25: house

The sounds of people and horse hooves outside the courtyard gate gradually faded, and the small courtyard returned to silence, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the leaves of the old locust tree.

Chen Linsheng helped Su Wan sit down beside the only dilapidated wooden table in the room, gently held her still slightly cold hand, and said warmly, "Wan'er, it's alright now. The officials have left."

Still shaken, Su Wan grabbed his arm tightly, her voice trembling, "A Sheng, why... why were they looking for you? Was it..."

Her eyes were full of worry, fearing that Chen Linsheng had gotten into some enormous trouble.

Chen Linsheng smiled, trying to keep his tone light: "It wasn't about me; it was something else. Sister-in-law, I have much better news to tell you."

He paused, looked into Su Wan's clear eyes, and said word by word, "I have been accepted by the Head as a Personal Disciple."

"Personal... Disciple?"

Su Wan couldn't immediately grasp the weight of those four words.

But seeing the uncontrollable pride on Chen Linsheng's face, and recalling how even the officials had been respectful toward that "Senior Brother" just now, she vaguely understood that this was an extraordinary achievement.

"Yes, a Personal Disciple. The Head has permitted family members to move into the city, and Senior Brother personally drove the carriage to pick us up."

As Chen Linsheng spoke, his gaze swept over the empty, bare room.

“Let's pack up our things now and move to the city.”

"Moving to the city?"

Su Wan was happy for A Sheng at first, but then her eyes dimmed.

She lowered her Head, twisting the corner of her faded clothes, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz: "What... what would I do in the city... Looking like this, I would only embarrass you if I went..."

As a country widow, suddenly having to go to the bustling county town and interact with A Sheng's distinguished Senior and Junior Brothers, and possibly the Masters and Young Misses of the city, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of inferiority and shyness.

Chen Linsheng's heart softened. He reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

His eyes were burning, his tone low and firm:

"What nonsense are you talking about? In my heart, you are the best. In this world, you are the only person closest to me, so how could you embarrass me? If you don't come, how can I Cultivate peacefully at the Martial Arts Hall while constantly worrying about you?"

The warmth from his fingertips made Su Wan's cheeks flush.

Especially the phrase "you are the best" made her heart pound wildly, and she was too shy to meet his gaze, murmuring, "But... but..."

"No buts," Chen Linsheng interrupted, his tone carrying undeniable tenderness. "The place where you are is home. Could you bear to leave me alone in the city, facing an empty house by myself?"

This almost blatant expression of affection made Su Wan's earlobes turn bright red.

Her heart was filled with both sweetness and shyness, and in the end, she could not resist his persistence and tenderness. She nodded almost imperceptibly, her voice barely a whisper: "Mmm... I, I'll listen to you."

Seeing her agree, a smile appeared on Chen Linsheng's face.

Just then, noisy voices drifted in from outside the courtyard.

It turned out that the villagers, seeing the officials leave and hearing that the Chen family boy seemed to have achieved something great—to the point where even the officials treated him politely—had gathered around curiously.

Aunt Zhang was the first to squeeze in, her face wreathed in smiles: "Wan girl, A Sheng, are you moving? I heard Linsheng has become a big shot at the Martial Arts Hall in the city?"

The news spread quickly. The villagers looked at Chen Linsheng with eyes full of envy, jealousy, and a hint of subtle flattery.

"Linsheng, you've really made it! Don't forget us poor folks from the village once you become a city person!"

"That's right, that's right. I even held you when you were little..."

"When you become rich and powerful later on, remember to help out the village..."

As voices rushed in from all directions, Chen Linsheng maintained a calm expression. He simply cupped his hands and bowed: "Thank you, fellow villagers, for your daily care. If Linsheng has the ability, he will naturally not forget his roots."

He turned his gaze to Big Ox Zhang and Hunter Zhang, who were standing honestly off to the side. He walked over, took out about three taels of Silver from his sleeve, and slipped it into Hunter Zhang's hand:

"Uncle Zhang, Da Niu, after we move to the city, I'll trouble you to help look after this old house. This Silver isn't much; consider it a house-sitting fee. Please take it."

Hunter Zhang quickly declined: "How can we do that! Neighbors helping neighbors is what we should do. We can't take your money!"

"Uncle Zhang, if you don't accept it, I won't dare trouble you with this favor."

