Chapter 24 Is Money Everything?
Sometimes they bloom with boundless joy, and other times their hearts shatter like glass. There was nothing in the cafeteria, and the little boy simply said he wasn't going to eat. Before he could even add the second half of his sentence, "I'll just go hungry," my niece immediately ignored him and went to the cafeteria to get food.
Does she even understand the hurtful, delicate, and sensitive thoughts of children?
The young master recalled that when he was in the Sheng family, he had to be urged and invited to meals three or four times, and the servants always surrounded him, showing concern and care.
Now, my niece practically has "take it or leave it" written all over her face.
The child was too young to understand what a sense of loss was; he simply stood with his back to the wall, throwing a tantrum like a spoiled brat. But when he was the only one left in the dormitory, his playful nature returned. He touched this and that at the desk, then took out the pager and notebook from Qingzai's bag.
Shengfang couldn't remember how he "accidentally" opened the ink bottle; by the time his heart sank, it was too late. He turned away, pouting, unsure what to do, yet still basking in the happiness of being called by his nickname—his feelings were a jumbled mess.
He was holding the ink bottle up, and a ring of ink around the rim had already imprinted on his chin. He turned his head, and the ink bottle was about to tip over, but at that critical moment, Sheng Fang saw his niece, just like the dashing protagonist in a police drama, with incredible skill, catching the ink bottle just before it fell to the ground.
Of all martial arts, speed is the only way to break through defenses!
"Wow, that's amazing!" Uncle's cheerful and admiring voice rang out.
Later, Zhu Qing cleaned up the mess.
With the arrival of a precious young master, her already cramped dorm room became even more crowded. To exaggerate a bit, with an extra living person in the small space, they even had to share the air they could breathe.
This child, who had never experienced hardship before, adapted very quickly. Apart from complaining at the beginning, he is now living quite well. Even when the electric fan is sometimes forgotten to be turned in front of him, the child doesn't notice, and despite being covered in sweat, he continues to play happily.
Zhu Qing put the pager away and opened her notebook. Inside was a record of the number she'd seen in the police file—the witness's number from the container factory. Unfortunately, her ink-stained hand landed on the corner of the paper, smudged the number.
The old case files in the police station were locked, and she didn't have the key, so she was destined to be unable to contact the other party today.
Zhu Qing called the child to wash his hands. As she walked through the corridor, she noticed that ever since she returned, the child's lips had been curled up in a smile, and he was skipping and hopping around, his steps as light as a happy little bird.
After asking, I learned that it was just a naive misunderstanding by the child.
Shengfang has a formal name, an English name, or is respectfully addressed as "Young Master"...
However, no one had ever given him such an affectionate nickname before!
Now he has a nickname, Fangfang.
Unconsciously, I let the children's hearts flutter with joy.
The weather was hot, and the food Zhu Qing brought wouldn't get cold for a while. They sat on the lower bunk of the double bed, put together small stools to make a makeshift dining table, and sat cross-legged.
Fangfang wants to eat hamburgers and fries, and drink iced lemon tea, but now her lunchbox only contains ordinary home-cooked dishes.
The food at the police academy was notoriously bad, but surprisingly, the child didn't throw a tantrum.
He buried his head in his food and ate quickly, his cheeks bulging. He didn't need any adults to urge him. He even ate the seemingly dry vegetable stalks clean.
Zhu Qing watched him wolf down his food.
Perhaps he was worried too.
If he accidentally lost his temper, he would always carefully observe her expression, worried that he would be disliked or kicked out.
My memories go back to the days when I first met him.
The child who sneaked out to explore alone late at night was forced to go home with his head down, following the secret passage back to his room. His little figure looked so lonely, stubborn, yet he couldn't help but turn back.
Just like when she was a child, she stumbled and fell as she grew up alone. Occasionally, when she was attracted by a touch of warmth, she found herself lingering for a long time without realizing it.
Zhu Qing's heart softened, and she raised her hand halfway up, stopping it above his head.
