Humble Abode

It had been weeks since Mei received the title deed and a pouch full of coins from Xuan she did not count it as she trusted him so she gave some coins to Mingde as he might need in case she was not around him and he took the money from her and with this he had enough to buy her a hairpin, not an expensive one but a decent one when they go to the market he will buy it then.

This marked the beginning of her journey as a landowner even though she loved her current home she wanted to go live in the capital as Mingde was his growing age and needed to have interaction with kids his age they now lived in isolation but she will turn this house into a cozy cottage like where they can come during the summer for a family vacation with her brother. 

Eager to share her knowledge with the local farmers, she had already begun drafting a new how-to guide, carefully incorporating modern agricultural techniques without overloading the material—she was keen to avoid any accusations of witchcraft that might lead to dire consequences. Mei estimated she would complete the guide within the next two weeks.

Today, however, Mei took a well-deserved break from farming. With nothing to tend to on the farm and their crops eagerly awaiting harvest, she felt confident as she observed how beautifully their fields thrived. In just a few months, she expected an abundance of produce. Dressed in the new clothes she had made, Mei and her brother set out and closed up their homes for the day and securing the gates of farm, they weren't overly worried about theft because their remote location meant few people ventured that far from town.

Since she had the direction of the house, they just went to it immediately and when they stood at the gate both the siblings were shocked, the door was a medium and had an inscription of the Li Family written on a gold plate at the door and the guard was standing at the door and come over to ask if they were the young master and mistress of the household.

While Mei was shocked and unable to speak, Mingde quickly overcame his shock and answered the guard who opened the door for them immediately, leading them to a sidewalk with plants growing on each side, and Mei fell in love with the house immediately.

They saw two courtyards with red-tiled roofs and a garden in front of one, which Mei liked immediately. A few servants were moving around wearing grey robes tending to either the plant or the flower garden and Mei immediately fell in love with everything in the environment the courtyard and flower bed everything was to her liking which made her decide to include two more methods in her book as she was very satisfied. In front of one courtyard where some mulberry trees and she decided that will be her courtyard while her brother can take the other one.

As they stood there in amazement a short man with a different color robe come running to them and he stood in front of them panting he welcomed them and introducing himself as the steward of the resident and welcoming them and offering to take them around.

They began with the courtyard, and a beautiful inscription of "Butterfly Dream" was written on the gate. She liked everything about the courtyard it's like it was tailored for her and it suited her taste perfectly.

After checking the other courtyard, she requested the steward to help her look for an old servant to take care of the other house and farm, and they left for the market with big smiles on their face. 

This was her second time in the market, and it was just like before. The air filled with the aroma of food and the scene was vibrant, with bronze coins clinking in purses from customers.

The food stall vendors attracted her attention, as they were hungry. They ordered skewered roasted pork with bamboo sticks and had one each. After eating, Mingde requested to buy some sweets, and she let him go and asked him to meet her in the same spot. As she was waiting for Mingde, she bought some pastries to have on the way home, and she was relieved that now they could buy whatever they wanted without worrying about money.

Mingde arrived, and they went ahead to rent a cart, and as the evening was casting a sun was casting orange hue on the sky, they to their returned home.

Mei prepared dinner as usual. After eating, she wrote a bit on the new book. After finishing, she had a shower and washed her hair. Mingde helped her dry her hair. He volunteered to do that most of the time. He wanted to assist her, as she had no servants. Once he was done, he rolled her hair up in a bun and put the hairpin he bought her.

Mei, feeling something in her hair, removed it and was shocked to see a new hairpin. She looked at the blushing Mingde, and her heart melted as he told her since she had to sell her hairpin for them to buy food and seed and now she had to tie her bun with rugs. He bought her a new one.

She asked where he got the money and told her to her that he was saving the money she gave him to buy sweets. Mei felt her eyes pooling with tears in the two lifetimes she had never received a gift as special as this one, so she hugged Mingde, thanking him and promising to always wear it with pride.

After finishing, they retired to bed, and at night, in her bed, Mei traced her hands on the hairpin, sobbing as she remembered her last life. She felt full of love and busting with affection for her younger brother.

Maybe her brother was heaven's reward in this lifetime after a lonely and miserable former life. Though she had her grandparents, she always envied her friends with siblings to rely on, especially when her grandparents passed and she was left all alone in the world, but now she had a brother.