Chapter 216: Chapter 215: Going with Brother-in-law
Zhong Xingwang listened to Cousin Tang’s concern and said with a confident smile:
“Indeed, this is just a small courtyard dwelling. Though our family in the Capital City isn’t the wealthiest, building a modest courtyard is still within our ans.”
Mr. Tang nodded upon hearing his young cousin’s words and decided not to pursue the matter further.
Scholar Mozi learned from his young uncle that the visit was not solely for pleasure, but also ca with a task.
He silently observed his young uncle, noting how despite his youth, he was quite steady and knew to seek help from relatives instead of recklessly acting on his own.
Having co from a poor family, Scholar Mo had never taken on the role of head of the household or learned anything about building a house before.
He refrained from making irresponsible comnts and avoided presuming to instruct his young uncle without understanding the subject.
Regarding the house construction, he remained silent, knowing that minor mistakes were excusable for him, a brother-in-law who had no money to contribute; speaking too much would be pointless.
At this mont, Housekeeper Tang arrived and ntioned that he planned to take Zhong Xingwang to survey the land and then proceed to the governnt office to sign the necessary docunts.
Mr. Tang told them to proceed with the work as he had many other matters to attend to and would not personally accompany them over such a trivial affair.
Zhong Xingwang brought along his idle brother-in-law to handle the matter, using the opportunity to indirectly teach the brother-in-law so things.
In the future, as the man of his elder sister’s household and its main pillar, he could not remain ignorant.
Previously, being an uninford scholar was perhaps excusable because his family had been poor and had no opportunity to purchase land or build a house—chances to build in their rural ho were rare, too.
But now, having married his elder sister, his life was bound to change; he needed to learn and understand these things—it was essential.
Scholar Mo agreed to accompany them. After all, these were his wife’s relatives, and it was beneficial for him to be there as an observer. This experience would help him to know the location of his in-laws’ ho for future reference!
When his wife inquired, he would have answers, showing her that he was not indifferent to her family’s affairs.
Housekeeper Tang, along with staff and a governnt official, went to asure the land, preparing for the first phase of the procedure.
Of course, compensating the governnt official with a gratuity was customary, a cost borne by either their family or the Zhong Family.
Zhong Xingwang had already considered the purchase of the land, how many rooms were needed, the size of the garden, and the layout of the buildings therein.
The vacation courtyard would naturally feature a lake, artificial mountains, pavilions, towers, and galleries, as well as a selection of beautiful trees and flowers to be planted.
Scholar Mo watched quietly; to him, the purchase of so much land seed an enormous burden, as he had never imagined owning a house and courtyard of such vastness.
It wasn’t that he lacked dreams or responsibility, but reality is reality, and dreams are just dreams. Whether those dreams could beco reality was still an unknown.
“Brother-in-law, I have a plan for constructing the courtyard. When the ti cos, I’ll trouble you to draw the design so it can be built.”
“Can I do that? I’m not a designer. It’d be better to find a professional.”
“Brother-in-law, of course we will seek a professional, but we’ll need to consult one and share our own ideas before the design is possible. Otherwise, we may overlook certain Feng Shui aspects in the garden, which we don’t understand—so places shouldn’t be built upon, as doing so could bring negative effects.”
Although Zhong Xingwang had never dealt with such matters, he had heard the older generation talk about the importance of building hos according to Feng Shui principles and arranging the garden by Bagua positions or Feng Shui considerations.
He thought he should consult Housekeeper Tang about finding a Feng Shui Master for building a ho.
They would hire a Feng Shui Master to assist and then proceed to draw the building plans.
Mr. Mo nodded after listening and knew that the secondary residences or houses of wealthy families were not like those in the rural areas, where building a few small rooms according to one direction was enough.
Soone had sought out a Feng Shui Master to consult, and then proceeded to build. Afterwards, others followed suit, constructing houses almost identical to the first one in the sa direction.
But the architecture of the wealthy was more particular; the houses they built were larger and cost more money and effort. They really couldn’t be built carelessly.
Housekeeper Tang was busy on the site, watching them take asurents and calculating based on how much land Zhong Xingwang had purchased.
He also heard the two n chatting, but he didn’t interfere with their conversation. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but if he took the initiative to do too much, it was fine if it turned out well. However, if it didn’t, the bla would fall on him.
Working in a grand household, Housekeeper Tang was always very cautious, doing more work and speaking less, minimizing mistakes.
Not to ntion that he appeared quite prestigious, serving as the housekeeper in the richest family in the county, even governnt officials gave him so respect.
But in his duties, he also had his own taboos. In the Tang Family with many masters, he was very cautious in his actions and made sure not to offend anyone.
By the afternoon, the land asuring was complete. Housekeeper Tang instructed the workers to mark out the area, and then they invited those who had worked to dine at the restaurant.
By this ti, it was already evening, and alti had arrived. They all headed to the largest restaurant in the county for dinner.
With so many people in their group, they reserved a private room and opened two tables.
The governnt official, Housekeeper Tang, Zhong Xingwang, and Scholar Mo sat at one table, while the others sat at another.
Even though so many people weren’t sitting at the sa table, when Housekeeper Tang ordered the dishes, he ensured both tables had the sa dishes and similarly instructed the staff to serve wine.
During the al, Zhong Xingwang expressed his gratitude to the people who had helped.
The people, having received money and enjoying a feast, laughed and said there was no need for thanks, telling him to find them in the future if he ever needed help again.
Zhong Xingwang certainly needed those words. Although these people were not the biggest officials in the county, they were subordinates of higher officials, and it was certainly better to make connections than to offend them.
Seeing how courteous Housekeeper Tang was, one could tell that in this county, officials and rchants were equally harmonious, each needing the other.
During the al, Housekeeper Tang ntioned to Zhong Xingwang that they would go to complete the paperwork and pay the remaining amount of money early the next morning.
Zhong Xingwang agreed and asked Housekeeper Tang to help arrange for soone to check the Feng Shui.
Housekeeper Tang agreed, offering to introduce a Feng Shui Master so that they could discuss the house’s design with him afterwards.
Zhong Xingwang agreed and thanked the housekeeper once again, expressing his gratitude to the people who had helped that day and toasting with them.
The young man before them was so generous; the young master was so polite, winning the favor of these people who then heartily drank with him.
Scholar Mo was entirely an accompanint to the drinking, eating quietly and toasting along with everyone when they did.
Throughout the entire al, he didn’t say a word, resembling a silent bookworm.
Even though Scholar Mo didn’t say a thing, their identities had already been introduced during their initial eting. This silent, less talkative man was a teacher of the Tang Family, the brother-in-law of the young master before them.
It seed that studying to change one’s destiny was indeed true. With good looks and knowledge, there was a chance to be favored by a miss. Though he didn’t appear to be extrely wealthy now.
But with the support of his wife’s family, he wouldn’t have to rely solely on himself like these people; from ti to ti, soone would look at Scholar Mo with eyes full of envy.
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