AD (QT) Chapter 129

A few days later, everyone in Han Maode’s family was wearing new clothes. Although the family owned plenty of land, most of it belonged to Han Ze. When Wang Lanhua married into the Han family with her two sons, the family raised them, built them houses, and found them wives. She was deeply grateful in her heart. Because of this, she had lived very frugally for years, not buying new clothes for a year or two at a time. Today, however, Wang Lanhua wore a brand-new dark red jacket and skirt to go to the town market.

Sixth Aunt Han from next door stared at her for quite a while and teased, “Oh? Look at Sister-in-law in her new clothes today! Is there some happy event at home? Quick, tell us about it!”

Wang Lanhua took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat and gave a playful spit. “Listen to you! Can’t a person wear new clothes unless there’s a happy event? Besides, you live right next door; if anything happened at my house, wouldn’t you know it?”

Sixth Aunt Han rolled her eyes. “Don’t I know what kind of person you are? You’re usually too stingy to make a new outfit even for the New Year. If it’s not a holiday and there’s no happy event, how could you bear to make new clothes?”

Wang Lanhua laughed and said, “If you want to talk about happy events, our Xiaoliu getting better is one. Ever since he started school, he’s received rewards in every assessment. Han Ze was so happy he bought enough fabric for everyone in the family to have a new outfit.”

Sixth Aunt Han was genuinely surprised. If Han Ze were willing to buy fabric for his father and children, she would believe it, but she hadn’t expected him to remember his stepmother, Wang Lanhua. She sighed with emotion. “You’ve been married to Han Maode for over a decade; you’ve finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.”

In the Han house, although Han Maode was the patriarch, Han Ze called most of the shots. Now that Han Ze was willing to show filial respect to Wang Lanhua, she truly had it made.

Wang Lanhua didn’t care for that phrasing. She smiled and said, “It’s not about ‘seeing the light.’ Ever since I married into the Han family, I haven’t seen a day of hardship. I have food and drink, and my old man helped my two boys find wives. I should be content.”

Sixth Aunt Han realized she was right. Wang Lanhua’s sons hadn’t even changed their surnames, yet Han Maode was still willing to build them houses and find them wives. He was a truly honest and kind man. If Wang Lanhua dared to harbor greedy thoughts, not only would the village gossip, but she’d also be betraying Maode’s kindness.

As they were talking, Liu Jiahua walked up slowly with a basket on her arm. Seeing Wang Lanhua on the cart, she instinctively paused, but then thought: Why should I be afraid of her? If she can take the ox cart to town, why can’t I? With that, she held her head high, walked over, and climbed onto the cart.

Seeing her, Wang Lanhua stopped smiling and lowered her eyes. She and Liu Jiahua had nothing to say to each other; usually, even if they met, they acted as strangers and ignored one another.

Sixth Aunt Han saw Liu Jiahua eyeing Wang Lanhua’s clothes and said with a smile, “Sister Jiahua, did your Han Ze buy fabric for you to make new clothes too?”

Wang Lanhua’s hand paused as she shot a helpless look at the auntie. This woman really loved stirring up trouble for entertainment.

Liu Jiahua looked at her with a dark face. “Don’t mention that white-eyed wolf, that unfilial son to me. I gave birth to him for nothing.”

Sixth Aunt Han laughed. “Surely not? Han Ze even bought a whole outfit’s worth of fabric for Sister Lanhua; how could he leave out his own biological mother?”

Liu Jiahua froze and snapped her head toward Wang Lanhua. Seeing that she was indeed wearing new clothes, she demanded shrilly, “Did Han Ze buy the fabric for the clothes you’re wearing?”

Wang Lanhua had nothing to hide, nor did Han Ze intend for her to hide it. She said calmly, “Han Ze bought the fabric for me, and the girls at home helped make them.”

Liu Jiahua’s face fell, and she said sharply, “You made Han Ze buy them for you?”

Han Ze was her son. If he didn’t buy fabric for her, why should he buy it for Wang Lanhua? In the past, even when Han Ze took back the land she rented and collected the back-rent, she knew it was because she had lied to him. She also knew that in Han Ze’s heart, he had never respected Wang Lanhua. Even if she felt bitter, she took comfort in the fact that even if Wang Lanhua married Han Maode, she would never be acknowledged by Han Ze. In their old age, they would still have to rely on the son she gave birth to. She had always felt superior to Wang Lanhua because of this.

Now, Han Ze had actually bought fabric for Wang Lanhua. What did this mean? It meant Han Ze had acknowledged Wang Lanhua as his mother. Her only point of pride over Wang Lanhua was gone. How could she not be filled with hate?

Wang Lanhua gave her a strange look. “No, he bought them for me of his own accord.”

Liu Jiahua refused to admit defeat. Her face was stiff as she curled her lip and said, for some reason, “Han Ze made many clothes for me in the past; I’m not lacking for things to wear.”

Wang Lanhua pursed her lips and said nothing.

Sixth Aunt Han, however, curled her lip as she looked at Liu Jiahua. She truly didn’t know if this woman was smart or stupid. Han Ze was so stingy, yet Sister Lanhua, a stepmother, managed to coax him into buying her clothes. Meanwhile, you, the biological mother, offended your son to the point of no return. Now he’s not only taken back your land, but it’s uncertain if he’ll ever acknowledge you again or support you in your old age. Rejecting a wealthy son and pushing him away—she might as well be stupid enough to die.

