Yang Xi took out the key and unlocked the main gate. The gate was heavy, and Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi pushed it open.

The gate opened to reveal a screen wall. The courtyard was paved with stone slabs, which kept it clean even after rain. The courtyard could only be seen after passing the screen wall. Yang Xi hadn’t designed it like a traditional courtyard house; instead, it was a house composed of several smaller courtyards. The front yard was spacious, with two trees planted in it, but there wasn’t much to see.

Beyond the front yard was an open space, which Yang Xi had reserved for growing vegetables. Surrounding this space were several small courtyards: one for Zhou Yu and her, one for Ye Shi and her younger sister, one for Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi, and one for Zhou Bing. Zhou Bing had his own courtyard because neither Zhou Xiaodi nor Third Yang wanted to live with him.

Behind the courtyards was a row of eight rooms for Li Zheng and a few others.

There were two smaller courtyards, one for parking carriages and raising horses and the other for storing grain. A skilled craftsman had even built a bamboo house for drying the grain.

The family toured the house, and Ye Shi was extremely satisfied. “Good, good.”

Yang Xi said regretfully, “If we had more money, we could have built it more exquisitely and elegantly.”

Right now, it was only pleasing to the eye; the house was quite empty, and the courtyards were undecorated. The family couldn’t afford renovations, so she comforted herself that the current state was already beyond her expectations, and she should be content.

Ye Shi was tired and sat down in a chair. “Let’s find someone to calculate and choose an auspicious day to move.”

Now that she had a home, she wanted to leave the rented courtyard as soon as possible.

Third Yang was in charge of building the house. With Zhou Xiaodi around, he didn’t have to keep a close eye on things all the time. He spent more than half a month visiting all the nearby villages. He knew best which villages had good fortune tellers. “I’ll take some meat to have an auspicious date chosen tomorrow.”

Ye Shi said sincerely. “Our family has benefited greatly from you. You’ve worked so hard these past few days.”

Third Yang replied, “This is my family too; it’s only right.”

After a while, Liu Lizheng arrived. Since the house wasn’t finished, the village head had come quite often and knew the house very well. He sat down and asked, “When are you moving in?”   

Zhou Yu replied, “We’ll move in once the auspicious date is chosen.”   

Liu Lizheng said, “Let me know when the time comes. Also, your family didn’t have a proper celebration after the house was built. Shouldn’t we have a big celebration after moving in?”   

Zhou Yu had already planned ahead. “After moving in…” “I’ll send you an invitation, sir.”   

Liu Lizheng chuckled. “Many people in the village have asked when your family is having the wedding. Once the date is set, I’ll help you inform them. Since you’ve settled in Shanghe Village, you should get to know the villagers.”   

Zhou Yu smiled, “Whatever you say, sir.”   

Liu Lizheng thought to himself that his concern hadn’t been in vain and then asked, “My eldest grandson is also taking the imperial examination this year. Does your Zhou Bing have a place to stay when he goes to the county for the exam?”   

Zhou Yu replied, “I’m planning to have him stay at an inn.”   

Liu Lizheng stroked his beard. “I have a small courtyard in the county. If you don’t mind, you can stay with me, and we can help each other out.”   

Zhou Yu glanced sideways. The south was populous and prosperous, and the housing prices in the county town were much higher than in the north. The village head was quite capable; he could afford a courtyard in the county town.   

Liu Lizheng understood the implication and rolled his eyes. “Hmph, I’ve never accepted any ill-gotten gains.”

He earned everything willingly; he wasn’t afraid of losing money.   

Zhou Yu chuckled, “Yes, yes, you have a bottom line.”   

Liu Lizheng looked a little uneasy; his bottom line wasn’t high, and he couldn’t sit still any longer. “Alright, I’ll go back now.”   

The Zhou family returned to town. The Zhao family, who lived with them, had left a few days earlier. The mud-brick house was quick to build, and because they moved in so quickly, they hadn’t properly dried out the dampness. However, it wasn’t a big deal for the Zhao family.   

