"These silver notes are what elder brother has saved from his years of practicing medicine, the amount is not very much, only eight thousand taels. If building such an estate costs too much, many details can be reduced."
He Ziming was not completely ignorant. Not to mention building houses in such a barren place as the northwest, even in the Capital city, eight thousand taels could buy a three-courtyard residence.
It was just that he and Madam He both felt that stained glass windows were very valuable, so they thought the silver might not be enough.
"Elder brother, building an estate like ours wouldn't require so much silver," Lan Er pushed the silver notes back.
"I'll take care of the building, just consider it filial piety from your younger sister to father and mother." He Zhiran, as the eldest son, certainly could not let his younger sister pay for building a house for their parents.
He offered the silver notes again. "Are you looking down on elder brother for not having the ability? Not even having the capacity to build a house for father and mother."
"Elder brother, I didn't mean that. You are father and mother's child, and so am I. Whoever contributes the silver makes no difference. Besides, you're planning to open a medical clinic here, and will need silver to operate it. I earned some silver in the northwest, so just grant me this once to fulfill my filial heart, alright?" Lan Er firmly refused to take He Ziming's silver notes.
Madam He saw the silver notes going back and forth between the siblings and felt very comforted.
Brotherly love and sisterly deference were fully embodied in them.
In the Capital city, many prominent families had siblings who fought and schemed against each other over more benefits.
Yet her children were both considerate of each other, having such children was her greatest honor in life.
"Alright, stop arguing, you two. Your father and I have also saved up some silver over the years. We'll pay for the building ourselves.
If you really want to be filial, just live your own lives well and cause your father and I less worry. That would be more practical than giving us a mountain of gold and silver."
Madam He's words were already very down-to-earth. What mother doesn't hope for a smooth life for her children to live at ease?
Lan Er was also not melodramatic. Anyway, building a house wouldn't require that much silver, it didn't matter who paid for it.
"Then listen to mother. I'll have father find Master Hu to help starting tomorrow."
To get the house built before winter.
Although they had digressed a bit, Lan Er had not forgotten about elder brother He Ziming's intentions.
"Elder brother, does Lan Er know your feelings?"
"She doesn't seem to know." He Ziming had never spoken with such little confidence before, clearly he had been thinking it was one-sided all along.
He Zhiran knew Lan Er's personality, and also knew her purpose for coming to the northwest.
If it hadn't been for her and Mo Jiuye stopping her, Lan Er probably wouldn't exist in this world anymore.
After more contact over time, she knew Lan Er's mindset was very firm. Even if Lan Er had feelings for elder brother He, she probably wouldn't agree and would keep the promise she made initially.
"Elder brother, don't rush to confess for now. Let me try to probe Lan Er's thoughts.
A relationship needs mutual affection. If Lan Er is unwilling, let's not force it."
She didn't want He Ziming to have too much hope. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
"I understand. If Miss Lan Er is unwilling, I promise not to pester her." He Ziming quickly stated his stance.
Madam He listened to her children's conversation, at a loss for what to say.
It turned out these siblings had directly ignored her, not caring whether she agreed to her son marrying Lan Er or not, they wouldn't listen to her opinion anyway.
Oh well, she didn't have much opposition to her son's feelings anyway, just let nature take its course.
Seeing that mother had nothing to say, He Zhiran stood up.
"I've been out for a while, going back to check on the children."
"I'll go with you." Madam He also stood up, wanting to see her two little grandchildren again after a while.
If she went back to the Capital city and couldn't see those two treasures, she probably wouldn't enjoy her meals anymore.
When He Zhiran and Madam He returned, Lan Er was still there. But the mother and daughter tacitly showed no abnormalities.
Not until the sky darkened and everyone dispersed, did Lan Er bring a basin of clean water into He Zhiran's room, and He Zhiran called for her to stay.
"Lan Er, when I first brought you and Yu Er to the northwest, I never asked your ages."
Lan Er was very perceptive, and the young madam would often chat with her, but never asked such questions.
Still, she politely answered, "Young Madam, Lan Er and Yu Er are the same age, just turned eighteen this year."
In the Da Shun Dynasty, girls generally started betrothal discussions at fifteen. As long as they had no physical defects, they would basically marry by sixteen.
Lan Er and Yu Er were eighteen this year, quite old maids by now.
"You and Yu Er are so fair, if not for saying so, I wouldn't have known you were already eighteen." He Zhiran didn't immediately get to the point, but saw Lan Er's evasive eyes, seeming preoccupied.
She wanted to keep the conversation light.
"Look at me, not even eighteen yet and already mother to two babies."
"That is the young madam's fortune, to bear twins in one birth, and both sons too." Lan Er thought He Zhiran was lamenting something, and her nervousness dissipated.
He Zhiran chatted casually with her for a bit longer before finally saying, "Have you and Yu Er thought about how to spend the rest of your days? You can't do menial chores at the Mo house forever, right? Besides, you don't have any indenture contracts and are free persons."
Hearing this, Lan Er fell to her knees with a thud.
"Young Madam, when Yu Er and I followed you back to the northwest, it was just hoping that on the day the princess' revenge is accomplished, we can go pay respects at her grave and tell her the news. I had no other thoughts originally. I was already indifferent to the world, but grateful for the Mo family's kindness, I reignited my desire to live.
Now, Lan Er is willing to stay at the Mo family forever, even as an ox or horse if need be."
Lan Er was clever and immediately grasped He Zhiran's implication.
Moreover, when she encountered young master He earlier, Madam He was also there. Her blushing might have revealed something to Madam He. What if because of this, the young madam wanted to marry her off to that family?
So she had to state her stance before the young madam brought it up.
Since He Zhiran had started the topic, she had no intention of stopping halfway.
