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nLaughter

nWhen she was done with the discussion of this important matter, Qiao Xuan was very happy. She could not wait for even one moment before taking Shao Yunduan to visit the Land Officer’s home.

nWhen they needed to do some business with land and sign a land lease, the Land Officer had to help with all of these.

nMs. Xu felt a bit disappointed when she saw her mother-in-law nodding at Qiao Xuan’s proposal. But she could not do anything about it.

nShe sighed inwardly. Well, that sister-in-law of hers had money, so she could do whatever she wanted with it. She just would not accept any advice of hers. What more could she do about it anyway?

nNot everything was fair in this world!

nThe Shao Family was located in Shaoding Village. That was to say, most of the 200 households in the village had the family names of Shao and Ding.

nThe two-name families were always united with each other and they never had infights. They took turns in being the Land Officer for the village. This year, it was the Ding Family’s turn.

nShao Yunduan was the Cultivated Talent, whilst Qiao Xuan was the daughter-in-law of Cultivated Talent, so they were treated very amicably by Land Officer Ding. He did not dare offend them so easily.

nSoon, the process was completed.

nThey got 60 mu barren lands at the border of the village, which cost them 180 liang in total at a price of 3 liang per mu.

nAs for the 13 mu at the back of the Shao Family’s yard, it was worth even less, namely 26 liang in total at a price of 2 liang per mu.

nLand Officer Ding promised that he would travel to the county to get them the contracts.

nThey spent 206 liang in total, and would need a few more liang in the later process, when they would hire workers to do the cleaning, plowing and so on, as well as for buying seeds for flowers. They even needed some money to build a brick wall in the back of their yard.

nSo in the end, they only had more than 70 liang left out of 300 liang which they originally possessed. It was enough for them to splurge for a long while.

nQiao Xuan was very happy. She was crying out of surprise inwardly. This was way too cheap!

nAfter she and Shao Yunduan left Land Officer Ding’s home, Land Officer Ding and his wife were laughing loudly.

nThey thought that the young woman was very stupid!

nThat was more than 200 liang which she spent, enough for a good piece of land of a dozen mu at a price of 7 liang per mu!

nThat would be enough for them to get a lot of grain each year!

nThe whole family would not be able to take in that much for the whole year!

nBut she spent all the money upon barren land.

nThe Land Officer’s wife said, “Well, she is a noble-born lady who knows nothing! What she knows is to spend the money. But why does Yunduan not say anything? He must have studied too much and gotten dull in head! What about Ms. Fang? She is a smart one and even she said nothing about this?”

nLand Officer Ding smiled. “She is a noble-born lady. Who dares to say any words countering her?”

nThe wife laughed and sneered. “True, the Shao Family has married and brought back one Buddha who should never be offended…”

nThe wife went to share the gossip with others, feeling so amused with the whole thing.

nQiao Xuan was very happy as she walked into the kitchen.

nShe was going to make bamboo with braised rib-bone, braised pork with some mushrooms. Those dishes sounded delicious!

nThe fresh and tender spring bamboo shoots were cut into pieces with a hob, a little soy sauce and a little sugar were added to the blanched pork ribs. They were stirred and turned until they became slightly discolored. The spring bamboo shoots were added when the fragrance spread around. Then, they were stirred and fried on high heat, before a little water was added and meat was scooped out of water.

nThe boiled pork belly was cut into thin slices, stirred and fried in a pan with oil. Then the sauce, salt as well as a small amount of washed mushrooms and garlic sprouts were added. The whole thing was fried over high heat until the whole place was filled with its fragrance. A little sugar was added before serving.

nFinally, the two dishes were served. They looked so nice from all aspects, spreading scent in every corner of the yard. The third son of the Shao Family, Shao Xiaoqi as well as Shao Taotao just could not wait to have a taste of them.

nMs. Xu could not help but swallow down her slobber. Those dishes were almost killing her.

nHer sister-in-law should not be wandering in the kitchen. She was pouring oil as if it were free! Yes, she spent money on buying it, but she should not just be wasting it like this!

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