"Qingzi," Sheng Fang said, turning her head, "it's really not tasty."
Her hand was suspended, and her fingertips twitched.
Just as I was about to retract it, I suddenly saw Shengfang acting as if she were playing a Mario game, tiptoeing and rubbing her little head upwards.
Fangfang is so proud of herself again.
Qingzai touched my head!
...
After the uncle and niece's lives got back on track, they gradually adjusted to a suitable rhythm.
The next morning, his niece went to work as well, and Aunt Ping drove over to take care of him all day. This was only temporary; once the case was over, he would go back to school, and then his life would become more stable and comfortable.
Zhu Qing made no requests regarding how to take care of the child.
"He can take care of himself."
Aunt Ping's eyes welled up with tears, and she quietly wiped them away.
The young master of the Sheng family that she knew had always been waited on hand and foot, but now, just as he was starting his new life, he had already become an independent little adult.
Don't forget our appointment to look at apartments this afternoon!
Before Zhu Qing left, she heard her nagging uncle reminding her from behind.
"I haven't forgotten." Zhu Qing said without turning her head. "You've said it a hundred times."
The talkative uncle shook his head at Aunt Ping: "She's exaggerating."
Zhu Qing knew her commute route so well that she could arrive at Yau Ma Tei Police Station with her eyes closed.
She arrived even earlier today, specifically to get the contact information of the worker at the container factory.
Upon opening the case file, they indeed found his number.
Zhu Qing dialed the number but couldn't reach the other party. Only after checking did she notice a line of blurry print at the bottom of the case file. This number belonged to the container factory's public telephone.
After the container factory went bankrupt last year, Zhu Daxiong went to work as a casual laborer at a construction site through the introduction of a fellow villager.
Zhu Qing finally managed to contact the foreman at the construction site.
"Are you looking for Broken Tooth Xiong?"
The environment around the contractor's side was noisy; he was shouting, his tone full of sarcasm and irritation.
"These old factory workers are incredibly slow and can't do much work to begin with. A few days ago, they were hit by steel bars and are still in the hospital, constantly calling to urge me to pay their medical bills!"
Do you think he's deliberately trying to extort money from us?
Bengya Xiong was the nickname of the eyewitness at the container factory back then.
With the phone receiver tucked between her ear and her other hand, Zhu Qing jotted down the address of the hospital where he was staying. As she hung up, she saw Uncle Li come in carrying an empty thermos and immediately raised the small piece of paper and waved it.
Uncle Li couldn't help but laugh.
Young people are full of energy; before anyone even assigned a task, she was already busy.
The case at the container factory a year ago might be related to these two murders. Uncle Li and Zhu Qing are in charge of following up on this matter. Uncle Li told her to wait a moment while he went to the restaurant to buy breakfast. Zhu Qing, carrying a stack of documents, waited for him in the corridor. When she heard footsteps, she turned around and saw Liang Qikai standing behind her.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to you alone until now,” Inspector Leung said. “I’m really sorry about what happened with the Sheng family last time.”
Zhu Qing remembered that Liang Qikai was referring to that day when he wasn't alert enough and inadvertently revealed her suspicions about Butler Cui when he spoke, making the shrewd old butler realize that things had been exposed and he no longer had any scruples...
In the original storyline, the cannon fodder female supporting character died and became the white moonlight in this way, and she deserves this apology.
After Liang Qikai finished speaking, he waited anxiously for her response. Zhu Qing remained calm, offering no polite words of comfort or judgment about what had happened before. She simply responded with a light nod, indicating that she had accepted his apology.
"To make amends," Liang Qikai chuckled. "Want some coffee?"
There is an automatic coffee machine at the corner of the police station corridor.
Liang Qikai inserted five dollars into the machine. The machine was unreliable, and his colleagues often complained that it was a money-grabbing coffee machine that swallowed countless coins but never dispensed any coffee. Unlike them, Liang Sir didn't bang on the machine. He proceeded slowly and patiently, waiting for the machine to finish.
The machine roared a few times and spat out a cup of steaming coffee.
