Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 104 Tang Tile Craftsman i (1/2)
Chapter 109: Chapter 104 Tang Tile Craftsman i
Translator: 549690339
“Old man, may I inquire about something?”
“Go ahead!”
The old man was carrying a load of tender grass, panting heavily.
“Here, let me carry that for you!”
Qin Niu was strong and took the burden willingly. The load, over a hundred pounds, seemed extremely light on his shoulders.
After all, with the strength of a normal man made threefold, carrying such a load of green grass was hardly difficult for him.
“I’d like to hire some experienced masons to build a house. Do you know any in the village whose skills are solid?”
“All, that’s all you want! Then you’ve found the right person. I’ll volunteer myself. My three sons, except for the youngest who works for the government in the city, the other two are masons. The three houses of our family were all built by them leading teams. You can go over and take a look first, and if you’re satisfied, then do consider my sons for the job.”
Upon hearing this, the old man grinned broadly.
He had only a few teeth left.
“Alright, I’ll go take a look at your house then.”
Qin Niu did not rush to agree.
Building a house is a major matter; it must be solid, beautiful, and comfortable.
And it’s not for just a day or two.
You definitely need skilled masons for the job.
Soon, he arrived at the old man’s home. There stood three impressive brick-and-tile houses side by side.
“This is my youngest son’s house. He lives in the city with his wife and children and seldom comes back, so I look after the house for him. When I’m free, I raise some fish and a few sheep. There was a flood a few days ago, but fortunately, I was well prepared and moved the fish into the house. That’s how we avoided any loss.”
The old man spoke of this with not only relief but also a hint of pride.
Before a flood, experienced villagers usually make some preparations.
“No wonder all three of your sons have grown their family enterprises so well, with you being so strategic in handling things, your three sons can only be more outstanding.”
Qin Niu gave the man a compliment.
It delighted the old man, who grinned once more.
“Young man, please have a seat. I’ll go make some tea for you!”
“Old man, no need for tea. I’ll just look at your sons’ houses, and if I’m satisfied, we can settle the matter right away.”
Qin Niu didn’t have the time to sit around drinking tea.
“You are one to value your time like gold! Feel free to look around!”
The old man led Qin Niu on a tour of his youngest son’s house.
The house was three bays and seven spans wide, indicating that the old man’s youngest son held a considerable official position. Ordinary clerks could not be called officials.
At the very least, one must be on the level of a Historian to be considered an official.
The old man’s youngest son must be slightly higher in rank than Official Liu, who visited last time.
“The layout of this house is quite good, and the walls have been built strong. The courtyard looks simple, but it feels very comfortable. There’s even a spot for parking horse-drawn carriages, which is quite nice.”
After looking it over, Qin Niu was very satisfied with the house.
Officials really know how to enjoy their lives.
Ordinary households would not consider a place to park carriages, but the homes of those with real power and money are very thoughtfully arranged in all aspects.
They’ve considered defense as well.
The gate, courtyard walls, and main house had onefold layers of defense.
In daylight, it seems normal, but once the doors are closed at night, thieves and robbers would have to exert immense effort to break in.
The master inside would be awake by then, with ample time to respond.
“This house was built only last year. My youngest son has been blessed by our ancestors these past two years, enjoying a smooth career; he thought of having a place to settle down in his hometown, and so he built this house.”
The old man spoke of his youngest son with considerable pride.
Any parent would be proud to see their children successful.
“Come on, I’ll take you to see the homes of my eldest and second sons. The second one might be out, but the eldest should be home.”
The old man took Qin Niu to the next house, which belonged to his second son.
While also impressive, it had only three bays and five spans. The second son’s wife was very kind and hospitably made tea as she asked Qin Niu to sit.
He politely sat for a moment before getting up to visit the old man’s eldest son.
Similarly, it had three bays and five spans but looked much older, suggesting it was built at least a decade ago.
“Eldest boy, this young man wants to hire some competent masons to build a house. Have a good talk with him.”
The old man told his eldest son.
“I know you!”
The eldest son was just over forty, of average height but quite sturdy.