In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 878 Buying a House: My Son Isn't Grown Up Yet
Rest time always seems to pass exceptionally quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the first month of the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu.

On this day, the five-day drinking festival, a custom in the Daning region, had just ended.

The once-empty streets were now filled with people whose faces were flushed.

Their eyes were glazed over, and they reeked of alcohol. They walked weakly down the street with their families, their heads swaying as if they were about to fall asleep.

Monggo Asir, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and brand-new clothes, also walked down the street with his sleeves tucked in.

A smile spread across his face as he watched the passersby.

Beside him, an elderly man in his forties laughed and said:

"Asir, you've come at a good time."

This year, the commander distributed a lot of reward money, and countless people bought houses.

"You're so clever; the brokerage firm hasn't even opened for business yet, and you've already come knocking on our door."

Asir smiled to himself. He had originally planned to come to the brokerage firm after the fifteenth to see if there were any suitable houses.

But after observing for the past few days, he found that the people in the city were all incredibly wealthy.

Many people are discussing buying houses.

This scene reminded him of the time he fought over candy at the Kang Le Trading Company.

At first, no one paid attention, and the prices offered by the merchants were high.
But as more and more people joined, the prices offered decreased.

If all the city's residents buy houses and land after construction begins...
The price will inevitably skyrocket.

After observing for several days, Asir decided that he could not wait any longer and had to get ahead of everyone else.

So he asked a colleague to find the brokerage manager.
Fortunately, the manager's son also worked on the construction site, so they had some connection.

"Uncle Yu, I should thank you instead."
It must be tiring for you to come out and run around with me in this cold weather.

"Sigh~ We're all destined to work hard, we never took a break in previous years."

The brokerage firm made a lot of money this year, so the governor strictly ordered all merchants to take a break, hence the closure for a few days.

Old Yu chuckled as he scratched his head:

In my opinion, it's better not to rest at all than to rest.
I've been drinking myself into a stupor all day, my days and nights are all turned upside down, and this old man's body just can't take it anymore.

Oh, and there's mahjong, it's fun, though.

The old man's mind slows down when he's drunk; he always loses money. He might as well open a shop and do business.

"Hahahaha." Asir laughed heartily:
"The officials often say, 'Work and rest should be balanced.'"
After a year of hard work, it's time to take a break.
Otherwise, it's too tiring; mental stress can easily lead to physical problems.

"That's right. Hey, we're here, look."

Old Man Yu led Asir into an alley in the north of the city.
Pointing to a large gate near the alley, he said:

"This house has been listed in the brokerage for two months, but it hasn't been sold yet."
I won't lie to you, people have died inside.
But the price is much cheaper, would you like to take a look?

Asir peered through the open gate; the small courtyard looked somewhat desolate.
There was also a snow-covered millstone, and a dilapidated cart leaning precariously against the wall.

The house was very clean, and there wasn't much soil peeling off the walls.

"How much is this house worth?"

"Hehe, I'll give you a low price, thirty taels of silver," Old Man Yu replied with a smile, and continued:

"Houses like this, right next to the market,"
If no one had died, it would probably cost around fifty taels of silver, but this price is already very cheap.

The brokerage firm also wanted to sell it as soon as possible to bring good fortune.

Thirty taels

Asir thought to himself, "This price is indeed not expensive, especially since the market is right outside the alley and Xisha Street is just across the street. It's extremely convenient."

But the fact that someone died there is a bit unsettling.

He wasn't bothered by it; after all, he had killed people before.
But the parents and younger sister would probably be scared.

After thinking about this, Asir pondered for a moment and said:

Are there any other houses for sale in this alley?

"Yes, it's right ahead, shall we go take a look?"

Old Yu was not surprised by his reaction and smiled as he pointed into the distance.

"Walk."

Before long, the two walked another twenty or thirty paces along the alley.
Arriving at a tightly closed door, Mr. Yu stepped forward and opened it.

"This house is larger, with three rooms inside and outside, and a backyard."
It's a bit far from the market, but it's still in an alley.

Asir stepped inside.
As soon as he entered, he fell in love with the house.

The small courtyard was inlaid with various pebbles, which had been smoothed out.

