9. Plan for new Home

Shen Yuan sat by the fire, deep in thought as he stared at the flickering flames. The cold air of the early evening surrounded him, but the warmth from the fire and the chatter of his siblings working on another batch of soap filled the camp with a sense of comfort. Yet, despite their progress, there was something that had been weighing on his mind for days.

They needed a proper home.

The tents and makeshift shelters they currently lived in were barely adequate, especially with winter approaching. His family had grown stronger and more organized, but the lack of a permanent structure was starting to hinder their efforts. If they wanted to thrive, they needed something more stable, a home that would accommodate all of them and reflect the progress they were making.

Finally, Shen Yuan stood up and made his way over to his uncle, Shen Qingge, who was sitting near the edge of the camp, sharpening a knife.

"Uncle Qingge, I've been thinking," Shen Yuan began, his tone serious but calm. "It's time for us to build a proper home."

Shen Qingge looked up from his work, his sharp eyes studying Shen Yuan for a moment. "A proper home?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You mean something more permanent than these tents?"

Shen Yuan nodded. "Exactly. We need something bigger, made of stone or cement, to accommodate everyone in the family. The tents worked for a while, but if we're going to survive long-term, we need a solid foundation. Something that can withstand the weather and give us room to grow."

Shen Qingge set the knife down and leaned back, clearly intrigued. "A cemented house will take time and resources, but you're right. We can't stay in tents forever. What do you have in mind?"

Before Shen Yuan could respond, his other uncle, Shen Lingyun, approached, overhearing the conversation. "I heard you talking about a house," he said with a smile. "I was just thinking the same thing. We need something that can protect us all, especially during the harsh seasons."

Shen Yuan smiled at his uncle's enthusiasm. "Exactly. I've been thinking about the structure, how to arrange it so everyone has their own space."

"Tell us your ideas," Shen Qingge said, his eyes lighting up with interest.

Shen Yuan sat down, gesturing with his hands as he began to outline the vision in his mind. "We need a large house with several yards—each yard will be designated for specific groups. We'll have a main hall for receiving guests, of course. That'll be the center of the house, the place where we handle any business or formal matters."

Shen Lingyun nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. The main hall should be big enough to accommodate any guests or larger gatherings."

Shen Yuan continued, "Next, the girls' yard should be separate, where Mingxiu, Mingyue, Xiaomei, and the other girls can have their own space. We'll need a separate area for the gers as well—Shen Jing, Shen Hong, Shen Yue, and Zhen will need privacy too."

"Separate yards for each group sounds ideal," Shen Qingge agreed, his fingers tracing the imaginary layout in his mind. "And what about the boys?"

Shen Yuan nodded. "The boys' yard will be on the opposite side of the house, so Jiuyuan, Tianzhu, Zhi, and the younger boys will have their own area too. That way, everyone has their own space, but we'll all be connected by the main hall. It'll give us the privacy we need, but we'll still feel like one unit."

"That's a smart structure," Shen Lingyun said approvingly. "It gives everyone room to grow and keeps the family together. What about storage and other necessities?"

"We'll need a storage room for all the soap and supplies we're making," Shen Yuan replied. "Plus, a proper kitchen. We can't keep cooking over open fires forever. With a kitchen, we can preserve food and cook more efficiently. We should also have a well inside the compound, so we won't have to fetch water from outside."

Shen Qingge tapped his chin, clearly impressed. "You've thought of everything. But we'll need workers to build something that large. Do you have a plan for that?"

Shen Yuan nodded. "I was thinking we could hire workers from the nearby tribes. They're skilled at building and would likely be willing to help for a fair price. With the money we've earned from selling soap, we can afford to hire them and still have some left over for household expenses."

Shen Qingge stood up, stretching his back. "I can handle that. I'll visit the nearby tribes and see if I can gather some workers. We'll need skilled builders, especially if we're working with stone and cement."

"That would be perfect, Uncle," Shen Yuan said, relief washing over him. "I trust you to negotiate with them."

Shen Lingyun, who had been quietly listening, suddenly smiled. "That reminds me, Yuan. What about the household budget? We've made a good amount of money from the soap business, and we need to start managing our expenses carefully."

Shen Yuan smiled and handed him a small leather pouch. "I was going to talk to you about that. I'm putting you in charge of the budget. We have 1530 silver coins left after our purchases at the market, and I trust you to handle it wisely."

Shen Lingyun blinked in surprise, but then nodded solemnly. "I'll take good care of it, Yuan. We'll make sure the household is well-managed."

Shen Yuan gave a nod of appreciation. "I know you will, Uncle. With the money we've made, we can start building our home and still have enough to take care of everyone's needs."

--

As they continued discussing the details of the house, Shen Zhi and Shen Yue could be seen organizing the soap-making process with Shen Mingxiu. They worked efficiently, ensuring the quality of each batch while the younger siblings helped where they could.

"Do you think we'll have enough for the next order?" Shen Yue asked, wiping his hands on a cloth as he set aside a finished bar of soap.

Shen Mingxiu nodded. "We're on track. As long as everyone continues to do their part, we'll be able to meet demand. Plus, with the new house, we'll have more space to work."

Shen Zhi grinned. "I can't wait to have a real kitchen. We'll be able to produce more without worrying about the weather or supplies running out."

Shen Mingxiu smiled at the thought. "It'll make everything easier. And with Uncle Qingge handling the construction, I'm sure it'll be built in no time."

---

While the others were busy with soap production, Shen Jiuyuan, Shen Mingyue, and Shen Feng had gone hunting in the nearby forest. The day was cool and crisp, and the woods were alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves.

Shen Jiuyuan crouched low, motioning for the others to stay quiet as he spotted a group of pheasants pecking at the ground. He nocked an arrow and drew his bow, waiting for the right moment.

Shen Mingyue, her eyes sharp and focused, kept her bow ready as well. She had grown up learning how to hunt alongside her brothers, and despite her calm demeanor, she was a skilled shot.

With a soft twang, Shen Jiuyuan released the arrow, and it hit one of the pheasants squarely. The bird flapped wildly for a moment before collapsing. Shen Feng, eager to help, rushed over to collect the bird.

"Nice shot, Brother Jiuyuan!" Shen Feng said, holding up the pheasant proudly.

Shen Mingyue smiled softly. "There's more over there," she whispered, pointing to another group of birds.

They moved quietly, working together to bring down another pheasant. By the end of the hunt, they had collected two pheasants and some wild vegetables they had found growing near the edge of the forest.

--

When they returned to camp, the smell of soap being made and the sight of their siblings working diligently made Shen Jiuyuan smile. He handed the pheasants to Shen Yuan, who was inspecting the progress of the soap-making.

"Looks like we'll have a good meal tonight," Shen Yuan said with a grin. "Nice work, Brother Jiuyuan."

Shen Jiuyuan shrugged. "It was a good day for hunting."