The three teams started to unpack and settle in.
The Cheng family's vehicles were parked at the front gate, and the luggage was unloaded there first, as it was closer to the front yard.
It was more convenient to move things.
As soon as they arrived,
Uncle Ji, as usual, started to rally everyone to work together.
The people below were also full of energy!
Everyone was happy.
After such a long journey,
they finally had a stable place to stay.
Naturally, they were energetic about everything!
The Jin family's convoy found the gate to the backyard and took their belongings there to unload. They parked first and then carried the items down.
It was even more convenient for the people of Shanaocun.
They could directly carry their belongings to claim rooms they liked.
For a time, there was a bustling scene.
The Jin family head still looked down on the villagers' impoverished ways.
But he no longer dared to make a fuss.
He simply called his beautiful concubines and daughters and majestically headed to the central courtyard.
The young ladies once again felt the glory of their past lives.
They all held their chins high,
looking very proud.
They pointed at the servants and told them to be careful not to damage their belongings.
Then, they turned to their somewhat gaunt but plump father and acted coy, pestering him to buy this and that, which made the Jin family head both happy and distressed. He agreed to each of them, saying, "Buy, buy, buy, all of it. When we're settled, I'll have the servants take you!"
The Jin family head was happy to solve headaches with money, and besides, he had never refused his obedient daughters' requests. Now that they were settled, he naturally wanted them to be happy. They could buy whatever they liked. They hadn't packed all their supplies when they left, but they had brought all their valuables, and they were not short of money now.
The young ladies were even happier, chattering incessantly, telling him what he absolutely had to buy for them, and saying they would find an opportunity to move out.
"This place looks alright, but it's too old. We have to squeeze in with a bunch of poor ghosts. I feel uncomfortable just thinking about it, it's so dirty!"
"Yes, Father. Since we're not short of money, let's buy a new, big mansion to live in, so we don't have to live with these people. I'm not happy just looking at them!"
The few young ladies crowded around the Jin family head, pestering him. He was almost overwhelmed, with two daughters hanging on his arms, pulling and tugging.
But he coaxed them good-naturedly, "Stop pulling, stop pulling! You're making me dizzy! Alright, alright, I'll buy whatever you want, but only one thing: we can't buy a house yet. You'll have to endure it for a while longer. The outside world isn't peaceful yet, who knows what will happen? And what about life in the city?"
The Jin family head was not stupid. He said, "Let's live here for a while, and then we'll consider buying a house. If we move out and something happens, it won't be as safe as being with them. Just bear with it a little longer!"
He kept coaxing them, but his daughters were still unhappy. They pestered him to promise them many good things, and only then did they reluctantly go off to play.
The Jin family head broke out in a sweat from dealing with them, shaking his head repeatedly. But looking at his daughters, who were like flowers, so pure and harmless in their thoughts, he felt it was all worth it.
Steward Du shook his head, feeling helpless about these spoiled young ladies who had no sense of hardship, but he knew they were young and pampered.
That's why they were so unreasonable.
In comparison,
he still admired the eldest daughter-in-law of the Cheng family more. Although she looked pampered, and the eldest son of the Cheng family doted on her, she wasn't as precious as this. She helped with everything, and she could hunt and knew medicine.
As for the Jin family's young ladies, they truly had never lifted a finger in their lives, knowing nothing but how to be waited on hand and foot. They didn't consider the current situation at all, only thinking of eating, drinking, and having fun.
Steward Du felt that the Jin family was beyond saving. Following such a master made him utterly weary, and he didn't know how much worry awaited him in the future.
For this reason,
he gritted his teeth and stepped forward again, trying to persuade the Jin family head, "Master, I know you love your daughters the most, but please reconsider. We've just arrived, and we haven't figured out the local powers yet. Ostentatiously displaying our wealth will only cause more trouble and bring disaster to our three teams. Please let the young ladies endure a few more days..."
Let him go and gather information first.
The Jin family head truly doted on his daughters. When he heard this, he instinctively retorted, "It's just letting them go out to buy some things that young girls like. What kind of scandal can that cause? It's not a big deal!"
Steward Du mused inwardly, if his daughters only liked to buy things that young girls liked, it would be fine. But they liked expensive things and also liked to show off. If he let them run wild, what then?
What if they offended someone?
He immediately explained the dangers clearly, and finally used the Cheng family to scare him.
