To settle so many beggars required a large house. Lin Hao ordered Baozhu to open the trunks and count up the spending money she had saved over the years.

The General’s Mansion had substantial wealth, and the Old Madam and Madam Lin were exceptionally generous toward the Lin sisters. The spending money Lin Hao had saved was quite considerable.

“Miss, counting only gold and silver, there’s a total of eleven thousand and twenty taels of silver.” Baozhu clumsily worked the abacus beads.

The gold and silver jewelry the Old Madam and Madam gave the Miss came in an endless stream, but the Miss didn’t value these things and had directly stored away most of them.

“Eleven thousand taels.” Lin Hao looked at the gleaming silver ingots and the banknotes filling the boxes, her mind forming a plan.

Naturally she couldn’t touch the jewelry given by her grandmother and mother—what she could arrange was this silver. Eleven thousand taels was undoubtedly an enormous sum, but she didn’t want to turn this act of charity into a one-time deal where she poured out her heart and resources, so she needed to calculate carefully.

This time in the morning was when A’Xing practiced martial arts with Steward Liu. Lin Hao changed into men’s clothing and brought one of the General’s Mansion stewards to the property broker.

“The larger the residence the better. It’s fine if it’s old, and a remote location doesn’t matter either. The price cannot exceed one thousand taels.”

The steward nodded. “Second Miss, rest assured. This servant remembers.”

A voice came from nearby. “Second Miss Lin?”

Lin Hao was startled and looked toward where the voice came from.

Not far away, Qi Shuo’s lips held a smile. “Is Second Miss Lin alone today?”

The steward standing beside Lin Hao silently lowered his head.

Seeing Qi Shuo’s composed expression, Lin Hao instinctively raised her hand to touch her cheek.

Had she forgotten to change her appearance?

“My apologies, please wait a moment.” Lin Hao turned to face away from Qi Shuo and pulled a small mirror from her sleeve to check her reflection.

Darkened complexion, thickened eyebrows, hard lines created using powder and rouge—though the person in the mirror was still rather delicate, one wouldn’t immediately identify her as female.

For a beautiful youth of this age, having somewhat androgynous features was normal.

Lin Hao quickly glanced at the small mirror. Confirming that the reflection clearly showed a handsome youth, she turned around, confident Qi Shuo wouldn’t have seen her checking the mirror.

“I didn’t expect the Heir could recognize me at a glance.”

Qi Shuo, thinking of the flash of reflected light he’d just glimpsed, found it amusing, but fearing the young lady before him would become angry from embarrassment, he said without changing expression, “I recognized your mansion’s steward.”

The steward: “…”

“I see.” Lin Hao nodded.

“Where is Second Miss Lin going?” Walking beside her, Qi Shuo asked casually.

“Planning to visit the property broker.”

“Are you buying property or shop fronts?”

The steward tactfully fell back, not interrupting their conversation.

Lin Hao explained her plan. “I want to buy a residence that can house many people…”

Qi Shuo listened quietly, his expression showing some emotion. “Second Miss Lin is truly kindhearted.”

Lin Hao waved her hand. “Just doing what I can, offering what kindness I’m able. One person’s plans are limited, two people’s plans are longer—does the Heir think my arrangements are appropriate?”

“Taking in beggars under twelve and over fifty is a good arrangement. But what if beggars who don’t meet the age requirements but are ill come seeking help?”

What one person could help with was ultimately limited—having restrictions was inevitable.

“For beggars in that situation, we’ll take them in until their illness recovers.”

“What if they refuse to leave after recovering?”

Lin Hao frowned. “Then we’ll just have to drive them out. The General’s Mansion doesn’t lack enforcers.”

Qi Shuo pointed out a concern. “These beggars might harbor resentment and instead spread ill words about you.”

Lin Hao didn’t care about this. “I’m not doing this for a good reputation. I’m not afraid of these kinds of beggars who repay kindness with enmity—I believe such people are ultimately in the minority. Besides, if one fears public opinion in everything, then there’s nothing to be done except be a proper noble young lady.”

Qi Shuo smiled. “Second Miss Lin thinks clearly. As long as this won’t add to your troubles, that’s good. You mentioned hiring teachers to teach young beggars reading and arithmetic, teaching them skills, then sending them to work at the General’s Mansion’s various shops and estates—that counts as teaching them to fish. However, I have a small suggestion.”

“Please speak, Heir.”

“When one eats free meals for too long, hearts change.” Qi Shuo’s tone was light. “Reading, arithmetic, and learning skills need not be counted, but supporting a child’s food and drink until age twelve costs a certain amount. When they go to work at shops, without affecting their livelihood, you could deduct from their monthly wages. That way, Second Miss Lin would have both outflow and income, and this good deed could continue as a steady stream rather than depleting your resources. These beggars who received assistance would also have more sense of responsibility, knowing that the money they repay monthly helps more children like themselves survive…”

The youth spoke eloquently as Lin Hao listened in fascination.

Indeed, two people considering things together was more thorough.

Qi Shuo’s steps paused as he looked up.

Lin Hao came to her senses and discovered that unknowingly, they had arrived at the property broker.

“Thank you for the Heir’s suggestion. Then—”

Before Lin Hao could say words of parting, Qi Shuo said quite naturally, “Since we’re here, let’s go in and look around together.”

Lin Hao wanted to refuse, but having just heard such practical suggestions from him, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words of refusal.

The broker was a middle-aged man with shrewd eyes. Hearing they wanted to buy a large house, he immediately became extremely enthusiastic.

“This residence is in Qingliu Lane in the western district. It was originally the mansion of a third-rank official…”

The steward interrupted the broker’s endless flow. “How much?”

The broker held up two fingers. “For this location and this size, two thousand taels is the minimum.”

The steward immediately shook his head. “Too expensive.”

“It’s not expensive! Look at this prime location—”

“Won’t consider anything over one thousand taels, won’t consider anything occupying less than one and a half acres…”

The broker’s eye twitched, thinking to himself: wanting it large yet wanting it cheap—why not just go to sleep early? In dreams, one has everything. He’d looked at these two young masters’ extraordinary bearing and thought fortune gods had arrived.

“One requirement is large, one is cheap. Everything else can be compromised.” The steward said.

The broker suddenly slapped his forehead. “There is one.”

He spread out a diagram and pointed. “Right at this location is a large residence with three courtyards. Though it’s been empty for several years, with just minor repairs it could be lived in. The price is also extremely cheap—only three hundred taels of silver.”

“Three hundred taels?” The steward was somewhat doubtful. “Though this location isn’t as good as the previous one, how could it be this cheap?”

The broker hesitated, knowing he couldn’t hide it, and told the truth. “A residence like this would cost at least eight hundred taels at market price. The owner of this residence was a wealthy merchant. One night, criminals broke into his home and murdered the merchant. The merchant’s son sold the residence at a low price and moved back to his hometown with his mother. Not long after, rumors of hauntings appeared in the residence, and the new owner had no choice but to put the house up for sale, but it hasn’t sold.”

Having heard this, the steward looked at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao thought for a moment and asked the broker, “Can you take us to see the residence?”

Hearing there was a chance, the broker nodded eagerly. “Of course! Please follow this humble one.”

Two quarters of an hour later, Lin Hao stood before the residence rumored to be haunted.