bigabreads Chapter 19: Seven men fought over blueprints because of who lived next door to their sister-in-law!
Chapter 19: Seven men fought over blueprints because of who lived next door to their sister-in-law!
The next morning.
The atmosphere at the Qin family's eight-immortal table, which had a missing corner, was so heavy it was as if they were discussing some important national affairs.
"Slap!" Su Wansu waved her hand, and a thick stack of silver notes was slammed onto the center of the table.
A full five hundred taels!!!
In addition to the loose change I earned yesterday from selling wild boar hides and odds and ends, it piled up into an enticing little mountain.
"This is what we have now." Su Wan looked around at the seven men sitting around the table.
The second brother, Qin Mo, had dark circles under his eyes (from being too excited last night), the fourth brother, Qin Yue, was waving a fan and smiling with satisfaction, while the third brother, Qin Meng, was staring at the pile of silver and grinning like an idiot, practically drooling.
"I've made up my mind." Su Wan pointed to the drafty thatched roof above her head, then to the rat hole in the corner: "We can't live in this dilapidated house anymore. Yesterday, when Lao San rolled over, I was afraid the wall would collapse and bury him inside." "Build a house! We must build a house! And it must be the biggest and warmest brick and tile house in the whole village!"
"Agreed!" Qin Meng was the first to raise both hands, his muscular arms nearly flipping the table. "It should have been covered a long time ago! This rickety kang (heated brick bed) is suffocating me; last night, Lao Si kept shoving his toes into my mouth!"
"I agree." Qin Yue closed the folding fan, his peach blossom eyes gleaming. "Now that we have money, we can't let my sister-in-law suffer. This house not only has to be big, but also impressive, so that those who look down on us will glare at us with their eyes popping out."
With the resolution passed unanimously, we moved on to the most crucial step – apartment layout design.
Su Wan took out a sheet of white paper and spread it on the table: "Draw whatever ideas you have."
Suddenly, the atmosphere at the table became strange. Seven pairs of eyes were fixed on the blank sheet of paper, and everyone's Adam's apple bobbed silently. What did building a new house mean?
It means... finally we don't have to share a bed with seven people anymore! It means... finally we have the chance to have our own private space, and then... hehe.
"I have an idea!" The fourth brother, Qin Yue, couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed the pen and drew a huge square on the paper.
"Let's build a large courtyard with a covered walkway."
As he drew, he glanced at Su Wan's snow-white neck out of the corner of his eye, his tone ambiguous, "As for the rooms... I don't think it's necessary to divide them too much. Let's make a bigger and more luxurious dormitory, so everyone can live together, it'll be lively! And we can also... keep each other warm."
"Get lost." Qin Lie and Qin Mo said in unison, their icy gazes instantly freezing Qin Yue's terrible idea to dust. Who wants to keep warm with you? We need to keep warm for our sister-in-law!
"Um..." Qin An, the seventh brother, timidly extended a pale finger and pointed to a corner of the blueprint. "I...I'm not in good health, and I often get up at night. Could...could I stay closer to my sister-in-law? In case I faint, will she be able to hear me...?"
"That little green tea b*tch!" all the brothers cursed inwardly.
Are you afraid of fainting? You just want to climb into bed in the middle of the night!
"None of them will work." The eldest brother, Qin Lie, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke in a deep voice.
He reached out his large, calloused hand and took the pen directly from Su Wan's hand. The action was domineering; his palm inadvertently enveloped Su Wan's small hand, and the scalding heat made Su Wan's heart tremble.
"Since I'm the eldest brother, I'll decide the layout of this house."
Qin Lie lowered his head, his expression focused as if he were arranging troops.
He drew a large circle in the very center of the paper. "This is the main courtyard." His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "It's for Jiaojiao to live in. The floor should be fully heated, the windows should have roof tiles, and the walls should be high to prevent outsiders from spying on us."
Su Wan felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the circle that was under special protection. But then, Qin Lie's writing took a sudden turn.
He drew seven small squares in a fan shape around the main courtyard. Like the Big Dipper, they firmly guarded the bright moon in the center.
"The eldest son lives in the front yard and guards the main gate." "The second son lives in the west wing, close to the study." "The third, fifth, and sixth sons live in the back yard and guard the storeroom and blacksmith shop." "The fourth and seventh sons live in the east wing."
Qin Lie put down his pen, raised his head, and his deep eyes swept across the room before finally landing on Su Wan: "This is the 'Seven Stars Locking the Moon' formation." "No matter which direction the outsiders come from, they must first get past us before they can even touch a hair on Jiao Jiao's head."
The room fell silent. The brothers stared at the blueprint, their eyes flashing with unpredictable light.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
This arrangement was ostensibly for safety, to protect the sister-in-law completely.
In reality... all seven courtyards have doors leading to the main courtyard. This means that each of them guards an "entrance." Although they are separated, anyone who wants to find their sister-in-law can simply go through a moon gate. This provides both privacy and convenience for "committing a crime."
"Brother is wise." Qin Mo pushed up his glasses, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. He lived in the west wing, the closest to the main courtyard, and... the study was a good place; he could often invite his sister-in-law over for some "red-sleeved pleasures."
"I have no objection either." Qin Yue fanned himself, his eyes darting around. The east wing might be a bit far, but he had money. Wouldn't it be even more exciting to just open a secret door in the courtyard wall?
"Then it's settled!" Qin Lie made the final decision, his gaze fixed intently on Su Wan. "Jiaojiao, what do you think?"
Looking at the blueprint of the "main courtyard" surrounded by seven men, Su Wan inexplicably felt like a lamb trapped in a pack of wolves. This wasn't building a house; it was clearly marking out a "hunting ground" for these seven wolves!
But looking into those seven pairs of expectant, even slightly ingratiating eyes, Su Wan could only blush and nod: "I...I'll listen to my husband."
That soft, sweet "husband" made Qin Lie's bones melt.
His hand, which was under the table, clenched suddenly, and his eyes darkened frighteningly.
"Since it's decided, let's get started!" Qin Lie stood up abruptly, radiating a heroic spirit ready to get things done. "Third brother, go find some men! Call all the able-bodied men in the village! Pay them well! Provide meals! Make sure there's meat!"
"Alright!" Qin Meng yelled excitedly and rushed out.
The news that the Qin family was going to build a big house spread like wildfire throughout the entire Langya Village in less than half an hour.
"Have you heard? The Qin family from that village of no descendants has struck it rich!"
"We're building a three-courtyard house! All brick!" "And we're hiring? Twenty copper coins a day, plus a big meal of stewed pork slices and vermicelli?!"
The entire village went wild. Those who had previously looked down on the Qin family, even joining Wang Dajiao in mocking them, were now filled with deep regret. This wasn't an exile; it was a god of wealth descended to earth!