Inspector Leung smiled and said he was lucky, then handed the coffee to Zhu Qing.
"With the air conditioning on so strong, drinking something cold will give me a stomachache," he said. "You have to take care of yourself even when you're alone. It's best to drink it while it's hot."
Liang Qikai noticed that when Zhu Qing accepted the coffee, she still didn't like to talk and only gave a cold thank you.
Uncle Li was buying breakfast at the restaurant when he happened to be going that way. He walked with her in silence until he saw her ask the restaurant lady for a whole cup of ice and pour it into her coffee with a "thump thump thump".
There was no explanation, and it wasn't awkward.
This junior sister's face seemed to have two big characters etched on it—
Never mind.
...
On their way to the hospital, Zhu Qing and Uncle Li talked about the case from a year ago.
"The deceased, Ma Guohua, worked as a foreman at a container factory. It was raining that day, and he was murdered at night. He died on the spot without even having a chance to be taken to the hospital."
“Ma Guohua is a well-known good husband and father. He is steady and family-oriented. He has a harmonious relationship with his wife, filial children, and no financial disputes.”
"At the time, we investigated all the clues, but in the end... the case became a cold case and was locked in the archives along with other unsolved old files."
Not every case will eventually be solved; there are also victims like Ma Guohua who die without knowing why.
Privately, Uncle Lai and Mok Chun-pong were close, and Uncle Lai had heard Mok Sir mention how stubborn this new recruit was. But solving cases requires more than just passion; relying on intuition is unwise, and being overly idealistic is counterproductive.
Just as Uncle Li was about to give the newcomer some pointers, she had already walked to the nurses' station.
He showed his police ID, explained his purpose, and asked for Zhu Daxiong's ward number in a few words.
Uncle Li swallowed back the words of instruction that were about to come out: "Let's go."
This is a six-person ward, with yellowish curtains drawn in front of each bed, as noisy as a marketplace. The "marketplace" only quiets down for a moment when a nurse comes in and scolds the patients, but soon after the nurse leaves, the noise resumes from every corner of the ward.
Zhu Daxiong lay on the hospital bed with his right leg in a cast and suspended high in the air.
His wife, Su Jinhao, had dark skin and a sturdy build. She placed her hands under his armpits and lifted his body several centimeters with a forceful push.
"Sir, Madam, what do you need me for?"
Zhu Qing then realized why Zhu Daxiong had the nickname "Broken Tooth Xiong".
He is missing a front tooth, so he has a lisp when he speaks.
"Do you remember Hung Kee Container Modification Factory on Kwai Chung Wharf Road?" Uncle Li pulled up a stool and sat down.
As soon as the officer finished speaking, Zhu Daxiong and Su Jinhao's expressions changed instantly.
That happened a year ago, but they still remember it vividly.
Many nights, the simple couple lived in fear, terrified that the murderer would come looking for them to silence them.
Now that the old case has been brought up again, they thought they could finally put their minds at ease.
"Have they caught the murderer?"
Uncle Li shook his head.
Not only has the real culprit not been caught yet, but this case may even be related to the recent series of murders and will soon be investigated together.
The two officers did not reveal many details, only saying that it was a routine follow-up visit to an old case.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Daxiong, lying on his hospital bed, fell silent for a long time before finally speaking.
"That night, it was raining so hard, and the lights in the container area were too dim, I couldn't see clearly..."
"Tell me in detail what happened that night."
"Back then, the old container factory in Kwai Chung was already in bad business. The workers were saying in private that the boss was definitely going to pack up and run away. Everyone was just going through the motions, doing their jobs half-heartedly, thinking there was no need to work so hard."
“That day I was on the night shift. As usual, after finishing my work, I hid in a corner of the factory to take a nap. In the middle of the night, it suddenly started raining heavily, and I was awakened. You know, the factory has electronic parts that are sensitive to moisture and cannot get wet.”
"I quickly got up to check, but I wasn't fully awake when I suddenly heard a loud noise."
