May is the gentlest transition from late spring to early summer.
The sunlight began to gain weight, but it wasn't scorching yet; it enveloped the new green leaves like melting honey.
Suddenly, the locust trees were covered in white blossoms, and a sweet fragrance filled the air, mixed with the earthy smell of sun-warmed soil, which inexplicably reminded people of their childhood.
When Lin Feng stepped into his home, the wind chimes under the eaves were being played with by the morning breeze, their tinkling sounds filling the room.
He had several house plans tucked into his sleeve, and his brows were beaming with undisguised joy.
"Father, Mother, Little Sister!" He strode across the threshold, his boots still covered in fresh mud from the south of the city. "I've seen three houses today, each with its own merits. You must choose carefully."
Lin's mother put down the embroidery frame, a strand of silver thread still wrapped around her fingertip: "Look how anxious you are, have some tea to soothe your throat first."
She pushed a cup of Biluochun tea towards him; the clear tea liquor reflected Lin Feng's sun-reddened face.
Lin's father stroked his beard and chuckled, "Tell me about it."
First location: Zhuque Lane
“This house is only two streets away from the bustling city. There is a row of bluestone slabs in front of the door, so shiny they can reflect your image.” Lin Feng unfolded the blueprints and pointed to the courtyard outlined in vermilion. “It has three courtyards and three exits. The beams and pillars of the main hall are made of the finest nanmu wood, which keeps it warm in winter and cool in summer.”
Lin Yun leaned closer to examine it closely and discovered that the window lattice pattern was a rare ice crack pattern—elegant yet noble.
“There’s a century-old plum tree in the backyard,” Lin Feng said with great enthusiasm. “When it blooms, its fragrance fills half the street! There’s also a small kitchen in the side room, so Mom doesn’t have to go out of her way to make soup anymore.”
Lin's mother was intrigued, but then she noticed a line of small print in the corner of the drawing: "The neighboring shop is... Chen's Cloth Shop?"
The air seemed to freeze. Lin Feng sheepishly put away the photos: "Let's move on to another location." He'd forgotten the information he'd inquired about earlier.
The second location: Qingwufang
"This place is quiet and secluded, with trumpet creeper climbing all over the courtyard walls." Lin Feng unfolded the second picture, the ink still wet on the paper, depicting the courtyard. "Look at this moon gate—the pebble path leading to the backyard is paved entirely with pebbles. Walking barefoot on it feels like stepping on clouds!"
Lin's father clapped his hands: "Wonderful! Perfect for Yan'er to study."
"There's a pond of running water right outside the study window," Lin Feng said with a smile. "It's filled with koi, red and white, swimming around like embroidered threads."
Lin Yun frowned: "It's too far from the shop. It takes at least half an hour to go back and forth every day."
Xiao Tao suddenly chuckled: "Miss, look at the location of this outhouse—" In the corner of the blueprint, the outhouse was right next to the kitchen!
Everyone burst into laughter.
Lin Feng's ears turned bright red, and he quickly rolled up the blueprints: "The last detail will definitely suit my taste!"
The third place: Qixia Temple
Raymond Lam unveiled the final house photo.
"It's a newly developed residential area in the west of the city, quiet amidst the hustle and bustle. It's not far from our shop, only a quarter of an hour away."
He lightly stroked the roughly drawn eaves on the rice paper with his fingertips, “Five main rooms with two courtyards, the main house’s ground heating is already in place, so when you burn charcoal in winter, even your feet will be warm.”
Lin's mother's eyes lit up—she was most afraid of the cold.
"The kitchen well platform is made entirely of blue bricks, which is moisture-proof and does not attract ants."
Lin Feng spoke with increasing enthusiasm, "There's about an acre of open space in the backyard; Father can plant medicinal herbs, and Mother can clear flower beds. The best part is..." He suddenly lowered his voice,
"The side gate leads directly to the dark alley, allowing goods to be delivered into the house without the notice of gods or ghosts."
