Chapter 38 Frosty Dawn (Part 8) It's me.

“Young lady, you don’t often come here, do you? The Yanqing Ward is just ahead,” Manager Sun pointed ahead. “This courtyard is right next to the ward wall and the Qinghuai River, making it convenient for transporting goods. It’s the quietest place imaginable!”

Ye Mu's doubts deepened.

She wasn't some naive young lady; she knew all too well that this place, so close to the docks and situated in a corner of the neighborhood, was a melting pot of all sorts of people and far from quiet and safe.

After traveling for a while, Manager Sun finally stopped in front of a small courtyard with a low wall.

The gate was an ordinary wooden door, the paint was peeling off a bit, but it looked sturdy. He took out his key and opened the door while saying, "Young lady, please take a look. This courtyard may not be luxurious, but it has everything you need."

It wasn't just not luxurious, it was downright dilapidated and shabby.

The courtyard was pitifully small, with only enough space for three or four people to barely turn around. Any more people would have to squeeze out of the gate. In the corner, there were some miscellaneous items whose original appearance was indistinguishable, simply covered with a tattered straw mat. The main house had three rooms, and although the window paper was newly pasted, it was crooked and uneven.

A corner of the courtyard wall was covered with dense moss, and there were obvious signs of water stains and dampness at the base of the wall. This place is too close to the Qinghuai River. It is damp in the summer and cold in the winter. How could my mother bear it?

As expected, it's the mouth of a liar, a deceitful devil.

“Madam, don’t be fooled by the current unassuming appearance of this courtyard,” Manager Sun said, noticing her silence, and hurriedly led her into the house. “Look at the beams and pillars in this house, they are all made of good wood! The owner put a lot of effort into building the house, and with a little tidying up, it will surely look brand new.”

As he spoke, he strode into the main room, forcefully pushed open the window facing the river, and leaned half his body out of the window. "Young lady, come and see! Every morning when you open the window, you can take in the entire view of the Qinghuai River and feel the cool breeze. How pleasant is that? This is a real river view room, which is hard to find in Yanqingfang!"

Before Ye Mu even got close, he could smell the fishy stench of the river water even stronger. He frowned and looked out the window. Near the bank, some rotten leaves and debris were floating on the surface of the water, slowly swirling around.

Ye Mu was almost laughing in anger. She was truly eloquent, able to describe such a dilapidated courtyard as a paradise.

"Manager Sun, are you taking advantage of my young age and inability to judge the quality of a house?"

Shopkeeper Sun's smile froze. "What makes you say that, young lady? This house may be a bit old, and the cabinets a bit outdated, but the frame is fine. With a little tidying up, why can't people live here?"

“Being near the river and in a low-lying area, the walls are so damp, and the beams and tiles are also damaged. How can this be solved by simply fixing it up?” Ye Mu walked outside. “If we want to repair it completely, hire craftsmen, do moisture protection, and re-roof it, the cost will probably be more than a year’s rent. I dare not rent this house.”

Seeing that Ye Mu was determined to leave, Manager Sun quickly followed her out of the alley. "Young lady, please wait. It was my oversight that I failed to explain the situation of the house clearly. I have a few other good properties that I guarantee will be better than that one."

He only thought the girl was young and that the commission was high, so he recommended this place. Who would have thought that this young lady had a sharp eye and was not someone who could be easily fooled? He didn't dare to be careless and hurriedly pulled out a brand-new catalog from his sleeve. "Look at this place, in Sweetwater Lane, facing south and sunny, it was just renovated last year..."

"No need."

Ye Mu didn't stop walking, sidestepping the booklet he handed her. She could no longer trust someone who was deliberately trying to cheat her on their first meeting.

Manager Sun, however, was quick to read the room and knew that the deal was hopeless. He pressed on, saying, "It doesn't matter if we can't rent the house! If you need to hire someone in the future, whether it's a laundry and sewing woman or a doorman or a servant, I know some reliable people with clean backgrounds, and we can discuss the wages."

Ye Mu seemed not to hear him, and even after walking away, he could still hear him shouting at the top of his lungs, "If any young lady has men in her family who are looking for work, I can recommend them to be accountants at the shop or clerks at the mansion!"

What a shrewd businessman!

When Ye Mu returned to the inn, Zi Jing was carrying an empty medicine bowl out of her room. Seeing Ye Mu return, she hurriedly went to greet her, "Miss is back? Did everything go smoothly?"

