Falling into the mortal world

It was already afternoon when Lan Qingqing and the others returned to the manor. Having gained a general understanding of the manor, the Lan family went back to town with the matchmaker. Although the matchmaker was curious about why this family, visiting relatives, had brought back a seriously injured woman, she wisely refrained from asking. Seeing that the woman was badly injured, she figured it was undoubtedly from her husband's family.

Upon arriving in town, Lan Xiaotian, Lan's mother, took Lin to see the old doctor.

Lan Qingqing and the others stayed behind to discuss the estate and land.

Mr. Lan and the matchmaker began discussing the price of the farmland.

Mr. Lan said: "The price must be lower. If this estate hadn't been sold together with the land, I don't think we would have paid such a high price for it."

After all, I've seen that Zhuangzi's land is completely unsuitable for growing crops; it's fine for growing flowers, grasses, and trees, but not for growing crops.

I'll offer nine thousand taels for these two estates and fertile land. If you agree, we can sign the documents now; if not, then this deal is off.

The matchmaker understood this principle; if the estate were sold separately, it probably wouldn't fetch a good price. However, she couldn't make decisions based on the price offered by the owner, so she could only contact the owner and let them negotiate.

"I can't make the decision on the price you've offered. Why don't you wait a moment and I'll have the owner come and talk to you?" the matchmaker said.

"That's fine. I'll come over later. I'll take the kids to get something to eat first," said Mr. Lan.

The matchmaker then realized that this family hadn't even had a meal when they visited relatives.

Lan Qingqing and the others first found a restaurant and ordered four bowls of shredded pork noodles. They also packed some food for Lan's mother.

Lan Qingqing has a big appetite now. Even after eating a whole chicken, she still finished this bowl of noodles without any hesitation.

After Lan Qingqing and the others finished their meal, Feng Caidie went to deliver food to Lan's mother and the others, while Lan's father, Lan Xiaoya, and Lan Qingqing went to the brokerage to wait for their employer to arrive.

The host arrived shortly afterward. He was a short, middle-aged man dressed in fine brocade robes.

When Lan's father learned that this was the owner's family, he took the initiative to greet them and expressed his sincere desire to buy the estate and land.

The host family members seemed like nice people; during our conversation, I could tell they weren't the kind of people who were rich but heartless.

In the end, the master of the house conceded 9,200 taels. Mr. Lan had no objections, and since neither party disagreed, the matchmaker happily sent the broker's assistant to the county government to process the contract.

Lan Qingqing requested that one estate be registered under Lan Xiaotian's name and the other under Lan Xiaoya's name. The five hundred acres of fertile land would be registered under Lan's father's name. Lan Xiaoyu was still too young, so it wouldn't be too late to acquire land for her later. As for Lan Dagen, it wouldn't be too late to acquire land for him when he returned.

The day flew by after the deed was completed. Now that the family owned some property, a carriage naturally had to be arranged.

Lan Qingqing said, "Father, we only have a donkey cart, which isn't very convenient for getting around. Why don't we buy a horse-drawn carriage? After all, we're a family with some assets now. It's very inconvenient to get around without a carriage." Upon hearing this, Lan's father also felt that it was time to get a carriage.

Mr. Lan summoned the matchmaker and told her about his desire to buy a carriage.

When the matchmaker heard that she also wanted to buy a horse-drawn carriage, her enthusiasm was overwhelming.

The brokerage business is quite extensive, and naturally, it also includes the business of buying and selling horses.

Lan's father and Lan Qingqing followed the matchmaker to the stables in the backyard, where there were at least twenty horses. Lan Qingqing chose a pure black horse, Lan's father negotiated the price, and the matchmaker helped harness the horse to the carriage.

When they came out of the pharmacy, Lan's father was leading a carriage. Lan Qingqing sat in the carriage, and her father, worried that the carriage would be too bumpy, led the horses. By the time they arrived at the clinic, it was already evening.

When Lan Qingqing arrived at the clinic, the old doctor was studying medical books.

When the old doctor saw Lan Qingqing coming over, he put down his medical book and said: "If you're pregnant, just stay at home. Why are you running around all day?"

"Master, you should go out more now; it will help the child grow," Lan Qingqing said.

It should help the child learn to fight! She always likes to stir up trouble for no reason. The old doctor glared at Lan Qingqing.

Lan Qingqing felt a little embarrassed when she received a disapproving look from the old doctor. "Sigh, I didn't want this either! But why does trouble always seem to find me?"

The old doctor was also quite helpless. He said, "Your aunt and your mother are in the backyard. Your mother is brewing medicine for your aunt right now. Have you finished reading the medical book from last time?"

"I've finished reading it," Lan Qingqing said.

The old doctor handed over another medical book. He would read this book at home when he had free time.

Lan Qingqing took the medical book and put it away. After exchanging a few words with the old doctor, Lan Qingqing went to the backyard.

In the backyard, Lan's mother was preparing medicine for Lin, who was already asleep.

That night, Lan's mother stayed to take care of Lin. The next morning, Lan Qingqing, Feng Caidie, and Lan's father went to town together.

First, we went to the shop, which used to be a restaurant. The owner didn't want many of the tables and chairs anymore. There were also some items left in the private rooms on the second floor.

The pots and pans in the kitchen were all taken away. In the backyard, apart from some firewood, everything else was cleared out, and the rooms were very clean, as if they had been cleaned.

The tables and chairs outside look pretty good; it would be a waste to chop them up for firewood. Lan Qingqing decided to see if the shop's farmhands wanted them. If so, she would have them move them.

Lan Qingqing walked around the shop and took the exact dimensions. She then drew a blueprint. Since she planned to sell wine, which would naturally be high-end, the shop's decor needed to be top-notch. After completing the blueprint, Lan Qingqing also made a list of all the items needed for the shop's renovation.

Lan Qingqing handed the list of items to her father. Her father was literate, so she trusted him to handle the task.

Lan Qingqing handed her father a thousand taels of silver, instructing him to order the tiles from the same company she had previously chosen. Her father knew this as well. He then went alone.

After closing the door, Lan Qingqing and Feng Caidie went to the pork stall. Lan Qingqing bought two jin of pork and then asked the stall owner where she could buy mutton. The stall owner pointed to the alleyway ahead. Lan Qingqing thanked the stall owner and went straight to the alleyway.

Walking into the alley, Lan Qingqing saw a stall with a sheep's head hanging on it. Lan Qingqing went up and asked, "Do you sell mutton here?"

The stall owner nodded his head at the sheep's head above him, indicating that Lan Qingqing should see for herself.

Lan Qingqing understood what the stall owner meant. Lan Qingqing said, "Can I buy the sheep's offal?"

The stall owner was quite surprised. The person in front of him, though not dressed in fine clothes, was wearing new garments made of fine cotton. They couldn't possibly be unable to afford meat. "Buy some offal!"

Lan Qingqing then asked: Do you sell sheep offal?

The stall owner snapped out of his reverie upon hearing Lan Qingqing's question and replied, "Yes, we do."