Expressing just the right amount of joy and heartfelt gratitude, Chen Xiao left with the heavy three hundred silver coins in his pocket. The master did not invite him to stay for a meal; he wasn’t yet worthy of such a privilege. Chen Xiao wasn’t bothered by being looked down upon; the surprise of the reward was more than enough.

Deep down, he was a little excited. After all, this three hundred silver was the largest sum of money he had earned through his own efforts since coming to this world.

Though the reward he had received from Hanwa was also substantial, it was earned at the cost of his life. Most of it had been used to save his life, with a small portion securing his current position. Chen Xiao didn’t feel it truly belonged to him.

The money that Master Zhou had sent as Hanwa’s personal savings was treated as Hanwa’s legacy. He used it to buy a jade pendant, arrange the feng shui layout, and give back to the uncle and aunt who had helped him.

It had been a long time since Chen Xiao had experienced the thrill of unexpectedly receiving a windfall.

In his previous life, he had been a feng shui master, and many influential people lined up to invite him for consultations. Whether it was for tombs or houses, the remuneration was always generous. He had long lost the joy of making money, viewing it as nothing more than numbers sitting in bank accounts or on cards.

In a good mood, he went to the money exchange and exchanged the three hundred silver coins for three gleaming gold coins. Three hundred silver was quite a large amount, cumbersome to carry and not very secure. Gold coins, on the other hand, were easier to store.

After enjoying a fine meal at the best restaurant in the county, Chen Xiao didn’t return to the antique street. He planned to use the remaining time to find a house, so that when his next day off came, he could move in directly.

Chen Xiao was always willing to pay for services to save time and effort, preferring to avoid unnecessary detours. So, he hired a middleman, and within half a day, he had found a satisfactory place to live.

This place was on the east side of the Taxue Xunxian Pavilion, two blocks away from the antique street. It took only a quarter of an hour to walk to work. He chose it partly because most of the residents here were from well-off families, so he wouldn’t have to deal with complicated neighborly relationships.

Another reason was that it was an older neighborhood, close to several major streets in the county, with good security. If anything happened, one could simply call, and the patrol team would arrive quickly.

The third, and most important reason, was that the area on the east side of the antique street had a cluster of food vendors and many tasty options. This allowed him to conveniently grab a meal on his way to and from work, which was ideal for a bachelor who couldn’t cook.

After signing the contract, sealing it with a thumbprint, and paying six months' rent and three months' deposit, he had the property officially registered with the local officials. The small yard, consisting of a main house facing south and a low kitchen beside it, was now temporarily his.

It was also at this moment that Chen Xiao realized that renting a house in the county required reporting it to the local authorities.

The political system in the country of Dai was interesting, operating under a feudal city lord system. The city lord’s family, often descendants of immortal cultivators, would receive the authority to govern a city from the country’s monarch, who issued a royal decree officially “granting” the city to the family.

This country did not have a civil examination system like other places. The highest an official could rise was to the city lord’s office. The position of a civil official in a city lord’s household was even lower than that of a cultivator from the family. In this environment, officials had less power but were still highly diligent, and the management system was quite comprehensive.

The house had some old furniture left by the previous tenant. Chen Xiao took a look and found it too outdated, with creaking sounds. He asked the middleman, who had not yet left, to arrange for people to move it out. The middleman was happy to help, as Chen Xiao said the old furniture could be given to the movers. Who didn’t have a few poor relatives? It was a huge favor.

After some dust and commotion, the house was cleared out. Chen Xiao took a deep breath, then rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He borrowed a basin and cloth from the neighbors, fetched water from a street well, and cleaned the house inside and out.

By the time the place was spotless, night had fallen. Chen Xiao checked the time, locked the door, and had dinner on his way back to the shop.

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A few days later, it was his turn to take a break. Early in the morning, he went to a humble shop at the end of the street to look at furniture.

Anyone familiar with the antique street knew that there were a few shops dealing in second-hand furniture. Although this shop sold used or even several-times-passed-on furniture, they were all high-quality pieces. In fact, some of the older furniture had developed a patina and exuded a historical charm, which collectors of old items often found surprising.

Chen Xiao wasn’t interested in collecting antiques; he just needed a complete set of furniture in good condition and of moderate material. He had notified the owner in advance to help him find what he needed. This visit was just to inspect the items.

Since the shop was on the same street, the owner had kept an eye out for him and used his connections to source the furniture Chen Xiao wanted.