Ye Mu entered the room, removed his veil, shook his head, and briefly recounted his encounter with Manager Sun and his visit to the dilapidated courtyard.

Zijing was furious. "These brokers are good at judging people by their appearance! They see that the girl is young and delicate, so they try to fool her with this kind of rags."

"Tomorrow I'll go wander around those old alleys in the west of the city again and see if there are any families who have posted 'For Rent' signs directly on their doors, without having to go through a broker."

“Miss, let me go! You are, after all, a pampered young lady raised in the noble family. How can you act like an ordinary commoner and mingle in the marketplace? If your old acquaintances see you like this, who knows what they will say about you and how they will humiliate you!”

"I've been kicked out of the Marquis's mansion, what kind of young lady am I now?" Ye Mu gulped down a bowl of water and waved her hand. "From now on, I'm just Ye Mu, an ordinary citizen who has to earn a living with my own hands."

She said, "Besides, I've personally handled the accounts of the estate and the Marquis's shop over the years. I know more about the market and prices in the capital than you do, so I won't be easily fooled."

Besides, she had dealt with these people in her previous life, so she had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Ye Mu got up, walked to the bedside, and reached out to feel Liu's forehead. "Mother got caught in the rain yesterday and has a slight fever again, but fortunately it's not too high."

She looked at Zijing and said, "When it comes to taking care of people, you are more meticulous and skillful than me. You are ten times more reliable than me in decocting medicine, feeding soup, wiping and changing clothes. In the current situation, Mother cannot do without you."

"Don't worry, Ah Jing, I will find the house."

However, even so, Ye Mu was still apprehensive. Judging from the timeline of his departure from the Marquis's residence, it was much earlier than in his previous life. Many people and things had not yet reached the point where he would have encountered them in his previous life. This search for a residence would probably be more difficult than he had anticipated.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ye Mu went out. She deliberately chose to walk through alleys that looked clean and the residents seemed decent, paying attention to the lintels of each house.

Occasionally, you can see one or two faded red papers, either because they have been rented out long ago and forgotten to be torn up, or because they are located near a noisy market, or because the courtyard is small and dark, not much better than the dilapidated courtyard by the river.

There were two places that looked alright, but upon inquiring, I learned that the neighbor on the left was a butcher who slaughtered pigs and sheep every day before dawn, making a terrible racket. The other place was next door to a drunken widower, so I knew I couldn't live there.

After a day of running around, Ye Mu's legs ached, and all his efforts were in vain.

When they returned to the inn in the evening, Zijing saw that she looked tired and didn't ask any more questions. She just silently handed her some warm water and said softly, "Miss, have some water and rest."

"Fourth Sister is back," Liu asked from behind the screen, hearing the noise.

"Mother," Ye Mu stepped in and sat down by the bed, "Do you feel any better?"

"I'm much better, but I'm still a little weak." Liu leaned against the couch, her lips still pale, but her eyes were clearer. She gently squeezed Ye Mu's hand, her gaze sweeping over Ye Mu's dusty skirt. "I'm sorry you had to go through all this trouble."

Ye Mu shook his head, "My daughter isn't suffering."

She carefully examined her mother's complexion and noticed that the bluish-gray under her eyes had faded slightly. Then she turned to Zijing, who was standing beside her, and said, "Zijing, I see that there is only one dose of the calming decoction left. Tomorrow, take five qian of silver from the money box and go to Renjitang to get a few more doses."

“I’ve noted it down,” Zijing replied, then added softly, “I’ve already instructed the inn’s kitchen to prepare rice porridge, along with steamed perch and fresh bean sprouts, all prepared lightly as instructed by the doctor.”

Just as the sun was setting, the waiter brought in a food box for dinner.

The three moved to the outer room and saw three dishes and a porridge on a black lacquered square table. The rice porridge in the white porcelain bowl was cooked until the rice grains were fully popped, the perch in the celadon plate was simply steamed with shredded ginger, and there was also a plate of bright green stir-fried bean sprouts.

Ye Mu picked up the bamboo chopsticks, carefully removed the fish bones, and placed the snow-white fish meat into his mother's bowl. Liu's appetite was slightly better today; she ate half a bowl of porridge with bean sprouts and then tasted a few more bites of fish meat.

Ye Mu told his mother about some interesting things he saw and heard in the city, but avoided mentioning the difficulty of finding a house.