These details are all in the transcript of last year's case file.
Hearing the violent struggle, Zhu Daxiong thought his coworkers were fighting and was about to go and see what was going on when he heard a loud "bang".
"When Brother Hua fell to the ground, I heard hurried footsteps and someone running towards the back door of the factory."
"When I got there, his face had turned purple, and there was a deep indentation on his neck, as if he had been strangled."
"I had just woken up and my mind was blank... By the time I realized what was happening and chased after them, it was too late, and I couldn't even see a soul in sight."
Su Jinhao chimed in, "Officer, that's a murderer. Luckily we didn't catch him. If we had..."
At this point, she felt goosebumps rise all over her body and dared not think any further.
"In your statement a year ago, you said you didn't see the killer's face, only his back," Zhu Qing said. "Can you still recall his physical characteristics now?"
The horrific scene from the interrogation a year ago is still vivid in my mind, making the memory even clearer and more profound. However, because I was in a state of extreme shock, I may have missed some details, leading to inaccuracies in my testimony.
Now, as Zhu Daxiong recalled the events, his brows furrowed.
“It’s a man, not too tall or short.” Zhu Daxiong gestured his height, “About five feet one inch…not too thin, about the same height as me.”
A male who is about 1.7 meters tall and weighs about 150 kilograms.
This is all too common.
"What are you wearing?" Zhu Qing asked.
She had always been curious as to why the original storyline named the case "The Rainy Night Red-Clad Serial Murder Case".
So far, she has not seen any clues about the red element.
until--
Zhu Daxiong said firmly, "The murderer was wearing red clothes."
Uncle Li: "Why wasn't this mentioned in the last statement?"
"You didn't ask!"
“You only asked me who I saw at the scene and whether I saw his face, but you didn’t ask what he was wearing.”
Uncle Li reminded Zhu Daxiong to recall if there were any details he had missed at the scene.
“It’s been raining the whole time.” Zhu Daxiong closed his eyes, his brow furrowing more and more tightly. “The rain is heavy, dripping into the pool.”
Zhu Daxiong was indeed terrified that day. Hua Ge died in front of him, and the scene was still vivid in his mind.
But what he remembers more clearly is the sound of the rain.
The rain was pouring down, and the rainwater was falling rapidly into the pond.
It's also very crisp.
"And that knife," Uncle Li asked, "did you find it at the scene?"
“It was right next to Brother Hua.” At this point, Zhu Daxiong suddenly found it amusing. “Last year, that clueless cop even asked if the knife was for loading and unloading goods. How could that be? It’s so small—”
Zhu Daxiong gestured with his finger to indicate the length of the knife: "It's too small even for shaving my beard."
Su Jinhao, who was listening nearby, slapped her husband on the shoulder in annoyance: "How dare you talk to a police officer like that?"
Then, with a big smile, she asked, "We actively cooperated with the police in solving the case. Is there a Good Citizen Award? I heard that you can get a cash prize for winning the Good Citizen Award!"
Su Jinhao pointed at Zhu Daxiong's legs and blamed him for being useless.
He used to work in a container factory, but the factory went out of business, so he had to change careers. Now, he was doing well at a construction site when a steel bar on a crane suddenly came loose. He was quick and agile, rolling to avoid it, but ended up injuring his leg like this.
Uncle Li smiled and put away his notebook: "It's a miracle you didn't hit your head."
“That’s true!” Su Jinhao agreed wholeheartedly. “It would be even more troublesome if he got brain damage from the fall.”
As the two police officers were leaving, they encountered two people who had come to visit the patient, carrying nutritional supplements.
Zhu Qing stepped aside, and only when she heard Su Jinhao's loud voice behind her did she realize that they had come to visit Zhu Daxiong.
"These are tonics, please take them."
"Recovery cannot be rushed; it must be done slowly."
"You're quite clever, knowing to sneak into the foreman's helmet when no one's around, otherwise—your head would have been smashed open in a flash."
Su Jinhao and Zhu Daxiong quickly put on a smiling face.
