Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 161: Homeward Heart i (1/2)
Chapter 166: Chapter 161: Homeward Heart i
Translator: 549690339 I
With sixteen hundred taels of silver money, if one were to return to the countryside to buy land and live a comfortable life, they could immediately become a true small landlord.
Even if an acre of good farmland cost twelve or thirteen taels of silver money, sixteen hundred taels would be enough to buy more than a hundred acres.
Owning more than one hundred acres of land is the minimum standard for becoming a landlord.
So one could only be considered a small landlord.
As for people like Wang Furen and Xu Zhenchang, who only have a dozen or so acres of land and assets of two or three hundred taels of silver money, they are far from being landlords. At most, they can be called wealthy peasants.
Even so, they surpass more than 99% of the population.
As long as they manage their affairs steadily and safely, they will have no worries about food and clothing for a lifetime.
Qin Niu hadn’t yet decided how to use the sixteen hundred taels of silver money. After returning, he would definitely need to make a good plan, as squandering it all on gluttony and luxury was certainly not an option.
The insect calamity is currently wreaking havoc, and it could easily lead to famine, affecting the value of the land greatly.
If the insect calamity can be stopped in the short term, it would be good.
If it can’t be stopped for a long time, the price of land will drop to an infuriatingly low level.
Qin Niu planned to save more money; if the opportunity arose, he wouldn’t mind becoming the local landlord. Even if he couldn’t reach the level of the Yan Family, at least he could own over a hundred acres of good farmland.
The carriage traveled at an unhurried pace on the road.
After more than a quarter of an hour, the carriage came to a stop.
“Master Qin, please alight here! This is a token that the young head of the family asked me to give you. If you encounter grave danger within the territory of the Black Tiger Gang, you can show this token. Unless the other party ignores our Fang Family, it will surely keep you safe. Also, the next time you enter or leave the Fang mansion, you can use this token for free access and won’t be subjected to any inspection,”
Uncle Heizi handed over a rather hefty silver token to him.
The front bore the words “Guest Retainer of the Fang Family.”
On the back, Qin Niu’s name was engraved.
In addition, the token was adorned with many strange patterns. These could be similar to anti-counterfeiting marks.
The token felt like it was made of silver money.
It was possible that other metals were mixed in as well.
Without a word, Young Master Fang had made Qin Niu a guest retainer of the Fang Family, without any discussion.
“Please thank Young Master Fang for his generous favor on my behalf!”
What else could Qin Niu say?
After receiving it, he carefully stowed the token close to his body.
“Take care! Don’t mention your visit to the Fang Family to anyone! Just head out in this direction.”
Uncle Heizi said his farewell and quickly drove the carriage away.
The old man might seem ordinary, but being so trusted and relied upon by the young master of the Fang Family, he must be far from simple.
With the guest retainer token from the Fang Family, Qin Niu was essentially under their protection.
Afterward, his safety quotient in Black Tiger City would significantly increase.
As for the countryside, even the Yan Family would definitely not dare to touch him at this point.
Compared to a behemoth like the Fang Family, the Yan Family was likely negligible.
He surveyed his surroundings, finding himself in a somewhat narrow alley, flanked by high walls.
There are many residences of wealthy families in the city, with large houses and courtyards.
For the sake of privacy and safety, they usually build very tall walls to separate themselves from the outside world.
“Not sure what part of the city this is? First, I need to find Xiao Qing, then buy some books before hurrying back to Shuangfeng Village!”
Qin Niu followed the direction Uncle Heizi had pointed out and continued to walk forward.
The alley wasn’t very long, and upon exiting, he could see the main street.
“This… isn’t this the inn where Xiao Qing stays?”
Qin Niu was startled, realizing that in Black Tiger City, the Fang Family had eyes and ears everywhere; his every move had long been under their surveillance.
Luckily, the Fang Family bore no ill will; otherwise, his slight cunning would have been of no use at all.
“Master!”
Xiao Qing had been anxiously waiting.
Fearing that Qin Niu wouldn’t want her and would abandon her in the city, she sat at the doorway waiting. Seeing him appear, she rushed over joyfully and clung to Qin Niu’s waist, acting coquettishly.
“I’ve finished what I needed to do, take our luggage down, I’ll go pay the bill. We’re going home.”
“Mmm, I’ll go get it right away!”
She scampered off like a bullet towards their room on the second floor.
After settling the account, Qin Niu took the basket from Xiao Qing’s hands. Suddenly remembering something, he pulled out a few pastries he had taken from the Fang Family.
“You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? I saved a few for you.”
Xiao Qing took them and after sniffing them, she immediately drooled with desire.
She examined one of the pastries.
“These pastries must be expensive, right? They look so exquisite I’ve seen others selling them in shops for fifty or sixty wen a catty.”
“Someone else treated me to them, so I actually don’t know the price,”
Qin Niu had been preoccupied with eating while served attentively by two beautiful maids, and he really hadn’t thought about how much the pastries cost.