zhenzhen's current identity, little Madam Zhang guessed that these two should be maids by Qi Zhenzhen's side, otherwise, how could they be in the Qi family's residence?
She didn't dare to be rash, and said with a smile, "I am Zhenzhen's second uncle's wife. And you two young ladies are?"
"So it's Madam Uncle. We are the young lady's head maids. We were rude just now, Madam Uncle, please don't take offense." Fei Xu smiled and nudged Er Xi. "Aren't you going to apologize to Madam Uncle and help her out? If you need anything, just tell us."
What Madam Uncle? She looked so sneaky, not presentable at all.
Er Xi grumbled in her heart but respectfully helped little Madam Zhang out of the kitchen. She originally wanted to escort her to the main hall, but seeing that the Young Lord and three unfamiliar men were sitting and talking there, she had no choice but to escort her to Qi Zhenzhen's room.
"Young lady, Madam Uncle is perhaps hungry and was looking for something to eat in the kitchen. Sister Fei Xu was afraid Madam Uncle might bump into something, so she asked me to bring her back. I'll send some snacks over shortly," Er Xi said crisply.
The Lin family's old matriarch and elder Madam Zhang's expressions changed immediately. How could this person be so petty, acting like it was her own home wherever she went?
"It's my oversight in hospitality. Er Xi, hurry up and help Fei Xu prepare a few more snacks. Send some here, and also send some to the main hall. Also, wash some of the fruits brought back this time. Oh, and don't let the tea in the main hall run out," Qi Zhenzhen instructed.
Er Xi got the instructions and went to get busy. Little Madam Zhang looked at the Lin family's old matriarch fearfully. "Mother, I was just looking around the kitchen, I didn't steal anything. Also, I am indeed hungry. You know, Mother, I'm carrying a baby, eating for two. I get hungry faster."
She couldn't present herself well, yet she had to use grand excuses.
As mentioned before, if it weren't for the fact that she was carrying the Lin family's bloodline, she would have sent her back to the Zhang family immediately.
The Lin family's old matriarch took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress the anger in her heart. Arguing with such an unreasonable person would only lead to a stomach full of resentment, while she would continue to live her life as usual, eating well and sleeping soundly.
"Second Uncle's wife, please come and sit," Qi Zhenzhen beckoned little Madam Zhang to sit down.
Little Madam Zhang sat down gleefully. She finally had some sense, knowing that the old matriarch didn't like hearing her talk, so she remained silent.
With little Madam Zhang present, they had to speak cautiously. So, they started discussing the matter of preparing gifts for Song Mingyue.
"The Song family has been kind to you and your children. I also dote on that girl Mingyue. Your eldest uncle and I have discussed it. Our family will give a hairpin made of pure gold and a bracelet of twisted gold. They are substantial in weight, not only presentable but also practical. If needed, they can be melted down and used as silver," the Lin family's old matriarch said. "What do you think, Zhenzhen?"
This gift, in the countryside, was a grand gift. Under normal circumstances, giving a silver hairpin and a silver bracelet would be considered a generous gesture, let alone pure gold?
Little Madam Zhang pouted at the side, "Showing off wealth. For someone unimportant, giving so much silver. My family hasn't seen the old woman being so generous! If I took such good things back to my family, how respectable would that be? My brothers and sisters-in-law would look at me with new eyes! My family looking up to me would also bring honor to the old Lin family, but these people in the Lin family just don't realize this problem."
"I think it's excellent," Qi Zhenzhen nodded.
"Mother, don't forget to make a gold lock. When I give birth to your grandson, it will be for him to wear. Mother is so generous to outsiders, why should you wrong your own grandson?" little Madam Zhang finally couldn't help but say, with a thick face.
Although the Lin family's old matriarch and elder Madam Zhang's expressions were not very pleasant, they looked as if they were accustomed to it. Qi Zhenzhen's mouth twitched. Little Madam Zhang was indeed going further and further down the path of foolishness!