But how could Liu not know? She put down her chopsticks and said, "Fourth Sister, why don't we move back to the old house in the south of the city? It's a ready-made place to live. We can stay there for a few days and move out when we find a suitable place."

“We can’t go to that old house.” Ye Mu waved his hand. “Mother, if we really move into that dilapidated ancestral house, it will just suit Aunt’s wishes. It will preserve the dignity of the Marquis’s mansion, but it will also make us suffer. I don’t want to suffer that again.”

She picked up the spoon and added another half spoonful of porridge to Liu's bowl. "Since the bone is broken, why keep the rotten flesh attached? Now that we're out here, it's only right that we find a stable and long-term place to live."

Seeing that Ye Mu was determined, Liu stopped trying to persuade her. After Ye Mu went to bed, she sat at the table and counted the remaining money by lamplight.

Zijing counted on her fingers, “Miss, the room rate at this inn is half a guan a day, which is five hundred wen, but meals are not included. For breakfast, we have porridge and pancakes, which is fifteen wen per person. For lunch and dinner, we have one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, which are sixty wen each. The total cost for three meals is one hundred and sixty-five wen. In addition, the lady’s daily medicine costs eighty-five wen. So, the daily expenses are seven hundred and fifty wen.”

She worriedly said, "If we can't find a place to stay, this amount of cash will only last for about forty days at most, not even counting the medical expenses if I get a headache or fever."

"I'll go to the south of the city to inquire again tomorrow," Ye Mu said. "There are many young people there, and they all rent rooms, so I'll be able to find one."

She carefully wrapped up the broken silver. If all else failed, she would pawn the pair of red gold filigree hairpins, which her older brother had given her when she came of age. If she pawned them, she could get at least twenty or thirty taels of silver.

On the morning of the third day, before dawn, Ye Mu quietly got up. Seeing that her mother and Zijing were still asleep, she did not disturb them, but simply fastened her blue gauze hat and left the inn alone.

The morning market in the south of the city was already bustling with people and wisps of smoke rising from cooking fires.

She found a tea stall by the street, sat down on a wooden bench in the corner, and ordered the cheapest coarse tea for breakfast. The waiter poured hot water from a long-spouted copper kettle, and the tea leaves slowly unfurled in the earthenware bowl.

Ye Mu lowered his head and slowly blew on the tea foam, while carefully listening to the sounds around him. In such bustling places, one could often hear the most authentic news from the common people.

The sound of conversation from the next table drifted over intermittently at that moment.

“…Brother Feng, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but renting for 32 for two years is really three to five taels more expensive than the nearby courtyards.” The speaker was a young man wearing an indigo short jacket, his brows furrowed. “That courtyard is tidy, but I have young children to raise and an elderly mother to support. This price is beyond my means. Can’t we discuss it further?”

Across from him sat a man in a worn blue cloth robe, around twenty-five years old, with a thin face. Upon hearing this, he gently put down his teacup. “Brother Li, it’s not that I, Feng, deliberately raised the price. The owner of that house is a distant cousin of mine. Before leaving, he repeatedly told me that thirty taels was the bottom line.”

He said in a gentle voice, "To be honest, I am new to this business and this is my first time making a connection. This is purely to help a relative with some money. I will only take a small amount of money for the journey and will never dare to ask for an exorbitant price."

He looked up at the other person, his gaze earnest. "You've seen that courtyard with your own eyes. It faces south, with sturdy beams and pillars in the three main rooms, and the kitchen in the west wing is also spacious. What's most precious is that the neighbor on the left is a teacher from the academy, and the neighbor on the right is the owner of a pharmacy. They are both quiet and honest people, and such a quiet courtyard is most suitable for living. Moreover, your child is still an infant. When he can run and jump in the future, that little courtyard will be enough for him to play in."

The young man looked troubled. “That makes sense, but it’s still too expensive. I thought that since we know each other, it might be cheaper. If it were twenty-two or twenty-three taels, we could settle on it directly. But… sigh! Besides, Brother Feng, you’re new to this business, and you don’t have a proper broker’s credentials. I’m still not entirely comfortable with the documents and contracts.”

He shook his head, stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Forget it, Brother Feng, let me think about it some more."

The man in the blue robe did not insist on keeping him any longer and rose to return the greeting.

Only after the man's figure disappeared into the crowd did he slowly sit down, look at the bowl of coarse tea in front of him that had long since gone cold, and sigh softly.

Ye Mu took a sip of hot tea, which warmed her body and mind.

