They were living in the main building’s four-bay, three-room layout, with two front rooms and two back rooms; behind those were the kitchen, and one front room occupied by Xu Qinghe and his wife, while the other front room was occupied by Xu Nianhua.
Xu Nianji and Xu Nian’an were men, and they had given the best rooms to their only little sister.
The front room that Ji Ying was talking about was the one adjacent to her room, beside the main building’s four-bay, three-room layout. There was also a small hall and a front room, which is where their family used to live.
The main building was where their grandparents lived with their second uncle’s family.
After returning to the old house, because there were only the five of them, the main building was sufficient for their needs, and they did not tidy up the rooms they used to live in.
"Right," Ji Ying said with a smile, "When we moved back, we had already planned that after Nianji gets married, we will let him and his wife live there. It will be convenient to raise kids with the additional small hall, and though it’s not as big as the main hall, the living space is larger."
"Tomorrow, I’ll bring people to make beds and cabinets. I’ve been working with them for over a decade. We’ll have them help with the beds first, and later on we can pay them for their work." Xu Qinghe thought about the timber they had kept from before, which could now come in handy.
Xu Nianji, feeling moved by his parents’ considerations but also feeling it inappropriate, looked towards Xu Nian’an, who was only three years younger than him.
"Big brother, you just settle in with peace of mind. It will be at least five or six years before I get married. By that time, we will have built new houses."
Xu Nian’an naturally knew what Xu Nianji was concerned about.
If they continued to live in the old house, the two rooms and one small hall currently occupied by Xu Nianji would mean he was at a considerable advantage.
"Exactly, big brother. In the future, we will build a row of houses, one for each person. Everyone will get a new house to live in. Mom and dad, if you want to live on your own, you can, or if you prefer living with big brother or second brother, you’re free to choose," Nianhua thought about the row of houses, which should be unique in the village, right?
"Little sister, I support you."
Xu Nian’an thought it was a very good goal.
"Alright, then your father and I will just wait to enjoy the benefits," Ji Ying said cheerfully, exchanging a look with Xu Qinghe as if to say, "See, how filial our children are?"
Xu Nianhua and Xu Nian’an were up late translating the contract.
"Little sister, didn’t you translate that too quickly?"
Xu Nian’an had not seen the contract during the afternoon when he was selling Mung Bean Jelly, but, in just a few hours, Xu Nianhua was almost done with the translation?
"Um, haven’t I been translating this whole time?"
"Second brother, we need to hurry. After finishing the translation today, we have to proofread it. Tomorrow morning we must do the final review." Xu Nianhua reminded him, "Tomorrow, we have to hand the contract over to Pei Yicheng."
Xu Nian’an instantly refocused, working on the translation of the contract until completion, his gaze shifting to Xu Nianhua, who was earnestly proofreading beside him.
Under the flickering lamp light, Xu Nianhua, to facilitate the translation work, had her hair tied back, including her bangs which usually covered her forehead, secured by a hair clip, revealing her smooth and radiant forehead.
Xu Nian’an had always known his little sister was beautiful. From childhood, she was kind-hearted but delicate, and he and his older brother had always been careful to protect her. When he was ten years old, and she was only nine, he had fallen into a well. Had it not been for her quick wits, throwing a thick rope into the well and securing the other end to a tree, he might have drowned.