Chapter 24: New Resident in the Ju'an Pavilion

Normal rooms at Yunlai Inn cost 50 *wen* per night, while Ji Yuan's superior room cost 100 *wen*. Lu Chengfeng and his companions had paid the bill previously.

Now that they were gone, Ji Yuan wouldn't stay there any longer.

It was ridiculous; he now owned property in Ning'an County. Why would he waste money staying at an inn?

Ji Yuan suddenly clapped his hand hard. He had just remembered that Lu Chengfeng had paid for the residence on his behalf, and he hadn't repaid him yet!

'So, I saved another 36 *liang*?'

The saying "poor scholars, rich warriors" truly held wisdom. Lu Chengfeng hadn't even asked for the substantial sum of 36 *liang*. His family must be incredibly wealthy!

Indeed, Ji Yuan had absolutely no intention of chasing after the carriage to repay the money. If they met again in the future and he was well-off, it wouldn't be too late then. If they didn't, well, he would simply consider it an extra token of gratitude from Young Master Lu for saving his life!

Noon had long passed that day. According to the inn's policy, the room charge for the entire day would be collected regardless. So, Ji Yuan contentedly stayed another night at the inn.

Since no one was treating him to a meal, he settled for a bowl of plain noodles from the inn.

The next morning, Ji Yuan checked out at the inn's counter and, as expected, received 1 *liang* back as a refund.

It had to be said that these young heroes were quite decent. Though, he wondered if they would have been so enthusiastic if they hadn't perceived him as an extraordinary person. Probably not.

***

Although many people in Ning'an County knew that the man-eating tiger of Niukui Mountain had been subdued and that the event was recorded in the local county annals and announced via official proclamations, the fact that the nine heroes were staying at Yunlai Inn was not publicly disclosed by the county yamen.

This demonstrated the county magistrate's seasoned approach. If everyone knew the tiger-slaying heroes were at Yunlai Inn, wouldn't the brave warriors be gawked at like monkeys? How could they then peacefully recover from their injuries?

This was the fundamental reason why Ning'an County had been bustling yet people could still enjoy peace and quiet in recent days. Naturally, few people recognized Ji Yuan.

In fact, only a very small number of people would remember the contents of the official proclamations or the names of the nine heroes; most were simply there to join the excitement and gawk at the tiger skin.

Upon leaving the inn, Ji Yuan naturally headed straight for the street market. He planned to quickly purchase some bedding and simple furniture. After all, the house already had a bed, and with some hired help to clean and tidy up, it would certainly be habitable. Even if he ran out of time, at least buying a quilt and cleaning the bed would suffice. In any case, he wouldn't be paying for an inn anymore.

Ning'an County was still lively. The temple fair would last for several days, and the displayed white tiger skin remained hung outside the county yamen. Ji Yuan strolled through the streets with his eyes half-open, appearing like a normal person. Almost no one around him perceived him as blind.

Listening to the various hawkers' cries and hushed whispers, Ji Yuan swore to the heavens that he wasn't intentionally prying into others' privacy; it was entirely involuntary!

While others distinguished what each vendor sold by sight, Ji Yuan had to rely on his hearing. Following the sounds, he arrived at a shop selling bed sheets and bedding.

Interestingly, right next to this shop was a cotton store, from which the rhythmic "bang-bang-bang" sound of cotton being fluffed emanated.

A peculiar, catchy cotton-fluffing song started playing in Ji Yuan's mind and wouldn't leave him. He almost started singing it when he reached the bedding stall.

"Shopkeeper, do you have quilts, blankets, and pillows here?" Ji Yuan asked, reaching out to carefully feel the blankets and quilts on the outdoor display rack, assessing their quality by touch.

"Yes, we do! Sir, would you prefer ready-made items, or would you like a set custom-made? We have a cotton shop right next door, and fresh cotton can be fluffed in less than half a day, then we can sew the quilt for you!" The shopkeeper, seemingly part of a couple, emerged from the store to greet Ji Yuan when he inquired about prices.

"No, thank you. I'll take ready-made. This one I'm holding, is it?"