She understood that the two were not arguing about the quality of the house, but rather about the price. It sounded like a quiet place with reliable neighbors, suitable for her mother to recuperate.

However, she only had twenty-five taels of silver on hand, but if they discussed it properly, it might not be impossible to succeed.

Ye Mu placed the tea money on the table, straightened her clothes, and slowly walked over.

"Greetings, sir." She gave a slight curtsy, her voice calm. "I overheard you mentioning that you seem to have rooms for rent?"

The man in the blue robe looked up at the sound.

In an instant, Ye Mu was surprised.

Mr. Feng is actually Manager Feng.

Although she was much younger than she remembered, her gentle features clearly resembled those of Manager Feng from her past life, who had taken care of everything for her.

It's truly a case of searching high and low only to find the person right before your eyes.

Ye Muxin immediately felt relieved. She had dealt with him before and knew that he was honest and humble. What he said must be true. If he said that a house was good, then it must be good.

She smiled and sat down on the bench opposite him. "I'll rent it."

Mr. Feng, whose name was Feng Yan, did not immediately rejoice upon hearing this. Instead, his expression became even more serious. “Young lady, you are straightforward. However, renting a house is no small matter. We need to see it in person and understand the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision. The house is in Yuqian Lane, not far from here. If you have time, young lady, you can go and take a look now.”

"Thank you for showing me the way, Mr. Feng."

The two walked through the bustling morning market and turned into a quiet alley.

At the entrance of the alley, there was a roast chicken shop with a roaring fire, the aroma of charred meat wafting in the wind. The alley was named Elm Seed, which was quite fitting, as the branches and leaves of a few old elm trees peeked over the wall, casting dappled shadows.

Feng Yan stopped in front of a black lacquered wooden door. The door knocker was an ordinary brass ring, but it was clean. He took out the key, unlocked the door, and stepped aside to let Ye Mu go first.

"Please take a look, young lady."

The yard is small and can be seen at a glance, but it is kept clean and tidy.

The floor was paved with blue bricks, and some moss grew in the gaps, but there was no feeling of water accumulation or dampness. The main house had three rooms, and the windows were bright and clean, with the window paper neatly pasted on.

There is an old pomegranate tree on the east side, and a small flower bed built in the corner of the west wall. Although it is empty, it is neatly arranged. It has its own courtyard wall, which completely separates it from the neighbors. It is a quiet little world.

“The main houses all face south, so they’re warm in winter. The kitchen is over there,” Feng Yan pointed out to her. “It’s small, but well-ventilated. The well is shared by several families and is in the middle of the alley, so it’s quite convenient.”

Ye Mu nodded and went inside. The roof beams were made of sturdy pine wood, the floor was flat, and the walls had no obvious cracks or damp stains.

She pushed open the window of the main room, which faced the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, offering a wide view and good air circulation.

"My left neighbor is a teacher surnamed Zheng who teaches at a nearby academy; my right neighbor is the Zhao family, the manager of Baohetang. It's convenient for me to consult a doctor if I have a minor ailment like a headache or an upset stomach."

Ye Mu was already seven or eight parts satisfied.

“Mr. Feng, I really like this courtyard,” Ye Mu said. “But I just heard that the annual rent is thirty taels?”

Zhou Yan nodded, his expression calm. "It is indeed the lowest price of thirty taels. The landlord insists on this amount, and not a penny less."

“Okay, I won’t negotiate the price with Mr. Feng.” Ye Mu nodded and discussed with him, “But could the rent be paid every six months?”

Feng Yan was taken aback.

Ye Mu frankly said, “Mr. Feng, I do have some cash on hand. If I pay thirty taels in one lump sum, I will be short of money for household items and daily expenses. If I pay every six months, I will pay fifteen taels upfront and sign a written contract promising that if I do not renew the lease after six months, I will pay one month’s rent as compensation for breach of contract. In this way, the landlord will be protected, and I will be able to make ends meet.”

Seeing Feng Yan's hesitant expression, she added, "I believe you are a man of integrity, and I am willing to treat you with the same sincerity. My mother and a maid live with me; they are both law-abiding and will surely take good care of this house."

He was not an indecisive person, but since it was his first time handling this matter, he inevitably had to think it over repeatedly.

Feng Yan's gaze fell once again on the young lady wearing a green gauze hat. She was tall and straight like a slender bamboo, and even standing in this slightly desolate courtyard, she did not appear the slightest bit awkward. Her words were clear and logical, and she analyzed the advantages and disadvantages clearly. She was by no means the kind of person who would argue unreasonably or be naive and ignorant.