"The helmets are all there, it's easy to accidentally take the wrong one..."
"That's not how it is. Our Da Xiong really doesn't have that many tricks up his sleeve."
As they left the hospital, Zhu Qing asked, "Uncle Li, is the helmet the foreman uses different from the one the ordinary workers use?"
"The foreman uses thickened PVC, the ordinary workers use recycled plastic, and those at a higher level, the developers' gold helmets have genuine leather neck protectors inside." Uncle Li chuckled. "One color, one class, what do you think?"
...
When Zhu Qing and Uncle Li returned to the police station, it was not yet noon.
They first reported the information they had found to Mo Zhenbang.
Two statements were placed in front of Inspector Mo, one on the left and one on the right. Both were the statements of Zhu Daxiong, a witness to the case from back then: "Rainy night, strangling from behind..."
“I asked the forensic department, and the similar angles of the ligature marks indicate that the height and method of force application are consistent. Of course, we cannot completely rule out coincidence, but based on the data, the murderer a year ago and a year later is very likely the same person.” Zhu Qing handed him the forensic report.
Mo Zhenbang opened the report: "Based on the angle of tilt, it is inferred to be an adult male with a height of about five feet one inch?"
"The murderer that Zhu Daxiong saw was also about five feet one inches tall," Uncle Li added. "Although there may be errors in visual estimation, Zhu Daxiong himself is about the same height, so as a reference, the difference should not be too large."
The police found the knife at the scene of the case a year ago.
We followed this line of investigation at the time, but found nothing.
“Let’s assume that last year’s case was the starting point for these two serial murders that happened not long ago.” Mo Zhenbang pondered for a moment, “The murderer carried this knife to shave off the victim Ma Guohua’s eyebrows, but because he was suddenly interrupted, he didn’t have time to complete the ‘ritual’.”
"The murderer was almost exposed, so we temporarily stopped the investigation."
"Until a year later, something triggered him again... so he chose a rainy night and committed the crime again."
Mo Zhenbang put down the forensic report and transcript: "Retrieve evidence from the Ma Guohua case."
That is, the small knife.
The investigation has finally yielded a substantial breakthrough.
A hint of joy flashed in Uncle Li's eyes, while Mo Zhenbang remained calm and composed, tapping the table and glancing sideways at Zhu Qing.
What are you standing there for?
Zhu Qing: "No."
Mo Zhenbang was almost laughing in anger.
They confidently say "I don't know" and don't know how to humbly ask for help.
They're all such a worry.
...
To retrieve evidence, you need to go to the evidence room of the West Kowloon Regional Police Station.
Zhu Qing wasn't unaware of the procedures; it's just that newcomers are unfamiliar with the application process for retrieving files and evidence, and having to supplement materials repeatedly can easily lead to wasted trips.
Previously, it was always Uncle Li and Mo Zhenbang who took care of Zhu Qing. Zeng Yongshan never expected that this time it would be her turn.
She graduated at most three years earlier than Zhu Qing, and her experience wasn't particularly deep, but when she shared her experience, she was very knowledgeable and open-minded.
“Last time, Inspector Wong’s stamp was a bit blurry, and even with the application form, Uncle Cheung wouldn’t let us retrieve the evidence.”
"Luckily, I was quick-witted and immediately came up with a plan to secretly hide Uncle Zhang's reading glasses!"
Zhu Qing raised the corners of her lips.
It must be because the original female lead was so likable that Zhang Bo's reading glasses were hidden away, so they simply turned a blind eye and did her a favor.
"The evidence room—" Zhu Qing looked up, "Is this the place?"
The case was reopened a year ago, and Mo Zhenbang provided written records after being instructed by his superiors.
Zhu Qing and Zeng Yongshan took the application forms to the evidence room. After a series of tedious procedures, they finally stood in front of the steel cabinet.
Each compartment of the steel cabinet is numbered and used to store key evidence in unsolved murder cases.
In just one year, the labels on the evidence bags haven't faded, and next to the double-layered evidence bags, there's a lab report.
