Chapter Eleven: House Hunting (Part One)

  "Is Liu Gongzi renting, mortgaging or buying a house?"

  "What is Dian Fang?"

  "The house can be rented for ten or twenty years with just one payment, but during that time if the owner wants to refund the money, they can also take it back."

  "Then buy a house, ready-to-move-in house."

  "This is the current house."

  "It's just a repaired house."

  "Liu Gongzi was joking, how can a house that hasn't been renovated be sold?"

  "Some people sell, others buy."

  "That's strange, who would be so foolish? What if they paid the money and the person renovating the house ran away with it? Hmm, let's ignore this fool for now. Mr. Liu, since you're buying a house, how many rooms do you need in the main building, how many rooms in the wing, how many shops at the entrance, how many floors, and are you particular about the south wing being inverted?"

  "This... needs four rooms, a courtyard, one or two shops on the ground floor, and doesn't matter about the upper floors."

  "Very well, young master, please wait a moment." The housekeeper (note: intermediary) pulled out a worn-out book and began to flip through it slowly.

  Chen Xin couldn't stop the enthusiasm of the crowd for buying houses, so he had to let Haitun and Zhang Dahuai buy grain and meat to send to Dai Zhenggang's place, while the rest of the people went together to find Fang Ya, and started selecting houses in the afternoon.

  This old man's surname is Wu, and his given name is Yue. He is over fifty years old, with some presbyopia, squinting his eyes, holding the booklet far away to read it, after finishing one page, he puts his finger on his tongue to lick it, moistening it with saliva, then turns the page. Wang Daxi and Zhang Erhui stare at Fang Ya without blinking, afraid that he will say there is none.

  Luckily, the house owner opened his mouth and said: "Mr. Liu, this is just right, there are three suitable places, all with courtyards. I'll tell you one by one. The first place is in Lijingfang, the main room has one room, the wing room has two rooms, and the single-storey door market has one room. The price is 28 taels of silver."

  "This seems a bit small."

  "It doesn't matter, there's another one, also in Lìyè Fǎng, which is two rooms in the main house, two rooms in the wing, and one storefront. The price is 33 taels of silver."

  "This can be taken a look at. What's another place?"

  "There is also a place in Jingdongfang, not far away, with two main rooms, three wing rooms, and two single-story shops. Fortunately, there is a single door, so you don't need to enter the house from the shop, and some old furniture is left over. The price is a bit higher, 42 taels of silver."

  Liu Minyou and Chen Xin conferred for a few words, deciding to go see the last two houses. The group set off together, first arriving at Liji Fang to look at the 33 taels house. Liu Minyou was anxious, but Wu Fangyan was old and slow, taking his time along the way, making Liu Minyou want to push him forward.

  They arrived at the place and knocked on the door. A young woman with tears all over her face opened it, about twenty years old, with a somewhat delicate appearance, but her hair was disheveled and her clothes were dirty. Seeing that it was Fang Ya, her eyes turned red again. Wu Fang Ya sighed and asked: "Is Lou Zi's mother in?" The woman nodded and stepped aside to let them enter, turning her back to wipe away tears.

  As soon as they entered, the clothesline in the courtyard was hung with bloody cloths, an old woman was still sitting on the ground washing clothes, and when she saw several people coming, she came to greet them.

  "Wu Fangya asked her: 'Louzi's mother, can Louzi be seen now?'"

  At this question, Lou Zi's mother burst into tears "The bleeding has stopped, thanks to Doctor Wang, but the cost of the medicine is still on credit."

  "It's just barely saved one's life, and it's also not easy."

  "Now he's lost a leg, how will he live from now on? This is also his fault..."

  Wu Fangya shook her head and remembered the main issue, so she quickly introduced to Lou Ziniang: "These few people have come to take a look at the yard, is it still convenient inside?"

  At this moment, a man's mad voice came from the dark room, "Get out, get out, this house is not for sale, whoever comes I will kill him."

  Lou Zi Niang hastily said: "Don't sell it, where did you get the money for the medicine, who told you to do that..."

  "Don't speak, get out, get out." With a loud crash, a coarse ceramic bowl flew out of the room and smashed onto the stone steps, shards splashing far and wide.

  Wang Daiji let out a loud shout, Zhang Erhui swiftly drew out his short knife and stood guard beside Chen Xin. Although Zhang Erhui was young, he had a big temper, previously even daring to fight the scar-faced beggar with bare fists. Since following Chen Xin, he had become even more fierce, holding the short knife in his hand, eager to try it out, his eyes fixed on Chen Xin, looking as if he would charge at people with just one shout from Chen Xin.

  Wu Fangya was also startled and retreated several steps, repeatedly saying: "This, this, I'm trying to help you, what's the logic in this?"

  Louzi's daughter sat down on the stone steps with a thud and burst into loud sobs: "Heavens, you've brought this calamity upon yourself, yet you're taking it out on others. Do you want to destroy our whole family?" The woman who had opened the door also began to sob loudly.

  Chen Xin was displeased in his heart, but still smiled on his face and said to Fang Ya: "This house is so auspicious, are you willing to come and live here? Otherwise, you can go into the house first and persuade him, I'll lend you a knife for self-defense."

