Broker Chen hurried to Sweet Water Lane. Seeing the damp floors and basins that could practically raise fish, the house indeed had problems.
Broker Chen was very apologetic: “It hasn’t rained for a month. I really didn’t know the roof tiles were cracked—it wasn’t intentional concealment. According to the contract, roof leaks aren’t the tenant’s responsibility—the landlord must pay for repairs.”
Wei Caiwei said: “Young Master Wang is like a wild horse without a bridle—who knows where he’s gone (probably ran off to some Miss Yingying!). I can’t just wait for him to send people to replace the tiles. If there’s another heavy rain, this house will be uninhabitable. Broker Chen has wide connections—could you help introduce some craftsmen to replace the tiles first? I’ll advance the money, and when Wang Daxia returns, I’ll ask him to reimburse me.”
Broker Chen said: “That’s easy to arrange. My neighbor is a tile mason.”
Broker Chen enthusiastically drummed up business for his neighbor, deliberately building suspense: “Imperial Guard Commander Lu Bing—has Doctor Wei heard of him?”
Wei Caiwei nodded: “The most important figure in the capital after the Emperor.”
Broker Chen smiled: “Lord Lu’s mansion is in the prestigious Xiaoshiyong Ward, neighboring the Duke of Yansheng’s residence. When Lu Mansion was built, Li the Tile-mason worked inside specifically hanging tiles for the houses. His craftsmanship is beyond question.”
Broker Chen wasn’t lying. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the Li family had been tile masons for generations. Their ancestors had worked on the imperial palace in Nanjing. When Emperor Chengzu moved the capital to Beijing and built the new imperial palace, the Li family participated as well.
Wei Caiwei said: “In that case, please trouble Broker Chen to ask your neighbor to repair the roof. Here are the front door keys and one string of cash as deposit—refund any excess, supplement any shortage. I still need to go out to practice medicine and can’t wait at home all the time. This will trouble Broker Chen.”
Broker Chen quickly said: “No trouble at all. When there are problems with the house, it’s naturally my responsibility.”
Wei Caiwei went out to practice medicine as usual, her tiger-shaped medical sign’s bell echoing through the streets.
Broker Chen was quite pleased to have secured business for the Li family. He immediately returned home to claim credit with his beloved, the flower of Machang Alley, Li Jiubao: “…It’s just replacing a few broken tiles and rehinging that section—very simple, easy money.”
Li Jiubao said: “Thank you for your help, Brother Chen, but my father and brother are working outside the city at Sanli Village and can’t come home recently.”
Broker Chen said: “No problem. I’ll take the mule cart to fetch your father. Isn’t your big brother still handling things at Sanli Village? The roof will be fixed in half a day, then I’ll take your father back. It won’t delay anything and we can earn double money.”
The Li family was poor. Li Jiubao’s eighteen-year-old brother still couldn’t afford proper betrothal gifts to marry. Following proper order and male superiority, with the older brother unmarried, the sister’s marriage prospects were even more remote.
Broker Chen wanted to marry Li Jiubao. His own prosperity wasn’t enough—he needed to bring prosperity to the Li family too.
Li Jiubao looked at the overcast sky: “This weather is probably holding back a heavy rain, who knows when it’ll come. Sanli Village is far away—a round trip, if we can’t make it in time and heavy rain causes more leaking, damaging the house, wouldn’t that hurt your reputation and betray their trust? I’ll go instead.”
Broker Chen hesitated: “You… a girl climbing roofs and removing tiles isn’t proper.”
Li Jiubao said: “My father loves gambling, my big brother loves drinking. I’ve been helping them since childhood, learning by observation. Sometimes when they’re unsteady on rooftops from drinking, I worry they’ll fall and get hurt, so I climb up myself to hang tiles. I’ve never made mistakes. Brother Chen, you can trust me.”
Broker Chen wouldn’t refuse his beloved’s request. The Li family had ready-made tiles at home. Together they loaded half a cart of new tiles and drove the mule cart to Sweet Water Lane to repair the roof.
By afternoon, Wei Caiwei noticed swallows flying low and the wind shifting north—it looked like rain. She finished work early and hurried home.
Li Jiubao carried a bucket of water to the rooftop and poured it on the repaired tiles.
“Is it still leaking?” Li Jiubao called out loudly.
“No more leaks!” Broker Chen watched the roof beams from inside the house. “Excellent repair work—completely watertight. Come down!”
Broker Chen held the ladder below while Li Jiubao climbed down, just as Wei Caiwei returned home.
The moment Wei Caiwei saw Li Jiubao, she froze completely.
My heavens! This girl looks exactly like the future Empress Dowager Li who would assist the young emperor!
In her previous life, Empress Dowager Li was the master of the imperial harem and the empress dowager who ruled the country alongside the court and cabinet—naturally also the common boss of both Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia.
Broker Chen thought Wei Caiwei’s shocked expression was because she minded having a woman as the roof repair craftsman, so he quickly explained: “Doctor Wei, this is Li the Tile-mason’s daughter Li Jiubao. Whatever Li the Tile-mason can do, Miss Jiubao can do. She just poured five buckets of water—not a single drop leaked through.”
Li Jiubao! Empress Dowager Li’s maiden name was Li Jiubao! It couldn’t be such a coincidence!
Wei Caiwei couldn’t help asking: “Miss Li… is your father’s given name Li Wei?”
“Exactly.” Li Jiubao nodded. “So Doctor Wei knows my father.”
Wei Caiwei almost knelt down to Li Jiubao on the spot. In twelve years, Li Jiubao would become the most noble woman in the Ming Dynasty.
And now, Li Jiubao was repairing her roof and hanging tiles.
It seemed she could never live peacefully in this house again.
Author’s Note: Fourth kill accomplished! Caiwei has found an even bigger patron than in her previous life. The plot is exhilaratingly satisfying—celebrating with 100 red envelopes! Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend~ In the previous life, her patron was Consort Shou, exclusively favored by Emperor Jiajing in his later years, so favored that he played with fireworks in bed with her and burned down the imperial palace to make the beauty smile. This life, she’s directly connected to her future big boss, Empress Dowager Li. I’m too good to the female protagonist.