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Chapter 230: Chapter 232 Buying a Homestead_1
The next day was set for purchasing the homestead and writing the contract. After breakfast, the pair split up to take care of preparations, with Tan Zhenghong responsible for inviting guests, arranging wine, and other miscellaneous tasks, while Qiao Duo’er handled setting up a table with wine and food.
By around ten o’clock, the guests began to arrive one after another.
In rural communities, the purchase of land was given utmost importance, for causing delay to the host’s affairs could lead to a tarnished reputation.
Among those who came were Tie Niu, Scholar Zhou, Wu Youcai, and Uncle Huang, as well as Dàlín and Iron Bolt.
Tie Niu represented the government office, and it was Elder Mr. Zhou, the Academician, who wrote the contract. Earlier, he had been the one to draft the Relationship Termination Letter. Wu Youcai and Uncle Huang were the witnesses.
Dàlín and Iron Bolt had a close relationship with Tan Zhenghong; they had helped him out during his leg injury, so they were also invited to enjoy a meal.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Academician Zhou turned to the matter at hand.
"Now that everyone is here, I shall begin writing the contract. Do you all agree?" Elder Mr. Zhou asked.
It’s better to do the official business first, so the drinking later on will be more enjoyable.
Tie Niu nodded, "Of course, that would be excellent, please proceed, Mr. Zhou."
Academician Zhou took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—writing a contract was a serious affair, so he had brought his own equipment.
Though he was advanced in age, his handling of the brush was precise, his small characters perfectly formed.
It’s said that one’s handwriting reflects one’s character; the elder scholar must surely be a meticulous person.
Before long, he had written three copies of the contract.
One copy was for Zheng Hong’s Family to keep, another to be submitted to the Government Office, and the last for Tie Niu to hold onto.
Tie Niu, Tan Zhenghong, Wu Youcai, and Uncle Huang all reviewed the contract and, finding no issues, affixed their handprints to it.
In the afternoon, Tie Niu would take the contract to the Government Office, and the deal would be complete.
Tan Zhenghong handed out red envelopes he had prepared in advance to the four men.
Not only were they filled generously, but the red fabric pouches filled with copper coins were also neatly stitched, eliciting joy just by looking at them.
Tie Niu politely tried to refuse, "We’re all from the same village, lad. Why must you be so formal?"
"I’ve inconvenienced you all to make the trip, and truly I am sorry. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please, you must accept it," insisted Tan Zhenghong, politely responding.
To decline the celebratory money would be to show disrespect to the host, so the men accepted the red envelopes.
"Good lad, both you and your wife are capable. The best days lie ahead!" Wu Youcai said, patting Tan Zhenghong on the shoulder.
Just a few months had passed and they had already secured the most expensive homestead in the village; he was envious indeed.
Tie Niu spoke up in agreement, "In our village, it’s Zheng Hong’s Family I have the highest hopes for. Hardworking and righteous they are."
While the mood here was cheerful and celebratory, the rest of the Tan Family felt quite differently.
Alas, had they not divided the household, that silver for the land purchase would have been theirs.
Wang Clan couldn’t help but scold Little Wang Clan a little, blaming her for the bad idea in the first place.
Now, what was the result? Not only had her son drifted apart from her, but they also missed out on the silver.
"Mother, my wife has been back at her parents’ home for several days now, what’s the point of bringing this up?" Tan Zhengyong said discontentedly.
This time his wife was genuinely upset; he had gone to her family’s home to fetch her multiple times but had not even caught a glimpse of her.
It was all his parents’ fault. Why mention giving Ten Taels to have a son in the first place?
Furthermore, why scold his wife for no reason?
Wang Clan responded irritably, "She’s spoiled because we let her be. If she doesn’t want to come back, then so be it. Let her parents teach her some manners!"
Ever since they started living together, she had found Little Wang Clan less and less to her liking.
Tan Zhengyong retorted, "Mother, don’t forget about my brother-in-law."
"This time, I’m not going to coax her to come back, not even if Xiao Feng becomes the top scholar!"
