“Yuan Niang is an unmarried young lady. According to Bianjing’s customs, any respectable family would have their daughters reside in an embroidery tower, rarely leaving the inner courtyard. Our family naturally cannot compare, but that Gelou happens to be just right for Yuan Niang—”
She immediately widened her eyes and took a sharp breath—this was far too ruthless.
Yuan Niang steadied herself, knowing she couldn’t directly shout out the price. Otherwise, the Shou Broker would surely guess that a neighbor had secretly tipped them off, which would only bring trouble to the Xu family.
She put on a bright smile, appearing as delighted as if she had just enjoyed a bowl of Ke Shui immensely. Her voice was sickly sweet, “Grandma, I’m back!”
As she spoke, Chen Yuanniang stepped past the Shou Broker, positioning herself between him and Grandma. While excitedly chattering about how delicious the Ke Shui was—sour, sweet, and spicy, and how refreshing it was—her hands secretly gestured.
Out of the Shou Broker’s line of sight, she gestured the number six hundred and fifty.
She repeated the gesture twice, watching as Grandma’s eyes deepened with understanding. Then, Grandma impatiently cut her off, “Alright, alright, I know it’s delicious. Go play somewhere else—the adults are talking.”
With that, Granny Wang pushed Yuan Niang aside and turned back to face the Shou Broker.
But Yuan Niang knew Grandma had definitely understood.
Because when she pushed her away, Grandma gently patted her shoulder.
Tsk, tsk—compared to arguing, her grandma was far more skilled at putting on an act. Recalling Grandma’s past achievements, Yuan Niang thought to herself, I hope that so-called Shou Broker or Fat Broker prays for his own good fortune.
Though she thought this, the smile at the corner of her mouth simply wouldn’t fade.
Meanwhile, the battle of wits between the two had already begun.
“Eight hundred guan—isn’t that a bit expensive?” Granny Wang feigned contemplation, appearing hesitant and uncertain.
The Shou Broker seemed to think the deal was as good as settled, his smile growing even more benevolent—so much so that one might mistake him for a Buddha statue that had wandered out of a temple.
“Ah, I’m afraid it can’t be any cheaper. The prices of these houses are set as they should be—all predetermined. Once the payment is settled, taxes still have to be paid to the authorities. Whether it’s cheap or not really isn’t something a small broker like me can decide.”
He spoke with such conviction, as if he too was troubled and sighing over his inability to lower the price for Granny Wang’s family.
Granny Wang’s shrewd old eyes saw right through him. She sneered inwardly but sighed in agreement outwardly, though the words that came out of her mouth weren’t quite as pleasing.
“Exactly, that’s the way it is. My relative who serves as an official in Bianjing wrote the same thing in his letter. He said that the prices of houses submitted to the authorities cannot be falsified—they’re all subject to taxation. Those brokers wouldn’t dare deceive people lightly, or else they’d face a beating if reported to the authorities. Especially those who inflate prices to swindle people—they’d be taken to court.”
The Shou Broker narrowed his already small eyes. Even though Granny Wang spoke convincingly, as if it were true, it still made him suspicious. He feared it might just be an out-of-towner casually claiming an official relative to intimidate him.
After all, wealth can cloud one’s judgment. If he succeeded in deceiving them today, his pockets wouldn’t just be a little fuller.
Granny Wang naturally knew that a single sentence wouldn’t be enough to intimidate someone who had long navigated the streets. She wasn’t in a hurry, still wearing a smile as she continued, chatting casually as if making small talk.
“Look at me—an old woman, ragged and worn. You probably can’t tell I’ve been in Bianjing for decades, can you?”
“Alas, if only my late husband hadn’t been sent on an outward assignment early in his career and died at his post, my grandson and I would be true natives of Bianjing. Tell me, does my accent still sound authentic? After so many years away, I wonder if it remains the local dialect.”
Upon hearing this, Shou Broker felt as if struck by a sudden blow.
Indeed, one could fabricate connections to officials, but that genuine, authentic accent couldn’t be faked.
Only someone born and raised in Bianjing could speak with such intonation.
If her husband had truly died at his post, not to mention relatives, there would surely be some former colleagues or acquaintances. Even if they hadn’t been in contact for years, if she sought their help after being deceived in Bianjing, they would certainly lend a hand.
