This was hardly a case of selling something at a good price, but rather being forcibly gifted a manor. Feng Jin felt as if a hot potato had been shoved into her treasure chest.
"What's with that look? Don't you know how much I care about you? I'm giving you all the best things, are you not moved at all?"
Though he couldn't be sure what Feng Jin was thinking, he could tell from her expression that she was not moved in the slightest. In fact, she seemed somewhat disdainful.
His good intentions had yielded nothing, and he felt like the biggest fool, doing thankless work.
"Moved... I'm moved from beginning to end..."
Feng Jin said hastily, forcing a smile onto her face, trying her best to appear happy. However, her heart remained heavy, unable to muster any genuine emotion.
"Enough. Stop with the insincere words. From now on, all matters within this manor will be your responsibility."
Since the manor had been given to Feng Jin, he had no intention of managing it further.
The internal affairs of the manor were more complex and difficult to understand than military strategy. He had been utterly overwhelmed by it. Now that the manor belonged to Feng Jin, he was finally free of it, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Speaking of manor affairs, Feng Jin only then realized how eerily quiet it was. Since their arrival, they hadn't seen a single person. Could it be... haunted?
The terrifying thought sent a shiver down her spine, making the manor seem even more eerie and dreadful.
"This place isn't haunted, is it? You just forced it on me!"
The thought suddenly struck her, and Feng Jin blurted it out. After all, this was no small matter, and she needed to be sure. She certainly didn't want a haunted estate.
Ling Mo Han lightly tapped Feng Jin's forehead and replied with a hint of annoyance, "What are you thinking? The people here were all untrustworthy, so I sent them away. That's why you haven't seen anyone."
Some time ago, while reviewing the accounts, he had noticed discrepancies. What he discovered was shocking: the manor was heavily in deficit. Not only were the servants dishonest, but even the dogs had learned to steal things and run off.
He didn't bother with individual investigations; instead, he had them all punished and sent to the frontier as laborers. With everyone gone, the manor was empty, and he had no interest in managing it further.
However, it seemed a shame to sell such a fine manor, so he had always planned to hand it over to Feng Jin. But he never found a suitable opportunity to tell her, and it had taken him considerable effort to devise this plan, which was quite difficult for him.
Feng Jin finally understood what was going on. She had wondered why Ling Mo Han would be so generous as to gift her a manor. It turned out there was a hidden motive. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"A weasel paying a New Year's call to a chicken – no good intentions. I knew why you were being so generous, giving me such a large manor. So you couldn't handle it yourself and found a way to drag me down with you!"
She circled Ling Mo Han, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction, and stared at him fiercely. She tutted and said, "How did I not realize you were such a schemer? Your little plan was quite cunning. Tell me the truth, were you plotting this long ago? And bringing me here was all part of your scheme!"
Now, Feng Jin's mind was filled with the thought that she had been tricked by Ling Mo Han and pulled into the abyss.
A hint of embarrassment flickered across the man's face as his deception was revealed. He hadn't expected things to be exposed so quickly. His original plans for how to respond were now futile, so he decided to confess directly.
"The main thing was that I wanted to give the manor to you. The rest is secondary..."
"Alright, stop making excuses. Whether it's true or not, I have eyes and can see for myself."
Feng Jin impatiently interrupted Ling Mo Han and walked further in. She had to admit that the scenery within the manor was indeed exquisite. Considering that the manor was to her liking, she decided not to dwell on Ling Mo Han's schemes.
"Alright, I'll reluctantly accept this manor. After we return to the residence, I'll arrange for some trustworthy people to come here..."
If the manor were left idle for her family's sole use, it would be a waste. Such a fine place should be shared with others.
Especially the natural hot springs. Weren't the high officials and wealthy all seeking the enjoyment of hot springs? She could turn this manor into a resort, and its annual revenue alone would be a fortune.
"What are you thinking about to smile like that?"
Feng Jin suppressed her smile and said lightly, "It's nothing. I just suddenly thought of how to make money. Once this manor is profitable, I will definitely not treat you unfairly. You can rest assured."
Feng Jin patted Ling Mo Han on the shoulder. After all, Ling Mo Han had purchased the manor, so he deserved to profit from it. This was what a gentleman would call seeking wealth with integrity.
"You want to sell this manor?"
Feng Jin rolled her eyes in exasperation. Clearly, Ling Mo Han was completely clueless when it came to business. How much silver had been wasted over the years the manor had been in his hands?
She shared her brilliant ideas with Ling Mo Han without reservation, "What do you think? Isn't my plan good? In just half a year, I can earn back the money you spent buying this manor."
"You mean to let everyone come and bathe in these hot springs... bathe together?"
Ling Mo Han asked in surprise, wondering where Feng Jin came up with these bizarre ideas. It was sheer fantasy, asking people to pay to bathe here, and in the open air at that. Most importantly, so many people crowded into the same pool to bathe.
Such a thing was unheard of. These messy ideas were completely unfeasible, and Ling Mo Han immediately rejected them.