The family returned to the shop.
The May breeze, carrying the fragrance of locust blossoms, intensified the joyous atmosphere in the Lin family home. The keys to the new house jingled in her sleeve as Lin Yun stood in the courtyard, a smile unconsciously playing on her lips.
I'll be able to move into my new home soon, and I always feel relaxed.
"Dad, Mom, we need to pick a good day to move."
She turned and walked into the hall, where she saw Lin's mother carefully examining the almanac.
Lin's father pointed out the blueprints for the new house,
Lin Feng squatted to the side, holding a charcoal pencil in his hand, sketching on the paper.
"How about the sixth day of next month?" Lin's mother pointed to a line of small characters: "Suitable for moving into a new house, setting up a bed, and all other matters."
Lin Feng looked up and smiled, "It's good, but we still need to buy some things in the next two weeks. The new house is nice, but we can't move in empty-handed."
“Exactly,” Lin Yun continued, her eyes sparkling. “Pots and pans, bedding and pillows—we need to buy everything. And—”
She paused, then looked at Lin's father, "Father's bookshelf and Mother's embroidery frame also need to be remade."
Lin's father stroked his beard and nodded: "Yun'er is meticulous. But furniture is not urgent; let's focus on daily necessities first."
“Then I’ll go to the West Market tomorrow to take a look.” Lin Yun lightly touched her sleeve, her fingertips brushing against the coolness of the silk. “I heard that a new batch of Suzhou embroidery curtains has arrived, and the patterns are excellent.”
Xiao Tao peeked in from outside the door, holding a handful of wildflowers: "Miss, shouldn't we buy a few more vases? The wisteria in the backyard of the new house is in full bloom. If we pick a few branches and put them in a vase, they'll smell wonderful!"
Everyone burst into laughter. Lin's mother shook her head: "You silly girl, always thinking about refined things." Although she said this, her eyes shone with approval.
---
The next morning, Lin Yun took Xiao Tao out the door.
Instead of heading straight to the West Market, she turned towards the school in the East of the city.
On the bluestone path, the morning dew was still wet, and the soles of my shoes were damp, leaving shallow footprints with each step.
The vermilion gate of the school was half-closed, and the sound of students reading aloud could be heard from inside.
Lin Yun stood under the corridor and looked through the window. She immediately spotted Lin Yan—he was sitting in the front row, his back ramrod straight, the book in his hand slightly yellowed, clearly having been read many times.
"Young lady, are you looking for someone?" A man who looked like a scholar walked over, his sleeves stained with ink.
Lin Yun curtsied and said, "My younger brother, Lin Yan, is studying here. I would be grateful if you could inform him."
A short while later, Lin Yan rushed out, her forehead still covered in a fine layer of sweat: "Second Sister? What brings you here?"
"Third Young Master," Xiao Tao bowed from the side.
"No, no, no, I'm not some young master!" Lin Yan was a little flustered. Was this his sister's maid?
Lin Yun pulled him aside, took out a purse from her sleeve, and stuffed it into his hand: "Ten taels of silver, keep it."
Lin Yan was taken aback and quickly declined, saying, "I don't need these at school..."
"Take it." Lin Yun pressed his hand down, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "If there's a shortage of writing materials, don't make yourself suffer."
Lin Yan's ears turned slightly red, but she finally accepted the purse and thanked him in a low voice.
"How are the preparations for the August scientific expedition going?" Lin Yun softened her voice, her gaze falling on his slightly thin face.
The first examination for a student who has completed the preliminary examinations is the county-level examination, which takes place in August.
"It's alright." Lin Yan smiled, but a hint of fatigue flashed in his eyes. "I review the classics and policy essays every day, but I still need to think more about current affairs."
"Would you mind asking for some guidance, sir?"
Lin Yan shook his head: "No need. Among my classmates is Brother Zhao Ziling, who is extremely learned. He often discusses things with me and takes care of me frequently."
"Alright, then you can make the decision. We're moving at the beginning of next month, so do you need to come home for a visit?"
