Chapter 13 Buying a House 1
They had slept a lot on the boat these days, so they took a hot bath and changed into clean clothes, feeling much better.
Thinking that they would settle down in Dongping County in the future, and if it were just her and Konjac living together in the future, they would have to change the habits they had developed in the inner house and learn to go out like ordinary women.
Simply changing into clothes for going out, Cui Qingyi took Konjac downstairs and they sat down by the window in the downstairs hall. The waiter came over with a very discerning look.
"Would you two like to have lunch? We have fresh fish, shrimp and crabs in our restaurant. What would you like to eat?"
Cui Qingyi ordered a steamed fish and small river shrimps, and two vegetables.
While waiting for her food to be served, Cui Qingyi observed the diners in the restaurant. There were both men and women diners. It wasn't common for two women to travel together like she and Konjac, but it was not uncommon.
There were pedestrians coming and going on the street, and there were also many unmarried women and women selling goods at stalls.
Cui Qingyi felt relieved. It seemed that the farther away from Qinghe City, the greater the freedom a woman would have. She had made the right decision to come to Dongping County.
While the dishes were being served, Cui Qingyi took the initiative to talk to the waiter: "Brother, my sister and I are in Dongping County for the first time. I wonder who our county magistrate is?"
Cui Qingyi did not ask this question casually, but she heard several guests at other tables mention the magistrate of Dongping County in their conversation, and they seemed to be quite respectful to him.
When the waiter heard the customer asking about their county magistrate, he immediately smiled broadly. "Our county magistrate's surname is Zhou. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Chengping. He is a very powerful figure. Since County Magistrate Zhou came to our Dongping County, everyone's life has become much better than before."
Seeing Cui Qingyi listening attentively, the waiter was about to say a few more words when he heard a voice urging him from the kitchen. He responded loudly and hurriedly said:
"Enjoy your meal. Call me if you need anything."
After getting the information she wanted, Cui Qingyi didn't ask any more questions. Konjac's eyes sparkled, "Miss, I feel like the people here are quite different from those back there."
Cui Qingyi smiled and asked, "What's the difference?"
Konjac rubbed his head, feeling somewhat distressed. "I can't really explain it, but I just feel like they're different from the people in the Cui Mansion and the Chen Family."
After hearing what Konjac said, Cui Qingyi smiled.
Konjac saw it and immediately said, "Miss, you are very different from when you were in the Cui and Chen families. You never smiled like this before."
Cui Qingyi understood what Konjac meant. Although the Linshui Cui family had a distant relationship with the main family, it was a branch of a large family after all, and its ancestors had been wealthy. Even though Cui Jin was now only a ninth-rank clerk in the county government, his family still had no shortage of houses, servants, and land.
The Chen family is even better, as Chen Linan's uncle holds an important position in the capital.
Such families are very different from ordinary people in Dongping County. The things they need to worry about every day are different, and naturally their mental outlook and state are also different.
As for herself, Yuan was thinking of using her to make friends with high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and set countless rules and regulations for her every day according to the standards of a lady from a noble family.
Not to mention smiling with her mouth open like just now, she would be scolded if her facial expression showed any larger range.
As time went by, she couldn't even laugh.
Dongping County is a very lively place, which whetted her appetite.
Konjac looked at his young lady, who looked as pretty and graceful as ever while eating, but she ate quite a lot, and most of the vegetables on the table went into her stomach.
Konjac murmured, "Miss, if you eat too much you will get fat."
A habit formed over more than ten years cannot be changed in a short period of time. Cui Qingyi stopped eating when she felt her stomach was a little bloated.
She urged Konjac, "You should eat more too. We need to take care of each other when we live outside. It's essential that you eat more and keep your body strong."
Konjac thought about it and it made sense. When she was in the Cui and Chen families, she only needed to take care of the young lady, and the heavy work was done by the maids. But in the future, they will not have maids to order around. If she doesn't grow stronger, does she have to let the young lady do the work?
In the end, the two of them finished all the dishes they ordered. Looking at the empty plates, Konjac felt a little embarrassed.
It is the middle of summer now. Looking at the sun outside, Cui Qingyi gave up the idea of going out for a walk. She asked the waiter to run errands to buy some fresh fruits, and the two of them stayed in the house to rest.
The next morning, taking advantage of the cool weather, Cui Qingyi took Konjac out after breakfast.
The two of them walked around the street, and Konjac wondered, "Miss, why don't we just go to the dentist?"
Cui Qingyi pointed to the street ahead and said, "Let's walk along the street first and see what's going on here."
Everywhere in the Jin Dynasty, there were yahangs (trading houses), which not only bought and sold houses but also traded slaves. Whether it was an unowned house or a transaction between common people, it had to go through a yahang, and then the yahang would register it with the county government.
These agents are also under the unified management of the county government. Although the procedures are a bit complicated, they are formal.
But Cui Qingyi had no intention of living off a few hundred taels of silver for the rest of her life in Dongping County. Admittedly, ordinary people might not be able to spend a few hundred taels of silver on food and drink in their lifetime.
But if Cui Qingyi wanted to eat well, drink well, live well and dress well, these few hundred taels were far from enough.
What's more, she has Konjac by her side. If Konjac gets married in the future, she, as her mistress, will definitely have to prepare some dowry for her, as well as her future retirement support. Thinking of this, Cui Qingyi quickly stopped talking. She really has a hard life. It was not enough for her to be a cow or a horse in her previous life, and now she has to continue!
She just needs to do some simple small business to make a living, Cui Qingyi thought silently.
So whether buying or renting a house, she cannot make a hasty decision.
There is a river running from west to east in Dongping County. The county town is divided by the river on both sides. It is backed by Dongshan Mountain in the north and there are many houses at the foot of the mountain.
The only academy in Dongping County is located halfway up the Dongshan Mountain. Cui Qingyi stood on tiptoe to take a look and could only see the outline of the academy from a distance.
She called Konjac: "Let's go to the foot of the mountain and take a look."
It was just after midnight, the weather was cool, and Cui Qingyi wanted to exercise, so they walked all the way up. When they reached the foot of the mountain, breathless, Cui Qingyi finally understood the saying: "A horse will die if it's too high."
The two of them stared at Dongshan and walked for more than half an hour.
Seeing a stall selling tea at the foot of the mountain, the two of them supported each other and walked over to sit down. Cui Qingyi felt like her throat was on fire, and even Konjac felt the same way.
"Shopkeeper, bring me some tea to quench my thirst."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
After drinking the warm tea, Cui Qingyi felt that she had saved her life. Cui Qingyi felt that her health was not too bad. She had been exercising intentionally over the years, whether in the Cui family or the Chen family.
No matter it is midsummer or hot and cold, I walk around the yard a few times every day. I have persisted for more than ten years and my physical condition is still good.
This was her first time in the academy after living in this dynasty for more than ten years, and she looked around curiously.
The tea stall wasn't crowded at the moment, so Dr. Tea had the time to chat with them. "Are you here to wait for your brothers who are studying at home? You're here early; the students won't be out of school for another half an hour."
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