Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 88 Purchased and Gifted Property

The new establishment in Jincheng Lane had just opened its doors, and Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie spent the entire day overseeing the event.

The steward of the new establishment was well-prepared, so there was little need for them to be overly concerned. In fact, it was the steward who fretted over their comfort, instructing the staff to bring tea, refreshments, and delicacies to the back.

As Shao Jie indulged in a chestnut cake, he turned to Shen Shaoguang and asked, "Are you still interested in purchasing that house? I made some inquiries for you—Miss Qu’s asking price is five hundred thousand."

Shen Shaoguang eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Sir Shao, might you have some acquaintance with this Miss Qu?" She had previously looked into the property, knowing that a three-courtyard estate like this should be valued around one million. Due to its 'wretched reputation,' Miss Qu had initially listed it at seven hundred thousand, so why had she now reduced the price by another two hundred thousand?

Shao Jie chuckled and said, "How could I possibly be acquainted with any womenfolk?" Then, catching himself, he quickly added, "You, of course, are no ordinary womenfolk."

Shen Shaoguang smiled and said. "Don't dally, tell the truth!"

"I know Miss Qu's elder brother, who is also in the grain business. He occasionally goes to the south with my family to transport grains. I had hinted at the intention of purchasing the property, and two days later, he sent a letter to me."

Shen Shaoguang nodded, recognizing it as a gesture of goodwill—an insider's price, so to speak.

"You might as well go and take a closer look at the house. If it suits your taste, I'll send someone to finalize the deal, and we can sign the contract in person. If we move quickly enough, you could even celebrate the New Year in your new home."

Shen Shaoguang meticulously calculated her assets, scraping together whatever she could afford to splurge. It was just enough to cover the cost, though it left little room for the upcoming New Year bonuses or the next branch store's expansion. She knew she'd have to make do with makeshift solutions for the time being. However, the house was half price—an absolute bargain. If she let this opportunity slip through her fingers, she would likely regret it for a long time, just as she regretted missing out on properties in her previous life.

Shao Jie, sensing her hesitation, began to ramble in his usual playful manner. "Do you have enough funds? If not, you could always borrow from wealthy folks like me. You can cook all sorts of food as interest, such as Roast Chicken, Smoked Chicken, Stewed Chicken, Fried Chicken, White-Cut Chicken, Chicken with Softshell Turtle Stewed; Marinated Duck, Smoked Duck, Braised Duck, Wine Lees Duck, Rich and Fatty Duck..."

Shen Shaoguang chuckled. "Weren't you just complaining about not having enough money to buy a decent sword? Where did this secret stash suddenly come from?"

Shao Jie grinned and replied, "Oh, I don’t have it myself, but my mother does. All it takes is getting up early and helping her with her hair, and I'll have enough to cover half the estate."

Damn trust-fund babies! Shen Shaoguang retorted with mock indignation. "Luckily, I have just enough on my own—unlike someone who can’t even afford a sword."

Shao Jie: "..."

Shen Shaoguang arched an eyebrow, her smile full of triumph.

Shao Jie: "Tsk——"

…

Shen Shaoguang visited the house the following day. The servant, clearly informed of her visit in advance, greeted her warmly and guided her through the property.

The house was indeed a remarkable one. The previous owner had only recently vacated, leaving it in pristine condition, devoid of the decay often found in older homes. Three grand courtyards stretched one after another, flanked by several smaller side yards. The front courtyard was spacious, while the rear was an exquisite display of taste, with each area possessing its own distinct style, yet all harmonizing elegantly.

As she stepped into the main house, a smile tugged at Shen Shaoguang's lips. The room was filled with gleaming vermilion lacquer furniture, akin to Lin Daiyu[1] with a head full of gold hairpins.

The servant offered a polite smile, explaining, "Madam left in a hurry, and since the house has been unoccupied, some of the larger items were not taken along."

Shen Shaoguang nodded in understanding. It seemed likely that the former occupants had left somewhat reluctantly, leaving behind the more cumbersome belongings.

After completing her inspection, Shen Shaoguang concluded that the 500,000 taels were well worth spending. She enlisted Shao Jie to act as the intermediary, met with Miss Qu and her elder brother, and after exchanging the requisite pleasantries, swiftly finalized the contract. The payment was made, and she then proceeded to the government repository to obtain a voucher certificate. The entire process was conducted with efficiency and professionalism.

Since the residence was relatively new, extensive renovations were unnecessary. The tasks at hand were limited to whitewashing the main building, clearing away dead grass from the front and back courtyards, repairing broken stone slabs on the paths, sweeping away cobwebs and dust from each yard, and rearranging the furniture.

Shen Shaoguang felt a swell of pride. This meant she could save on renovation costs, making the acquisition even more worthwhile.

…

Upon hearing Shen Shaoguang mention her recent acquisition of a "wretched house," Princess Imperial of Fuhui was delighted. "No wonder we get along so well!" she exclaimed.

Shen Shaoguang replied, "I was fortunate to find such a bargain! Otherwise, a three-courtyard estate like this would cost around one million."

Princess Imperial of Fuhui scoffed, "Exactly! If my residence hadn’t had such a notorious reputation, it wouldn't have fallen into my hands so easily."

Shen Shaoguang acknowledged the Princess's insight. A renowned garden like that would hardly be left abandoned, nor would it be handed over to a princess of lesser favor.

The two women, having both scored bargains on their so-called "wretched houses," devoted their energies to debunking superstitious beliefs, setting new trends, and lampooning those who were still mired in confusion.