Three days later, it was the Zhou family’s moving day. The Wu brothers and the Ye brothers all arrived, as did Zhao’s eldest son, and Liu Lizheng himself came.   

The Zhou family had a lot of belongings. Living in town, Yang Xi gradually furnished the household items, filling a cart with grain and four carts with miscellaneous items.   

This didn’t even include large items like the large vats. Yang Xi ordered large vats and jars; each courtyard, plus the kitchen vats, had twelve large vats and even more jars.   

The villagers watched the Zhou family move. Liu Lizheng had already treated the Zhou family differently, and today he personally went to help. The villagers saw this and became even more cautious about the Zhou family. The village head wouldn’t personally help the Zhou family if they only had money. It seems that the Zhou family is not simple!

Yang Xi first took her mother-in-law to the main courtyard, leaving the main courtyard to her younger sister to tidy up.

She took her son back to the east courtyard. The main courtyard was the largest, followed by the east and west courtyards, with Zhou Bing’s courtyard being the smallest.

Each courtyard had a small kitchen, so people wouldn’t have to eat from a communal pot when they got married; they could cook for themselves. Each courtyard had two main rooms and four side rooms, enough for them to have wives and children.

In Yangzhen, Yang Xi had made countless quilts—quilts for herself and Zhou Yu, quilts for her son, and most for her unborn child. The baby in her womb was Yang Xi’s and her husband’s obsession; they wanted to give their unborn child the best.

Yang Xi first unpacked the baby’s swaddling clothes and put them in a separate cabinet, then Ziheng’s.

Finally, she packed their clothes and quilts. After finishing, Yang Xi was exhausted and rubbed her back as she sat on the warm kang (heated brick bed).

Looking at the full wardrobe, she recalled how they had only what they wore when they were kicked out of the house, and now, in such a short time, they had everything they needed.

Yang Xi’s heart was filled with hope for the future. It was wonderful; they had a home of their own again.

Ziheng came running in. “Mom, Dad’s back from grocery shopping!”

Yang Xi took out a handkerchief to wipe her son’s sweat. “Look at you, you’re all sweaty.”

Ziheng was a little embarrassed. “Mom, I’m happy today.”

“Mom’s happy too; come on, let’s go see the kitchen.”

Ziheng took his mother’s hand. “Mom, watch your step.”

“Okay.”

There was a large kitchen in the yard, with four pots and two stoves for stewing soup. Yang Xi noticed rows of large vats as she came in and smiled. “The vats we ordered have all been delivered.”

Zhou Yu rubbed his shoulders, having helped unload the vats earlier. “Yes, the water is already boiling; we can use them after cleaning them.”

Yang Xi then noticed a dozen or so jars in the corner, some big and some small, before finally looking at the vegetables and meat he had bought.

Yang Xi asked, “Why didn’t I see the village head and the others on my way here?”

Zhou Yu explained, “They all knew we were busy and didn’t stay for dinner. They told us to clean up first, and we’ll have a proper feast later.”

Yang Xi was a little hungry. “I’ll cook as soon as I finish cleaning the jars.”

Zhou Yu said, “You go back and rest for a while. I still have a lot to do.”

Yang Xi was pregnant and couldn’t help much. “I’ll go see Mother first.”

When Yang Xi arrived at the main courtyard, Zhou Xiaomei had already tidied up the luggage and was wiping the table with a rag. She was even humming a Jiangnan folk song she had recently heard.

Zhou Xiaomei noticed her sister-in-law and quickly put down the rag. “Sister-in-law.”

Ye Shi was lying on the warm kang, feeling comfortable and a little drowsy. She opened her eyes when she heard the voice. “Come and sit down. Are you done with your work?”

Yang Xi sat down, supporting her belly, and touched the warm kang. “I’m done. Mother can get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

“The kang is still the best. It’s so comfortable to lie on.”

She missed the kang so much. These days, her legs and feet were freezing cold. Even holding a hot water bottle didn’t keep her warm. She often woke up cold at night, but she didn’t dare to say anything for fear that her daughter-in-law would worry.

(End of this chapter)

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