212: Chapter 208: Seeking a Master?
212: Chapter 208: Seeking a Master?
The matter of the courtyard was urgent, but Chen Hai was not in a hurry.
Even if Aunt Liu, Old Man Li, and the others all moved away and the entire courtyard was successfully transferred into his hands, he would still need to spend quite some time to manage and repair it before he could successfully move in.
If the worst came to pass and all the rooms inside had to be demolished and rebuilt, it was not impossible.
After all, those few rooms in the courtyard were indeed too shabby to pass muster.
Shoe Maker Wu hurriedly moving away indicated that the methods Chen Hai employed had taken effect.
At this moment, he was merely asking Bai Xiaohang about the current situation of Aunt Liu, Old Man Li, and the others out of curiosity.
“Boss, when Shoe Maker Wu moved out, Dong and I specially went to have a look inside that courtyard.”
“For some reason today, Old Man Li, Butcher Zhang, and the others didn’t set up their stalls on the street; instead, they stayed inside the courtyard.”
“They were all gathered together, whispering secrets, and I don’t know what they were discussing, but they even argued till their faces turned red and their ears got hot.”
“When they saw Dong and me, they were startled and quickly stopped their argument.”
“Dong and I didn’t linger there and promptly came to report to you at the school that Shoe Maker Wu had already moved away.”
…
Chen Hai popped two peanuts into his mouth and took a sip of wine before reporting to Chen Hai.
“They’re gathering together to discuss things; it seems they have no intention of leaving the courtyard yet?”
“Alright, I got it!”
He nodded, then Chen Hai gave further instructions, “For the next few days, it would trouble you and Dong to pay more attention to that courtyard of mine.”
“Not just during the daytime but in the evening as well, you’d better go take a few walk-overs.”
“If anything happens, you can page me, and notify me immediately!”
Having subordinates to use meant he didn’t have to take care of general matters personally; just ordering Bai Xiaohang and Xiang Dong to handle them was enough.
Taking on a few subordinates meant spending a bit of money, but overall, it was somewhat beneficial to Chen Hai.
Like this courtyard matter at hand, if he had to personally go there every day and watch over it, it would definitely be a hassle to death.
“Okay, boss!” Exchanging a glance, Bai Xiaohang and Xiang Dong nodded almost simultaneously.
It was now only noon, and it wasn’t until after one o’clock that they finally dispersed from their meal.
Chen Hai returned to the school, whereas Bai Xiaohang and Xiang Dong headed in the direction of Liuhua Alley.
As for Tian Mingjian, he was still maintaining his military discipline for the time being.
He simply took a boxed lunch, managed to eat a meal in the car outside, and did not join Chen Hai and the others in the restaurant.
Chen Hai didn’t force the issue.
After all, he was very aware that Tian Mingjian’s thoughts weren’t on his side right now.
…
Inside the courtyard in Liuhua Alley, Aunt Liu, Old Man Li, and Butcher Zhang’s families were still gathered together, chattering and arguing incessantly.
“All of you should be clear about what has happened in the courtyard these past few days.”
“You all have heard from Shoe Maker Wu himself about his situation; although the strange occurrences we several families have encountered aren’t as sinister so far, who can guarantee that what happened to Shoe Maker Wu won’t happen to us?”
“Although it’s still unclear why this courtyard we’ve lived in for so many years has suddenly become so strange overnight, this matter can’t be dragged on—we must resolve it thoroughly and as soon as possible!”
“Otherwise, we can only follow Shoe Maker Wu’s example and move away as quickly as possible.”
“You all saw the situation when Shoe Maker Wu moved out.
That stingy new landlord, Chen Hai, because Old Wu moved out a few days past his deadline, didn’t give a cent of the one month’s rent subsidy he promised.”
“Tell me, if you move out like this without a penny of compensation, would you be willing?”
“In my view, as long as we all unite and hold out in this courtyard a bit longer,”
“When that young guy named Chen gets really anxious, we’ll then go negotiate terms with him.”
“Compensation of tens of thousands might not be realistic, but a compensation of three to five thousand per family should certainly be doable!”
“I heard that profligate kid spent a full three hundred thousand to buy this run-down courtyard.”
“All that money has already been spent; a total compensation of three to five thousand per family is just over ten thousand when added up.”
“If each of you can’t bear to spend one or two hundred yuan to hire someone to perform an exorcism, then there’s no point in discussing—everyone might as well disperse now!”
…
Picking up the dry tobacco pipe beside him, Old Man Li took several hard draws.
In the midst of swirling smoke, he glanced irritably at the people around him before speaking, unhurried and casual.
