Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 56: Negotiating the Manor Purchase

Yun Chu sat in the carriage, sipping hot tea. Soon enough, a man's voice came from outside: "Madam Xie, I am the owner of the Dou Family Trading Company. May I have a word with you in private?"

The haunted manor had originally been sold by the Wu family to the Zou family. The Zou family later sold it at a low price to the Dou Family Trading Company, and it ended up becoming a burden for the Dou family.

She remembered that in her past life, after the fire, the Dou family's manor was directly taken by the family of a palace consort. Merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, even lower than ordinary farmers. How could they dare oppose the imperial family? In the end, they had to hand over the manor to the consort.

Yun Chu lifted the curtain.

Standing below the carriage were the Dou family head and his wife, both in their forties.

She descended with Ting Shuang's support and said, "Three nights ago, I took some people to your Dou family manor. It was presumptuous of me to intrude like that. I should have visited to apologize, but I've been too busy these past few days..."

"With Young Master Xie taking the imperial examinations, it's only natural that Madam Xie would be busy," Madam Dou quickly responded. "That manor has been abandoned anyway. It was the manor's good fortune to provide Madam Xie with a place to rest. I only hope it didn't frighten you?"

Yun Chu sighed. "Actually, I've been thinking about buying a large manor. I heard that one has both mountains and water, so I specifically went to check it out. Who would have thought..." She shook her head and didn't continue.

Madam Dou's face showed delight.

For so many years, no one had shown interest in this manor. Finally, there was a potential buyer.

However, she had also heard that Madam Xie had entered with a group of people but left carrying three or four individuals—clear evidence that they had been badly frightened.

Persuading Madam Xie to buy the manor would require some effort.

Madam Dou paused before speaking: "Madam Xie may not know this, but people outside say the manor is haunted. Actually, that's not true at all. It's just that the surrounding farmers were jealous of the manor's fertile land and deliberately spread those ghost stories to cause trouble. When our Dou family moved in back then, those farmers kept causing problems. We're merchants—the lowest class in the social hierarchy. How would we dare confront farmers? Anyway, our Dou family isn't short of this money, so we just left the manor abandoned."

Yun Chu smiled.

If they really weren't short of money, they wouldn't have taken the initiative to find her.

These days, farmers only earned about two taels of silver per year. This manor must have cost at least ten thousand taels. Anyone would feel the pinch losing that amount.

The Dou family head added: "Our Dou family originally bought this manor from the Zou family for twelve thousand taels. If Madam Xie truly wants it, we can let it go for eight thousand taels."

Yun Chu shook her head.

The Dou family was truly greedy.

This manor had been abandoned for over twenty years, yet they still wanted eight thousand taels for it. If it had been maintained all these years, she wouldn't mind paying ten thousand.

Quoting eight thousand was clearly because they saw her as the Yun family's legitimate daughter who didn't understand business. Seeing that she had actively visited the manor, they were trying to take advantage of her.

"Eight thousand taels is indeed cheap, but—" Yun Chu lowered her voice, "my husband doesn't agree to me buying that manor. He says it's unlucky and might affect his official career. Even though I genuinely like it, there's nothing I can do."

Ting Shuang, standing nearby, said: "Our madam really likes the mountains on that manor. She previously considered using her private savings to buy it, but her personal funds aren't enough..."

Madam Dou quickly asked: "Might I ask how much private savings Madam Xie has?"Yun Chu extended three fingers.

Madam Dou’s smile froze on her face. She had thought Madam Xie was an easy mark, but she hadn’t expected such a steep counteroffer.

Business had been difficult lately. Several branches of the Dou Trading Company had closed, and they urgently needed funds to stay afloat. If not for this, the couple wouldn’t have gone out of their way to intercept Madam Xie here.

Master Dou, being a merchant, was skilled at haggling. He immediately responded, “Final offer: five thousand taels of silver. We can draw up the contract right now.”

Yun Chu shook her head. “This is all I have.”

The estate had been abandoned for over twenty years and was rumored to be haunted. Even if she acquired it, aside from the future repair costs of at least ten thousand taels, changing public perception would be no simple task.

