Chapter 1082: Land Buying

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The plot of land measuring 20 mu was beyond the affordability of most large families. Even for ordinary families, it might be challenging to acquire.

Naturally, there were others interested in purchasing the land, so Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan knew they had to act swiftly.

Without hesitation, Qiao Xuan made the decision to buy the land.

Land in the capital came at a high price. One mu of land for crop cultivation cost 20 liang, significantly more expensive than the fertile water fields found in the county.

However, the soil in the northern region was fertile and flat, making it easy to cultivate. Qiao Xuan was pleased with her choice.

Obtaining 20 mu of land brought Qiao Xuan great satisfaction.

She playfully joked with Shao Yunduan that they now possessed both a house and land in the capital, envisioning themselves as the foundations of the imperial city in a few years’ time.

Qiao Xuan planned to use the land to cultivate strawberries and potatoes, dedicating the remaining area to seasonal vegetables, watermelons, cantaloupes, melons, passion fruits, and other fruits, each planted annually.

The aim was self-sufficiency—a goal that excited her.

Before the onset of cold weather, Qiao Xuan decided to prepare the land so it would be ready for planting in the spring.

First and foremost, the entire area needed proper fencing. The crops she intended to grow were valuable, and she couldn’t allow anyone to spoil them.

With its ample space, they could allocate half a mu for constructing additional houses. There would be a resting area, a tool shed, and a storage warehouse.

They also dug a large underground cellar for storing harvested potatoes.

The land would be divided into sections, ensuring there was space for pathways, deep plowing, sorting, and fine plowing in early spring, just after the Chunyu festival, when planting could commence.

Once the plan was finalized, Songshi would be responsible for procuring materials and overseeing the construction process.

Songshi felt a newfound sense of motivation, grateful that he finally had something to do and was no longer bored every day.

He recognized that if they behaved well, their future would be promising. Knowing that both masters valued loyalty, he understood that as long as he remained loyal to them, a bright future awaited.

Being a clever individual, Songshi didn’t make decisions on his own when encountering people he didn’t understand. Instead, he would relay the details to Qiao Xuan and seek her opinion.

With this approach, everything proceeded smoothly.

Around 11 or 12 days later, when Shao Yunduan returned home, he discussed the Qiao Family with Qiao Xuan. He mentioned that the Qiao Family was in turmoil due to Qiao Wei’s failed marriage. Her fiancé seemed to have gotten involved with Qiao Kou, causing distress for Third Old Master and his wife.

Qiao Xuan was taken aback by the news.

She had a strong desire to gossip and kept prodding Shao Yunduan for more details. She was curious to hear more about what was happening within the Qiao Family.

There was no gossip more intriguing than that from the Qiao Family.

She found solace in knowing that they were not leading a comfortable life.

However, Shao Yunduan had only heard this one piece of information, and he wasn’t fully aware of the exact details. After all, he was occupied with his work at the Hanlin Academy and had limited time to delve into the Qiao Family’s gossip.

Qiao Xuan felt slightly disappointed. Yet, she understood that her husband wasn’t inclined to indulge in such matters.

She decided to gather information herself!

Qiao Xuan requested Songshi to take a stroll around the Qiao Family’s vicinity, treating the servants there to tea, melon seeds, and engaging in casual conversations to gather some information.