Chapter Eighty-Seven: Buying a Mansion

Chapter 87 Buying a House

"Oh my, thank you so much, young sir. Otherwise, my old bones might have broken from that fall," Lv Zheng said, rubbing his waist.

Tangyuan looked worriedly at the old man in front of him with concern. "You shouldn't come out when it's snowing. It would be really dangerous if you fell."

Tangyuan was a bit worried—this elderly man's hair was even whiter than his grandfather's.

Liu Niang came rushing over too. She first checked on Tangyuan, then looked at Lv Zheng and asked softly, "Are you alright, sir?"

Lv Zheng shook his head. "Thanks to your young master. Is your master here?"

Liu Niang held Tangyuan's hand tightly and pointed behind them.

Lin Qiuran and Sun Shi had been walking behind at a relaxed pace. Seeing the situation, they quickened their steps and approached.

Sun Shi said, "Sir, did the child cause you to fall? I apologize on behalf of my grandson."

When she heard this, Lin Qiuran frowned. They hadn't even asked what happened—how could they apologize so quickly? Besides, it didn’t seem like Tangyuan had bumped into anyone.

Tangyuan looked around, confused. Lin Qiuran took his hand and asked, "Tangyuan, what just happened?"

Tangyuan replied, "Mom, this grandpa almost fell, and I supported him."

Lv Zheng also said, "That's right, thanks to this child."

Lin Qiuran looked at Lv Zheng. It wasn't that she doubted Tangyuan's good intentions, but this elderly man obviously came from a wealthy family—well-dressed and well-nourished, with a stout build and a kind face. Tangyuan was just four years old; how could he have the strength to support an elderly man? He probably did help, but the man had likely steadied himself.

Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "I'm glad you're alright. If you’re feeling alright, we’ll be on our way."

Lv Zheng couldn’t take his eyes off Tangyuan. He said, "I’m fine. Thanks to this child today, my gratitude is beyond words. Could you tell me where you live? I’d like to visit another day to express my thanks properly."

Tangyuan, feeling shy, hid in Lin Qiuran’s arms. "Mom, I only helped a little."

Lin Qiuran patted Tangyuan’s head and said, "It was just a small favor. Since you’ve already thanked him, there’s no need for anything more."

This elderly man seemed wealthy and respectable, not like someone who would cause trouble. It was just a small act of kindness—no need to make a big deal out of it.

With Lin Qiuran by his side, Tangyuan felt safe and less afraid. He added, "Grandpa, it was just a small thing, nothing much. You don’t need to worry about it or keep it in mind."

Tangyuan had never said anything like this before, so he wasn’t very smooth. He had to think about how Lin Qiuran would phrase it as he spoke—these were all new words to him.

Lv Zheng couldn’t help but think to himself, This child is so well-raised. Even if he isn’t a member of the Lv family, I still like him—genuinely, from the bottom of my heart.

Lv Zheng said solemnly, "That won’t do. Otherwise, wouldn’t I be an ungrateful person?"

Lin Qiuran replied, "Sir, it’s really just a small matter. You don’t need to take it to heart. It’s cold outside, and you’re older—you should head back soon to avoid catching a chill."

Besides, Tangyuan had been outside for a while, and Lin Qiuran wanted to take him back early.

Lin Qiuran felt something was strange, especially after learning from the teahouse server that Xiao Xun had earned military honors and was now well-known in the capital.

When traveling, it was always wise to be cautious. Although the elderly man seemed well-off, Lin Qiuran was still wary of potential trouble. She nodded slightly, gestured to Sun Shi, and quickly hurried Tangyuan away.

Sun Shi also quickened her pace. They had already spent some time at the teahouse and now more outside—it was getting late.

Lin Qiuran didn’t let Tangyuan run around the streets anymore and carried him back to the inn.

Once at the inn, Lin Qiuran let Tangyuan play on his own while she wrote a letter home.

Sun Shi watched over her grandson without saying a word. Lin Qiuran spread out letter paper, prepared the ink, and began writing. In the letter, she assured Xiao Dashi of their safety, asked him to inform the Lin Village, and mentioned that once they were settled, they would bring Xiao Dashi over.

Naturally, she also wrote about Xiao Xun. In the letter, Lin Qiuran advised keeping a low profile and not making a big fuss about Xiao Xun’s achievements.

She hadn’t even mentioned these things in front of Tangyuan.