They finally saw the eyebrow trimmer.
Zeng Yongshan compared the test report: "No fingerprints, no fiber residue, and no signs of use on the blade."
“Look here,” Zhu Qing said. “There’s a small line of English letters.”
The two female detectives in Major Crimes Unit B have completely different personalities; one is always impulsive and reckless, while the other is overly cautious.
Seeing her serious expression, Zeng Yongshan couldn't help but laugh and said, "This isn't engraving."
The recent case of the skeleton in the mansion's fireplace featured a ring engraved with English letters.
But the letters on the eyebrow trimmer are different.
“I know…it’s a brand name.”
"You know about this too?" Zeng Yongshan's eyes lit up, and her smile deepened. "Different brands of makeup tools require different application techniques. And the textures of cosmetics are also a complex subject. It's very popular to learn makeup now. My mother works at a beauty academy and talks to me about these intricacies all the time."
Zeng Yongshan and Zhu Qing are not that close in private; this is the first time she has brought up her mother on her own initiative.
Zhu Qing paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Beauty Academy?"
In the original storyline, Zeng Yongshan's parents and older brother were brutally murdered in this case.
The plot doesn't mention her reaction when she saw their bodies; perhaps it was too cruel and was glossed over.
However, with her parents and brother tragically murdered, and the original female protagonist powerless to do anything about it as a police officer, how could she possibly reconcile with such pain? This torment became a recurring nightmare that haunted her day and night, nearly causing her to leave the police force.
That shouldn't be the case.
Zeng Yongshan is an excellent CID and an indispensable member of the team.
“Yes, my mom is an instructor at a beauty academy, specializing in teaching makeup,” Zeng Yongshan said with a smile. “If you’re interested, I can take you to a trial class; mention my name and you’ll get a 20% discount!”
“There’s a lot to know about eyebrow trimmers like these. I have no idea what double-ended or single-ended ones are—” She paused here, “I’ve seen this brand of trimmer in my mother’s vanity bag too.”
"The murderer has quite the taste in buying things," she said.
Zeng Yongshan casually mentioned that her mother worked at a beauty academy and asked Zhu Qing if she would be interested in visiting the school. Although she meant it sincerely, she didn't expect Zhu Qing to accept the invitation.
After all, Zhu Qing didn't even want to go to the barbecue party on Mo Sir's rooftop!
Unexpectedly, Zhu Qing agreed at that moment.
She actually wants to attend a trial class!
Zeng Yongshan was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"
When are you free?
"Let me think... I don't know when I'll be on duty."
If I remember correctly, the murderer targeted the Zeng family, and Zeng Yongshan was on duty at the police station.
Zhu Qing recalled the shift schedule; she had two night shifts this month.
"I can't remember," Zeng Yongshan said. "Let me check the schedule when I get back later, and then we can arrange a time again, okay?"
Zhu Qing turned around abruptly, her high ponytail drawing a lively arc in the air: "Let's go!"
Zeng Yongshan was still standing there stunned when Zhu Qing grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the elevator.
She followed in a daze, suddenly feeling a strong sense of urgency.
...
Every minute of Zhu Qing's entire workday was filled with cases.
Zeng Yongshan will be working two shifts this month, one tomorrow night and the other nine days from now.
Zhu Qing couldn't be sure on which day the murderer attacked her family in the original story, but taking up those two days of the original female lead's time wouldn't be difficult if she could come up with a simple excuse.
After agreeing to go to the beauty school where Zeng's mother worked with Zeng Yongshan, Zhu Qing glanced at the marks she had made on the calendar.
I always feel like something wasn't considered thoroughly enough.
Some people stayed to work overtime to finish the work that hadn't been done during the day. Zhu Qing was very efficient; she worked non-stop all day without stopping and was able to finish on time.
As she stepped out of the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, she felt a moment of anticipation.
Yesterday after get off work, Shengfang came to pick her up.
But not today.