Compared to those high-ranking officials, he… a mere broker who had curried favor with a few minor clerks—crushing him would be easier than squashing an ant.
He had been utterly foolish earlier to think of swindling money from this family of women and children. If they truly had no means at all, how could these elderly and young ones afford to buy a house in Bianjing?
At this realization, Shou Broker’s expression changed instantly. The cheerful smile vanished, replaced by a “kind yet pained” look.
He flattered her with a pitiful tone, “What are you saying? I can’t detect any trace of a non-local accent at all.”
Only then did Granny Wang smile. She knew this broker had understood the situation, so she continued, “I’m an old woman with a poor memory. I’ve forgotten how much you said this house costs in guan?”
Granny Wang paused, as if trying to recall. “Oh, but the previous broker also showed me houses around here, just one street over. If I remember vaguely, wasn’t the price around five hundred or six hundred guan?”
When Shou Broker heard Granny Wang’s first sentence, he thought she was giving him a way out. But upon hearing the second, sweat broke out on his forehead. Wiping it with his sleeve, he said, “Six hundred, it must be six hundred guan. How could there be such a cheap house around here, especially one with a shopfront? If there were, it would likely be haunted or unlucky.”
Granny Wang casually replied, “So I suppose this house must also be around six hundred guan?”
“More, more than that,” Shou Broker immediately revealed the truth. “It’s listed at six hundred twenty guan. If you really want to negotiate the price, you’ll have to deal with the original owner, and that might take some time.”
…
After some back-and-forth haggling, it ended with Granny Wang emerging victorious.
Chen Yuanniang listened in astonishment. She knew her grandma was formidable, but she hadn’t expected her to be this capable—with just a few words, she had made Shou Broker retreat step by step. In the end, they actually managed to buy the house for six hundred guan.
This only strengthened her resolve to follow in her grandma’s footsteps!
If she could learn even a fraction of her grandma’s skills, surely no one would be able to bully her.
After that, things proceeded very smoothly. Granny Wang had thoroughly intimidated Shou Broker, and he, knowing she was a shrewd old woman, dared not cause any trouble.
However, moving and completing the paperwork weren’t so quick—they still had to go through official procedures. So, in the following days, Chen Yuanniang stayed with her family at an inn, while the compensation for breaking off the engagement remained temporarily stored at the escort agency.
By this time, Yuan Niang increasingly realized how remarkable her grandma was.
The inn was bustling with all sorts of people. If their family had brought all those bolts of cloth and valuables with them, it would have attracted unwanted attention, and losing anything would have left them with nowhere to turn.
Finally, Granny Wang, well-versed in handling affairs, used some money to get everything sorted out clearly within a few days and obtained the deed.
She consulted a fortune teller at the Wazi to select an auspicious date and time, then moved with her entire family into the new residence.
They had brought few belongings with them to the inn, as most of their possessions were still stored at the escort agency. Granny Wang had already arranged with Zheng Biaotou to hire a carriage and horses at noon to deliver all their items.
Chen Yuanniang and her family arrived at the house just before the end of the Chen hour, entering through the small back gate.
With nearly two hours left until noon, they had ample time to give the house a preliminary cleaning, especially the Ku Fang. Located right next to the main hall and lacking windows, it could be securely locked, making it difficult for outsiders to enter casually.
In truth, the layout of the house was quite sensible, facing south with its back to the north.
The shopfront was positioned directly to the south, where the main entrance was also located. From the shop, one could proceed inward to the courtyard, though a door had been sealed off here. By locking it from the courtyard side, the shop could be completely separated from the living quarters at the rear.
A mulberry tree grew at the edge of the courtyard, beside which a long bamboo pole extended over the wall from outside. Beneath the pole stood a large vat filled with water.
To the west and east of the courtyard were two bright, spacious rooms, each accompanied by a Jiao Fang.
The western Jiao Fang was somewhat smaller but offered a clear, open view. Once tidied up, placing a desk beneath the window would make it perfectly suitable for living. The eastern Jiao Fang, however, was darker and more humid. The previous owner had built a Zao there, and the walls and beams were blackened by soot. Wood shavings and debris littered the corners, making it clear that even after they took over, it could only serve as a kitchen.
The smoke and fumes were simply too heavy.
To the north of the courtyard stood a two-story building.
The ground floor centered around the main hall, which could be used for receiving guests. On ordinary days, the family would rest, entertain themselves, and even have their meals here.
