The outhouse, too, absolutely had to be built as far from the courtyard as possible, with a large cistern underneath, topped by two flagstones, and the outhouse itself covered with tiles, featuring a small window near the top so that using it wouldn't smell foul. Lin He felt like vomiting every time she entered their current privy; it only had two rickety wooden planks, and she was still terrified of falling through every time she relieved herself. These two points were non-negotiable.

Lin He shared her ideas with Lin Er Niu, who agreed. Since they were building, they should build it well. A house was something they would live in for the rest of their lives; building it properly now meant future generations could inhabit it without constant, costly renovations. Spending a bit more now was worth the investment.

Once the entire family reached a consensus, they felt their current courtyard was a bit too small; they needed more land. Madam Huang had Lin Er Niu buy two catties of pork, several packets of pastries, and a few catties of white flour before heading to the Clan Elder’s house. The Elder was the most respected man in the village, and all major and minor affairs had to pass through him. When the Clan Elder of Lin Family Village saw Lin Er Niu approaching his home, he already had ideas forming in his mind.

He had heard about the Lin Er Niu family buying land a few days prior. They claimed it was for someone else, but the Er Niu family had no particularly wealthy relatives. Seeing his demeanor today, the Elder understood a bit more. He welcomed Er Niu inside. The Clan Elder’s house was built with blue bricks and grey tiles, bright and airy; living in such a dwelling made a person feel more spirited. Lin Er Niu thought that soon he too could live in a house like this, and a wave of excitement washed over him.

As Lin Er Niu was deep in thought, he was brought back by the sound of the Clan Elder clearing his throat. He nearly forgot the purpose of his visit. He presented the gifts, saying, "Clan Elder, it has been a while since I visited. My wife asked me to bring these things as a token of respect for your venerable age."

The Clan Elder chuckled dryly twice. "You rascal, you don't come to the Third Treasure Hall without a reason. You must have something you need to ask of me."

Er Niu scratched his head sheepishly. "Clan Elder, there are a couple of matters I wanted to inform you about. First, a few days ago, my second daughter made some toys that caught the eye of a merchant in town, who bought them at a high price, earning us some silver. Coincidentally, someone in the neighboring village was selling land. I found the price and terms suitable, so I had the broker finalize the deal. I intended to notify you sooner, but the selling family was in a rush to leave, so I handled it first and only now have time to call on you. Second, my children are growing up, and it's no longer suitable for them to share quarters. We have some leftover funds, and I wish to request some space in the village to build a new house."

The Clan Elder was slightly displeased that Lin Er Niu had bought land without consulting him first. While buying land didn't directly concern the Elder, who was he? He was the village's leading figure, and he felt that all matters, big or small, should warrant his notification. Being accustomed to leadership, the Clan Elder naturally enjoyed flattery and deference. However, since Lin Er Niu brought gifts today and proactively brought up the matter, the anger he initially felt had already subsided by more than half.

The Clan Elder took a couple of puffs from his dry pipe. "Where are you thinking of building?"

"On the current site. We need to add a few rooms, but the original plot is a bit small. So, I was hoping to incorporate a little bit of the empty land next door—not too much, just enough space for perhaps three or four rooms. What do you think?"

The Clan Elder pondered for a moment. "If it’s only the space for three or four rooms, that shouldn't be an issue. The land next to you is empty anyway. I will go on your behalf and speak to the village, I’m sure there won't be any trouble. However, Er Niu, it's not that I'm nagging you, but in the future, you should inform me of things sooner. After all, I manage the village affairs. If I'm the last to know about matters, it’s hard for me to explain to the villagers."

In truth, the Clan Elder felt that Lin Er Niu’s family had purchased land without his knowledge, making him feel as if his position as Clan Elder held little importance in their eyes. Thus, he was issuing this subtle warning.

Lin Er Niu nodded like he was pounding garlic. "Yes, yes, indeed, we were inconsiderate. I beg the Clan Elder to be magnanimous and forgive our oversight."

Seeing Lin Er Niu's attitude in admitting fault, and given the gifts, the Clan Elder smiled. "Very well. Go home and prepare to build. I guarantee I will sort this matter out for you."

Lin Er Niu returned with profuse thanks. He reflected that this matter truly was his oversight. The Clan Elder was the head of the clan, and he would need the Elder's help for many things in the future. His wife and children were unaware of these nuances; he needed to be more mindful. Lin Er Niu spent the journey home repenting, though he was still quite happy that the matter had been resolved successfully.

Upon returning, he discussed the building preparations with his family. However, rebuilding on the same site presented a significant problem: the old houses had to be torn down. Where would such a large family live in the meantime? There were too many people, and no relatives had houses large enough to accommodate them all, nor would it be convenient.

Madam Huang suggested they stay at her parents' house, as they had plenty of space. Lin He vetoed this immediately. Madam Huang’s family home was too far away; they would need manpower to help with the construction daily, and commuting back and forth would waste valuable time. That distant well couldn't quench the immediate thirst.

Finally, Lin Er Niu proposed, "How about tomorrow I go into town and speak with Elder Brother? We can stay at their old house for a while. Their place will be empty anyway, and it's close to our house, which is convenient for them since they aren't living there. Tomorrow we need to go to town anyway to buy supplies for the new build, so I'll tell him then."

Lin He considered it; this idea was actually quite good. She had seen her uncle’s house before; it had several rooms and enough courtyard space to store things, and it was close by.

But Madam Huang disagreed, saying only, "Will your Elder Sister-in-law agree?"

Lin He had never met her uncle or aunt, and didn't understand the implication of her mother’s words, so she remained silent. Lin Er Niu spoke up, "I also need to take some things to Father and Mother tomorrow. We should tell them about the house building too. If they have time, perhaps they can even come back to help. I’ll mention it to Elder Brother and Sister-in-law at the same time tomorrow."

Madam Huang did not press the issue further, and the plan was provisionally set.

In the evening, the whole family gathered to plan out the next day's tasks. Lin Er Niu would take Da Bao to town at first light to hire the masons—there were specialized construction crews in town. They would come to survey the site to determine exactly what materials were needed before purchasing them. Tomorrow's first priority was tearing down the old structures and clearing out the contents before starting the new foundation.

Lin He, San Ya, and Madam Huang’s responsibility was managing their daily life during this period. They would likely need to hire extra help. A team of masons was usually over a dozen people, and in this era, building required providing meals for the crew. Madam Huang, with two younger children, probably couldn't manage meals for over a dozen workers alone. Zhou Shi would definitely come to help—her husband’s sister-in-law’s assistance went without saying. They might also need to invite Aunt Xu. Uncle Li was busy making furniture, so they could have Da Bao take Xiao Jun to help him there, aiming to have the furniture finished around the same time as the house so they could move into their new home quickly. The entire family's atmosphere was buoyant.

Who wouldn't look forward to a new house that wasn't cold in winter and wasn't hot in summer? Even the youngest, Xiao Bao, offered to help. Lin He laughed, holding him close. "Just don't cause trouble; what help can you possibly provide?" The family laughed merrily, planning to sleep early so they could wake up early the next day.