After waiting about half an hour, Young Master Lin came rushing over excitedly.

Choosing a nearby wing room, Xiao Ma spread out the written documents. Cen Er took out Qiu Shuiyun’s name seal and stamped it, then pressed his own fingerprint. Young Master Lin also stamped and pressed his print. Xiao Ma served as witness, stamping with the official seal issued by the authorities. Money exchanged for deed in one hand each.

After that, Young Master Lin had nothing more to do. Cen Er only needed to take the documents and deed to the authorities to process a new deed, changing to Qiu Shuiyun’s name.

“Young Master Lin, as stated in the documents, please vacate within seven days.” The land and house now bore the Qiu surname. Cen Er began acting like a chief steward.

Mo Zi retreated behind Cen Er and Young Master Lin, walking alongside Zan Jin.

Thinking Brother Mo was in charge, but it was Cen Er who stamped the seal—Xiao Ma felt strange. Seeing Mo Zi peacefully walking behind, whether he’d misjudged or not was hard to say.

“That’s certain. Since my parents passed, the family situation has been truly bad. Though I just got these eighteen hundred taels of silver, more than half must repay debts. My wife and I plan to move to our ancestral home in the countryside to live, henceforth passing days simply, no longer bothering with worldly matters. Green mountains and clear waters, simple tea and plain rice—also a kind of contentment.” Young Master Lin spoke as if he were Tao Yuanming.

Mo Zi really couldn’t help laughing. Having been stifled in Prince Jing’s mansion, coming out she didn’t want to constrain her tongue. She laughed and said, “I heard Young Master Lin married a beautiful delicate wife, frequently held grand banquets for friends at the mansion, never returning until drunk. Yet I wonder—can the young mistress endure these green mountains and clear waters, this unworldly life?”

Simple tea and plain rice? Probably wants to eat big chunks of meat and drink heartily but has no money now?

Young Master Lin laughed twice, as if covering embarrassment. “My wife came from poor origins. Now returning to the countryside, she should adapt.”

“Doesn’t Young Master Lin still have a younger sister? Is she also willing to return to the countryside?” Mo Zi’s lips curved. Anyway, no one could see—she sneered there. Just now in Young Master Lin’s pleasant words, there seemed no intention of taking his sister, only thinking of living with his wife.

“Oh—right, there’s still my sister. If she doesn’t marry, naturally she must return together.” His words seemed evasive and vague.

Even Xiao Ma heard it and asked, “But is Miss Lin betrothed? I hadn’t heard before.” Because he was helping Young Master Lin sell the house, he knew Lin Mansion quite well.

“Not before…” Young Master Lin’s lies didn’t quite hold together. “Just this possibility. Not settled, not settled.”

“If Miss Lin becomes betrothed to a good family, Young Master Lin needn’t rush back to the countryside. Though the house is sold, you could impose on your brother-in-law’s family for some days. Should be fine, saving you siblings from rarely seeing each other. Since your parents passed early, surely you two siblings have extremely good feelings. After all, you’re each other’s only relatives.” Mo Zi’s words pointed straight at someone’s conscience.

Young Master Lin froze for quite a while, stammering, “Brother Mo speaks sensibly, sensibly.”

Mo Zi snorted inwardly. What she said was naturally sensible.

Passing through the main hall front room, entering the front garden, from that echo wall not far away suddenly erupted a loud crashing sound.

Then came a woman’s shrill voice, embarrassed and angry. “Let go, let me go! Aiyo, it hurts so much! Lin Lang! Lin Lang! Quick, come save me!”

Young Master Lin was shocked and alarmed, quickening his pace forward.

Xiao Ma winked at Mo Zi. “See? What did I tell you? Trouble’s here.”

Mo Zi wanted to ask what exactly the trouble was when she saw that before Young Master Lin could turn around, two people came around from behind the echo wall.

Two women. One pulling the other. The one walking in front wore a plain-patterned long skirt in sky blue, with cloud-white peony spring branch vest, black hair tied in a bundle falling on her right shoulder, appearing very elegant. Her features were delicate, but her face full of anger. The one behind, compared to the plain colors in front, simply wore a rainbow of red, yellow, blue, green—dressed so gaudily, wearing bright red rouge, lips touched with rose paper, batting her large shining eyes. First a vicious expression, then furious beyond words—seeing Young Master Lin, a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn, two tears plopped down.

Watching this left Mo Zi speechless, thinking—this is encountering an Oscar-worthy actress.

“Lin Lang—” A delicate drawn-out call with sobbing.

Mo Zi felt her ears prickling with goosebumps from the outer rim inward, so disgusted her head felt damaged. Vigorously shook her head to avoid being pierced by demonic sound. Looking again—Xiao Ma stared fixedly, Cen Er’s eyes bulged out. Zan Jin was fine—picked at his ear, shaking his head left and right, no reaction.

Mo Zi reached out to pat Zan Jin’s bear-like back, saying “not bad” twice.

Zan Jin was somewhat puzzled, thinking she was saying some interesting scenery looked good, quickly asking where, where, what’s not bad.

Mountain children were curious about everything except female temptresses. If others weren’t present, Mo Zi wanted to laugh heartily—she’d also obtained a treasure.

“Lin Lang, look at your dear sister—she’s about to break my hand off! Hurry and make her let go!” The gaudy one raised her wrist. The plain-clothed young lady’s hand was truly forceful, wishing she could pinch into her flesh.

“Zhen Niang, let go of your sister-in-law. You’ve really pinched her wrist red.” Young Master Lin practically pounced over.

Not seeing Young Master Lin’s expression, before hearing him speak, from his body language Mo Zi knew he would definitely help his wife, not his sister. However, seeing him forcefully pry his sister’s hand, completely disregarding family affection, she couldn’t help feeling anger. This couple truly were a perfect match!

