In the next two or three days, Ji Ning continued to take Yahuan Yuling to the west of the city to look for a suitable courtyard.

Others run private schools and academies are looking for a quiet and elegant place, and even deliberately built on a certain mountain outside the city, away from the worldly distractions. Ji Ning wanted to do the opposite, but he was going to build it in the downtown area, and he was not satisfied with the lack of dense crowds.

However, it was the first place to settle down in the future.

"On Fengyang Street, there are three main rooms and two wing rooms, which were renovated the year before last. The yard is quite spacious, there are two trees in the yard, one podocarpus and one loquat tree. A three-year-old vine is planted in the corner of the courtyard, and there is a stone table and bench under the vine trellis. He An introduced the courtyard he found, "The rent is very fair, twenty taels of silver a year." ”

The Great Yong Dynasty was in its heyday, and one penny could buy a steamed bun, two pennies and a vegetable bun, and twenty taels of silver was 20,000 yuan, which was a huge amount of money for ordinary civilians. However, Fengyang Street in the east of the city is a place for rich people, and the annual rent of twenty taels for a courtyard with three main houses and two wings is already very cheap.

"Well," Ji Ning nodded slightly, and said, "I'll take a look early tomorrow morning, and if it's appropriate, I'll rent it and move in." ”

"But ......," He An wanted to speak, but stopped.

Ji Ning asked, "But what?" ”

"That courtyard belongs to Widow Qin." He An was a little worried, "Widow Qin's reputation ......"

"Widow Qin's reputation is very bad? Will you increase the rent halfway? Ji Ning raised his eyebrows and asked.

He An shook his head and said, "No, Widow Qin's reputation is very good. It's just rumored that she specializes in men. ”

Yu Ling next to him remembered that Ji Ning had lost his memory a lot, so he interjected and introduced: "Widow Qin married twice, both times she had just worshiped the church, and before she entered the cave room, the groom died of a violent illness, which was very demonic. Although the men of Jinling City covet her beauty and Wanguan family property, no one dares to be a ghost who sends death anymore. Young Master, why don't we look for another one? ”

Ji Ning shook his head with a smile and said, "It's just a rumor." Even if it's true, I'm not marrying her, how can she restrain me? ”

He was originally an atheist, and even though he had crossed over here, it was no longer scientifically explainable, but atheism was still ingrained in his mind.

Yu Ling and He An both wanted to rent cheaply, not to mention that their young master was just renting a courtyard, so they were lucky.

After a pause, Ji Ning suddenly remembered something and asked Yu Ling and He Andao: "When it comes to reputation, you guys are honest, is Young Master Ben's reputation really bad?" Have you done a lot of hurtful things? ”

Thinking of the past few days, I was scolded and ridiculed by the whole city. Although he didn't care about it at the time, he was still a little troubled afterwards.

"Young master, they are red-eyed and jealous of you." Yu Ling immediately preemptively said, his tone was quite uneven, "You have never really hurt anyone. Occasionally, you'll give some money to orphans on the streets! ”

"Am I really that good?" Ji Ning asked He Andao in disbelief.

He An nodded vigorously and said, "Young Master, you have no great evil. If it weren't for your crime, it would be nothing more than the old man Wenqu star in the past, and you only learned it, young master...... Young master, now that we have moved out of the Ji Mansion, it is time to start again. You must study diligently, get famous, and live up to your old name. ”

In the end, the faithful slave tried hard to persuade him.

He is a generation older than Ji Ning, and he is the scholar and follower of Ji Ning's cheap father. After the death of Ji Ning's cheap father, although Ji Ning was taken care of by Ji Fu, he mainly took care of Ji Ning. Ji Ning still has to respect him as an uncle. Therefore, he persuaded Ji Ning to study diligently, which was not overstepping.

On the second day, Ji Ning led Yuling to see the courtyard in He An.

Receiving Ji Ning and the others was a middle-aged deacon of Widow Qin.

According to the middle-aged deacon, Widow Qin didn't want the yard to be abandoned, so she rented it out at a very low price.

Ji Ning looked around the yard with his hand, the house in the courtyard was complete, the grade was not low, he was quite satisfied, and immediately rented it.

The rent was twenty taels, the deposit was twenty taels, and a total of forty taels were paid to get the lease.