Thinking of this, she looked at Wang Lanhua. Sister Lanhua was the smart one. Usually, a widow has a hard life, but she married Han Maode. He was honest and kind, raising her sons and finding them wives, and now she had Han Ze’s approval. She had a life of blessings ahead of her.

Liu Jiahua didn’t know the auntie was calling her stupid in her head; she was only filled with resentment. She resented Han Ze for acknowledging a stepmother over his own mother, and she even resented Han Maode for marrying Wang Lanhua. Most of all, she resented Wang Lanhua for taking the man she didn’t want, only for the Han family’s life to get better and better. How could she not be resentful? If she had known the Han family would inherit Han Maofa’s fortune so soon, she would never have agreed to a separation.

…

Whether Liu Jiahua felt resentment or hatred, Han Ze didn’t care. Considering that Shubuo would be studying at the academy for several years, he discussed it with Han Maode and planned to buy a courtyard house in town. During the slack season, the family could go and stay there for a while.

Han Maode frowned and asked, “How much does a courtyard in town cost?”

Han Ze smiled and said, “It won’t be much. A decent one is only about two hundred taels.”

It won’t be much?

Han Maode laughed out of sheer irritation. For an ordinary family, being able to produce dozens of taels made them a wealthy household. Was over two hundred taels “not much”?

He bristled his mustache. “Don’t think just because you earned a thousand taels that you can start showing off. No matter how much silver you have, it won’t last if you spend it recklessly. You must be frugal where you can.”

Han Ze: “…”

The young one tells him to be frugal, and now the old one tells him the same. Exactly how much of a spendthrift was he that everyone, young and old, was lecturing him?

Seeing him remain silent, Han Maode thought he was dissatisfied and added, “Don’t you be stubborn. Growing flowers earns money, but it’s just like farming—just because the flowers were good this year doesn’t mean they will be next year. You should save silver for when it’s truly needed; that is the long-term way to manage a household. If you spend silver the moment it’s in your hand, when will you ever live a truly good life?”

Han Ze gave a bitter smile. “Dad, why don’t you believe I can earn more? Besides, if we buy a courtyard and need silver later, we can just sell it. It won’t hurt anything.”

Han Maode grunted. “Buying a house in town is fine. I just can’t stand your attitude of acting like silver is nothing.”

Han Ze: I really don’t act like silver is nothing.

…

Once the father and son finished their discussion, Han Ze went to town the next day to find an agent. The agent showed him several properties. One was close to the school, but it was small and looked dilapidated; considering the size of his family, Han Ze passed. Another was slightly further from the school but was relatively new and very large. Even if the whole family stayed there, there would be room to spare.

Han Ze asked the price: three hundred and twenty taels. He estimated the size of the courtyard and decided the price was fair, so he settled on it immediately. The property originally came with a family of eight servants—three generations including an old man, his son and daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and three granddaughters.

Han Ze looked them over, asked the old man and the son a few questions, and decided they were honest people, so he kept them on.

Han Ze instructed them to clean the house thoroughly. As for what furniture or items were needed, he would have to go home and consult Ge Hongbu and the daughters so they could choose according to their own tastes.

Han Ze moved so quickly that before Ge Hongbu or Wang Lanhua even knew about it, the house was already bought.

Looking at the flowers in the garden, Ge Hongbu asked hesitantly, “Are we going to live in town from now on?”

Han Ze shook his head. “No. We can go stay there during our free time, but usually, we’ll stay in the village.”

Ge Hongbu felt relieved. She was used to the countryside and didn’t actually like the idea of city life.

Han Shuxin and her sisters were a bit disappointed, but Han Ze soothed them with a smile. “Study well. Once Dad earns more silver, I’ll buy a courtyard for each of you in the future.”

The sisters looked at their father in disbelief, then wondered: When we marry out, can we take the house with us? Even if we can, we wouldn’t want to let strangers live in a house Dad bought for us.

Han Ze added, “When that time comes, the houses will be in your names. You can go stay whenever you want; you’ll have the final say.”

The sisters’ eyes lit up. Han Shuxin thought for a moment and said, “But for five sisters, that would mean five houses. That costs so much silver… forget it.”

Han Ze laughed. “If Dad earns the silver, I’ll buy them. If I don’t, I won’t. How about that?”

Only then did the sisters nod. They were girls and would eventually marry out; how could they think of taking family property? Wouldn’t that be like turning their elbows outward (favoring outsiders)?

Han Ze then looked at Han Maode and said thoughtfully, “Dad, I plan to buy that small hillside in the back, along with the wasteland near it.”

Han Maode frowned. “What for? Do you want to go reclaim wasteland now?”

Han Ze smiled and said, “I plan to build a manor there for raising flowers. Of course, we could also move in and live there.”

Han Maode pondered for a long time, guessing his son’s intentions. He said, “If every year’s flowers are as precious as this, it would be worth building a dedicated manor for them.”

Han Ze added, “Don’t you trust my flower-raising skills yet? I’d never done it before and sold them for so much the first time. Once I have experience, won’t I earn even more?”

Han Maode thought it made sense. Since the flowers were in pots, they wouldn’t be affected by floods or droughts as long as you pampered them like ancestors. How could they not grow well?

“Fine. Build it.”

Han Ze smiled. “As for buying the land, I’ll need you to speak with the village chief, Dad.”

Han Maode slapped his hands together. “I’ll handle that. You can rest easy.”