#20 - Chapter 20 Zhang Caier

Having made up his mind, Cheng Feng called over a shop assistant and asked about the woman with the outstanding figure.

The shop assistant said, "This one is called Zhang Cai'er, nineteen years old, skilled in needlework, and also good at washing clothes and cooking. She is untouched by human hands and worth twelve taels."

Cheng Feng asked, "Is she a local? Will her family come knocking on our door to take her back later?"

The shop assistant confidently said, "Guest, you jest. Selling sons and daughters requires signing agreements, all guaranteed by the government. Moreover, if she dares to commit suicide within three years of the sale, the government will take the money back from the seller, which is equivalent to dying for nothing. If she tries to escape and is beaten to death by outsiders, she will also die for nothing, and the government won't care. Zhang Cai'er is a local, so if you want to buy her, rest assured. I see on the agreement that the Zhang family only placed Zhang Cai'er in our shop a month and a half ago, so you have a full two years and ten months without worry."

This shop assistant was quite eloquent, putting Cheng Feng's worries to rest.

"Alright, it's her then. I also want to see a courtyard. Do you have any recommendations?" Cheng Feng made his decision without hesitation.

The shop assistant was overjoyed. "This is a big spender coming to our door!"

"Yes, yes, we do! Guest, rest assured, we will definitely satisfy you!" The shop assistant said, leading Cheng Feng back to the reception hall.

No one paid attention to Zhang Cai'er, nor did they need to.

Having been sold by her family, she should know what the consequences are.

Cheng Feng already had enough of his own affairs, so how could he possibly go back and deal with those trivial matters?

Following the shop assistant, he looked and looked, chose and chose, and finally selected a house located in the middle distance between the outer and inner city walls.

It had the advantage of being convenient for both going to the martial arts school and returning home. There was a water source at the street entrance, and you could buy groceries and daily necessities by crossing two streets to the west.

The living conditions were quite complete. The house was rectangular overall, occupying about 180 square meters. The interior was not large; the bedroom was right at the entrance, followed by two rooms facing north. There was also a kitchen to the west, and the latrine was covered by a dilapidated door at the entrance.

There was also an unknown tree in the middle.

This environment could be considered quite serene.

Except for the location of the latrine, which Cheng Feng quite disliked, everything else was pretty good.

The shop assistant quoted a price of thirty-eight taels, no bargaining, plus the twelve taels for Zhang Cai'er.

A total of 50 taels.

It wasn't that Cheng Feng didn't want to haggle, but this was the only house in such a suitable location.

Helplessly, Cheng Feng had to tentatively say, "Can you give me anything else as a gift?"

The shop assistant also saw Cheng Feng's displeasure and brought out his trump card: "Then we will give you two jars of good wine to congratulate you on moving to a new home."

Cheng Feng said that he didn't bring enough silver and took out three taels as a deposit, promising to make up the balance by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

Cheng Feng had only brought five taels and some small change when he left home this morning, not daring to bring more for fear of trouble.

The tuition fee was two taels, the deposit was three taels, and the small change couldn't buy anything.

The shop assistant took Cheng Feng back to the shop, issued a receipt, and got him to sign and agree to the terms. By the time this series of things was done, the sun was almost setting.

Cheng Feng, with the receipt in his arms, felt like he had a home and a woman.

He only had to wait until tomorrow, and everything would be settled.

By the time he returned to the village, it was already Xu Shi, approximately 7-9 PM in his previous life.

Cheng Feng really didn't want to walk; the distance was indeed a big problem.

But if he didn't walk, he couldn't go home.

Villagers who went to the city on business usually left early and returned late.

Returning home was always necessary, otherwise not having a place to stay would indeed be troublesome.

That's why Cheng Feng bought a house in advance.

He could come back periodically in the future.

He also gave the bow and arrows he brought back to the eldest and third brothers, letting them practice first.

They had to practice even in the winter.

After all, he had formed a skill, and he wanted to see if he could teach his elder brother and third brother.

Even if it was just a basic introduction, it would be enough.

There were quite a few things to do recently, but Cheng Feng was gradually arranging them to get things back on track.

