Jiang Pan's words carried significant weight with the villagers. Coupled with his mention of Magistrate Cheng, no one dared to object or question the decision.
The villagers began excitedly discussing which families they wanted as neighbors.
Previously, in their small mountain village, houses were fixed. Neighbors inevitably had minor squabbles and friction, some even harboring grudges, finding each other disagreeable. However, since houses couldn't be moved, they could only endure living with "difficult neighbors."
Now that the land was being reallocated, everyone certainly wanted to use this opportunity to choose to live alongside neighbors they got along with.
When it was the Jiang family's turn to choose a spot, everyone turned their gaze to Jiang Wan. "Wan Wan, where do you like?"
Jiang Wan blinked in surprise. "I get to choose?"
Jiang Pan smiled and nodded. "Of course. Look at where you like, and we'll build our house there."
With that said, Jiang Wan actually had an idea.
She then led her family to an open space at the foot of the mountain. "I think this spot is quite good. It's spacious, quiet, close to the mountain with many trees, and cool in the summer. The stream is right by the entrance, making it convenient for washing clothes and fetching water."
Chen Yuezhi hesitated slightly. "But this is a bit farther from everyone else. Won't it be inconvenient to visit?"
Jiang Pan, however, said, "It's not inconvenient at all. The village is this small; it's just a few extra steps. Since Wan Wan likes it here, we'll build our house here."
As he spoke, he directed Dalang and Erlang to start measuring the area. "Mark out four mu of land."
Dalang was startled. "Four mu? Father, won't that be too much?"
Jiang Pan waved his hand. "It's not too much. Our family has so many people; a small space won't be enough. Su Shi is due to give birth in a few months. Regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, they'll need to sleep separately from you in the future. Erlang is also getting older; he'll be marrying in a couple of years. Sanlang... he can just make do."
Sanlang: ???
No one paid attention to Sanlang's bewildered and wronged expression.
Seeing that her parents hadn't mentioned her name, Jiang Wan then said, "I want a room too."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi immediately became anxious. "Why? Wan Wan, you're still young; how can you sleep alone? Be good, sleep with your parents."
Jiang Wan knew this would happen. She sighed and said, "I'm already five years old, no, I'll be six soon! I'm past the age where you need to wake me up every night to pee."
She desperately wanted a room of her own!
She wasn't actually only five years old!
The conditions were limited during the famine, so she had to endure it. But now that they had the means, she was determined to fight for herself.
Chen Yuezhi still refused to agree. "You kick off your blankets at night; you'll catch a cold sleeping alone."
Jiang Wan then said, "It's going to get warmer soon, how could I catch a cold? Besides, if it's really necessary, you can build me a heated brick bed. When winter comes and the bed is heated, the whole room will be warm; it'll be hard to catch a cold."
Seeing that her parents were still unyielding, Jiang Wan had to shamelessly resort to acting spoiled. She imitated the way the village children acted cute, wriggling her body. "No, no, I want my own room. I don't want others to laugh at me for still sleeping with my parents at six years old."
Seeing her create such a fuss, the couple could only coax her first. "Alright, alright, we'll prepare a room for you."
As for whether she could sleep alone, they would decide later.
When Jiang Wan heard them agree, she stopped making a fuss. With a room secured, how far away could the days of sleeping alone be?
After each family had marked out their courtyard areas, they began going into the mountain to chop wood to prepare materials for building their houses.
Having traveled all this way, they had little money left. Spending money to build houses would be impractical, so everyone decided to first build a few mud-walled, thatched-roof houses and worry about the houses later when they had saved some money.
The Jiang family, however, did not plan to do so. They were not short of money, and with their large family, and a new member on the way, they decided to do it right the first time, building the house before Su Shi gave birth.
Madam Cheng had her steward help them find craftsmen and even sorted out the material matters for them, saving them quite a bit on the price compared to building it themselves.
After confirming the plan to build the houses, the Jiang family intended to move out of the Cheng residence.
Madam Cheng repeatedly tried to persuade them. "Why are you in such a hurry to move? Does my home lack the space you're staying in? There's nothing there yet; wouldn't it be too difficult for you to move there? Even if you can endure it, what about Wan Wan? Can you really bear to let her squeeze into that small shed with you?"
"Besides, A'luo's belly is already six months along. There's nothing there, and she and the baby in her womb will have to suffer too."
At this, Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan began to hesitate.
Jiang Wan, however, said, "Aunt Cheng, I'm fine. When we were in our hometown, the conditions were much tougher than this. We can endure it. Sister-in-law, right?"
She winked at Su Shi.
Although the Cheng residence was good, it was not their own home, and they felt uncomfortable.
Su Shi quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, I'm not that delicate."
Hearing them say this, Chen Yuezhi said, "I know you care about Wan Wan and A'luo. Don't worry, with so many of us, how could we let them be wronged? I'll have them come visit you when they have time, so don't find them bothersome."
Madam Cheng couldn't keep them, so she personally escorted them to the village.
In a corner of the courtyard the Jiang family had marked out, craftsmen were already helping to erect a temporary shed for their family of seven.
Madam Cheng went to inspect it and instructed the foreman, "You must do the work meticulously. If I find out you've been cutting corners, I won't let you off!"
The foreman nervously nodded repeatedly. "Madam, rest assured, there will be no mistakes."
It was a joke; with the magistrate's wife personally giving instructions, who among these common folk would dare not take it seriously?
One couldn't help but wonder what kind of background these refugees had to warrant such attention from the magistrate and his wife.
Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan were very grateful for Madam Cheng's protection, but they were not eloquent people and could only keep their gratitude in their hearts.
After Madam Cheng had finished her arrangements there, she didn't want to linger and be in the way. As she was leaving, she couldn't help but say to Jiang Wan, "Wan Wan, you really aren't coming back with Auntie?"
Jiang Wan waved her small hand. "Aunt Cheng, if I miss you, I'll come to see you."
Madam Cheng could only sigh and pinch her chubby little cheek. "Alright then, but you must remember to come, okay?"
After finally seeing Madam Cheng off, Jiang Wan happily began to wander around the village.
The new site of the small mountain village was a bit secluded, about two to three li from the nearest village. However, the river in front of the village was often frequented by boats.
Jiang Wan wasn't very interested in the river, but she was curious about the mountain behind the village.
She wondered what things could be found in the mountains here.
She called her little subordinate, gathered Sanlang, informed her family, and then the two of them and the bird ran into the forest.