"Yes, yes, yes, everything you're feeling here is from that batch! Uh, they're all just 150 *wen* copper coins. Look at the fabric; it's all woven by Xiuer Workshop in the county. It's incredibly comfortable to sleep on!"

150 *wen*? I don't believe you! Before I even approached, I clearly heard you and your husband whispering in the shop that 120 *wen* was enough to make a profit. Are you trying to swindle me out of 30 *wen*?

Ji Yuan frowned.

"What about custom-made?"

"Custom-made is a bit more expensive, including the cotton fluffer's wages, it's about 180 *wen*."

Alright, so it was probably a bit pricier again.

"How about this, proprietress," Ji Yuan proposed, "I'll buy three sets of bedding, plus two pillows and two blankets, for a total of 450 *wen*?"

Hearing the slightly thin customer's offer, the proprietress paused, realizing it was exactly their lowest acceptable price.

"What do you say? If you agree, please deliver them to my residence. I can pay an extra 20 *wen* for the labor. It's in the south of the city, not too far."

Perhaps thinking she had encountered someone who knew their business, the proprietress agreed without much hesitation. Ji Yuan then paid a deposit, asking the shop to deliver the goods in about two *shichen*.

After Ji Yuan left, the proprietress walked back into the shop, holding the small note Ji Yuan had left.

"Husband, isn't that strange? Not only did this man bargain so precisely, and the bedding he chose was good, but he also seemed to speak with his eyes closed. Here, look what he wrote for the delivery address."

The woman was illiterate, so she handed the note to her husband.

"Why bother with so many questions? At least it's our first sale this morning."

The male shopkeeper took the note from his wife. Looking at the paper, the handwriting was neat and strong, piercing through the page. Even with his rudimentary literary knowledge, he recognized it as good calligraphy.

"Hiss... Tianniu Lane, East Corner, Ju'an Pavilion..."

"Oh dear... It couldn't be *that* Ju'an Pavilion, could it?" the woman asked nervously.

"How many other Ju'an Pavilions could there be in Tianniu Lane? How could that place even be sold?" The male shopkeeper's expression wasn't looking good either.

***

Ji Yuan browsed the market, purchasing various household items. Besides bedding and blankets, he bought towels, washbasins, and some simple furniture like a washstand and a wardrobe, as well as brooms and mops. He even found a stonework shop and arranged for the master craftsmen to deliver a stone table and four stone stools, intending to place them under the jujube tree in his courtyard.

Of course, he didn't forget to hire a few people to clean the house.

Furthermore, Ji Yuan didn't forget his earlier idea. He found a good clothing store and bought several outfits, essentially plagiarizing the style of that "Third Master."

However, Ji Yuan, in a flashier move, fashioned a short topknot for himself right there in the clothing shop, securing it with a jade hairpin he had bought for 200 *wen*. Additionally, he had bangs across his forehead, sideburns, and hair that wasn't particularly short draped down his back. By local standards, this hairstyle was utterly unconventional, yet it strangely blended together to create an unworldly and refined look.

It's true what they say: "Clothes make the man, just as gold adorns the Buddha." Although he wasn't as handsome as Luo Feng, his own humble background was not without merit. Without calling him dashing, Ji Yuan's overall demeanor now exuded a profound and otherworldly elegance.

In Ji Yuan's estimation, he was practically a paragon of period drama aesthetics!

With most preparations complete, Ji Yuan headed for his residence, ready to welcome the "renovation crew." The path, though walked only once, was remarkably clear in his mind, eliminating the need for anyone to guide him.

Ji Yuan was quite satisfied with the name "Ju'an Pavilion" and had no intention of changing it.

He unlocked the bronze lock and pushed open the main gate. The large jujube tree in the courtyard still swayed in the breeze. This time, he was alone, with no brokers chattering beside him, influencing or guiding him. As Ji Yuan walked into the courtyard, he felt an indescribable sense of strangeness.

"Is Mr. Ji there?"

A shout came from the entrance, and the sound of footsteps indicated more than one person.

Ji Yuan had originally scheduled deliveries for after *weishi* (1-3 PM), but he hadn't expected that by noon, according to the sundials around the county, some merchants would already be arriving with their goods. It was a good thing he had returned a bit early, otherwise, they would have been left waiting there.