Volume One, Chapter 18: Acquiring a Residence

Little An was still a child of less than ten years old and could not bear to see such scenes. If this continued, it would easily harm Little An’s physical and mental health. Therefore, Li Xian only glanced briefly; naturally, there was no way he would go inside.

He was reluctant to spend silver.

Even if no silver was involved, he wouldn’t dare enter a brothel of that kind.

In ancient times, venereal diseases were no joke.

Soon, Li Xian and Little An arrived at a real estate agency selling mansions. As they stepped inside, a man of about thirty approached Li Xian with a smile, cupping his hands politely and saying, “Young sir, may I ask what you are looking for?”

Li Xian got straight to the point: “I want to buy a mansion.”

The agent’s eyes lit up. “What kind of mansion are you interested in, sir?”

Actually, Li Xian didn’t know much about the housing situation in the capital of the Great Qian Empire, so he responded straightforwardly: “What kinds are there? Please introduce them to me.”

“Very well. Here, as long as you have silver, you can basically buy anything—from a small courtyard with a single entrance and exit, to a medium-sized mansion with two sections, and even large estates with three sections and three courtyards…”

The agent smiled and began describing each type to Li Xian.

Li Xian furrowed his brow and muttered to himself, “I will be living here with my wife in the future, so it can’t be too small.”

His young wife came from a respectable family and likely had seen much of the world.

Therefore, he naturally couldn’t just buy a small single-section courtyard to fool anyone. It would have to be a somewhat larger estate.

This way, when he married his wife and brought her home, he would have something presentable.

After all, he was buying a house in the capital to prepare their future home, and he also intended to conduct some inventions and experiments in the courtyard. It couldn’t be too cramped; otherwise, he wouldn’t have enough space to work.

“Sir, if you want a three-section mansion, we happen to have just freed up a fully equipped estate of that kind. It even comes with two maidservants, some basic furniture, and it’s located at the end of Chang’an Avenue, an excellent location. If it weren’t for the previous owner’s family troubles forcing a quick sale, not just anyone could afford this property. Are you interested?”

The agent said with a smile.

He sensed that Li Xian spoke with sophistication and must be the son of a wealthy family.

After all, not everyone could afford to bring a personal attendant along.

So he intended to offer Li Xian this newly available mansion right away, hoping to make a sale if the young man showed interest.

The property was involved in some complicated matters; they truly wanted to sell it quickly. It was a hot potato that some influential person had urged them to dispose of as soon as possible.

Li Xian, not fully understanding, could only say, “Could you take me to see it?”

A three-section mansion was about right.

If he could buy one, naturally a three-section one would be better.

He also knew where Chang’an Avenue was.

It was not far from the imperial palace, adjacent to it, so the security there was likely the best in all of Great Qian, with hardly any troublemakers.

“That’s natural! Please come this way. Since the property is a bit far from Chang’an Avenue, we’ll need to take a carriage…”

Soon, a carriage was brought out from the agency, pulled by two robust brown horses.

Li Xian and Little An quickly boarded the carriage and headed toward Chang’an Avenue.

After a while, the carriage finally stopped in front of a mansion.

“Liu Mansion?”

Li Xian recognized the large characters on the plaque and asked curiously.

“Yes, sir, as you can see, the previous owners were the Liu family. However, due to some misfortune, they urgently want to sell it for silver. Please come in and see. This estate is truly worth more than its price…”

The agent quickly retrieved the keys and opened the gate to the grand courtyard, allowing Li Xian and company to enter.

Stepping into the ancient, elegant mansion, Li Xian soon saw a refined courtyard. As the door gently opened, a mingling scent of aged wood, incense, and plum blossoms quietly greeted them, shutting out the noise of the outside world. An old man was sweeping the yard; he glanced up briefly but then lowered his head, silently continuing his work.

Li Xian stepped onto the bluestone path, glanced at the old man, and then looked toward the agent.

The agent explained at the right moment, “He’s been the Liu Mansion’s janitor for years. Though his eyesight has failed, he refuses to leave. He’s quite old. In Great Qian, we respect the elderly and cherish the young, so we cannot force him away. I hope you understand. Besides, he doesn’t require pay—just a meal daily—and he’ll keep the whole courtyard clean for you. It’s quite convenient. His only attachment is to remain in this mansion. If you purchase this property, this old man will come as a complimentary addition.”

Li Xian withdrew his gaze and looked around the tidy courtyard, guessing it must have been cleaned by this very old man.

If he was once a senior servant of the Liu family, and no one else was taking care of him now, it wouldn’t be much trouble to keep him around after buying the mansion.

He didn’t mind having one more person sweeping the floors.

Li Xian continued to examine the surroundings. A cluster of bamboo stood tall against the courtyard wall, while plum blossoms bloomed proudly near a well not far off.

They passed through a moon gate, with ornamental rockeries and ponds arranged gracefully. The main building stood imposing with upturned eaves, sculpted beams, and painted rafters, all reflecting the profound heritage of the former owner.

Li Xian narrowed his eyes slightly. This Liu Mansion must have been a noble residence in the past.

He wondered what had happened to compel the family to sell such a grand estate.

This property was no ordinary place!

Further inside, a pavilion with stone tables and benches stood ready, fully furnished. Everything was complete, and such a mansion truly captivated Li Xian’s admiration.

“Sir, what do you think?”

The agent gazed at Li Xian softly, clearly eager for his response.

Li Xian nodded while pushing open a door to inspect the interior, saying, “This mansion is quite nice, but I wonder—what’s the price?”