Chapter 20: Zhang Li’s House Sale

After the Su family completed their household registration and left the village head’s house, Zhang Hongzhuang said, “Sister, you all go ahead to the inn. I’ll go back and carry a few baskets of charcoal. I’ll bring them to you later.”

Although the inn wasn’t large, it was still better than having them sleep in the woodshed.

Grandmother Su grabbed his hand and said, “Little brother, have you really thought it over? Why don’t you move in and live with your older sister?”

Her expression was full of worry.

Zhang Hongzhuang’s eyes reddened, and he turned his head to wipe his tears. “No, I’m too old to keep causing trouble for my sister.”

“Uncle…”

Su Er and Su San opened their mouths, intending to say a few words, but suddenly, Li Sumei, holding Little Su Huan in her arms, stretched out the little girl’s tiny hand and cooed, “Yi ya yi ya~”

Seeing this, Grandmother Su, holding back her tears, smiled and said, “Well then, hold your niece before you leave. Fifth Ya is our little treasure. Usually, only our family gets to hold her. No one else gets a chance!”

Fifth Ya had been well taken care of by the Su family. Now, after a few months, she was almost weaned, and her body had grown round and chubby. She was stronger than before.

Her soft, jet-black baby hair had grown longer, and Aunt Liu Yingying had tied two cute little pigtails on her, making her look like a clean and beautiful little bundle.

“Ah, alright! But I’m afraid I’m too clumsy and might make her uncomfortable.”

Zhang Hongzhuang, both happy and cautious, wiped his hands clean before daring to hold Little Su Huan.

When Su Huan shook his hand, she casually slipped a talisman she had drawn into her uncle’s hand.

“This is?”

Zhang Hongzhuang was a little puzzled when he saw the talisman.

The Su family’s eyes lit up, all turning to look at Su Huan.

Li Sumei, even more so, held Little Su Huan and gently touched her little head, explaining to Zhang Hongzhuang with a smile, “Uncle, don’t worry, take it. This is the talisman Fifth Ya drew for you. It will protect you and keep you safe. Our family has one too. If Fifth Ya wants to give you this, it means she also acknowledges you as her uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hongzhuang was so moved that his hands holding the talisman trembled slightly. He quickly folded it carefully, wanting to put it in his pocket. But his clothes were either torn here or there, so things were always at risk of falling out.

“Oh no, where should I put this? I don’t have a good pocket… This is a gift from my niece; I have to keep it safe!”

Aunt Liu Yingying quickly found a small pouch from their luggage and handed it to him. “Uncle, put it in here.”

“Ah, thank you, thank you!”

Zhang Hongzhuang carefully tucked the talisman away when Zhang Li arrived with her people. “Oh, old man, what good thing did you get from someone again? Don’t go around begging like that and causing trouble!”

Zhang Hongzhuang’s hand trembled and he quickly hid the pouch. “N-no, nothing.”

Su Er frowned and, along with Su San, stepped forward to shield him.

Grandmother Su, leading Su Si and Su Wu, walked up to Zhang Li and asked coldly, “Sister-in-law, are you here to help me with the household registration?”

Su Si and Su Wu were tall, with especially strong arms. Su Wu’s muscles bulged, making him look like he could crush someone with a single hand.

The brothers Zhang Laodai and Zhang Laoer, who had initially supported Zhang Li, both swallowed nervously and took a step back.

Zhang Li, leaning on her cane, showed no fear in front of the two sons of Grandmother Su. She smiled and said, “Yesterday, I made a mistake. I made the old sister stay in the woodshed, but today, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Hongzhuang was right. We should not be ungrateful. Since the old sister has helped us so much, I want to return the favor. I heard that the old sister hasn’t bought a house yet?”

“In fact, there’s a house in our village that’s still empty. It used to belong to the previous landlord’s family. The village head hasn’t sold it because it’s not easy to handle, but I know the family well, and we’re related. If you’re willing to pay, I can help you buy it.”

Su Huan sucked on her finger and looked at Zhang Li with a gleam in her eye.

The sudden change in attitude was too quick. Yesterday, Zhang Li was eager to drive them away, but today, she was actively coming to make peace and even offering to help them buy a house. There was definitely something fishy going on.

The Su family wasn’t so easily fooled by Zhang Li, but Grandmother Su first asked about the price, “How much will it cost, including the land deed and house deed? If they only have a rental agreement, we won’t rent.”

The Su family worked together and planned to finish building their house before the New Year. Renting wasn’t necessary, as it could lead to trouble.

Zhang Li replied, “Not much. It’s a two-entry courtyard, all made of blue bricks with big tiles. The interior is well-decorated, with furniture included. It even has a pond, a rock garden, and a ginkgo tree that’s over a hundred years old. The house is currently in the hands of the landlord’s son, and he’s asking for a thousand taels. But if I talk to him, he’ll only ask for eight hundred taels.”

Eight hundred taels.

That was incredibly expensive. The Su family had just paid fifty taels for the household registration and taxes. After subtracting eight hundred taels, they would only have a little over a hundred taels left.

That little over a hundred taels wouldn’t even be enough to pay for the books and study expenses for the Yan family’s children, Yan He, Yan Qi, and Yan Xing.

Zhang Hongzhuang’s face changed slightly. He seemed to recognize the house but wasn’t sure, looking at Zhang Li with suspicion, and asked, “Wife, is the house you’re talking about the one with the plaque on the south side of the village?”

Zhang Li replied, “Yes, that’s the one.”

Zhang Hongzhuang immediately became furious and hurriedly stopped her. “Sister, that house has had a death in it. It’s a haunted house. It’s been abandoned for many years. You can’t buy that place!”

Haunted house?

Little Su Huan’s eyes lit up.

The last time she dealt with an evil cultivator, she gained a lot of merit. If she could handle a few more things like this, wouldn’t she soon break through her bottleneck and be able to face the next trial?

“Yi ya yi ya!”

She hurriedly called out to Grandmother Su.

Grandmother Su had initially changed her expression when hearing Zhang Hongzhuang’s words and was about to argue with Zhang Li. However, seeing her little granddaughter’s reaction, as if she were interested in that place, Grandmother Su calmed down and nodded at Zhang Li. “Alright, take us to see it.”

The Su family saw that Grandmother Su was interested, so they didn’t say anything but kept a wary eye on Zhang Li.

Zhang Li, who had originally feared that Zhang Hongzhuang would ruin her plan, had intended to have Zhang Laodai quickly shut him up. But when Grandmother Su agreed so quickly, her smile became even warmer, and she looked even more like a kind and charitable old woman. She stepped forward and took Grandmother Su’s hand to lead the way.

On the south side of the village.

A deep two-entry courtyard stood there, standing out among the small, smoke-emitting houses in the village.

Because no one had come for a long time, the road leading to the abandoned house had almost disappeared, buried under a blanket of snow. The Su family followed Zhang Li, stepping carefully, and arrived in front of the house. Zhang Li looked up and pointed to the plaque that said “Golden Jade Full House,” its red letters faded, and smiled. “This is it, the Yun family’s house from twenty years ago.”