Tao Wanniang's words surprised the broker, Xiao Lu.
"Auntie, your family used to be quite well-off, right? It's all because of this drought!"
Tao Wanniang remained noncommittal. The Ling family members behind her were already dazzled by the mansion. To be able to live in such a big house in their lifetime was like a dream come true.
“Young man, we’ll take this house. Although the well in the backyard is covered, there’s another one behind the kitchen in the front yard, so it won’t be a problem.”
"Alright, ma'am, I've brought the document with me too. Why don't you sign it and I'll take 330 coins from you first?"
Upon hearing "three hundred and thirty coins," Ling Dahu's body tensed, and his brows furrowed. "That's a lot of money! This rent is more expensive than the laborer's wages!" He was about to plead poverty when Tao Wanniang said magnanimously:
"Go to the front, I'll take a look at the documents, and if there are no problems, I'll pay!"
"Auntie, you're so agreeable! Okay, let's go take a look ahead!"
Xiao Lu was naturally very happy to accept. Although thirty coins wasn't much, and even less in his hands, every little bit counted, and he wouldn't complain.
"You guys, tidy up the room, we're staying here tonight."
Tao Wan's mother turned back and instructed her son and daughter-in-law, "Little Qiao'er, you also choose a room, and we can gradually add things later."
"Oh!" Little Qiao'er was not in high spirits, and her response was also rather dejected.
A hint of seriousness flashed in Tao Wanniang's eyes, but she quickly returned to normal.
"Young man, we are new here and do not know which people in Shanhai Prefecture we should not offend?"
Tao Wanniang casually said, "I just entered the city today and saw a distinguished-looking man. I heard he is the prefect's son-in-law. Did you all know that?"
"What a coincidence?"
Xiao Lu exclaimed in surprise, "You mean Lord Liang? We can't say his name, but he is indeed a very handsome man, which is why he caught the eye of the prefect's daughter. And, ma'am, do you know where they live? It's that three-courtyard mansion up in front of the street."
Tao Wanniang was also greatly surprised; it couldn't be such a coincidence!
"Ha, what a coincidence!" Tao Wanniang forced a smile. "Why does this Lord Liang sound like a son-in-law who's moved into the family home?"
"Auntie, you're amazing! Did I say that? No, hehe, just between us, that prefect's daughter is not someone an ordinary person can handle. To put it nicely, she has the temper of a young lady, but actually, I've heard that she often beats and scolds the servants in her household, and she's quite ruthless."
Young Lu, being young, didn't hold back because the deal went smoothly, and he told the hearsay as if it were an interesting story.
"In other words, these are people we ordinary citizens cannot afford to offend!"
Tao Wanniang nodded, looking like she was being taught something, and said that she had just finished reading the lease documents.
"No problem, I'll give you the money."
After signing her name on the document, Tao Wanniang paid Xiao Lu.
"Here's the key, Aunt Tao. Well... I hope you have a comfortable stay."
After handing over the keys, Xiao Lu took the money and left.
Tao Wanniang looked around and smiled with satisfaction. This was a place where people could live!
The son and daughter-in-law had already tidied up several rooms, because these were the only ones equipped with beds and wardrobes.
"Mother, we've discussed it. You can have the main house, and we'll live in the side house!"
Ling Dahu said happily to Tao Wan's mother, "Mother, we never thought we could live in such a nice house. We owe it all to you."
"Stop talking nonsense. I plan to stay in Shanhai Prefecture for a long time. I can give each of you two taels of silver. You can spend it however you like."
Tao Wanniang spoke up, "You tell me yourselves, who's in charge of the money?"
The Ling brothers were overjoyed. Two taels of silver! In the past, when they farmed, they would occasionally sell some grain and vegetables, saving up only a few coins at a time. Now, they suddenly had two taels. How could they not be excited?
"Mother, let's... give it to Hongyu. She's more thrifty than me." Ling Dahu originally wanted to say that he took it, but after Wang Hongyu hummed in agreement, he immediately changed his mind.
"Me too, Xiaoyun is cunning, I can't compare to her!"
Ling Dapeng still had a smile on his face as he spoke, looking at his wife.
Zhou Xiaoyun was both amused and exasperated, and couldn't help but whisper, "You're the one who's good at scheming. Look how eloquent you are, Big Brother. I'm just being shrewd."
Tao Wan's mother pretended not to see it. She wouldn't care how her son and daughter-in-law got along. They had already moved to the provincial capital and settled down. Why should she care so much?
"Take it. Do the math yourselves. The rent is three hundred cash a month. How much more will we have to pay if we want to stay? After I give you four taels of silver, how much money will we have left? Who will take care of our food, clothing, and other necessities in the future?"
Tao Wanniang asked as she handed over the money.
Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng were stunned. This was no longer the countryside; everything they ate and used cost money!
"Mother, do we still have any food?" Ling Dahu asked weakly.
"Mother, did Father stop giving them money?" Ling Dapeng asked.
Seeing her two sons looking guilty, Tao Wanniang scoffed.
"That's all, there's nothing left. As for dinner, you'll have to figure that out yourselves!"
"Little Qiao'er, where are you going to sleep?" Tao Wan's mother called out to Little Qiao'er.
"Grandma Tao, can I sleep next to you? I'm scared," Xiao Qiao'er muttered.
"Did you hear that? Xiao Qiao'er will sleep in the room next to mine. You can choose the others yourselves. Xiao Qiao'er, come and rest in Grandma Tao's room for a while and wait for dinner!"
Xiao Qiao'er was already down because she couldn't find her father, and she was quite tired after helping with the cleaning.
Tao Wan's mother wanted Xiao Qiao'er to rest for a while. This child's emotions had been too turbulent today; she didn't want her to develop a mental illness.
Even the hard bed couldn't withstand her exhaustion and heartbreak, and Xiao Qiao'er fell asleep.
Tao Wanniang took the opportunity to open the trading system. She loosened the soil in the front yard and said, "I can plant some vegetables. I'll take a packet of chili seeds, a packet of Sichuan pepper seeds, a packet of scallion seeds, and a packet of cabbage seeds."
The system is multidimensional and multi-space, so after comparing different options, she found one with a high cost-performance ratio and then used the system's currency conversion to buy all the seeds for only one hundred coins.
"A hard bed is so uncomfortable, I should buy a bedding set, with a vintage pattern..."
While Tao Wanniang was searching, filtering, and placing orders in the system, Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu were struggling with the two taels of silver they had just received.
"Honey, what do you think we should buy for dinner?"
“Whether we buy it or Ling Dapeng buys it, it’s only two ounces. We can’t expect you, as the eldest brother, to pay for everything!” Wang Hongyu said seriously. “We have two children to raise, but they only have one.”
“Wife, take this money. Or you can call Dapeng’s wife and go outside to see if you can buy some rice and flour. You women are so calculating. I didn’t think that much about it.”
Ling Dahu muttered, "Do you think I'll be able to find work if I go tomorrow?"
He was also worried. Money would only decrease as he spent it. His most urgent task was to find work!
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