Most importantly, she didn’t have much silver on hand.

Just as the Dou couple hesitated, Yun Chu’s expression shifted. “My husband is coming. Forget it, I won’t buy it. You should leave quickly.”

Master Dou and Madam Dou: “…”

They had initially thought three thousand taels was too little, but now they couldn’t even get that much.

However, Xie Jingyu was already approaching with Xie Shi’an. Though reluctant, the Dou couple had no choice but to step aside and wait for another opportunity.

Xie Jingyu glanced curiously at the retreating figures of the Dou couple. “Who were those two?”

Yun Chu smiled. “Merchants who’ve done business with the Yun family. They came to pay their respects.” She turned to Xie Shi’an. “An Ge’er, how did the exam go?”

A smile spread across Xie Shi’an’s face. “I should have no problem ranking in the top three.”

When they returned home, the Old Madam saw Xie Shi’an’s confident expression and knew her great-grandson was sure to pass the exam and become a Cultivated Talent in one attempt. Becoming a Cultivated Talent at just twelve years old would make him even more outstanding than Jingyu had been at that age.

Xie Ping, sitting nearby, asked, “If Shi’an becomes the top candidate, will our Xie family host a banquet?”

Xie Jingyu took a sip of wine. “Of course we will.”

The Old Madam felt the same. “The youngest top candidate in the capital—this is something to celebrate. Why wouldn’t we host a banquet? What do you think, Chu’er?”

Although the Old Madam didn’t care for Yun Chu lately, she still habitually sought her opinion on important matters.

“Many children from prominent families in the capital, despite careful nurturing, aren’t as outstanding as An Ge’er. If he truly earns first place this time, it will bring honor to the Xie family. Given the recent criticism directed at us, hosting a banquet would naturally silence those voices,” Yun Chu said with a smile. “If you trust me, Old Madam, may I arrange the banquet?”

The Old Madam was more than willing. “Then I’ll trouble you with it, Chu’er.”

Xie Ping turned to Yun Chu. “Mother, may I assist and learn alongside you?”

After the incident at the last birthday banquet, she had stopped learning household management from her mother. Having avoided it for so long, it was time to face it again.

This banquet for the top candidate would undoubtedly be more lively than an Old Madam’s birthday celebration. She was determined to clear her tarnished reputation at this event.

Although the exam results hadn’t been announced yet, the Old Madam was already convinced that Xie Shi’an was this year’s top candidate. Overjoyed, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Ah, if only Wei Ge’er were as studious…”

After returning from the exam hall, Xie Shi’an had heard about what happened at home. Wei Ge’er had received over a dozen lashes from his father, spent two days confined to bed, and had only returned to school that day."An Ge'er, go check on your younger brother," Yuan Shi said. "Seeing how accomplished you are now might inspire Wei Ge'er to start applying himself."

Xie Shi'an nodded, turned, and headed toward Xie Shiwei's courtyard.

All the servants in the courtyard had been replaced with sturdy matrons. One matron was guarding the entrance while brewing medicine, and upon seeing him approach, she began to bow in greeting.

He made a silencing gesture, gently pushed the door open, and saw Xie Shiwei lying on his stomach reading a book.

As an elder brother, seeing his own blood brother becoming diligent brought him comfort, and he deeply felt that their father's few lashes had been worthwhile.

But as he drew closer, his expression immediately darkened. He snatched the book from Xie Shiwei's hands: "You spend all day reading this trash?"

The book was filled with illustrated stories depicting various bloody scenes.

"Elder Brother..." Xie Shiwei was terrified. "Please don't tell Father and Mother, I beg you, Elder Brother."

Xie Shi'an threw the picture book onto the candle stand on the table, and soon it caught fire.

Controlling his anger, he said, "Even after Father punished you like this, you still haven't reformed. It seems you're truly beyond redemption!"

"Elder Brother, I haven't—it's just that the tutor assigned such difficult homework..." Xie Shiwei racked his brains for an excuse. "I was taking a break after writing for a while, that's why I picked up this book to read. I really have changed, I've reformed..."

Xie Shi'an glanced at the few clumsily written characters on the table.