Chapter 167

With the crown prince now established, personnel changes in the court have become quite frequent. Some people have been demoted and sent to remote areas, while others have been promoted. Some have retired to their hometowns, while others have been promoted and given important positions.

The vacancies were filled one by one, and Wen Shi was eventually appointed as a senior official in the Ministry of Rites, a fourth-rank official, in charge of matters related to the imperial examinations and sacrificial rites.

In mid-April, the weather became increasingly hot.

Along the way, welcoming incense also helped to speed up the journey during the day.

Xinxin sat to the side, her chin resting on her hands, looking at her mother and older brother with a somewhat bored expression.

He never expected that his father would actually send him and his mother to the capital. Although he was young, he had heard that the capital was far more prosperous and wealthy than any of the other prefectures in the Great Qi Dynasty.

"Once your mother has taken care of things, you can come back anytime you want."

Wen Leqian nodded. Accommodation was not mandatory at the academy, and many of his classmates lived at home, so he could stay in both places.

In recent years, although Ping'an Village is somewhat like home to him, he rarely goes there unless there's a specific reason.

With his parents gone, he still misses his classmates and friends when the night is quiet. But things are better now.

He understood his father. The fact that his mother and younger brother went back first meant that he would be back soon; he just needed to wait.

"Mother, how many more days until we arrive?"

We slept at the post station at night and traveled during the day. There were three large horse-drawn carriages in front and behind us, all fully loaded with goods and carrying many people.

"Almost done, let's have some cakes."

Yingxiang picked up a piece of pastry and handed it to Xinxin.

Wen Leqian estimated that it would take at most half a month, and that was indeed the case. On the afternoon of the first day of May, they arrived in the capital.

He returned to Ping'an Village first to settle down there, as he was going to study at the academy the next day.

"When you see your elders, be sure to greet them respectfully; they've never seen you before."

Several horse-drawn carriages were traveling along the country road, attracting some attention. Yingxiang had already packed everything that needed to be packed, and most of the trunks were locked; she had the keys.

A few years ago, Wen Chuanzong's family moved out, which freed up a few rooms. Le Qian estimated that there would be enough room for them, and his mother and younger brother wouldn't be staying there for very long.

Upon arriving at Ping'an Village, the carriage slowed down. A gentle breeze lifted the curtain, and Yingxiang, seeing the somewhat familiar scenery, was in a relatively good mood.

When they arrived at the Wen family's door, the group got out of the car one after another.

"Third sister-in-law, you, you're back."

Not far away, a woman was watching curiously. She had been sitting at the village entrance eating melon seeds, but as she watched the carriage drive in a familiar direction, she subconsciously got up and followed.

When they arrived at the gate, they saw Le Qian alighting from the carriage, followed by Ying Xiang and a child.

"Sister-in-law."

Even after many years, Yingxiang could never forget the Wen family.

"Xinxin, call her Auntie."

"Aunt."

"This must be the little one, right? That's wonderful, Third Sister-in-law. I think the little one looks like you. He's so handsome. Third Brother is back too?"

Right now, Wen Shi is the most promising member of the family. Wen Chuanzong has stopped taking the exams. Both of his sons are scholars, but whether they will pass the imperial examinations this year is another matter.

"My husband hasn't returned yet."

"There's so much stuff. I heard from my parents that my third brother got promoted again."

Yingxiang smiled but didn't say anything. Wen Leqian had already arranged for people to start moving things inside and dismantling the carriage.

Family members came out one after another, and they were all a little stunned as they looked at the boxes and boxes being carried inside.

"This is my second aunt, this is my fourth aunt, that's my grandfather, and which one is my grandmother?"

Xinxin greeted everyone one by one. He stood next to Yingxiang, not being very familiar with these people, and didn't say much after greeting them.

"Third brother's wife, where's the third brother? When is he coming back?"

Old Man Wen remained relatively calm, but Madam Liu was genuinely excited, and Yingxiang pursed her lips.

"Mom, it's not convenient to talk outside, let's go inside first."

Liu was mostly delighted, especially when she saw the things Yingxiang brought back.

Once everything was inside, the servants entered the room one by one. Leqian had the door closed, and everyone in the hall looked at Yingxiang with curiosity.

"Third sister-in-law, have some water."

"Thank you, Second Sister-in-law."

Yingxiang was quite different from before. She drank some water to moisten her throat, looked at the two elders sitting at the head of the table, and began to speak.

“My husband’s term of office is not over yet, so it’s hard to say when he will return. Leqian is all grown up now, and so is the little one, who has already started studying. The capital is definitely better than the countryside.”

"I'll bring the children back first."

Old Man Wen understood, and he glanced at Liu.

Liu sat up impatiently.

"Over the years, you two must have saved up quite a bit of money."

“I have saved up some money. My husband also wants me to buy a house so that we can get married to our two children in the future. The dowry and betrothal gifts he will ask for will be quite substantial.”

Yingxiang sat there with poise and grace, and many things happened unexpectedly. She wasn't afraid to return to the capital.

