CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: FORGET ABOUT THE MONEY

Master Liu’s hand brushed against the roasted sweet potato that had just been roasted. Liu Ze had only dared to pick it up with two sweet potato leaves as pads.

In the hot weather, it naturally cools down slowly. Master Liu accidentally touched it, but it wasn’t very painful, just gave him a start.

"Grandpa, are you okay? This is the sweet potato Aunt just roasted, it’s still a bit hot."

Liu Ze quickly held the roasted sweet potato a bit further away.

"No big deal, no big deal, I just wasn’t paying attention and got startled." Master Liu looked at his hand; there wasn’t even a red mark on it.

It was only after Liu Ze confirmed there was no burn that he smiled with the corners of his eyes crinkling and brought the sweet potato over.

"Grandpa, this roasted sweet potato is really tasty. Do you want to try some?"

Just then, Second Aunt came over from behind the house with a small basket, which also held several roasted sweet potatoes and some that weren’t roasted yet.

She happened to hear Liu Ze’s words and quickly said, "I have a few more here, all roasted."

The sweet potatoes were not small; about the size of a hand. Earlier, when cooking pig feed, they had buried several near the fire, leaving a few to mix into the meal later.

This year the sweet potatoes grew well. She dug out one from under each plant, and with just over a dozen plants, nearly twenty pounds were harvested.

She chose some slender ones to roast, as they are easier to cook through.

Master Liu couldn’t bring himself to refuse and, with a cheerful smile, took his obedient grandson to head over to the Jang Family.

"Then I won’t hold back." While speaking, he had already taken two roasted sweet potatoes from the basket.

Not to mention his grandson said they were delicious, he had also tasted the Jang Family’s cooking before and knew the flavor!

One of them, Master Liu gave to a strong man who had followed him over.

"This is a good thing. Look at my Ze’er; he’s only been at the Jang Family for a few days, and he can walk on his own already!"

With a rather boasting tone, as if it was his own achievement.

Then he waved his hand towards the back: "Over there, the house will be built there. Move the things there first."

Jiang Hu had no chance to say anything. He still didn’t know what was going on when a large group of people, following Master Liu’s command, walked over to an empty space beside the house with various tools and materials.

Li Sheng had not left since he arrived, feeling both curious and afraid of the wealthy master from the town.

However, at this moment, smelling the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes from the children, seeing that Master Liu wasn’t paying attention, he carefully moved next to Second Aunt.

"Sister-in-law, can I have a roasted sweet potato?"

According to Liu Yang, anything from the Jang Family, even a sip of water, tasted better than what was outside!

Unfortunately, not everyone had Liu Yang’s cheekiness, and at least Li Sheng didn’t.

He was quite familiar with Jiang Hu as they had been in the same village for two or three years, yet he hadn’t tasted anything from the Jang Family.

Actually, last year during transplant season, Brother Jiang had brought some stewed eel soup home. The taste was truly nothing to speak of!

Thinking of the taste of that eel soup, which was far better than his own, seeing the roasted sweet potato made him crave it even more.

Second Aunt readily handed one to Li Sheng: "Eat it."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law." Li Sheng took it with both hands, then ran to the side to eat the roasted sweet potato, while enviously watching the busy people.

Jiang Hu finally found some spare time to talk to Master Liu and discovered that not only had Master Liu personally designed the courtyard for him, but he had also found a place for it.

Since the job was about building a house, a little geomancy skill was used to choose a good location for Jiang Hu.

As for the courtyard, it was relatively simple.

Of course, in Master Liu’s view, it was simple.

But looking at the blueprint in Master Liu’s hand and listening to the description of the front and back yards, the sun-drying area, and the granary, Jiang Hu was almost bewildered.

"Wait a minute, Master Liu, I..."

"Oh, don’t keep calling me Master Liu, it’s too formal. Just call me Uncle Liu."

Uncle Liu generously patted Jiang Hu on the shoulder and casually handed the blueprint to the strong man following him.

"Just build according to what I said, for all the purchases you take care of it; Xiao Jiang works every day and isn’t familiar with the town, so don’t ask him."

After speaking, he noticed Jiang Hu’s anxious expression.

"What’s wrong, Xiao Jiang, you don’t like it? If you don’t, I can think of another plan. But I actually think it’s quite nice. Both the front and back yards can house people, and since you and Second Aunt are still young, you won’t worry about not having space to live after having a few more kids."

"And the courtyard is quite simple and unobtrusive, so no one would be jealous."

Jiang Hu could only smirk awkwardly. This was inconspicuous? His original plan was just a simple place that could house the family.

But with the introduction he had just heard, Jiang Hu found it hard to refuse.

As long as conditions permitted, he did really like that little courtyard.

"Uncle Liu." Since Uncle Liu had put it this way, Jiang Hu didn’t act coyly.

"How much would this courtyard cost?"

By this time, Uncle Liu had already broken the now not-so-hot roasted sweet potato in half and ate it eagerly, even as he looked at his dear grandson.

Liu Ze saw that his grandfather was busy and had already returned, sitting on a stool under the eaves with a few cups of water beside him, drinking water and eating roasted sweet potatoes with a few other children.

It seemed like the troublesome situation hadn’t emerged; his dear grandson had adapted well to life at the Jang Family.

While keeping an eye on his grandson, Uncle Liu didn’t forget to listen to Jiang Hu.

"I was thinking of saying you don’t need to pay, but you surely wouldn’t agree. So, just give fifty taels and let go of the rest."

Jiang Hu’s eyes widened: "Fifty taels?"

Even though he’d never built a courtyard, he knew fifty taels were far from enough, not to mention that according to Uncle Liu, both the front and back yards were meant for living, with pig sty and cowshed further back...

But it seemed Uncle Liu misunderstood, as he thought Jiang Hu found fifty taels too much.

"Too expensive? Then how about giving twenty taels, or..." Give or not, it didn’t matter, the house would be part of the treatment fee since his dear grandson had recovered.

Fortunately, Jiang Hu responded in time, waving his hands quickly.

"No, no, no, I just think fifty taels definitely wouldn’t be enough. Even though I’m not familiar, I know this kind of courtyard can’t be built without one or two hundred taels of silver."

"Hahaha." Uncle Liu laughed heartily a few times: "Xiao Jiang, your Uncle Liu is happy today, the happiest day in years!"

Jiang Hu didn’t understand what Uncle Liu meant.

"For this courtyard, let’s not worry about it, keep the money and buy some meat every day for them. If you feel guilty, when the grain tax is collected in a few days, don’t sell the sorghum and corn, let them eat that."

"And this sweet potato, it’s so sweet, and don’t sweet potato leaves stir-fried make a good dish too? Just prepare some of those for my folks."

Speaking, he took another bite of the roasted sweet potato: "Ah, this taste, I don’t even want to go back."