Zhu Qing stopped thinking about it and quickened her pace. Noticing the movement behind her, she turned around abruptly.
The police academy's top student's grappling skills are no joke; a little guy could easily get flattened.
The young master poked his head out and complained in a childish voice, "It's Uncle!"
Aunt Ping watched this scene from the side and couldn't help but laugh again.
This little rascal thought he was hiding it well, but actually, when Madam took the third step, the corners of her mouth had already quietly turned up.
Aunt Ping handed the young master over to Zhu Qing without any trouble. She moved her mouth several times, but couldn't figure out how to address him.
Miss Sheng's younger brother is a young master, and her daughter is a young lady? This doesn't make sense; she can't bring herself to say it. The generations are all messed up!
When Aunt Ping left, she was still racking her brains, thinking about how she should address her "little princess" when she grew up.
Fangfang's uncle and his niece Qingzai had no idea what she was thinking. The two were taken to see a property by a real estate agent they had arranged to meet.
The real estate agent's surname is Wang. Even in the sweltering heat of summer, he wears a wrinkled suit, exuding professionalism.
Manager Wang was all smiles and extremely approachable. As soon as he saw Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang, he immediately shook hands with them with great enthusiasm.
"Look, it's 5:05 now." The real estate agent showed off his watch. "Start the timer now."
When Sheng Fang wants to buy a house, the first thing she needs to consider is whether it is close to the police station.
The real estate agent said that it would only take five minutes to walk from the Yau Ma Tei Police Station to that building. Sure enough, the moment he stepped into the elevator, he showed his watch to Zhu Qing again.
“It’s a five-minute walk,” Manager Wang gestured. “This way, please.”
Incidentally, he added that it took exactly five minutes because the child was small and walked slowly. An adult with normal-length legs would probably only need three minutes to get from the police station to the building.
That's true, but the young master of the Sheng family wasn't happy to hear it. He looked down at his short legs and puffed out his cheeks in a huff.
"There are 26 floors in total. There is a manager in the lobby, and the building is equipped with elevators and surveillance cameras. There is absolutely no need to worry about security."
Shengfang had told the real estate agent that he wanted a small house, just for him and Qingzai. He didn't want it to be like the old villa on the hillside, where he could barely hear anyone on the other side of the hallway, and they almost had to provide Marissa with a walkie-talkie.
Agent Wang selected this floor for the small client exactly according to his requirements.
The apartment has a usable area of 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms and two living rooms, and comes fully furnished and equipped with appliances. You can move in immediately after purchase.
"The previous owner's whole family immigrated to Canada, so they were in a hurry to sell the house. The appliances and furniture are all high-end items, so this price is practically a giveaway!"
"Look at this air conditioner, it's completely silent, and it cools down so fast, it's even colder than a refrigerator!"
Zhu Qing thought of the electric fan in her steamer that was used for heating.
In comparison, the conditions here are truly irresistible.
"The biggest advantage of this house is that it is warm in winter and cool in summer. Also, look here, the windows are double-glazed and soundproof. You will definitely not hear the noise from Temple Street at night. It is quieter than the library."
“The location is definitely the biggest advantage. It’s only a five-minute walk to Yau Ma Tei Police Station, which is convenient for my niece to go to work, and the security is absolutely guaranteed.”
Before he could finish speaking, the real estate agent belatedly shut his mouth.
The small business owner doesn't seem too happy?
With her hands behind her back, she walked with her short legs, looking unhappy.
Who is his niece? Stop trying to get close to her.
While the little boy was glaring at Manager Wang, Zhu Qing slowly walked through every corner of the house.
The wooden floor was polished to a high shine, gleaming with a warm luster. A large, soft L-shaped sofa stood against the wall, facing a large television. In the bedroom, a solid wood desk was placed next to the double bed, its surface spacious and clean, unlike the police academy dormitory where writing a few lines would cause large pieces of wood shavings to fall from the mottled surface.
Shengfang also went around with her niece.
He poked his head into the bedroom, his little face scrunched up; it wasn't a bunk bed after all.
