Chapter 96

Chu Huan knew that since Lin Lang had prepared this residence, there was no way he could back out. Lin Lang seemed to be very gentle towards him, but Chu Huan also understood her character to some extent—she was outwardly soft but inwardly strong. If he really returned the deeds, with Lin Lang's nature, she would truly tear them up.

After all, Lin Lang had good intentions, and Chu Huan couldn't be ungrateful. Moreover, what Lin Lang said made sense. If he were alone, it wouldn't matter, but he had a family to take care of, and making their lives better was certainly not wrong.

Lin Lang's actions were a way of repaying kindness, and Chu Huan was also a person who repaid kindness. However, even he hadn't expected that at first, he had hoped for no further entanglements between them, but now the situation had become more complicated, and it was hard to say whose favor was greater.

Fortunately, he was still in a period of lying low, and Lin Lang's arrangement was not unacceptable. No matter what, if there was an opportunity to make his family live better and repay Lin Lang's kindness, he wouldn't refuse, let alone just training a few guards.

Su Mansion and Chu Huan's residence were only separated by one street, so it didn't take long to get home. Although it was very late, Su Niang was still waiting at home and hadn't gone to bed.

After entering the house, Su Niang asked, "Have you eaten dinner? I've saved some food for you. I'll heat it up!"

Chu Huan smiled and said, "I've already had dinner." He asked, "Is Mother asleep?"

"Um!" Su Niang nodded and said, "Uncle has also gone to bed. They are old and can't withstand the cold weather. But Uncle said that since you've come out, there's nothing serious. If there's no heavy snow tomorrow morning, he will return to the county town."

Chu Huan frowned and said, "Why is he in such a hurry to leave?"

"I also advised him to wait for you to come back and discuss it," Su Niang said. "But Uncle said he still has to teach his students and must return." She looked at Chu Huan and asked cautiously, "Erlang, are we... are we going back tomorrow?"

Chu Huan looked at Su Niang. The lamp in the hall illuminated her face, making her look very charming. However, Chu Huan seemed to see something in her eyes—reluctance... Yes, it was reluctance.

Without a doubt, this residence was a world apart from the dilapidated and poor house in Liu Family Village. Although Su Niang was not a person who sought comfort and wealth, she was still a human being. The life here was much better than in Liu Family Village, and it was natural for her to feel reluctant to leave.

Seeing Su Niang's expression, Chu Huan was even more determined to let his family live here. He smiled and didn't answer her question but asked, "Suniang, do you like living here?"

Su Niang was taken aback, as if her thoughts had been seen through. Her face turned red, and she muttered, "Living here... no neighbors... not good... but it's warm here..." Her voice was very low, but Chu Huan immediately understood her meaning.

Chu Huan leaned back in his chair and looked at Su Niang, who stood beside him, blushing. He found it quite novel. Since he had met Su Niang, this was the first time he had seen her blushing. He chuckled to himself, "She's not just a tigress; when she blushes, she's also very beautiful." He said softly, "Suniang, sit down. I have something to discuss with you!"

Seeing Chu Huan's serious expression, Su Niang realized that this was the first time he was discussing something with her. In an era where men made all the decisions in a family, this clearly showed her status in the family. She sat down and asked, "What is it?"

"It's about this residence," Chu Huan said. "Suniang, I'm asking you seriously, do you like this residence? Do you want to live here long-term?"

Su Niang was taken aback and lowered her head, not looking at Chu Huan but glancing at him from the corner of her eye. She said shyly, "This... this is someone else's residence. How can we live here long-term?"

"Then you do like it here?" Chu Huan smiled. "If that's the case, that's good. Suniang, from today on, this residence is ours. You can live here as long as you want!"

Su Niang suddenly looked up, surprised. "Is what Uncle said true?"

Chu Huan laughed and asked, "Has Uncle already told you?"

As soon as Su Niang spoke, she realized she had said too much. Her face turned red, and she muttered, "Uncle said the Su family gave you this residence, and you went there tonight to return it."

"It can't be returned now," Chu Huan shook his head and sighed.

Su Niang suppressed her joy and asked, "What happened?" She added, "Uncle said this residence is very valuable. Even if we have done some favors, we can't... can't accept such a valuable gift!"

Chu Huan smiled and said, "Don't worry. I've already taken care of it. In a few days, I'll start working at Su Mansion. The salary is very high, and the cost of the residence will be deducted from my salary!"

"Salary?" Su Niang was surprised. "Uncle said this residence is worth four or five hundred taels of silver. If we rely on your salary, it might take ten or eight years to pay it off!" Although disappointed, she still said, "Erlang, forget it. If you do this, you'll be tied to the Su family and subject to their orders. Who knows how they might bully you... Let's go back to Liu Family Village so you won't be trapped!"

Chu Huan found Su Niang's words comforting. Although she hoped for a better life, she still cared about him and didn't ignore reason for material gain. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. I said the salary is high. They give me fifteen taels of silver a month, and there's a bonus at the end of the year. If nothing goes wrong, it will take at most two years to pay it off. Since you like it here, we'll live here from now on!"

