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Li Zheng, surnamed Li, was named Li Decai. Besides close relatives and peers, everyone called him Li Zheng. The fact that Shen Zi’an and Brother Shi addressed him as Uncle Li Zheng indicated their good relationship.
Li Zheng had a son and a daughter. His daughter was married, and his son had a wife. Both were not at home that day, leaving their son, the chubby little boy nicknamed Shuanzi, at home. His name implied he was dearly cherished, as if they wanted to tie him down and prevent any misfortune.
“Auntie Zhao, the dumplings you made are delicious. My Mother’s food doesn’t taste as delicious like this,” Shuanzi said, enjoying his second dumpling. He looked up at Su Zhi with a childlike voice filled with admiration, delighting the adults with his charming words.
Su Zhi patted his head and replied, “These are dumplings. Auntie Zhao can make even tastier dishes. I’ll bring you more in the future.”
“That’s great!”
Auntie Jinhua smiled as she watched her grandson enjoy the dumplings, the enticing aroma tempting her to try one too. After just one bite, her mouth watered, impressed by Su Zhi’s cooking skills. She thought to herself that Shen Zi’an’s wife indeed had talent; these dumplings, unheard of before, were incredibly delicious. No wonder her husband had praised the young lady’s abilities – it all made sense now. Her attitude towards Su Zhi improved even more.
“I heard you changed your name to Su Zhi? Then I’ll call you Su Zhi too! Su Zhi, these dumplings you made are really excellent. I wonder if my daughter-in-law could learn from you?”
“Of course, if your daughter-in-law wants to learn, I’ll be happy to teach her. It’s quite easy to make, and once I show her, she’ll pick it up quickly.”
Su Zhi replied with a beaming smile. Although dumplings were not common in this area, she had no intention of profiting from selling them. Teaching others would earn her a good reputation and goodwill, a more worthwhile endeavor! Besides, she was here today to buy land from Li Zheng! Seeing the deepening smile on Li Zheng’s wife’s face, she knew she had made the right decision.
“Let’s settle on that then. You can discuss business matters. I’ll take this little one to play around.”
Auntie Jinhua carried the dumplings and led Shuanzi to another room. Li Zheng, puffing on his cigarette, had heard Shen Zi’an’s plans to buy a substantial piece of land, pondering how much silver he could ask for. As his wife and grandson left, Su Zhi glanced at him, prompting him to set down his pipe and clear his throat.
“Although the land you’re buying is barren, it’s quite substantial, totaling around fifty to sixty acres. Here’s the deal: our lower-grade farmland typically goes for ten taels of silver per acre. Since this is uncultivated land, I propose eight taels per acre. What do you think?”
Li Shi chuckled and replied, “Uncle Li, you mentioned the land is barren. Eight taels per acre is too much. The land on the east side of the river isn’t favored by anyone; crops struggle to grow there, even considered lower-grade than average farmland. If lower-grade land sells for ten taels, I wouldn’t go below five taels for this land, but at most, six taels. Considering it’s uncultivated, why not four taels at most?”
Su Zhi mentally applauded Li Shi’s bargaining skills. If the negotiation continued this way, purchasing the vast piece of land wouldn’t require a considerable amount of silver.
Clearing his throat and taking another puff of his cigarette, Li Zheng responded, “Your price is too low. While the land may be barren, with some cultivation, it could yield good results. Four taels per acre is too little.”
Shen Zi’an added, “Uncle Li, you’re right. However, no one is currently farming that land. The area we’re interested in, in front of my house, is marshy, adjacent to a bamboo grove where the soil is even more sandy, hindering grass growth. The bamboo there lacks the lushness found elsewhere. Given these conditions, if we ask for money to work the land, it’s unlikely anyone would bother. Especially with such a vast area.”
“Zi’an is correct.”
Li Shi chimed in.
After pondering, Li Zheng added, “While that piece of land isn’t top-tier, it does have a large bamboo grove and is close to the mountains. Despite the marshy area’s challenges, it can still support rice cultivation.”
Considering the situation, Su Zhi chuckled before responding, “Uncle Li, bamboo forests are abundant in the Daqing Mountain. The proximity to the mountains has its advantages and disadvantages. While it’s convenient, there’s also the risk of wild animals. If they run down from the mountain during food shortages in winter, living nearby wouldn’t be ideal. Regarding the marshy land, it’s probably overrun with wild grass. Even if one intends to convert it into paddy fields, dealing with the grass seeds alone would be an arduous task. After all, as they say, ‘fish seeds for a thousand years, grass seeds for ten thousand.'”
Li Zheng found himself speechless this time. He understood the land’s poor quality; even if given to the villagers, no one would willingly labor on it. People feared that after ten or eight years, it would still be as unproductive as the lower-grade lands by the river.