Speaking of getting married, Xiuyu felt a little uncomfortable thinking about her second son. She had told Wenshi about it before, but her third uncle hadn't made any move.

"Buy a house?"

Old Man Wen repeated it.

"Yes, Father."

How much money do you have?

Liu was straightforward, and Yingxiang rolled her eyes before shaking her head.

"It's not enough; we might have to take out a loan from a money lender."

"Can't we live at home? If it's not enough, we can keep saving and buy when we have enough."

Yingxiang looked directly at Old Man Wen and then said, "Let's take a look first."

"Once we buy the house, my parents will come to the city with us."

Officials value their reputation and image. It was alright when they were poor, but who knows what might happen in the future? Just in case, they brought their elderly parents along and stayed well-fed and clothed as Wen Shi had suggested, so nothing would go wrong.

"Can we buy a bigger one? So our whole family can live together? If this one isn't suitable, we can rent it out."

Upon hearing Old Man Wen's words, everyone in the hall perked up.

"I haven't looked at any houses yet, and I haven't made a decision. I'll be busy from now on."

Yingxiang had already expected this, so she wasn't too surprised.

Some people were curious and wanted to see what was inside the box, but to their surprise, everything was locked. Yingxiang told them to keep it safe inside the house and move it over once they found a new place.

They were in a good mood after I told them I would bring my parents to live with me.

During dinner, most of the family members from Beijing came over for a meal. Yingxiang also met her two nieces-in-law, who are now elders. Fortunately, she was prepared and gave them several brightly colored beaded flowers as a gift.

When Madam Xu had a child, her daughter's arrival was quite sudden. Two days before giving birth, she experienced abdominal pain and was unaware that she was pregnant, which was quite strange.

My belly wasn't showing at all during my pregnancy, and I didn't experience any discomfort.

Xiuyu took the opportunity to talk a lot with Yingxiang, and naturally she didn't think much of her granddaughter.

Yingxiang looked at the child in Xu's arms, opened the money bag she carried with her, gave her a small silver ingot, and hugged the chubby little girl. It was clear that her mother had taken good care of her; she was fair-skinned and wore very soft clothes.

She can manage to walk a few steps if you put her down, but she prefers to be carried by her elders.

Currently, this is also the only child of the next generation of the Wen family. Although Wen Xiaowu's child is young, she is of the same generation as Leqian. This is Wen Chuanzong's granddaughter.

"Thank you, Third Aunt."

Xu Yi had a very good impression of Ying Xiang, and many elders regretted that she hadn't given birth to a son, saying it openly and subtly quite a bit.

Yingxiang, however, was not like that. She had just returned and was kind to everyone. She seemed very generous and even wanted to hold her daughter. She was completely different from her mother-in-law.

Others might not care, but she cherished her daughter dearly, making her clothes in private and raising her with great care.

Most of her money was still deposited in the money shop and could not be taken out. Her second son was not yet married, and who knew what the future held? The dowry money was for her to rely on.

You should also leave a dowry for your child in the future.

After the meal, as dusk fell, Yingxiang went back to her room to rest. Not long after, Liu arrived.

"Third son's wife, go out and take a look first thing tomorrow morning. It's getting hotter and hotter, so it's better to make a decision sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you'll be running back and forth in this heat and you might get heatstroke."

Yingxiang had no idea what she was thinking.

"Mother, don't worry, I'll get things done as soon as possible. Then we'll choose the biggest courtyard for you and Father to live in. We already have servants, but if that's not enough, we'll buy two more to take good care of you."

Hearing this, Liu felt even better. Even though she refused to admit she was getting old, the changes in her body couldn't lie.

She just wanted to enjoy life and live a good life. She was so happy during the years she lived in the city with Wen Xiaowu, but she couldn't have made it in the end.

Now, both Liu and Old Man Wen are old and gray, and they have no grudges against each other. They can't do anything to cause trouble. Yingxiang can handle the appearances.

Looking at Yingxiang, Liu felt that she was much more pleasing to the eye than before.

However, she wasn't stupid; it was good that the two could get along peacefully.

Watching her leave, Yingxiang remained calm; it wasn't hard to say nice things.

She just got back today, so she'll rest for the night and head to the city tomorrow.

"mother."

Xinxin took out some copper coins from his pocket, not many, and Yingxiang told him to keep them safe.

Ideally, things would be settled within a month. Sending the child to school in the second half of the year wouldn't cause any major disruption.

late at night

The elderly couple tossed and turned, unable to sleep, mostly excited. Xiuyu felt the same way; Yingxiang's return was both sudden and a pleasant surprise.

"Do you think we can move to the city with you?"

"We can't even live in that courtyard, let alone in the city."

Wen Chuanzong lay on the couch, looking rather unwell. He recalled the praise everyone had given Yingxiang at dinner, and his heart ached. Wen Shi was so promising.

He's currently just a scholar, and he's willing but unable to continue his studies.

