Lin He and Da Bao went to the town together to look for a house. After several days of searching, they had narrowed it down to a few good options. One house was quite large and reasonably priced, located only about half a li from the pastry shop, but it would require a significant investment in renovations.

The other choice was slightly smaller but newer, needing only minor touch-ups before it would be ready to live in. This one was nearly a full li from the pastry shop. Lin He and Da Bao were both hesitant, unsure which one to choose.

Truthfully, Lin He leaned towards the larger estate. Although not the entire family would move there permanently, there would certainly be times when family members would come to stay. Furthermore, one could never predict the future; perhaps they would grow fond of town life and settle there eventually. For such a large family, a bigger house was definitely preferable, and being closer to the pastry shop would make things much more convenient for Da Bao’s trips to the shop. The only drawback was the expense of the necessary renovations.

Lin He tallied the costs in her mind and finally agreed with Da Bao that they should purchase the larger house. Spending more now would ensure greater comfort later. Besides, even the smaller house would require some alterations, so the cost difference for renovations wouldn't be as significant as it seemed. Comfort was the primary consideration for owning a home, after all. Da Bao agreed that his sister’s reasoning was sound, and he consented to buying the big house.

The next day, the two of them went and finalized the purchase. Upon entering the new property, Lin He felt it was quite pleasing. The space was expansive, enclosed by sturdy walls nearly two meters high, outside of which several tall parasol trees had been planted.

Stepping inside the compound, there were five main rooms constructed of blue bricks with red tiles—two on each side, separated by a central moon gate passage. Passing through the gate revealed a spacious courtyard, flanked by two smaller, separate yards, one on the left and one on the right. Each of these smaller yards contained a few modest rooms. What Lin He loved most was a section in the center of the main courtyard deliberately partitioned off, resembling a small flower garden filled with blooming flora, seemingly well-tended. The moment they entered, a faint floral fragrance enveloped them—another feature Lin He greatly favored.

To the side of this main courtyard was a stone archway leading to another row of slightly shorter blue-brick, red-tile houses, likely intended for the previous owner’s servants. Behind these, there were smaller courtyards complete with their own little kitchens.

Lin He had carefully considered the layout. The division of space was quite distinct, making it very suitable for their extended family. For now, she and Chen’er could occupy one small courtyard, and Da Bao and his wife could take another. There was a large empty area between them, and Lin He planned to build a small, separate courtyard there during the decoration phase, giving Xiao Bao a quiet space dedicated to his studies. If their parents visited, they could occupy the front rooms, and there would be ample space even if more servants were present.

Although the house was somewhat aged, it was solidly built, constructed with the finest large blue bricks. Everything was kept quite clean, and some basic furniture remained, indicating that the former owners had cherished the property. Now, the main task was simply redecorating it according to their vision.

Lin He and Da Bao toured the entire property, meticulously noting every area that required modification. Da Bao announced he would return home the following day to bring everyone to see the house, stating that the specific renovations for each person’s quarters should be decided by them individually; otherwise, he and Lin He wouldn't be able to manage so many details.

The next day, Da Bao sent someone back to fetch the rest of the family. Upon seeing the compound, everyone was clearly delighted. It was vastly different from their home in Lin Family Village, which was a standard, square siheyuan. While this new house couldn't exactly be called opulent, it possessed a distinctly elegant atmosphere.

Chen’er and Xiao Bao immediately expressed their affection for the house upon seeing the crescent moon gate. Er Niu and Madam Huang, while also pleased, felt uneasy looking at such a large property, worried about the cost. Madam Huang questioned Lin He with a hint of displeasure, "He’er, didn't you say you were only looking for a small courtyard? This is hardly a small courtyard—it must have cost a fortune, right?"

"Mother, this is a small courtyard. Buying a house means it should be large enough for the entire family to stay, doesn't it? Besides, buying a small courtyard in town would still cost a considerable sum; this won't cost that much more," Lin He replied to Madam Huang with a touch of weariness.

"Look at you, talking as if a large courtyard costs the same as a small one. You're just trying to pull the wool over my eyes because I don't understand these things. A small courtyard would suffice for our whole family to stay. Your father and I won't be visiting town often anyway. We are used to living at home, surrounded by neighbors we know, where we can chat when we have time. Here in town, there wouldn't be a soul to talk to. Look at these high walls—I don't know what you'll even do inside them. Your father is still concerned about the fields back home. You don't need to prepare a house for us; if we visit occasionally, we can just stay in your rooms," Madam Huang scolded playfully.

"Indeed. The house is lovely, but it will surely cost a great deal. Listen to your mother; let's not take such a large compound. Any small place will do. After all, our roots are in Lin Family Village; that is our true home. This is only a temporary stay; buying something this large is a terrible waste of money," Er Niu added, also expressing his disapproval.

Lin He looked at her parents, feeling a familiar helplessness, and was too weary to explain further. Just as she was about to speak, Chen’er and Xiao Bao returned from the back garden, grabbing Lin He’s hands. "Big Sister, this house is truly beautiful! Look, there's even a small pavilion over there—it would be so comfortable to do our embroidery there. Xiao Bao loves it here too! When can we move in?"

"Move in? This house is far too expensive. Tell your sister to find another place; we’re not taking this one. Come on," Madam Huang snapped at Chen’er and turned away.

"Father, Mother, the payment has already been made. Today was just to let you see how you want your rooms decorated. Don't worry about anything else; Sister He and I have already discussed it," Da Bao said with a gentle smile.

Hearing Da Bao’s words, Madam Huang and Er Niu fell silent. After a long pause, Madam Huang muttered, "You two siblings only know how to waste money. This decoration will cost more money too. Truly a pair of prodigal children…" She mumbled as she retreated toward the back courtyard. Since the money was spent, there was no turning back; they might as well go look at the rooms.

Er Niu watched Madam Huang settle down, then smiled and gestured toward Da Bao and Lin He with his finger. Da Bao and Lin He exchanged a look and smiled. Chen’er and Xiao Bao then pulled Lin He away, while Da Bao led Yun Qi toward a small courtyard on the other side.

Lin He glanced back at Da Bao. He and Yun Qi had been spending time together for a while now. It was evident that while they weren't overly intimate, they had grown comfortable with each other. She believed that with time, affection would naturally develop between them.