ESWHYMY 43

Chapter 43. Move house


Although the house was bought, it took a lot of work to clean up the place as no one lived in it for a few years.

Now was farming peak time. The villagers of Wuliqiao were working in the fields by the river. When they noticed a few people in the distance entering Qin Family's house that had been abandoned for nearly three years, all of them were a little puzzled: "Qin Family's house has been empty for so many years. How come there are still people going there?"
Although they were very puzzled, they didn't dare to go and find out.

You Jin brought You Zhu and You Bao over to clean up today. Before she came, she also went to the paper shop to buy a basket of incense candles and paper money.

Arriving at the door of Qin's house, You Jin and her two younger sisters squatted down and burned incense. Then a basket of paper money was burned. While burning, she muttered: "Miss Qin, I heard from someone else that you murdered an adulterer with your own hand. I deeply admire this. Our family had just left a fire pit. Due to having no money, we occupy your place. Please don’t hold a grudge against us. I don’t know if anyone has burned paper money for you and if can you receive this paper money, but I hope you can be born to a good family as soon as possible. Even though the adulterer is dead, he will definitely not have a good end..."

You Zhu and You Bao listened to their elder sister as they burned paper money. Though they didn't know why they were doing this, they obediently did their own task.

After burning the paper money, You Jin started to clean up the weeds in the yard with You Zhu and You Bao. All the weeds were cut off and piled outside. The three sisters cleaned up the weeds in the front yard for the whole morning.

You Zhu, who was slumped under the eaves, panted heavily: "Third Elder Sister, no, Eldest Sister, how long will the three of us tidy up!"
Since the family's surname was changed from Yue to Su, You Jin's ranking in the family went up and she changed from Third Elder Sister to Eldest Sister.

You Jin had overestimated their speed. There was also the main room, the east and west rooms, and the kitchen! Exhausted, she shook her head: "If it's just the three of us, it'll take a good few days to clean up. I'll go to the village tomorrow to get acquainted with Lizheng. While I'm at that, I'll find a few capable aunts in the village to help!"

The three sisters kept busy until the afternoon. Then they returned to the city exhausted. After the three of them left, a breeze gently brushed the already-burned-and-extinguished paper money. A woman's leisurely sigh flowed with the breeze. The gloomy atmosphere gradually disappeared.

***

Early the next morning, You Jin headed out with You Zhu and You Bao again. Today, the three went to the street to buy half a basket of eggs first. Then they got on the ox cart and headed to Wuliqiao.

Entering Wuliqiao Village, they asked around for Lizheng's home. You Jin took You Zhu and You Bao to find Lizheng's home.

Wuliqiao Village had only been established for more than 30 years. The village was full of miscellaneous surnames. Unlike Cuifeng Village where almost all people belong to Yue clan. Therefore, Lizheng's status in the village was still very high. Wuliqiao's Lizheng's name was He Hao. A standard country man in his early forties with a tan and rosy complexion. He Hao was a little shocked when he heard that she had bought Qin family's house: "Were you deceived by the people from the broker? You must know that Qin Family..."

You Jin shook her head slightly: "I know all about it. But it's just a house. Besides, if Miss Qin's spirit is still here, she won't make it difficult for us family of orphans and widows."

Seeing her say this, He Hao didn't say much. Instead he asked, "Then what is it that you came here for today? Do you need me to help with something?" He Hao felt that it wasn't easy for a family of orphans and widows. In addition, villagers had natural friendliness. It went without saying he felt that he could help if he could.

You Jin did have something to ask for. Seeing that he opened mouth, she naturally followed along and said, "I have come here with an request today. Our family consists of sick and young. That house has been empty all these years, it is indeed difficult to clean up. I wonder if Lizheng can help find five or six uncles and aunts in the village to help. Although our family aren't rich, we don’t want everyone to do it for nothing. What do you think about five wen a day.?"

"It's just cleaning up the house. It can be done with a few people in one day. What need is there for you to pay money?" He Hao laughed and clapped his hands: "You go first. I'll find some men in the village to help clean up."
He Hao still felt that a house with death was too haunting. So he found several younger generation in their teens and twenties in the village to help clean up.

With the help of several youth, the new home of Su Family was completely different from when You Jin's first seen it; the yard that was full of weeds had been mowed clean. The spider-webs-covered in every corner of the room were swept away. Even the dusty clothes and bedding left behind by Qin Family were all cleaned out and set on fire.

According to the previously agreed pay for each person, she gave Lizheng forty wen before bidding farewell to those who helped out. Looking at the greatly changed house, You Jin rested her hands on hip with satisfaction. Overjoyed, she uttered: "We can move in tomorrow!"

"But eldest sister, there's nothing at home. Not even bedding, pots and pans!" At the side, You Zhu fiercely poured cold water on her: "Not even firewood!"

"Cough cough," You Jin awkwardly coughed: "I will buy everything tomorrow morning. Then our family move in the afternoon and spend the night in Wuliqiao tomorrow night!"
After closing the courtyard door, she merrily took You Zhu and You Bao back to Luohe Prefecture.

