Er Niu returned home to find the family gathered, discussing various matters. He decided that he and Da Jiang would take Da Bao to the pond site the next day to start digging, making as much progress as they could. Li Da Sheng and Uncle Li could join them in a few days to speed things up. He also informed Lin He that he had successfully invited Hong Yun to come and help with the work.

Lin He nodded, pleased that her paternal aunt was coming. However, she worried that if her aunt and uncle came daily, the commute back and forth would consume too much time, leaving them exhausted and unable to return every evening. Arranging accommodation for them was now a pressing concern. While they had spare rooms, they were not entirely convenient; it would be best to find a separate dwelling for the couple.

Lin He raised this issue with Er Niu, who also found himself stumped. There was truly no suitable place for them to stay long-term within the current home, though a brief stay might be manageable. He couldn't immediately devise a solution.

Lin He pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Father, how about this: the pond isn't far from our house, and the land there isn't expensive. We could buy some more land near the pond and build a few simple structures—just enough for them to live in comfortably. They could stay there, and it would be useful later on."

Lin He was actually thinking ahead. The family would eventually need to acquire more fields and land, inevitably requiring hired hands or temporary laborers. They would need a place for these workers to stay or rest. Since they had this idea now, it might be best to purchase the surrounding land all at once.

Er Niu and Lin He had slightly different perspectives, but he agreed with the plan to build housing. Once the fish in the pond grew larger, someone would need to guard them against thieves, requiring quarters. Building now made sense; Da Sheng and his wife could perhaps manage the fishpond watch once they were there.

Er Niu concurred, stating, "Then tomorrow I will visit the clan elder again to acquire more land for building. How much land should we buy? If it's just for the house, perhaps less than an mu will suffice."

Lin He replied, "We should buy a larger plot. If it turns out to be insufficient later, it will be troublesome. Let's buy two mu. The remainder can be held for future use. Those two mu of land by the riverbank are only ten taels of silver, not expensive at all."

Er Niu agreed. He decided he would meet the clan elder the next day to buy more of that riverbank land. They would hire the same bricklayer from before to clear the ground and build the houses. Construction should take about a month, which coincided with the initial phase of digging the pond. Hong Yun and her husband would have to work hard, coming in the morning and leaving in the evening via the ox cart.

That evening, Lin Da Jiang returned home and told He Shi about taking the job at Er Niu’s place. He Shi was delighted, believing that Da Jiang working there would significantly improve their household's fortunes. Three hundred wen a month was a good wage, and he could still manage their own farming during busy seasons—it was a wonderful arrangement.

Three hundred wen a month meant three liang and six qian of silver annually. Their own grain could serve as sustenance; life would surely be much easier, He Shi mused happily.

If Qingshan could also find work, that would be ideal. With this thought, He Shi voiced her suggestion: "Husband, they aren't hiring just one person for the fishpond, are they? Ask Second Uncle to hire Qingshan as well. That way, you two father and son will have someone looking out for each other."

Da Jiang saw the calculation in his wife’s eyes and was grateful for his foresight in not revealing the full six hundred wen monthly wage, lest she say something more outrageous. "What looking out? It’s only a short distance. Besides, does Qingshan know how to raise fish? Why hire him? Er Niu has already hired Da Sheng and his wife. They don't need more people. Moreover, Da Sheng and his wife will likely have to stay there overnight to guard the fish when they mature. Could Qingshan handle that?"

Hearing Da Jiang’s words, He Shi considered that if guarding the fish required staying overnight daily, Qingshan likely couldn't manage it. She dropped the idea, deciding they could ask Second Uncle to hire Qingshan another time if an opportunity arose.

Da Jiang looked at He Shi and cautioned, "Stop plotting those unnecessary schemes. Think about how much we owe them. Not only are they not holding it against us, but they are actively helping us. You should be content with that."

He Shi replied, "I understand. Whatever you say goes."

Da Jiang nodded in response.

The next morning, Da Jiang woke early and headed to Er Niu’s house. Er Niu mentioned he was going to the clan elder’s to buy land, so Da Jiang didn't press the matter. He took his shovel and some tools alone to the riverbank fields to begin clearing the soil.

Lin He stayed home with Huang Shi and the younger children. There was no need to prepare any ointment these days, as the scholar had returned home when his due date arrived. Da Bao and the others were also off school. Lin He planned to send Da Bao to study in town once the immediate household matters were settled.

Seeing that Da Bao wouldn't be home for long, Huang Shi selected some fabric and sewed him several outfits. The clothes were made in the simple, long-robe style common among scholars of that era, cinched at the waist with a sash. The sleeves and edges were trimmed with fabric, and he wore a matching headscarf.

Da Bao found the attire somewhat awkward. He was accustomed to simple guazis (short jackets) and trousers at home. Lin He explained that scholars in town all dressed this way and that Da Bao couldn't appear too shabby, which is why she agreed to have Huang Shi make a few sets for him to take.

Lin He felt the robes were fine for attending classes, as the styles were simple and the colors subdued—like pale blue-white or dark ink—but they seemed ill-suited for helping out at the shop in the afternoon. Thinking this over, she took some darker fabric and, following her own design, fashioned several short vests to be worn over the robes. These vests made the outfit less cumbersome and gave a sharper look.

Lin He tried making one from dark purple fabric. The edges, neckline, and shoulders were bound with black silk thread. When she had Da Bao try it on, Lin He thought it looked exceptionally handsome.

Da Bao was already good-looking, with eyes inherited from Huang Shi that were large, dark, and bright, and a face shape slightly elongated like Er Niu's. Coupled with his features, and having lived better these past few months, he had grown taller. Wearing this ensemble, he looked quite respectable.

Xiao Bao watched from the side, clapping his hands and exclaiming, "Big Brother, you look so handsome in that outfit! Big Sister, make one for me too!"

Da Bao blushed slightly from the praise, merely scratching his head honestly. He genuinely liked the little vest Lin He had added over the robe; it looked much better than just the long gown alone.

Lin He cast a teasing, reproachful glance at Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao was unexpectedly clever and mischievous, smarter than Lin Chen and Da Bao. If he saw something nice, he would always try to bargain with Lin He, never letting food or clothing pass by.

Lin He deliberately teased him, "Big Brother is wearing this new outfit to go study in town; he won't be home much. If you want a new outfit, you can go study in town with Big Brother, how about that?"

Xiao Bao blinked his eyes and asked, "Then will Big Brother still come back after he goes to study?"

"He can't come back every day, only two days a month."

Xiao Bao thought for a moment and declared, "Then I don't want a new outfit. If I go to town, I can't eat Big Sister's cooking every day, I can't play with Second Sister, and I can't see Mom and Dad every day. I'm not going."

Everyone burst into laughter at Xiao Bao's reaction.