"Is anyone home?"
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Yun Daman's footsteps paused. He brushed some grass off his cotton-padded jacket and hurried to the main gate. "Who is it?"
He casually pushed open the large door and saw a plump, middle-aged man standing outside. The man was wearing a dark purple cotton robe, impeccably made and of fine material, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist...
Yun Daman blinked in surprise. "Who are you looking for?"
The middle-aged man took a step forward, cupped his hands, and smiled. "I am Steward Song from the county town. Your family surname is Yun, isn't it?"
Finding the old Yun family wasn't difficult; one only needed to ask around in Dashui Village...
Yun Daman looked a bit bewildered and nodded. "That's right, our family surname is Yun. Steward Song, is there something you need?"
As far as he could recall, he didn't know this person. Perhaps he was looking for someone else.
"It seems I've found the right place!" Steward Song chuckled.
Yuanwai was actually a type of official position, known as Yuanwailang in the court, a leisurely post.
With the changing dynasties, it could be a fifth-rank Yuanwai or a subordinate sixth-rank Yuanwai.
Later, Yuanwai who were scattered across the country became associated with wealth, merchants, and wealthy gentlemen, so Yuanwai were generally very rich...
As long as one was willing to spend money, wealthy individuals could also purchase the title of Yuanwai for a bit of fun.
"No, do you have business or not?" Yun Daman lost his patience.
This Steward Song had a lewd smile, and his eyes darted around his yard like a thief. If he didn't state his purpose soon, Yun Daman would just kick him out...
Seeing Yun Daman's forceful attitude, Steward Song quickly cupped his hands in apology. "My apologies for the unannounced visit so late at night. I just wanted to ask if you are selling this house? As long as I like it, I'm willing to pay any amount of money!~"
Yun Daman: "..."
What was going on? When had their family decided to sell their house?
But upon reflection, it seemed there was indeed something to it. Last time, Jinshan had said he met Liu Cuirong in the county town. Perhaps she had instigated Steward Song to come and look at the house.
"Not selling, not selling, hurry up and leave!~" Yun Daman closed the door with a 'bang' without another word and went inside, huffing.
Steward Song stood outside the door, stunned for a long time, before sighing and leaving...
He had just glanced into the yard. This large house was indeed nice, and he heard it even had a backyard. Tomorrow morning, he planned to bring some gifts and come to see it again.
In the main hall.
"What's wrong? Who made you angry again?" Old Man Yun asked while slicing the hand-cooked meat.
Today, Xiao Jinfeng had invited everyone for a whole lamb feast, with lamb prepared in various ways: roasted, stewed, stir-fried, and steamed...
For this sumptuous banquet, Jin Huaihua had been busy all afternoon, and even Er Longzi had pitched in to help.
Yun Daman pointed outside and said inexplicably, "Someone just came and said they wanted to buy our house, and I chased him away!~"
Upon hearing this, Yun Jinshan turned to Gu Shi. "Grandma, could it be my mother who sent him?"
Liu Cuirong had asked Jinshan to find the house deed and land deed a few days ago, and today someone knocked on their door...
Gu Shi snatched the sheep's head from Shangguan Fang'er's hand, took out a handkerchief, and wiped her hands. "In the future, if you meet your mother in the county town, you don't need to pay attention to her. Just go around her. If she continues to be unreasonable, come back and tell Grandma, and Grandma will deal with her!~"
This Liu Cuirong, who had clearly been kicked out of the old Yun family, still couldn't behave herself and was now coveting their house...
"Understood, Grandma!" Yun Jinshan replied.
Yun Daman took out the stewed lamb leg from the pot, carved the meat with a knife, and put it into a basin.
Speaking of Liu Cuirong, Daman casually asked, "Jinshan, how is your mother doing now? I heard she was kicked out by Lu Shi and Liu Cuijin and became homeless. With her laziness and gluttony, wouldn't she starve to death outside..."
Yun Jinshan sighed. "She's living better than all of us now. Her face is covered in thick rouge, she wears colorful clothes, and she's hanging out with Xi'er. You don't need to guess to know what she's doing!~"
As soon as he said this, everyone showed expressions of disdain and speechlessness...
Little Xi Tian, however, remained calm. Based on her understanding of Liu Cuirong, such a person would never do hard labor to support herself.
Either she would become a prostitute in a brothel, or she would beg on the streets. What else could she possibly do besides these two options?
Yun Daman spat. "Why bring her up when everything was fine?"
Just thinking about her felt unlucky...
Gu Mingyan sat at the dining table, holding a wine bowl and sipping it gently.
Although he had outwardly refused Xiao Jinfeng's invitation and didn't want to go along with him, the hand-cooked lamb from the old Yun family was too delicious, and he couldn't refuse such a delicacy.
Xiao Jinfeng raised his wine bowl and smiled. "The birthday banquet last time was a disaster. Today, we'll have a makeup banquet. Don't be polite, eat to your heart's content!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
You're really not being a stranger. This is clearly her home, and you're eating and drinking like you've become a 'native' resident.
Guan Zhongbo looked at Shangguan Fang'er with concern and sighed softly. "If only the patient were willing to cooperate with the treatment, otherwise, if it gets out, people will think I don't know how to treat madness!~"
"I won't be treated, you old pervert, nya nya nya!" Shangguan Fang'er stuck out her tongue at him.
Guan Zhongbo: "..."
To be unfairly labeled an 'old pervert' for no reason, he was wronged.
Old Man Sun had been recuperating at the Yun family's for a few days, and his complexion and spirits had improved significantly.
Seeing how lively and warm the atmosphere was at the old Yun family's, his previously gloomy and depressed mood gradually brightened...
"Brother Sun, don't just drink wine. Here, try this lamb offal soup. It's milky white and tastes great, haha!~" Old Man Yun casually served Old Man Sun a bowl of lamb offal soup.
Old Man Sun, who had been eating and drinking for free every day and receiving such care from the Yun family, felt very embarrassed.
"I, I can't eat anymore!" Old Man Sun said.
Gu Shi smiled when she heard this and said, "Even if you can't eat anymore, you should drink some soup to fill your stomach. You have to take medicine later..."
In fact, as a lonely old man, he couldn't eat much. The Yun family, seeing him all alone and pitiful, had brought him to Dashui Village to live, with no intention of gaining anything from him.
However, Old Man Sun felt indebted and couldn't get over it without repaying them.
So, he thought about having a good talk with the old and young of the Yun family when he had some free time...
After two bowls of wine, Xiao Jinfeng's eyes became unfocused, and he insisted on challenging Gu Mingyan to a drinking contest.
How could the aloof Marquis Gu drink with a drunkard?
He pushed away the prince who was clinging to him and sat alone in a corner, drinking by himself.
Just then, the Yun family's main gate was knocked on again.
"Knock, knock, knock..."