Yang Erzhu’s wife also asked in surprise, "Right, third sister-in-law, even if you’re not building this kind of earthen house, you wouldn’t need that much, would you? About ten or more taels should be enough."
Building a house here does not cost many silvers, as materials are directly taken from the mountains and labor generally doesn’t cost money–each family has built houses before. We help each other; providing als is enough, and even if you pay for the labor, it doesn’t use up that much silver.
Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged smiles. Xiaoxiao explained, "I plan to build seven large courtyards, each courtyard with ten rooms. We’ll probably need to buy about ten acres of land for the house foundation."
As soon as Xiaoxiao spoke, the whole family was astonished. They couldn’t even dare to imagine building such a large house, not even the landlord’s family had built like this, nor had anyone from the city built such a large manor in the countryside.
"Youngest daughter-in-law, our family doesn’t need to build such a big house, does it?" Yang Ming’s mother said, thinking that with the youngest daughter-in-law’s expenditure, no amount of silver would be enough.
"Yeah, we only have so many people in our family, why build so many rooms?" Yang Erzhu’s wife asked too.
"Mother, I still find it too small," Xiaoxiao replied.
Xiaoxiao went on to repeat to the whole family the plan she had discussed with Yang Ming.
When the family heard about each household having its own courtyard and even considerations for the next generation, they could hardly believe that their family was going to build such large, fine houses. They were simultaneously incredulous and overjoyed.
No matter what the adults thought, the children were delighted, and Yang Guangguang was especially happy, clapping his hands. "That’s great, then I’ll have my own room."
"Yes, not just you, each of us will have our own," Xiaoxiao responded to Guangguang’s words.
"There will also be special bathrooms, dressing rooms, restrooms..."
Xiaoxiao continued talking excitedly. Everyone listened to Xiaoxiao’s words and began picturing the new house in their minds, becoming more and more excited, all of them wanting to live in such a beautiful house.
Yang Ming looked at his wife, figuring that these must be the type of houses from her hotown. If his wife wanted to live in a house like those back in her hotown, then he would make it happen for her.
"Youngest son, did you two decide this together, you also agree to build such a big house?" Yang’s father asked his son.
"Yes, dad, I agree with what my wife said. Since we’re building new, let’s do it right the first ti to avoid having to rebuild in a few years," Yang Ming was determined to stand by his wife.
"Alright then, let’s go with what you’ve planned," Yang’s father agreed, thinking he didn’t have many years left and should let the children figure it out on their own, whatever they turn it into, as each of his children had their own ideas.
Seeing Yang’s father agree, the family was overjoyed, as if they were about to live in the new house imdiately.
Early next morning, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming went to the Village Chief’s house to discuss buying the house foundation land.
"Ten acres for the house foundation is too large. It won’t be possible in the center of the village; you can only buy land on the outskirts."
"Okay, that’s fine."
In the end, they chose a position right at the village entrance and bought ten acres of house foundation land for fifty taels, which was sowhat cheaper as the land was not used for cultivation.
With the house foundation land settled, they just waited to build the house. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming happily returned ho to spread the good news.
After they left, the Village Chief sat there marveling, "Incredible, oh, incredible, that Yang Erzhu’s family really has struck it rich."
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