Chapter 539: Two Silly Girls [Thank you! Thank you again! 44k words owed]

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

The morning sun filled the back hall, making it bright and clear.

The scent of incense and tea drifted through the air.

In the main hall,

Da Niangzi Wu and Xu Sun Shi sat on a Luo Han bed, cracking sweet melon seeds while chatting with each other.

"Sister, you've seen the residence of your Zaijing. It has a garden and a pond; it's not the kind of courtyard an ordinary family could rent."

"For an ordinary family, three or four guan a month is enough to rent a courtyard. The rent for Zaijing's place... others might not even earn that much in a whole year!"

Hearing Da Niangzi Wu finish, Xu Sun Shi nodded from the side: "Sister is right."

Da Niangzi Wu chewed a seed and asked: "By the way! That Da Niangzi Zou who rented your courtyard, how much rent did you collect?"

"Four guan a month! Da Niangzi Zou even came into the courtyard a few days ago and told me she wanted to rent another shopfront facing the street! She said she wants to sell dried fish and fish porridge."

Listening to Xu Sun Shi, Da Niangzi Wu spat out the seed shell and said:

"Hmm! Having a business in Bianjing is a good thing!"

"Sister, the reason I say this is to tell you not to worry!"

"Zaijing's residence isn't far from the Imperial City. Officials who get promoted and move to the capital will definitely rent it once they see the location! It's fine if it's not rented, but once it is, it could be for several years."

Xu Sun Shi took a sip of tea and said: "Sister, is one hundred and twenty guan a month a bit too expensive?"

Da Niangzi Wu shook her head and waved her hand: "Not expensive! The property the Marquis of Xuanmen rented out before was also three courtyards deep, with no garden and no pond, and it was over ninety guan a month!"

"Wait another two months. Once the news spreads, there will likely be news."

Just as she finished speaking,

A Xu family maid lifted the curtain and walked in. After bowing to Xu Sun Shi and Da Niangzi Wu, she said: "Madam, Da Niangzi, a mama from the Marquis of Yongchang's mansion has come. She says someone is inquiring about the property under Zaijing's name and wants to know if it can be rented out separately."

Da Niangzi Wu didn't even think about it and said: "Don't separate it. Tell our mama that if they want to rent it, they must rent the whole set!"

"Yes!"

The maid walked out.

One after the other,

Another maid stepped in, bowed to the gazes of Xu Sun Shi and Da Niangzi Wu, and said: "Madam, Da Niangzi, word has come from the second gate that the Chai family has sent a post. Da Niangzi Chai will be coming to visit our home in two quarter-hours."

"Oh! Why is this happening?" Da Niangzi Wu looked at Xu Sun Shi with a smile.

Xu Sun Shi shook her head with a smile: "Perhaps there is some matter."

Winter noon,

Bianjing streets,

The Chai family carriage was traveling on the road to Quyuanjie,

Inside the carriage,

Accompanied by the faint sounds of hawking and chatter drifting in from outside,

Da Niangzi Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng with a stern face and said: "How could you be so reckless in doing things?"

On the other side, Chai Zhengzheng lowered her head.

"If it were the Xu family's property, that would be one thing, but it is nominally the private property of the Xu family's Fifth Young Master. As an unmarried young lady, why would you go and rent someone else's private residence?"

"Doing such a thing, and you didn't even know how to cover it up!"

Listening to her mother's words, Chai Zhengzheng lowered her head and nodded.

"And you even found a team of craftsmen. What are you trying to do?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked up at Da Niangzi Chai and said: "Mother, daughter wants to..."

"You want to use high-quality materials to renovate it properly for them?"

"Mm!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded heavily.

"After you've renovated it for them, have you thought about whether he will actually go there to live?" Da Niangzi Chai asked.

Chai Zhengzheng looked up, her face dazed, and her expression began to turn disappointed.

"Sigh! My silly girl!!"

Da Niangzi Chai helplessly stroked Chai Zhengzheng's hair.

The carriage became quiet,

And amidst the rumbling of the wheels, it continued toward Quyuanjie.

