Chapter 77: Settling In (Bonus Chapter for 720 Pink Votes)
Officials with rank were provided accommodation by the government.
Mo Yi did not reside at the General Military Headquarters but instead rented a small house in a narrow alley behind the headquarters' backstreet to house his concubine, Lu Shi. When he returned Zhao Ling's hospitality, it was at this very place. Seeing how the area was quiet despite being in a bustling location and mostly inhabited by family members of clerks and runners from the headquarters—keeping unwanted loiterers at bay—Zhao Ling took a liking to it. When Mo Yi learned of this, he was naturally pleased and enthusiastically helped Zhao Ling rent the neighboring quadrangle courtyard: "…Living closer makes it easier to look out for one another if anything happens. I’ll also put in a word for you at the General Military Headquarters, so you can set off for Zhuanglang Garrison with peace of mind."
Zhao Ling thanked Mo Yi with a smile and invited Tao Mu and Lin Chi to a meal at Xiqin Tower as a gesture of gratitude. In the afternoon, he brought Fu Tingyun to view the house.
The residence wasn’t large, but its high, sturdy stone walls enclosed three main rooms, two side rooms on either flank, and a stable in the front courtyard. The furniture inside was already in place, neatly arranged and spotlessly clean.
Fu Tingyun was very satisfied.
"This used to be the residence of a former secretary at the General Military Headquarters," Zhao Ling explained as they walked out, smiling. "Later, he was transferred to Xining Garrison as an assistant commander, leaving this place vacant. When Mo Yi heard I wanted to buy a house here, he specifically sent someone to Xining Garrison to arrange it."
"General Mo has gone to great trouble," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "Ninth Master should properly thank him."
"Of course," Zhao Ling replied. "If there’s anything you’d like to repair or add to the house, just let Zheng San know, and he’ll arrange it through Mo Yi…"
As they stepped out of the house, Zheng Sanniang helped Fu Tingyun into the carriage. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone peeking at them from behind the gate of the neighboring house. She made a mental note and later reported it to Fu Tingyun.
"Was it the house on the left or the right?" Fu Tingyun asked.
The left house belonged to Mo Yi, while the right one was occupied by a family named Qi, with the husband working as a clerk in the headquarters' storeroom.
Zheng Sanniang recalled, "It was the house on the left."
Meaning it was someone from Mo Yi’s household spying on them!
Fu Tingyun found it odd but, having never met the person, couldn’t discern their intentions. She kept it in mind but, not wanting Zheng Sanniang to dwell on it, said lightly, "Perhaps they were just curious about our move."
Still, such covert observation was rather improper.
Zheng Sanniang couldn’t help muttering, "I thought General Mo came from a distinguished family? This concubine of his is so petty—nothing like the dignified ladies of noble households, more like the gossiping women from our village…"
"Enough," Fu Tingyun gently cut off her complaints. "Let’s focus on packing. Ninth Master said we’ll move in first thing tomorrow." She added, "Once we’re settled, he can set off for Zhuanglang Garrison."
Zheng Sanniang smiled sheepishly and began packing Fu Tingyun’s belongings into trunks. "Will A Sen stay with us in Zhangye or go with Ninth Master to Zhuanglang Garrison?"
A Sen, orphaned at a young age, had won the sympathy of Zheng Sanniang, who had recently become a mother. She treated him with the affection of an aunt."Stay with us in Zhangye," Fu Tingyun said with a smile as she placed The Thousand Family Poems into the trunk. "Ninth Master is going on official duty—he can't very well take a servant along, can he? Besides, with A Sen staying with us, he can learn to read a few characters. Maybe he can even attend a private school."
All occupations are lowly; only the scholar is exalted.
Zheng Sanniang nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Fu Tingyun didn’t have many belongings, and since they still needed to travel to Zhuanglang Garrison, they only packed some spare clothes. The trunks were quickly sorted.
Zhao Ling walked in carrying a red lacquer box adorned with gold tracery.
"Miss Fu and I have something to discuss," he said, dismissing Zheng Sanniang. "You may leave for now."
Zheng Sanniang promptly curtsied and withdrew.
Fu Tingyun invited Zhao Ling to sit on the kang, served him tea, and asked brightly, "What did Ninth Master wish to speak to me about?"
Zhao Ling opened the box, revealing another intricately carved red lacquer case inside.
The crimson box was exquisitely crafted with a scene of a shepherd boy playing a flute, so lifelike it was clearly no ordinary item.
Zhao Ling handed the carved red lacquer box to Fu Tingyun. "The deeds for three shops on Baoqing Street, over seventeen hundred acres of land in Chang'an County, and a bank note for five thousand taels from Baoqing Tower—it’s all here. Keep it safe..."
Fu Tingyun was stunned.
This was Zhao Ling’s entire fortune!
For her to hold onto it—what did that mean?
"No, no, I can’t accept this," she refused in a fluster. "This is what you’ve worked so hard for..."
"I’ll be staying at the garrison once I reach Zhuanglang," Zhao Ling cut her off firmly. "Where would I keep these things? You hold onto them for me, and I’ll retrieve them when needed."
It made sense.
Still, why did it feel strange?
Fu Tingyun hesitated slightly, but seeing Zhao Ling’s solemn expression and clear gaze, she felt she was overthinking it.
"Alright," she gritted her teeth. "I’ll keep them for Ninth Master temporarily."
Zhao Ling’s expression relaxed slightly at her words. After discussing a few more trivial matters, he stood to leave with a smile.
Fu Tingyun spent the evening in her room counting the valuables and calculating their monthly expenses in Zhangye, finally retiring at the hour of Hai.
