Chapter 20: Zhang Caier

Having made up his mind, Cheng Feng found the clerk and asked about the situation of that woman with the explosive figure.

The clerk said: "This one is named Zhang Caier, nineteen years old, skilled in needlework, and not bad at washing and cooking either. She is untouched, and her value is twelve taels."

Cheng Feng asked: "Is she a local? Will her family come knocking to take her back later?"

The clerk said confidently: "The customer is joking. Selling sons and daughters requires signing terms, all guaranteed by the government. Moreover, if they dare to commit suicide within three years of the sale, the government will retrieve the silver from the seller, which is equivalent to dying in vain. If they try to run away and are beaten to death by outsiders, it is also a death in vain; the government will not care. Zhang Caier is a local, so if the customer wants to buy this Zhang Caier, rest assured. I see the terms state the Zhang Family has only placed Zhang Caier in our shop for a month and a half; the customer has a full two years and ten months to not worry."

This clerk's eloquence was also remarkable, saying things that left Cheng Feng with no more misgivings.

"Fine, then it's her. I also need to look at a courtyard; do you have any recommendations?" Cheng Feng made his decision without hesitation.

The clerk felt a joy in his heart: "This is a big spender who delivered himself to my door."

"Yes, yes, customer, rest assured, I will definitely make you satisfied," the clerk said, leading Cheng Feng back to the guest hall.

No one paid any attention to that Zhang Caier, nor was there any need to.

Having been sold by her own family, she should also know what the consequences are.

Cheng Feng had enough of his own affairs to worry about; how could he possibly go back to pay attention to those trivial, minor matters?

Following the clerk, he looked and looked, chose and chose, picked and picked, and selected a house located in the distance between the outer city wall and the inner city wall.

It combined the advantages of going to the Martial Arts Hall and returning home; there was a water-drawing spot at the street corner, and heading west past two streets, one could also buy groceries and daily necessities.

Life-wise, it was quite complete. The house was generally rectangular, occupying about 180 square meters. It was not large inside; entering the door was the bedroom, with two bedrooms in sequence facing north, plus a kitchen in the west, while the latrine was covered by a dilapidated door at the entrance.

In the middle, there was also a tree of unknown species.

This environment could be considered elegant and quiet.

Except for the location of the latrine, which Cheng Feng criticized quite a bit, everything else was actually quite good.

The clerk quoted the price: thirty-eight taels, no bargaining, plus the twelve taels for Zhang Caier.

A total of 50 taels.

It was not that Cheng Feng did not want to haggle, but this was the only one with such a suitable location.

Helpless, Cheng Feng had to tentatively say: "Can you throw in anything else?"

The clerk also saw Cheng Feng's dissatisfied thoughts and brought out his trump card: "Then I will gift the customer two jars of fine wine to congratulate the customer on moving into a new home."

Cheng Feng indicated he had not brought enough silver, took out three taels as a deposit, and would come to pay the balance by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

Since Cheng Feng left home this morning, he had only brought five taels and a few small coins, not daring to carry more for fear of trouble.

The tuition was two taels, the deposit was three taels, and the small coins could not buy much anyway.

The clerk took Cheng Feng back to the shop to issue the receipt, press his fingerprint, and sign the terms; by the time this series of things was finished, the sun was almost setting.

Cheng Feng tucked the receipt into his chest; this counted as having a home and having a woman.

Just waiting for tomorrow, everything would be settled.

Returning to the village, it was already the Xu hour, which is roughly 19:00-21:00 in his past life.

Cheng Feng really did not want to walk; this distance was indeed a big problem.

But if he did not walk, he could not get home.

When villagers went to the city to handle affairs, they generally left early and returned late.

Returning home was always necessary; otherwise, not having a place to stay was indeed troublesome.

Therefore, Cheng Feng bought the house in advance.

In the future, he could just return periodically.

He also gave the bow and arrows he brought back to Lao Da and Lao San, letting them practice first.

Usually, in winter, they also had to train.

After all, he had formed the skill himself; he would see if he could teach his older brother and Lao San.

Even if it was just a primary introduction, that would do.

There were many things recently, but Cheng Feng was also arranging them one after another, letting matters return to the right track.

That night, Cheng Feng told everyone about joining the Martial Arts Hall while they were eating.

