Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 553 - 514: Moving to a New Residence (1)

"Why not have someone repair it?" Lady Lou said dissatisfied. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Chengye fixed it yesterday." Li Yu En quietly tugged Lou Chengye’s sleeve, "Who would’ve thought it was blown again just now, but it’s alright, Chengye will fix it, right, Chengye?"

Li Yu En tilted her head, smiling at Lou Chengye.

Lou Chengye blinked, "Uh, yes, father, mother, I’ll go find the tools to fix the window now."

"Don’t fix it! It’ll break again even if you do! Get someone to nail the window shut." Prefect Lou said sternly, calling to the attending Chang Sui Lou Shuosheng, "Shuosheng, go quickly and find someone to repair the window!"

"Yes, sir." Lou Shuosheng, without a cloak or hat, stood shivering in the wind with a red nose, eager to dash away; this room was colder than outside.

Lou Shuosheng turned and ran off.

Indeed, the wind outside was weaker; that room was like a wind tunnel, strong enough to lift someone.

With the window broken, wind blew in from all sides, making it impossible to drink tea.

Prefect Lou touched the teapot, and oh dear, the tea, which was steaming a moment ago, had cooled during their conversation.

"How can we sit here and drink tea? Let’s postpone it." Prefect Lou turned and left, taking a few steps and saying to Lou Chengye and Li Yu En, "The wind here is too strong. Go stay in the bedroom; don’t sit outside, careful not to catch a cold."

Li Yu En sighed, "It’s all because of the strong wind today; father and mother couldn’t taste the tea that I prepared."

Despite her grievance, she only blamed the wind. Prefect Lou felt guilty.

He waved his hand, "We’re family, we can have tea anytime, you needn’t mind."

Li Yu En nodded with a smile, "Yes, father."

Prefect Lou pulled his cloak around him and left. Without a word, Lady Lou, supported by the maids and servants, also hurried away.

Once outside, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside was warmer than inside.

Prefect Lou turned around, saying to Lady Lou with a stern face, "Find them a new place to live immediately. Luckily, both are healthy, withstanding the cold wind. If their health were weaker, they would’ve fallen sick long ago. But come to think of it, even the healthiest cannot endure such strong wind every day. No wonder Wulang and the others complain about the lack of coal fires; in such a cold place, without burning more coal, how can they live?"

Lady Lou didn’t want to relocate them, "It’s hard to organize a good place in such a short time. The courtyards in the residence are available but haven’t been lived in for many years; some have broken windows, others have walls that have become moldy. I’ve wanted to renovate those courtyards, but the New Year is approaching, and the family must prepare for other things."

Prefect Lou thought of a place, "Prepare the Shuanghua Courtyard for them."

Lady Lou widened her eyes, "That’s the old lady’s residence."

"The old lady doesn’t live there now; it’s just vacant. I think it’s quite good. Let the couple move there immediately," Prefect Lou said.

"What if the old lady asks about it..." Lady Lou was unwilling for Lou Chengye and his wife to move there.

That courtyard was second only to her own residence, more spacious than the other sons’ courtyards.

Years ago, it was where Old Master Lou and the old lady resided.

A few years ago, after the old master’s passing, the old lady found the courtyard too large and lonely, and chose not to live there, moving to a smaller courtyard.

The old lady only occasionally went there to enjoy the view.

The courtyard’s scenery was excellent; Lady Lou often invited women and young ladies from outside the residence to come for sightseeing and tea.

Now, allowing Lou Chengye and his wife to enjoy it alone, Lady Lou was utterly unwilling.

"Just make the arrangements; I’ll speak to the old lady now. She likes the couple and won’t mind," Prefect Lou said, refusing to be contradicted.

Lady Lou had no choice but to agree.

At a fork in the road, Prefect Lou instructed Lady Lou to immediately prepare the courtyard for them, telling her to get the young couple to move soon, while he headed to the old lady’s residence.

After Prefect Lou had left, Lady Lou suppressed her displeasure and told the people beside her, "Go open the gate of the Shuanghua Courtyard, clean the house, and let Wulang and his wife move in."

Nanny glanced at her, "Yes, madam."

Prefect Lou arrived at the old lady’s residence, greeted her health, then told Old Lady Lou he wanted Lou Chengye and Li Yu En to move to the courtyard previously occupied by the old lady.

Old Lady Lou chuckled, "Let them move; I don’t live in that courtyard anyway. A good house should be lived in to have vitality. Just let them move quickly. Once spring warms up, I’ll visit them there; the courtyard is close to me, so I can see them often."

Prefect Lou smiled, "Yes, I’ll arrange it right away."