At night, You Jin, You Yin and Mrs. Su took advantage of the younger children's sleeping state and counted their money.

You Jin took out all the money left on her body: "Seven liang was spent to buy the house. Two liang to get a household registration. And another three liang for the miscellaneous expenses in the past two days. I have about seven silver liang left."

You Yin also spent some of the money on her: "In the past two days, half a silver liang was spent on Mother's medicine. Not much on the rest."
The money on Mrs. Su and You Yin didn't receive much dent. There were still nearly fifteen liang in total.

"There are still about fifteen silver liang. It's estimated that it will cost three to five liang to buy pots, pans, bedding, grains and rice tomorrow. So we'll have ten silver liang in our hands. We won't live on too tight budget." You Jin thought about it, calculated a bit, and felt that it was okay. "Mother, You Yin, let's go to bed early. We have to get up early tomorrow to move!"

In the early next morning, You Jin got up the earliest. She took You Zhu out of the cart stop and went to the West Market. After buying all kinds of things needed for living and then filling up an ox cart full of things, they led the man who drove the ox cart back to the cart shop. Afterward, she got another ox cart over. Everyone in Su Family brought their own big baggage, got on the ox cart, and left the cart shop where they had stayed for three days. They made way to their new home.

***

After You Jin bought the house, she had already told Mrs. Su about the situation of the house. Mrs. Su understood that with their current situation, it was a blessing for them to buy this house for only seven liang. She had originally wondered whether it might be a particularly eerie and terrifying house, but when she saw this house, all her doubts and anxiety disappeared: "If it wasn't for a murder case, we wouldn't be able to buy such good house with twenty liang?"

The drivers of the ox cart helped to move the things into the yard. After You Jin settled the money, they both left; leaving only Su Family inside.

Listening to Mrs. Su's words, You Jin jollily replied: "This house is very good. Mother, take little Tenth and Kang'er to live in the main room. The rest of us split between the east and west rooms. This way, ten people can live comfortably." Although Su Family's were young, they worked together to fetch water from the well on the side of the yard and wiped the kang, tables, chairs and benches in the main room and the east and west wing rooms. Only then, they put the futon mattress on top.

You Jin arranged the kitchen items one by one. Then she went to the firewood stack left by Qin Family in the backyard, brought in a large amount of dry firewood, and began to boil water and cook. Except for Mrs. Su, who was strictly forbidden by You Jin and her sisters to go out to blow air, the whole family worked together. Even two years old little Seventh staggered behind You Yin to help. Like when they were still in Yue Family, the whole family worked in orderly manner. What was different was that there were bright smiles on everyone's face. Each of them was full of confidence and hope for the future.

The village women who started farming on the riverside saw two ox carts pulling people to the gate of Qin's house on the west side of the river and a large group of people getting off. All of them were a little curious: "What? This new movers are truly not afraid. With old Qin Family's matter back then, aren't they afraid of being haunted or something?"

"I don't know. My son went with Lizheng to help clean up that day. He said that the three little girls he saw that day didn't dress like children from rich families. They probably bought it because they wanted to find a bargain. So they bought this house?" Another woman in her forties eyed the west side of the river with her arms crossed: "Not afraid old Qin Family's daughter coming back to find them. These little girls are really bold!"

In fact, there had been people looking at old Qin's house in the past. After all, it was more than half cheaper than the market price. What's more, it came with an acre of land in front of the door. The courageous people felt it was quite a good deal. There had been several groups of people who didn't believe in ghost and checked out the house. All the prospective buyers who originally intended to buy the house fell ill without exception! Like this, it was rumored that Qin Family's house was haunted. They all thought this house would be abandoned. Unexpectedly, someone wasn't afraid of death, bought it, and lived in it!

"He Sheng's wife, do you want to go take a look?" A younger woman asked Mrs. Lin, who had just spoken. The younger ones were more daring and eager to try.

The woman known as He Sheng's wife shook her head: "I don't dare to go to this haunted house. You can go if you want drama!"
Mrs. Lin was very superstitious about ghosts and gods. What if she went and get cursed?

Su Family on the west side of the river didn't know that they had become the main topic of Wuliqiao. They busied away with their own work. They needed to clean up and make the bed. Mrs. Su minded the two babies in the main room. You Jin took You Ling, You Luo, and You Chou live in the east wing, while You Yin and the twins You Zhu and You Bao lived in the west wing.

After old Qin Family passed, they left behind a lot of tables, chairs, benches, and cabinets. You Jin kept them all in order to save money. She got the few younger sisters to wipe them clean with a scalded sackcloth before use. The new home was mostly cleaned up inside and out. It can be regarded as a home for the first time.


The author has something to say: From today on, for every 100 add to library, Qing Shan will add another chapter, (mainly due to getting dog-blood scolding from Ji You. saying I'm stingy, ahhhhhhh) hahahaha ~ However, Qing Shan's saved up chapters are posted automatically. If I don't remember, don't scold me, little cuties, pen refill~

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