She had always felt that having Old Man Qin and Xiaojun live with her family was treating them as her own kin, and hadn't seen anything inappropriate in it, but she had overlooked their feelings. She presumed they wouldn't truly see themselves as part of her family, always feeling like servants, or at the very least, living under someone else's roof.

Normally, Xiaojun was different from the other children at home; he seemed excessively sensible and somewhat constrained. He would always try his best to complete any task asked of him, even if it was something he disliked. Unlike Chen'er and the others, who would do things if they wanted to and not if they didn't, and would just ask directly for whatever they desired. Even when everyone was helping out, the moment there was something fun outside, they would all leave—even Da Yuan would bolt the moment Chen'er ran off.

Only Xiaojun would work through everything from beginning to end, whether it was making salves or doing other chores; it was the same. Lin He felt a child’s youth shouldn't be like this; it should be unrestrained, carefree, and free-spirited, at least allowing the child’s true nature to show. But the feeling Xiaojun gave her was that he was constantly walking on eggshells, which no child should have to do in their own home.

As for Old Man Qin, though he showed nothing outwardly, Lin He could see that in his heart, he probably always felt indebted to Lin He for their kindness, constantly thinking of how to repay that debt. Coupled with living in their house, this notion likely never faded.

The only solution was to let them have a home of their own. Xiaojun could continue assisting her with tasks, and Old Man Qin could keep working for them as usual. While the surface of life would remain the same, Old Man Qin and Xiaojun’s mindsets would shift. Lin He sincerely hoped that Old Man Qin and Xiaojun would relax, body and soul, and live genuinely without any burdens, happy from the inside out.

Besides, relatives visited their home often. Upon arrival, they would ask who those people were and why they were living there. After Madam Huang explained the situation clearly, they would inevitably utter a few unkind remarks. Even her own grandmother said something cutting every time she visited, regardless of whether Old Man Qin and his grandson were present. To those gossiping, it might have been nothing, but Old Man Qin and his grandson surely had feelings about it.

Lin He had always entertained the idea of them becoming independent, but she hadn't prioritized it until now. It shouldn't be a major issue to secure household registration for them; she could ask her father to visit the Clan Elder, explain that Xiaojun was an adopted son recognized by Father, and have the Elder register them. That shouldn't be difficult.

They only needed the household registration; they wouldn't take any village land or expect assistance with village contributions—they would simply pay their share when required. The Clan Elder would surely agree to such a straightforward arrangement. For building their house, they could construct a small courtyard, not requiring village land or the agreement of the villagers. The main challenge now was how to broach the subject with Old Man Qin. If handled poorly, Old Man Qin might misunderstand and think her family no longer wished to live alongside them, which would be unfortunate. Lin He decided to consult with her parents first on the best way to phrase it.

The next day, in the evening, while Old Man Qin was taking Xiaojun to bed, Lin He discussed the matter with Er Niu, laying out her entire thought process. Er Niu, although unable to fully grasp the nuances of Lin He’s thinking, understood the basic reasoning. He also agreed that having a home of their own would be better for Old Man Qin and the boy.

Er Niu offered to speak to Old Man Qin himself. He pointed out that Old Man Qin had been staying with them recently, and they were all aware of how the family treated them; there would be no misunderstanding. He was sure they would be delighted by the news.

The following day, after hearing Er Niu’s proposal, Old Man Qin indeed replied with evident happiness. “Er Niu, I’ve actually been thinking this for a long time, but I was too embarrassed to bring it up. We’ve already caused you all so much trouble. However, if you could just provide us with land to build a house, that would be enough. I have the money to build the courtyard myself. We two—grandfather and grandson—don’t need a large place; just a small courtyard, similar to the one by the fish pond, will suffice.”

Er Niu nodded and relayed this to Lin He upon his return. Lin He felt this arrangement was acceptable. A courtyard similar to her aunt’s would only cost about ten-odd taels of silver, and they wouldn’t need to buy land. The seven taels Old Man Qin had given her family last year—which Lin He had quietly returned once their circumstances improved—plus Xiaojun’s wages over the past few months and Old Man Qin’s monthly earnings, should be enough for the construction.

Furthermore, a house represented a home, and the concept of earning it through one's own efforts was fundamentally different from receiving a gift. Lin He decided that since her family wanted to express their goodwill anyway, they could arrange for Uncle Li to craft a set of new furniture for Old Man Qin’s new house as a housewarming gift—that would be a fine gesture.

Since Old Man Qin had agreed, construction needed to commence as soon as possible. Of course, the first step was visiting the Clan Elder to discuss the necessary procedures; such matters required the Elder’s approval. Old Man Qin was quite astute in social matters; he brought many gifts when visiting the Elder. Seeing the offerings, and considering that Old Man Qin wasn't claiming any village resources while being trustworthy, having lived there for so long, the Clan Elder quickly consented, promising to process the paperwork swiftly.

It took about twenty-odd days before Old Man Qin’s house was completed. On moving day, Old Man Qin and Xiaojun were extraordinarily joyful. Watching the smile bloom on Xiaojun’s face in his own courtyard and seeing the emotion in Old Man Qin’s eyes, Lin He felt even more certain that she had done the right thing.

A new dwelling necessitated a housewarming feast. Old Man Qin invited the villagers to eat, marking his official establishment in the village. He gave Madam Huang some money to help organize the banquet, stating he would cover any shortfall. Madam Huang accepted and did her utmost to arrange a good meal.

While the banquet fare wasn't as extravagant as what Lin He’s family had for their house building, it was still quite respectable. Each table featured both corn and white flour steamed buns, and several dishes were prepared. Madam Huang used some of the ducks from Lin He’s family, caught fish from the pond, and bought some meat, vegetables, and fruit, making the meal noticeably better than what most common households would serve.

The main banquet was held at noon. That evening, Old Man Qin invited Lin He’s entire family to his new home for a simpler meal. Old Man Qin was visibly emotional. He pulled Xiaojun over and had them both kowtow to Er Niu and his family, saying, “Er Niu, He’er, we will never forget the boundless kindness your entire family has shown us. Without you, we don't know if we would still be alive. We hold all of this in our hearts.”

This display startled Er Niu’s family; they quickly helped the two stand up. Lin He genuinely disliked such formality and stepped aside, letting her father handle the formalities. Er Niu said, “Old Man Qin, let’s dispense with these unnecessary courtesies between us. Even though we won't live together anymore, we are still family. Enough said.”

Old Man Qin nodded repeatedly. Lin He’s family stayed chatting at Old Man Qin’s house until very late. The children were particularly happy, as they now had another wonderful place to visit and play.

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