Paying every six months... this is indeed different from the usual rental rules.

He weighed the options in his mind. His uncle had only insisted on the annual rent of thirty taels, without explicitly stating that it had to be paid in full at once. If there was a written contract specifying the penalties for breach of contract, it would serve as a kind of protection.

Thinking of this, Feng Yan no longer hesitated. "In that case, we shall follow your wishes and agree to pay every six months, with an initial payment of fifteen taels. The penalty for breach of contract shall be calculated as one month's rent, as you have said."

He took out the contract and the writing brush and ink carefully stored in a cloth cover from his worn-out satchel, and gestured towards the stone bench, "Young lady, please sit here for a while."

Feng Yan brushed the fallen leaves off the stone table with his sleeve and spread out the paper. This was originally prepared for Brother Li that morning. They both worked at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and had worked together for several years. A few days ago, Brother Li was frowning over the matter of finding a house. When he mentioned his cousin's courtyard, Brother Li praised it highly. He thought that this rental was a sure thing, so he prepared these in advance.

Unexpectedly, the person who ultimately rented the courtyard was a young woman he had never met before. Life's twists and turns are truly unpredictable.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and said as he wrote, "I, Feng, will now add the breach of contract details to the contract, specifying the payment method and breach of contract details. Please wait a moment, my lady."

After the ink dried, both parties solemnly signed their names at the end of the contract. Each of them kept a copy of the contract. Then, Feng Yan went with Ye Mu to the inn to collect the money. He accepted three ingots of silver and placed the copper key in Ye Mu's hand.

"In that case, the transaction is complete." Feng Yan cupped his hands in greeting. "May you and your family live peacefully and happily in this courtyard."

After seeing Feng Yan off, Ye Mu returned to her room and placed the bunch of keys on the table. Zi Jing was helping Liu Shi out of the inner room when she immediately noticed the bright yellow keys and couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Miss is really amazing! In just three days, she has already rented a room she likes."

Ye Mu felt much more relaxed and had the leisure to tease her, "A-Jing hasn't even glanced at the courtyard, how do you know it's definitely to her liking?"

“If the young lady finds it agreeable, then this servant is naturally agreeable as well,” Zijing said with a smile. “Besides, the young lady has such high standards; if it weren’t the best, you wouldn’t have made a decision so easily.”

Ye Mu smiled and said to Liu Shi, "Mother, now that it's settled, let's move there this afternoon. The new house is in Yuqian Lane, a quiet little courtyard. Although the furniture is old, it's all there. Moving a day earlier will save us a day's shop rent."

Liu naturally had no choice but to comply.

In the afternoon, Ye Mu hired a small covered cart and drove towards Yuqian Lane in the south of the city.

After about fifteen minutes of travel, Zijing lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to let in some fresh air, gazing at the gradually changing street scene outside, and said softly, "This is really not close to the inn we stayed at before. Did you walk here this morning, young lady?"

Ye Mu shook his head, afraid that his mother would feel sorry for him. "How could I walk that far? I took a ride on an oxcart at the street corner. It didn't take much walking."

She didn't want to say more on the topic, and just then the car turned into the entrance of Yuqian Lane.

Although the courtyard is tidy, it has been vacant for some time and still needs a thorough cleaning.

Zijing deftly began packing her luggage, starting a fire to brew medicine, and cleaning the courtyard, while Ye Mu took her purse and went out to buy daily necessities.

She had rented a house in the south of the city in her previous life, so she was quite familiar with the area.

Ye Mu first went to a familiar cloth shop and picked out four affordable coarse silk quilts. The quilts were filled with hemp and inferior cotton, and they felt a bit stiff, but they were enough to keep warm. Each quilt cost 300 coins. He also bought three cloth pillows filled with buckwheat hulls, each costing 150 coins.

Seeing that it was difficult for her, a woman, to shop alone, the shopkeeper offered to have his servant deliver the items to Yuqian Lane.

Next, she went to the general store on East Street. Iron pots were the biggest expense; a medium-sized cast iron pot cost one or three taels of silver. She also selected more than a dozen ordinary earthenware bowls and coarse porcelain plates, as well as a kitchen knife, cutting board, wooden bucket, water ladle, broom, winnowing basket, and a rather large earthenware rice jar... All sorts of things filled the several bundles she had brought.