Lin Yun paused—this was clearly designed to conceal the spiritual spring.
"How much silver?" Lin's father asked directly.
Lin Feng's Adam's apple bobbed: "The asking price for the aorta is eight hundred taels."
Amidst the gasps in the room, Lin Yun suddenly placed her teacup on the table: "We'll go see for ourselves tomorrow."
The next morning, before the morning dew had dried, a group of people were already standing in front of the vermilion gate.
"How magnificent!" Xiao Tao looked up at the plaque above the door that read "Auspicious Purple Qi Comes from the East."
The glazed tiles were refracting the rising sun into fragments of gold, which were then splashed onto everyone's shoulders.
Lin's father stroked the foot-thick camphor wood door panel and nodded: "Windproof and insect-proof."
Passing through the screen wall, a new world suddenly opens up.
The main hall was paved with square bricks, so shiny they could reflect a person's image.
The east wing window lattice is carved with lotus scrolls, and sunlight cuts in at an angle, embroidering thousands of flower shadows on the ground.
Lin's mother pushed open the carved screen and was surprised to find an embroidery frame in the inner room—the original owner had also loved needlework!
"This room is for Yun'er," she said, turning around with a smile. "It has the best lighting."
Lin Yun, however, went straight to the backyard.
Surrounded by white walls and black tiles, a stream of water flows around the artificial hill, its spring hidden in the craggy rocks, its tinkling sound like the clinking of jade pendants.
She squatted down and scooped up a handful of water—clear and refreshing, almost like a sacred spring.
“This place can be used as a dyeing vat,” she said softly.
Lin Feng nodded in agreement, pointing to the west wing: "These houses have high beams and wide windows, making them perfect for conversion into workshops."
As the group strolled to the back garden, Lin's father suddenly stopped.
"Atractylodes macrocephala! Astragalus membranaceus!" He excitedly pushed aside the weeds, revealing several drooping herbs. "The wild ones are growing stronger than those in the herb garden!"
Lin's mother was captivated by a wisteria vine. Hidden among the gnarled branches and vines was an exquisite swing, and when a breeze blew, the petals fell like snow.
"Buy it," she suddenly said, her fingertips brushing against the still-rotten hemp rope on the swing. "This is it."
It's like a paradise on earth, who wouldn't love it?
Fang Ya was a lean old man with tea dust on his goatee.
I followed the Lin family silently the whole way, and just by looking at their expressions, I knew they were in deep trouble.
"Seven hundred and fifty taels, no less!" He patted the land deed, his red silk belt trembling with the movement.
Lin's father sipped his tea slowly and deliberately: "There are termite marks on the beams and pillars of the west wing."
"Then, then reduce it by twenty taels!"
Lin Yun suddenly chuckled: "I heard that Young Master Chen is also interested in this house?"
Before they came, they asked other real estate agents about the house.
She casually stroked the silk handkerchief in her sleeve, "It's a pity his fabric shop just burned down... I wonder if he still has the heart to buy anything."
Fang Ya's expression changed drastically.
Young Master Chen did indeed take a liking to this house a few days ago, but when he went to inquire about it yesterday, he was almost kicked out. It seems he really won't be buying it anymore.
This house is located in the suburbs and the price is not low; most people really can't afford it.
As the sun began to set, the contract was finally settled for 650 taels. Fang Ya's hand trembled as he pressed his fingerprint on the document, as if he were pressing not cinnabar but his heart's blood.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you." Lin Yun pushed the silver note over, then suddenly blinked. "Oh, by the way, please keep that swing exactly as it is."
As dusk settled, the keys to the new house weighed heavily in Lin's mother's palm.
Little Peach skipped and hopped to remove the red silk from the door knocker, startling the sparrows perched under the eaves.
Lin Yun lagged behind, looking back at the courtyard shrouded in twilight. The upturned eaves caught the glimpse of a crescent moon.
I need to tell my third brother this news.
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