Chapter 54 Purchasing Land
Even small changes can significantly improve one's quality of life.
Jiang Yuan thought that since he and Xie Wanniang didn't lack the extra money to renovate, why didn't they build their future home more comfortable?
The two hit it off immediately. After Xie Wanniang's house construction sketches were finalized, Jiang Yuan began arranging to order craftsmen, laborers, earthwork, bricks, tiles, timber, lime, tung oil, and so on.
As for Xie Wanniang, after preparing clothes, bedding and other items for Hao Yu, she made an appointment with Jiang Yuan, her "bodyguard," and wrapped herself up tightly before heading to Tang County to find a broker.
The two went to buy land. In the past six months, Xie Wanniang had been collecting herbs and doing embroidery, working from dawn to dusk every day, and finally saved up more than 230 taels of silver.
This was only because Madam Qin assigned her a job with a hush money fee; otherwise, she could work herself to death and still not save that much money.
With her savings, Xie Wanniang planned to use thirty taels to build a house, and the remaining two hundred taels to buy land.
Jiang Yuan had been saving money for longer than her and had much more savings, but he didn't plan to use all his savings to buy land and build houses.
The two approached a broker recommended by Hao Yu, who had a good reputation. After explaining their purpose, the broker took them to a piece of unclaimed, high-quality farmland near Mingfu Village.
After a long day of running around, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan finally bought a 40-mu (approximately 2.6 acres) plot of prime farmland located between Mingfu Village and Shangzhuang Village.
Xie Wanniang had limited assets. Although the land near Mingfu Village was not expensive, her two hundred taels of silver were only enough for her to buy a maximum of thirteen mu of high-quality land.
Xie Wanniang didn't really like the number thirteen, so she ultimately chose to buy only twelve acres.
The remaining 28 mu were bought by Jiang Yuan.
The two men's fields were now connected, which pleased Jiang Yuan greatly.
According to the number of acres they each wanted to buy, Xie Wanniang took out 180 taels of silver, and Jiang Yuan took out four 100-tael silver notes and 20 taels of silver. After counting them, they handed them over to the broker.
Upon returning to the county town, the two gave the broker and the officials and clerks of the yamen some loose silver.
The payment given to the broker was the agreed-upon fee, while the payment given to the staff inside the government office was a handling fee and a service fee for the other party to help exchange the contract.
When the two men and the broker came out of the yamen, it was already completely dark and the city gates were tightly closed.
The broker warmly invited them to stay at his home for the night, but Jiang Yuan thanked him and shook his head in refusal.
Although he did not accept the house that Hao Yu gave him, it was still fine for him to stay there for one night occasionally.
Not to mention that there are plenty of inns in this county town, so there's really no need for them to go to the home of a broker they don't know well and cause them unnecessary trouble.
After seeing the broker off, Jiang Yuan asked Xie Wanniang, who was looking around curiously, "Would you like to stay at an inn or Uncle Hao's house?"
Xie Wanniang knew Hao Yu was capable, so she wasn't surprised that he had a house in the county town. After thinking for a moment, she asked Jiang Yuan, "Does Uncle Hao's house have bedding?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head. "No, there's only a small amount of furniture left by the previous owner of the house. But this county town sells everything, so we can go buy some now before curfew."
Xie Wanniang smiled and refused, "Then let's go stay at an inn instead."
Buying bedding on the spot isn't a problem, but the house has been uninhabited for a long time and hasn't been cleaned in advance. When they arrive, they'll definitely have to buy firewood, boil water, and clean the house first, which is a hassle just thinking about it.
Jiang Yuan hesitated, "Are you sure you can do it?"
Xie Wanniang nodded vigorously, "Although I am not good at martial arts, I am proficient in pharmacology."
Given her preparations, she is confident that anyone who tries to take advantage of her will not escape unscathed.
Besides, Jiang Yuan could stay next door to her. If she were in real danger at night, Jiang Yuan could rush over to her rescue in time.
As the two walked down the street, Xie Wanniang chattered away, subtly revealing her plan to Jiang Yuan.
Incidentally, she also bought steamed rice cake, crispy pork, and two large bowls of fresh pork wontons. While they were still hot, she and Jiang Yuan sat down at the wonton stall, where there were no other customers, and ate until they were stuffed.
After finishing their meal, they paid the vendor before he closed up shop, and then strolled over to Laifu Inn, which was located not far from the wonton stall.
Laifu Inn not only has an old-fashioned name, but the owner and staff also look lazy and forced to work. However, their attitude towards guests and the cleanliness of the inn are still commendable.
After Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan checked in, the waiter quickly brought them a hot water bottle, hot water for washing, and clean towels. Xie Wanniang didn't smell anything strange in the room, so she lifted the quilt to take a look and found that the bedding, while not very clean, didn't have any obvious dust or stains.
When traveling, not getting dirty is already a pleasant surprise for Xie Wanniang; she dares not expect anything more.
After quickly washing up in the slightly smaller standard single room, Xie Wanniang lifted the covers and crawled inside.
The inn's blankets were thick, and the inside, warmed by a hot water bottle, was very cozy.
Xie Wanniang first moved the hot water bottle to a spot that hadn't been dried yet so it could continue to heat up, and then carefully lay down on it.
She hid the newly issued land deed carefully, while the self-defense powder was placed in her most easily accessible left sleeve pocket.
Xie Wanniang fell asleep shortly after lying down; she was exhausted after a long day of running around.
Jiang Yuan, who lived next door to her, also closed his eyes, but he wasn't as carefree as Xie Wanniang. Only when it was completely quiet outside and no guests or staff were walking around did Jiang Yuan finally fall asleep fully clothed.
One of them goes to bed early, and the other goes to bed late, but they wake up at roughly the same time.
It wasn't that their biological clocks were working, but rather that they both heard strange noises coming from the inn's corridor.
At first, there was a slight creak as the wooden door opened. The sound was nothing unusual, and although the two heard it, they didn't pay much attention to it. However, soon after, they heard a thud, a dull thud as if a heavy object had fallen to the ground.
Jiang Yuan reacted the fastest; he quickly put on his shoes, got out of bed, opened the door, and went out.
At this moment, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and only a little sunlight was coming through the windows on both sides of the corridor. He could only vaguely see a thin figure lying on the ground.
Xie Wanniang, who followed him out of the room, carried a lit oil lamp.
The two approached the figure and found that he was still conscious, but he was curled up like a shrimp in pain and couldn't get up on his own.
Seeing him clutching his stomach, grimacing and trying to endure the pain, Xie Wanniang instinctively asked, "Uncle, where does it hurt?"
Uncle, "Belly, belly."
Xie Wanniang: ......
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