It had been more than half a month, and the agreed-upon day with Boss Wen had finally arrived. In the intervening days, Lin He had crafted two plush dolls—one Mickey Mouse and one Donald Duck—along with a pirate captain and a Doraemon. She planned to use this trip to check on how well the goods sold at Boss Wen’s establishment. Lin He and Da Bao set off together for Tianxin Town. Before they even reached the entrance of the Cai Die Xuan, they saw the waiter anxiously peering out. Upon spotting them, he immediately hurried forward.

Noticing the waiter's eagerness, Lin He knew the previous batch of bear dolls must have sold quite well. The waiter approached them and said, "Miss Lin, Young Master Lin, Boss Wen is waiting for you in the private room."

When they entered the private room, Boss Wen was indeed already waiting. Seeing the Lin siblings enter, he gestured for them to sit down immediately. Lin He asked, "Shopkeeper, how did the previous batch of bears sell?"

Boss Wen laughed heartily. "The toys from last time sold exceptionally well. They’ve been selling out every day; many children line up just to get one."

Lin He had Da Bao take out the four other toys from the bundle for Boss Wen to inspect. Looking at these new creations, Boss Wen couldn't help but be astonished once more. What kind of things did this young girl's mind conjure up all day? Everything she thought of was so unique, yet incredibly appealing. A businessman like him, sharp as he was, could instantly see the commercial potential in these cloth dolls. Believing Lin He understood this too, he probed gently, "Miss Lin, since you are capable of thinking up such excellent ideas, why don't you open a small shop and sell these toys yourself?"

Lin He understood Boss Wen’s implication immediately. "My family is just ordinary farming folk. We only wish to earn a little extra money to support our fields. Besides farming, we know nothing else, and my brother here is still young. We haven't considered going into business for now."

Boss Wen understood Lin He's intent: she wasn't planning to go solo. That was fine. This time, Lin He requested some loose silver coins, but the rest she insisted on receiving as silver ingots, refusing bank notes.

She also informed Boss Wen that from now on, she would only deliver the cloth dolls to him once a month. Winter was approaching, fewer people would be out on the streets, and the initial novelty of the toys would likely fade, meaning sales might not be as brisk. Boss Wen considered this and agreed, acknowledging the logic.

Da Bao had witnessed the dealings before, so he wasn't surprised this time. Moreover, he was inherently an honest man; if his sister told him not to speak carelessly, he wouldn't. Lin He knew this about her elder brother, which was why she brought him along. Da Bao found the tone Lin He used with Boss Wen unfamiliar. At home, aside from being occasionally sensible and quick-witted, Lin He was just a seven-year-old child in front of their parents and family—sometimes charming, sometimes throwing tantrums.

But every time Lin He spoke with Boss Wen, Da Bao felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity, as if the sister before him had transformed into a different person. Her manner of speaking and the things she understood were completely unlike her usual self. Although his sister had mentioned seeing other merchants behaving this way and simply imitating them, Da Bao didn't believe it.

His sister had always stayed in Lin Family Village, seeing more people than most, yet very few in the village engaged in trade. Da Bao understood that his sister kept certain things hidden from him, but he knew that this was his sister, Er Ya, who was genuinely good to her family. Every coin she earned was aimed at improving their lives; she never thought of herself. That was enough; what else could one ask for?

If it weren't for this sister, the family would already be worrying about the approaching winter, and he would still be stuck at the blacksmith’s shop serving as his master’s errand boy. Therefore, Da Bao never questioned his sister about the specifics and even helped her cover up the truth in front of their parents.

Lin He knew Da Bao didn't fully believe her explanation, but she could also see he wouldn't reveal anything. Da Bao shielded her even from their parents. Lin He had considered telling Da Bao the absolute truth, but ultimately worried that he wouldn't be able to accept the reality. If she told him she was merely a wandering soul from another world, Da Bao would likely dismiss it as madness. So, for now, she decided to leave it as it was, perhaps telling him when he was older.

Carrying two hundred taels of silver, Lin He didn't linger on the streets. She reasoned that this money was for building a house. Lin He was determined to build one this time; their current dwelling was scorching in summer, freezing in winter, and leaked everywhere when it rained. Moreover, the yard was just packed dirt, meaning any outing during a downpour would coat their shoes in mud—it was simply unbearable.

Lin He recalled her mother, Huang Shi, saying that when the family divided their property, their paternal grandparents, lacking a home, gave Lin He's family two taels of silver to buy this house from someone else. After the purchase, they never had the funds for renovations, so they had continued living there. Considering that most of the necessary household items had been acquired, she and Da Bao headed home.

Back home, she handed the silver to Huang Shi. The entire family gathered to discuss the house construction. If the house, including the surrounding wall and the backyard, were built with blue bricks, the material cost alone would be around fifty taels. Adding labor, food costs, and the expense of new furniture for the new house would likely push the total to another ten or twenty taels. Lin He planned to commission the furniture from Second Dog’s father, Uncle Li.

Uncle Li’s craftsmanship was excellent, and since they were on good terms, the price would be reasonable. Most importantly, furniture made by him would certainly be durable and long-lasting. In ancient times, there was no shortage of trees; wood was plentiful, and the trees in the mountains were all available for use.

Lin He wanted to build several additional rooms. If the current plot wasn't spacious enough, she proposed incorporating some of the land just outside the wall. Their yard was not bordered by other private residences; that land belonged to the village. To claim it, they only needed to notify the clan elder, who would then visit the households of Lin Village to gather a thumbprint from everyone—it was as simple as that. For significant matters like building a house, the villagers generally wouldn't object, as every family eventually builds. As long as the land wasn't privately owned but belonged to Lin Village, it could be utilized.

Lin He wanted more rooms because the current dwelling was far too small. Little Bao was still young and shared a room with her and San Ya. Da Bao lived with Old Man Qin. In a few years, when they married, they would definitely need their own rooms, especially Da Bao, who wouldn't be far from seeking a wife. Building rooms later would mean starting over. It was better to build everything needed in one go now.

Lin He stipulated that a kitchen was essential. Her parents needed one room. Da Bao and Little Bao each needed a room. Old Man Qin and his grandson needed one room. She and San Ya, being girls, could share a room for now, as daughters eventually marry out. They would also need a storage room, and if space allowed, an extra room dedicated as a study.

Little Bao was growing older daily. While family circumstances previously prevented it, their situation was improving. He needed to be sent to school. Whether he excelled or not was secondary; learning more was beneficial. Education was highly valued in this era, so tuition fees were expensive—the annual fee paid to the teacher alone cost several taels of silver, not including gifts for the teacher during New Year and festivals. Add the cost of buying books, ink, brushes, and paper, and the expense could easily reach one silver tael per month. Da Bao had started late, but it would still be best if he studied for a few years; knowing more characters would always be advantageous, regardless of his future path.

Furthermore, a dedicated study was a must. And most importantly, Lin He wanted to construct an independent washing area attached to the side of the house. They would dig a drainage trench beneath the room. The drain inside the washroom could be plugged with a stopper when not in use, easily pulled out when water was needed. They could wash up and bathe there.