Right now, he works as a teacher at a school in the village, earning a little money each month so he can afford to eat. His two older children passed the imperial examinations and don't need his support, but he still has a younger one.

In the future, all I can rely on are my own children.

Yingxiang slept very well that night.

The next morning, breakfast was ready. After eating and drinking her fill, she took her two children into town to run errands.

Wen Leqian returned to the academy, but she didn't rush to find a house. Instead, she went to her teahouse and wine shop to take a look. Some of the old people were still there, but there were also quite a few new people.

Some people still remember her. Granny Yang is no longer here, and the person who took her place is also an old woman. Yingxiang said a few words to her and then went to the wine shop.

It's almost the same over there. She has already spent three hundred taels to buy back the wine shop completely, so she won't have to give Granny Yang a share in the future.

The capital city is vast, neither too big nor too small; whether we'll ever meet again is hard to say.

After inspecting both shops, I noticed that business was booming, especially the spicy hot pot at the teahouse, which was always packed with customers. However, some other shops in the city have started to imitate it.

When we arrived at the farm, the little guy covered his nose as soon as we got to the entrance.

He didn't want to go in, but Yingxiang still pulled him inside.

Jiang Xian is still here. Some of the older folks have left, but new people have come.

"Shopkeeper, you're back?"

The situation hasn't changed much compared to before, and there's been communication every year.

"Yes, let's go in and take a look."

After walking around the farm, I noticed that the farm's output had increased significantly compared to before. There were now five large cows. Looking at the thriving fruit trees, pigsties, and sheep pens, the little guy pinched his nose and frowned. After a quarter of an hour, he let go of Yingxiang's hand after they had walked far away.

At noon, the mother and daughter went to a fairly well-known restaurant in the city for lunch.

After that, Yingxiang started looking for a matchmaker. Buying and selling houses wasn't such a simple matter. She didn't know what the housing market in Beijing had been like in recent years.

After she finished explaining her requirements for the house, the matchmaker couldn't help but frown.

“Madam, it’s not easy to find two identical houses on this street, especially if they are adjacent to each other.”

"Excuse me for asking, but how much money have you prepared? How big is it? How many acres does it occupy?"

Nowadays there are intermediaries, and in ancient times there were matchmakers. Compared to the developed internet of today, things weren't so convenient in ancient times; you could only go there in person to see things.

Yingxiang wasn't afraid of being swindled by the matchmaker; they were considered to have some status now, and she was with them the whole time.

She could have left Xinxin at home, but after thinking about it, she decided to bring her along. Of course, Old Man Wen could take care of her, but this child's upbringing was different from Wen Leqian's, so she decided to bring her along.

"Fifteen thousand taels, four mu of land would be even better, plus two houses."

Yingxiang couldn't possibly use all her money to buy a house; she would definitely need to keep some for future living expenses. Apart from the farm, all of her businesses were rentals.

Yingxiang didn't dare to dream of owning the best streets and most respectable houses in the capital; she simply didn't have the means right now.

In the past two years in Jiangzhou, Wen Shi received more than a thousand taels of salary and eight hundred taels of bonuses over the two years, totaling two thousand taels. Her shops and estates together amounted to more than four thousand taels. After deducting expenses, plus her previous savings and what she had deposited in the system, she had more than four thousand taels of silver.

She has less than 20,000 taels of silver at the moment. She can't possibly spend it all at once; she definitely needs to keep some money on hand. At most, she can take 15,000 taels. Anything more than that won't do.

If Wen Shi earns more money with her in the future, they can still change houses. It's not impossible to upgrade from a small house to a larger one. Right now, it's not worthwhile to continue renting a house in the capital and saving money.

When children are young, it doesn't matter, but when they grow up, it's different; they have to have what they're supposed to have.

“Madam, that’s perfect. A few days ago, a merchant came to me saying he wanted to sell his house. It’s not small; there are more than ten rooms in the front and an even larger backyard, which includes a small garden and five or six smaller courtyards.”

"The location is so-so, so the price is okay, 12,000."

"You don't need to buy two small ones. I think you should buy one larger one so you can easily separate them if you want."

“Previously, there was a wealthy family in the city that divided their property. The two brothers each got half of the five-acre house. They just needed to go to the government office to get a new land deed. It wasn’t difficult.”

Yingxiang nodded, indicating that she understood. She suggested that she go and take a look first, as it wouldn't hurt to see more.

The matchmaker led her toward the west side of the city.

When they arrived at the place, Yingxiang followed him inside. The house looked quite old, but the small garden in the middle was rather nice.

The matchmaker knew that she was probably considering the future, as the person in front of her might have two sons.

She had been doing this for over a decade, and had met many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, so she naturally had her own set of tricks for selling her properties and making more money.

After walking around inside and out, Yingxiang still hadn't made a decision.

The matchmaker took the opportunity to sell her another set.

Despite the large population of Beijing, many people leave the city each year, and even more need to buy houses. Over the years, she has earned quite a bit.