Fan Jihua was also meeting Master Hengwen for the first time.

On the journey back, he noticed that the other party deliberately avoided crowds, as if trying not to be seen.

He had only ever heard his voice before, never actually seeing him.

Now, looking at the young man before him, tall and graceful, with an extraordinary bearing, he exuded an air of nobility from head to toe.

Just what kind of family is this Qiao family?

Each son seems more exceptional than the last!

The eldest was tall and strong, with sword-like eyebrows and piercing eyes.

He carried himself with a steady composure, and when he stood among people, his presence was no less impressive than Fan Jihua’s own elder brother.

The second son had the demeanor of a scholar—elegant and refined, yet with a hint of unruliness.

He was undeniably handsome, but his heart was as dark as ink.

Sometimes, Fan Jihua would rather deal with any other member of the Qiao family than face Qiao Yunqing directly.

This man spoke slowly and deliberately, always weaving his words with intricate meaning, covering all angles.

Even Fan Jihua’s father regarded him with caution.

As for the third son, he was even more outrageous.

He wore simple coarse clothes, yet his skin was smooth and fair, making him look delicate and refined.

Just one glance from his charming, peach blossom eyes, a slight tilt of his lips, and he could make young girls, married women, and even elderly ladies swoon!

Now, this fourth son—aside from being good-looking—carried an air of nobility as well.

Fan Jihua pondered for a while but decided not to dwell on it. He led Hengwen toward Lao Hu Town without further hesitation.

..

Qiao Xin was unaware that someone was already on their way to meet her. She and her group traveled northward by ox cart, carrying weapons.

After ten miles, they reached their destination.

The journey was filled with rugged mountains, making everyone tense, afraid that a wild beast might suddenly leap out.

Fortunately, luck was on their side, and they encountered no dangers along the way.

Unlike the others, Qiao Xin was relaxed. She observed the landscape closely, mentally mapping every detail.

For someone who had spent years surviving in the wild, this ability was second nature—engraved in her very genes.

As they left the official road and turned onto an abandoned dirt path, they officially entered the Lao Hu Town region.

Just as Housekeeper Fang had described, both sides of the road were overgrown with weeds and shrubs.

If not for the flat terrain and the clear traces of human activity, no one would believe that this land had once been covered with thriving crops.

Fang Ya pointed around regretfully and said, “This land here, and over there too, used to be excellent farmland. Now, it’s completely abandoned. Even if given away for free, no one wants it. The imperial court encourages people to reclaim wastelands, but the entire Weizhou Prefecture has only about twenty thousand people. Most of the good land, owned by the government and wealthy families, is in the south and west of the city. Who would waste their effort reclaiming land in a place filled with wild beasts? Lao Hu Town is truly deserted.”

Qiao Xin, however, was not discouraged.

As long as the government didn’t interfere, she had plenty of ways to deal with the dangerous animals.

What concerned her more was another issue. “If we reclaim the land, is it really ours? What if someone suddenly shows up claiming ownership after we’ve worked on it?”

Fang Ya nodded confidently. “Of course, it’s yours. This land has been abandoned for over twenty years. Only after the new dynasty took over did the government record it again. If you clear the land and start farming, you just need to report it to the authorities. Once verified, it will be officially registered under your name.”

Then, realizing something, he asked, “Wait… are you buying this house just to reclaim land? That’s not worth it. Whatever you plant, the wild animals will just destroy it. You’d be better off buying property in the city—good farmland in the eastern and southern districts only costs ten taels of silver per acre.”

Qiao Xin spread her hands and sighed. “If I had money, would I be going through all this trouble?”

Fang Ya immediately understood.

He had been so shocked by her decision that he forgot—if she had enough silver, she wouldn’t be gambling on reclaiming land in the wilderness.

When they arrived at Lao Hu Town, they got off the ox cart near a stone bridge at the town entrance. It was already midday, yet not a single trace of cooking smoke could be seen.

Qiao Xin couldn’t help but wonder, “Is this place really not an abandoned village?”

Fang Ya chuckled bitterly. “Of course not. Poor families typically eat only one meal a day. They’ve likely already had their morning meal by now.”

Qiao Xin had experienced such hardships before—memories she didn’t wish to relive. That wasn’t living; it was merely survival.

A single meal a day was just enough to keep a person breathing.

Noticing Qiao Xin’s hesitation, Fang Ya suggested, “Why don’t we return to the city and check out other locations instead?”

Qiao Xin shook her head. “We’re already here. It’d be a shame not to take a look.”

The group crossed the stone bridge and entered the town.

Fang Ya pointed to a large mansion by the bridge and said, “Let’s check this one out first. This estate was built by the former Deputy Minister of War from the previous dynasty. It has over a dozen rooms. Though it’s a bit run-down, the materials used were top quality.”

The house had changed owners several times and now belonged to the son of a scholar named Zhou.

Since Zhou’s family lived in the city and had high expenses, they could no longer maintain the property. Seeing the house deteriorate day by day, they had no choice but to sell it.

Qiao Xin ran her hand over the exterior walls, noticing that they were made of rammed earth mixed with stone.

The foundation was half a meter wide, and the walls stood two meters tall—indeed, solid construction.

The courtyard was over two hundred square meters, covered in dry grass and cobwebs.

The house had a two-section layout with fifteen or sixteen rooms, but most were in poor condition. Some doors and windows were broken, and there wasn’t even a single rat inside.

If she wanted to move in, she would need to do some major renovations.

Carefully inspecting each room’s structure, Qiao Xin concluded that the main framework was still intact.

The walls were sturdy, and the beams were made of fine materials.

Though neglected for years, the house’s condition wasn’t beyond repair.

What pleased her most was that several rooms in the inner courtyard had built-in kang beds—traditional heated platforms.

In Weizhou, though located slightly south, winters were brutally cold.

Kang beds were a luxury only wealthy families could afford, and now, they had practically fallen into her lap.

“This is the one!”

After negotiating with Fang Ya and offering him an additional five taels of silver as a commission, Qiao Xin finally secured the house for 150 taels.

Since she had decided to settle here, the first thing to do was visit the neighbors—especially the village chief and the local headman.

With Fang Ya leading the way, they soon arrived at a house as grand as her own.

Qiao Xin was puzzled. “I thought only displaced hunters lived here. Why does the village chief have such a nice house?”

Fang Ya explained, “It’s rented. Every year, he gives the owner a few animal pelts in exchange. If a house is left unoccupied for a year or two, it deteriorates quickly. Rather than letting it go to waste, landlords rent them to hunters, who maintain the place and pay with furs. Of course, if someone like you is willing to pay a large sum, they’d gladly sell it instead.”