Barbecue only tastes right with beer.
The key ingredients for brewing beer are malt, hops, and yeast.
The first thing Yun Zhiyue decided to do was find a cool, shaded place to cultivate malt.
There wasn’t any extra space at home, so she had to go out and look around.
On the street—
Lüliu found her young lady’s constant looking around rather strange and asked curiously, “Miss, what are you looking for?”
Yun Zhiyue glanced around again. “I’m looking to see if there are any spacious vacant houses for sale.”
Lüliu replied, “Miss, if you want to buy a house, you can ask the real estate brokers.”
Yun Zhiyue paused. “Alright then. Lead the way, let’s go find one.”
At the broker’s office—
A man wearing a gray short jacket smiled warmly at the two of them. “Honored guests, what kind of house are you looking for?”
Yun Zhiyue briefly described it. “I want something spacious and open. Preferably cool and shady.”
Spacious, open, shady… the man did think of one place.
“There is one,” he said, “but I’m afraid you two ladies may not dare take it.”
Yun Zhiyue looked puzzled. “Why wouldn’t we dare?”
“You may not know this, but although the house feels like spring all year round, backs onto a lake, and has a pretty good location, there was once a murder there.
“After that, people living nearby often heard waves of mournful crying at night.
“They were so frightened that they moved away overnight.
“Nowadays, even the surrounding houses are empty, let alone that house itself.”
Yun Zhiyue had never believed in such things. She trusted science.
After hearing this, she made up her mind. “Take me there first so I can have a look.”
Most people who heard about the house were scared out of their wits and never even dared visit it.
The man thought perhaps these two young ladies were simply bold.
So he led them there.
A quarter of an hour later—
The group stopped in front of a courtyard gate and pushed it open.
The four walls stood empty, cool air lingering within. In the courtyard, an old tree stretched out its lush branches like a giant green umbrella, shielding the yard from sunlight.
Cool and shady.
That was Yun Zhiyue’s first impression upon entering.
“Miss, this place feels so eerie,” Lüliu frowned. “It was so hot outside just now, but the moment we came in, this chilly air rushed at us.”
Yun Zhiyue patted her shoulder. “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid.”
The group walked further inside and saw a well in the courtyard, with four empty rooms on each side.
From the backyard, they could see the lake outside.
After looking around, Yun Zhiyue asked, “Aside from the murder that happened here before, have there been any other deaths afterward?”
The man shook his head. “No. At first, some people did buy the place, but after hearing miserable crying at night, they got scared and fled overnight.”
Yun Zhiyue asked curiously, “What did the crying sound like?”
The man answered, “Some say it sounded like a child crying, while others say it sounded like a woman weeping. Everyone tells it differently.”
Actually, the house was pretty good overall. Yun Zhiyue wanted it.
As for the crying at night, she felt there was something suspicious about it. She decided she would personally come investigate after dark.
“How much is the house?”
As soon as she asked the price, the man knew there was hope. His eyes darted eagerly.
“Honored guest, we know this house has… unusual circumstances, so the price has been lowered somewhat. How about five thousand taels?”
In the capital, that was considered a fair price.
Yun Zhiyue nodded. “Alright.”
She didn’t currently have that much money and would need to return to the Yun residence to get it.
After signing the transfer contract, Yun Zhiyue immediately began hiring people to repair the house.
But she hadn’t expected that as soon as people heard which house it was, they all ran away.
Was it really that terrifying?
Lüliu frowned. “Miss, this is broad daylight, yet they don’t even dare enter. They say they’re afraid of being tainted by bad luck. What should we do?”
Yun Zhiyue comforted her calmly. “Don’t panic. There’s always a way.”
“Let’s go recruit workers in the North City.”
North City—
Under a shady spot on the street, Yun Zhiyue sat behind a table while Lüliu stood beside her.
Two servants stood nearby, jointly holding up a large sheet of paper with the bold words “HIRING” written on it.
Hiring one house steward — 5 taels of silver per month. Must be literate. Men and women both accepted. Free food and lodging provided. Applicants must be courageous.
