A Good Country Wife
Chapter 405 - 399_1

Chapter 405: Chapter 399_1

Although Auntie Zhang wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, she was straightforward, at least. It was likely that the other aunties had egged her on to become the scapegoat. As despicable as her actions were, they were not as bad as the others’.

Upon hearing Jiang Ziqi’s questions, with Auntie Zhang’s example fresh in mind, the other three aunties did not dare to entertain the slightest hope of luck and honestly admitted their guilt. "We know we have erred, please spare us, Family Head."

"Bring these people down and give each thirty heavy beatings. Maid Xiaofang, you will receive fifty. If any of you still have life in you afterward, you’ll be sent to work in the miscellaneous courtyard. As for Auntie Chen, though her initiative to admit her wrongdoing may lessen her punishment to some extent, she cannot escape her guilt. Give her ten beatings. Furthermore, until the Family Head’s wife arrives, Auntie Chen will be in charge of the back house, and you will all be under her management."

If a punishment of thirty beatings was difficult to accept, then giving Auntie Chen the power to manage the back house was the ultimate blow to the other aunties. Auntie Chen was relieved that her actions not only reduced her punishment but also gave her leverage over the others.

After dealing with the matter, Jiang Ziqi headed to Qiwu Courtyard. With such an incident having occurred, even if Little Yueyue was reluctant to keep living in the Jiang Residence, a suitable new place had to be found before relocating. Erhu was a stranger in Capital City, and Jiang Ziqi knew he needed to assist with this matter.

"Brother Jiang, you’ve come. Is there something you need? Erhu and I were just about to go out!" Lin Yue had made plans to check out properties with Zhao Erhu, but since they were unfamiliar with Capital City, they had also made arrangements with Li Xun, a native of the city who had grown up here and knew it like the back of his hand. His presence would undoubtedly make the task much more efficient.

Seeing Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue actually preparing to leave, Jiang Ziqi asked, "Where are you two planning to go?"

"We want to have a look at some houses. I’ve mentioned before that I want to move out." Since she brought it up, Lin Yue was not going to shy away from the issue.

"I failed to manage my own people, which led to you being wronged. I’ve already punished them, and such incidents will not happen again in the future. Why don’t you consider staying in the Jiang Residence?" Jiang Ziqi persisted in persuading her with hope that hadn’t yet died.

Lin Yue was resolved not to change her mind. "No, thank you, it’s not only because of this incident. The root of the problem wasn’t them. Living in the Jiang Residence, there will always be wild speculations about me. Besides, the rules of the Jiang Residence are too strict, and I am not comfortable living there. Please, let me move out."

"Very well, then. Since you’ve made your decision, I won’t hold you back. However, finding a decent place in such a hurry must be difficult. I know Capital City well and have many connections. Let me take care of this for you; I assure you I will find you a good place." Jiang Ziqi said this with the notion that he owned an auxiliary residence in a good location, perfect for Zhao Erhu and his wife.

"There’s no need, Brother Jiang. You’ve already done enough for me. I’ll handle this matter myself." Having decided to move out of the Jiang Residence, Lin Yue wanted to be independent and not rely on Jiang Ziqi for everything.

After spending the entire day searching, with Li Xun’s guidance and using his various connections, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue finally found a nice place with a reasonable rent of only thirty taels of silver per month. In Capital City, such a price was quite a bargain. The property had many rooms, ample even for servants to live in comfortably.

Once they had found a house, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue informed Jiang Ziqi and quickly moved out of the Jiang Residence, settling into the rented property. They felt extraordinarily at ease; they could do whatever they wished without the need to restrain themselves to avoid criticism from people within the residence—all here were their own.

However, the move had been rather hasty. Had there been more time, they might have considered purchasing property in Capital City to have a place to stay during their future visits. Since the business in Xin’an City was currently on hold, they would surely come to Capital City often for business needs. Renting every time would be an expense, and having their own house would mean that Lin Qing wouldn’t have to stay in inns when he came to the capital to take exams.

Lin Yue understood her brother well. To save silver, even when coming to the capital for exams, he would surely choose the most affordable lodging. If they bought a house, Lin Qing could stay there, and eventually, the younger siblings might also have a chance to come to the capital for exams. In conclusion, it was sensible to buy a courtyard, though it wasn’t something that could be rushed. It had to be the right opportunity. After all, she had over ten thousand taels of silver notes in hand. During this trip to the capital, Jiang Ziqi had given her a three percent dividend from the workshop, amounting to over three thousand taels a month, and along with the amount she had brought, purchasing property was definitely within reach.

"Erhu, moving out was such the right decision. I haven’t felt as carefree as this in a long while. Are you busy tomorrow? If not, accompany me for a walk in the streets. I’ve never actually been to Capital City before, and I really want to explore it thoroughly." In high spirits, Lin Yue started planning their outing.

"Sure, we’ll wander around the streets tomorrow. Capital City is much more bustling than Xin’an City, and there’s so much more for sale. I noticed lots of items that aren’t available in Xin’an, and the jewelry shops have so many designs. Later, I’ll buy you some fashionable jewelry and fabrics to give you a proper makeover. You’ll certainly look more beautiful than any high-ranking officials’ wives in the city."

Zhao Erhu said this because Lin Yue had previously been scorned by Jiang Ziqi’s aunties in the Jiang Residence’s back garden. Although Lin Yue was angry at the time and vented to Zhao Erhu, forgetting it afterward, Zhao Erhu, although seemingly indifferent on the surface, mentally noted the incident. It troubled him deeply. So what if his wife had been a farmer? She was clever, capable, beautiful, and literate—she was no less than any high-born ladies, and moreover, she was kind and loyal. No family could find a better wife. Why should she be looked down upon by Jiang Ziqi’s aunties?

Lin Yue seemed to grasp Zhao Erhu’s feelings somewhat and found it amusing, this old man of hers. "Okay, then you’ll have to dress me up nice and pretty."

"By the way, wife, yesterday as I was leaving the Jiang Residence, I ran into our former Magistrate Chen, who is now an official low in the imperial court. Learning that we were in Capital City, he specifically invited us to his residence. Should we send a card and pay a visit to Magistrate Chen’s place sometime soon?"

"Since Magistrate Chen has honored us with an invitation, we should certainly go. And we need to bring a generous gift. Magistrate Chen treated our family well back in Xin’an City. Besides, having been promoted, he’s willing to continue our acquaintance, regardless of whether it’s because of Brother Jiang or not. It’s always good to have more connections."

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