You can't feel any potholes when you walk on it; it's very clean.

The doors and windows are still intact, and there are even couplets and the character "福" (fortune) on them.
It's clear that the original owner took great care of this house.

Old Man Yu led him into the house, which was very clean.

The room is fully equipped with tables, chairs, and benches. The roof and floor have been repaired using special techniques, so there is no mud in sight.

The owner of this house has now moved to the south of the city.

He bought a large, three-courtyard house from my brokerage firm, and then asked me to put it up for sale.

Asir suddenly realized that in the past few months, as Dusi had found it increasingly easier to make money...

Some small business owners and vendors made a lot of money, and many moved to new homes.

"How much is this set?"

"Seventy taels, no bargaining. This price wasn't set by our shop, but by the original landlord."
He said this was a house that would bring him wealth.

It would be best if it didn't sell, so I listed it at a high price.

Asir nodded, walked around for a moment, and quickly made up his mind.

"That's it. Go back and sign the papers."

Old Man Yu stood there, stunned, staring at Asir in shock.
They were both from the north of the city, and he knew that this kid was still living in a shack last year, doing odd jobs every day, and was on the verge of not being able to survive.

Can I buy a house for seventy taels this year?
"Seventy taels."

Asir smiled and nodded:

"Yes, since the original owner cherished it so much..."

Then I should respect that; seventy taels it is.

Only then did Mr. Yu truly realize that Asir had indeed prospered.

An hour later, the two signed and sealed the document in the house.
All you need to do is wait until the government office starts work, then submit the documents to your superiors, and you're done.

Asir pointed to a plate of silver on the side.
"Uncle, please count it. It's exactly seventy-two taels. Seventy taels is for the room and two taels is for your hard work."

There were some loose silver coins and a neat stack of banknotes, totaling fifty taels, on the plate.

He was very familiar with this style, and finally, he couldn't help but ask:
"Asir, we're fairly familiar with each other."

"Tell the old man, is surveying really that lucrative?"

Asir was taken aback, then laughed and shook his head:
"Uncle, you've misunderstood. Surveyors are at the forefront and earn a bit more, but not by much."

The reason I have this money is...
I led my team to survey two high mountains and find the optimal route.
After making the improvements, the commander discovered that a large sum of money could be saved, and this was the reward he received.

Asir pointed to the neat stack of banknotes.

"Give us this much?"

Old Man Yu stared wide-eyed at the neatly arranged, brand-new banknotes.

"Hahaha, the road construction has changed the way things are done. Do you know how much silver that has saved the Commander-in-Chief?"

"How many."

"At least three thousand taels. The commander took out fifteen hundred taels and divided them among me and my men, each receiving more than fifty taels."

"OMG."

Old Man Yu was shocked and murmured:

"More than fifty taels in one go. You've earned more in a year than my entire brokerage business does."

"Uncle, don't joke. In the future, when our Daning has more money and the economy is better, more and more people will buy houses."

Old Mr. Yu was still in shock and couldn't recover; he simply shook his head.

"I'm getting old and don't understand this anymore, but business is getting better and better."

"That settles it then. By the way, old man, I'll trouble the broker to help you procure all the household items. I'll give you the money later."

"Alright, alright, that's fine."

"Start preparing now, and it should be ready by this time tomorrow. Then come to the brokerage firm and we'll settle the accounts."

"Okay." Asir nodded with a smile.

After Mr. Yu left the house with the backup property deed,
Asir stood in the courtyard for a long time, unable to calm down.
She was nowhere near as composed as before; her breathing had become rapid.

Too fast, too fast. I originally thought that just being able to eat and drink my fill would be enough.
Unexpectedly, in just one year, he was living in a big house and able to support his family.

With the money he has left, he could live a lifetime according to his previous lifestyle.

An unprecedented sense of satisfaction welled up from the bottom of my heart.
Asir only now understands what it feels like to be superior to others.

Beautiful, intoxicating, and satisfying.

No. 11 Anhe Street, Dongliu Medical Clinic!

Lu Yunyi sat on the chair, utterly dejected, letting the two famous doctors from the grasslands manipulate him, sometimes inserting a needle, sometimes taking his pulse.

