The room Zhao Liangcai and Qin Junyao were staying in was a suite, with a study, dining room, and bathroom on either side of the master bedroom.
Some were separated by a wall, others by carved wooden panels, so while no one could see into the other room, sounds could be heard.
The study where Qin Junyao was currently staying was only separated from the master bedroom by a single panel.
She held an account book in one hand, listening to Liu Rong and the maids organizing her clothes in the master bedroom next door, while with the other hand, she tried to pry away the large hand around her waist.
"Zhao Liangcai, do you have nothing else to do?" Qin Junyao's voice was as small as a mosquito's hum, afraid Liu Rong and the others would hear.
Zhao Liangcai tightened his grip, pulling Qin Junyao, who was about to slide off his lap, back up. He rested his chin on her shoulder.
"My top priority right now is accompanying you. Look, this is the current amount of money in the household," Zhao Liangcai flipped through the ledger Qin Junyao was holding and showed it to her.
"Let me go, I'm not used to this, it's too intimate."
Zhao Liangcai's large head nuzzled Qin Junyao's neck, his beard prickling her skin, causing goosebumps to rise. "We did the most intimate thing last night, shall I help you recall it?"
"Can you be serious for once?" Qin Junyao didn't need a mirror to know how red her face was.
"If I were serious, it would mean I have other women. I plan to be unserious with you for a lifetime."
The words spoken unintentionally were the most capable of stirring emotions. Qin Junyao's heart fluttered upon hearing "a lifetime," thinking, Zhao Liangcai, you'd better mean it.
Since she couldn't escape the person holding her from behind, Qin Junyao had no choice but to adapt, adjusting to a comfortable position on Zhao Liangcai's lap.
She pointed to the numbers at the end of the ledger and asked Zhao Liangcai, "You're saying this is the cash your family has right now?" Su Dan Xiaoshuowang.
Zhao Liangcai turned his head and bit Qin Junyao's cheek, correcting her wording, "Our family."
"Oh, Zhao Liangcai."
Seeing that Qin Junyao was indeed a little annoyed, Zhao Liangcai straightened his body and leaned back in the chair, but his hand on Qin Junyao's waist did not let go.
"There is indeed a little cash. In about a month, Hua Niang should have a batch of money coming. I've also sent people to sell some items, which should also return before the year."
Qin Junyao's finger traced the fifty taels written at the end of the ledger, thinking, this is very little, isn't it?
She had looked before; the monthly wages for Zhao family servants required five taels of silver, and food and daily necessities cost six to eight taels a month, not including the tuition for Fu Zi at Mr. Zheng's and the daily expenses.
With just over a month until the New Year, gifts and social obligations needed to be prepared now. This money...
"You used all the money for the betrothal gifts and the wedding. Aren't you afraid my family will keep everything and not let me bring it back?" Qin Junyao turned to ask Zhao Liangcai.
Zhao Liangcai pulled the person in his arms tighter, "It's not right to not bring it back, and if you do bring it back, it's all your dowry."
"I've calculated it all. Besides, if the money isn't enough, I'll get it from Suo Zi; he has nowhere to spend his money."
Qin Junyao turned her head and said nothing, continuing to look at the land deeds and property deeds.
There were only two property deeds, one for the current residence and the other for the Wan Hua Lou in the northwest city.
The land deeds were for the Gobi and desert-edge land that Zhao Liangcai had purchased.
"You didn't have any property before?" Qin Junyao held the property and land deeds, feeling that Zhao Liangcai was not as wealthy as she was.
"No. I only acquired Wan Hua Lou to gather information."
"The imperial court has regulations that officials cannot possess excessive private property. When I led troops before, it was 'living off the land by war.' Now, it's 'living off salt to support the troops.' Military expenses are calculated separately. Our household has always had enough to spend."
"So, in the future, the family will have to rely on my wife."
Qin Junyao smiled and said nothing.
Zhao Liangcai had started keeping this ledger himself two months ago for Qin Junyao's convenience.
The household had no substantial assets and thus no housekeeper. Granny Ma had always been responsible for managing the kitchen and purchasing supplies. The servants' monthly silver was a fixed expense, and Mr. Zheng was responsible for Fu Zi's studies.
This household, without a specific manager, had everyone performing their respective duties.
Qin Junyao set aside what she had read and picked up the indentured servitude contracts, "The family still needs some farmland; so many people need to eat. Why are there so few indentured servitude contracts?"
"The fathers of these servants all died in battle. I led those troops. Due to various reasons, there was no one to care for them, so I bought them back. Some reached the age where they should marry, and I gave them their indentured servitude contracts."
"If you want to start a family, or leave, you can leave anytime."
Qin Junyao now understood why Zhao Liangcai had always had the nickname "Little God of Slaughter." So many loyal subordinates still followed him.
In Qingguo, it was fortunate if soldiers who died in battle received a pension, and even more fortunate if that pension reached their families. Moreover, orphaned descendants were well cared for, even if it was only a small part.
Having understood the household's situation, Qin Junyao struggled to get off Zhao Liangcai's lap and sat opposite him.
"Zhao Liangcai, I want to talk to you about something serious."
"Yaoyao, shouldn't our first day of marriage be intimate and loving? Call me 'husband' and let me hear it."
Qin Junyao placed her hands on the table. "We're returning to my family tomorrow. The day after, you have to return to the salt lake. Can you come back every night to talk business with me, or will you skip the salt lake and specifically set aside a day to talk with me?"
"This, hmm?" Zhao Liangcai stroked his beard. "I'll take you to the salt lake, and we can talk business there."
Qin Junyao was stunned. "Ah? How can I go to the salt lake?"
"The salt lake is mine now. If I say you can go, then you can go."
That day, Qin Junyao didn't manage to discuss land reclamation with Zhao Liangcai. Instead, she was taken by Zhao Liangcai to tour the entire Zhao residence.
Zhao Liangcai handed Qin Junyao the keys to the household storeroom, the money box containing fifty taels of silver, the list of servants, and their indentured servitude contracts.
Seeing that Zhao Liangcai truly didn't want to discuss business, Qin Junyao could only instruct the maids at hand to sort her dowry, placing items in the storeroom and the bedroom as appropriate.
An embroidered screen and vases were placed in the bedroom, new bowls and chopsticks were put in the kitchen, and more clothes for the mistress of the house appeared in the wardrobe.
The Zhao residence, which had resembled a monastery, now had six maids. Granny Ma also had Sister Wang to chat with.
For dinner, Fu Zi ate with his brother and sister-in-law, his little mouth chattering nonstop.
He was so happy. His brother was often away, and when he took him to the salt lake, he played by himself. Now, his sister-in-law would accompany him.
They practiced martial arts and ate together in the morning. In the morning, he went to school, and his sister-in-law stayed home. They ate lunch together, and in the afternoon, he could read and play with his sister-in-law. They ate dinner together in the evening.
Zhao Liangcai's nose almost twitched with anger as he listened to Fu Zi's "sister-in-law accompanies me for meals" argument.
Did he marry a wife to accompany his younger brother for meals?
While the three of them ate happily, Qian Duo threw her dinner on the ground in her room. Was she being ignored?
That night, Zhao Liangcai still intended to do something with Qin Junyao. Qin Junyao played a piece of music, allowing Zhao Liangcai to sleep soundly until dawn.