Xu family,

At the second gate of the back courtyard,

Xie Shi and Hualan stood behind Xu Sun Shi, watching the approaching Chai family carriage.

After the carriage stopped, Da Niangzi Chai and Chai Zhengzheng stepped down using the carriage stool.

Looking at Xu Sun Shi standing at the second gate, Da Niangzi Chai smiled: "Da Niangzi, why come to the second gate to wait for us on such a cold day!"

"You are a guest, how could we not come?" Xu Sun Shi said with a smile, while looking at the beautiful Chai Zhengzheng with admiration.

"Madam, greetings. Ladies, greetings."

Chai Zhengzheng bowed behind Da Niangzi Chai and called out.

Xie Shi, Hualan, and the mamas and maids behind them hurriedly returned the bow.

After some pleasantries,

Da Niangzi Chai and Xu Sun Shi walked in front, while Hualan and Xie Shi flanked Chai Zhengzheng in the middle,

And the group walked together toward the main hall.

"Zhengzheng, the adhesive you sent over before, my sister-in-law and I have both used it. It holds pearls very firmly, and it can be wiped off with a hot towel or warm water later. It really is easy to use!"

"Hualan is right. At first, my little sister didn't believe it, but after using it, she's been pestering me for it every day!"

Listening to the two, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said: "If the two ladies find it useful, Zhengzheng is happy in her heart."

Xie Shi and Hualan smiled at each other and said: "By the way, Da Niangzi Wu is here today too, she's in the main hall!"

Hearing Xie Shi's words, Chai Zhengzheng nodded and said: "Is Da Niangzi Wu here for something?"

Hualan said: "Mm, she's here to talk to Mother-in-law about the renting of Zaijing's residence!"

"Oh, oh!"

As they spoke, the group entered the main hall,

And Da Niangzi Wu politely offered the main seat to Da Niangzi Chai.

After everyone was seated,

Listening to the chat of the three in the upper seats, Chai Zhengzheng spoke a few words with Xie Shi, then said to Hualan: "Second Da Niangzi, I wonder how the three Sheng sisters are doing lately? Come to think of it, I haven't seen them in a long time!"

"The three of them are at home in the schoolroom every day, studying with their younger brothers. Father doesn't let them go out much."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded with a smile and said: "Then in a few days, when the schoolroom is on break, I will invite the sisters to my home to play!"

"I'll spar with Rulan in chuiwan, and compete in pitch-pot with Minglan! I hear Mo Lan's poetry is also quite good!"

Hualan nodded with a smile: "If they knew about this, they would surely jump for joy."

Xie Shi, on the other side, smiled: "Miss Zhengzheng, if my sister from my maiden home goes, I'll have to trouble you to introduce them to each other."

"Don't worry, Da Niangzi!"

Xie Shi looked at the maid bringing tea, smiled, and said: "Come, try the tea made by the maids in our house!"

The three drank tea in silence for a moment, and could hear the words of the three in the upper seats.

Da Niangzi Chai said with a smile: "... My old acquaintance wants to bring their children to Bianjing first, so they sent a letter entrusting me to find a courtyard in the capital!"

"As it happens, it's a coincidence! Just as I was sleepy, someone brought a pillow. Seeing your post, Da Niangzi, I hurried over to discuss this with you!"

Da Niangzi Wu, on the side, smiled: "Madam, to tell you the truth, someone came to ask for the price before you arrived!"

Da Niangzi Chai nodded repeatedly: "With such a good location and a large courtyard, there isn't an official promoted to the capital who wouldn't like it!"

Xu Sun Shi said: "You two really are heroes thinking alike!"

"Hahahaha!"

Everyone in the hall laughed.

"Since you've said so today, Madam, I will keep this residence for your Chai family acquaintance as you requested. Just let me know when they are coming to the capital!"

"That won't do!"

Da Niangzi Chai shook her head.

"There's no such thing as letting you suffer a loss, Madam! Since you agreed today, the rent for the residence will be calculated from today!"

Xu Sun Shi also shook her head: "How can that be?"

As she spoke, she wanted to waive the rent,

But Da Niangzi Chai said that if the rent were waived, she wouldn't rent it.

