0p0 Chapter 617 The problem is solved!
Chapter 617 The problem is solved!
This addresses some of the consumption related to embroidery, which means half the problem is solved.
The main expense in needlework is the fabric and thread. Once those two issues are resolved, the rest won't be a big problem.
"Aze, if it's about piano lessons, can I find a music store to help me? After all, buying a piano is the first expense, and later on, I'll need to tune it and change the strings, which all cost money."
Duanmu Chuze chuckled when he saw Mu Xinnuan's distressed expression.
"Anuan, aren't you always so generous? Why are you being so stingy now? It's just a few zithers, and you can't even bring them out? I know that the ladies down here know you like playing the zither, and they've all been vying to give you quite a few good ones."
Mu Xin Nuan rolled her eyes at him. "You said it yourself, those are all good instruments. If beginners are to learn from them, wouldn't that be a waste of those good instruments? I was thinking of getting some cheaper ones first, as long as they are tuned properly, we don't need them to have a great tone. That way, beginners can learn from them first, and only when they have learned enough can they use those expensive instruments to practice."
“You’ve thought of everything. Well, it’s not a big problem. As for the zither, I’ll ask the Fu family to figure something out. They should have opened a music store, so we can just ask them for anything related to musical instruments.”
Mu Xin Nuan hesitated for a moment, "Is this a good idea?"
“What’s wrong with that? Anyway, the Fu family is my people. They give me hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year. What’s a little more than these musical instruments? At worst, I’ll just have them send me ten thousand taels less of silver every day.”
Mu Xin Nuan rolled her eyes at him. How many zithers could she buy with ten thousand taels of silver?
In fact, she understood that Duanmu Chuze was trying to ease the burden on the Fu family.
After all, now that the Lu family's rice and grain were helping him alleviate some of his financial difficulties, he was thinking of giving the Fu family a breather first, so he used that as an excuse.
However, ten thousand taels of silver is a large sum for a girls' school, and for the Fu family, it will probably only alleviate their burden to a limited extent.
"How about you take a look at what other businesses the Fu family has that can support the public school and girls' school? Let them continue for now. And maybe reduce their loan by a few tens of thousands of taels of silver?"
Duanmu Chuze looked at her with a gentle expression, "Anuan understands me best."
"Alright, I know you genuinely care about the Fu family. Come to think of it, they've helped you a lot over the years. Even if they haven't done anything special, they've certainly put in a lot of effort, right? Besides, they've been a great help in getting the Chang Le Fang and Xing Wen District projects started so smoothly and now that they've opened for business."
"Yes, indeed! The Fu family has worked hard."
What do you think of that young master Fu?
"He's alright, but he's too young and lacks experience. I've put him in charge of some specific affairs of the government-run escort agency to train him for a few years before he joins the army."
"You want to send Young Master Fu to join the army?"
"What's wrong? Is there something amiss?"
Mu Xin Nuan shook her head, somewhat regretfully saying, "Young Master Fu was born into such a wealthy family. If you send him to the military now, I'm afraid it will be..."
"I didn't say now! Besides, a real man, if he wants to achieve great things, can't just stay cooped up in his gold and silver nest for the rest of his life. As for his family business, the head of the Fu family will naturally make arrangements. He can't let his sons all be stuck with this little bit of family property; otherwise, they'll fight amongst themselves!"
"That's true. Oh well, whatever. Anyway, I don't understand these important matters. By the way, I heard your school is quite lively these days."
"Hmm, it's alright."
After lunch, the group rested for a while. Duanmu Chuze lay on the couch with Mu Xinnuan for a while. Duanmu Chuze didn't fall asleep, but Mu Xinnuan did doze off. She woke up when she heard Xiao Zonghua's howling.
Duanmu Chuze was quite displeased that Xiao Zonghua had woken up at this time. "This little thing, why did you only sleep for a short while? Your mother just fell asleep, how can you be so inconsiderate?"
Mu Xin Nuan smiled, "Alright, stop talking about him. He's still a child, how could he understand what you're saying? Besides, when you were his age, didn't you just sleep and eat all the time?"
Duanmu Chuze pouted, "So you really do ignore me now that you have this little one. You never used to talk to me like this. Are you disgusted with me?"
Rong Yue and the others couldn't help but chuckle.
Even Zi Yi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle. His lips twitched violently. Master, is this still the master he remembers? How could he be so stingy?
"Okay, stop fooling around. Where are we going later?"
Duanmu Chuze raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to keep shopping?"
"Is that not allowed?" Mu Xin Nuan asked in return. "Oh, I forgot you were supposed to go to the Council of State. In that case, don't worry about us, we'll just wander around on our own."
How could that be? Duanmu Chuze would never feel comfortable letting his wife stroll around the streets!
"I'm fine, don't worry, I'll just go with you for a stroll. When the child is a bit older, we'll go to Chang Le Fang together, that's where it's really lively. It's packed with people. On the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, there are even acrobatic performances, it's incredibly lively."
"Aze, doesn't Yanzhou have any?"
Before Duanmu Chuze could speak, Rongyue said, "Of course it is! It's just a bit far from here. Most of the acrobatic performers are near the South Gate. We're probably still more than a mile away from there."
“That’s not too far. Aze, let’s go take a look together. If all else fails, we can take a carriage.”
Duanmu Chuze gritted his teeth and glared at Rong Yue. This girl clearly just wanted to go watch the excitement. Didn't she know that all sorts of people came to that kind of place?
If I really can't go because of something, Ah Nuan must go. What if someone hurts them, mother and child again?
When Rongyue was glared at by the prince, she immediately shrank back in fear and dared not speak again.
Aunt Fang whispered, "That kind of place is too complicated. If the prince doesn't go with you, how can you take responsibility if something really happens? Although the security has improved a lot now, there are still too many different kinds of people there."
"Yes, I know my mistake."
Aunt Fang shook her head. "If the Princess goes this time and then wants to go a second time, what do you suggest we do?"
This time, Rongyue wore a bitter expression and lowered her head even further.
Mu Hua and Mu Qing didn't react much. With them around, how could they possibly allow anything to happen to the young lady and the young master?