Thus, half an hour after Prefect Lou and Lady Lou had left, Lady Lou’s attendant arrived, telling Li Yu En and Lou Chengye, "The lady saw the window here was broken, worried it might freeze you, so she arranged a new residence for the Fifth Young Master and Fifth Young Madam; you can move now."

Lou Chengye wondered, why move again after just two days?

Li Yu En cheerfully rewarded the messenger, "Thank you, Mama, for letting us know. We’ll move out right away."

As soon as Lady Lou’s people left, Li Yu En immediately called Second Lady Liu and Er Niu, San Niu to pack and tidy up the house for moving.

Nanny Jing and the other three began packing their own belongings.

Second Lady Liu smiled and asked, "Sister Jing, why are you packing? We’re moving, why are you excited?"

Nanny Jing replied, "We were assigned by the lady to serve the Fifth Young Madam, so if she moves, we must move too."

"Indeed, we have to pack our belongings." Another nanny chimed in.

However, they were packing their own items, not Li Yu En’s belongings.

Second Lady Liu laughed again, "I remember the lady arranged for two elder sisters and Red Pearl Autumn Osmanthus to serve in this place, but not specifically for the Fifth Young Madam. Moreover, you haven’t been doing anything for her regularly, nor are you her maids, just servants of this place."

Nanny Jing protested, "You’re talking nonsense. The lady assigned us to serve the Fifth Young Madam, not just to stay here."

This place is indeed cold, only suitable for staying in the bedroom; the main hall is too chilly for anyone.

"Have you done anything for the Fifth Young Madam? If you have, then you could claim to be her people. If not, how could you?" Second Lady Liu sneered.

She was Li Yu En’s dowry companion, paid by the Li Family. Apart from eating Lou Family’s food and staying there, she didn’t spend a single coin from the Lou Family, so Second Lady Liu wasn’t afraid of these old maids at all.

Nanny Jing and another nanny, along with the two maids, argued defiantly with Second Lady Liu.

Second Lady Liu wasn’t one to be trifled with; she brought out a fierce energy like the village women and scolded the four until their heads spun, just short of hitting them.

Li Yu En, Er Niu, and San Niu were packing in the bedroom, only glancing outside, not paying attention.

Li Yu En believed that Second Lady Liu would definitely win the argument.

Sure enough, the four lost the verbal battle and sulkily went to find Lou Chengye.

Lou Chengye was packing his own things. He glanced at the four and said calmly, "Are you the maids of the Fifth Young Madam? I wasn’t aware. I always thought you were just looking after the garden. Besides, this place needs caretakers; no need for you to follow, just stay here."

Once he spoke, the other four fell silent.

Nanny Jing was not pleased and went to find Lady Lou.

But she didn’t know that Lady Lou had just been reprimanded by Prefect Lou. Firstly, about arranging a poor room, secondly, about appointing lazy maids.

Earlier, when Prefect Lou visited Lou Chengye’s room, only Li Yu En’s maid was busy working, while the four from their own household stood idly like statues.

As soon as Prefect Lou left, Nanny Jing went to complain; Lady Lou wasn’t about to support her.

That place, He Feng Courtyard, really needs caretaking. It’s Prefect Lou’s favorite summer retreat.

If not properly maintained, the courtyard would be too desolate for summer relaxation next year.

Lady Lou said, "The Fifth Young Master is right, just stay there and look after the courtyard. Next summer, the Master wants to enjoy the lotus there, so the place can’t be abandoned."

With Lady Lou’s declaration, Nanny Jing felt defeated and replied, "Understood, Lady."

Before dinner, Li Yu En and Lou Chengye, accompanied by Second Lady Liu, Er Niu, and San Niu, moved into the new residence.

The new courtyard was exquisite, as beautiful as a garden, with lively blooming plum blossoms in either white or red, and many other nameless flowers. There was a small pavilion in the corner of the courtyard.

In another corner, there was a small well.

Li Yu En counted the rooms; aside from a main hall, there were two small parlors and five rooms.

Additionally, there was a small kitchen and a separate bathing room.

Li Yu En and the others were very satisfied with the new residence.

Second Lady Liu happily led Er Niu and San Niu to organize the beds.

This place was only a small garden’s distance from Old Lady Lou’s courtyard; hearing laughter from Shuanghua Courtyard, she immediately sent a nanny and two maids to help the young couple tidy up their rooms.

She also arranged for a nanny to serve in the young couple’s room, instructing, "They are young, how could they match the vicious old servants in the residence? The three maids are outsiders, with shallow roots, definitely unable to stand up to those unruly servants. You must assist them; if anyone dares to bully them again, inform me, and I’ll break their legs!"

The nanny was one of Old Lady Lou’s trusted servants, and she replied with a smile, "Rest assured, Old Lady, no one will bully the Fifth Young Master and Fifth Young Madam anymore."