The new shop in Jinchengfang opened, and Shen Shaoguang spent the day there with Shao Jie.
The shop’s manager was reliable, so the two didn’t have to worry much. In fact, the manager even took care of them, sending tea and pastries to the back.
As he nibbled on a chestnut cake, Shao Jie asked Shen Shaoguang, “Are you still buying that house? I asked around for you—Madam Qu is asking for five hundred thousand.”
Shen Shaoguang looked at him. “Young Master Shao, do you happen to know Madam Qu?” She had already looked into the property. A three-courtyard residence like this would normally cost around a million. Due to its “ill reputation,” Madam Qu had initially lowered the price to seven hundred thousand—so why was it now slashed by another two hundred thousand?
Shao Jie laughed. “How would I know a woman like that?” Then he quickly corrected himself, “Not that you’re just any woman.”
Shen Shaoguang grinned. “No need to explain—just get to the point!”
“I know her elder brother. He’s also in the grain trade and occasionally travels south with my family to transport goods. I hinted at my interest in buying, and two days later, he sent word with this offer.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded. So it was a favor price.
“Why don’t you take a look at the place when you have time? If you like it, I’ll arrange for the contract to be signed. You could even move in before New Year’s after some quick renovations.”
Shen Shaoguang calculated her savings. If she pooled everything, it would just about cover it. Then, after the New Year’s dividends came in, she could reinvest in the new shop… With some financial juggling, she could make it work. Getting the house at half-price was a steal—missing out would likely lead to long-term regret, just like the properties she’d passed up in her past life.
Shao Jie was also concerned about this and said breezily, “Short on funds? You could borrow from a wealthy man like me. Pay me back in food—roast chicken, braised chicken, stewed chicken, white-cut chicken, crispy fried chicken, Farewell My Concubine Chicken; soy-sauce duck, roasted duck, marinated duck, drunken duck, Wealthy Fatty Duck…”
Shen Shaoguang burst out laughing. “Weren’t you broke when buying that treasured blade? Where’d you get private funds now?”
Shao Jie grinned. “I don’t have any, but my mother does. If I go comb her hair in the morning, I can get half the money for your courtyard.”
Damn rich second-generation! Shen Shaoguang grumbled inwardly. “Lucky for me, I have enough of my own—unlike someone who couldn’t even afford a blade.”
Shao Jie: “…”
Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow and smirked triumphantly.
Shao Jie scoffed. “Tch—”
The next day, Shen Shaoguang went to see the house. The servant keeping watch, likely instructed beforehand, politely showed her around.
The residence was truly a fine one. The previous owners hadn’t moved out long ago, and the house itself was relatively new, lacking the decay of older properties. With three courtyards and several smaller side yards, the front was spacious and bright, while the rear garden was delicate and refined—tasteful without being ostentatious, even carrying a hint of elegance.
Entering the main hall, Shen Shaoguang chuckled. The room was filled with glaringly bright vermilion lacquer furniture, looking utterly out of place—like Lin Daiyu wearing a head full of golden hairpins.
The servant smiled apologetically. “The mistress left in a hurry, and the house has been vacant since, so some of the larger items weren’t taken.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded. She figured the previous owners had hesitated at the time, leaving behind the bulkier belongings.After looking around, Shen Shaoguang became even more convinced that the five hundred thousand should be spent. She promptly asked Shao Jie to act as the intermediary, met with the Qu sisters and their elder brother, exchanged pleasantries, signed the contract, handed over the money, and went to the government office to complete the paperwork—smoothly finalizing the purchase.
Since the residence was relatively new, there was no need for extensive renovations. A fresh coat of paint for the main house, clearing the withered grass from the front and back gardens, repairing the broken stone slabs on the pathways, sweeping away cobwebs and dust from each courtyard, and furnishing the place properly—soon, it would be ready for occupancy.
Shen Shaoguang was quite pleased. Excellent, she had saved a tidy sum on renovations.
When Princess Fuhui heard that Shen Shaoguang had also bought a "haunted house," she was utterly delighted. "No wonder we get along so well!"
Shen Shaoguang replied, "It was truly a bargain! Otherwise, a three-courtyard residence like this would easily cost around a million."
Princess Fuhui scoffed, "Same here. If my garden didn’t have such a notorious reputation, it wouldn’t have fallen into my hands so easily."
Shen Shaoguang agreed. Indeed, such a renowned garden wouldn’t have been left idle and handed over to a princess who wasn’t particularly favored.