The hustle and bustle continued until dusk, when the courtyard finally began to feel the warmth of human presence.

There wasn't time to start a fire and cook, so Ye Mu asked Zijing to buy some steamed buns and a few light side dishes at the alley entrance. The three of them made do for their first night in their new home.

The next day, seeing that Liu's complexion had improved and she was able to get out of bed and walk around for a while, Ye Mu felt a little relieved. He then took Zijing to the nearby vegetable market and bought some seasonal vegetables and a live fish, intending to nourish his mother.

As Ye Mu passed by the roast chicken shop at the alley entrance, the aroma of roasted chicken wafted through the air, and he couldn't help but swallow hard before turning his gaze away.

As evening fell, Zijing was slicing fish, Ye Mu was trying to start a fire, and there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.

Upon opening the door, it was Feng Yan, wearing a worn-out dark blue cotton shirt and carrying a woodworking box on his shoulder.

"Mr. Feng?" Ye Mu was somewhat surprised.

Feng Yan said gently, “Madam Ye, I noticed the other day that the tenons of those two wooden chairs in the room were a bit loose, and the table corners weren’t very stable either. I finished my shift early today, so I came over to take a look and did some minor repairs so they’ll be more stable to use.”

He paused, then said, "I came from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion; it's not too far."

Ye Mu hurriedly invited the person in, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness.

She watched Feng Yan squatting on the ground, skillfully inspecting and tapping. Noticing an inconspicuous patch of the same color on his elbow, she took the opportunity while handing him water to sincerely say, "Mr. Feng is a man of integrity, and he is so thorough and meticulous in his work. The terms were clearly written when we signed the contract that day, and today you have come here specifically to repair these trivial matters. You are truly quite adept at handling this rental agency business."

Observing his expression, she said, "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is certainly a safe path, but if you are interested, perhaps you could consider working full-time in the brokerage business? It is not easy to live in the capital, and the demand for renting and buying is extremely high. Although there are many brokerages on the market, they are of varying quality, and many of them cheat newcomers and overcharge. A kind person like you will surely win a good reputation."

She recalled the once bustling and reputable Feng's Brokerage Firm from her past life, and was convinced that such a person should have started his own business early on and earned the wealth he deserved.

Her pointing out his mistake at this moment can be seen as bringing about a good relationship.

Feng Yan paused as he took the bowl of water, a glint of surprise flashing in his eyes as if his thoughts had been exposed. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you for your suggestion, Madam Ye. I will consider this matter."

Feng Yan did not stay long. After repairing the tables and chairs, he took his leave, being very polite. By the time the three of them had finished their meal, it was already dark.

Ye Mu sat under the lamp, taking out the remaining silver coins from the money box one by one, and then took out the small abacus he always carried with him, his fingers flying across the keys. In the past two days, he had spent more than two taels of silver on bedding and pillows, and more than two taels of silver on pots, pans, kitchen knives, cutting boards, rice containers and other miscellaneous items. In total, he had spent nearly five taels of silver.

Zijing watched from the side, feeling a pang of heartache. "That night at Yunjian Pavilion, we spent five taels of silver in one night, enough to furnish this entire house."

The extravagance of that night felt like a distant memory. Ye Mu smiled and said, "I guess I showed A-Jing the world, so it wasn't a loss."

All that was left was a single silver ingot. Looking at her meager savings, Ye Mu decided to go out and find a way to make a living. Staying at home would only lead to them running out of money, and in a few days, they wouldn't even be able to afford their meager meals.

The next day, she found Manager Sun again.

The echoes of that day still reached Ye Mu's ears. Although Ye Mu had no liking for his cunning and shrewdness, the financial hardship was more real than any preference.

She had no choice but to try anything, "Manager Sun, the other day you said you knew owners of various businesses and could recommend people to work as accountants in your shops?"

Fortunately, although Manager Sun was cunning, he wasn't arrogant when business was happening. Despite the previous unpleasantness, he didn't slack off and greeted her warmly, "Yes, yes! Which young master in your family is looking for a job? How old are you? Have you studied? How good are you at arithmetic? Do you have any experience working or managing accounts in any shop or household?"

His pen hovered over the paper, ready to be written.

“It’s not my lord.” Ye Mu untied the hatband from her chin, slowly removed the veil, revealing her beautiful face. She pointed to herself, “It’s me.”

"I need to find a way to make a living."

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Author's Note: Master is coming in the next chapter! Thanks for reading and adding to your favorites! [Keep it up!]