  Wu Fangya looked at the knife and saw that Zhang Erhui's forehead was sweating, and he repeatedly apologized. Liu Minyou stepped forward and took away Zhang Erhui's knife, putting it away himself, saying: "This situation is indeed not very suitable, let's go to another house."

  Wu Fangya finally breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly agreed. Seeing that Louzi's mother was still crying, she turned to the woman who opened the door and said: "Shen family's daughter-in-law, I'm kind enough to help you, look at what your husband is like, not only did he ruin business, but also hurt people, how can we do this in the future? I don't dare come again, and you shouldn't bother me again either."

  The woman, still somewhat composed, wiped away her tears and curtsied: "It's our fault. He broke his leg and has been feeling miserable every day. Please, Uncle Wu, don't blame us. We two women can only rely on you; who else can we turn to? Not only are we in debt, but the grain at home is almost gone too. We'll have to sell this house and rent a smaller one. We must trouble you, Uncle Wu."

  Chen Xin was too lazy to listen again, and called Zhang Erhui and Wang Dai Xi to leave first. Liu Min had a soft heart, and after listening, he said to Wu Fang Ya: "If that's the case, you can also help them, it doesn't matter on our side, let's go see the next house."

  Wu Fangya nodded slightly, and Shen's daughter looked at Liu Min with a grateful glance, saying nothing more.

  Several people came out and walked together towards the east of the well. Along the way, Fang Ya told the two men about this family. It turned out that Shen Lou was originally a military surplus of the Right Guard, and he used to be a helper in a wealthy family. He had been doing well and his days were going smoothly until last year when he suddenly became fond of gambling, owed a lot of money, and was caught stealing jewelry from the mistress of the house after being pressed for payment a few days ago. The second young master of that wealthy family was a villain who cut off one of Shen Lou's legs in anger.

  Liu Min was puzzled, "Even if he should be sentenced in court, why take the law into his own hands? Why didn't the Shen family report it to the authorities?"

  "Liu Gongzi doesn't know that the surname of this family is Liu, and in the Jiajing years, they had already produced a jinshi. They are a big wealthy family with a lot of money, and their influence spreads far and wide in Tianjin Wei. For generations, there have been officials among them, and now the eldest son of the Liu family is working as a chief official in the Ministry of Revenue. No matter where they go to file a lawsuit, the Shen family will never win."

  Liu Min whispered to Chen Xin: "Do you want to help this family, it's really pitiful..."

  "We're not the Red Cross, we can't afford to give away our money like this. Besides, he's a gambler himself, it serves him right. If we had the money, we'd spend it on ourselves."

  "A few ounces would have relieved their urgent need."

  "There are countless families in the world who are more miserable than his, and he can't help them all."

  "Why do you want to help Dairong Gang again?"

  "I didn't say they could be used as a nurse, it's always useful, this family you helped can't do anything for you, besides that leg is broken and can't work in the future. You give them some money first, what will happen when it's used up? Once you start, it's a bottomless pit."

  Liu Min sighed and said: "You just looked at it with sympathy in your heart, but you are also too pragmatic."

  "Of course it's practical, huh, aren't you interested in his wife?"

  "You're still somewhat decent, I'm not that despicable yet."

  "This is a wife with a husband, can't help it. If it's a widow, I can help. Experienced, movements are more standardized."

  Liu Min scolded: "You think everyone is as dark-hearted as you. She's already like this, and you still want to tease her."

  Not far from Jingdongfang, several people met and walked over. An old servant came to open the door, and upon entering, it was found that this house was much cleaner than the previous one.

  The house has two main rooms on the north side, three west wing rooms, and a single-story shop on the east side facing the street. The eaves of the three sides are connected by a corridor, with two pillars standing on each platform to support the corridor. There is a rain gutter under the eaves outside. The gate is located on the south side of the east wall, next to the shop. The south side has not been renovated, only surrounded by walls. The courtyard is also spacious. In the southwest corner, there is a toilet. A small elm tree is planted outside. Inside the yard, there is a stone table. On the south side of the wall, a kitchen was built with several long wooden planks and bamboo strips. The stove is fully equipped, and a large water tank is placed next to it. There are also some coals piled on the ground.

  "Wu Fangya introduced the two of them, saying: 'The original owner of this place was a cotton cloth merchant from Huzhou. This year he bought a three-section courtyard in Nancheng and plans to sell this one.'"

  Liu Min was basically satisfied with what he saw, and the few of them went into each room to take a look. Each room had brick walls and tile roofs, with windows facing the central courtyard for lighting. In the two main rooms, one was originally a middle hall, equivalent to a living room, with several wooden chairs left behind. The other rooms also had some furniture, and the kang was already made, although it was old, but still usable. This house is currently uninhabited, leaving an old man to take care of it, sweeping everywhere clean.

  Wang Dai Xi and Zhang Er Hui's eyes lit up, their families were all Liaodong military households, living more frugally than those inside the pass. Previously they lived in thatched cottages, never having entered such a beautiful brick house before, curiously looking around and touching everything.

  Wu Fang followed the crowd and looked around, asking "Liu Gongzi, do you think this place is satisfactory? The owner's asking price is 42 taels, which seems reasonable."

  Chen Xinyan rolled her eyes and exchanged a glance with Liu Min, ready to start haggling with Fang Ya.