Hiring two repair workers — 300 copper coins per day. Two-day project. Free meals provided.
Hiring six long-term workers — 1 tael of silver per month. Men and women both accepted. Free food and lodging provided. Applicants must be courageous.
Work address: House beside Qianshui Lake in South City.
This unusual method of recruitment attracted a large crowd, who stopped to watch.
People chattered endlessly.
“What’s written there?”
“They’re hiring. One tael a month—that’s pretty high pay.”
“It says applicants must be brave. How brave counts as brave?”
“That work address isn’t a good place. I heard it’s haunted.”
“Ah, no wonder they want courageous workers.”
“It accepts men and women? Hey, I want to apply!”
A woman stepped forward, her voice loud and clear. “Miss, I want to be the steward. I’m definitely brave. Do you think I’m suitable?”
Yun Zhiyue looked her up and down. Her eyes were lively, her hair neatly tied back with coarse cloth, and although her clothes were patched, they were still clean.
“Can you write?”
The woman patted her chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Miss, I can write. But… may I choose not to live there?”
Yun Zhiyue nodded. “That’s fine.”
Seeing Yun Zhiyue agree, the woman was delighted.
Then Yun Zhiyue slowly added, “Do you know the house by Qianshui Lake in South City? They say crying can be heard there at night. Are you afraid?”
The woman’s smile froze, and she hesitated. “Will people die?”
She had an elderly mother-in-law at home, a son just reaching adulthood, and a bedridden husband.
Her son needed tuition for school, and her husband needed medicine.
Five taels a month was very important to her.
Yun Zhiyue answered honestly, “I can’t guarantee that. You can go home and think it over. If you decide to come, report to the Yun residence in East Alley, South City tomorrow at the hour of Si.”
“Alright.”
The woman left.
Another man stepped forward. “Miss, what kind of work are you hiring for? I can’t read, but I’m strong and can work hard. As long as you provide food and lodging, that’s enough.”
Lüliu answered, “We’re hiring long-term workers. One tael a month with food and lodging included. Applicants must be courageous.”
The man said, “Miss, I’m definitely brave. I’m not afraid of death.”
He had come to the capital one or two months ago, and his copper coins were nearly gone. He wanted to work as a waiter, but he was clumsy with words and couldn’t flatter people.
No one would hire him.
He could only work as a porter for fifty copper coins a day, without food or lodging. After paying for meals, he had almost nothing left and couldn’t afford rent.
Living in the capital was expensive and difficult.
He feared poverty more than death.
One tael a month plus food and lodging—if he survived, maybe he could finally settle down in the capital.
Maybe he could even bring his mother and younger siblings over.
Yun Zhiyue saw the honesty in his eyes and nodded. “Very well. Report to the Yun residence in East Alley, South City tomorrow at the hour of Si.”
The man was overjoyed. “Thank you, Miss.”
After he left, the surroundings quieted down.
Lüliu looked at the crowd. “Anyone else interested in the work?”
Two men stepped forward. “Miss, for the repair work, is it all done during the daytime? We don’t have to stay there at night, right?”
Yun Zhiyue shook her head. “Of course not.”
The two men exchanged glances, then nodded. “Miss, we’ll do it.”
“Very well. Report to the Yun residence in East Alley, South City tomorrow at the hour of Si.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
“Miss, may I work too? I’m brave as well, and I can work hard.” The young man lowered his head nervously, tightly clutching the corner of his clothes. His voice sounded timid.
Lüliu looked at him strangely. This guy looked brave???
Yun Zhiyue raised her head and saw that the young man wore ragged clothes, had a thin frame, and looked rather youthful.
“How old are you?”
The young man didn’t dare raise his head to look at her. “Miss, I’ve already reached adulthood.”
A little young.
But after thinking for a moment, Yun Zhiyue still nodded. “Alright. Report to the Yun residence in East Alley, South City tomorrow at the hour of Si.”
“Thank you, Miss.”