She only knew that Xiao Xun had won battles and that the Yue Dynasty had been victorious, but the army hadn’t returned yet. Lin Qiuran didn’t want to get Tangyuan’s hopes up only for him to be disappointed later. Besides, the child was at an age where he repeated things without understanding their meaning—it was better not to tell him.

Sun Shi had considered bringing it up but, seeing that Lin Qiuran hadn’t mentioned it, she kept quiet.

After a simple lunch, Lin Qiuran coaxed Tangyuan to sleep. He looked adorable asleep, with long eyelashes and pink cheeks like a peach.

His mouth was closed, and the tip of his nose still had a reddish tint from the cold outside.

Lin Qiuran had Liu Niang deliver the letter, then closed the door firmly. "The letter’s been sent. I let Father know we’re safe and mentioned that Xiao Xun has gained recognition."

Sun Shi immediately said, "I never thought Xiao Xun would be so capable."

Naturally, she was happy that her son had done well.

Lin Qiuran was also pleased and somewhat surprised. From what she knew of Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi, they were honest, simple farmers—yet their son had achieved so much.

Initially, Lin Qiuran hadn’t expected Xiao Xun to be like this. When she first learned she was pregnant, she had never met Xiao Xun and had imagined their future child based on Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi.

Xiao Dashi was fairly tall with decent features. From Sun Shi’s face, one could tell she had been pretty in her youth, but age and hardship had made her look ordinary.

Both had calm, unassuming personalities, neither competitive nor ambitious. Yet Xiao Xun was handsome—his best feature, his nose, had been passed down to Tangyuan, who already showed signs of being tall and long-limbed.

Xiao Xun’s personality resembled Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi’s but wasn’t exactly the same. Instead, he had inherited their best traits and amplified them.

Though honest, he wasn’t stubborn; though steady, he knew how to strive against the current and move forward. He wasn’t someone who would settle for mediocrity. Lin Qiuran disliked the type of person who would rely on her earnings without contributing anything themselves.

From Xiao Xun’s letters, she could tell he was diligent in his studies. Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi hadn’t sent him to school when he was young, yet he had taken it upon himself to learn.

Learning at his age was much harder than in childhood. Lin Qiuran, who knew simplified characters, still found traditional characters difficult—yet Xiao Xun had persevered with great determination.

Lin Qiuran was both surprised and delighted. Who would want a mediocre person? Naturally, she preferred a man with ambition and drive, and in this regard, Xiao Xun had done well.

Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "Yes, but the war isn’t over yet. We should buy a house if we need to and focus on our business. Let’s act as though we know nothing about other matters, and don’t tell anyone outside that we’re related to Xiao Xun."

Lin Qiuran was cautious. While she was happy to hear about Xiao Xun’s achievements, promotion also meant he would become a target for others and make more enemies. At times like these, being low-key and careful wasn’t enough—how could they go around telling people they were Xiao Xun’s wife, mother, and son?

Sun Shi nodded. She hadn’t considered that. "I understand. I won’t say a word."

Sun Shi hoped Xiao Xun would do well, though she had never thought about it before. But since Lin Qiuran was so capable, Xiao Xun couldn’t afford to lag too far behind—otherwise, he wouldn’t have a say at home.

Now, she felt it was better to stay in Yu'an. With the battles won, he would likely return soon. How nice it would be if they waited for Xiao Xun to come fetch them.

She said, "Qiu Ran, maybe we should just stay at the inn for now. When Xiao Xun returns, perhaps the emperor will reward him with a house."

Promotion and wealth often went hand in hand. If Xiao Xun was promoted, there would surely be rewards.

Lin Qiuran replied, "Mother, that might not be a good idea. We don’t know when the war will end or how long we’d have to wait. What if he doesn’t return for a year or more? Would we stay at the inn all that time? Houses in the capital are expensive, but staying at an inn isn’t cheap either. If we buy a house now, we can always sell it later if needed."

Staying at an inn wasn’t as comfortable as being at home, and with all sorts of people around, it wasn’t safe for their group, which consisted mostly of women and children. They couldn’t stay there long-term.

If they were originally from the capital, any rewards would be delivered to their home even if Xiao Xun wasn’t there. But since Xiao Xun was from out of town, those things wouldn’t be specially sent to Yu'an. Waiting for that would only waste time.

Moreover, Lin Qiuran still privately hoped to have her own residence. It wasn’t that she thought Xiao Xun unreliable—she was willing to believe that after two years, Xiao Xun's heart hadn't changed—but others are never as reliable as yourself. Besides, who complains about having too many properties?

