Chapter 46: Buying a House

The July breeze howled as they returned to Qizhou City. As soon as they entered the city, they ran into some familiar faces.

“Da Zhuang! Da Yong!”

“Sister Xi, you’re back! I heard from Manager Li that Qin Zhao passed the imperial examination and became a scholar!”

Da Zhuang and Da Yong, flushed with excitement, could hardly contain themselves.

Seeing acquaintances again, Cao Xi’s heart warmed. “Yes, he passed. Where are you two off to?”

Da Zhuang grinned. “Haha, we’re delivering charcoal to Runxiang Courtyard. Business for charcoal has been steadily improving this past year, so my brother and I are planning to expand the kiln!”

“That’s great! You should also buy a bigger place—then your housing situation will be sorted too,” Cao Xi suggested.

Da Zhuang nodded earnestly. “We’re thinking the same! We’ve already picked a place. Once everything’s in order, we’re planning to get married this year.”

When Da Zhuang mentioned marriage, a shy expression crossed his face.

Cao Xi hadn’t expected that among the few who used to huddle in the temple, Da Zhuang and Da Yong would be the first to tie the knot. She quickly clasped her hands together in congratulations. “Congratulations! We’ll definitely attend your wedding!”

Da Zhuang and Da Yong, blushing, responded earnestly that they would be sure to invite them.

“We’re planning to get married too,” Qin Zhao interjected leisurely.

Da Zhuang took a moment to process before hastily offering his congratulations. “Congratulations! Wishing you a hundred years of harmony and the blessing of children soon!”

Qin Zhao’s mood visibly improved, and even his usually stoic face broke into a wide smile. Looking at Da Zhuang and Da Yong, he found them more pleasing than ever.

“We’ll send you a message when the time comes,” he added.

Da Zhuang waved his hands, laughing heartily. “No need for such formality. We’ll definitely be there to celebrate!”

Cao Xi remained silent, realizing this had turned into a competition of sorts. She stealthily pinched Qin Zhao’s waist, only for him to catch her hand and hold it behind his back, leaving her unable to break free.

Noticing some weariness in Cao Xi and Qin Zhao’s expressions, Da Zhuang and Da Yong exchanged a few more pleasantries before preparing to leave.

Cao Xi quickly stopped them, retrieving two boxes from the carriage and handing them over.

“These are gifts from Qin Zhao and me. We weren’t sure what you’d like, so we just picked what seemed good.”

Receiving gifts for the first time, Da Zhuang and Da Yong looked a little awkward. They wiped their hands on their clothes before carefully accepting the boxes, their eyes crinkling with delight and smiles spreading uncontrollably.

“We love them! Thank you so much!” Da Zhuang said, grinning ear to ear. How could they not be overjoyed to receive thoughtfully chosen gifts?

After parting with Da Zhuang and Da Yong, Cao Xi and Qin Zhao continued home. Along the way, they encountered many acquaintances who greeted them warmly. The normally bustling town felt even livelier after their time away.

When they finally arrived home, Cao Xi paid the carriage fee. The small courtyard was just as they had left it, though a layer of dust had settled, and the jujube tree was heavy with fruit.

“Coming home feels amazing,” Cao Xi said, stretching lazily in the courtyard.

Seeing her so fond of the place, Qin Zhao suggested, “Why don’t we buy this little courtyard?”

Over the past few years, Qin Zhao had earned a decent amount writing books, enough to afford the property.

Cao Xi hesitated. “But what if you become an official? What happens then?” She’d considered buying the house before but worried they wouldn’t stay long.

“It’s fine. This is our first home—it’s worth keeping,” Qin Zhao replied, gazing around. He wanted to preserve everything tied to their memories together.

“Then tomorrow, let’s arrange to meet with the landlord and see what they think,” Cao Xi said, her tone tinged with excitement. After all, in any era, owning a home was always a reason to celebrate.

Qin Zhao urged Cao Xi to rest while he tidied up and brought out the gifts for their neighbors, who had been taking care of their Shui Niu.

Cao Xi slept soundly and didn’t wake until evening. When she stepped outside, the faint clinking of porcelain drifted through the air.

She found Qin Zhao setting the table under the jujube tree.

“You’re up just in time. Come eat,” he called to her.

Stretching her neck, Cao Xi replied, “I didn’t feel too tired on the road, but now that we’re home, it’s catching up with me.”

“Next time, let me go alone. You can stay home and wait for me to return,” Qin Zhao said, his voice tinged with concern. She had lost weight over the past month, and his heart ached for her.

“We’ll see,” Cao Xi replied noncommittally.