"Moving? We've moved shops?"
This is making money way too fast...
Lin Yun paused, realizing that the shop could indeed be expanded, then shook her head and said, "My family has moved; it's now a three-courtyard house. The shop is still in the same place."
"Three times? Good heavens, that's way too big! Okay, I'll definitely go back that day."
Lin Yan was extremely excited, and a visible joy appeared on his thin face.
He paused, then suddenly looked up, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Second Sister, on the day of the move... could I invite Brother Zhao to come along? He's always been kind to me, and I'd like to thank him."
Lin Yun smiled and said, "Of course you're welcome. Our home is just missing some liveliness; it's more festive with more people."
The two siblings chatted for a while before saying goodbye, as they had many things to do.
---
The West Market was teeming with people, and Lin Yun and Xiao Tao moved among them, checking off each item on their shopping list in their sleeves.
“The glaze of this celadon bowl is quite nice.” She lightly tapped the rim of the bowl with her fingertips, and the clear, melodious sound drew praise from the shopkeeper. “Young lady, you have a good eye! This is a Ru ware bowl; it won’t get cold when you put soup in it.”
Xiao Tao squeezed in, holding a stack of embroidered handkerchiefs in her arms: "Miss, look at these patterns! They're like butterflies and flowers, perfect as a cover for Madam's embroidery frame."
Lin Yun nodded, then turned to the shop assistant at the nearby cloth shop: "Tear six feet of that soft, light blue silk gauze after the rain to make a curtain."
As the sun began to set, the master and servant returned home laden with their purchases. Passing a woodworking shop, Lin Yun suddenly stopped—
“This camphor wood chest…” She stroked the lotus scroll relief on the chest, the wood grain as delicate as flowing water, “It would be perfect for storing my mother’s embroidery thread.”
The shopkeeper greeted her with a smile: "Young lady has a discerning eye! This box is moisture-proof and insect-proof, and it's lined with camphor wood shavings. It won't get infested with insects for ten years."
Just as Lin Yun was about to haggle, she suddenly heard a soft laugh behind her: "Miss Lin, are you here to buy furniture too?"
Looking back, it turned out to be Chen Yu, the young master of Chen's Cloth Shop.
He was dressed in an indigo long robe, gently waving a folding fan in his hand. As he approached Lin Yun, he noticed that this young lady had become even more beautiful.
Should we knock him out and carry him home? Chen Yu's mind was churning, but he maintained a faint smile on his face.
Xiao Tao's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly stepped in front of Lin Yun. This eleven or twelve-year-old girl was quite bold.
Lin Yun's eyes flickered slightly as she clenched the object in her hand, then quickly regained her composure: "Young Master Chen."
"I heard your family bought a house in Qixia Courtyard?" Chen Yu closed his folding fan, his tone meaningful. "That place... has excellent feng shui."
"Thanks to you." Lin Yun subtly moved forward, blocking Xiao Tao's path.
“We are just a small family, not as big and powerful as the Chen family.”
Chen Yu's smile remained unchanged: "On the day of your housewarming, may I have a drink with you?"
"My humble abode is simple and I fear I have failed to provide adequate hospitality." Lin Yun nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Chen Yu's leisurely voice came from behind—
"Then let's talk another day."
---
As dusk settled, the Lin family courtyard was brightly lit.
Lin Yun put away the purchased items one by one.
After dinner, everyone went home to sleep, and that's another story.
The bodyguards were in a real bind. The Lin family was making constant moves; which were important? Which weren't? Should they write everything down? This was a huge headache. Never mind, they'd just write it all down…
"Lin and Xie collaborated on a gold and silver jewelry shop."
The Lin family has purchased a new house and will move in on the sixth day of next month.
"Lin Sanzi is at xx school; he will take the provincial examination in August."
"Miss Lin encountered Chen Yu on the road, and Chen Yu was spying on Miss Lin."
………
It's impossible to finish writing it all...
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