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Chen Feng understood Chen Ming’s intentions but didn’t entirely agree. While he meant well by fulfilling grandma Chen’s desire for his son to live comfortably, appreciating Chen Ye’s initial help, and avoiding upsetting Mrs. Wang, such actions could potentially fuel greed in others, leading them to ask for more.
He continued, “Mrs. Hu has always been greedy. Chen Ye and grandma Chen had never been so extravagant with the brothers’ money. It’s not just because Chen Ming, Chen Shi, and Chen Feng are wealthier now, but also because they’ve been too generous with their money in the past, resulting in a change in their attitudes.”
Chen Ming’s mother must be supported, but the eldest brother couldn’t continue to be spoil. Habits like these could lead to problems.
The dynamics of giving and taking could turn sour among the siblings.
Moreover, hoarding large sums of private funds could strain marital relations. Chen Feng jokingly remarked, “Father, with the new addition to the eldest brother’s family, and eldest uncle’s family being so busy, why not let Grandma enjoy her time at Luyuan?”
Chen Ming sighed, “I’ve suggested it many times for her to live with me, but she prefers staying with your eldest uncle, claiming she’s accustomed to it.”
In a hushed tone, Mrs. Wang added, “She’s not only used to living with the eldest brother-in-law but also because she resides in the main house, the second and the third sons show their respect together…”
Chen Ming’s expression darkened. He scolded, “What nonsense are you talking about?” Realizing his harsh tone, he softened, “It hasn’t been easy for our mother to raise us. Let’s just go along with her wishes.”
Chen Feng chuckled, “Father, it’s not wrong to follow Grandma’s wishes. But the others personality is known to all. If you give her an inch today, she’ll ask for a yard tomorrow. It never ends, and even an entire house wouldn’t satisfy her desires…”
Seeing Chen Ming blush, knowing that she had guessed about the savings for the main house, and understanding that when she mentioned “others” she wasn’t referring to a single individual, he rushed to assure, “I won’t do it again. This is the last…”
Glancing at Mrs. Wang, he swallowed the last few words.
Feeling that she had made her point, Chen Feng hoped his father would reflect on the situation and changed the subject. He suggested, “Father and Mother can stay with me. The estate is spacious, and I can prepare a courtyard for you.” Blushing, she explained the situation regarding Chen Lu moving out of the mansion.
Concluding, she added, “Before, I was new to the mansion and unaware of many things. A’Lu was mistreated. The estate has now been sorted out, the disrespectful servants have been dismissed, and the dishonest ones have mended their ways. No one dares to engage in such behavior anymore.”
Over the past two months, Chen Feng had further streamlined the staff, bringing complete order to the estate.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang expressed a desire to move into the estate, wanting to be closer to her daughter for ease of care. She mentioned that she didn’t feel at ease leaving Chen Feng alone and planned to stay until after the childbirth before returning to the countryside.
Chen Feng was delighted by this decision.
However, Chen Ming didn’t want to trouble their daughter, shaking his head and saying, “No. People in the countryside enjoy the hustle and bustle. It’s rare for us siblings to gather together, so we prefer to stay together and have fun. Your mother can visit you during the day and return home at night.”
With Chen Ming’s reluctance, Chen Feng had to relent.
As school ended, Dabao returned home, and Lu was also brought over.
Dabao happily rushed into Mrs. Wang’s arms, playfully saying, “Grandma, why did you come see me so late? I missed you so much.”
Mrs. Wang joyfully scooped him up, planting a couple of kisses on his cheeks, and replied, “Grandma arrived at your uncle’s house at noon, had lunch, and then came to see her grandson.”
They played until evening before the family of three returned to Chen Shi’s home.
The next morning, after breakfast, Mrs. Wang and Lu rode in a carriage to accompany their daughter to the General’s Mansion. Chen Shi took a day off to take Chen Ming, Chen Ye, Chen Old Lady, and Mrs.Hu to estate store to view a house.
On the way, Grandma Chen and Chen Ye suggested that it would be convenient for both houses to be purchased on the North Back Street, close to Chen Shi’s home, for easy access between the families.
However, Chen Shi preferred not to have his eldest brother’s family too close to his own, especially with the proximity to the restaurant. If Hu went to the restaurant daily, it would be a dilemma—charging her would cause issues, yet not doing so wouldn’t be right either. Additionally, if she frequently visited their home for meals, his wife might not be pleased.
Feeling the financial strain from giving money to the eldest brother during the New Year and preparing a dowry for their daughter, Chen Shi was indebted to his in-laws. His wife had cried for days and even discussed the matter with her family, leading to disappointment from his in-laws, who subtly criticized him.
Realizing that he had already been generous towards his eldest brother, Chen Shi thought it was time to focus on his own family’s needs more.
Chen Shi chuckled, “The houses near our home are more expensive, and with only one hundred taels of silver, it’s challenging to find a satisfactory residence there. If the house is too small or old, it’s not cost-effective. It’s better to buy in the west, where the houses are reasonably priced, close to the west city gate, making it convenient for trips to the countryside.”
Chen Ye felt a tinge of regret. Despite making a significant profit from selling “Dingzhou Sweet Melons”, “Dingzhou Wheat” and “Dingzhou Corn” this year, he had used the over eighty taels of silver to purchase land. Feeling that his second brother had become a large landowner and businessman, and his third brother a successful businessman, he believed that he, too, should move closer to being a major landowner. Therefore, he intended to continue buying land, feeling that his current acquisitions were insufficient.
With all their money spent on buying land and saving for Jue’s dowry, the family lived frugally. There was no surplus to invest in buying a house, and even meat was a rare purchase. When craving something special, they would visit the second household for a meal, and occasionally, Chen Ming would buy some meat for the family.
Chen Shi decided, “Let’s buy in the west. I want a newer and larger quadrangle courtyard, without the need for extensive renovations. When we have spare time from farming, we can stay in the city. Dahua is not doing well in school, when he grows up, he’ll rely on uncles and aunts in the city to find him a good job and a place to live.”
However, Mrs. Hu preferred the North Back Street, where she could visit the restaurant at leisure. She didn’t want an old and cramped house but was torn between her desires.
At the land and house store, upon hearing their requirements, the manager mentioned a few houses that matched their criteria and took them for a viewing. They first visited the west, where a quadrangle courtyard in the Back West Street seemed suitable—made of blue brick tiles, relatively new, and about seventy percent new.
However, the neighborhood wasn’t ideal, with narrow alleys and many rundown houses, mostly rented out, with multiple families sharing a courtyard. In comparison to Chen Shi’s property, it was significantly inferior—not in terms of the courtyard itself, but due to the stark contrast in surroundings. The area they visited exuded prosperity, while this place seemed predominantly inhabited by the less affluent.
The asking price for this courtyard was one hundred and thirty taels of silver, but after negotiations, the manager agreed to lower it to one hundred and ten taels.
Chen Ye calculated that in addition to the purchase price, they would need to allocate extra funds for renovations, furniture, and other expenses, requiring at least another ten taels of silver. He inquired if they could buy it for ninety taels, as he didn’t have extra funds.
The manager shook his head, stating, “Brother, you may explore other options. This courtyard is priced at the lowest one hundred and ten taels.”
Feeling that the price was too high and dissatisfied with the location, Chen Ye expressed his intention to reconsider.