A Good Country Wife
Chapter 372 - 366_1

Chapter 372: Chapter 366_1

Compared to Zhao Erhu’s kindness toward her, Lin Yue felt guilty. She regretted that she had doubted him before, had altercations with him, and remembering these things, her guilt intensified. She resolved that she would never do so again, that she would wholeheartedly trust this man and never entertain groundless suspicions.

"Zhao Erhu, I was wrong. You have been so kind to me, but I didn’t trust you and even suspected your relationship with Li Xiaotao. I won’t do that anymore."

Zhao Erhu smiled and rubbed Lin Yue’s head, "Fool, I am too happy to see you jealous; it shows that you truly care about me. But there’s really nothing between Li Xiaotao and me. She helped our family in the past, and I owed her a favor. I just wanted to repay her which is why I helped her out. However, I’ll make sure to keep my distance from her in the future."

"I understand now, from now on, I won’t be jealous of her anymore. Actually, I understood that there probably isn’t anything between you and Li Xiaotao. It just made me uncomfortable to see you treat another woman so specially, so..." As Lin Yue spoke, she also felt she had been somewhat unreasonable. Maybe it was because she still harbored doubts about her feelings for Zhao Erhu that she felt insecure. Starting from now, she decided to trust this man wholeheartedly.

"So that’s what you were thinking, wife. From now on, you should communicate your thoughts to me. Don’t keep them bottled up inside."

The New Year’s festivities involved visiting relatives and hosting dinners. Zhao Erhu’s family only had a few relatives and friends, so their holiday had been relatively calm.

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed. With the new year came new prospects. The most important matter Lin Yue focused on now was sending Dalang and the others to study at Songshan Academy. Songshan Academy was the best academy in Xin’an City, and not just anyone could get in. One had to pass an entrance examination, and without success in that, wealth alone was insufficient for entry—notwithstanding the few exceptions made for the families of power and privilege. But Lin Yue’s family certainly did not qualify, so Dalang and the others had to rely solely on their own abilities.

Dalang and his brothers understood Lin Yue’s expectations, and had become even more diligent in their studies recently. Even the youngest, Fourth Brother, was no exception. They did not want to disappoint Lin Yue, and having been disdained by the villagers in the past for Zhao Erhu’s reputation and for being motherless, they still wanted to prove themselves, despite their circumstances having much improved.

After the Lantern Festival, Lin Yue went to the city to inspect a residence that Manager Liu had inquired about on her behalf. It was a task that Jiang Ziqi had actually assigned last year, but Lin Yue’s high standards meant that several options had not been suitable. It was also a matter of timing, as there weren’t any appropriate residences available. Lin Yue was somewhat anxious about this matter, but just a few days ago, Manager Liu had learned of a property and immediately informed Lin Yue.

"Madam Lin, the owner of this house was originally a wealthy merchant, but his family fell upon hard times. Despite that, he had always held on to this residence, unwilling to sell. It’s only because someone in his family has fallen critically ill and urgently needs silver for treatment that he’s in such a rush to sell. I’ve already checked it out in advance; the residence is truly excellent. It meets all the conditions you specified, though the price is a bit steep, at two thousand five hundred taels," Manager Liu explained to Lin Yue, hinting at his hope for some recognition. The news of Jiang Ziqi’s accession to the position of Family Head had been officially communicated from the Capital City, and he was aware of Lin Yue’s good relationship with Jiang Ziqi, including their business partnership. If Lin Yue found his work commendable and spoke well of him to the Family Head, there was a chance that he would be more highly regarded.

"I see. The price isn’t insurmountable. I’ll go take a look at the residence first and see if it meets my expectations." Before the New Year, Jiang Ziqi had given ten thousand taels for the embroidery presented to the Empress Dowager, and another two thousand plus taels were earned from the goods sent to Capital City. Along with previous savings, Lin Yue had over thirteen thousand taels at her disposal. Spending two thousand five hundred taels to buy a residence was entirely feasible; it was just a matter of whether it was worth it or not.

This was a three-courtyard residence, indeed very close to Songshan Academy, taking just a quarter-hour to travel to and from. Just this convenience alone made Lin Yue feel it was appropriate. After seeing the residence, she was even more satisfied.

Although the residence seemed desolate because the owner had fallen from grace and there was nobody to care for it, every corner of the house had been attentively designed. Whether it was the layout or the decorations, everything was well thought out. It truly was a fine place, so Lin Yue made an immediate decision to buy the residence, understanding why its owner was reluctant to sell. To acquire such a property for two thousand five hundred taels was definitely worth the value.

"What do you think, madam? Are you satisfied with the residence?" Mr. Zhang, the owner, was also anxious. He needed the silver urgently but did not want to undersell his home. Yet, because the potential buyers were aware of his circumstances, they had been deliberately lowering the price, trying to take advantage of his desperation. Even though he was irked, he felt helpless.

Lin Yue nodded, "The residence is very good. I am quite pleased with it. If possible, I’d like to complete the formalities as soon as we can. When would be a convenient time for you, Mr. Zhang?"

"I’m available anytime. Madam must also be aware of my family situation. My wife is ill and in urgent need of silver for treatment. If it’s possible, I would also like to proceed as quickly as possible." Mr. Zhang spoke frankly. This lady had been introduced by Manager Liu, whom he knew was well-informed. Manager Liu must have already discussed his family’s situation with her, so there was little point in being reticent. He might as well be straightforward.

"Since that’s the case, I’ve brought the silver note with me. Let’s go to the Government Office right now to complete the formalities." Having waited so long to find a residence to her liking, Lin Yue did not want to delay any further, risking additional complications. She knew the property wasn’t lacking buyers; it was just that everyone else wanted a bargain, waiting for Mr. Zhang to be unable to hold out and reduce his price. It wouldn’t necessarily have been her turn if she hadn’t seized this opportunity now.

Exiting the Government Office with the property deed now transferred, Lin Yue finally felt at ease, just waiting to clean up the residence, furnish it fully, and then move in.

Lin Yue also planned to convert the vacant lot in front of the residence into several storefronts. Although the area was quiet, it was not far from the bustling main street, and considering the sizeable Songshan Academy, most of the students were from wealthy families who were willing to spend. If the shops were well managed, they were sure to make money.

Even with over ten thousand taels of silver in hand, Lin Yue was not complacent. After all, the more silver one has, the better. With several children to care for, there were plenty of expenses, and even though she had purchased a property in the city, she had not given up on the idea of building a farmstead. The blueprints were ready, and as soon as the snow melted and the craftsmen were arranged, she planned to start work on both fronts.