With just the right amount of joy and gratitude, Chen Xiao walked out with the heavy three hundred silver. His employer didn’t ask him to stay for a meal, as he still hadn’t earned that right. Chen Xiao didn’t mind being looked down upon—his surprise and delight were enough.

He felt a bit excited inside. After all, this three hundred silver was the largest sum he had earned on his own since arriving in this world.

Though the reward Hanwa had received was large as well, it had come at the cost of his life. Most of it had been used to save his life, with a small portion securing his current job. Chen Xiao didn’t feel much about that; it wasn’t really his.

The money that Master Zhou had sent from Hanwa’s savings, Chen Xiao considered as Hanwa’s inheritance. He had bought a jade pendant with it, arranged the feng shui layout, and given it as a token of gratitude to the uncle and aunt who had helped him.

It had been a long time since he’d felt the joy of suddenly receiving a windfall.

In his past life, Chen Xiao had been a feng shui master. Many powerful and wealthy people would queue up to invite him for consultations. Whether it was for a grave or a residence, he was always well-compensated. Over time, he had lost the pleasure of earning money, viewing wealth as just numbers on silver or bank cards.

In a cheerful mood, he went to the exchange store and swapped the three hundred silver for three shiny gold coins. Three hundred silver wasn’t a small sum, making it cumbersome and unsafe to carry. Gold coins were easier to store and safer.

After a nice meal at the best restaurant in the county, Chen Xiao didn’t return to the antique street. He planned to use the remaining time to find a house so that he could move in during his next break.

Chen Xiao always preferred to pay for services rather than do things himself. It saved time and effort and avoided unnecessary detours. So, he directly found a house agent, and within half a day, he had found a place that satisfied him.

The house was to the east of the Taxue Xunxian Pavilion, two blocks away from the antique street. It took only fifteen minutes to walk to work every day. Chen Xiao liked it because most of the residents were people with decent economic standing, so he wouldn’t have to deal with complicated neighborly relationships.

It was also located in an older neighborhood, near several important streets of the county, with good security. If anything happened, calling out would bring the patrol team quickly.

The third, and most important reason, was that the east side of the antique street had a cluster of eateries with many delicious options. He could easily grab a meal on the way to and from work. This was the most important factor for a bachelor like him, who didn’t know how to cook.

He signed a contract with the agent, sealed it with his mark, and paid six months’ rent and three months’ deposit. The contract was also registered with the local authorities, making the small courtyard with a main house facing south and a low kitchen next to it officially his for the time being.

Only then did Chen Xiao realize that in the county, renting a house had to be reported to the local government.

The political system of Daiguo was interesting, operating under a feudal city lord system. The families of the city lords were usually descended from immortal cultivators. After securing control over a city, the king would grant them a decree, effectively “fiefing” the city to that family.

There was no examination system like the imperial exams in this country. The highest position one could reach was within the city lord's household. Even a clerk in the city lord’s office didn’t hold as much power as a cultivator from the city lord’s family. In such an environment, officials had much less power, but they were also more diligent and thorough in their work.

The house still had some old furniture left by the previous tenants. Chen Xiao found it too old and creaky, so he asked the agent to arrange for someone to remove it. The agent was happy to help because Chen Xiao said the old furniture could be given to the movers. Everyone had poor relatives, and this was a big favor.

After a cloud of dust settled, the house was cleared. Chen Xiao took a deep breath, rolled up his sleeves, and borrowed a water basin and cloth from a neighbor. He went to the street well to fetch water, cleaning the house inside and out.

By the time the house was spotless, night had fallen. Chen Xiao locked the door, then went out to get dinner on his way back to the shop.

A few days later, it was time for Chen Xiao’s break. Early in the morning, he went to a small, inconspicuous shop at the end of the street to look for furniture.

Anyone who frequented the antique street knew that a few shops sold second-hand household items. Although this shop dealt in furniture that had been through several hands, they were still good quality pieces, better than most new ones. Some of them had even aged beautifully, with a fine patina, giving them a historical charm. Collectors of old items often found surprises here.

Chen Xiao wasn’t interested in collecting, though. He just needed a set of complete, well-made furniture with decent materials. He had already asked the owner to keep an eye out for what he wanted, and now he was checking on the situation.

The owner had paid close attention to his request and used his contacts to find the pieces Chen Xiao needed.