To the west of the main hall was the Ku Fang, while to the east, a small door provided access. Yuan Niang and the others had entered and exited through this small door when viewing the house. Every morning, the chamber pots would also be placed outside this door for the night soil collectors to empty.
Above the main hall was a Gelou, with windows facing both the courtyard and the outside, offering excellent natural light. Whichever window one looked out from, the view was splendid—especially the window facing the courtyard, which provided a clear view of the shopfront outside and even the scenes along several streets.
Moreover, beside the Gelou was a small room, though it was unclear whether it was for storage or for servants.
With only these few rooms available, Granny Wang already had a clear idea of who would stay where. Still, she felt it necessary to discuss it openly to avoid any hidden resentment that might later breed discord—something best avoided.
Having come from a prominent family and experienced numerous ups and downs, Granny Wang understood human nature all too well.
It was common for people to rely on each other in times of hardship, yet carelessness after gaining wealth could easily lead even close relatives to grow apart.
Standing in the courtyard, Granny Wang suddenly paused and spoke up proactively, “Now that we’ve moved into a new house, we should decide who will stay where.”
Hearing this, Yuan Niang—who had been cheerfully exploring every corner—Madam Cen, who had already begun washing buckets in preparation for cleaning, and Chen Kuocang, who had been intently studying the layout of the house, all gathered around.
Granny Wang swept her sharp gaze over the three of them and declared, “Yuan Niang is an unmarried young lady. According to Bianjing customs, any respectable family would have their daughters reside in a separate embroidery tower, rarely leaving the inner courtyard. Our family may not compare to such households, but the Gelou is perfectly suited for Yuan Niang.”
Yuan Niang nodded eagerly. At her lively and restless age, living in the Gelou where she could gaze out at the nearby streets appealed to her greatly.
No one else raised any objections.
Next, Granny Wang’s aged and clouded eyes turned to Chen Kuocang. “Though the western Jiao Fang is a bit smaller, it is quite bright. Setting up a desk beneath the window, it remains illuminated until dusk, perfectly suited for reading and writing.
“You, Xi Lang, have been clever since childhood, so I imagine I need not remind you—once we reach Bianjing, I will certainly send you to school. This room is just right for you to live in. Though it is small, you are young and of small stature, so it fits you well.
“How do you feel about it? Do you think it unfair?”
Chen Kuocang shook his head, his youthful face displaying a steadiness uncommon for a child of seven or eight. He earnestly replied, “Your grandson likes it very much.”
“Good!” Granny Wang’s eyes showed a hint of a smile. She then looked at Madam Cen. “We have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for many years, so there is no need for distant formalities. Your health is poor and you cannot tolerate noise. The eastern wing faces the alleyway, inevitably noisy at night, so you shall reside in the western wing.”
Madam Cen’s complexion was sallow, indeed a symptom of long-standing worries, and she often slept poorly at night.
Upon hearing this, she hesitated. “Mother, what about you…”
Granny Wang waved her hand dismissively. “I, an old woman, am coarse-minded; if I don’t snore at night, that’s already good. How could noise wake me?”
Thus, the matter of who would live where was settled.
Suddenly, Granny Wang remembered something else and called Yuan Niang aside. “Right, regarding buying the house, we must thank the people from Xu Family Medical Shop. They are decent folk, and we will be neighbors from now on, so we should maintain good relations. Once Zheng Biaotou delivers all our belongings, don’t forget to remind me to select some better preserved meat to send to them.”
Granny Wang feared she might forget amidst the busyness.
Chen Yuanniang carefully noted it down, her voice crisp and clear. “Grandma, rest assured, I will remember it clearly and firmly!”
Granny Wang tapped Yuanniang’s forehead, reproaching her. “This child, you speak nonsense; outsiders hearing this would find it laughable. Don’t misuse words just because you’ve learned them.”
Chen Yuanniang rubbed her forehead, responding adeptly. “I know, I only embarrass myself before Grandma. When I go out, I will certainly be proper and not disgrace our family.”
“That’s more like it.” Granny Wang was somewhat satisfied.
Just then, someone suddenly knocked at the small gate outside.
Everyone was somewhat surprised, but under the bright daylight and in the bustling, lively marketplace, even a robber likely would not dare to come plundering.
Granny Wang herself went forward to open the gate, only to find a completely unfamiliar woman.