Chapter 80.1

Translated by Aviana

By the time Yang Tiezhu’s house’s courtyard wall was done, all the villagers came to know about the construction of a house there.

As it was located on the outskirts of the village, seldomly anyone passes by. Nonetheless, when the people living nearby detected the movements on this side and began gossiping, others in the village came to know that someone was building a house there.

By the time some inquisitive villagers popped up, the courtyard wall was already built and the gates were already installed.

Equipped with a pitch-black coated gate, the courtyard walls were tiled with grey-colored bricks. The gateway didn’t have any extravagant and grand arch over it. Rather, the same grey-colored bricks were used to build a modest and simple gateway to protect the gates from getting wet from the rain, portraying a slight resemblance in appearance to the former. The grey courtyard walls too, devoid of extravagant roof tiles, were just like any other commonly seen brick courtyard walls.

(The grandeur and the appearance of the arch over the gateway (门楼: ménlóu ) is a reflection of the house owner’s status. In ancient times, they were also used as a lookout for any approaching enemies. )

(Our protagonists’ house should look something similar to this, but much simpler, and without roof tiles on the courtyard wall. )

Most of the time, the gates remained closed. Nonetheless, indistinct sounds could be heard from within now and then. However, it was hard to decipher what was going on inside. Most of the villagers reckoned someone was building a house there.

All the villagers who came to spectate couldn’t help but smack their lips, wondering which family was this generous in spending money to have even courtyard walls built with grey bricks. In the entirety of the Luoxia village, there were only a handful of households that could afford brick courtyard walls. This courtyard wall, in particular, was even quite high compared to others, perhaps about as tall as two people.

Nonetheless, all the villagers who came here were merely driven by curiosity. Though a few were envious, it was nothing more than that. After all, this wasn’t the only house in Luoxia village with brick walls, even the village chief had such courtyard walls.

The village chief’s house was the best in the Luoxia Village. Though this house had a taller courtyard wall, how good can its interiors be?

Usually, people refrain from diverging from their habitually ingrained viewpoint. For the matters that were unseen by them, they tend to comprehend the matter based on the facts they were aware of. Thus, with the elegance of the village chief’s house deeply imprinted in their minds, they assumed that though the courtyard walls of this house were high, the interiors of this house would certainly pale in comparison with the former.

However, a few curious ones still ran to the village chief to inquire about it. But, the village chief was too tight-lipped as Yang Tiezhu had already mentioned to him beforehand. Anyways everyone will naturally come to know when the moment comes.

The villagers were unable to comprehend the huge amount of silver it takes just to build such a big brick courtyard wall, they merely thought it cost quite a bit. Nevertheless, the village chief knew much more than them. At that time, if it weren’t for his wish to make his house appear more imposing and elegant, he wouldn’t have spent such a large amount.

Back then, he had to ponder over it for one full month before coming to a decision. Recalling that period, he couldn’t help but smack his lips.

Yang Tiezhu should have made a huge sum of money, or else he wouldn’t have expended such a huge amount.

Thinking of this, a feeling of schadenfreude arose in the heart of this elderly man, wishing to see the reaction of the village once the house was built, particularly of those from the Yang jia.

This while, apart from running around to purchase raw materials for construction, Yang Tiezhu was also busy delivering their products to the nearby villages. Afterward, they once again expanded their market to a few more restaurants in other towns, propelling their sales even more.

Subsequently, confidence swelled in his heart while building his house.

Even when the cost of just a courtyard wall went over 50 taels, he didn’t feel distressed anymore. As his wife had remarked, the construction of the brick wall will save them a lot of unnecessary trouble in the future. Most importantly, they would save a lot of time, and saving time is virtually the same as earning more money. This was called return on investment.

As for what is this investment and its returns, Yang Tiezhu wasn’t familiar with these unknown words. Nonetheless, he believed that the words spoken by his wife were reasonable.

Once all the operations were streamlined, Yang Tiezhu led Yang Tiegen to the nearby towns several times and explained the delivery procedure to the latter. From then on, the two began alternating their delivery shifts. With a mule cart, their delivery had become much simpler.

In the meantime, the person who stayed back at the home would lend a hand to the womenfolk or go to the construction site to supervise the work there. In this fashion, the two men worked round the clock every day.

Lin Qingwan also wanted to help, but her belly was gradually getting bigger and bigger. Currently six months into her gestation, her belly appeared as if a huge basin had been fastened around her waist, making it extremely inconvenient for her to do anything. Recently, her legs had also begun to swell.

When Yang Tiezhu first discovered her swollen legs, he was scared out of his wits. Only when he heard from Yang-shi and Yao-shi that all pregnant women undergo this upon inquiring with them, did his heart fall back into its place.

But seeing his wife’s legs remain swollen all day long, Yang Tiezhyu felt quite distressed for her in his heart. Thereupon, this tall and robust man added another task to his daily routine – giving his wife a warm foot bath. This remedy was taught to him by Yang-shi, who advised him that soaking feet in warm water would bring relief to women.

Every night, Yang Tiezhu didn’t just give his wife a warm foot bath, but also massaged her feet. When he held his wife’s legs in his hands he realized his wife was suffering a lot.

Her feet were so swollen that she could no longer fit her feet in the shoes she used to wear.

Nevertheless, Wanwan never showed it at any time, was she worried that he would get worried?

In Yang Tiezhu’s heart, Wanwan was an extremely delicate person. Whenever she suffered from the slightest pain anywhere, her eyes would at once turn red and a delicate pout would appear on her lips…If Lin Qingwan could read his thoughts she would have rolled her eyes, while mumbling she wasn’t that fragile. She was pretending to be a spoiled child, alright?

Conscious of her suffering, the rim of his eyes turned red in distress as he gently wiped his wife’s feet dry and tucked them into a quilt.

“Wanwan, if it is hurting, just say it aloud, don’t hold in.”

Eh? Relishing her man’s careful massage, Lin Qingwan was enjoying the moment in extreme comfort. Thus when she suddenly heard such words, she was slightly confused.

Taking in his pained expression, suddenly a realization struck her, he was feeling distressed for her.

She merrily nudged him with her feet, “I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Really?” asked Yang Tiezhu in distinct incredulity.

“Really, I feel much more comfortable when you massage me.” She was truly in fact not delicate. Her coquettishness in front of him was just an act!

A silly smile appeared on Yang Tiezhu’s face, “Then from hereon, I will massage your legs every night.”

Gazing at the rear view of her man as he strode out to discord the used water from her foot wash, a sweet smile bloomed on Lin Qingwan’s face.

Laying down on the bed, she leaned back into the man’s bosom. With her current big belly, she can now only sleep on her side. To accommodate her and let her rest better, he who was used to sleeping on his back also began to sleep on his side, just so that she could have an even better posture and sleep in his arms.

So good!

From the beginning, she had never regretted her marriage to him. And at this moment, she felt even strongly that her decision at that time wasn’t wrong. This kind of a man, she wouldn’t exchange him even for tens and thousands of gold!

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