Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The marriage arrangements between the two families proceeded step by step, and the next step was the formal betrothal and engagement. Because Zhang Chengwen was in office, these matters were handled by his family members in the capital.

Liu Shi always believed that her fourth son needed a house in the capital. Although Madam Qin had subtly indicated that she would provide her daughter with a house in the capital as part of her dowry, Liu Shi was still uneasy. She felt that her son would feel ashamed living in his wife's house, so she insisted on buying a house for Zhang Chengwen in the capital.

After making a fuss for a few days, Old Master Zhang finally gave in and asked Zhang Youtie to help him find a house.

"This matter has become a major worry for your mother. Please take it to heart and help her look for a place under two thousand taels of silver. It doesn't need to be too big, just a two-courtyard house will do. We won't be living in the capital anymore."

"Father, if you ask me, we should buy a bigger one. If you don't have enough money, I can help you pay for it first, and you can pay me back later. Otherwise, it won't be good if the maids and servants that my fourth sister-in-law brings have nowhere to live." Zhang Youtie listened to Liu Shi tell him about the Qin family's situation and felt that the dowry would be quite large, so it wouldn't look good if his own house was too small.

"No need, just two trips will do. They probably won't bring too many people. After all, they'll be going to their posts later, and how many people can they bring with their families? Your fourth brother told me and your mother that you and Changyuan's mother have been secretly subsidizing him all these years. From now on, you can keep your family's money for yourselves and save it for Changyun and Xiaxia. Your fourth brother won't lack money while he's in office."

Old Master Zhang didn't know if his fourth son had told his third son about his income from his post, fearing that revealing it would cause a rift between the brothers. But since his fourth son was now making money, he didn't want his third son to lose too much, so he could only subtly remind him.

Zhang Youtie, who was now traveling more for business, quickly understood the old man's meaning. However, he didn't explain too much. He had given money to his fourth brother, but thanks to his fourth brother's connections, he had also closed several deals. So, it wasn't a matter of who lost and who gained; it was simply a matter of brothers helping each other.

After leaving the old man's courtyard, Zhang Youtie went to find Uncle Ma and asked him to help the fourth son find a house in Beijing.

Uncle Ma has recently gotten to know quite a few brokers because he helped Madam Liu buy shops and estates. Now that he heard that the master wanted to buy a house, he immediately started thinking about who he should ask to handle the matter.

"Buy a three-courtyard house, a nice house, preferably one that won't require much repair and can be used immediately. Go and pick out a few places first, and come find me when you find them. I'll take the old man and the old woman to take a look."

"Yes, this old servant will go right away." Uncle Ma bowed and was about to leave.

"Uncle Ma, wait a moment. If the old man asks you about the price of the house, just say it's no more than two thousand taels."

"Yes"

Uncle Ma was very efficient; he selected three houses in just five days.

“Master, I have selected three houses. The houses are all acceptable, but they are of different sizes. Although they are all three-courtyard houses, the larger one has forty-six rooms, while the smaller one has only thirty-two. The most expensive one is 4,500 taels of silver and is located in Wenmo Hutong. The cheapest one is the one with forty-six rooms, which is only 3,800 taels of silver and is located in Dingmao'er Hutong on West Street. It takes about half an hour to get here by carriage.”

“Alright, then take me, Grandpa, and Grandma to see it tomorrow.” Zhang Youtie felt that the final decision on which set to choose should ultimately rest with Grandma.

Early the next morning, Uncle Ma drove his carriage with his masters to the three houses he had previously chosen. As expected, Liu chose the largest one.

“The prices are all the same, and there are many houses available, so this is definitely the place to choose!” Mrs. Liu looked around the yard with great satisfaction.

“But this place is too far from Qing Teng Street. If Fourth Brother wants to go to his father-in-law’s house, he has to cross half the city,” Zhang Youtie said to his mother.

"That's even better. If we live far away, we'll have to go back less often." Hearing her son say this, Liu was even more satisfied with the house. She already felt uneasy that her fourth son wasn't around often, and now that he had married a woman from a high-class family, she was genuinely worried that her son would grow up in his in-laws' house and then forget about his old mother even more. So, it was good that they lived far away; if they lived far away, they wouldn't have to go back so often.

Old Master Zhang immediately saw through his wife's thoughts as soon as he heard her speak. He hummed a couple of times, somewhat displeased. However, with Old Ma and the broker present, he couldn't embarrass her in front of everyone. Although he was dissatisfied, he didn't object to what his wife was saying.

"This one is good, I'll take this one, but two thousand taels is too expensive, can you make it cheaper?" Liu tried to bargain with the broker.

"Hey, this is..." The broker was only halfway through his sentence when he saw Uncle Ma frantically winking at him from across the room.

So the sentence I'd only half-finished was immediately interrupted.

"It can't be less, Madam. Look how big and spacious this house is! Forty-six rooms and two courtyards. Although it's a three-courtyard house, it has more rooms than many four-courtyard houses. Imagine three generations living under one roof, enjoying family life. Just thinking about it makes me smile. Don't you think so, Madam?"

"You're quite the smooth talker, but look, there are several places in this house that need repair, and the paint on these pillars is peeling off; they'll need to be touched up. It would be better if you offered a lower price." Liu was being coaxed by the broker and couldn't stop talking, but she still didn't forget her original intention to bargain.

"Mother, leave the bargaining to Uncle Ma," Zhang Youtie whispered to Liu Shi as she rummaged through the yard.

“You men don’t know how to bargain, that’s my forte. Don’t say anything later,” Liu told her son, afraid he would ruin her plans.

"..."

Finally, the broker was persuaded by Madam Liu to haggle down the price by two hundred taels of silver. In all his years in the capital, he had never seen an official's matriarch personally come out to negotiate the price during the sale of a three- or four-courtyard house. In the past, the matriarchs he had encountered would show compassion for these people who struggled to make a living and would give them some money as a reward. But clearly, this wealthy-looking old lady was different from those he had met before.

In Liu's eyes, the three-courtyard house she bought in the capital for 1,800 taels of silver was excellent.

When they went to the government office to process the marriage contract, Zhang Youtie stopped his father and mother from going in, otherwise everything would have been exposed.

Finally, Uncle Ma handed over the official deed and land deed to Liu. Then she took out three hundred taels of silver and gave them to Zhang Youtie.

"Take this money and find a craftsman to repair the parts of the house that need fixing."

"Okay, I understand, Mother. Leave it to me." Zhang Youtie took the silver notes handed to him by his mother and put them in his pocket.

From then on, thanks to Liu's insistence, her beloved son finally had a sizable house in the capital. However, the three thousand taels she had originally planned for the wedding budget, leaving her with two thousand taels, were all used up. She left nothing for her other grandchildren.