The next day, at the first light of dawn, they took a carriage to the residence on Back Street.
Fu Tingyun occupied the eastern chamber of the main house, while the western chamber held Zhao Ling’s belongings. The eastern wing served as guest quarters—one room for A Sen and another for Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others. The western wing housed the kitchen and a room for Zheng San and his wife. The carriage and cargo carts were stored in the reverse-facing rooms, and Zhao Ling had even left them a horse.
A Sen rolled excitedly on the kang. "This is my room now, my room!" His antics amused Fu Tingyun, who was arranging the hall with Zheng Sanniang. She teased, "Aren’t you afraid of sleeping alone?"
"Not at all!" A Sen beamed, his face flushed with excitement. "I can sleep at the head of the kang or the foot—whatever I want!" Even Zhao Ling couldn’t help but chuckle, lightly patting the boy’s head. "Did you sleep on the ground before this?"
A Sen grinned sheepishly.
Yang Yucheng playfully kicked his backside. "By the time I return, you won’t be sleeping alone anymore!"
They treated this place as their own home.
Fu Tingyun felt a warmth in her heart.A Sen darted into the hall and hid behind Fu Tingyun, peeking out his little head to challenge Yang Yucheng: "Anyway, most of the time I sleep alone."
Everyone burst into laughter, cheerfully tidying up the rooms. For lunch, they hastily settled for a few flatbreads bought from the street. In the afternoon, they set up the ancestral shrine and paid respects to the deities. Fu Tingyun personally took charge in the kitchen, frying, stir-frying, and stewing to prepare four cold dishes, four hot dishes, eight main courses, and a lamb hotpot. She also sent Zheng San to the nearby grocery store to buy several pounds of sorghum liquor. Everyone gathered around the table for a lively meal that lasted until early evening before dispersing.
Zheng San and his wife, along with A Sen, cleaned up the remnants of the feast. Fu Tingyun washed her hands with scented soap and sat at the dressing table applying fragrant cream, mentally noting that Zheng San needed to make another trip to the street. The hall lacked a centerpiece, and the long table looked bare—perhaps they should buy a pair of plum vases or flower vessels to decorate it...
Someone tapped lightly on the doorframe of her inner chamber.
She looked up to see Zhao Ling leaning against the doorframe.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, his face was slightly flushed, his bright eyes shimmering with warmth like the gentle rivers of March, exuding an amiable and relaxed aura that filled the air with a thick sense of spring.
"Everything's cleaned up," he said with a smile, slowly walking toward her, his voice slightly hoarse, his gaze tender and affectionate. "I'll set off at dawn tomorrow." He paused, his eyes deepening as they lingered on her, his lips parting slightly as if hesitating to speak.
For some reason, under his gaze, Fu Tingyun felt no sorrow of parting—only the nervous tension brought by his proximity.
"R-really?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Then... take care on your journey!"
Zhao Ling stopped in his tracks, silent, standing there quietly watching her.
It felt as though countless lanterns were shining above her head, leaving Fu Tingyun with an inescapable sense of shyness and unease.
She had just returned from the kitchen and hadn’t had time to bathe yet—he must have noticed the lingering scent of cooking oil on her. And her hair! Earlier, she had wrapped it in a handkerchief, but upon returning to her room, she had casually tossed it onto the dressing table, leaving her hair in complete disarray... If she had known this would happen, she would have freshened up first.
Regret washed over Fu Tingyun as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
They stood in silence, the room quiet except for the distant sound of A Sen’s laughter.
Zhao Ling murmured softly, "I’ll come back to see you whenever I have time."
Fu Tingyun pressed her lips together, her heart pounding as she gazed at Zhao Ling.
※※※※※
With her wrist poised, delicate calligraphy flowed onto the slightly yellowed rice paper:
"...Two jars of vinegar, 280 coins; two jars of soy sauce, 310 coins; ten catties of pepper, 1,200 coins. Total..."
Fu Tingyun set down the brush and slowly worked the abacus.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month. She and the Zheng couple had been busy preparing for the New Year.
Fortunately, she had once assisted her aunt in managing household affairs back home. Now, with only three adults and two children in the household, everything remained orderly without any mishaps.
Tomorrow would be the Kitchen God Festival. She wondered how they were faring at Zhuanglang Garrison. Would they return for the New Year? Was there anything they needed sent over?
At this thought, her fingers paused on the abacus beads.
"I’ll come back to see you whenever I have time..." His low, gentle voice echoed in her ears once more.
Unconsciously, she bit her red lip.Liar!
He promised to come see her as soon as he had time, but ever since sending a brief letter at the start of the month to say he was safe, there'd been no further news. Her letters went unanswered, leaving her worried day and night without a moment's peace.
At this thought, she grew restless and irritably flicked the abacus beads.
The sharp clatter of wooden beads startled Fu Tingyun back to her senses.
Damn it—now she'd have to start the accounts over from scratch, and her abacus skills weren't even that good to begin with.
Fu Tingyun sighed softly and turned the ledger back to the first page.
That man—even if he didn't take his promise seriously, shouldn't he at least have made arrangements for the New Year gifts to Marquis Yingchuan and the others?
If not for waiting on his reply, she wouldn't have had to send Zheng San in such a rush just two days ago to deliver the gifts.
Fortunately, Zheng San knew how to handle things. After discreetly slipping some silver to the stewards of those households, they agreed to put in a good word with their masters. Otherwise, she'd be tearing her hair out by now.
These thoughts made Fu Tingyun's mind wander again.
Zheng Sanniang entered: "Miss, Qi Taitai is here!"
※
O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel