Chapter 77

Yuan Jiaqi watched her working while discussing things with him very seriously, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Thanks to you, the whole family eats well and drinks well, especially Chuan'er and me; we've benefited quite a lot from you."

"Here we go again. In the future, if you study well, just look after me a bit more when you are able to."

"That's a must. I never intended to remarry in this life. If I ever become successful, then Lady Qiao will be my wife in name."

Qiao Mai curled her lip. As if everyone wants to wear the title of a fake wife.

"In this world, only Lady Yuan doesn't care about fame and fortune."

Selling goods at home saved Qiao Mai a lot of worry, and there were many more goods in the house, but since it wasn't near the main road, she felt something was still missing.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, she invited Shopkeeper Lu's family over for a meal, but didn't call the Chen mother and son.

Tomorrow everyone will be opening their shops for business; today is the last day of the New Year. Once today passes, everyone will have to get busy.

"Let's wait and see. With Miss Wang there, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Oh, you even hired a teacher?"

"Yes, mainly because after the New Year, the teacher I hired for Jiaqi and the children is coming, and this courtyard is a bit small."

"Is there any farmland near the main road?"

"Alright, let's finalize this land today."

"Hmm, do I need to tell you where the house is?"

"After I draw the blueprints, how long will it take to finish building?"

"If you want to build a house, you can plow the wheat now. It hasn't turned green yet, so it's not much of a pity."

In fact, as early as the second day of the New Year when people came to her house to buy things, they already knew about this. Within a few days, all the townspeople knew.

"No need, no need, everyone knows."

Qiao Mai smiled. *In her heart, she thought: Just keep pretending. You guys at the agency run around here and there all day; you mean to tell me you don't know me? I don't believe a word of it. *

"How much?"

"Hmm, if there are rare items, can they sell for more than the pawnshop's price?"

"How many?"

"Twenty percent!"

"Oh, so even asking for help with matters is possible?"

"There are no houses. Many people don't want to sell their houses; they build small houses and rent them out. In a few years, they can recoup their capital, which is more profitable than selling the house."

"We will save you the cost of hiring someone to draw the blueprints."

"One hundred mu."

"This lady, whether you want to buy people, buy a house, or ask for help with matters, our agency can help you solve it."

The agent thought for a moment, turned around, found an illustrated catalog, and flipped through it for a while.

People all lamented Lady Qiao's kindness and expressed disdain and sympathy for the Tian, Qiao, and Yuan families.

"This house is also livable, it's just that I'm afraid he might dislike it."

Qiao Mai calculated in her heart: five mu of land for shops—if she only built shops, they definitely wouldn't rent out. If it were shops in the front and small courtyards in the back, one shop with a small courtyard that could house people and serve as a warehouse, five fen of land should be about right.

Qiao Mai was dressed neatly, wearing a full set of jewelry, her small face well-nourished and fair. Even if she wasn't a beauty, fairness hides three uglinesses. With a changed soul, she was like a different person, radiating an aura of confidence that made people not dare to underestimate her at first glance.

"Yes, Miss Wang introduced him, saying he would come over to take a look after the New Year."

"For this, I need to ask my superiors."

"It is necessary to buy a big house. If we build one, it will take at least a year."

Lu Sanniang nodded, "It's best to build it yourself. Build a row of shops in the front, keep a large one to sell your own goods, and rent out the others. It saves the trouble of setting up a stall and moving things back and forth. This way, shops in the front and residence in the back, you can have the children help out when there's something to do."

"So, I have to wait until May to build the house?"

"No, no, I won't talk about the house building either. Everything you entrust to us, our agency will keep strictly confidential."

"Good farmland in the village is at the normal market price, ten taels per mu. In town, it will be a bit more expensive, fifteen taels. Land near the main road will be even more expensive; this piece is twenty taels per mu. Currently, there is wheat planted in the field, and the owner says twenty-five taels per mu including the wheat."

"This lady is truly straightforward in her dealings. I will write the documents for you right now. Three days later, I will personally deliver the land deed to you. May I ask where the young lady lives?"

"Naturally, that is possible. We will bring government officials to measure the land personally, then report and file it. In the future, land will be taxed, but the house deed won't be."

The agent's eyes lit up, "You must be Lady Qiao, right? Oh my, excuse my ignorance. There isn't a soul in the whole town who doesn't know your great name."

Five mu of land can build ten shops; one for her own use, and rent out the rest.

"Hmm, can the price be lowered a bit?"

"What if we let you build the house later?"

"That's not possible. Our agency can at most save you the handling fee."

The agent was a bit skeptical, "Are you really going to buy it?"

Qiao Mai took a deep breath. Seeing her holding a child, the agent hurriedly invited her to sit aside and then used the catalog to point things out to her.

"I live right here in this town. My surname is Qiao."

"Hmm, it is necessary to take a look first."

"Yes, right here, or further south, past the town archway. The place is not small at all."

Just like that, on the fifteenth, Qiao Mai took Ling'er to the agency. She had wrapped Ling'er up tightly, leaving only her eyes exposed.

"Naturally. Our boss has backing. As long as it doesn't involve the imperial family, our boss has the ability to help you handle it, it just depends on whether you can afford the silver."

Qiao Mai gave a hum, "I came here this time to buy a house in this area."

Shopkeeper Lu's family ate the delicious meal again and were so happy, eating to their heart's content without any hesitation.

"Why?"

"Because we are professionals. And our craftsmen and carpenters have much better skills than ordinary artisans. Look at the houses in the village; none of them have carved beams or painted pillars. Their houses are just meant to be livable. Our houses must be sturdy, good-looking, and beautiful. We will also help you design the courtyard beautifully, ensuring you live comfortably."

On the other hand, it was also to let people see that she really had adopted a baby girl.

"This hundred mu of land is truly excellent. Several families have come to inquire about it. I'm not fooling you. Look, this land has five mu bordering the main road and extends twenty mu toward the back. It's a long strip, most suitable for building houses in the front and farming in the back. It's very convenient. You should act as soon as possible, otherwise, it will be gone if you're late."

Qiao Mai came back to her senses and looked at the catalog, "Let's take this one."

Just as she was thinking, the agent saw her lost in thought and asked, "I wonder what the young lady thinks?"

"Do you take on house-building jobs here?"

"Sister, are you setting up your stall tomorrow?"

"We do, it's just that the price is higher than those houses in the village."

"What if I draw the blueprints and build according to my requirements?"

"Naturally. Our agency will not misappropriate a guest's belongings, nor will we do anything fake. It's just that the handling fee is a bit higher."

"No, tomorrow I'm going to the agency to take a look. If there's a house for sale in town, I'll buy one ready-made. If not, I'll buy a piece of land and build it myself."

"Don't tell anyone about me buying land."

Taking her out was also to have her interact more with others; she couldn't let her develop a timid and fearful personality.

What a good woman, kind and capable of making money. They didn't know how to cherish her and even pushed her out the door. They didn't know how to enjoy their blessings and lost a money tree.

"How much silver per mu?"

"Hmm, that sounds pretty good. Let's talk about the land first. If I use part of it to build a house and part to farm myself, can the deeds be separated?"

"That depends on your blueprints. Generally, a three-section courtyard house takes a year."

"What if I want it faster?"

"Pay more, and our agency can dispatch more craftsmen."

After Qiao Mai inquired clearly, she signed two documents at the agency and bought this piece of land first.

(End of chapter)