Their conversation then shifted from real estate to matters of the heart. Despite Shen Shaoguang’s numerous expressions of gratitude, the Princess Imperial did not mention her generous gifts of hot pot cookers to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Instead, she elaborated on how the current era was marked by prosperity and peace, with the populace living in health and security.

Princess Imperial of Fuhui, who had recently experienced increasing tension in her relationship with Pei Fei, gazed at Shen Shaoguang with a touch of envy. "Have you yet slept with Deputy Magistrate Lin?" she inquired.

Shen Shaoguang knew well that if she confirmed the Princess Imperial's suspicion, she might be pressed for details.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—she hadn’t shared a night with Deputy Magistrate Lin.

Princess Imperial of Fuhui, clearly unimpressed with Shen Shaoguang's uselessness, expressed her disdain. Shen Shaoguang could only feel helpless in response. "With the winter solstice approaching and the New Year on the horizon, all the government offices are swamped..."

The Princess Imperial dismissed this with a wave. "No matter how busy one is, there’s always time for ‘sleep’."

Shen Shaoguang: "..."

After being preoccupied with thoughts of ‘sleep’ courtesy of Princess Imperial of Fuhui, Shen Shaoguang was reminded of this very topic the moment she saw Deputy Magistrate Lin waiting for her at Chongxian Lane.

He seemed to have been truly overworked lately. His exhaustion was evident: his eyes bore a hint of fatigue, his chin and lips had a pallor, and his robe was less meticulously arranged than usual. Compared to his typically composed and graceful demeanor, he now exuded a more rugged and manly quality.

Shen Shaoguang invited him to the back house. Lin Yan nodded in acknowledgment, and A’Yuan promptly brought in a charcoal basin to warm the room.

As Shen Shaoguang settled on the edge of the bench, poking at the ashes with the fire tongs, she remarked with a smile, "I’m not sure which glutinous soul roasted this taro, but it seems to have turned into quite the bargain for us."

Lin Yan offered a faint smile in response.

Shen Shaoguang said, "There's a type of yam quite similar to this one, but even sweeter, especially the ones with red flesh. When roasted, they develop a charred exterior, and breaking them open reveals a steaming, reddish-yellow interior. Eating it while it's hot—fragrant and sweet—is simply delightful. I particularly love the part near the skin, which releases a viscous, honey-like liquid. It's especially delicious, though if you're not careful, your mouth might end up smeared with ash."

With a vivid image of her gluttonous expression popped up in Lin Yan's mind, causing his lips to curve a little more. After a moment, he replied, "Hearing you describe it like that, I’m tempted to try it."

Shen Shaoguang's eyes narrowed as she smiled. Indeed, different people have different specialties. Describing food happens to be mine.

Shen Shaoguang used the fire tongs to adjust the taro once more. Just as she was about to indulge, with ash-stained hands and lips inevitable, Lin Yan withdrew a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to her.

Shen Shaoguang arched an eyebrow and smiled. “What’s this?”

She unfolded it to reveal… a house deed!

Yesterday, A’Yuan mentioned encountering Deputy Magistrate Lin at the entrance of the new house and relayed their conversation to Shen Shaoguang. At the time, Shen Shaoguang had a hunch. Who would have guessed that Deputy Magistrate Lin would be sour enough to go so far as to invest such a substantial amount?

"I just told Sir Lin that Miss bought this house, and Sir Shao helped save her a lot of money. I didn't say anything else." A’Yuan explained.

Shen Shaoguang: “...”

She scrutinized Lin Yan’s face, still adorned with that warm smile, but found it inscrutable.

“You gave me quite a scare; I thought you were presenting me with the deed to your residence in this lane,” Shen Shaoguang said with a smile.

“It’s our home; what’s there to give?”

Shen Shaoguang: “...” That remark carried too many layers of meaning.

“Then what about this?” Shen Shaoguang asked, pointing to the deed of a villa in Zhongnan Mountain.

Lin Yan’s lips tightened. “I acquired it last summer, hoping to bring you joy.”

Shen Shaoguang was rendered speechless.

“It seems I hadn’t thought it through carefully...” Lin Yan murmured softly.

Lin Yan, after all, carried the habits of an aristocrat and had a bit of a scholar's free-spiritedness. He wasn't particularly attached to buying land or property. When he had extra money, he'd rather spend it on fine horses, famous swords, antique zithers, or rare books. While his tastes were certainly more refined than those who squandered their wealth on cockfighting, dog racing, or acquiring beautiful maidservants, his skills in daily life management were not significantly better.

Initially, Lin Yan hadn’t given much thought to Shen Shaoguang’s passion for buying properties. He assumed it was akin to a collector’s obsession with rare swords—perhaps she simply took pleasure in acquiring houses. However, upon learning of her purchase of the infamous ‘wretched house’ in the same lane, it dawned on him that her fervor might stem from a deeper reason—perhaps she was yearning for a home of her own, which made her particularly attached to acquiring properties in Chongxian Lane.

As for jealousy, Lin Yan experienced it, but it was overshadowed by a profound sense of heartache.

In a soothing tone, he reassured her, "When I receive my annual salary at the end of the year, let’s purchase a few modest houses by the Wei River. They might not be grand, but they’ll be perfect for us to escape to for fishing and occasional stays."

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The author has something to say: Let's give a round of applause to Deputy Magistrate Lin for handing over his salary and property deeds to his wife.

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Footnote:

[1] Lin Daiyu (林黛玉) - female character in Dream of the Red Chamber, cousin and thwarted lover of Jia Baoyu. She is one of the central figures in the story and is renowned for her delicate beauty, poetic talent, and sensitive, melancholic nature.