After settling matters at the residence, Wang Yutong took Chun Tao with her and boarded a rented carriage driven by Hong Shan, heading toward the estate in the south of the city.
Along the way, they passed through a bustling marketplace. The carriage clattered forward as lively street cries filled the air.
Unable to resist, Wang Yutong lifted the curtain and poked her little head outside to look.
The market was crowded, with stalls lined up one after another. Gray and blue shop banners fluttered in the wind.
There were breakfast stalls selling steaming buns, the vendors skillfully packing them into paper bags for customers.
Nearby, a hawker was loudly selling candied hawthorn sticks.
Elegant women adorned with exquisite jewelry walked along the streets, sunlight reflecting off the pearls and jade, casting dazzling glimmers.
Wang Yutong stared wide-eyed. Chun Tao smiled beside her. “Miss, when we come back from the estate, let’s stroll through the market too.”
Wang Yutong nodded excitedly. “Alright—and we can buy some medicinal herbs as well.”
Even though she wanted to explore, she hadn’t forgotten her plan to prepare medicinal baths.
Medicinal baths could stimulate a martial artist’s potential, help open the meridians, and greatly accelerate training.
She had already carefully written down the precious formula in advance. Now she was waiting for the right opportunity—first to inspect the estate, then to gather the necessary herbs and carry out the plan.
The best time for medicinal baths was between the ages of four and ten.
During this golden period, such treatments could help young beginners enter the path of martial arts far more efficiently.
In this world, martial cultivation was divided into four major levels:
First came Martial Artists, ranked from first to ninth grade.
Then Martial Warriors, also divided into nine ranks.
Above them were Martial Masters, similarly ranked.
And at the peak stood Grandmasters, again with nine levels of distinction.
As for what lay beyond the Grandmaster realm, it remained unknown—no one had ever broken through that barrier.
After two hours, the carriage finally turned onto a bumpy dirt road.
“Hong Shan, how much farther?” Wang Yutong asked, unable to endure the jolting any longer.
If I had known the road was this bad…
Well, she still had to come—this was her property, after all.
She couldn’t help but feel that her “cheap father” had tricked her. Such a remote estate—no wonder he’d been so generous in giving it away.
Hmph, what a坑人 father.
“Miss, we’re almost there—just a bit more!” Hong Shan shouted back.
After another half hour, the carriage finally stopped at the estate entrance.
Wang Yutong jumped down immediately, stretching her numb body.
The estate was small—only one steward and two tenant families.
The steward had long known the estate had been given to the Sixth Miss. Since he was still a servant of the main household, he was only waiting to hand things over before returning.
Seeing the carriage arrive, he hurried out.
“Sixth Miss, you’ve finally come,” he said respectfully.
Wang Yutong nodded with a smile. “Steward Liu, tell me about the estate.”
He led her around while explaining, “Miss, the land here is limited—mostly mid- and low-grade fields. The water supply isn’t great either, so yields are poor.”
Hearing this, Wang Yutong frowned inwardly.
No wonder that坑人 father gave it away so easily—this is basically a useless property.
Then the steward presented the account books. She examined them carefully, gaining a clear picture of income and expenses.
After reviewing them, she said, “Steward Liu, take me to the fields. Once I’ve seen everything, I’ll take over the estate. When you return, send my regards to Father.”
“Yes, Miss.”
They walked into the fields. Looking over the barren yet hopeful land, Wang Yutong felt a mix of frustration and determination.
“Steward Liu, who owns those two hills behind the estate?” she asked, pointing. “I think there’s a stream between them.”
He glanced over and replied, “They used to belong to a wealthy merchant. Recently, they’ve been up for sale, but since there’s little production on them and the price is high, no one has bought them yet.”
Wang Yutong’s eyes lit up.
If she bought those hills, they could connect seamlessly with her estate. It would be a perfect secluded place for martial training.
And with a stream between them—if she diverted the water, it could solve the irrigation problem.
Excited, she asked, “Do you know the seller?”
The steward hesitated slightly, surprised. Wasn’t she supposed to have been driven out of the manor? Does she really have money to buy hills?
Still, he replied respectfully, “Yes, Miss. The seller is an external manager for that merchant family.”
“That’s perfect. Can you contact him? I’m interested in buying those hills.”
After a brief pause, he nodded. “Alright, Miss. I’ll arrange it. But the seller is quite shrewd—you’ll need to be prepared to negotiate.”
Wang Yutong smiled confidently. “That won’t be a problem.”
Before long, the steward returned with the manager.
The man looked at the young girl with surprise.
A child… buying hills?
He glanced at the steward, silently asking for an explanation.
The steward quickly introduced her, “Manager Feng, this is our Sixth Miss. She’s here visiting and heard the hills are for sale, so she wanted to inquire.”
Hearing that she was a daughter of the marquis household, Manager Feng’s attitude immediately became more respectful.
“Miss, the asking price for these hills is quite high. But if you’re serious about buying, I do have some room to lower it.”
Wang Yutong’s eyes brightened. “What’s the price—and how much can you reduce it?”