The two of them, having both profited from the stigma of haunted properties, took great pleasure in mocking those who were "hopelessly superstitious."
After discussing houses, the conversation naturally turned to men—though even when Shen Shaoguang thanked her, the princess didn’t mention how she had gifted Hot Pot sets to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, nor the nonsense she had spun about peace and prosperity for the people.
Princess Fuhui and Pei Fei had been increasingly at odds lately, and she looked at Shen Shaoguang with envy. "So, have you managed to sleep with Lord Lin yet?"
Shen Shaoguang didn’t doubt for a second that if she said yes, the princess might even ask for details.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the answer was no.
Princess Fuhui was thoroughly unimpressed by Shen Shaoguang’s lack of progress. Shen Shaoguang sighed helplessly, "It’s almost the Winter Solstice, and after that comes the New Year. All the government offices are swamped..."
"No matter how busy, there’s always time for sleep."
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
With her mind now filled with thoughts of "sleep" courtesy of Princess Fuhui, Shen Shaoguang returned to Chongxian Ward. When she saw Lord Lin waiting for her, that was the first question that popped into her head.
Perhaps due to his recent workload, his eyes were slightly sunken, his chin and lips shadowed with stubble. His robes weren’t as immaculate as usual, but compared to his usual refined elegance, he now exuded a more rugged masculinity.
Shen Shaoguang invited him to sit in the inner quarters. Lin Yan nodded, and A Yuan brought in a charcoal brazier for them.
Sitting by the edge of the couch, Shen Shaoguang used the fire chopsticks to stir the ashes and chuckled, "Some glutton must have roasted taro here—lucky for us."
Lin Yan smiled.
Shen Shaoguang continued, "There’s a kind of sweet potato, similar to this but even sweeter, especially the red-fleshed ones. They’re perfect for roasting. When the outside turns charred black, you break it open, and the golden flesh steams with heat. Take a bite while it’s hot—scalding, fragrant, and sweet. My favorite part is near the skin, where the sugars caramelize into a sticky glaze. It’s especially delicious, though one careless bite and you’ll end up with a mouthful of black."
Imagining her greedy expression, Lin Yan’s lips curved even more. After a moment, he said, "Just hearing you describe it makes me want to try it."
Shen Shaoguang grinned. Of course—everyone has their expertise, and describing food is my forte.
She poked at the taro again with the fire chopsticks.
Before she could blacken her hands and mouth, Lin Yan pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to her.
Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow, smiling. "What’s this?"
She unfolded it—a deed to a house!Yesterday, A Yuan mentioned she had run into Lord Lin at the entrance of the new residence and recounted their conversation to Shen Shaoguang. Shen had a hunch then, but who knew Lord Lin's jealousy would be so extravagantly displayed!
"I merely told Lord Lin that the young lady bought this house with Young Master Shao's help, saving quite a bit of silver. I didn't say anything else," A Yuan explained.
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
Shen Shaoguang cautiously glanced at Lin Yan's expression—still that gentle, unreadable smile.
"You startled me. I thought you were about to hand me the deed to the grand residence in the ward," Shen Shaoguang joked.
"It's our own home. What's there to give or not give?"
Shen Shaoguang: "..." The double entendre was unmistakable.
"And this?" Shen Shaoguang pointed to the deed for the villa in Zhongnan Mountain.
Lin Yan pursed his lips slightly. "I bought it in the summer to make you happy."
Shen Shaoguang was utterly speechless.
"I wasn't thoughtful enough..." Lin Yan murmured softly.
Lin Yan, after all, carried the habits of an aristocrat and a scholar's carefree spirit. He had no particular obsession with buying land or houses. With spare money, he'd rather purchase fine horses, famous swords, antique qin, or rare books. Compared to those who squandered wealth on cockfighting, dog racing, or beautiful maids, his tastes were slightly more refined—but equally impractical for daily life.
Initially, Lin Yan didn't dwell deeply on Shen Shaoguang's penchant for buying properties. Just as some collect prized blades, perhaps she simply enjoyed acquiring houses? It wasn't until he saw her purchase the haunted house in the same ward that he realized: perhaps she did this because she had no home... and thus particularly favored buying residences in Chongxian Ward.
As for jealousy, that certainly existed too—but what dominated was heartache.
Lin Yan coaxed her gently, "Once the New Year's stipend comes, we'll buy a few rooms by the Wei River. They might not be large, but they'll suffice for our occasional fishing trips."
Author's Note: Let's applaud Lord Lin for handing his salary and property deeds to his wife.
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