Sanniang dragged Jian Ning along. Business people are good at observing people's expressions. She could tell that Jian Ning was unhappy and whispered in her ear, "Don't pay attention to that stubborn old man. We bought his house, not him to order around. It's not worth getting angry with him."
Jian Ning bumped into her with his shoulder, and they smiled at each other.
Mingyue followed behind, stealing a glance at Jian Ning. She had met Jian Xiu Gu once before, when she was twelve. She and her mother had gone to the West Street market to buy vegetables. Ding Youtian and Xiu Gu were also there that day, but they were selling vegetables. Her mother recognized Ding Youtian as a former student at her family's academy, so she led her over.
She would always remember that day when Senior Brother Ding, with his narrow, long phoenix eyes, affectionately called her "Little Mingyue," saying she had grown taller and praising her for becoming more and more beautiful. When Senior Brother Ding smiled at her, his eyes seemed to speak, and his smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, warming her heart.
That day she had secretly looked at Xiu Gu who was sitting behind the vegetable stall, and was wondering who she was to Master Ding, when she heard Master Ding tell her mother that he was married and his wife was called Jian Xiu Gu. He also pulled Xiu Gu over and asked him to call her "Master's Wife".
In her memory, Ding's wife seemed different from other people. At the time, she had been hiding behind Ding, not daring to even glance at the mother and daughter. She looked completely different from the graceful and capable woman in front of her. If Sanniang hadn't called her Madam Jian, Mingyue would have suspected Ding had married a successor.
"Senior brother, are you planning to move to the town?" Mingyue asked Ding Youtian softly.
"It depends on how my wife arranges it, but probably not for the time being." Before today, Ding Youtian never knew that his wife had the idea of buying a house in the town. Now that he knew, he strongly agreed with it and quickly made plans. Since the family business could not be abandoned, the house could be rented out first. The house in this area could be rented for at least twenty taels of silver a year, and the investment would be recovered in three or four years.
"Sister-in-law, I've seen her before."
"Oh, yes, you've seen it, at Caishikou."
In fact, what Mingyue wanted to say was that what she had seen before was different from what she saw now. In fact, she didn't remember what Jian Xiu'gu looked like, but judging from her temperament, they seemed like two different people.
Meixiang was walking at the back holding Ah Man's hand. She saw the expressions on Mingyue's face when she was talking to Ding Youtian. She felt uncomfortable no matter how she looked at them. She secretly cursed Mingyue for being shameless and a vixen. Brother Ding was a married man, so she was not qualified to seduce him!
Many people will automatically avoid their own behavior when criticizing others. Meixiang is one of them. She forgot that she was also thinking about Ding Youtian, and she was thinking that she would have to remind Jian Ning later not to let Mingyue take advantage of the opportunity.
The Qin family's backyard was immaculately kept. In the center was a square courtyard. To the right of the courtyard, near the steps, was a deep well. Above the steps on the left, a vegetable patch grew lush green radishes. Next to the vegetable patch was a latrine. Through the crack under the door, one could see lime powder sprinkled inside to prevent insects and decay.
"Go to the kitchen and take a look." Aunt Feng liked the twins Erniu and Sanniu very much and always held their hands.
The Qin family's kitchen was also large, with a long chopping board running down the middle and two wooden basins specifically for washing vegetables. Next to the kitchen was the dining room, which was also spacious, with a small dining table, a few small stools, and a chest of drawers. Jian Ning guessed they were used as a cupboard, likely filled with dishes.
In addition to the kitchen and dining room, there are three larger utility rooms in the backyard, which are either piled with various fabrics or hung with finished clothes.
"Some people haven't come to pick up their clothes yet after they've had them made." Aunt Feng smiled when she saw Jane Ning looking at the clothes.
"Shall I take you upstairs to have a look?" When she asked this question, she first looked at Jian Ning, and then at Ding Youtian, asking for their opinions.
Sanniang patted Jian Ning's shoulder and said, "There's no one guarding my shop, so I won't go up with you. It's the same as having Mingyue accompany you. I'll wait for you in my shop. Come to my place later."
"Okay, go ahead."
Jian Ning nodded with a smile. She and Ding Youtian were quite satisfied after looking at the yard downstairs. Aunt Feng led them upstairs. Da Niu and the others had never seen a two-story house before, and the three of them were very curious. Just by looking at the smiles on their faces, Jian Ning knew that her three daughters liked it very much.
There are four bedrooms upstairs, and a corridor facing the street. Outside the windows are several bamboo poles. Aunt Feng said, "You can hang clothes and bedding here to dry, but I always move the bedding directly to the patio to dry."
She showed them the four rooms one by one: "This is where my husband and I live, this is where my son lives, this is where my son studies, and this is where my two daughters lived before they got married."
Jian Ning and Ding Youtian looked at each other and both felt that it was impeccable. Now it depended on whether others were willing to sell it to them.
"Aunt Qin." Before Jian Ning and the others could speak, Mingyue opened her red lips and asked, "If my senior brothers want to buy it, is the price negotiable?"
What she asked was also what Jane Ning wanted to ask, and she couldn't help but give her a grateful glance with a smile.
Aunt Feng laughed and said, "Don't worry if you laugh at me. I can't make the decision on this matter. I need my husband's approval. But in my opinion, it's not a big deal. If he had any reluctance to sell you, he wouldn't have let me bring you to see it."
She was quite satisfied with Jian Ning's family. After saying that, she looked at Mei Xiang and asked Jian Ning, "Is this your sister or..."
Ah Man said, "No, this is Sister Mei Xiang. I am Ah Man, Huo Ah Man."
"Auntie." The girl said with a smile, "Sister Meixiang and Sister Aman are our guests."
Erniu: "We have an older brother who is studying in town."
Sanniu: "My brother's name is Ding Cheng, also called Dabao."
Aunt Feng nodded and said, "Okay, okay, your family of six should have enough space. Let's go down and ask the stubborn old man for his advice."
When going downstairs, Jane Ning deliberately slowed down. As soon as she slowed down, Ding Youtian looked back at her, and she took the opportunity to wink at him.
Their eyes met, and with just one glance, Jian Ning knew he understood her. Perhaps it was the tacit understanding they'd developed from raising children together day and night; often, a single glance would tell each other what they meant. She told him that if Old Qin didn't want to, she wouldn't force him. Although she loved the place, and her three daughters liked it too, buying a house wasn't a priority right now. If someone wasn't willing to sell, why force them?
To Jian Ning's surprise, when Aunt Feng asked Old Qin for his opinion, he didn't even raise his head and just said, "You decide."
"You old fool, if you let me decide, I'll sell it to them." Aunt Feng tugged at Erniu and Sanniu's hands. "Not only that, but considering the two kids' father is my son's classmate, I'll make the decision. One hundred and twenty taels, is that okay?"
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