Beside her, her mother, Madam Liu, stood absentmindedly with Qiuhe.
He would glance at me every now and then, his eyes filled with worry.

When they saw the doctor's worried expression, they would also let out a sigh.

"Mother, please stop sighing. It makes me feel like I'm about to die," Lu Yunyi said helplessly.

Before he could finish speaking, the doctor, who was in his sixties, rebuked him:

"My lord, do not speak! The pulse has changed!"

"Do not talk!"

Liu glared at him, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

Her heartache quickly turned to worry, and she continued to sigh anxiously.

Beside her, Qiuhe, whose figure had regained its slenderness, looked distressed and sighed in frustration.

She wasn't worried about the young master's health.
Instead, ever since the lady arrived, she has been prevented from eating and drinking excessively.

She lost weight again in just a few days, and now her stomach is all flat.

Qiuhe hid behind Liu Shi, glanced at her young master, pointed to her belly, and the meaning was obvious.

Lu Yunyi responded with his eyes, then glanced at his mother, meaning don't even think about it.

At this moment, another doctor, slightly younger and in his fifties, saw the two exchanging glances and let out a heavy sigh.

"Madam, don't worry, you will have children, there's no need to rush."

Qiuhe was taken aback, then gave the doctor an awkward smile.

Lu Yunyi pursed his lips, trying hard to suppress a laugh.

"My lord, don't laugh, the pulse has changed again!"

The old doctor offered another reminder, placing his withered palm on his wrist and groping around.

After a tense and awkward moment, the old doctor solemnly withdrew his hand.
He looked Lu Yunyi up and down, his brows furrowed, as if he were lost in a long-standing puzzle.

Seeing his troubled expression, Liu frowned and hesitated to ask a question.

After a period of inner turmoil, she managed to calm herself and asked:
"Doctor, how is he?"

The old doctor examined Lu Yunyi for a while longer.

Only then did he raise his head, look at Madam Liu, and say thoughtfully:

"Madam, Lord Lu's health..."

"How are you feeling? Don't stammer when you speak!"

Seeing him dawdling, Qiuhe, who was standing behind him, felt anxious and urged him on.

"I dare not deceive you, Madam. Lord Lu is in excellent health. I cannot see any problems with him."

"what?"

Liu's body tensed, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed.

"No problem? How could that be?"

"To be honest, Madam, Lord Lu's health is among the best I've achieved in my many years of medical practice."
Even some sixteen or seventeen-year-old lads, who are still growing, don't possess the same youthful vigor as Lord Lu.

The old doctor's words became increasingly strange, and he even began pacing around the room, scratching his head as he went.

"Judging from his pulse, Lord Lu is young, unbelievably young. If I remember correctly, Lord Lu should be twenty-two years old."

"It's here this year."

"But if I hadn't seen Lord Lu, I might have thought I was taking the pulse of an eighteen-year-old boy based solely on his pulse."

Lu Yunyi frowned slightly after hearing this, and Madam Liu asked impatiently:
"What's the difference? They're all young men."

"No, no, no, madam. You don't know the truth."

According to the "Huangdi Neijing: Shanggu Tianzhen Lun" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: On the Primordial Innocence of Antiquity), humans are divided into seven stages.
These are the fetal period before the age of one, the infancy period from one to twelve years old, the adolescence period from thirteen to twenty years old, the youth period from twenty-one to forty years old, the prime of life from forty-one to sixty years old, the old age period from sixty-one to eighty years old, and the later years from eighty years old.

Adolescent boys often have an excess of Yang and a deficiency of Yin, making them prone to internal heat, facial sores, and excessive loss of essence, as well as hair growth and tooth breakage.
In the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, this is referred to as "two sevens" or "two eights," which are signs of male maturity. Attention should be paid to soothing the liver, regulating qi, nourishing yin, and reducing fire.

After the age of twenty-one, those born at "37" or "38" are said to have "strong bones and muscles" and "full teeth," but should be wary of "overworking and damaging the kidneys."
Furthermore, the various hardships and difficulties of life can lead to emotional distress, resulting in liver qi stagnation.

