Chapter 28: People Living in the Courtyard
Wang Gui waited in the side room inside the courtyard gate. Seeing He Chengzhe and his son leave the courtyard gate one after another, he tidied his clothes and went to the hanging flower gate to request an audience with the Young Lord.
Gu Yan twirled his folding fan, listening to Wang Gui’s report nonchalantly.
After Wang Gui finished reporting in detail how Li Xuefu and Li Xueshou were beaten, what they were beaten with, and the resulting injuries, Gu Yan gave a satisfied hum and then asked, “How is that little Xiucai scholar? When will he start attending the Prefectural School?”
“Replying to the Young Lord, the Li Family’s little Xiucai scholar has been discussing matters with the clan all day today, and the date for attending the Prefectural School has not yet been set. The enrollment days for the newly qualified students at the Prefectural School this year are the fourth and fifth of the month, so he should be arriving soon.” Wang Gui quickly replied.
He was accustomed to carrying out his Young Lord’s tasks. Regarding matters related to that Li Xiucai scholar, he had people inquire about everything he could think of. The departure date for that little Xiucai scholar had indeed not yet been set.
“Mm, this task was handled well. Ten days from now, after that Li Wencai is released from the cangue, have someone inquire about how the Li clan plans to deal with him. Also, after the wounds of that pair, Fu and Shou, have healed, have someone check if hair has grown back on the injured area. If it has, then beat him again and deduct half a month’s allowance from you.” Gu Yan appeared to be a busybody.
“Yes.” Wang Gui bowed in assent.
Ever since he was young, the question his Young Lord liked to ask the most was: What happened next? What happened after that?
This time, watching this trivial matter, even he found it fascinating. His Young Lord was bound to see what happened next.
He had already anticipated this.
“Also, keep an eye on that little Xiucai scholar. When he arrives in Pingjiang City, come and report it,” Gu Yan continued to instruct.
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As Old Master Kuan had predicted, the houses Li Jinzhu chose were all the cheapest.
Li Wenliang said nothing more, only telling Li Jinzhu that the house she chose was next door to a private prostitute running a semi-hidden business, with apricot lanterns hanging at the entrance; another house, though cheap, had no well, so they would have to buy water, and when the cost of buying water daily was factored in, renting that house wouldn’t be cheap; yet another house was next to a warehouse, which was noisy with people coming and going, and the people entering and leaving the warehouse were all rough men, which was inconvenient for their family of four daughters…
After choosing four or five places, Li Jinzhu understood: her siblings had never left the village and knew very little about the outside world.
Realizing this, Li Jinzhu immediately stepped back and asked Li Wenliang to take charge of choosing a house.
Li Wenliang accompanied Li Jinzhu and her siblings for two days and chose a courtyard house two streets away from the Prefectural School.
The courtyard house was long and narrow, with three main rooms, a small side room on the west, and three side rooms on each side. There were no front rooms. A loquat tree was planted by the courtyard gate, its branches and leaves lush.
The small courtyard was paved with blue bricks. Behind the main house was a small garden of about two to three fen. Li Jinzhu was most satisfied with this small garden. Although it was only a little over two fen, planting vegetables would be enough for their family of five to eat.
This small courtyard was much better than Li Jinzhu had imagined, and the rent was naturally much higher than her budget.
During the days spent looking for a house in Pingjiang City, Li Jinzhu had clearly seen their siblings’ lack of experience. Although the rent for the small courtyard far exceeded her expectations, Li Jinzhu remained silent and followed Li Wenliang’s arrangements.
At this moment, Li Wenliang was the most trustworthy person to them. As for how good this small courtyard truly was, or if it was too good for them, they would find out after staying in Pingjiang City for a while.
The complexity and time involved in finding a house exceeded Li Jinzhu’s expectations. On the third day, the group split into two. Mr. Gao accompanied Li Xuedong to report to the Prefectural School, helping Li Xuedong purchase the necessary clothes, headwear, and schoolbags for new students, pay respects to the headmaster, teachers, and senior students of the Prefectural School, and attend gatherings with fellow students.
Li Jinzhu, on the other hand, continued to look for houses with Li Wenliang and went around Pingjiang City comparing prices and making purchases.
They had only brought some old clothes and a few baskets of grain; all other belongings were left behind in Xiao Li Village. Now, all daily necessities had to be re-purchased.
Li Jinzhu had twenty taels of congratulatory gifts received by Li Xuedong, as well as the twenty-four strings of copper coins for renting the ox, compensated by Third Uncle Li Wencai. After Li Wenliang paid the year’s rent for the house, Li Jinzhu and Li Wenliang agreed that they would purchase all daily necessities themselves.
Li Wenliang said little, only accompanying Li Jinzhu, diligently comparing goods and prices, and patiently and carefully explaining to Li Jinzhu why certain items were chosen and what considerations were important for others, and why the cheapest option was not always selected.
Li Jinzhu saw that Li Wenliang was not only knowledgeable but also frugal and good at managing money, not wasting a single copper coin that could be saved. She was completely reassured and consulted with this distant Eldest Uncle on all matters, holding Li Wenliang in high regard.
From the time the house was rented, Li Yuzhu had been staying at home with Li Yin Zhu and Li Xiaonan, cleaning and tidying up, and organizing the items Li Jinzhu and Li Wenliang bought back each day into their respective rooms.
After seven or eight days of work, the courtyard house was roughly furnished. The two-fen garden in the backyard had been cleared by Li Yuzhu and planted with seven or eight types of vegetables, including choy sum, small white cabbage, and leeks, some of which had already sprouted tender shoots.
Li Jinzhu bought about ten half-grown hens and one rooster. Li Wenliang bought several bamboo poles, split them, and built a chicken coop in a corner of the backyard.
Pingjiang City was not like Xiao Li Village; chickens running around everywhere would not do. If they flew into someone else’s house and bothered them, or their droppings soiled someone else’s courtyard entrance, it would be troublesome. These chickens had to be kept confined.
After the rough arrangements were made, Li Wenliang gave further detailed explanations about the customs of the city and, together with Mr. Gao, set off to return to Kunshan County.
The day after Li Wenliang left, after breakfast, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu headed to the cloth market, planning to first check the prices of fabrics and then look at looms, spinning wheels, cotton, and so on, as they needed to start weaving cloth quickly.
With the school just starting, there were many tasks at the Prefectural School, and the coursework was also intensive. Li Xuedong went to school early every morning.
Only Li Xiaonan and Li Yin Zhu were left at home. Li Xiaonan suggested to Li Yin Zhu: “Why don’t we go out for a stroll too!”
When outsiders were present, Li Xiaonan’s family of five, harboring their unspeakable big secret, unanimously felt that Li Xiaonan should remain as silent and inconspicuous as possible, including Li Xiaonan herself.
After arriving in Pingjiang Prefecture, Li Xuedong and Mr. Gao were busy with various school matters. Li Jinzhu went shopping with Li Wenliang. Li Yuzhu, with Li Yin Zhu, was busy cleaning and tidying, and tilling the land to plant vegetables. Li Xiaoyin followed her two older sisters, remaining silent and invisible, and had not stepped outside the courtyard gate of the four-room house since entering.
Now that Li Wenliang and Mr. Gao had returned, Li Xiaonan’s excited heart could no longer be contained.
Li Yin Zhu was even more eager than Li Xiaonan to go out and see the legendary Pingjiang City. The two hit it off immediately, locked the courtyard gate, and strolled out along the alley.
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