Cheng Fu and Cheng Mu were immensely gratified, murmuring: "Our Er Gou has made something of himself, made something of himself."

Lao San was excited, as his second brother had said that after the New Year, when he grew a bit older,

he should also be able to join a Martial Arts Hall to give it a try.

Lao Da was not bothered, not thinking that much, just happy for his younger brother's success.

Cheng Feng continued to say that after the New Year, if he was doing well, he also wanted to arrange for Lao San to enter a Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts.

Cheng Fu was even more excited; this way, his heart's worry was resolved.

Both the second and third sons had a path forward.

But if Lao Da had no achievements, was he failing Lao Da?

Then they heard the second son say bluntly: "As for Big Brother, I want Big Brother to learn archery. I have asked; after the body is set in adulthood, practicing martial arts is more difficult, so I bought a bow and arrows for Big Brother. You practice more at home and strive to hit the target with every arrow. Big Brother, in the future, your brother will also let you practice, but I need time to arrange it."

Cheng Shu felt comforted; his own brother did not look down on him because he had no ability, and he nodded, indicating: "I will definitely practice hard."

Lao San also nodded, promising to practice hard himself.

The techniques for archery that should be taught had all been taught.

The rest could only be bitter practice.

He himself had come through it that way too.

Cheng Feng turned his head and said to his parents: "Dad, this winter, keep digging the cellar; the deeper and bigger, the better. As for Mom, it is mainly the food at home; you must eat more meat, don't be reluctant to use it. Dad needs to eat meat to dig the cellar, practicing archery is hard work so you must eat meat, and Lao San needs to eat meat to make up for the deficiency for practicing martial arts. Mom, our meals all depend on you."

Cheng Feng talked about everyone's affairs one by one, and said he would stay in the county town before the New Year, and would also come over in between.

He asked everyone if they had any more questions.

Everyone understood what they needed to do.

These were all major matters for the family, concerning the future of the children in the house.

Cheng Fu laughed and said, "Lao Er has ability; if there were a mouthful of wine to drink right now, that would be truly comfortable."

Cheng Feng replied, "Dad, our life is getting more and more promising now; there will definitely be wine in the future."

Cheng Fu laughed heartily without stopping.

The next day, Cheng Feng took his bundle, which contained clothes made by Cheng Mu and flatbreads also made by Cheng Mu. Cheng Fu was open-minded when the time came: "Lao Er, Dad doesn't have much he can do; take this money and keep it well. Being away is not like being at home; you have to rely on yourself for everything. As long as you are safe and sound, that is better than anything else."

Cheng Feng understood. After declining several times and failing to refuse the money, he had no choice but to accept it. It was not much, fifty small coins.

Looking at these small coins that Cheng Fu had painstakingly saved up,

Cheng Feng had an urge to tell him about the one hundred taels he had.

But he held it back; this kind of thing could not be said.

Otherwise, it would just be one trouble after another.

Parting is always sorrowful; Cheng Feng carried his pack and walked toward the county town.

Cheng Fu, Cheng Mu, Lao Da, and Lao San were all seeing him off at the doorway.

This was a good thing, but it could not be done with great fanfare, otherwise a good thing could also become a disaster.

This was the consensus they had reached last night.

And it was also what Cheng Feng had repeatedly emphasized.

With many people come many opinions; who could guarantee whose heart was not jealous?

Cheng Feng arrived at the new location where he had hidden the silver; this was a new spot he had changed to for the convenience of retrieving the silver, and it was also on the road Cheng Feng was taking to the city.

Seeing that there was no one around,

Cheng Feng turned left and right, winding his way to a corner at the foot of a mountain.

He arrived at a dirt slope with three stones.

He dug it open with effort; inside was the rest of Cheng Feng's silver.

Cheng Feng had previously estimated there was over 150 taels. He had used five taels yesterday, and Cheng Feng prepared to leave fifty taels behind.

He would take all the rest with him.

There were ten large silver ingots of ten taels each in total, and the rest were small silver ingots.

Cheng Feng left five large silver ingots and took all the rest.

After all, he was going to live in the county town for a period of time, and all supplies would need to be replenished.

Moreover, there would be another person at home, so the woman's supplies would also need to be replenished.

After the wedding, she would be his woman, and he could not treat her poorly.

Filling in the dirt to bury the pit and then sweeping away his footprints, this was all Cheng Feng could do.