At this point, Madam Liu also became somewhat anxious:

"Why are you going off on such a tangent, doctor?"

The old doctor shook his head, continuing to look at Lu Yunyi, shaking his head repeatedly, his voice filled with deep doubt:
"Logically speaking, Lord Lu, as the head of the Military Command, should have countless worries every day, and his internal organs should be deficient, his qi and blood should be stagnant, or even his liver qi should be stagnant."
This is true for almost every man over the age of twenty.

But surprisingly, Lord Lu did not have this condition; on the contrary, he was extremely virile and had strong kidney energy.

"Lord Lu, does your hair grow particularly fast?"

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly: "Soon."

Where's the beard?

Liu and Qiuhe looked at the tiny bit of downy hair that Lu Yunyi had been collecting for over a year, their expressions strange.

"Uh, it's only grown this little in a year and a half."

"A year and a half?"

The old doctor was shocked. He leaned closer to examine it carefully. After a long while, he straightened up and shook his head.
"How strange! Lord Lu is so physically strong!"
Judging from his physique and internal features, he looks like an eighteen-year-old young man whose body is still growing.

For a normal young person in their early twenties, hair should grow slower as it ages, while beard should grow faster.
Lord Lu, however, was quite the opposite. How strange!

Two doctors stood in the room, shrouded in deep doubt.
Even a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes.
The father and son had been practicing medicine for decades, traveling all over the country, but this was the first time they had ever seen such people.

After understanding, Madam Liu asked a somewhat strange question:

"Are you saying my son hasn't grown up yet?"

"Uh"

The old doctor's breath hitched, and he nodded slightly:

"Madam, you could say that. As for why he hasn't conceived yet, it might be related to Lord Lu's physical condition."

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states that at the age of 46, a boy's kidney qi is abundant and his muscles and bones are strong.
Kidney essence is typically strongest between the ages of 25 and 35, which is also the age when women are most likely to conceive.

Although Lord Lu has reached his youth...

But his physique remains at the level of a teenager.
Therefore, it's understandable that it's difficult to conceive.

Lu Yunyi's expression turned serious, and he looked at the old doctor with some surprise.
This person's conclusion is at least better than that of the imperial physicians in the capital.
However, he was surprised that such a person came from the grasslands.

"What remedy is available?" Liu asked anxiously.

"No, no, no," the old doctor waved his hands repeatedly.
"Madam, please do not go to the other extreme. A strong and growing physique is something that countless people dream of. Do not suppress it, and do not use medicine to help it grow. Just let it grow."

Seeing that he still looked puzzled, the old doctor stood up and pointed to himself:
"Madam, according to my own fortune telling, I should live to around sixty-five years old."

Lord Lu's current state suggests he is stealing heavenly secrets.

For every year a young person waits, they steal several more years of life from the heavens.

To give up such an opportunity for the sake of having offspring is truly putting the cart before the horse.

If all goes well, Lord Lu's physique will continue to grow.

When one reaches around the age of thirty, their kidney essence will be weaker, and they should then be able to have offspring.
Now that her kidney fire is too strong, it's extremely difficult for her to conceive.

However, it's always good to try more; there might still be opportunities.

Lady Liu seemed to understand, and her phoenix eyes blinked repeatedly.

A hint of joy immediately welled up within her, and she looked at Lu Yunyi with a beaming smile:
"My son, I never imagined you would live such a long life, that's wonderful!"

"In that case, I'm not in a hurry."

Lu Yunyi let out a sigh:
"Mom, I told you I wasn't sick, but you still insisted on seeing a doctor."

"Nonsense, how could you know these things without seeing a doctor?"

"Now everything's alright, Mother doesn't need to worry anymore. She can go back to Qingzhou with peace of mind to tell your father the good news!"

Lu Yunyi shook his head and smiled wryly, then turned to look at the old doctor:
"Thank you very much, doctor. I'm very grateful for your help today."

"No need for your trouble, no need for your trouble. My son and I are staying in Daning City."

I am also grateful for your continued care and guidance.

"If you have any further instructions, please send someone to deliver them."

(End of this chapter)