On the same day, Ji Ning and others moved in, and the door of the courtyard was hung with a plaque of "Ji Mansion", and a couplet was pasted on both sides of the gate.

The great river goes east, and the waves sweep away the heroes of the ages.

The small garden returns to the west, and the warbler evokes a beautiful garden.

The door is not small, but unfortunately the word is much worse, although it can be called neat, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that the font is immature.

Needless to say, it came from Ji Ning's hand.

He An was not very satisfied with Ji Ning's couplet, thinking that Ji Ning valued the love of his children and did not think about making contributions.

Also, the couplet rhythm is not neat enough, the most obvious is that the ending word of the upper couplet should be the sound of the couplet, and the ending word of the lower couplet is the flat sound, but Ji Ning's couplet is just the opposite, which is a taboo of the couplet.

However, with Ji Ning's lack of learning and skills, He An is still very relieved to be able to write such a pair, which is commendable!

That night, Yu Ling and He An renovated a table of sumptuous delicacies together to celebrate the housewarming of their new home.

After settling down, Yu Ling and He An were very happy, and they no longer had to worry about their young master living in the inn and squandering indiscriminately. Moreover, with a home, people's hearts settle down.

After another two days, Ji Ning finally spent 155 taels of silver to buy a courtyard on Flooded Street in the west of the city.

Although the yard is a little old, it is better because the yard is big enough, and there are nine main houses plus side rooms. The key is that the location of the yard is in line with his expectations. Flooded Street is not the main street, but the courtyard is a very densely populated main road when you turn left for more than ten zhang and there is Jianren Street.

However, although the yard was bought, it still needs to be renovated. After Ji Ning told He An about his idea of trimming, he handed over the trimming work to He An to take care of.

Ji Ning seized the time to study and practice calligraphy at home, while Yu Ling waited beside him to add fragrance to his red sleeves.

One day, Ji Ning recited: "Mencius said: 'If it is not fate, obey it, so those who know their fate do not stand under the rock wall.'" Those who die in their own way are righteous; Shackling the dead is not a righteous fate. ’……”

Yu Ling couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, what does the sub-sage mean?" ”

"Confucius said: 'Prevention of disaster is the first and not the subsequent injury.' Knowing and acting cautiously, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, and he can ignore it. Ji Ning smiled and read another sentence before he said, "Literally means that smart people will not stand under a dangerous wall to prevent the dangerous wall from falling down and crushing people." By extension, it means that a truly intelligent person will not put himself in a dangerous situation, but must know how to prevent problems before they occur and avoid dangers in advance. ”

Speaking of this, Ji Ning couldn't help but think of himself.

Although he made up his mind to make huge profits by selling small seals and big seals in the future, if he didn't have the talent to learn, he was still a talent who came from the shadows, and he couldn't explain how he knew so many small seals and big seals, so why not put himself in a dangerous situation?

Therefore, it is still necessary to follow the local customs and study diligently, and at least to obtain a meritorious name, so that you can be more confident and bold in selling small seals for profit.

As for why not choose to use the ideas and knowledge of modern science on earth for business and inventions? It's relatively easier that way. He had thought about it, but he had ruled it down.

Shinong Industry and Commerce, this is the order of the four different classes of the Dayong Dynasty, and it is also the order of the ancient dynasties.

Scholars of merit are the absolute ruling class, admired and respected by all, enjoy privileges, and do not have to pay rent and taxes.

Workers and merchants are the two lowest classes.

Especially for merchants, even if they have a lot of money, they can't wear long sleeves, and they can't take a carriage to sit in a sedan chair, etc., and they are slaughtered by fat pigs from time to time.

He has no ambitions, he just wants to enjoy the ancient life of three wives and four concubines comfortably and peacefully, but he also doesn't want to marry a beautiful wife and take her out to play and be robbed by someone on the street.

Therefore, it is better to be a reader of the ruling class.

Thinking of this, Ji Ning continued to recite carefully: "Mencius said: 'If you ask, you will get it, and if you give it, you will lose it; It is to seek to be beneficial, and to seek to be in me. There is a way to ask for it, and there is a destiny to get it, it is to seek what is not beneficial to it, and it is also ...... to ask for those who are outside."

The renovation and repair of the yard used to run a private school is a large amount of work, and there are no modern machinery in ancient times, so it is estimated that it will take more than a month to complete.

