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Chapter 57: Preparing to Build a House

Du Wanchun nodded. “Mm, Mother, don’t worry. I won’t be fooled by her so easily.”

“That’s good.” Aunt Zhou sighed in relief. She placed the mint leaves on the table, then looked up at their humble adobe house and said, “When should we repair this house?”

Du Wanchun chuckled. “Mother, why not tear it down and build a new one instead?”

“Build a new one?” Aunt Zhou was taken aback. “Do we have enough silver for that?”

Du Wanchun mentally calculated their savings. “We do. Let’s just build a small blue-brick tile-roofed house.”

Aunt Zhou stood up and glanced at the Chen family’s house next door. “Alright, we’ll do as you say. This adobe house leaks whenever the wind blows or the rain falls—it really is time to rebuild.”

The Chen family’s house was made of blue bricks and tiles, which was considered a decent home for a farming household.

Back when Aunt Zhou first arrived in Changliu Village, she had spent a day in that house. It was much more comfortable than their current adobe dwelling.

Du Wanchun smiled and stood up. “Then I’ll go ask the village mason about it later.”

Just as she finished speaking, a cheerful voice came from outside. “Who’s looking for a mason?”

Du Wanchun turned toward the door and saw Aunt Wang. She smiled and said, “Auntie, my mother and I are planning to build a house.”

Aunt Wang walked in carrying several large sweet potatoes. “That’s wonderful! I happen to know a good mason. If you’re building a house, I can help you find him.”

“Which family is he from?” Aunt Zhou poured her a cup of water and asked.

Aunt Wang took a sip before replying, “He’s Brother He from Cheng’an County. When I first moved to the village, he was the one who built our house. He’s an honest and reliable man, and his work is meticulous.”

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Aunt Zhou was delighted. “That’s wonderful news.”

Aunt Wang chuckled. “I’ll have my husband go find him later and ask him to come by your house to take a look.”

Aunt Zhou was immensely grateful. “Big Sister Wang, thank you so much.”

Aunt Wang smiled and waved her hand dismissively. “No need to be so polite with me.”

After saying that, she let out a long sigh. “Ah, I truly envy your family. Both your son and daughter-in-law are filial. Unlike us, it’s just me and my old man.”

Aunt Zhou lowered her voice. “Still no news from your son?”

Aunt Wang shook her head. “No… Forget it. So many years have passed. I might as well pretend I never gave birth to that son.”

Du Wanchun, standing to the side, tried to comfort her. “Auntie, don’t think that way. Maybe he’s out there looking for you too.”

The villagers often said that Aunt Wang and her husband were childless. But Aunt Zhou had once told Du Wanchun that they did have a son. Years ago, he had left for the capital to make a living but never returned.

The elderly couple had sold their old house and traveled a long way to the capital in search of him, but they couldn’t find him. With no other choice, they returned home. Unfortunately, their old house was destroyed in a flood a few years back, forcing them to settle in this village.

Aunt Zhou pitied them, and they pitied her in return. Over the years, they had looked out for one another.

After chatting with them for a while, Aunt Wang left the Zhou household.

Du Wanchun watched her departing figure, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, at the Li residence, the servant had returned and relayed Du Wanchun’s exact words to Liu Lanzhi.

Upon hearing them, Liu Lanzhi was so furious that she smashed the teacup on the table. “How bold! She’s grown a spine now!”

Young Master Li, sitting nearby, was growing impatient. “Didn’t you say you had a way to bring her to the estate?”

Liu Lanzhi quickly tried to pacify him. “No rush. I still have another plan.”

As she spoke, she absentmindedly rubbed her face.

The previous day, she had heard from one of the estate’s old maids about a special ointment that could make her skin appear fair and smooth. Eager to enhance her complexion, she had specifically sent someone to obtain a jar of it.

But instead of becoming fairer, her skin had started itching unbearably after using it.

She didn’t dare tell Young Master Li. So she had been secretly scratching her face all day.

The more she scratched, the itchier it became. Her originally dull and sallow skin had started turning red, and faint traces of blood were now appearing.

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