Chapter 277: Being Able to Eat and Move Is a Blessing

I must admit, ancient people were quite clever, only they had little exposure; I believe if you placed them in modern times they'd thrive, because they have smart brains and diligent bodies.

This is the crucial part; after these two modifications, it will become a bedroom.

She is used to sleeping on a big kang, so she naturally doesn't want to sleep on that wooden bed, finding it especially stifling.

After finishing the water well and the bathroom, they finally built an earthen kang, because Nanfang has abundant rain and humid air; there's a reason they don't make earthen pits.

It's prone to attracting insects, ants, and poisonous snakes, so in Nanfang no one makes such earthen kangs.

This is her Zhai, and of course she won't let those things happen.

So she bought many more talismans on Platform, including moisture‑repelling talismans, insect‑repelling talismans, fire‑repelling talismans, and shock‑repelling talismans.

She affixed them to the entrance of each Zhaiyuan and also to her own main gate.

She ordered a plaque, the same as the one in Tianshui Town, called Jixiang Yuan; she likes those two characters, they sound festive.

"You really are generous."

"I guarantee you'll like it; it's even better than the house in Tianshui Town."

All the rare things are in Jixiang Yuan; this time they have broadened their horizons. Though they don't know what high technology is, the materials used let them see things they've never seen in their lives.

The old master, the old lady, and Chuan'er's eyes suddenly brightened, "Can we move in now?"

"Uh, not yet."

In the future, when she's not here, there will be Dizi, his wife, the old lady, the old master, etc.; they don't know that this place is more comfortable than Tianshui, and whether they'd choose it.

"The wife is right!"

"Exactly; if you have work, go do it. I'm free, so I can take care of this, and I'm also knowledgeable here. If you just tag along, you wouldn't get it."

Having spent so much silver on such a fine Zhai, the corresponding facilities must be fully equipped.

Yuan Jiaqi, upon hearing that nearly a million taels of silver were spent just to buy a Zhai in Jingcheng, instantly regretted it, thinking he'd rather not be a first‑rank official; that million taels could do so much for the people.

Back then Qiao Mai's space rank was low, so she couldn't buy good materials; now her rank is high—what kind of items can't she still buy on Platform?

This is her second Xinjia; with the conditions, she has to do it properly.

Yuan Jiaqi's superior served her Meal and tea; they had all eaten, leaving only her.

The old lady waved at her, "Nothing is as good as Jixiang Yuan anywhere."

"Of course, I've taken care of everything inside, I guarantee you'll like it."

"Not necessarily; you did a pretty good job in Shexian."

"Hehe"

The old lady, watching the couple flaunt their affection before her, stood up immediately, "No matter how busy you are, remember to eat. I'm going back; I won't be a little sunshine anymore."

Qiao Mai, eating while sighing, replied, "We bought a Zhai; I watch the workers during the day, otherwise they wouldn't work."

With no one else around, it's just the two of them, and Yuan Jiaqi turned into a talker.

"Haha"

"It's necessary."

Then using these talismans to deal with them makes it a one‑time permanent solution.

"Where did you buy it?"

Then inside the building they affixed de‑stain talismans, de‑water talismans, de‑insect talismans; the toilet, the bathing area, and even the Chufang's wastewater would be channeled through a thick PVC pipe into it.

"I want to see what your new home looks like, having spent nearly a million taels."

Qiao Mai didn't care what they thought; she came during the day, and only returned to Bichun Garden at night after cleaning the garden.

"Stay tuned, okay?"

Qiao Mai saw the old lady off, feeling quite good; the old lady also used her new terminology well.

"You grew up here and you still complain?"

She had a cargo‑heating pool dug in the northwest corner of Jixiang Yuan; it was a pool lined entirely with bricks and cement, covered with steel plates bought from Platform.

Oh dear, feeling sorry, feeling sorry.

The couple, ever since they arrived, have been busy with their own tasks; even when they sleep together at night, they're so tired they close their eyes early.

Thinking too much is tiring; she doesn't want to think, she'll just go wherever.

"I see that Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl has arranged this Zhai so well; it's probably for long‑term residence, definitely done nicely."

She plans to set up a chicken coop, a Quail coop, a deer garden, a fragrant antelope garden, a cattle shed, and a horse stable here, so the old lady will have work to do whether she's here or there.

While the two were talking, Qiao Mai, hands behind her back, walked in smiling.

Qiao Mai glanced at him, "Being able to earn and spend is the true hero's nature; our money comes from a proper source, and besides serving the people, we must also know how to enjoy ourselves."

"Hehe, let's go together and take a look at the new home?"

"Do you have time?"

Life lies in movement; don't think that being old means you can sit idle every day—that's not called enjoying a peaceful life.

"The house on Huangdao Street"

So they found a suitable spot in the garden, drew up plans, and let the workers start construction.

"The husband believes his wife."

"Of course, I now love Jixiang Yuan so much that I don't want to go anywhere else."

"Once it's ready, we'll move there; have the Fengyun brothers come over yet?"

The roof above is actually transparent; the building's shape is truly beautiful, the kind you fall in love with at first glance.

The workers were thinking, after finishing this garden, building for others will no longer be appealing.

"Hmm, then once we move into the new home, let's get together."

"Alas, it seems being a husband is just being a book‑worm who only reads and does foolish tasks."

Fortunately, there's a garden at the back, with chicken coops and such built there; don't underestimate these coops—they're more upscale than those in Tianshui.

It was worth it, to build a garden; this life was worth it.

This is no longer a house; it's a bunch of little castles.

"How is it, only two months and you already can't get used to it?"

"This cursed weather rains every day, the garden is soaked through, I truly miss Jixiang Yuan."

"That was also with the lady's support; otherwise how could you be promoted to First Rank Grand Secretary in just a few years?"

The old lady widened her eyes, "That house over there is pricey; how much silver did it cost?"

"How much silver?"

The workers once again saw the lady's lavishness; even the chicken coop they built was better than the dwelling.

"Eighty hundred thousand taels, plus later renovations, there are five"

Moments like today's idle chatter are few, yet Yuan Jiaqi does not waver from his original purpose and still heeds Qiao Mai's words.

"Fine, don't be modest in front of me."

A Martial Arts training ground must also be present; it was placed in the northeast corner of the house, covering four to five mu, and she even arranged senior fitness equipment inside.

This alteration earned Yahang another sum of money.

"Buy a good one; when you marry a wife there in the future, you can't let the in‑laws be embarrassed."

In the blink of an eye another month passed; it's September, and September in Nanfang is still the rainy season, yet it has far less rain than August or July.

The old lady came over late at night, "Servant girl, where have you been every day? A month has passed and I haven't seen your figure."

"Lady, you as well; such a big matter, why don't you let your husband stay with you?"

"I came over a long time ago, but couldn't see you. They are newly appointed and also very busy; when you have time, after they have rested, they'll notify them."

That day, after breakfast, the old lady was complaining to the old gentleman.

In the end she thought, we still need to build another amusement park; our own children are grown and don't play, and when there are countless grandchildren, they'll have to play for years, even great‑grandchildren and the like.

"Being able to eat and move is a blessing; doing appropriate activities only benefits the body, never harms it."

"Don't worry, you want to serve the common folk; there are plenty of opportunities, and I have plenty of silver here, so no need to worry!"

Upon hearing this, the old gentleman and old lady rushed back inside to change clothes; Chuan'er was already neatly dressed and didn't need to change.

"Father, shall we go?"

"He has no time; we'll go first, and later we'll send someone to inform him to return there in the evening."

"That's great, we now also have a home in Jingcheng."

(End of chapter)