The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2049 - 2024: Getting Ready

Zhou Dalang started searching again around the capital and Yongzhou. He found quite a few brokers, but just as Manbao said, there were few sellers of land. Only the truly desperate and the wastrels would sell land.

Evidently, there aren’t that many wastrels in the world.

Even when land was available, often when he went to view it, before he even decided whether to buy, in the blink of an eye, the land would already be sold.

Initially, he just felt regretful, but as it happened more frequently, he sensed that something was amiss and couldn’t help but ask the brokers about the land transaction prices. Since he had become familiar with the brokers, although he didn’t get the exact prices, he had a vague sense that the transaction prices of those lands were not that high.

It’s quite strange that they sold so quickly.

He couldn’t help but inquire from the most knowledgeable person in the family, Manbao.

Manbao: ...

Manbao didn’t know, so she earnestly consulted Bai Shan.

Bai Shan said, "Someone has set their sights on the scattered lands in the capital and Yongzhou, probably in collaboration with the agencies to create a scheme."

He continued, "For instance, if someone wants to sell land, they can either let it be known and sell it themselves, or engage an agency. In the former case, upon hearing, the agency can send someone to pretend to be a buyer and inquire about the price, pressing the price down quite a bit. If they send multiple people, the seller, unaware of the background, if in urgent need of money, might fall victim to deceit; in the latter case, it’s even simpler, as the land is listed with the agency, which evaluates it at a low price and sells it cheaply to the people behind the scenes."

Manbao was surprised, "But the agencies are managed by the governmental office."

The agencies act as intermediaries; regardless of whether the transaction involves people or fixed assets, they must obtain credentials from the governmental office, and the brokers within also need certification from the office to engage in this business.

Moreover, the operations within the agencies require dealings with the governmental office; transferring ownership for purchasing people or properties like houses and land all require legal processing...

In the eyes of ordinary people, agencies are akin to a half governmental office.

With Manbao’s remark, even Bai Shan frowned slightly, "There aren’t many who can collude with so many agencies in the capital and Yongzhou."

He doubted that the opponent would use money to force his way through; it was likely to overpower and then entice with slight profits.

This person is stingy even with land purchase funds, how could they generously spend to tip the agencies?

Bai Erlang said, "Inquire with Feng Zongping about this for sure."

Bai Shan looked at Manbao.

But Manbao waved her hand and said, "No need, our family doesn’t necessarily have to buy land this year; I was just curious to ask. However, this matter is indeed peculiar, we’ll stop by the County Governmental Office this afternoon when we go out to play."

Bai Shan nodded, "We haven’t visited Senior Brother Tang for a long time."

Manbao propped her chin, "And also Scholarly Senior Brother Yang, he mentioned in his last letter that the yield of the new wheat variety in Xiazhou didn’t match that in Mianzhou, and that the local customs in Xiazhou are fierce, with nearly half of the people not knowing farming methods. Not sure if he can promote agriculture this year."

Bai Shan said, "Senior Brother Tang will certainly write a letter to Scholarly Senior Brother Yang. Let’s pen a letter as well and take it to Senior Brother Tang."

Not only Manbao, but Bai Erlang also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes."

So the three began writing letters and then gathered their individual letters together, bundling them into an envelope.

County Magistrate Tang was stunned upon receiving such a thick envelope. He looked at the name on it, "...Why was a letter for Zhangbo given to me?"

Bai Shan replied, "Senior Brother Tang, aren’t you writing to Scholarly Senior Brother Yang?"

Tang He, who hadn’t intended to write to Yang Heshu recently: ...

Facing three pairs of bright, shiny eyes, Tang He could only accept the letter and say, "Alright, I’ll send it for you later."

The three were quite satisfied with this, and thus casually mentioned the matter of agencies selling land.

Tang He frowned slightly and nodded, "I understand this matter now, you go ahead and play."

Playing wasn’t possible, as Bai Shan and Bai Erlang were due for the scholar exams in October, so they took a short walk to refresh themselves before returning home to continue studying.

The group including Zhou Lixue, who linked arms ready to go out and play, turned around to see their uncle and peers had returned. Upon returning, they went straight into the study to read books, making not only Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu feel the pressure, but even Bai Shuping felt the burden, and suddenly lost the desire to go out.

Thus, they exchanged glances, silently lowered the arms slung over each other’s shoulders, and also returned to reading.

Well, if people smarter than you work this hard, how could they be comfortable going out to play?

Junior Ms. Qian saw them returning to their books in the garden, feeling pleased, she said to Zhou Dalang, "Lixue was mischievous before and couldn’t sit still, but now he’s the best reader in the family."

Zhou Dalang said, "Ligu is even better than Lixue, and there’s Little Sister too. Lijun and Liru aren’t bad at reading, they’re always reading now."

Junior Ms. Qian: ...she just wanted to praise her youngest son.

Zhou Dalang failed to grasp his wife’s intention, took out two papers filled with jumbled symbols and incomplete characters, "Manbao asked me to switch to another agency yesterday, so I found a new one, and this is what they offered today—several plots of land. Since it’s spring, there aren’t many sellers. Which one should we view first?"

Junior Ms. Qian immediately set aside these thoughts and looked down to discuss with Zhou Dalang.

Zhou Dalang said, "I’ve entrusted the letter Manbao wrote to the courier station. Within twenty days, father and mother will receive it, and with Little Sister there, they should come to the capital. When that happens, Liwei and Lijun will be quite grown, they’ll definitely start discussing marriage, so I’m thinking of buying a larger plot. We can ask the second family if they’re interested; if so, our two families could buy together."

"Will the second family come to the capital?"

Zhou Dalang said, "If father and mother were coming to the capital, they’d certainly bring the second family along. Liwei, Lijun, and Liru are all in the capital, and marriage is a big deal; father and mother couldn’t possibly decide such matters alone."

Of course, they would consult the parents of these three children; otherwise, bypassing them to set the marriage would just lead to resentment and arguments.

Junior Ms. Qian thought briefly and understood, "Then we should prepare the rooms for the second family."

She fretted, "There aren’t suitable rooms in our courtyard."

"Then choose one in the rear courtyard."

This large house has plenty of courtyards and rooms, not just accommodating the second family; even if the third were to come to the capital, it would be sufficient.

Junior Ms. Qian said, "I’ll ask Manbao later."

Manbao naturally had no objections, "The household matters are up to Eldest Sister-in-law; if anything is lacking, go to the storeroom, or if nothing’s available, have Lijun give you money to buy outside."

No need to use what isn’t available; Junior Ms. Qian figured that as long as there are necessities for living, it’s enough. Other things are fine if available, if not, it doesn’t matter much; hasn’t their family been living this way for years?