The two of them had only eaten a few bites of their meal when the gate of the courtyard was knocked on.

“Who could it be? They seem well-informed,” Cao Xi said, her face full of confusion as she glanced at Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao replied, “Let’s finish our meal first.”

He stood up and moved toward the door, waiting to see who was there. A loud voice soon rang out.

“Master Scholar, you’ve returned! I’ve come here several times already.”

Qin Zhao stepped back slightly, and when he saw the visitor, he smiled and motioned for him to come inside.

“What brings you here, Landlord?”

“Don’t call me ‘landlord’—that’s too formal. Just call me Uncle Han as you did before,” the man said, patting his stomach with a rumbling sound.

Qin Zhao smiled, “I didn’t know you were looking for me, Uncle Han?”

“Ha ha ha, it’s nothing. It’s just that I heard the Scholar has returned, so I came to congratulate you,” Uncle Han said, handing Qin Zhao a gift.

“Uncle Han, you’re too kind. Actually, we were about to come see you about something,” Qin Zhao replied, taking the gift and handing it to Cao Xi. He then arranged a chair for Uncle Han and invited him to sit.

“What’s going on?” Uncle Han asked with a smile, as though he were eagerly waiting for any request.

Qin Zhao explained, “We’d like to buy this little courtyard. We’re wondering if you’re willing to part with it.”

Uncle Han waved his hand dismissively. “What’s there to discuss? Since the Scholar likes it, it’s yours. No need for any formalities.”

“That’s not necessary, Uncle Han. If there’s a price, please let me know,” Qin Zhao said, not wanting to acquire the property under any bad reputation.

“Money? It’s nothing like that. If the Scholar is living here, it’s its good fortune!” Uncle Han replied with a hearty laugh.

Cao Xi, who had been setting down the gift, overheard this and quickly spoke up, “Uncle Han, please don’t refuse payment. Qin Zhao has just passed the imperial exam and received this house as a gift. It wouldn’t be good for his reputation if we don’t pay you.”

Upon hearing this, the landlord was startled and quickly waved his hand. “Oh, don’t worry about it. We’re not selling, just give me 200 taels of silver for it.”

Cao Xi, hearing the price, nodded in agreement. She thought the landlord had set a reasonable price. “Alright, but we need to go to the government office to handle the paperwork for the deed.”

“We’ll go tomorrow. I’ll come to find you then,” the landlord replied, initially coming to bring joy but now handling the transaction as if giving away the property for free. After all, this place was rented out, so selling it to them seemed like a good deal.

That evening, Cao Xi took out the wooden box with 200 taels of silver, but Qin Zhao stopped her.

“I’ll buy the house. This money is mine, and it’s enough to buy this property,” he said.

Cao Xi replied, “It doesn’t matter who buys it. We’ll both live here.”

Qin Zhao gently pulled her hand and looked into her eyes. “When a man marries, how can he let his wife buy the house? Besides, I’m capable of purchasing it myself.”

Cao Xi glanced at him, realizing how much he had changed. He had become someone who could protect her, like a sturdy roof shielding them from the storm.

She put the box of silver back and smiled. “Alright, you can buy it with your money.”

At noon the next day, the landlord arrived, and both parties prepared to go to the government office. The constables, however, were lazily standing at the entrance, dozing off.

The landlord stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, “Excuse me, sir, we’d like to process the property deed.”

The constable, disturbed, opened his eyes with some impatience and lazily glanced at them. “Master, take a seat over there. Wait for a bit.”

It was nearing noon, and the constable’s excuse sounded like a lazy evasion. The landlord, understanding this, discreetly took out some silver and slipped it into the constable’s hand.

The constable, shaking the silver in his hand, stuffed it into his pocket and stood up straight, still lazy but now slightly more alert. “Wait a moment.”

“Ah, thank you, sir, for your hard work,” the landlord said, bowing in gratitude as he tried to please the constable.

Out of the corner of his eye, the constable noticed Qin Zhao standing nearby, and his demeanor immediately changed. He hurried over to Qin Zhao, smiling obsequiously.

“Master Scholar, what wind blows you here? If you need anything, I’m at your service!” he said, grinning widely.

The dramatic shift in the constable’s attitude caused the landlord to twitch his lips in disbelief.

Qin Zhao pointed to the landlord. “We’re here to process the property deed.”

The constable immediately recognized them. “Oh, you’re the one dealing with this.”

He quickly ran back to the landlord, took the silver from his pocket, counted it, and handed it back to the landlord with a friendly grip on his arm, as if they were old friends, and led him into the government office.