Seeing Li Zheng’s silence, Su Zhi continued with a decisive tone, “Uncle Li, substantial land transactions in the village involving such barren plots could benefit you. Furthermore, when I do manage to invite the sacred beast, this land will serve as its dwelling, enhancing the village’s reputation.”
Upon realizing the potential, Li Zheng smiled and agreed, “When the time comes, I’ll have the land surveyed meticulously. We’ll measure and price it accordingly. Each acre will be set at four taels of silver for you.”
Shen Zi’an, Su Zhi, and Li Shi were delighted; they had successfully negotiated half the price.
Shen Zi’an and Li Zheng agreed to survey the land the next morning before bidding farewell and heading home.
By the time they returned home, dusk had settled in. Su Zhi was packing, while Shen Zi’an, armed with a hammer and nails borrowed from Li Shi, began repairing the broken table. Since the furniture hadn’t arrived yet, they had to make do with this makeshift solution. After fixing the table, Su Zhi lit a small oil lamp and started sketching the house’s architectural plan, explaining it to Shen Zi’an as she drew.
Although not formally trained in architecture, Su Zhi had observed villagers building houses in the countryside and was familiar with architectural drawings. Relying on memory, she sketched the outline, not overly detailed but capturing the basic structure accurately. Shen Zi’an, observing her work, understood that in rural areas, craftsmen often built without formal blueprints, relying solely on experience. For them, Su Zhi’s sketch was more than sufficient.
“You’re truly clever, my wife.”
Watching his wife’s slender fingers deftly bring the house frame to life on paper within moments, Shen Zi’an admired her skill. Her vision for the house design impressed him further, showcasing a unique approach to construction that rivaled wealthy city dwellings.
Blushing slightly at Shen Zi’an’s praise, Su Zhi responded naturally, “You’re clever too. If you ever want to learn, I’ll teach you in the future. You wouldn’t feel embarrassed learning to read and draw plans from your wife, would you?”
Su Zhi knew Shen Zi’an had some knowledge of writing but not in its entirety. She believed he was intelligent, with a bright appearance, quickly grasping anything she taught him, especially when it came to cooking. She saw potential in nurturing such a person from a young age. She didn’t expect him to hold an official position; she simply wished for him to gain more confidence so they could thrive together in the future.
Shen Zi’an smiled and replied, “I don’t feel embarrassed at all now. With such a clever wife, I have every reason to be proud. When there’s time, teach me too. I can’t afford to embarrass you.”
The couple continued drawing and chatting until Su Zhi finished the blueprint, then extinguished the lamp, signaling rest.
Embracing his wife, feeling her breath, Shen Zi’an’s heart swelled with warmth. He looked forward to Su Zhi’s recovery, planning to tidy up their room and gift her a beautifully decorated new red house once it was built. He couldn’t help but anticipate their bridal night once everything was in place.
The next day, Li Zheng’s team surveyed the land, measuring a total of sixty-five acres, requiring a payment of two hundred and sixty taels of silver.
In this land transaction, besides a contract with the seller, it was essential to register the deal at the local government office. Shen Zi’an, purchasing uncultivated land, accompanied Li Zheng and the intermediary, known as the lawyer, to formalize the transaction at the county office. After drafting the contract and filing the necessary paperwork, the land officially became theirs.
After treating Li Zheng, the lawyer, and the official to a meal at the tavern, Shen Zi’an finally headed home in the afternoon. Upon his return, he handed the land deed to Su Zhi and joyfully twirled her around.
“Wife, we’re going to have a big house and a large yard!”
Su Zhi was equally delighted. After Shen Zi’an set her down, she kissed him affectionately before taking the deed inside. Shen Zi’an, beaming with happiness, felt a bit silly as he stroked his face. He then happily went to release the cow from the cart, securing it before entering the house. Seeing Su Zhi’s blush, he mirrored the color in his cheeks.
With the land secured, it was time to purchase materials and hire workers.
Li Shi assisted in recruiting help from the village. Despite being away for years, his righteous nature quickly mended his relationships upon returning. Shen Zi’an, with Li Shi’s help, gathered a group of willing villagers to aid in the construction. Recognizing the importance of labor, especially for the extensive wall construction, Shen Zi’an ensured he had enough hands on deck.
Collaborating with Su Zhi, they decided on a daily wage of seventy-five wen per person, higher than the typical sixty wen for construction work in the village. Shen Zi’an also added an extra fifteen wen for meals, considering that they wouldn’t provide food. This generous offer attracted more villagers seeking work, including male members of the Shen family – with Shen Zifu and Shen Zigui helping and Shen Ziping looking to benefit.