That night, Cheng Feng told everyone during dinner that he had joined the martial arts school.

Cheng's father and mother were overjoyed, murmuring, "Our Er Gou has become promising, has become promising."

The third brother looked excited. His second brother had said that after the New Year, when he grew up a bit,

he should also be able to try joining a martial arts school.

The eldest brother had a calm expression, not thinking so much, but happy for his younger brother's success.

Cheng Feng continued, saying that if he did well after the New Year, he would also like to arrange for the third brother to practice martial arts at the martial arts school.

Cheng's father was even more excited, as this would solve his biggest worry.

The second and third sons would both have a way out.

But wouldn't it be unfair to the eldest brother who had no achievements?

Then he heard the second son say directly, "As for big brother, I want to let big brother learn archery. I asked, and the body is more difficult to train after adulthood, so I bought a bow and arrow for big brother. You practice more at home, and strive to hit the target with every arrow. Big brother, your brother will also let you practice in the future, but I need time to arrange it."

Cheng Shu was comforted, his brother did not look down on himself because he was not capable, and nodded, "I will definitely practice hard."

The third brother also nodded, promising to practice hard.

He had taught all the archery techniques that he could.

The rest could only be achieved through hard practice.

He had also gone through this back then.

Cheng Feng turned to his parents and said, "Dad, still dig a cellar this winter, the deeper and bigger the better. As for mom, the main thing is the food at home. You must eat more meat, don't be reluctant to put it in. Dad has to eat meat to dig the cellar, it's hard work practicing archery, and the third brother also has to eat meat to make up for the deficit from practicing martial arts. Mom, we're all counting on you for our meals."

Cheng Feng spoke about everyone's affairs one by one, and said that he would stay in the county town before the New Year, and would come to see them in between.

He also asked if everyone had any questions?

Everyone understood what they had to do.

These were all major events for the family, concerning the future of the children.

Cheng's father smiled and said, "Our second son is capable. If there was a sip of wine to drink at this time, that would be truly comfortable."

Cheng Feng replied, "Dad, our life is getting better and better, and there will definitely be wine in the future."

Cheng's father laughed heartily.

The next day, Cheng Feng took his bundle, which contained clothes made by Cheng's mother, as well as pancakes made by Cheng's mother. Cheng's father was enlightened: "Second son, dad doesn't have much to do. Take this money, you have to rely on yourself for everything outside, unlike at home. As long as you are safe and sound, that is better than anything else."

Cheng Feng understood and declined several times, but he couldn't refuse the money, so he had to accept it. Not much, fifty small coins.

Looking at these small coins that Cheng's father had worked so hard to save,

Cheng Feng had the urge to tell them that he had one hundred taels.

But he resisted again, this kind of thing could not be said,

otherwise, it would be one trouble after another.

Leaving was always sad, Cheng Feng walked towards the county town with his luggage.

Cheng's father, Cheng's mother, the eldest and third brothers, all saw him off at the door.

This was a good thing, but it could not be done with great fanfare, otherwise a good thing could also be a disaster.

This was a consensus reached last night.

And Cheng Feng repeatedly emphasized it.

There were too many people and opinions, who could guarantee that no one would be jealous?

Cheng Feng came to the new location for hiding the silver, which was a new place changed to facilitate the taking of silver, and was also on Cheng Feng's way to the city.

Seeing that there was no one around,

Cheng Feng turned left and right and turned to a mountain foot.

He came to a dirt slope with three stones.

He dug it open with force, and inside was Cheng Feng's remaining silver.

Cheng Feng had previously estimated that there were more than 150 taels, and he used five taels yesterday. Cheng Feng planned to leave fifty taels directly.

And take all the rest away.

A total of ten ten-tael silver ingots, and the rest were small silver ingots.

Cheng Feng left five large silver ingots, and took all the rest away.

After all, he was going to live in the county town for a period of time, and all the supplies had to be replenished.

And there would be one more person in the family, and the woman's supplies had to be replenished too.

After the marriage, she would be his woman, and he couldn't treat her badly.

Filling the soil and burying the pit, and sweeping away the footprints, Cheng Feng could only do so much.