While Ji Ning studied hard, he did not forget to combine work and rest.

When you are tired of reading, Yu Ling gently pinched her shoulders and rubbed her temples, and when she was bored, she took Yu Ling to the streets, felt the folk customs of the ancients, and occasionally teased Yu Ling, a pretty girl.

The white horse passed through the gap, and nearly twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Ji Ning was reciting the Book of Changes in the study, and when he was reciting "Tianxingjian, the gentleman strives for self-improvement", suddenly Yuling came in and waited quietly beside him, and waited for him to pause the recitation before taking two steps forward to report: "Young master, Deacon Liu of Qinfu asks to see." ”

"Oh." Ji Ning answered, put down the book and stood up, and walked out of the desk to stand still.

Yu Ling immediately stepped forward and reached out to help Ji Ning sort out the folds of his clothes. At the end, Xiao Xiao followed Ji Ning out of the study and into the living room.

Ji Ning walked into the living room, and Deacon Liu, who asked to see him, immediately greeted him and shouted, "I've seen Ji Gongzi." ”

The two young men in Tsing Yi who followed behind Deacon Liu also bowed and shouted, "I've seen Ji Gongzi." ”

"Deacon Liu." Ji Ning nodded, continued to walk in, and then made a gesture to sit down, and said, "Please be seated." ”

That Deacon Liu Ji Ning knew, and it was the middle-aged deacon who was in charge of renting this courtyard to him some time ago.

Deacon Liu politely thanked Ji Ning, and then sat down carefully.

Even though Ji Ning was a gentleman and was kicked out of the Ji Mansion, Ji Ning was still a showman, and Deacon Liu still had to be polite.

After serving tea, Ji Ning asked Deacon Liu, "I don't know what Deacon Liu is doing when he visits?" ”

"Don't you dare." Deacon Liu arched his hand and said, "My master is deeply honored to learn that Ji Gongzi lives in this courtyard. ”

Then, he turned his head and glanced at the two young men in Tsing Yi standing behind him.

The two young men in Tsing Yi immediately walked out with a brocade box in their hands, walked in front of Ji Ning, and then opened the brocade box for Ji Ning to see.

Ji Ning glanced at it casually, there were two ingots of silver in the box on the left, and a brocade cloth in the box on the right.

"Ji Gongzi, this is my master's little meaning, I hope you can laugh." Deacon Liu said.

Ji Ning retracted his gaze and said lightly: "Please thank Miss Qin for Ji." It's just that it is useless, and Miss Qin's generous gift cannot be accepted. ”

Although the Qin widow married twice, after her husband's death, she left her husband's family and became a free person, so she was still honored as Miss Qin in person.

Deacon Liu begged Ji Ning to accept it again, but Ji Ning insisted on refusing.

He doesn't lack that money, so why should he owe favors?

In the end, if Deacon Liu didn't accept it, he wouldn't be able to make a deal and he wouldn't be able to return to the Qin Mansion. Ji Ning had no choice but to say, "Deacon Liu, you can go back." In addition, please inform Miss Qin on behalf of Ji, and visit Miss Qin tomorrow to thank Miss Qin for her kindness. ”

When Deacon Liu heard this, he saw that his goal had been achieved, so he immediately left his chair and walked in front of Ji Ning, bowed his hand and said, "The Qin Mansion is waiting for Ji Gongzi to come." ”

After sending Deacon Liu away, Yu Ling asked in confusion, "Young Master, why did Widow Qin suddenly invite you to the Qin Mansion?" ”

"Who knows? We'll find out tomorrow. Ji Ning replied casually as he walked towards the study.

Yu Ling guessed wildly: "Could it be that she wants to seduce you, young master?" I heard that Widow Qin was a fox spirit, and the man was hooked off by her glance, and since then he didn't think about tea and dinner, his body was emaciated, and finally he died. ”

At the end of her speech, she persuaded worriedly: "Young Master, why don't we go to the Qin Mansion, okay?" ”

"Hahaha......" When Ji Ning heard this, he couldn't help but be amused, and laughed, "Zi Bu is silent, and he is confused. ”

With that, he stepped into the study.

Seeing that Ji Ning didn't listen to persuasion, Yu Ling was so angry that she stomped her feet, and then followed obediently.