“Old Man Li, when did we ever say we weren’t willing to pay up?”
“We just feel it’s unfair for you to ask me and Butcher Zhang to split the cost of hiring Taoist Wang without contributing a single cent,” Chen Hai said.
“We also know that something strange has happened to this courtyard and we definitely need to invite a master to deal with it.”
“But when it comes to expenses, no one should take advantage of anyone else; the costs must be shared equally among the families involved.”
Aunt Liu, always outspoken, stood alone with her hands on her hips.
As she spoke, her fingers almost poked Old Man Li’s nose.
“That’s right.
Aunt Liu is speaking my mind.”
“Since we are all chipping in to pay for someone, it’s only fair that the cost is split evenly between the three families.”
In the midst of eerie laughter, Butcher Zhang quickly chimed in from the side.
“Aunt Liu, Butcher Zhang, if you’re going to talk like that, then we just can’t agree on this matter!”
“The Taoist Wang I mentioned is a hermit, and not just any ordinary person can afford to hire him, even with money.”
“I can count on this connection to make sure he comes to our village.”
“And my favors don’t cost anything?”
“I can assure you that Taoist Wang usually charges at least eight or nine hundred yuan for his services.”
“Thinking you can hire him for a mere two or three hundred yuan, I’d have to sell my reputation to possibly get his agreement.”
“Splitting a fee of three hundred thirty yuan between the two of your households is already a huge bargain for you!”
…
Old Man Li tapped his dry pipe on the ground beneath his feet, looking rather disgruntled, and said in a deep voice.
“Alright, Old Man Li, even if we do need to hire Taoist Wang and rely on your influence, you still have to contribute something financially; it can’t be nothing.”
“That’s true.
How about this—the three hundred thirty yuan for Taoist Wang: you pay one hundred, and Aunt Liu and I will split the rest.”
Exchanging glances and nodding, Aunt Liu and Butcher Zhang’s families huddled together, whispering for a while.
Their gaze returning to Old Man Li, both families spoke up, tentatively suggesting a deal.
Old Man Li, dismissive, just sneered and didn’t utter a word.
“Eighty…” Seeing this, the two families felt somewhat helpless, and Aunt Liu spoke up again.
“I’ll only pay fifty yuan, not a cent more.”
“Besides Taoist Wang, if you know of any other masters in this field, I have no objections to how much you pay for them.”
“It’s already a huge favor that I’m willing to offer even fifty yuan.”
With a stern face, and after a brief silence, Old Man Li finally spoke.
If not for the scare he and his wife had experienced the night before, he wouldn’t have been willing to part with even the fifty yuan he had just agreed to.
“Fine!
Fifty yuan it is!” Aunt Liu and Butcher Zhang, after muttering amongst themselves for a while, finally nodded in agreement.
The strange occurrences in the courtyard over the past few days had tormented all the families quite a bit.
Since the negotiations were complete and they’d reached a consensus.
Old Man Li didn’t linger.
Mounting his twenty-eight-inch bicycle, he slowly rode out of the courtyard.
…
Almost simultaneously, in Yuedong, Yang City, near White Cloud Mountain, a large villa.
“Mom, Dad…” The driver parked the car, and as soon as Ye Qingqing got out,
she saw her parents Ye Rongzhong and Song Ling just walking out from the villa’s living room and hurriedly waved and greeted them.
“Young lady, you’ve been at university for two years and you think you can fly away?”
“Do you even remember that we’re your parents?
If your brother hadn’t put you on the plane himself, you probably wouldn’t want to come back and see us at all, would you?”
With a stern face, Ye Rongzhong started scolding her even before Ye Qingqing could approach him.
“Let it be, Rongzhong.
She just got back.
Whatever you have to say, it can wait until she’s had a chance to rest!”
Showing her discontent with her husband, Song Ling pulled Ye Qingqing, who had just reached them, to sit on the living room sofa and began to chat warmly.
After making sure her daughter Qingqing’s health was completely back to normal and that the recent yin snake gu didn’t seem to leave any lingering effects,
She finally asked about her daughter’s relationship with Chen Hai: “Qingqing, tell Mom, what’s the situation between you and Chen Hai?”
“Mom, I’m all grown up; I’m not a little kid anymore!”
“You’ve both met Chen Hai and know what he’s like.”
“There’s an old saying: a man should marry at the right age, as should a girl.
Chen Hai saved my life, he’s a good person, and he’s capable.
Falling for him and dating him is normal, isn’t it?”
…
Pouting a little, Ye Qingqing glanced at her father Ye Rongzhong sitting on the sofa and tentatively began to explain.