Starting from the next Chapter, looking forward to pink votes.

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On the day Lian Manman went to town, the weather was fine with clear skies. Two carriages, one in front of the other, departed from Thirty Mile Camp after breakfast. By late morning, Lian Manman was sitting in the carriage and could see the city walls of Jinyang County.

The road to the city gate was a wide, sand-covered official road, lined with neatly planted towering poplars. When the autumn wind blew, the leaves fell like rain, rustling down. Fallen leaves accumulated on the road, and in some places, small whirlwinds of leaves formed. As the carriage curtain was lifted, Xiao Qi curiously poked his head out. A yellow leaf floated in the wind and landed right on his nose.

Xiao Qi maintained a face-up position, his large eyes rolling around.

Lian Manman was amused and couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out to remove the leaf and threw it out of the carriage, making Xiao Qi chuckle, then retreat back into the carriage.

Maid Xiao Xi laughed as she lowered the carriage curtain.

"Sister, last time we came, we didn’t see anything. This time, shall we take a good tour around the county town?" Xiao Qi asked Lian Manman, who was sitting next to him in the carriage.

"We have to take care of our business first," Lian Manman replied. "I definitely plan to show Xiao Xi around, but as for you, I’m not sure yet."

Hearing this, Xiao Qi became anxious.

"Sister, how can you not know? Can you take me with you?" Xiao Qi said, snuggling up to Lian Manman sweetly.

"That’s not up to me," Lian Manman said. "Do you remember what we promised when we left home?"

"I remember, I remember," Xiao Qi nodded repeatedly. "Sister, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to do my homework well every day and make our brother proud."

On this trip to town, besides Lian Manman, Xiao Qi, and their maid Xiao Xi in one carriage, Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang were in the other carriage.

These two covered mule-drawn carriages were recently acquired by Lian Manman’s family. The cart driver was a long-term worker from their household, and this time, servant Xiao Fu also came along, riding with Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin in one carriage.

At home, Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi stayed behind, but everything was well-organized, so there was no need to worry. Outside, Steward Han Zhong looked after things, and Mr. Loo could also help. Inside, Han Zhong’s wife took care of household matters. At the Lian family estate, Shopkeeper Chen was fully capable of managing everything, and for the miscellaneous tasks on the estate, they had long-term workers like Da Li. The pickled vegetable workshop was also easy to manage, with Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi mostly just needing to check the accounts daily.

Originally, Xiao Qi was supposed to stay at home, but he begged to come along. Being the youngest and naturally clever and charming, he was rarely left out of any good, exciting, or new happenings at home. In the end, everyone agreed to bring Xiao Qi to town, but the condition was that he must not neglect his studies. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

With Mr. Loo and Wu Lang providing guidance, the private school became somewhat optional. However, unless there was something significant, Xiao Qi still insisted on attending school every day.

The carriages entered the city, with Lian Manman’s carriage following closely behind Wu Lang’s. After traveling for a while, the mule carriage turned into a narrow alley and finally stopped in front of a small gate.

Servant Xiao Fu hurriedly got off to knock on the door, and just as he approached, the small gate swung open from the inside. A neatly dressed middle-aged man came out, helping Xiao Fu open the gate wide, allowing both mule carriages to enter one after the other.

Inside the gate was a very spacious courtyard where the mule carriages stopped. Xiao Xi jumped off the carriage and then helped Lian Manman and Xiao Qi get down.

Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin also got off the carriage.

"Fourth Old Master, Young Master, Second Miss, Second Young Master..." The middle-aged man bowed and greeted everyone enthusiastically.

"Liu Yakuai, no need for such formalities," Wu Lang said.

The man still saluted, then looked up, revealing a red-cheeked face, appearing to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a face perpetually smiling.

This man’s name was Liu Fushun, a well-known broker in the county, who had some connections with Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing. The Lian family’s intention to acquire property in the county had been entrusted to him. Before this, Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin had visited the county a few times and were acquainted with Liu Yakuai.

"Manman, what do you think? Is this place suitable?" Wu Lang asked Lian Manman.

Lian Manman then began to survey the surroundings.

This was a residence with a shop in front and a courtyard at the back, found by Liu Yakuai in the county. The front had four two-story storefronts facing the street, with a large courtyard behind them. The courtyard was divided into two parts by a wall; the middle courtyard had no main hall, but side rooms served as storerooms and kitchens, and there was also a stable and a cellar beneath the storerooms. The back courtyard, when viewed on its own, was a complete homestead with four main rooms, three side rooms on each side, and a back door leading directly to an outer alleyway.