After fleeing the famine, my older sister and I married the brother next door.

The group followed him for a while, then turned into an alley. The waiter opened a door and led them inside.

The shop isn't large; the two storefronts have been combined, making it quite spacious. Some of the plaster has peeled off the walls, but overall it's sturdy. The backyard isn't big, but if kept clean, it can be used as a living space or for storing goods.

Chen Dashan looked around, then knocked on the wall to test its sturdiness. Su Xiaoyin walked around the yard, looked at the well and the kitchen, and got a sense of what was going on.

The waiter said, "This place is cheap; seventy-five taels of silver will do."

Chen Dashan nodded, not in a hurry to speak.

The waiter then led them to another street. This street was busier than the previous one, and the shops were larger. Each shop had two storefronts, a large courtyard in the back, and a storage room. The walls were freshly painted, and the doors and windows were sturdy; it was clearly better than the previous shop.

"This place is more expensive, one hundred and twenty taels," the waiter said.

Chen Dashan looked at Chen Xiaohe, who shook his head, meaning it was too expensive.

The shopkeeper then showed them another shop on the same street, a larger one, with two and a half storefronts and a two-story building in the back. The price was even higher, one hundred and sixty taels.

Chen Dashan considered it in his mind. Although this place was nice, the price was too high, and his family couldn't afford that much money.

Seeing their hesitation, the waiter added, "Would you like to take a look at the houses? They've also been seized, and there are a few decent ones."

Chen Dashan thought for a moment and said, "Let's take a look then."

The waiter led them through several streets until they arrived at a house. The house wasn't large, but it was in a good location, next to a school and across an alley from the main street—a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.

The waiter opened the door, and the group went inside. There were three main rooms, facing south, with excellent natural light. There was a side room on each of the east and west sides, and a small courtyard in the middle with a well containing clear water. The kitchen was in the backyard; it wasn't large, but it was sufficient.

Chen Dashan walked around the yard and then went inside to take a look. Although the house was empty, the walls were intact and the beams were sturdy; with a little tidying up, it would be habitable.

The shop assistant said, "The original owner of this house was a schoolteacher who was exiled for committing a crime. The house has been vacant ever since and is very well preserved. The price isn't too expensive, eighty-eight taels of silver."

Su Xiaoyin stood in the courtyard for a while, secretly pleased. This house was close to the school, making it most convenient for the children to live here when they came to study in the county town. Although the courtyard was small, it was enough for the children to run and play in. There was a well, so they didn't have to fetch water from outside, making daily life convenient.

The shop assistant then showed them several other houses, some larger and some in better locations, but the prices were all too high, one hundred and seventy or eighty taels of silver, which the Chen family could not afford.

After looking around, Chen Dashan said to Manager Liu and the workers, "Let's discuss it and give you an answer in a bit."

The group of people walked aside and began to discuss in hushed tones.

Su Xiaoyin spoke first: "I think that house is nice. It's close to the school, so it will be convenient for the children to live there when they come to the county town to study. There's a well in the yard, which will make daily life easier."

Chen Xiaohe said, "That shop is also good. It has two storefronts and a courtyard in the back. It costs seventy-five taels, which is a reasonable price. I don't have to worry about finding tenants."

Chen Dashan did the math: "When we left home, Mother gave us fifty taels of silver, and we kept some for emergencies in the family business. How much do we have left?"

Su Xiaoyin said, "Our family can take seventy taels."

Su Xiaoqing said, "We can also get seventy taels."

Chen Xiaohe said, "I still have more than ten taels here, which is enough."

Chen Dashan thought for a moment and said, "How about we take them both?"

Chen Xiaohe was taken aback: "Take them all? That's a lot of money."

Chen Dashan said, "Renting out the shop will bring in income every month. We'll keep the house for the children's schooling. We'll have to buy it sooner or later anyway, so we might as well buy it now while the price is right."

Su Xiaoyin nodded in agreement: "I think it's a good idea. Both the shop and the house are in good locations, so there won't be any trouble selling them later."

Su Xiaoqing said, "Then let's buy them all. Let's pool our money from our families, and if it's not enough, we can use our family funds."

After discussing it, the group went to find their partner.

Chen Dashan said, "Shopkeeper, we want both the shop that costs seventy-five taels and the house that costs eighty-eight taels. Could you lower the price a bit?"

The waiter thought for a moment and said, "If you really want it, I'll go ask the manager."

He went inside for a while, then came out and said, "The shopkeeper said that if we buy both together, the shop will cost seventy-three taels and the house eighty taels. This is the lowest price we can get."

Chen Dashan looked at his family members, and they all nodded. He said, "Okay, it's settled then."

The shop assistant happily led them to complete the formalities. They paid the money, signed the contract, and pressed their fingerprints—everything was done one by one. Both the house and the shop had official red deeds, stamped with the county government's large red seal, which no one could take away.

Chen Dashan hesitated for a moment when writing the names. His mother had specifically instructed him before leaving home that the house and shop should be registered in both of their names.

He told his employee, "Both the house and the shop will be registered in my name and Chen Xiaohe's name. The two brothers will each own half."

The shop assistant wrote his name on the contract and then had them check it again. Chen Dashan looked at it carefully, confirmed that it was correct, and then put the contract away.

As Chen Xiaohe emerged from the brokerage, his hands trembling slightly as he clutched the sales contract: "Brother, our family now has two more shops and a house."

Chen Dashan nodded, his heart pounding with excitement, but he kept a composed expression: "Go back and tell my parents, let them be happy too."

Su Xiaoyin asked Manager Liu, "Manager Liu, we are very grateful to you for today's events. When would be a convenient time for us to treat you to a meal?"

Liu Yilong waved his hand: "No need for a meal. I'm happy that your family is doing well. If you need anything in the future, just come and find me."

Chen Dashan thanked Manager Liu, and the group headed towards the shop.

It was getting late, so Chen Xiaohe opened the shop and tidied up a bit. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing put away the remaining goods, preparing to sell them again tomorrow.

Chen Dashan drove the oxcart, and the group headed home. Along the way, Chen Xiaohe couldn't help but take out the contract and read it several times. Su Xiaoqing teased him, "You've read it eight times already, is it going to fly away?"

Chen Xiaohe chuckled: "I'm just happy."

By the time they got home, it was already dusk. Chen's mother was busy in the kitchen, and Chen's father was chopping firewood in the yard. The four children, who were playing inside, heard the noise and rushed out in a flurry.