Sun Shi listened to Lin Qiuran and found her reasoning sound. There were all kinds of people staying here, and it wasn't as safe as living in one’s own home. The inn only had a single wooden door to the room, whereas a home would have a main gate and courtyard walls.

Sun Shi said, "Alright, I’ll follow your lead."

Lin Qiuran glanced at Tang Yuan and, after some thought, decided to speak with Sun Shi. "Mother, this time I plan to buy a larger residence and hire more servants. Ideally, it would have several courtyards. Tang Yuan's getting bigger and shouldn’t always sleep with me."

Sun Shi immediately replied, "If you don’t want him with you, he can sleep with me."

Lin Qiuran smiled helplessly. "Mother, that’s not what I meant… Tang Yuan is a boy, and at this age, he should have his own room. I know that when Xiao Xun was this age, you and Father kept him with you, but back in Xiao Village, conditions were different, and that was the only option."

"Now that we have the means, there’s no need for him to always sleep with adults. If he sleeps alone, he can learn to dress himself and make his bed. Even if he goes to study at an academy later, he’ll be able to take care of himself without us worrying."

Discussing this with Sun Shi made Lin Qiuran uneasy. She didn’t know how to phrase it—if she was too gentle, it might not be effective; if too harsh, her mother-in-law might overthink it.

Sun Shi remained silent, her expression unchanged. Lin Qiuran added a few more reassuring words, "I know you dote on Tang Yuan and always consider what’s best for him. But fledglings eventually leave their parents’ wings—no one can take care of him forever."

Lin Qiuran was pragmatic about this. She also adored Tang Yuan, but children grow up. When they’re young, they’re cute and can be cuddled and kissed, but as they grow older, it becomes less appropriate.

Each age has its own charm—as a child, he’s like a little bird; when grown, he’ll stand tall and independent. Lin Qiuran wouldn’t grieve if Tang Yuan became less clingy as he grew up. Instead, she hoped to pave the way for him, letting him stand on her shoulders and go as far as possible.

At the very least, she wanted Tang Yuan to see places Xiao Xun never had the chance to visit in his childhood.

Since she had already broached the subject, Lin Qiuran decided to be straightforward. "Sometimes you pamper him too much. There are many things he can already do on his own, like eating, dressing, making his bed, and even tidying up—he’s quite capable and doesn’t need adult help. When we’re out, he’s already very sensible and doesn’t make demands. Why insist on borrowing the inn’s kitchen to make special food for him?"

As if afraid he might forget to ask or not be pampered enough.

Lin Qiuran sighed helplessly. "It’s inconvenient when we’re outside, and besides, he can eat the same food as us. If we can eat it, why can’t he? He’s already picky, and if this continues, he’ll take it for granted."

If he were a girl, a little pampering might be fine, but Tang Yuan is a boy. Boys are naturally sturdy. He already has his own ideas now, and as he grows older, he’ll understand more and become even more opinionated.

Lin Qiuran continued, "And today, regardless of whether Tang Yuan bumped into anyone or not, why did you apologize on his behalf? Even if he had bumped into someone, he should apologize himself. We can’t do everything for him."

Besides, blaming Tang Yuan without knowing the facts wasn’t right either, but that was unrelated to pampering him, so Lin Qiuran decided not to bring it up now.

Tang Yuan was still asleep in bed. He was only four years old—not even three by lunar reckoning. There was still a long road ahead. By seven or eight, he’d have even stronger opinions. For a child, developing good habits and learning obedience and sensibility were what mattered.

Maybe saying he was spoiled was too strong a term now, but it was better to prevent small issues from growing. Once bad habits formed, it would be too late to change them.

Lin Qiuran said, "Of course, sometimes I can’t help pampering him too. If you see me doing it, you should remind me."

When Sun Shi heard this, her first reaction was a twinge of grievance—how could loving a child be wrong?

But on second thought, it was true that Lin Qiuran was the one who managed the child more. Back in Yu’an, Qiu Ran worked during the day and came home in the evening to care for Tang Yuan, teaching him this and that.

Often, when she and Xiao Dashi indulged the child, it was Lin Qiuran who stepped in to stop them. Tang Yuan would cry, and Sun Shi would interject, "He’s still just a child."