“Young Master Lin had better show mercy. Your wife’s wrist is only red, but your sister’s fingers are about to be broken by you.” She most detested men using their strength advantage to bully women, moreover, this was that man’s own sister—was it necessary to act like bitter enemies?

Hearing Mo Zi say this, Young Master Lin restrained himself somewhat.

But his wife was angry. Her coquettish eyes glanced over, seeing the speaker was an unremarkable man. She shrilly cursed, “Where did this short dwarf thief come from, poking his nose into other people’s family business? This lady’s tofu-tender skin got pinched red, my husband helps—need you to spew filth from your mouth! What if she’s his own sister? This lady is her sister-in-law, ranking higher in seniority. I haven’t even pinched her yet, but she with ill intentions pinched me instead. On what grounds? Spreading word—she has no sense of hierarchy. I see you looking like a thief, eyes darting around, daring to defend the wronged without knowing anyone? Ptui! Probably eyeing this flower, wanting to play hero saving beauty so the beauty献身献身gives herself. This lady has seen plenty. Men—not one is any good. But you should also piss and look in a mirror—a three-inch nail wanting to pass as gold? No way in hell.”

This string of venomous curses, rapid-fire!

Now—temptress face, scorpion tail. Xiao Ma who’d been staring blinked. Cen Er whose eyes had bulged retracted his pupils, understanding that beautiful appearances didn’t necessarily have beautiful hearts.

Mo Zi saw that Young Master Lin completely didn’t care about his wife’s crude vulgarity, still full of tender concern for her. After finally getting his sister to release her grip, he gently rubbed her wrist, asking if it hurt.

“I heard the young mistress sings beautifully—didn’t expect cursing also sounds heavenly. Seems girls from Wuyou Pavilion are all skilled in both civil and martial arts. Hereafter when Great Zhou warriors go to battle, they should deploy you as vanguard. Hands on hips, first curse the enemy for several dozen rounds. Maybe troops and horses will fall in chaos, automatically defeated. You say this is your family business—then don’t come quarrel at our family’s gate. You say your wrist is red—I see your sister-in-law’s face is truly swollen. One slap down, your hand also hurts—quick, have your husband rub it some more. I’m playing hero saving beauty—not saving the young mistress, so young mistress needn’t feel hurt. Since ancient times as the saying goes, married women however beautiful are withered flowers. Can’t blame me for favoritism. Young mistress at Wuyou Pavilion naturally saw many men who aren’t good things, but don’t direct this resentment at us men who never went to Wuyou Pavilion to patronize you. We just didn’t catch the good timing, otherwise we’d offer gold seeking a beauty’s smile. Pity—the fair maiden is already a young matron. The past is too painful to recall—why bring it up again?” Mo Zi said this all in one breath.

Xiao Ma’s jaw dropped halfway at Mo Zi.

Cen Er only felt the barrage—not one dirty word, yet completely blocked the crude vulgarity Young Master Lin’s wife threw over. And Mo Zi appeared refreshed and invigorated, her smiling eyes sparkling.

Zan Jin loudly said one word—”Good!”—actually clapping and applauding.

Zhen Niang went from astonished to grateful, slightly nodding at Mo Zi’s righteous assistance.

Young Master Lin didn’t speak. Because Mo Zi said that line about not quarreling at their family’s gate—indeed, Lin Mansion substantially already was theirs. And that line “Since ancient times as the saying goes, married women however beautiful are withered flowers”—thought for ages not knowing which ancient source it quoted, never heard it before, yet it seemed truly reasonable. The gentle woman he knew at Wuyou Pavilion changed into a different person after marrying home. He still doted on her, but actually a large part was extreme fear. Early on he’d handed over all household account books to her. Now having to get money from her to spend, how dare he say no? Outwardly, he just saved face pretending to be fat, acting like harmonious husband and wife.

That woman was furious beyond measure. Seeing her husband didn’t speak to help her, she huffed even more. But she wasn’t completely ignorant—she asked the key point: “Short dwarf thief, you say this is your family’s gate—what does that mean?”

Mo Zi ignored her.

Cen Er was also truly furious. “We just bought Lin Mansion. The deed is in our hands, witnessed by Xiao Ma, silver and goods settled. Gave you seven days to move—Young Master Lin already agreed.”

Hearing this, that woman forgot personal grievances. Delighted, she grabbed Young Master Lin asking, “It really sold? How much silver? I told you there’s a jinx in the house—take her out and good fortune comes.” Her eyes swept over, coldly snorting at Zhen Niang.

“Sold for eighteen hundred taels. Here are the bank notes.” Young Master Lin was henpecked, not hiding a single fen of silver.

“Only eighteen hundred taels?” Originally unwilling, but thinking others offered even lower, the woman could only let it go. She spat and said, “All because this cursed place has bad feng shui, otherwise how could this happen?”

“Elder brother, how could you really sell this place? Then where will we settle in the future?” Though Zhen Niang had blocked countless buyers, she also knew it wasn’t a long-term solution, just hadn’t expected it to sell so quickly. Now that it was fait accompli, she somewhat accepted fate.

Young Master Lin didn’t answer Zhen Niang but looked at his own wife.

That woman saw this, muttered something quietly, and shook her head.

Cen Er thought it ultimately wasn’t their business, so told Mo Zi let’s go.

Mo Zi had vented her verbal abilities but knew she truly couldn’t help this Miss Zhen Niang. Thus, taking Zan Jin, she walked out of Lin Mansion.

“This Zhen Niang is also pitiful, encountering such a brother and sister-in-law.” Cen Er sighed.

Mo Zi was also helpless.

But at least they’d decided where to open Wangqiu Tower.