Chapter 209: A Meal for the guests and Hosts
Chapter 209
Mo Jiuye nodded: "Okay, there's no rush with the matter of the courtyard, we'll discuss the specifics again after the Cui Family's case is settled."
Xie Tianhai and Fang Chuanzhou saw that the Mo Family had bought so much farmland and courtyards in the time it took to have a meal, and they immediately became anxious.
However, when they thought about those tattered courtyards at the foot of the mountain, they really didn't dare to buy them recklessly like the Mo Family to rebuild.
After all, the silver they had was limited. If they bought those dilapidated courtyards at the foot of the mountain to rebuild, it would be like spending twice the amount.
It would be better to ask if the courtyard they were currently living in was for sale, at least they could save some silver to buy farmland.
Since Mo Jiuye had brought up buying houses, they simply asked about it too.
"Chief Zhao, I wonder if the courtyard we are currently renting is for sale?"
Chief Zhao replied: "The courtyard that the Xie family is renting belongs to our family, so I can make the decision. If the price is reasonable, of course it can be sold. As for the courtyard where the Fang family lives, it belongs to our clansmen, so I can't make decisions for others. You'll have to ask them before I can give you an answer."
When Xie Tianhai heard that the courtyard they were living in could be sold, he let out a sigh of relief in his heart. At the same time, he asked, "How much silver do you want for the courtyard we live in?"
Chief Zhao calculated in his heart and said, "My courtyard occupies more than one mu of land. I spent a total of twelve taels of silver to buy the land and build the houses back then.
The courtyard is also old now, so I'll sell it to you for twelve taels."
Xie Tianhai thought about it. Chief Zhao's courtyard was large enough for his family to live in comfortably. Although twelve taels was not a small amount for their family, it would still be cheaper than rebuilding.
Not only that, they could also avoid the hard work of building the houses.
"In that case, my Xie family will buy the courtyard."
As he finished speaking, Xie Tianhai also took out two broken silver coins from his arms and handed them to Chief Zhao.
"This is the deposit, keep it safe."
Although Second Sister-in-Law didn't know Mo Jiuye's specific purpose for buying so many dilapidated courtyards at the foot of the mountain, she was very clear that every decision made by Mo Jiuye and Lady He was absolutely right.
She sincerely hoped that her father's family would follow Mo's lead and buy houses at the foot of the mountain.
But seeing that her father was already impatient to pay the deposit, even though Second Sister-in-Law was anxious, she didn't think it was appropriate to remind him in front of so many people.
She could only wink desperately at her father, but Xie Tianhai didn't even glance at the women's table.
After winking fruitlessly for half a day, Second Sister-in-Law could only give up...
Mo Jiuye and Lady He were happy to see the Fang and Xie families planning to buy the courtyards they were currently renting.
It wasn't that they were selfish, but that they had already made preliminary plans for the utilization of the land and houses at the foot of the mountain.
If the Xie and Fang families followed their lead and bought land and houses at the foot of the mountain, they would have to adjust their plans again.
It was great that both families were buying houses in the village. Not only would it save them money, it would also make their plans easier.
The sumptuous dinner not only resolved the matter of purchasing land and houses, Mo Family's generous hospitality today also made Chiefs Zhao and Zhou realize Mo Family's capabilities.
In the past, those who were exiled to Xi Ling Village usually didn't have money to bribe Cui Wen, so Cui Wen would deliberately arrange for them to come here to be bullied by his clansmen.
But the Mo Family was different. It wasn't that they didn't have money to bribe Cui Wen, they just disdained to do so.
The same went for the Xie and Fang families. On the surface, they didn't seem to have Mo Family's deep foundation, but families who were able to buy houses and were planning to purchase good farmland surely wouldn't lack the bit of silver required to bribe Cui Wen?
Also, today the Mo Family bought over forty mu of land in one go. And from the looks of it, they seemed to have plans to continue buying good farmland.
It was very obvious that they were planning to become the local tyrants of Xi Ling Village!
In the past, the Cui Family in Xi Ling Village was like local tyrants. Not only did they own so much land that they couldn't even finish planting, they would also ask people from their two clans to provide free labor.
If it had been other reasonable tyrants, they would at least pay ten coins per day for the villagers' help.
Hopefully the Mo Family could become reasonable tyrants. Their clansmen helping out more in the future could also earn some money for household expenses.
Thinking of this, the two chiefs felt that it would be very important to maintain good relations with the Mo Family in the future.
Today's dinner was a very good start.
With this in mind, the two chiefs stood up in tacit understanding, and spoke more politely than before.
"Young Master Mo, thank you for your hospitality today. If you need help with anything in the future, just say the word. As long as we can do it, we will definitely go all out to help."
"It's getting late, and you've been busy all day, so rest early." After he finished speaking, Chief Zhao bid farewell.
Seeing this, Fang Chuanzhou and Xie Tianhai also stood up to express their gratitude to the Mo Family for their hospitality before following the two chiefs to leave.
After sending off the guests, the sisters-in-law worked together to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.
Carrying two empty plates to the kitchen, Gluttonous Eighth Sister-in-Law kept praising today's dinner.
"Sister-in-Law Mo, I really don't know what's in your brain that allowed you to come up with such a way of eating, bringing raw food directly to the table and cooking it on the spot.
The lamb and beef were tender and delicious. At first, I didn't know how to swallow those smelly organs, but after taking a bite, I couldn't stop eating them.
The sweet potatoes and potatoes were also delicious. I especially liked that texture.
Also, Sister-in-Law Mo, how could you make those hard-shelled things so delicious? When you have time, you must teach me so that I can show off my skills to my Eighth Husband..."
Eighth Sister-in-Law talked endlessly, saying almost everything in the sisters-in-law's hearts.
Although the other sisters-in-law didn't express it as straightforwardly as Eighth Sister-in-Law, they were thinking the same.
While washing dishes in the kitchen, the sisters-in-law didn't forget to pick up some sweet potatoes and potatoes to observe them, as if they had obtained some incredible treasure.
Seeing the sisters-in-law's interest, Lady He jokingly asked, "Sisters, is there still room in your stomachs for more food?"
"Are you going to feed us something delicious again, Sister-in-Law Mo?" Second Sister-in-Law patted her round protruding belly and said with a smile, "Second Sister-in-Law still has room here, but only for delicacies."
Second Sister-in-Law's words made everyone laugh.
Everyone said that if there were delicacies, they could still eat a little more.
Seeing this, Lady He directly threw a few sweet potatoes and potatoes into the still burning stove fire.
This kind of stove fire was the most suitable for roasting sweet potatoes and potatoes. The flames were not strong and it would not go out for a while.
Seeing Lady He's actions, the sisters-in-law were immediately shocked.
"Sister-in-Law Mo, throwing such good food into the stove fire would be a waste!" Eldest Sister-in-Law held an iron hook in her hand, distressed that those sweet potatoes and potatoes were in the fire. She was about to hook them out of the stove.
Lady He quickly stopped her: "Eldest Sister-in-Law, I'm also making a delicacy here, I won't waste the food."