Xin He arched her eyebrows, "Of course not."
As Mu Houchu watched her confident demeanor, he couldn’t help but smile, "My man reported earlier that your two maids should arrive in Lian’an Town by tomorrow."
Initially, Xin He had not planned to bring them with her on her return to Lian’an Town. After all, Yu State was a somewhat remote area and not as prosperous as the capital. Even though they were servants, they had been brought up in Le Yuanhou’s mansion. In particular, Shulan was a maid to the old lady, and would not be much worse off staying in the capital than following her. Xin He had never cared about whether she had maids around her.
However, the two maidens were set on following Xin He wherever she went. So Xin He brought them along as they were increasingly useful, thinking that if she were to replace them, she might not find better alternatives.
To avoid attracting attention on the way back, they split into two groups.
"Well, it’s good that they’re coming back," Xin He paused before saying, "But I remembered something. We should buy another mansion in the town. It’s all well and good to live with my big brother, but as a married woman, it’s not good for me to live under the same roof with him. It’s not like we are short of money; we can avoid unnecessary gossip."
Xin He didn’t care about the matter of being married or not. But since she was in this era, she had to respect the rules of the time. She could endure the criticisms from bystanders, but feared others would make negative comments about Ji Dong or Mu Houchu.
Mu Houchu didn’t mind either way: "Do as you see fit."
"Additionally, I handed over the winery and production workshop responsibilities to my big brother, and there are also fields and mountains under my name to manage. There’s a lot going on. It’s convenient for my big brother to live in Yang Luo bay and handle these tasks. But for me, engaging in business, it would be more convenient to live in town. It’s better to buy another mansion in town to make things easier and avoid malicious gossip," Xin He said.
Especially since Xiao Yu and Shulan would arrive tomorrow. In the future, she might need to hire more staff, and Xiao Cui would need to have a baby. In the long run, the existing house seemed too small.
Mu Houchu listened to Xin He’s meticulous plans, his lips hooking up lightly, "Let’s do as you say."
Xin He was cheerful: "Great! Tomorrow morning, we’ll start getting busy!"
But Mu Houchu suddenly added, "I heard you brought back a child this time. Did you bring him from the princess mansion?"
Xin He then remembered the little boy Xia Chaihuo. She had asked Shulan and Xiao Yu to take him back.
"Yes. When I was at the princess’s mansion, it seemed like a stroke of fate. He looked somewhat like Xiao Bei, which made me feel somewhat attached to him. He couldn’t stay in the princess mansion and his parents had passed away. So I decided to bring him back. I think he can be a study companion or something for Xiao Bei. Xiao Bei is introverted by nature. With an extra playmate around, he might be happier," Xin He said with a smile.
Mu Houchu kissed her lips and said, "You are so considerate of a strange child’s feelings. Why don’t you think about your husband’s feelings more?"
Xin He couldn’t help but laugh. This man... was he really jealous of a child?
——
Early the next morning.
Xin He went to the town. Upon her return, she naturally wanted to meet Wu the shopkeeper. In the morning, she discussed buying a house in town with her big brother Ji Dong. Ji Dong didn’t oppose it, as it was close by after all. Xin He was responsible for handling the business in town; running back and forth would be exhausting.
As Xiao Bei needed to go to school in town that day, Xin He took him along.
Mu Houchu still had many things to handle. He had a lot to do in the capital, not to mention this Yu state, too. He was now Prince Pingyang and his jurisdiction included the entire Yu State. There were quite a few heady matters at hand, so he didn’t accompany Xin He into town.
After all, Xin He knew Lian’an town like the back of her hand, he could rest easy.
Ji Dong drove the bullock cart, taking Xin He and Xiao Bei into town.
Xin He hadn’t ridden in a bullock cart for a long time. Once again, sitting in the swaying cart traveling along the country road, she felt interesting and couldn’t help but laugh. "Why hasn’t a horse carriage been bought yet? Xiao Bei goes to school every day, and my big brother needs to go to town, which isn’t convenient at all. Plus, now it’s midsummer, and having a horse carriage wouldn’t be so hot."
However, Xiao Bei very stubbornly said, "Xiao Bei is not afraid of the sun! Xiao Bei is a man!"
Xin He pinched Xiao Bei’s cheek, laughing, "But in my eyes, Xiao Bei is still a child, my precious child."
Ji Dong laughed: "I don’t mind either. I’m not afraid of the sun at all. As for Xiao Bei, when he goes to and from school every day, he leaves early and comes back when the sun sets, so it won’t be too hot. I never thought of changing. I’m used to it. It’s already nice to have a bullock cart. Before, we only walked to town." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"The past is the past! We have to buy a horse cart. Right now, we are not poor anymore. You and Xiao Bei should live better lives. A horse carriage can provide shade in summer; in hot weather, we can put a pot of ice in it. In winter, it can shield rain and wind. When it’s cold, we can set up a heater in it. Don’t you think it’s comfortable? Even if you don’t love yourself so much, don’t you care about Xiao Cui or Xiao Bei?"
Ji Dong shook his head helplessly: "Fine, fine, my dear sister, I guess I can’t argue with you. So we’ll buy it. That way, Xiao Cui and Xiao Bei won’t be uncomfortable."
Xin He chuckled, "Big brother, you must really care about my sister-in-law. You don’t want her to be uncomfortable?"
Ji Dong blushed: "I just don’t want Xiao Bei to suffer."
Xin He laughed out loud but didn’t tease him anymore, knowing he was quite embarrassed.
Xiao Bei, with his big eyes wide open, asked, "Sister, can a horse carriage really do that? Is it like that in every big household in the capital?"
Xin He rubbed his little head: "Yes, in every big family it’s like that, and even much more sophisticated. You can’t imagine how exquisite the lives of the wealthy are. Even after having a meal and rinsing their mouths, they are surrounded by a group of maids and ladies. Once our family becomes a full-fledged wealthy family, we could live like that."
Xiao Bei curiously asked, "But isn’t it wasteful to use rare items like ice to cool down?"
Xin He smiled, finding Xiao Bei naive, "If Xiao Bei doesn’t like wasting, we don’t have to."
But Xiao Bei shook his head, determined: "Xiao Bei also wants to work hard, so that sister and big brother can live a wasteful life!"
Ji Dong burst into laughter: "Xiao Bei is really determined. I’m counting on you."
Xin He also laughed, "By the way, I brought back a playmate for you this time. You’ll see him soon."
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