When Su Niang heard that Chu Huan would earn fifteen taels of silver a month, her small cherry lips parted slightly, and her face showed disbelief.

She came from a rural area, and fifteen taels of silver a month was a huge sum to her. After a moment of shock, she asked, "Really?"

Chu Huan nodded.

Su Niang's expression became serious, and she lowered her voice. "Erlang, I find this strange."

Chu Huan saw her serious and mysterious expression and found it amusing. He asked, "Oh, what's strange?"

"I don't think you're worth fifteen taels of silver a month!" Su Niang said frankly.

Chu Huan broke out in a cold sweat and said awkwardly, "Suniang, you can't be so disrespectful. I think I'm worth at least twenty taels of silver!"

Su Niang gave him a look and said with a hint of charm, "I'm not joking. I mean, you're not worth fifteen taels of silver a month... You said you only know how to fight and have no other skills. Why would the Su family give you such a high salary?"

Chu Huan said helplessly, "Suniang, do you really think I have no other skills?"

"Anyway, I haven't seen any," Su Niang said. "Erlang, don't joke. I'm serious. You only know how to fight, and they give you such a high salary. They can't possibly... want...!"

"Want what?"

Su Niang hesitated and finally said, "They can't possibly want you to kill or set fires for them. If that's the case, we can't accept this residence."

Chu Huan found it amusing that Su Niang's imagination ran wild. He pretended to be serious, pondered for a moment, and nodded slightly. "Suniang, you're right. We can't accept this residence. I'll go back to them tomorrow, and we'll return to Liu Family Village!"

Su Niang was taken aback and felt a bit anxious. She quickly said, "I was just guessing. Don't take it seriously. Actually, the possibility is low. The Su family has a lot of money, so they probably wouldn't do that!" She added, "Maybe they really are grateful for your help this time, so they gave you this residence. For rich people, a residence like this isn't much."

Chu Huan smiled and said, "I also think they wouldn't do that. Since we've already agreed, let's live here for now. If they really ask me to kill or set fires, we'll go back!"

Su Niang was delighted and said, "You're smart. Let's do that. We'll live here...!" She stood up and said, "Erlang, have you seen this residence? It's huge. There's a back yard, a kitchen, and a trellis. Uncle said it's a grape trellis, and there will be grapes in the fall. There's also a well. I counted, and this residence has seven or eight rooms, including the main hall. You won't have to sleep in the main hall anymore!"

Chu Huan stood up and said, "Where will I sleep?"

Su Niang, now excited about living here long-term, said, "Follow me. I'll show you. I've already cleaned your room, and it's very warm!"

This residence, besides the main hall, had left and right side rooms, and a back hall with a few more rooms. Although it wasn't a mansion, it was spacious and comparable to a well-off family's residence.

Su Niang held a lamp and led Chu Huan to a spacious room. The room was fully furnished, including a wooden bed with a tent and new, thick bedding.

Chu Huan looked around and was very satisfied. Su Niang smiled and said, "You'll live here from now on. Mr. Su was very considerate. Everything you need is already prepared, and even the things in my room are ready, including a dressing table, a standing mirror, and a canopy... I've only heard about these things before, but now I can see them!"

She was very excited, and Chu Huan understood. It was like winning a few million in the lottery; emotions naturally change. Thinking about how Su Niang and his mother had lived a hard life, he felt very comforted that they could now live more comfortably.

Chu Huan's gaze swept the room and noticed a few calligraphy pieces on the wall, which added a touch of elegance. He suddenly saw a bamboo flute hanging in the corner and couldn't help but walk over.

Seeing Chu Huan's interest in the bamboo flute, Su Niang explained, "This flute was left by the previous owner and is used to decorate the room. I thought it looked nice, so I didn't take it down."

Chu Huan took the bamboo flute from the wall and shook his head, smiling. "Suniang, this isn't a flute, it's a bamboo flute!"

"A bamboo flute?" Su Niang was taken aback and gave Chu Huan a look. "Flutes and bamboo flutes are the same, I can't see any difference. Some people in the village can play the flute, and I've seen them play, and it looks similar to this!"

Chu Huan sat down on a chair with the bamboo flute and said softly, "They look similar, but the way to play them is different. In short, you play the flute horizontally and the bamboo flute vertically!"

"Play the flute horizontally and the bamboo flute vertically?" Su Niang was confused. "What does that mean?"

Chu Huan didn't explain further. He held the bamboo flute vertically and gently blew into it, producing a very melancholic and beautiful sound. The quality of the sound was excellent, and the melody was wonderful.

Chu Huan played for a moment, then realized it was late at night and his family was already asleep, so he stopped. Su Niang's face showed surprise, and she couldn't help but ask, "You... you can play the bamboo flute? I didn't know that!"

"Now you know!" Chu Huan smiled. "The sound of the bamboo flute is beautiful. When I have free time, I'll teach you to play!"