Chapter 172 Breaking Ground
Every autumn rain brings a chill. After five consecutive days of rainy days, the weather in the capital city suddenly became much colder.

The rain has stopped, but the sky is still gray.

Ni Er walked out of the house facing the cold wind. The corners of his robe were lifted up by the wind. He shivered and looked at the pedestrians on the back street of Jia’s house: “What a horrible weather.”

In the crowd, a young servant in green clothes and a small hat was riding a horse and walking slowly.

It was Jia Baoyu’s servant, Mingyan.

“Mingyan!” Ni Eryi waved.

“Hey, Master Ni!”

Mingyan dismounted and led the horse over.

Ni Er laughed and said, “Why are you wandering around in the back streets instead of accompanying Master Bao in school? Be careful if Master Bao finds out and gives you a beating.”

Mingyan smiled and said, “Li Gui and the others are with us. I am going to Lixiangyuan to visit Master Xue on behalf of Master Bao.”

Ni Er nodded.

Mingyan: “Master Ni, it’s alright, I’ll go see Master Xue.”

Ni Er: “Go back and pay my respects to Master Bao Er for me.”

Mingyan jumped on the horse and said, “I understand.” Then he urged the horse to go.

Ni Er: “Wait a moment.”

Mingyan had no choice but to rein in the horse again.

Ni Er stepped forward and said, “Let me ask you something.”

Mingyan: “What’s the matter?”

Ni Er: “I heard that your Master Bao is very close to that famous actor Qi Guan who is good at singing Xiao Dan?”

Mingyan was shocked: “Who said that?! Who is this bastard who is making up stories about our Second Master Bao! If this gets to our Master…”

Ni Er quickly interrupted him: “Don’t worry, just listen to me first. My birthday is in a few days, and it’s agreed that our general will come over to play for half a day. I specially invited a troupe of actors, and now all we need is a famous actor to perform the finale.”

Mingyan understood: “Master Ni wants to invite Qi Guan to perform in two plays?”

Ni Er smiled and said, “That’s right. I would like to ask Master Bao for help. Money is not a problem.” Then he took out a silver note from his pocket and said, “Here is ten taels of silver. Take it and have tea.” As he said that, he stuffed the silver note into Mingyan’s hand.

Mingyan was startled at first, then smiled and said, “I was just helping Second Master to pass on a message, how dare I accept such a generous reward from Second Master?”

Ni Er waved his hand and said, “What reward? You deserve it. Besides, as long as it makes our general happy, I am willing to sell everything I have.”

“Second Master is so generous!” Mingyan cheered loudly, then folded the banknote carefully and put it in her arms.

Ni Eryi smiled: “You have worked hard, and after the matter is completed, there will be a sense of gratitude.”

Mingyan also smiled: “Thank you for the reward, Master.”

Ni Er smiled and said, “Go quickly.”

Mingyan bowed, squeezed her legs together, and rode her horse towards Lixiangyuan.

Looking at Mingyan’s receding back, Ni Er stroked his beard and smiled: “I am really smart.” Then he turned around and went into the house.

After walking less than three or five steps, I heard a tender voice calling “Dad” from behind the door.

Ni Er turned around and saw a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old, who was delicate and clean.

The girl blinked her eyes and said, “Dad, didn’t you say you wouldn’t host a banquet?”

Ni Er deliberately frowned: “Ni Er! How could you eavesdrop on Dad talking to someone?!”

The girl lowered her head and muttered, “The sound of my voice drowned out the hawkers’ cries.”

Ni Er smiled and nodded at her: “Girl, you have been spoiled by your mother!”

The girl blushed.

Ni Er: “I’ve been thinking about it these past two days, and it’s time to liven up our home. Let’s go and discuss this with your mother.”

The girl replied, “Yes.” Then she helped Ni Er walk to the front hall and asked, “Dad, will Master Yun come?”

“I think so. What’s wrong?” “Nothing, I’m just asking.”

“Boom~” The sound of brick walls collapsing echoed over the back garden.

Li Hu, who was dressed in plain clothes, was standing on a ruin, pointing at the open space behind the garden and talking to Qin Keqing’s adoptive father Qin Ye.

Qin Ye nodded and took the drawings handed to him by the official from the Ministry of Industry and began to look at them.

Li Hu pointed to the lake in the distance and said, “When the time comes, we can divert the lake water here and build another house by the water at the bottom of the hill. The two buildings will be one high and one low, one on the mountain and one on the water. The one built by the high ground can overlook the mountains and appreciate the small moon; the one built by the water can have the full moon reflected in the water and you can enjoy the bright moon and clear waves. It is really wonderful.”

Qin Ye hesitated for a moment and said, “This will cost a lot of money!”

Li Hu waved his hand and said, “We are not short of money!”

Qin Ye was stunned at first, then he smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Li Hu pointed to the small bamboo forest and said, “Build a house next to the bamboo forest. It doesn’t have to be too big. Three main rooms, one bright and two dark, will do. Then transplant some green bamboos and hide the house in the bamboo forest.”

Qin Ye was confused again: “What’s the use of this?”

Li Hu: “You don’t understand life anymore, don’t you? Make it a study room! Just imagine the sunset, you sit under the eaves with a book in your hand, the green bamboos and the red shadows on the windows, like smoke and dreams, how about that?”

Qin Ye thought about it and it seemed quite good.

An official from the Ministry of Works nearby couldn’t help but say, “General Li, this will take a lot more man-hours.”

Li Hu waved his hand: “It’s okay. By the way, don’t worry about other places for now, just rebuild this back garden first and try to finish it before the first snow.”

The Ministry of Industry official: “Well, it’s almost October.”

“Then hire more people.”

Li Hu interrupted him directly, “It’s almost the end of the year, let the people have a good year.”

The official had nothing else to say but to praise: “General Li has done great deeds.”

Li Hu glanced at him and said, “This is called sharing your worries.”

The official smiled apologetically: “Yes, yes.”

Qin Ye spoke: “Let’s go to the theater and take a look.”

Li Hu nodded, turned and walked towards the theater.

In the distance, there was a large open space filled with wood, stones, and several large vats.

A group of craftsmen are busy.

After looking around, Li Hu stopped in front of the large vats and looked at the official from the Ministry of Works: “What are these vats used for?”

The official from the Ministry of Works quickly replied: “To answer General Li’s question, these large vats are placed under the stage.”

Li Hu: “Oh?”

The official from the Ministry of Works said: “The craftsmen will hollow out the area under the stage and then place these large vats under the stage. This way, the performance can be clearly heard from any position in the theater.”

Li Hu nodded.

Qin Ye: “Are there any other changes to be made?”

Li Hu shook his head.

Qin Ye: “Nothing, I’m going back to the Ministry of Industry.”

Li Hu: “You’ve been so tired. The kitchen has prepared some wine and food.”

Qin Ye waved his hand: “Next time. The Ministry of Industry is a mess. It’s tiring to revise the drawings. But some people don’t know how to make trouble. The Ministry of Industry can’t afford to offend them!”

“You are not talking about me, are you?” Li Hu said with a smile.

Qin Ye: “Even if I have this idea, I don’t have the courage to say it out loud.”

Everyone laughed when they heard this.

Li Hu smiled and said, “You are joking. After I am done with this busy period, I will treat you to a drink and a show.” He then extended his hand and walked out of the garden with Qin Ye.

(End of this chapter)