“Let’s go. It’s time to leave.” Shen Wenhe took one last look around the courtyard he had lived in for twenty years.
Since the move had been planned in advance, there was no disturbance the next day. Everything went smoothly as they relocated to the manor.
The manor was indeed quite far from the city—nearly an hour by carriage. Bai Nianqing estimated it must be at least several dozen kilometers.
“Finally here. Traveling like this is exhausting; my bones feel like they’re going to fall apart!” Bai Nianqing jumped down from the carriage.
Ancient roads were notoriously rough. Official roads were tolerable, but countryside paths were truly miserable.
“This place is far from the city, but if anything happens, we can easily retreat to the mountains. For now, we’ll stay here. Later, depending on the situation, we can move back to the city. We don’t have a house in the city right now. We’re moving here because my father left supplies in the manor’s cellar. I also want to stay far from the Shen family and avoid seeing them again,” Shen Wenhe explained.
“My father left supplies? What kind?” Bai Nianqing already knew that wealthy families often prepared multiple escape plans—like the saying goes, a crafty rabbit has three burrows.
“Yes, this is my father’s backup. There’s food in the cellar and gold and silver in the secret room. Father suggested converting the silver notes into actual gold and silver, which will be more useful in a crisis. If there’s plenty of grain in the cellar, we won’t even need to buy more,” Shen Wenhe said, guiding Bai Nianqing into the manor.
The manor was actually a small two-courtyard compound. Surrounding it were Shen family fields, mostly leased out for farming.
“Sister, will we live here from now on?” Four-year-old Bai Nianchen ran up, grabbing Bai Nianqing’s sleeve.
“Yes, we’ll live here. Are you happy, Chenchen? Once we’re settled, I’ll find you a tutor. Look, there’s a big mountain over there—I’ll take you hiking when I have time.” Bai Nianqing chatted with her little brother as they walked.
The manor steward had already been waiting.
“Fourth Young Master, Fourth Young Madam, you’ve arrived. Here are the keys to the cellar, as instructed by the Master. The manor is now yours, so we’re heading to the Baili Village estate,” the steward said, bowing.
Shen Wenhe nodded and took the keys. “Alright, you may go.”
“Yes, Fourth Young Master. The rooms are ready. We’ll leave first since the household members have already gone ahead to the manor,” the steward replied. His family were Shen Wenhe’s trusted aides, responsible for guarding the manor’s cellar.
Now that the manor was officially theirs, it was appropriate for the steward and his family to leave.
“What’s going on? What did your father mean?” Bai Nianqing asked, puzzled at the steward’s prompt departure.
“The steward was my father’s trusted aide, originally just here to guard the manor’s storage. Since the manor is now ours, it makes sense for them to leave. And if we ever need to flee in an emergency, too many people would be inconvenient,” Shen Wenhe explained.
Bai Nianqing nodded. She didn’t fully understand but had no objections.
“Since your father left us these things, let’s put them away first,” she suggested, thinking it safer than leaving them out in the open.
“Let’s do it tomorrow. You’ve been on the carriage all day and must be tired,” Shen Wenhe insisted, concerned for her.
“No, let’s do it now so we can feel secure,” Bai Nianqing said.
Seeing her insist, Shen Wenhe didn’t argue. He asked Xiao Chun to take Nianchen inside first.
“Xiao Chun, take Nianchen in first. I have something to do with your lady,” Shen Wenhe instructed.
“Yes, Master,” Xiao Chun said and led Nianchen inside. Accustomed to Xiao Chun, the child followed obediently.
“Let’s go. Father said the cellar is under the woodshed,” Shen Wenhe said, guiding Bai Nianqing to the back yard.
“This is it,” he said, moving the firewood aside.
Bai Nianqing wanted to help, but Shen Wenhe refused. “No need, my lady. Just wait here.”
The woodshed contained little wood—it was mostly decorative. Once he moved the firewood aside, the cellar entrance was revealed. It was covered by a wooden board.
Shen Wenhe moved the board to reveal an iron plate, secured with a large lock. He used the key from the steward to unlock it, lifting the plate and exposing the steps leading down.
Perhaps because people went down often, or maybe because of another ventilation opening, the air in the cellar was not unpleasant.
Shen Wenhe led, Bai Nianqing followed, and they carefully descended the stairs.
The cellar was large—around 200 square meters—with neatly stacked sacks. Bai Nianqing estimated there were over a hundred large sacks, each weighing about 200 jin. In total, over 20,000 jin of grain.
Shen Wenhe took an iron rod and stabbed it into a few sacks, pulling it out to check the contents: rice, wheat, and a small amount of corn.
“Everything’s here. You can store it now,” he told Bai Nianqing.
Without a word, Bai Nianqing stepped forward, touching the sacks with her mind, and they vanished.
Shen Wenhe watched, astonished as the sacks disappeared, even though he had seen her do similar things before.
“My lady, are you a fairy from heaven? How could you have such divine skills? I wonder what I did in my past life to deserve you as my wife in this life,” Shen Wenhe said.
“Maybe I really was a fairy in my past life. You better treat me well. If not, or if you try to take a concubine, I’ll return to heaven, and you’ll never find me again,” Bai Nianqing warned, finishing storing the grain.
“Don’t worry, my lady. I’ll always treat you well. I won’t let you go,” Shen Wenhe hurried to promise.
“Hmph, it better be so. All your property is in my hands now. If you wrong me, I’ll make sure you don’t get a single coin. Let’s see if any other woman would even want you then,” Bai Nianqing said, a teasing smile on her lips.