flstandardbreds Chapter 208 Ye Yun Leaves
Chapter 208 Ye Yun Leaves
“Madam Song, this courtyard and the one next to it are both currently empty. They are not far apart and will not affect each other at all,” Village Chief Ge said, pointing to the smaller courtyard next to them.
Song Jiaojiao glanced at the courtyard next to her. The courtyards all faced the sea, and the layout inside was similar, only slightly smaller. They were about two meters apart, close enough that you could hear someone shouting. They weren't as far apart as the three-courtyard layout of the inn.
Song Jiaojiao nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Village Chief Ge, how much did you rent this courtyard?"
"If Madam Song is staying for an extended period, we'll just charge her 500 cash per courtyard per day."
There's never a shortage of people here, and the guesthouses are always full of guests. With more people than rooms, prices are generally quite high, so this price is actually not high.
"Okay, let's go with these two courtyards then. Village Chief Ge, shall we go and write the contract?" Song Jiaojiao thought that since they were already here, they might as well get things done in one go.
“Okay, go to my house to write it. Here are the keys to both courtyards. The courtyards are furnished with beds and furniture. As for the rest, it depends on what Madam needs.” Song Jiaojiao took the keys and handed them to Zhou Dadan.
"Go ahead and see what else we need. We'll buy it all together when we move over tomorrow."
Zhou Dadan nodded, and Song Jiaojiao followed the village chief to complete the formalities. She paid the rent plus the deposit upfront, which was more than a month's worth of money.
Once everything was settled, Song Jiaojiao bid farewell to Tang Yu and instructed him to be her guide for the month, paying him 500 coins per day.
Tang Yu was overjoyed. 500 coins a day would amount to 15 taels of silver a month, enough to pay for his grandmother's medicine. This was much better than working as a guide in the county, and there was no competition from other guides.
Just as Song Jiaojiao was about to tell Ye Yun and Ye Yi that she was moving to Moon Bay after returning to the inn, they said goodbye.
“Madam Song, A-Yi and I have decided to settle down in this county. Today, A-Yi went to the county and bought a small courtyard. We will not be traveling with you for the rest of the trip,” Ye Yun said with a smile.
"Miss Ye Yun doesn't plan to return to the inland?" Song Jiaojiao was quite surprised to hear this news. Although she didn't know Ye Yun and her companion's true identities, judging from their words and actions, they must be rich and noble. She didn't expect them to settle here.
"Yes, it's warm here all year round, which is quite suitable for my health to recuperate. After this parting, I hope that Madam Song will be well in the future." Ye Yun explained with a smile. They had relied on Song Jiaojiao's caravan to get here, which had caused Song Jiaojiao and her group a lot of trouble. In addition, if it weren't for Song Jiaojiao providing precious medicinal herbs, she probably wouldn't have survived in Taihang Mountain. This great kindness could only be repaid when she made a comeback.
“Since you’ve made your decision, then I wish you all the best. We’re planning to stay at Moon Bay for the time being tomorrow. If you have time, you can come and visit. The sea around that village is crystal clear and azure, making it a great place for sightseeing and relaxation.” Song Jiaojiao casually mentioned her plan to change locations.
"I'll definitely go when I have time," Ye Yun said with a smile.
After the matter was settled, Ye Yun and the others left. Song Jiaojiao gave them the carriage and watched them leave. Who knew when they would meet again next year after this parting!
"Mother, is Aunt Yun leaving us?" Mu Xue asked Song Jiaojiao in a sullen voice as she watched the departing carriage.
“Yes, Aunt Yun and the others have their own lives to live, so we’ll be going our separate ways later,” Song Jiaojiao said, putting her arm around Mu Xue’s shoulder.
"That's life. Most friends can only accompany you for a part of the journey, even your parents. In the end, you'll be left all alone, and you'll have to keep going strong."
Song Jiaojiao spoke with emotion until the carriage disappeared from sight.
"Alright, we're moving tomorrow, and we still have so many things to buy! This time, Mom chose a great place. The sea is right in front of the house, and there's a huge stretch of sandy beach. Muxue, I guarantee you'll love it when you see it."
Song Jiaojiao changed the subject and didn't continue. Time moves forward, and people have to look forward too.
Upon hearing that she would finally be able to see the beach that her mother had mentioned, Mu Xue quickly forgot about the incident.
Ye Yun mostly stayed in her room, and when she was on the road, she was in a carriage. They didn't see each other often, so Mu Xue didn't have much affection for Ye Yun.
The next day was another sunny day.
Knowing she didn't know how long she would be staying there, Song Jiaojiao bought everything she needed, just in case she didn't have enough. As a result, she accidentally bought too much and had to rent two carriages to barely fit everything in.
The villagers of Moon Bay had just returned from their beachcombing trip when they saw four horse-drawn carriages enter the village, accompanied by four fine horses. The horses' strong hooves made a clattering sound, and the horses looked shiny and healthy under the sunlight.
As the convoy headed towards the small courtyard by the sea, the villagers realized that it was a short-term rental from out of town, and a smile involuntarily appeared on their faces.
If someone rents out a courtyard, it means the village has more income, and everyone will receive more money during the Spring Festival.
Tang Yu had been waiting for Song Jiaojiao and the others at the village entrance for a long time, ready to lead the way as soon as they arrived.
By the time Song Jiaojiao and the others finished cleaning up, it was already past noon. They had planned to just grab a quick bite, but unexpectedly, Tang Yu brought over a lunchbox.
"Madam, I thought you must have been busy tidying up since you just arrived, and I figured you wouldn't have time to cook, so I went home and made some dishes, all local specialties from the seaside. I don't know if they'll suit your taste."
As Tang Yu spoke, he took out the dishes from the lunchbox one by one and placed them on the table. "Those who live by the mountains eat from the mountains, and those who live by the sea eat from the sea. Seafood is the most abundant thing by the sea."
Locals primarily cook seafood by steaming, which preserves the seafood's freshness to the greatest extent possible.
On the table were steamed mixed crabs, a lot of shrimp, shellfish, and a salted fish. The amount was just enough for Song Jiaojiao and her group. Tang Yu had probably brought all the seafood she had gathered over the past few days.
"Thank you, Tang Yu. I was just wondering what to have for lunch. Have you eaten? Why don't you sit down and have some with me?" Song Jiaojiao was overjoyed. She had been eating in the county for most of the time, but she longed to taste the fresh seafood that was still in the water one second and in the bowl the next.
"I've already eaten, Madam. Please enjoy your meal. I'll head back now. Just call me if you need anything." Tang Yu's heart instantly relaxed, and she left with the food box after saying that.
Song Jiaojiao asked Aunt Yang to bring out the dry food she bought in the county, which was perfect to eat with the seafood. She also made a dipping sauce for the seafood.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone continued tidying up the yard, putting away what they had taken out. Although their stay here was uncertain, life is their own, after all. Why force themselves to suffer when they have the chance to enjoy it?