Chen Linsheng's attitude was firm. He knew that while money was crude, it could ease people's minds and ensure that Uncle Zhang's family would be more diligent.

Hunter Zhang couldn't refuse any further and reluctantly accepted it, his dark face filled with solemnity:

"A Sheng, don't worry. I'll watch the house carefully for you and won't let any wild animals ruin it!"

Chen Linsheng nodded in thanks.

Senior Brother Shi Poyue, who was standing nearby, watched quietly, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face, his gaze shifting between Chen Linsheng and Su Wan.

Chen Linsheng noticed his gaze, walked up to him, and said frankly in a low voice:

"Senior Brother, although Wan'er is nominally my Sister-in-law, after the great changes in my family, we have depended on each other for survival. She is the most important person in my life."

Hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Shi Poyue's eyes. He patted Chen Linsheng's shoulder and whispered, "I understand. Sharing adversity, deep affection and loyalty—very good."

Having traveled the Jianghu, he had seen too much of the world and was not bothered by this; rather, he admired Chen Linsheng's honesty and dedication.

Soon, under the complex gazes of the villagers and with the help of some enthusiastic women, their meager belongings were quickly packed up.

In fact, it was only a few pieces of clothing, bedding, and some trivial items Su Wan couldn't bear to throw away, filling less than half of the carriage.

Chen Linsheng helped Su Wan board the carriage, cupped his hands again toward Hunter Zhang's family and the villagers who were seeing them off, and then the carriage set off, carrying them away from Xiaohe Village, where they had lived for many years.

The carriage drove into Qinghe County town. Su Wan cautiously lifted a corner of the curtain, looking at the streets outside—which were countless times wider and cleaner than those in the village—the densely packed shops, and the bustling, well-dressed crowds. She felt both novelty and increasing apprehension.

Upon reaching a relatively quiet street and alley, the carriage slowly stopped.

Liu Mingyu, who had already received the news, was waiting there. Seeing Shi Poyue and Chen Linsheng, he immediately greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Senior Brother Shi, Senior Brother Chen! I've been waiting for a long time."

His attitude was enthusiastic, completely lacking the arrogance of the wealthy young Master he once was. He then led the carriage to a magnificent Three-courtyard Residence nearby, built of blue brick and black tiles, with an imposing gatehouse.

"Senior Brother Chen, this is the residence that was the subject of the wager. The Land Deed and Title are here. We have already asked people from the Brokerage to witness it, and the paperwork is complete." Liu Mingyu took an envelope from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Chen Linsheng. "Starting today, it belongs to the Chen family."

Chen Linsheng took it; it felt slightly heavy in his hand.

He did not look closely, nodding as he said, "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother Liu."

Pushing open the vermillion-lacquered main gate, a spacious Screen Wall came into view. Past the Screen Wall, the front, central, and back courtyards progressed layer by layer. Although slightly empty from being uninhabited for a long time, it was fully equipped with pavilions, terraces, and winding corridors, exuding a grandeur and refinement that Su Wan had never imagined.

Su Wan stood on the smooth bluestone slabs, looking at the residence before her—a place many times larger and far more exquisite than her maternal home and the old house in Xiaohe Village combined. She felt as though she were dreaming, unsure where to put her hands and feet.

She tightly clutched the corner of Chen Linsheng's clothes and whispered worriedly, "A Sheng... this, this residence is too much... How can we afford to live here? Is this truly... legitimate?"

Chen Linsheng knew she was uneasy. He gently put his arm around her shoulder and comforted her softly: "Wan'er, don't worry. The origins of this residence are completely legitimate. It was lost to me in a wager by a Junior Brother at the Martial Arts Hall, and the Head knows about it too. From now on, this is our home."

"Home..."

Listening to his firm words, Su Wan murmured the word repeatedly. Looking at his steady profile, the panic in her heart finally subsided a little.

Still, she felt waves of unreal dizziness regarding this sudden wealth.

Shi Poyue was thorough in his arrangements and had already sent several servants from the Martial Arts Hall to help with cleaning and settling in.

He said to Chen Linsheng: "Junior Brother Chen, settle in first. If you need anything, just ask. I will report back to the Head. If anything happens, you can come find me at the Martial Arts Hall anytime."

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother!" Chen Linsheng expressed his sincere gratitude.

Shi Poyue waved his hand and left with his people, leaving Chen Linsheng and Su Wan standing inside the residence that now belonged to them.