Traveling through ancient times, I led my family to prosperity

Xiaolan managed the household accounts. Although Shengxuan would not hide the amount of money from him, he would still ask Xiaolan for the details when it came to the specific amount. Because she was the one who knew the amount of money in the household best.

"Dad, don't worry. Before we set out, I took stock of the accounts. We have enough money to buy more shops and land."

Sheng Xuan was still a small farmer at heart. When his family had extra money, he wanted to buy land and build a house. Farmers never complained about having too much land. Compared to buying a shop, Sheng Xuan was not interested.

Xiao Lan also has her own plans. She plans to buy some land and farms every year, and then buy some shops, because if she relies on the production of the fields to increase her income, the accumulation of wealth is too slow. And throughout history, few people have made a fortune by guarding their family's land, so she still has to engage in business.

After a good night's sleep, the family had dinner the next day and continued to rush to the capital. When they returned to their home in the capital, they were all tired after a day's journey, so they had dinner together and then went to rest.

The first thing to do when arriving in the city is to visit the Shen family, but the Shen family is not a place you can just go to casually, so you have to hand in a visiting card first. Because their family decided to come to the city early, so the visiting card was also handed in early.

In addition to visiting the Shen family, Xiaolan's family had many other things to do. In addition to socializing, their family also planned to buy some more properties in the city, such as buying a farm and fields around the city.

Xiaolan's family had also planned this village well, and the model was based on the model of Shengjia Village, combining fields, fish ponds, and pig farming. Because they were close to the big market in the prefecture, they didn't have to worry about having no sales.

Next, Xiaolan's family was very busy for a few days, until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the Shen family sent someone to deliver invitations, saying that they wanted to invite Xiaolan's family to a banquet at the Shen's house.

Xiao Wen kept the servant who delivered the invitation to talk for a while, and then he learned that Shen Liu had not been in the mansion recently and only returned from the barracks last night. Tonight's dinner, the Shen family invited many relatives and friends and some officials of high rank. The servant also revealed that after the banquet every year, the Shen family arranged for everyone to watch the lanterns.

The Lantern Festival in Liaodong Prefecture started on the fourth day of the first lunar month and ended on the eighteenth day. Among these days, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was the most lively. Watching the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was a tradition in the Shen Mansion, so even though Shen Liu was busy with military affairs, he rushed back on this day.

As the sky gradually darkened, Xiao Lan lifted the curtain and looked outside several times. Although the weather was very cold today, it did not affect people's enthusiasm for watching the lights. Along the way, Xiao Lan watched the lights and people.

Today, Xiaolan's family set out early from home. Along the way, more and more people came, young girls and wives came in groups, and they all came to see the lanterns. Because the lantern festival only happens once a year, if you miss it, you have to wait until next year.

"Mom, it's so lively here." Xiao Lan said to Zhang with a smile.

"That's right. It's too late this year. Let's wait until next year and invite your grandma and grandpa to celebrate the festival together in the capital city. We will also invite your eldest sister and the Bao family..."

The mother and daughter were chatting and laughing when they arrived at the gate of Shen's house. When they got off the carriage, they saw that there were already many horses tied to the horse-tie stone pillars beside the gate of Shen's house, and there were servants and stewards in brand new clothes waiting for guests outside the gate.

As soon as they entered the gate of the Shen Mansion, Zhang and Xiaolan separated from Shengxuan and Xiaowen. The gentlemen naturally lost the front hall, and the female guests went to the warm room in the east garden.

The housekeeper who led Zhang and Xiaolan was very talkative. She kept chatting with Zhang all the way. She was very tactful and her words were flawless.

The housekeeper did not take the two of them to the East Garden first, but came to Old Madam Shen first. Old Madam Shen was the oldest in the Shen family and had met Xiao Lan once before.

The mother and daughter followed the housekeeper into the East Wu. The layout of the east room was very magnificent. There were two armchairs in the hall, and then a row of chairs were placed below. The decorations in the hall were also very exquisite, with vases, calligraphy and paintings, etc.

Old Madam Shen sat upright in a chair at the top, drinking slowly from a cup of tea in her hand.

Zhang and Xiao Lan entered the house and paid their respects to Old Madam Shen. Old Madam Shen was the biological mother of the current queen, and she also had an imperial decree, so her rank was certainly not low.

When Mrs. Shen saw Zhang and Xiao Lan coming, she quickly put down her teacup and told them not to be polite. "I'm glad to see you this time. I've wanted to see you again for a long time, but I missed it... Come on, sit down and talk..."

Zhang was asked to sit below Old Madam Shen, and Xiao Lan sat next to her. Then little maids came in one after another and served tea and snacks.

Madam Shen and Zhang were talking politely, while Xiao Lan stood aside, carefully sizing up Madam Sheng.

At this time, the topic of conversation between Old Lady Shen and Zhang shifted from general courtesies to Xiao Lan, "Your girl is getting more and more beautiful. Among the girls of similar age in our city, none can compare to her... She is already in her teens this year?" Old Lady Shen's eyes fell on Xiao Lan.

When Xiao Lan saw Madam Shen talking to her, she stood up and said, "Madam, I am sixteen years old this year."

"Oh, the last time I saw you, I thought you were a straightforward girl. Now that you've grown up, you've become even smarter." Old Madam Sheng said, "Come here quickly, let me take a good look at you."

Xiao Lan followed the instructions and came to Old Lady Sheng. When Old Lady Shen saw Xiao Lan coming over, she smiled and took Xiao Lan's hand, looking her up and down. "You have really grown up. When you had dinner at my house, you were still a little girl. Time flies... You are such a beauty. No wonder so many people praise you in front of me. Now you are only sixteen. In two years, you will be even more amazing..."

As Mrs. Shen spoke, she took off a jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Xiao Lan, "This is the bracelet I usually wear. I'll give it to you."

In this era, jade bracelets are extremely precious, let alone the bracelet that Old Madam Shen usually wears. Its value is even more unpredictable.

When Xiao Lan heard the old lady say that it was what she usually wore, she smiled and declined, "Thank you for your kindness, old lady. A gentleman should not take away someone else's beauty. I really cannot accept it."