A Good Country Wife
Chapter 410 - 404: Injuring Muscles and Bones_1

Chapter 410: Chapter 404: Injuring Muscles and Bones_1

On this day, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were just about to leave the house when Jiang Ziqi arrived just in time. "Little Yueyue, I heard you want to buy a residence. It so happens I know of a house that’s up for sale. The location isn’t bad—it used to be part of the Huaiyuan Royal Palace’s properties. Then it was bought by General Yun Hui. Not long ago, the General was implicated in a plot to rebel, which the Emperor verified, leading to the execution of those of his clan who were sentenced to death, and the exile of those who were exiled. As a result, all of his assets were confiscated and auctioned off by the Court, and this house was among them. Knowing you wanted to buy a house, I’ve already sent someone to get things ready, just waiting for you to have a look and decide if it’s suitable, then you can buy it."

"Really? That’s wonderful; let’s go have a look right now." Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue had inquired about many places these past few days but hadn’t found a suitable house. It was either too expensive or the location wasn’t right. Considering Jiang Ziqi endorsed this place, it must be good. However, because it involved the Court, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were still hesitant, fearing it might bring trouble.

"Big Brother Jiang, this matter is related to the Court. Is it okay for us, ordinary citizens, to buy this house? Won’t it cause any trouble?" Lin Yue wasn’t very familiar with affairs of the Court, so she asked Jiang Ziqi straight out.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I’ve already spoken on your behalf beforehand, so no one will give you a hard time. Just go and see if the house meets your standards. If it does, feel free to buy it. I’ll take care of the rest for you."

"Then, thank you, Big Brother Jiang. I’ve been really stressed about this, having looked over so many houses without finding a suitable one—either too expensive or the location wasn’t right." Their relationship with Jiang Ziqi was close, and he had helped their family on more than one or two occasions. Lin Yue didn’t offer empty courtesies, knowing if Jiang Ziqi weren’t willing to help, he wouldn’t have specifically come to tell them about it. As for the favor he had done for them, she naturally cherished it in her heart.

"Why be so polite with me? It’s just that I don’t know if you’ll like it or not. Let’s go have a look and then decide," said Jiang Ziqi nonchalantly, brushing the matter off as if it was an easy affair. Of course, he didn’t tell Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue that to secure the house, he had unusually intervened in government affairs, accelerating the execution of General Yun Hui, and had also done a favor for the head of the Ministry of Household. To him, it was all willingly done, and there was no need for them to know.

Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu followed Jiang Ziqi to the house. The once bustling estate was now only guarded by a gatekeeper, who, upon seeing Jiang Ziqi’s arrival, hurried over to greet them and opened the gate to let them in.

Since the house’s former owner, General Yun Hui, had his assets confiscated, the officials had rummaged through the place, leaving it a mess with items smashed all over. The sight was desolate and bleak, confronting Lin Yue with the terrifying power of the Emperor once again.

"What do you think of this house? If you decide on it, you should act quickly. After all, this house is well-located and spacious. Many people are interested in it. It’s also thanks to my initiating contact with the Ministry of Household. The head of the Ministry, out of respect for my ability to speak with the Emperor, did me the favor of letting me choose first." After touring the house, Jiang Ziqi turned to Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu and asked. He had pre-approved the house believing it to be excellent in all aspects before bringing them here; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been worth his trouble to intervene.

"The house is indeed nice, just a bit too big for us. And for such a fine house, how much silver will it take to buy it? I’m afraid I don’t have enough." Lin Yue took an immediate liking to the house at first glance, but the more she looked, the less confident she felt. Such a fine residence was clearly out of her league, and she feared she might not live up to Jiang Ziqi’s expectations.

"Don’t worry, it’s definitely within your budget. I’ve inquired about the price before bringing you here. On account of my reputation, the Ministry of Household has given us a rounded figure: ten thousand taels of silver, and the house is yours. I think this amount is very reasonable. You should be able to afford it, and if not, I can lend you the silver to start with. You can pay it back from the monthly dividends later on," Jiang Ziqi had already anticipated Lin Yue’s concerns.

"Really, just ten thousand taels?"

"Of course, why? Do you think it’s too expensive? Otherwise, I can go talk to that old man at the Ministry and see if he can cut us a better deal," Jiang Ziqi joked.

Far from being expensive, it was incredibly cheap to the point Lin Yue could hardly believe it. Hearing Jiang Ziqi’s offer, she quickly waved her hands, "No, that’s not it at all, the price is already very cheap. I’m just surprised that such a large residence, especially in such a prime location, is available for merely ten thousand taels of silver. I’ve looked at many houses recently, and even those smaller and in worse locations than this were going for over ten thousand. It scared me off immediately."

"Big Brother Jiang, you didn’t secretly chip in money without telling us, did you? If that’s the case, I can’t buy it," Lin Yue suddenly considered the possibility and asked directly. A five-section residence was no small matter. When she previously had bought a residence with three courtyards in Xin’an City, it cost her more than two thousand five hundred taels. And the Capital City, with its congregation of the wealthy and powerful, was incomparable to a small town like Xin’an City. To describe the location as worth its weight in gold would not be an exaggeration. Otherwise, she and Zhao Erhu wouldn’t have had such difficulty finding a suitable place. The inexplicable low price of such a desirable property made Lin Yue wary, fearing Jiang Ziqi was aware of their financial strains and was trying to assist by subsidizing the cost.

Hearing Lin Yue’s speculation, Jiang Ziqi thought to himself that she was indeed sharp. Although he hadn’t put in money, he had certainly invested a favor. The Divine Doctor’s favor was not something to be taken lightly. Yet, on the surface, he feigned surprise and said with a smile, "What are you thinking? Am I the kind of person who does good deeds in silence?! But truthfully, the house is this affordable because that old man from the Ministry did indeed give me some consideration. We’ve had dealings before, so it’s really nothing. Now you need to decide quickly—do you want this house or not? Once this opportunity is gone, it won’t come again."

Despite it costing ten thousand taels of silver, which was beyond their original budget of around five thousand for a smaller property, Jiang Ziqi was right—such an opportunity wouldn’t come again. Lin Yue bit her lip and said, "I want it! Of course, I want it. I just don’t have that much silver on me right now. I need to go back and get it."

Jiang Ziqi was aware that though Lin Yue had some silver from the dividends he had sent previously, she and her husband had spent the past year buying property and land in Xin’an City, and had also built a farmstead. In truth, they didn’t have much silver left. Even if they could scrape together ten thousand taels, it would be a significant strain, likely draining all their working capital.