At such times, Lin Qiuran would patiently explain, "Mother, when I’m disciplining the child, you shouldn’t interfere. Otherwise, with you taking his side, Tang Yuan will feel he has backing and won’t take adults seriously anymore."

Sun Shi listened but didn’t really agree inwardly. Instead, she felt Lin Qiuran was too strict. Sending him to the capital to study at such a young age, teaching him arithmetic and poetry—it was so much effort, and for what?

But now, seeing how well-behaved Tang Yuan was, she knew it wasn’t due to her or Xiao Dashi.

Sun Shi pressed her lips together. Lin Qiuran was Tang Yuan’s birth mother, planning everything for his benefit—she wouldn’t harm him.

Reflecting on her own actions, Sun Shi realized they were wrong.

She looked troubled. "Sometimes I can’t help myself. I speak or act without thinking. That person was dressed so well—I was afraid of causing trouble… Do you think I was wrong today? Tang Yuan didn’t even bump into anyone, yet I went and apologized."

Now that she thought about it, she felt she had spoken out of turn. Fortunately, Tang Yuan was young and didn’t fully understand. She had apologized without even clarifying what happened.

Lin Qiuran took a deep breath. "In front of outsiders, it’s best to get the facts straight first. If we’re in the wrong, we apologize; if not, why should we? We mustn't let Tang Yuan be wronged when it comes to right and wrong."

Sun Shi nodded. "Yes, yes…"

Lin Qiuran took Sun Shi’s hand. Over the past two years, since Sun Shi had stopped doing manual labor, her hands had become much softer. "Once we buy the residence, you can choose a courtyard too—close to Tang Yuan or farther away, whichever you prefer."

Sun Shi nodded. "I’ve saved some money too. Use it for the residence first."

Sun Shi hadn’t spent much over the past two years. She and Xiao Dashi ate and used what the household provided. She had brought all fifty taels with her.

Lin Qiuran accepted it. The family didn’t need the money, but still, letting Sun Shi contribute something would make her feel more comfortable and settled.

She said, "Alright, I’ll hold onto it for now. If you need money later, just let me know."

Lin Ming and Lin Xia didn’t return at noon. After Tang Yuan woke up, Sun Shi even apologized to him. Lin Qiuran felt it wasn’t necessary—Tang Yuan was forgetful—but Sun Shi insisted.

Tang Yuan listened, paused for a moment, and said, "It’s okay."

Sun Shi couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Ming and Lin Xia didn’t return to the inn until evening. As soon as they came back, they discussed house-hunting with Lin Qiuran. The capital was large, and they had been looking for several days. The kind of property Lin Qiuran wanted—covering several mu, around twelve or thirteen mu, with gardens and courtyards—varied in price from sixteen hundred taels to three or four thousand, depending on size and location.

They were excellent properties—spacious, with architecture imitating Jiangnan gardens, plenty of flowers and trees, divided into several small courtyards, truly beautiful. One house had flora worth a considerable amount, though this wasn’t included in the price since not everyone would appreciate or pay for it.

There were even larger ones—estates of eighteen or nineteen mu, or several dozen mu, formerly belonging to officials or noble families who had been confiscated and later released—some elegant, some luxurious.

Naturally, these were more expensive.

Such properties were beyond what the Xiao family needed for now, so Lin Qiuran didn’t consider them.

Sun Shi was surprised they could be so large. She knew exactly how big a dozen mu was—it could fit their entire home back in Yu’an.

Several thousand taels—Sun Shi had thought that amount would last a lifetime, but here in the capital, buying a house would use it up in one go.

She couldn’t help reflecting: back in Yu’an, the first house they bought cost only thirty-seven or fifty taels, while in the capital, that wouldn’t buy much.

Money really didn’t go far.

Lin Qiuran said, "Alright, I’ll go take a look tomorrow."

If something suitable was found, they could decide quickly to avoid staying at the inn indefinitely. Once the residence was settled, they could focus on registering their household and finding a school for Tang Yuan.

Lin Ming said, "I’ve arranged viewings for tomorrow morning—four properties in total. You can see them all, madam."

He described the four: one had three small courtyards, the smallest and cheapest at nine hundred taels. The other three were larger and more expensive, the priciest being thirty-two hundred taels—with a lake, water features, pavilions, towers, an elegant environment, and rare flowers and plants.

Lin Qiuran planned to see the smaller one first. She was afraid if she saw the larger ones first and liked them, she wouldn’t be able to resist.