Listening to the two in the upper seats pushing back and forth,

Xie Shi, Hualan, and Chai Zhengzheng looked at each other helplessly.

In the end, with Da Niangzi Wu mediating, Xu Zaijing's residence was rented out for one hundred guan a month, with Da Niangzi Chai responsible for the renovations.

The lease term was tentatively set for two years.

The group chatted for a while longer,

And after Da Niangzi Wu checked the time and rose to say goodbye, Da Niangzi Chai and Chai Zhengzheng also left together.

When Da Niangzi Chai left, she also took the keys to Xu Zaijing's residence.

After waving goodbye,

The Liang and Chai family carriages left the Xu family's main gate one after the other.

Inside the Chai family carriage,

Chai Zhengzheng, preparing to lower the curtain, stopped in mid-air.

"Zhengzheng, what is it?" Da Niangzi Chai asked.

"Mother, it looks like the carriage of the Marquis of Ningyuan."

Hearing this, Da Niangzi Chai turned her head to look outside and happened to see a luxurious carriage, accompanied by a flatbed carriage loaded with goods, heading toward the Xu family's main gate.

"It must be Miss Pingmei, who married into the Gu family, returning!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded.

Da Niangzi Chai continued:

"Alright, let's go see that residence and see what needs renovating!"

"With this matter of renting it out, no one will have much to say about how you renovate it!"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Da Niangzi Chai with a smile: "Thank you, Mother!"

Going to Guangfufang was in roughly the same direction as Chai Zhengzheng's home.

So, when going to Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

Chai Zhengzheng stopped by the Chai home on the way and brought along quite a few of their own maids, mamas, and servants.

Crossing the bridge over the Wuzhang River,

The Chai family carriage stopped in front of the main gate of a residence in Guangfufang.

Chai Zhengzheng and Da Niangzi Chai led the people into the courtyard.

Looking around,

This residence was indeed well-maintained, just as the Lu family had said.

Although the buildings were old, they were very clean, and the fallen leaves and flowers under the trees in the courtyard had been piled together.

In the pond connected to running water, although there wasn't much water, one could see traces of maintenance, and it didn't look dilapidated.

"Giving this residence to the Xu family's Fifth Young Master, the person who chose it clearly put in effort!" Da Niangzi Chai said as she looked around.

Chai Zhengzheng, on the side, nodded in agreement: "It's just lacking furnishings and ornaments; it's a bit devoid of life."

"True!" Da Niangzi Chai looked around and said: "I imagine this residence has always been in the hands of the Inner Treasury! If I had known there was such a residence, I would have paid thirty thousand guan to buy it!"

Patting Chai Zhengzheng's arm, Da Niangzi Chai continued: "Zheng'er, look at Huayang Mountain in the distance! Let's go over and take a look."

Huayang Mountain was an imperial garden within the inner city of Bianjing, with quite a high elevation.

The scenery there was beautiful,

And on the Double Ninth Festival in the ninth month, the Great Zhou Emperor would often climb Huayang Mountain to look into the distance.

Da Niangzi Chai and Chai Zhengzheng led the maids and servants to the northernmost part of the residence.

Passing through a moon gate, they discovered that behind this third courtyard, there was actually a fairly large courtyard.

Entering the second floor of the main room of the courtyard, opening the window allowed one to see the beautiful scenery of the imperial garden in the distance.

"It's so beautiful!"

Da Niangzi Chai sighed from the heart.

Chai Zhengzheng, on the side, nodded: "I wonder if the scenery here will be even better when it snows."

"In the next two years, there will be plenty of opportunities to see it. Let's go!"

Da Niangzi Chai said.

Afterward, the two went downstairs.

On the way back to the main gate, Chai Zhengzheng and Da Niangzi Chai listened together to the Chai family mama's 'assessment' of the residence.

Walking back to the main gate,

Before boarding the carriage,

Da Niangzi Chai said: "According to the layout at home, move some furnishings and ornaments from the storeroom!"

The Chai family mama on the side hurriedly agreed.

"These things are valuable and worth money. Zhengzheng, let half of the guards accompanying you come to live in this front courtyard! They are all trained in martial arts, and their eating, living, and patrolling will add some life to the residence."

