Chapter 156 - Chapter 151: The Grand Mansion_1 (2/2)

“Xiao Qing, since we’re at the Shoe and Clothing Market, let me buy you a couple of pairs of shoes and clothes,”

Qin Niu had noticed long ago that she had very few clothes, just two outfits, and was still wearing her worn shoes.

“Sister Cai Xian said she had ordered two outfits for me; they should be delivered in a few days,” Xiao Qing said softly.

“There’s such a thing? How come I didn’t know about it.”

Qin Niu was very surprised.

“Sister Cai Xian told me not to tell you.”

She hung her head, picking at her fingers.

She had kept this matter from Qin Niu because she feared he would disagree if he found out.

“Didn’t you use to like Sister Wanyan more? Now you’re calling Cai Xian ‘Sister’ so affectionately!”

Qin Niu teased her with a playful gaze.

He wasn’t angry about her concealing the gift of the clothes from Tang Caixian.

Which girl didn’t like beautiful clothes?

Xiao Qing’s clothes were already quite worn-out, and Tang Caixian giving her two sets of clothes made it impossible for her to refuse.

“Master… don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I thought, since you’ll be marrying Cai Xian into our family later, I just agreed,” she said.

“You little devil, arranging your master’s marriage like that! If you dare make such decisions again, I’ll sell you off,” Qin Niu said, glaring at her.

Xiao Qing, frightened, shrank her neck in fear.

“Let’s go, I was planning to buy you two sets of clothes. Since Cai Xian has already ordered two for you, I’ll just buy you one,” he said.

Now that Qin Niu’s status had risen and he had the ability to earn money, he naturally wouldn’t let her wear poor clothes.

He took Xiao Qing to a clothing store and bought her a new set of clothes and two pairs of shoes.

Meanwhile, he bought himself two sets of coarse cloth clothes and two pairs of shoes.

After leaving the clothing market, Qin Niu headed straight for the address left by the mysterious old man.

With Xiao Qing leading the way, they found it without much trouble.

From the outside, it looked like a large mansion surrounded by high walls.

The doors were tightly closed.

Buying such a large house in the city would definitely not come cheap.

“Xiao Qing, I’m going in, you stay outside, and it’s best if you hide further away. If I don’t come out after two hours, go find Chairman Li at the Insect Master Association,” Qin Niu instructed her.

Before arriving, Qin Niu had already considered the many risks he might face.

A green giant hornet that could sell for one hundred and fifty taels of silver did excite him.

He also needed a large sum of silver at the moment.

Whether living in the countryside or in the city, life without money was worse than that of a dog.

He needed money for books, various household items, and everyday expenses.

Having money in hand made him less anxious when facing issues.

“Be careful, master,” Xiao Qing said as she cleverly hid herself far away.

Qin Niu knocked on the beast-shaped knocker.

Such wealthy families truly lived in luxury. Even the door knocker was an extremely heavy bronze ring.

One that could weigh about a jin and seven or eight taels.

Although the price of bronze wasn’t as high as silver, it was much more expensive than iron. In moderately wealthy families, like Wang Furen’s, they would skimp on the material for door nails and rings as much as possible.

The bronze ring passed through the mouth of a beast-shaped adornment.

It looked very imposing and awe-inspiring.

After knocking three times, there was no response.

Qin Niu wondered, as the address was correct!

Just as he grabbed the ring intending to knock a few more times, a side door opened a crack, and a middle-aged man about forty peeked out to see who it was.

“Hello, uncle, may I ask if this is Old Master Huang’s residence?” Qin Niu inquired.

The old man hadn’t given his full name.

He only provided an address and a surname, Huang.

“Who are you? What do you want with Old Master Huang?” the middle-aged man sized up Qin Niu.

“My name is Qin Niu. Old Master Huang wants to buy a hornet from me. Please inform him,” Qin Niu presented his waist tag for the man to see.

When the middle-aged man saw the bronze fish talisman, his expression unchanged, he still looked indifferent.

This was enough to indicate that Old Master Huang was no ordinary person.

A servant guarding the gate wouldn’t possess such composure otherwise.

“Wait here!” said the man before closing the small door again.

Many large mansions were like this, strangers could not enter at all. They wouldn’t even let you glimpse inside the courtyard.

That’s because there are often valuable or private items within the mansions of wealthy families that could catch the eye of thieves, which would be disastrous. Moreover, thieves who don’t know the specifics inside would naturally not dare to climb over the wall and break in.

They would instead make up excuses to probe the layout and situation inside the courtyard before looking for opportunities to commit their crimes.

Many women say that marrying into a mansion means they might never come out again, and this isn’t an exaggeration.

Qin Niu patiently waited outside for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then heard footsteps from inside, followed by the large door being opened.

“The young brother really trusts easily! Please come in!” said the mysterious old man, looking the same as the last time Qin Niu saw him, though now he was dressed in a white practice outfit.

Opening the gate to welcome him was the kind of reception reserved for honored guests.

It was clear that the old man placed great importance on Qin Niu.

“I greet Old Master Huang!” Qin Niu bowed his hands in salutation.

This man was definitely his senior, with inscrutable insect-controlling skills.

“Haha, let’s save those complex formalities, my place doesn’t stand on such ceremony. Please follow closely, there are some insects that I’ve raised in the courtyard. Should they be startled, I’m worried they might hurt you,” Old Master Huang led the way.

Qin Niu took the opportunity to survey the entire courtyard.

A luxurious carriage was parked in the carriage shed, and not far from it, in the stable, stood a jet-black horse with a coat glossy as satin.

It somewhat resembled a black steed, yet it had some differences.