After Ding Yun finished dividing the property, she kicked everyone out and went to sleep. The small families who had received assets worth three or four thousand taels of silver were mostly sleepless that night, filled with worry, contemplation, and discussions about the future.
Before, even if they had no income, they never worried.
They knew that the Princess's Mansion was a large and prosperous household, and they would never lack food and clothing. They also didn't have to worry about having children; they could have as many as they wanted.
They even wanted to have more children to please the elders.
But now, with Ding Yun, the matriarch, completely and thoroughly dividing the family, their sense of security was instantly shattered.
The younger the family, the more they worried about the future.
The reason was simple. The older generation, such as Ding Yun's sons and grandsons, were born and married during the princess's mansion's peak prosperity and when the population was smaller. Not only did the household have plenty of savings, but their spouses also came from good families with substantial dowries. As long as they didn't squander it, their private assets would definitely not be small over the years.
They would have at least thirty to fifty thousand taels of private assets.
However, for the later generations, due to the increase in population, their income was diluted. Moreover, because the elders were not ambitious and they themselves lacked ambition, the social standing of their marriage partners had also declined by several notches.
Consequently, the dowries of their wives naturally decreased significantly.
In this case, how much private property could they have? For some who had only been married for a few years, there was no private property to speak of. The money distributed by the household each year might not be enough, and they would have to find ways to get money from outside, earn it, or use their wives' dowries.
The favored ones could still hope for some private savings from their parents and elders. For the unfavored ones, even the small families of concubines' children, who would dare to hope? Wouldn't they be worried?
...
In the small side room at the northernmost end of the North Courtyard.
Qin Yangchun and his wife sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the land deed for the farm, worth three thousand taels, which they had received. They were quite worried, unsure whether to sell it or keep it.
"Husband, my dowry did not include a house, and our current cash is not enough to buy a house in the capital. The farm is also quite far from the capital, and we don't have attentive servants to help manage it. The annual income is also limited.
Why don't we try to sell it?
Otherwise, we can't possibly live in rented housing..."
Although Madam Qin also felt it was a pity to sell the farm, as it was easy to sell now but would not be so easy to buy back later, they had to consider their practical situation.
If everyone else bought houses later, and they were the only ones renting, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Moreover, her husband had been favored by the matriarch, who personally recommended him for a position as a Forbidden Army Guard. When the matriarch was distributing the family assets, she used the excuse of worrying that these children of concubines couldn't afford to buy houses to give them more assets. If they kept delaying buying a house and lived in rented accommodation, it might be misinterpreted as dissatisfaction.
If it reached the matriarch's ears, it wouldn't be good.
"I heard that the farm is mostly mountainous and has never produced much. Selling it shouldn't be a problem. However, there's no need for us to rush to buy a house. I estimate that many of the assets distributed by the matriarch will be sold. If we all rush to sell together, we probably won't get a good price.
Also, if we all rush to buy houses, the prices will likely increase significantly. With falling selling prices and rising housing prices, the loss will be at least two to three hundred taels.
There's no need to be so hasty.
Let's rent for now. We can rent a place closer to the palace, which will be convenient for me to go to work. We can sell the farm slowly, no need to rush. We can look for houses slowly, no need to rush. If possible, I actually want to wait.
See if any official's house is confiscated or something.
Perhaps then we can get some properties at a low price, and maybe some land for sale. At that time, we might be able to pick up a bargain. Even if we can't get a bargain, we can at least get it at a fair price. So there's no need for us to be so anxious about buying a house.
I believe Grandmother will understand.
Through these changes made by Grandmother, I think her intention is very clear: she hopes we can be self-reliant and more ambitious.
Whether we buy a house or rent, as long as we live well, Grandmother will not blame us.
She will only be happy!"
Qin Yangchun knew that his wife was worried because she was afraid of the sudden change and felt lost about the future. However, he had no direction at the moment.
He hadn't even officially started his job at the palace yet.
So, he could only comfort his wife as much as possible, or perhaps he was indirectly comforting himself by doing so.
"I hope so..."
"We should also think in a positive direction. If it weren't for Grandmother's sudden division of the family this time, we wouldn't know when we would have to wait for our stepmother to preside over the division.
Given stepmother's temperament,
She might even have us leave with nothing.
If it weren't for Grandmother's personal recommendation for this Forbidden Army Guard position, she might have had her own son take my place.
So, although this situation looks uncertain now, it's actually not a bad thing for us.
Don't worry, I will work hard and strive to become a conferred lady for you as soon as possible!"
"You're just bragging. Right, you have to report to the palace tomorrow. Let's sleep now. I'll do some more calculations."
"You sleep early too!"
...
In the side room of the central courtyard of the East Courtyard.
Qin Hui, the eldest son of the main branch, was complaining angrily.
"What does Grandmother want to do? She tore apart a perfectly good family and doesn't follow the rules of noble families at all. Is she exempt from rules just because she's a princess?
In other families, the legitimate eldest son inherits most of the family's property, and in many families, he can inherit ninety percent of it.
My father passed away, and I am the legitimate eldest grandson of the Qin family.
Yet I only received four thousand taels of assets, thirty thousand taels of family property, and I only received four thousand taels. Is this a joke? If word gets out,
Won't people laugh me to death!"
"My grandfather was the legitimate youngest son and couldn't inherit the Duke's title, so he could only marry a princess. But now, as the legitimate eldest grandson, I can't even get my share of the family property!"
"Ah, I'm going to go crazy!"
"Who has misled Grandmother?
If Grandmother had given all the family property to me, I could have at least continued the family for another three to five generations. But with this division, it's over. Our family is completely finished.
Why did Grandfather pass away so early?
There's no one to control Grandmother!"
After venting his anger, Qin Hui even shed tears of sorrow and regret. At this moment, he even faintly resented Ding Yun for living too long. If she had died before the division, most of the family property would have definitely gone to him.
After all, he was the legitimate eldest grandson.
According to etiquette, he should have received the majority of the family property.
"Are you done complaining? If you're done complaining, calm down and start urging the younger generations in the family. Grandmother's intention is very clear: she hopes the descendants of the family will be ambitious, and she has also clearly stated that there will be assessments every three years.
Children who are ambitious and achieve success will be rewarded.
The division of family property has been completed with the presence and supervision of Prince Qi of the Imperial Clan, and it is now a foregone conclusion. All we can strategize about is Grandmother's annual income of forty thousand taels.
And the Old Ancestor has also made it very clear about this money.
That is, it is only prepared for children who are willing to be ambitious.
So, let's prepare ourselves. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child,' oh no, it's 'produce talent.' If those grandchildren can pass the exam to become a Xiucai, Juren, or even a Jinshi, aren't you afraid of not receiving Grandmother's rewards?"
Madam Qin was much calmer than Qin Hui.
She quickly analyzed how to maximize their benefits and set down the principle of urging the grandchildren to study for the imperial examinations. This would not only be good for the children's future but also allow them to obtain more money from Grandmother.
"The family is assessed every three years, but Grandmother is ninety-four years old this year. How many times can she assess?"
Qin Hui still complained in a very bad mood.
"Don't worry about how many times there are assessments. Even if we don't last for even one assessment, as long as we have this attitude and some descendants are truly ambitious and achieve something, even if they only pass as a Xiucai, as long as other families don't pass and we do, Grandmother will think of us fondly before her death.
Will she give us more private savings?
This is the main point. Why don't you understand!"