"...If nothing happens, it's fine. But if something does happen and it brings disaster to the three teams, the Cheng family dislikes making a spectacle of themselves the most. If it affects them, they might not help our Jin family if trouble really arises. And the people of Shanaocun, although they seem to get along well with us, they still side with the Cheng family..."
These words struck the Jin family head to the core. His mind immediately went cold, and he dared not speak rashly. He wondered, "Would it truly be that serious if my daughters went out?"
Steward Du nodded affirmatively, "Yes, it's better to be safe than sorry!"
He had some experience dealing with the Jin family head now, but it was always exhausting.
It was no different this time.
He was mentally and physically exhausted.
Fortunately,
the Jin family head finally agreed, but he still said to Steward Du, "Since you brought it up, you go and persuade my precious daughters!"
Then, he left with a flourish.
Leaving Steward Du, who was utterly weary. He envied Uncle Ji for having so many good helpers to share his burdens. The Jin family had no one to help him, and his master wasn't reliable either. Everything had to be handled by him.
Several strands of Steward Du's hair had turned white. When Uncle Ji brought the empty vehicles to the backyard, he was greatly surprised to see his old friend looking so haggard and expressed his concern.
Finally, he found someone to confide in.
Steward Du couldn't help but pull Uncle Ji and quickly poured out his troubles, saying how difficult it was for him!
Uncle Ji could only pat his shoulder sympathetically, wanting to say something but unable to.
Steward Du was also conscientious.
He owed a favor from his ancestors and worried that he would implicate his ancestors or descendants if he didn't repay it.
Therefore, he was reluctant to leave the Jin family.
That's why he was so distressed.
But Uncle Ji also understood that it was difficult to get by anywhere without household registration or money.
So, he couldn't bring himself to advise him.
Steward Du also understood his choice and just felt miserable and wanted to vent.
After speaking, he had to return to his duties.
Compared to the Jin family.
The Cheng family was indeed harmonious.
After choosing their rooms, everyone began to settle down. Since it was clean, they simply wiped it with hot boiled water.
Then they organized their luggage and bedding.
They started tidying up the courtyard, cleaning what needed to be cleaned, and moving what needed to be moved.
The courtyard here, in addition to the four large rooms and four side rooms in the front yard and main house, had two rows of wing rooms on the left and right. There was another row of rooms behind the main house. The outhouse and small kitchen were both in that back row. The main house had a courtyard, and the other two courtyards followed the same specifications.
Therefore, there were really many rooms, and so many people could live without feeling crowded.
It was a very unique quadrangle.
The room where Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao lived was also quite large and bright.
The furniture was made of good wood, and everything was sturdy and solid.
Even the bed was not simple.
It was not just a simple frame bed but a complete Kang bed.
A single bed included a dressing room, a small study, and a collection of storage facilities.
The entire Kang bed occupied half of the room, with a screen to block off the bed. On the other side, there was a chaise lounge by the window, a large display shelf against the wall, and a big desk, which was already empty of any items.
Directly opposite the entrance was the chaise lounge and the row of wooden window lattices behind it.
The lighting was excellent.
To the left was the Kang bed, partially obscured by the screen, and to the right was the large study.
The entire room was luxurious and comfortable, and the cost was definitely not cheap.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao both liked it very much.
There was no peculiar smell either.
After all, it was an old house that had been lived in for a long time, and they were only now preparing to tidy it up.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi came in with buckets of hot water and told the young couple to go out and look around, to point out anything that wasn't done well.
They would take care of the chores inside.
They even boldly grumbled, "Masters should act like masters. What do you guys do when masters do nothing? If you do all the work, what are we servants for?"
They said it quite righteously.
They were no longer afraid of the young couple. In fact, they were becoming more familiar with them.
And after going through so much together.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had a sense of authority but were not overly authoritarian.
So the servants knew their limits and knew that they wouldn't get angry easily. Thus, they started to get playful, saying such things now.
It made the young couple laugh.
Before they could speak,
Uncle Ji also brought Laifu and Jiawang, who was good at packing, over.
Finally, they drove their young masters out.
These few people rushed to do all the work, saying they would pack it up properly.
They told them to rest.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had no choice but to walk around the front yard together.
As a result, they found that there was no work to be done at all.
Everyone was rushing to do things.
Seeing them, they wouldn't let them lift a finger, but told them to sit in the main hall or look at the flowers and plants in the front yard, just to rest.