My niece's current room is a complete mess; the only thing the young master likes is the bunk bed. Kids can't resist the allure of bunk beds, but unfortunately, there aren't any here.
As an uncle, one should consider things from a long-term perspective.
Shengfang wondered if she could order a new set from a furniture store and then hire someone to carry it over.
Uncle Fangfang was seriously pondering this question. When he looked up, he wanted to discuss it with his niece, but she was already lost in thought.
Zhu Qing stood in the center of the living room, watching the light of the setting sun spill into the room, casting warm spots of light on the floor.
There's a sense of peace here; my drifting life finally seems to have found a place to settle down.
"How much is the asking price for this apartment?" she asked Wang, the real estate agent.
The other party entered a number into the calculator: "Those in the know understand that this is a rock-bottom price. You won't find another one like this in the entire Yau Ma Tei. Buying it is a steal!"
After saying that, he quickly added, "The price is negotiable. If we can finalize it today, I can help you get a special mortgage discount."
Shengfang raised her eyebrows.
Just kidding, do I, this young master, need a mortgage to buy a house?
"Money is not a problem—" the child waved his little hand, but the words he was about to say were stuck in his throat, "Hmm?"
Zhu Qing, expressionless, covered the mouth of the young master of the Sheng family.
Now is not the time to flaunt one's wealth.
Is this kid trying to get ripped off by not negotiating the price when buying a house?
...
Twenty minutes later, Ching-zai and her uncle arrived at a real estate company storefront on Nathan Road.
When she was a teenager washing dishes in a hotel kitchen, Zhu Qing had never imagined that one day she would step into a glass-fronted shop selling real estate.
But she never expected that day would come so soon.
What I never expected was that realizing my dream was thanks to a child.
From initial negotiations to in-depth bargaining... nothing stumped Zhu Qing.
The only thing that she found difficult was managing the unrestrained spending of the child during negotiations, lest he squander the money again with a wave of his hand.
The young master of the Sheng family was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
He was born into privilege and never knew the hardships of life. For him, money was nothing more than an inexhaustible numbers game.
Zhu Qing clearly remembered that the original plot mentioned the past of this high-IQ villain.
At that so-called elite school, he had a fierce conflict with a classmate. It started when the classmate insulted him, calling his older sister a living dead and his second sister a murderer. During the scuffle, the boy accidentally pushed the classmate down the stairs. The school initially intended to punish him severely, but his foster family spent money, ostensibly as a "donation," to appease the school board. The social welfare agency, which should have intervened, tacitly chose to turn a blind eye. Ultimately, the incident passed quietly, and the young villain didn't even visit his injured classmate in the hospital.
So, money really is everything?
During the critical period of personality development, such repeated indulgence gradually pushes the minor villain into the abyss.
While Manager Wang went out to pour tea, Zhu Qing pulled a sheet of snow-white A4 paper from the table.
She wanted to teach this young master, who knew nothing of human suffering, a lesson in the most direct way.
First and foremost are the shockingly high housing prices.
The pen scratched across the paper, making a "scratching" sound, as Zhu Qing wrote down a string of numbers.
"Water, electricity, and gas bills," Zhu Qing wrote down the second figure.
"Property management fees, transportation fees, three meals a day..."
Madam, unusually patient, used facts and data to teach the bewildered children.
Sheng Fang listened attentively, as if she were in an introductory economics class. She tilted her head, her clear pupils reflecting the astronomical figures on the paper.
"Add these numbers together—" Zhu Qing used a calculator to arrive at the astronomical price, writing it down in a long, flowing style at the bottom of the paper. "Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"
"Understood." The little boy, his face scrunched up in thought, replied thoughtfully.
Zhu Qing was surprised by the child's high level of understanding.
She hasn't even started spouting any grand principles yet.
"So what should we do?" she asked.
Fangfang tilted his head and took the pen from his niece.
Next, he filled in the zeros at the end of the series of numbers.
erase!
"?"
"I'm not asking you to falsify the accounts!"
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