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Although Lin Yuan had already decided that He Xiaodong and another would continue to take care of the vineyard, and to involve the villagers from He family village in the work, she kept this to herself until she had a chance to discuss it with Liu Limin.

While He Xiaodong described the arrangements of each courtyard, Lin Yuan listened and nodded in understanding.

When the old wealthy gentleman left, he hadn’t taken the household items with him, so in addition to the furniture, there were many decorative items left behind, such as porcelain and screens.

Of course, there were also quilts. Lin Yuan intended to keep the decorations, but she had no desire for personal items like quilts.

Even if they weren’t diseased, using someone else’s intimate belongings still felt uncomfortably unsettling to her.

As for what to do with these quilts, Lin Yuan hadn’t decided yet. Families in better circumstances generally wouldn’t reuse someone else’s leftovers; it seemed that giving them to poor families was the only option.

However, whether to the poor or not, Lin Yuan planned to ask Lao Fan or Xiao Linshuang for some disinfecting herbs to treat the quilts before giving them away.

While they were talking, the sound of a carriage stopping at the gate could be heard, and soon Lin Yi and He Guangming came in first, followed by Lizheng Hua Hui, who was covered in dirt and stench.

Certainly, both He Xiaodong and He Chengfang knew Lizheng, and they were both surprised and amused to see him appear like this. They struggled to hold back their laughter but failed, and both quickly ran to the back courtyard to let out a laugh that seemed to shake the heavens.

When Lizheng reappeared, his complexion looked even worse, indicating he had suffered much censure at the Yamen.

Lin Yuan, finding the situation amusing, playfully tapped her toe, feeling that the wait in the estate had been quite worthwhile.

Lin Yi was still his reticent self, so He Guangming did the talking. He delivered the notarized deed to Lin Yuan and Xia Zheng, saying with a smile, "Young Master Xia, Miss Lin, this deed has been filed at the Yamen, and from now on, this land and estate are yours."

Lin Yuan took the deed and without even looking, she tucked it into her chest. It cost her one thousand five hundred taels of silver after all, and she certainly planned to use it to score some money from her aunt on another day.

Liu Limin is no ordinary person now. Since the fall of Meng Family Wine House, Liu’s Brewery in Zhuma Town was unrivaled in profitability, not only supplying the entire Zhuma Town but also offering wines to Fuman Building and its other branches.

So, Liu Limin must have plenty of silver.

Patting the deed against her chest, Lin Yuan felt as though she was keeping a large stack of banknotes, thick and satisfying, and she smiled contently.

Seeing Lizheng standing far in the back, Xia Zheng curled his lips and feigned shock, "Oh my, Lizheng is actually heading to the Yamen looking like this? What a state to be in! Hurry, someone must take Lizheng home to change!"

Lizheng’s mouth twitched, and the flattery that was always at the tip of his tongue couldn’t come out. He truly didn’t know what to say in response to Xia Zheng. Left with no option, he just gave a dry laugh and nodded incessantly.

Now that the deed was in hand and the silver had been given to He Guangming, Lin Yuan felt that Lizheng was the only factor she was uncertain about.

"Village Chief He, where’s your silver note?"

"Right here." He Guangming untied a heavy pouch from behind him, which seemed to be filled with silver pieces.

"It’s hard to divide a silver note, so when I went to the city, I asked Lin Zhuangshi to accompany me to the bank to exchange the note for silver pieces. I will distribute these silver pieces to the villagers when I get back."

He Guangming was indeed considerate, and Lin Yuan couldn’t help but nod in approval.

Xia Zheng, picking at his fingers, said to Lizheng, "Lizheng, as the official of these villages, you shouldn’t be just busy selling land. Do you understand what else you should be doing?"

Challenged in this way, Lizheng’s forehead broke out in sweat. What did he mean by being busy selling land? Could it be that Xia Zheng knew something?

Lizheng cast a furtive glance at He Guangming, cursing him inwardly, sure that it was his nonsense talking!

"Lizheng?" Seeing no response, Lin Yuan looked at Xia Zheng with a smile and raised an eyebrow, "It seems Lizheng knows nothing but selling land; perhaps you should enlighten him?"

Lin Yuan’s seemingly innocuous words were actually the greatest form of pressure on Lizheng. If as Lizheng he truly knew nothing but selling land, then he really ought to step down from his position.