Falling into the mortal world

Niu Daming agreed to make introductions to the Lan family and told them to wait for his news.

Lan Qingqing and Lan Dashu went straight to the brokerage after leaving Wanfu Restaurant.

When Lan Qingqing arrived at the brokerage, the matchmaker, seeing that she had business, stepped forward to greet her and asked: What do you two need?

"I'd like to see if there are any suitable shops," Lan Qingqing said.

"Sir, are you renting or buying?" the matchmaker asked.

"If there's a suitable one, I'll buy it," Lan Qingqing replied.

"If you two are looking to buy a shop, I actually have a few in good locations," the matchmaker said.

"Can we go take a look now?" Lan Qingqing asked.

"Okay, let's go take a look together now." With that, the matchmaker took the keys and led Lan Qingqing and the other woman to see the shop.

The first shop is located in the busiest area. It's not a large shop, but it's quite expensive, asking for 800 taels.

The second shop was on the street corner, with a larger storefront and a sizable backyard and cellar. It used to be a restaurant. The owner's son became an official in Kyoto and decided to sell the property to develop his career there, asking for 1,000 taels of silver.

Lan Qingqing was fairly satisfied with this place. She then visited four or five more.

Lan's father said to Lan Qingqing: Girl, which of these shops do you like?

"Father, what do you think?" Lan Qingqing asked.

Dad thought the second house was good; it was spacious enough, with two floors, and most importantly, it had a well in the backyard, making water use convenient. Father Lan analyzed earnestly.

"I think the second one is also good," Lan Qingqing said.

The matchmaker said: "Gentlemen, how do you see it? Is there a shop you like?"

The second one looks alright, but could you lower the price a bit? Mr. Lan said.

Bargaining wasn't Lan Qingqing's forte, so she obediently stayed to the side and didn't say anything.

The matchmaker spoke eloquently: "This price is already very favorable. If the owner weren't in such a hurry to sell, they wouldn't have sold it for only a thousand taels. You're guaranteed to make a profit if you buy now. Our brokerage is a century-old brand, absolutely honest with our customers, and we would never do anything to cheat them. The shop prices are 100% fair and honest."

Mr. Lan also used his best skills to bargain with the matchmaker, and finally, after Mr. Lan's persistent pleading, the matchmaker relented and gave him a discount of fifty taels.

Once the price was agreed upon, the contract was processed. The documents were then handed over to the broker's clerk to handle.

Lan Qingqing and the others can simply wait at the brokerage.

During her conversation with the matchmaker, Lan Qingqing also learned that the original homeowner had two other estates and 500 acres of fertile land for sale.

Lan Qingqing was tempted. This was an opportunity to acquire 500 acres of fertile land. She couldn't miss it.

Lan Qingqing called her father aside and said, "Father, we can't miss out on these five hundred acres of fertile land."

But these 500 acres of fertile land were sold along with the estate. "What do we need the estate for?" said Father Lan.

"There's a use for buying this estate," Lan Qingqing explained.

"Alright! I'll go sound him out," said Father Lan.

After finishing his sentence, Mr. Lan turned to chat with the matchmaker. During this time, Mr. Lan's leg had almost fully recovered.

I don't need crutches anymore, but the splint hasn't been removed because I'm afraid of injuring the newly healed bones.

Mr. Lan asked: "Where are the manor and farmland of this family located? Are they far from the town?"

Upon hearing this, the matchmaker became interested and launched into a full-fledged introduction: "The location of this estate is impeccable. It's not far from the town, only a quarter of an hour by carriage. Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the feng shui is excellent. Look, didn't one of the owners become an official?"

These two villages are in excellent locations. There are also vast stretches of fertile farmland connected together in Xiahe Village, only a few miles from here.

Such a fine estate and fertile land is not to be missed! Are you interested, sir? If so, we can go and take a look tomorrow.

"Alright! What's the price of this estate and land?" asked Father Lan.

This fertile land costs ten taels per mu, so five hundred mu would cost five thousand taels. The lowest price the landlord offered was four thousand seven hundred taels.

The two estates cost 2,100 taels and 2,800 taels respectively.

"Alright, I'll come back and take a look tomorrow," said Mr. Lan.

The shop lease documents were ready in no time. Lan Qingqing took the documents and keys. Her name was written on them. Lan Qingqing asked her father, "Father, didn't I say to write your name? Why did you write mine?"

Your parents won't be able to stay with you forever. With these properties and land, your life will be easier. Besides, this money is yours to begin with.

Your parents are getting old, so they won't need that much money. Let your brothers build their own fortune.

As for your sister, she may have to rely on you to prepare a generous dowry for her. Because of the Wang family, your sister's reputation is ruined. She won't have a substantial dowry, and no decent man will be willing to marry her.

This should have been your mother's and your father's responsibility. But your father and I aren't very capable, and you're the only one in the family who's truly capable. From now on, you'll have to put more effort into your sister's affairs. Father Lan said earnestly.

"Dad, what are you saying? We're family, what's mine is yours. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Don't you want me anymore, Dad?" Lan Qingqing said, feigning grievance.

"How could that be? I just don't want you to be without security in the future. Your brothers aren't married yet, so things are fine as a family. But if they are married, and your mother and I are no longer here, what will happen to you and my grandchildren if they want to divide the family property you've worked so hard to build?" Father Lan quickly explained.

Dad, you're really thinking ahead. The family property registered in your name belongs to you and Mom, and it will eventually belong to the Lan family descendants. I won't take it. With my abilities, what can't I earn money for? In the future, my brothers, sisters, and cousins ​​will all have their own businesses. You two just need to make sure they find good wives.

Alright, my worryy dad, let's go home now, or it'll be dark by the time we get back.

When he returned home, his family was very surprised to learn that they had bought a shop. They wondered how a trip to the store could have resulted in such a purchase.

Lan Xiaotian didn't have a single day of rest at home. After the blacksmith's furnace was built, he asked Ah Er to buy him the best charcoal.

Lan Xiaoya took over Lan Xiaotian's job, purifying baijiu every day.

Feng Caidie helps Lan's mother with housework at home.

The next day, Lan Qingqing took everyone to the village. Lan's father, Lan's mother, Lan Xiaotian, Lan Xiaoya, and Feng Caidie were there. They set off for town early in the morning in a donkey cart.

When they arrived at the brokerage firm, the matchmaker was already there waiting.

The Lan family boarded the matchmaker's carriage and began their journey to Shanghe Village and Xiahe Village. Upon arriving at Shanghe Village, they could see a sizable manor at the foot of the mountain in the distance.

When the group arrived at the village, the matchmaker knocked on the door, and an old gatekeeper came to open it. This was the gatekeeper of the village.

Upon entering the manor, one is greeted by a vast orchard with pear trees, peach trees, and grapevines. This orchard covers at least two or three hundred acres. The manor employs servants specifically to tend to these fruit trees.

Five hundred acres of fertile land were located in Xiahe Village, so they went to see the paddy fields first. The fields were next to the water source, making it very convenient to draw water for irrigation. It was a fertile field, which was good, Lan's father thought to himself.