Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1392 - 710: Shen City’s New Residence

Second update, seeking support.

Shen City, being a fortress, is characterized by its solid blue-brick city walls, square-shaped, high and thick. The city walls of Shen City are three zhangs and five chi high, and one zhang and eight chi thick. There are eight gates on all sides for easy access. City towers are set above the gates, and corner towers at the four corners are all three-story buildings with surrounding corridors, towering majestically.

Inside Shen City, streets are distributed in a grid-shaped pattern, neatly separating the city’s buildings into squares. Main roads within the city are wide and flat, suitable for horseback riding and allowing military and artillery vehicles to pass through. The General-in-Chief Mansion, also known as the Shen Residence, is situated at the center of Shen City, which is the center of the large grid.

Lian Manman and her group entered the city. As it was already getting late, they deliberately bypassed the relatively bustling streets in the center and headed east, circling along the outermost, wide streets.

Pine Tree Alley, located in the north of Shen City, is named after two century-old pines at the east street entrance. When the carriage reached the street entrance, Wu Lang had already sent someone ahead to welcome them. Upon reaching the door, they noticed the large characters "Lian Residence" written above the door and on the lanterns on both sides.

The main door opened, and Wu Lang personally led the welcoming party out.

The buildings within Shen City are very uniform in style with the city’s, open and spacious, all square, large courtyards, with ample space and an elegant atmosphere.

At the main door, Lian Manman got off the carriage since she and Xiao Qi were visiting for the first time, they took their time to observe the layout of each layer of buildings.

Upon entering the first layer of the courtyard, on both sides of the entrance are two rooms opposite each other, above are five main halls, with three rooms on each side as the West Wing Room. On further sides are two crossing courtyards, housing servants’ quarters, stables, etc., the east crossing courtyard also includes a small training ground.

The second layer of courtyards is the inner residence, also composed of five Upper Rooms, with three rooms on each side as wing rooms, surrounded by suspended corridors, having Moon Gates leading to two small crossing courtyards East and West, and to the third layer of buildings.

The third layer of the courtyard is actually a large garden, amidst the floral greenery, there are several rooms for summer rest and cooling off, or quiet living and recuperation.

Lian Manman gave the entire residence a glance and felt satisfied, feeling that the over a thousand taels of silver spent were well worth it. Meanwhile, Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing had already arranged her living quarters.

The residence has numerous buildings, Mr. Loo, Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi all live in the front courtyard, only Lian Manman resides in the inner courtyard. Lian Manman left the east room vacant and did not stay there, opting for the west room, living in the inner room while Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing keep night watch in the outer room.

In this residence, besides the people brought from Thirty Mile Camp, there are also several households of people Wu Lang additionally bought. Matters in front did not require Lian Manman’s attention, Wu Lang only sent Aunt Zhou who manages the kitchen, Aunt Zhao who assists in the inner courtyard, and two young girls aged eleven or twelve to bow to Lian Manman and take her instructions.

It was precisely time to arrange meals, Aunt Zhou brought the dinner menu over to seek Lian Manman’s guidance. Lian Manman reviewed it carefully, made slight additions and deletions, then instructed Aunt Zhou a few words before sending her off to arrange dinner, leaving Aunt Zhao and the two young girls behind for a detailed conversation.

Aunt Zhao had been serving in the residence for some time, being an internal steward, she produced the roster of personnel currently serving in the residence for Lian Manman’s inspection.

Lian Manman browsed the roster while conversing with Aunt Zhao. Aunt Zhao was extremely experienced; Lian Manman would ask one thing, and Aunt Zhao would provide ten responses. In a short time, Lian Manman understood all matters inside and outside the residence.

Though there aren’t many people in the residence, naturally matters wouldn’t be too complicated. Seeing everything was in order, Lian Manman felt at ease. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Miss, these two young girls were specially bought by the master to serve Miss. They yet do not have names; the master said the Miss should bestow names upon them." Aunt Zhao had the two young girls kneel before Lian Manman, smilingly said.

The young girls originally of course had names, but upon being part of the Lian Family, naturally they had to follow Lian Family’s customs.

Lian Manman thought she already had Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing, so she straightforwardly named the two new girls Ji Xiang and Ru Yi. The eleven-year-old, slightly taller with a long-shaped face, being called Ji Xiang, the ten-year-old, slightly shorter with a round face, being called Ru Yi.

The two young girls bowed to accept their names, Lian Manman then instructed them to learn duties from Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing.

Dinner was served in the front hall, Lian Manman slightly freshened up, changing into a new outfit, about to head to the front hall, and Xiao Qi came over first.

"Elder sister, I am here to take you to dinner." Xiao Qi had also freshened up, changing into a silver-red robe with floral patterns.

Most families in Liaodong Prefecture, during winter, tend to indulge in ’wintering’, and entering autumn, tend to concentrate on ’autumn replenishment’. Naturally, Manman’s Family was also like this, as Xiao Qi still had studies and homework at night, the night snacks were prepared under Lady Zhang’s supervision. The bit of weight Xiao Qi lost during autumn harvest had now been regained. His face was fair and rosy, with a bit of chubbiness that made Lian Manman want to pinch.

Because Xiao Qi was young, and looked adorable, Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman all liked to make clothes for Xiao Qi with bright colors, wanting to dress him like a painted Good Fortune Child every day.

Lian Manman and Xiao Qi went to the front hall for dinner, afterward, everyone gathered to drink tea, chatting about tomorrow’s arrangements.

"Sir should stay at our home these days. This place is not far from the Shen Mansion, I have specially arranged a carriage for Sir, which makes travel convenient." Wu Lang first spoke to Mr. Loo.

The whole family looked expectantly at Mr. Loo.

Shen Jin is going to the Capital City in October, there was already an edict, although it did not specify any position for Mr. Loo, it indicated he should accompany the Shen family to the Capital City.

Thus, it seemed more suitable for Mr. Loo to stay at the Shen Family, but Lian Manman’s family was reluctant to part with Mr. Loo, with separation imminent, they hoped he would stay longer with them.

"Alright." Mr. Loo smiled and nodded in agreement.

Perhaps life at the Shen Mansion might be better, yet Mr. Loo was accustomed to living with the Lian Family, where his two students were, sentimentally he naturally preferred to stay here.

Before leaving Liaodong Prefecture, Mr. Loo would stay with the Lian Family, he would also take this time to find another good teacher for Xiao Qi.

After settling Mr. Loo’s matters, the family discussed the roast duck shop.

The roast duck shop was ready in every aspect, just waiting for an auspicious day to open. In the Prefecture City, unlike at Thirty Mile Camp, the shop differed from the already well-established and reputable Lian’s Bun Shop in Jinyang County, simply waiting for an auspicious day to open was evidently not enough.

"Good wine fears deep alleys, tomorrow I’ll go to the shop to take a look, then we can discuss it further." Lian Manman thought about it and then said. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)