Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

What he needed to contemplate was the significance of silk…

The absence of the silk mill would unquestionably leave them in distress, but they couldn’t proceed without it!

Madame Shao had recently acquired her own mulberry fields, and Old Master Shao appeared to have a cordial relationship with his estranged son. If this estranged son could negotiate amiably with Ms. Shao and her spouse, they might secure silk at a more favorable rate.

Ms. Qin remained oblivious to Zhao Mu’s thoughts, yet she couldn’t fathom why Zhao Mu refrained from reprimanding Zhao Shu.

“Old Master, even if we were to sell the 100,000 mu of mulberry fields, where would the proceeds go?”

Zhao Mu’s eyes gleamed as he directed his gaze toward Zhao Shu.

Indeed, money!

A conservative estimate indicated that 100,000 mu of mulberry fields could yield at least 700,000 liang, accounting for all expenditures. If the mulberry fields were sold in their entirety, the sum would likely exceed 2 million liang, wouldn’t it?

With such funds at their disposal, they wouldn’t need to worry about purchasing silk for the next three or four years.

In reality, despite the vast scale of the Zhao Family’s workshop, it didn’t necessitate 100,000 mu of mulberry fields to sustain its silk production.

Zhao Mu had been consistently selling silk sourced from Ms. Zheng’s mulberry garden every year.

Ms. Zheng was well aware of this, as was Zhao Shu. What course of action should they take?

Ms. Zheng was the spouse, and her son was still in his formative years. Her parents were no longer alive. Historically, her parents had no male heirs, and the Zheng Family had made repeated attempts to adopt them. Fortunately, the Zheng Family’s standing in Yangzhou was not robust, and Ms. Zheng’s parents possessed ample wealth to dissuade such efforts.

Nevertheless, Ms. Zheng and her kin had a strained relationship with the clan.

It was implausible for Ms. Zheng to oppose her husband.

So she chose to turn a blind eye and allow her husband to claim all the profits from the mulberry garden, solely to safeguard her son and herself.

As long as the deed remained in his possession, there was still a long road ahead.

However, now that Zhao Shu had sold the mulberry garden, Zhao Mu stood to lose all the benefits.

“Third Brother, where is the money from the sale of the mulberry garden?”

Upon hearing the term “unfilial son” used to address him, Zhao Shu found it absurd. But the change in his father’s demeanor indicated one thing – he was now somewhat afraid of him. He was no longer as nonchalant, casual, and indifferent as before.

When his father wasn’t afraid of him, it didn’t concern Zhao Shu. However, now that he was, he wouldn’t hold back.

Zhao Shu didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he turned to Ms. Qin. “It appears that Concubine Qin hasn’t learned when to remain silent or recognized her place. She dares to inquire about matters that don’t concern her. Does Ms. Zheng’s mulberry garden have any relevance to you? Is the money yours? You are not entitled to the proceeds from Ms. Zheng’s mulberry garden. How audacious!”

Zhao Ye became visibly agitated, his face turning red. “Don’t go too far!”

“It has consistently been Concubine Qin and you who have gone too far!” Zhao Shu retorted coldly. “Are you attempting to threaten or caution me? You lack the qualifications to do so. It appears both of you have forgotten your true positions!”

“You!”

“How about we share this tale with others so they can pass judgment?”

“…”

Ms. Qin and Zhao Ye were infuriated.

Zhao Shu experienced a mix of satisfaction and bitterness. The bitter part was that Ms. Qin and her son had inflicted immense pain on his mother. His mother was deeply hurt. Faced with a woman like Ms. Qin, who frequently feigned weakness and tears, his mother couldn’t take action against her for his sake, allowing her to do as she pleased. She must have been seething with anger, grief, and restraint deep within her heart.