Chapter 58 New Residence (Begging for Bookmarks)

  The landlord's name was Lian De, a decadent descendant of the Eight Banners, said to be the offspring of some powerful general from the early Qing dynasty. But on his body, one could no longer see the strong genes of his ancestors, with pale skin, thin and frail, looking like he couldn't withstand even a gentle breeze.

  Like all the once prosperous and now fallen nobles, Lian De only knew how to have fun and was deeply disgusted with making money for a living. Of course, he didn't have any skills to make a living either. Currently, this mansion is his last inheritance, and half of it has already been sold. Who knows, one day when he's short on cash, he might sell the whole thing.

  Don't look at Lian De, who has fallen to the point of often taking things from home to pawn, but his tea-drinking posture still makes people dare not underestimate him. He sits with his legs crossed, using three fingers to pinch the lid of the bowl, first using the edge of the lid to skim off the tea foam, then covering the lid again, leaving only a small gap. He picks up the covered bowl and takes a small sip, the tea water swirling around in his mouth like mouthwash before he swallows it calmly. This is what it means to appreciate tea, a sign of being worldly-wise.

  Huang Li looked down on this good-for-nothing and thought he was just trying to save face while suffering in silence. Although Lian De slowly and carefully explained the reason for renting a house, wanting Huang Li to understand that he wasn't short of money, but rather the house was too big and empty, so it would be more lively with a tenant. However, Huang Li clearly heard the growling of Lian De's stomach, this guy hadn't even eaten breakfast yet, but he was still boasting shamelessly. When Huang Li very happily put three months' rent on the table, Lian De was still pretending to be reserved, but his servant's eyes shone with delight.

  "Huang Ye is really a straightforward person, I've introduced you to this friend." Lian De stood up slowly under Huang Li's gentle gaze, put the key on the table, bowed his hands to Huang Li and said: "It's getting late, you've seen the house too, let's settle this matter. I have another dinner appointment at Rui Ming Building, see you later..."

  I don't know about the almanac, but after the Republic of China was established, there were more and more descendants of the Eight Banners in Beijing. These people are good at eating and being lazy, with no skills to speak of. They also have a common problem: they can't fall down even if they want to, and their mouths won't rot even if their flesh does. Clearly, they can't afford to eat, but they still have to pretend to be living a life of luxury every day.

  With the key, almanac and He Daguang's son Da Jiang came to his new home, opened the lock, and walked around in the yard and house. The house was still quite solid, with a few simple broken furniture, but it had been vacant for a long time, so there were dust and debris everywhere, and it needed to be cleaned up before people could live in it.

  "Huang, I'll go find someone right away." Da Gang looked at this independent house with envy in his heart, but he also knew that the rent was unaffordable. "I heard you're renting a house, my dad told me last night. If everything is settled and you need someone to help clean up, let me go tell him. You are...you are a person of status, these rough jobs can't be done by you."

  It's fine this way. Huang Li really doesn't like to do these trivial tasks, but he also won't bother others for no reason. Since he has money, now he can only use it to express his gratitude.

  "Hey, how much does it cost to rent a car for one day?" Huang Li asked with a smile.

  "One yuan." Da Gang replied without thinking, and only felt something was wrong after speaking, hurriedly shaking his head, "Huang Dage, I'm not working today, even for you..."

  "Haha, is this what Uncle He said?" Huang Li patted the young man's shoulder and said, "You go ahead, I won't be so stingy as to not give you the taxi fare!"

  Haha, Da Gang scratched his head, grinned foolishly twice, and ran off.

  It wasn't long before everyone arrived, and with He Daku's family plus Zhen Niang, they swept the floor and dusted, and in less than half a day's work, they had cleaned up the whole courtyard and made the house spotless. Da Gang also returned around this time, bringing back some newly purchased items from town, including bedding, teapots, rice bowls, and kerosene lamps. Several people were busy arranging everything, and only then was the job considered thoroughly done.

  There were two small houses, one in the north and one in the south, both of which had been converted into bedrooms. The northern house had a kang, while the southern house had a wooden bed frame. Next to the southern house was a small thatched hut, which served as the kitchen.

  "It's finally taking shape, and winter is approaching soon. We still need to buy some firewood and coal balls." He Dake walked around, suggesting to Huang Li, "Also find a bricklayer to repair the mountain wall and roof, and dig out the kang, so as not to suffer in the winter."

  Huang Li smiled and nodded in agreement, but didn't take it seriously in her heart. By winter, perhaps she wouldn't even be living here anymore.

  "Excuse me, is this the residence of Mr. Huang Li?" A man appeared outside the gate, holding a package of pastries and politely asked Da Gang.

  "Is that so, Brother Huang just moved here today, who are you?" Da Gang looked at Zeng Lu with some curiosity, wearing a iron-gray suit and a cyan tie, looking elegant.

  "I am —" Zeng Chen was about to introduce himself, but saw Huang Li and He Daku slowly walking over, and couldn't help but wave his hand and shout: "Brother Huang, it's me, Zhou Shilong! I've come to see you today."

  Huang Li raised his head and recognized Zeng Che, and couldn't help but frown slightly. What was the point of Zhou Shidragon coming here at this time? He had just moved into a new home, and he could find it so easily, did that mean he was always under their control? If that was the case, it was really an unpleasant thing.

  "Ah, Brother Zhou, your nose is really sharp. I've just finished cleaning up this nest and you've already found it." He Da-kui and others were present, Huang Li was still suppressing his emotions, but the tone of his speech also carried a hint of sarcasm.

  Zeng Che smiled casually and walked in, looking around and praising: "Quiet and elegant, it's really a good place. Hehe, Brother Huang doesn't invite me to talk inside the house?"

  Huang Li secretly guarded himself, stretched out his hand and made a please gesture, saying indifferently: "Everyone is here, let's break the package and have some snacks. I don't want people to say that I'm not hospitable."

  Zeng Che's expression on his face was still so gentle, not getting angry at all because of Huang Li's cold ridicule and sarcasm. As Huang Li entered the north room, he casually closed the door, sat opposite Huang Li with a frosty face, put the pastry bag on the table, and smiled: "Congratulations on your new home, this package of broken pastries is really not respectful."

  Huang Li shook his head and said displeased: "If you are a friend, I welcome you. If you come to spy on me through means such as stalking, then sorry, this will be the last time we can meet peacefully."

  "Huang, we are of course friends." Zeng Che's expression also turned serious as he slowly explained: "For your safety, I rushed over from Tianjin overnight. As for tailing and surveillance, there is absolutely none. Huang doesn't quite understand the capabilities of our organization yet, and you didn't deliberately hide, so it wasn't difficult to find this place. Huang still remembers that Du Baisheng patrol chief I mentioned when we parted ways, what a coincidence, this area just happens to be under his jurisdiction."

  "My safety?" Huang Li leaned back, seemingly smiling yet not quite, as he gazed at Zeng Che. "I uphold the law and do my duty. As long as I don't get involved with your... whatever organization, who would threaten my safety?"