Chapter Ninety-Seven: An Auspicious Day

After the house was topped off, most of the workers at the construction site shifted over to the hill to build mountain roads and carve out stone caves. Seeing that there were fewer carpenters on this side of the site, Xiao Ding discussed with Uncle Niu Er about transferring more men over to handle the woodworking. He assured him that it didn’t matter if they lacked skills—he, along with Zhao Laixi and the two carpenters, could guide them.

For now, Xiao Ding decided to hold off on making furniture. The urgent tasks were completing the warm shed’s roof, doors, windows, and internal fixtures. These jobs required little technical skill and didn’t demand fine craftsmanship; anyone with common sense could replicate the models, especially with guidance nearby. Besides, these villagers had long experience with labor and could manage straightforward tasks on their own.

With more hands on deck, after Uncle Niu Er assigned over twenty workers, the roofs, doors, and windows for both warm sheds were finished in just a day.

What remained were the internal fittings. Over the next few days, Xiao Ding provided the workers with measurements to build rows of wooden racks inside the sheds, each rack having three tiers. He also had them make many wooden boxes, each two feet wide, three feet long, and half a foot high—just the right size to fit on the racks.

It was then that some clever workers guessed Xiao Ding’s plan: he intended to gather fertile soil from elsewhere, fill the long wooden boxes, and plant vegetables within them.

These boxes, even filled with soil, could still be lifted by an adult, making them easy to move around as needed. With three tiers of racks, the warm shed, covering about two acres, could effectively produce vegetables on nearly six acres of land.

Uncle Niu Er and the others, upon understanding Xiao Ding’s idea, all gave thumbs up in admiration. “This isn’t the act of a fool! Which fool could come up with such a clever method?”

In reality, Xiao Ding was simply imitating modern greenhouse cultivation techniques from the future.

During these days, Xiao Ding also discovered that the Ou siblings were literate. He slapped his forehead in regret—how could he have forgotten that as young masters of the Royal Sword Manor, they must have been taught both academics and martial arts from childhood?

So, he asked the Ou siblings to teach Xiao Fu and Xiao Zhu some literacy whenever they had time. Once the residence was completed next year, he planned to hire a tutor specifically to teach these children.

Meanwhile, each morning, Xiao Fu would rise early to practice martial arts with the Ou siblings. During the day, he regaled them with tales of rural childhood joys—chasing rabbits up the mountain, fishing in streams, climbing trees to collect bird nests, and catching mountain pheasants in the snow. Sometimes, when he grew enthusiastic, he would even take them out to play wildly, often followed by a little shadow—Xiao Zhu.

Though only five years old, Xiao Zhu showed no signs of being a delicate little girl. She ran around mischievously with Xiao Fu and the others, sometimes even more rambunctious than the boys.

Originally well-mannered and educated young masters and mistresses, the Ou siblings found themselves enchanted by the rustic games after a few outings with Xiao Fu and his friends. They soon grew fond of these newfound rural pleasures.

While Xiao Ding was away at Luoxia Mountain for several days, Wang Baozheng from town had already gone to the county seat to complete the land deed, entrusting Village Chief He to deliver it to Xiao Ding’s home.

The Tian family, being illiterate, assumed the name on the deed was Xiao Ding’s and paid it little attention. After thanking Chief He, they put the deed away.

When Xiao Ding returned and inquired about the deed, Tian Dabao retrieved it and handed it over. Seeing the vermilion official seal on the deed, a smile spread across Xiao Ding’s face.

He quickly called Xiao Fu over and said, “Xiao Fu, do you remember the big gift your brother promised you?”

Caught off guard, Xiao Fu looked puzzled. “I remember, silly brother. What big gift are you going to give me?”

Xiao Ding took out the two deeds and handed one to Xiao Fu. “Look, what is this?”

“A land deed, right? What about it?” Xiao Fu still couldn’t grasp the meaning.

“This is the deed for thirty-seven acres of wasteland west of the village, and it’s in your name. So, do you think this counts as the big gift I promised?” Xiao Ding smiled warmly.

“Ah? Brother, you mean this land deed has my name on it?” Xiao Fu asked incredulously.

“Yes. From now on, you’re the landlord of this land!” Xiao Ding laughed.

“Wow! I’m going to be a landlord? Brother, you’re too good to me! You’re my best brother ever! I’ll do whatever you tell me…” Xiao Fu leapt for joy, unable to contain his happiness.

Tian Dabao, listening nearby, was also stunned. He hadn’t expected Xiao Ding to put Xiao Fu’s name on the deed.

“But you’re still young, so I’ll keep the deed safe for you for now. When you grow up, I’ll return it to you,” Xiao Ding explained.

“All right, no problem!” Xiao Fu said, happily bounding outside to show off the news.

Xiao Ding returned the two deeds to the shed for Er Niu to keep safely.

As the weather turned colder, Mrs. Li brought two tanned bear and wolf pelts to Xiao Ding and Er Niu, advising them to lay one under the covers and use the other as a blanket at night to keep warm.

Since the house was topped off, Mrs. Li and the two girls, Xiao Ya and Xiao E, had been coming every day to stoke the kang stoves in each room to help the house dry faster, preparing for the eventual move-in.

Now that the house was mostly dry, all that remained was to wait for an auspicious day to relocate.

In rural times like these, moving into a new home involved many customs—selecting a lucky date and preparing several tables of food to host friends and family.

In fact, the entire process, from choosing the site, breaking ground, raising the beams, worshipping the ridges, heating the new house, moving in, to transferring the hearth fire and setting up the stove, all carried deep traditions.

As a time traveler, Xiao Ding was indifferent to such folk customs and preferred to simplify or skip many steps. If Tian Dabao and Mrs. Li insisted on performing these rituals, he did not oppose them and let them have their way.

Fortunately, when the beams were raised and the ridge worshipped, Xiao Ding was still at Luoxia Mountain. Worried about his safety, the family simply set off some firecrackers, placed offerings, and held a brief ceremony as a formality.

When it came time to heat the new house, Xiao Ding was entertaining a group of guests at home. The Tian family did not make a big fuss but treated the construction workers to a hearty meal, creating a lively atmosphere. Most of the able-bodied villagers were already working on the construction crew.

The final steps were moving in and transferring the hearth fire. Originally, Xiao Ding did not plan a grand ceremony. According to his plan, this house was only temporary accommodation. After winter, a larger residence would be built next year. It would be better to hold a grand celebration when the entire estate was completed.

However, Tian Dabao was determined to hold the ceremony. He felt that aside from the landlord Xue’s estate, his own spacious eight-room brick and tile house was the grandest in the village. Even Village Chief He’s home was just an earthen brick house. Tian Dabao believed that living in such a majestic house would finally erase the shame he felt from his crippled leg in front of others.

Since Tian Dabao insisted, Xiao Ding refrained from persuading him otherwise.

They consulted the almanac and set an auspicious date: the morning of the ninth day of the tenth month, during the hour of the dragon, for moving into the new home.