"Yes, Mother."

Chai Zhengzheng said, and she and Da Niangzi Chai entered the carriage together.

When the Chai family carriage left,

At a distance from the residence, a carriage lowered its curtain.

"Miss, it's Da Niangzi Chai and Miss Zhengzheng! I imagine this residence was rented by the Chai family."

The maid Seeing Xi Bu said.

Rong Feiyan in the carriage sighed, looked at the wooden box on her knees, and nodded: "Mm! The Chai family has been wealthy for generations. Since they are renting it out, I imagine they will have it repaired and maintained. It's beneficial and harmless. Let's go!"

After Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang on the other side looked at each other, they ordered the carriage to head home.

On the way,

Ningxiang looked at Rong Feiyan and said:

"Miss, the Da Niangzi didn't ask you for the management of the household, and now that she is pregnant, you could hand it over later!"

"If you were still managing the household at this time, you wouldn't need to pawn items to scrape together money..."

Seeing Xi Bu glared at Ningxiang.

Rong Feiyan took a deep breath, patted the wooden box on her knees, and said: "How can a sister-in-law enter the house and the sister-in-law still be in charge? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

"Besides, sister-in-law is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion. Even if she doesn't tell the Dou family, would the personal maid who came with her dowry not say anything? Wouldn't that make things difficult for brother?"

Seeing Xi Bu, on the side, nodded: "Miss, this is actually quite good! If we had really rented this large residence, we would have spent more than just the money in this wooden box."

Rong Feiyan said 'mm', lifted the thick carriage curtain, looked at the residence in the distance, and sighed slightly.

The sky had darkened,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Back courtyard,

Xu Zaijing lifted the cotton curtain, walked into the room with hurried steps, and said as he walked: "Mother, where is sister? When did she arrive?"

As he spoke,

Xu Zaijing looked at his eldest sister Pingmei, who was sitting with his two sisters-in-law, and said with a smile: "Sister! You're back!"

Afterward, Xu Zaijing bowed and cupped his hands: "Mother, sisters-in-law."

After the three nodded to acknowledge him, Pingmei, who was quite tall, stood up with a smile and beckoned to Xu Zaijing: "Come over, let me take a look at you!"

Looking at his younger brother who had walked in front of her, Pingmei had to look up. Feeling that her little brother hadn't changed much, Pingmei smiled with relief.

"Where is my nephew? Didn't you bring him?" Xu Zaijing scanned the hall and asked.

"No, I'll be going back in a while!"

"Ah? Why are you in such a hurry?" Zaihang, who was following Xu Zaijing, asked in confusion.

Pingmei smiled: "To deliver gifts, I arrived home in the morning, how long have I been here!"

Zaihang nodded.

"Take a look and see if you like the things your brother-in-law sent back from Xingqing Prefecture."

After Pingmei finished speaking,

Zaihang walked to the side, looked at the things in the gift box, and said: "Sister, how old are Zaijing and I, why still... I like it!"

Seeing this scene, everyone in the hall laughed.

Pingmei pointed to a long object wrapped in silk on the table and said: "Little Five, this is a bow arm made for you by a former Bai Gao ordnance craftsman your brother-in-law met in Dingzhou, using leftover materials."

Xu Zaijing looked surprised: "Ah?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward and, while beginning to untie the silk, said to Qingcao on the side: "Go to the wooden house and get two bowstrings."

After untying the silk and looking at the thick bow arm wrapped inside, Xu Zaijing stroked it carefully, nodding with eyes full of admiration.

Pingmei, on the side, said:

"By the way, Little Five! These past two days, my mother-in-law said that there was an extra broken arrow in Ye'er's room! This broken arrow was even solemnly mounted on a hanging painting. Do you know what that's about?"

Xu Zaijing, who was admiring his 'new toy', thought for a moment, shook his head hesitantly and said: "When we were in Beizhou, Second Brother didn't use his bow and arrow much! In Changyuan County, perhaps that broken arrow has some special significance for Second Brother?"

Hearing this, Pingmei nodded: "So that's how it is."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 540 =====