Chapter 83: The Evil Stepmother in the Republic of China (XVIII)
"The yard is not bad!"
Gu Qingcheng is used to controlling her emotions and won't easily let others see her joy, anger, sorrow or happiness.
However, this yard is really nice, with its own entrance and yard, yet not remote.
You can live a quiet life with the door closed, and you can also live with neighbors when the door is open.
There is also a well in the yard, making it very convenient to get water.
The moat is not far away, so it is very convenient to do laundry.
Moreover, perhaps it is true as the old man boasted, there are springs under the ground here, and the air around seems to be a little moist.
"What about the rent? Old man, don't ask for an exorbitant price."
Seeing that Gu Qingcheng was only concerned about her satisfaction and did not bargain, the soldier took the initiative to help and said something.
"Oh, General, look at what you said. You two are standing here. How dare I cheat you?"
The old man spoke exaggeratedly and was almost about to shout "it's unfair".
However, he still took the two soldiers into consideration: Tsk tsk, she goes out with guards, this country woman must have some background.
"I just told you that the monthly rent is one dollar, the minimum rent is three months, and you have to pay two dollars as a deposit."
The old man pondered for a moment and said slowly, "How about this, I'll give you five dollars for half a year, and you just need to give me one dollar as a deposit."
One dollar a month, should be six dollars for half a year.
The old man asked for five dollars, which was a discount of one dollar for Gu Qingcheng.
"You are quite good at calculating, old man. The rent for long-term and short-term rentals is different."
Although the soldier is illiterate, he can count.
Especially when it comes to money, he is very good at calculating.
“…”
The old man felt a little embarrassed when his little plan was discovered.
"Master, I really don't ask for much. Look at how neat my little courtyard is."
He tried to explain.
Gu Qingcheng just found it interesting.
She lived two lives as a noble lady from an aristocratic family.
She completed two missions. Once she was a fool who didn't understand worldly affairs; once she was the daughter of a marquis who married into a duke's mansion and had no chance to come into contact with these things.
Therefore, Gu Qingcheng is still relatively unfamiliar with the common people.
The people of the Republic of China seem to be different from the common people under the feudal dynasties.
They have the humility of "common people", but they also have some confidence.
Contradictions! This era is full of conflicts between the new and the old.
Gu Qingcheng was still very confident with five hundred dollars in her hand.
She doesn't care about the rent of one or two dollars.
However, even if you have money, you can't be taken advantage of.
After thinking for a while, Gu Qingcheng said, "Uncle, I'll rent it to you for a year for eight dollars, and then I'll give you one dollar as a deposit?"
"No! Definitely not! How about you give me nine dollars, plus one dollar as a deposit, and make it the whole amount?"
The old man had an aggrieved look on his face, as if he had suffered a great loss, and he bargained firmly with Gu Qingcheng.
Seeing that the old man refused to give in, Gu Qingcheng knew that this must be a low price.
In fact, when she first saw the old man, Gu Qingcheng still saw sympathy in his eyes.
Although she didn't know what was going on in this person's mind, Gu Qingcheng could feel his kindness.
Therefore, he should not have asked for a random price at the beginning, but followed the market price.
However, the market price was not the lowest price. The appearance of two soldiers made the old man give up some of his profits.
After some further bargaining, Gu Qingcheng should be able to come up with the lowest price that the old man has in mind.
Gu Qingcheng has always been a noble person who is high and mighty, but she has never used her power to bully others.
She negotiated the price just to enjoy this kind of city life, not to oppress the lower class people.
"Okay! I'll do as you say."
Gu Qingcheng agreed to the price and readily took out ten dollars.
The old man was quite formal in signing the lease in duplicate.
Gu Qingcheng got her share and gave the money to the old man.
"There are simple furniture in the room. If you can use it, you can continue to use it."
The old man took the money and all the grievance on his face disappeared.
He said to Gu Qingcheng with a smile, "If you don't like it, just buy it yourself. I'll ask someone to take the furniture away!"
Gu Qingcheng walked into the room and took a look. The furniture the old man was talking about was an octagonal table, two armchairs, and a bed in the east room.
The furniture was painted red, but the paint had already peeled off at the edges, revealing the original color of the wood.
These furnitures look quite old, but they are clean at least.
There is no oil stain or dirt, but it is polished to a bright shine.
"I will use these furniture for now, and when I find suitable ones, I will replace them!"
Gu Qingcheng is a sophisticated person from an aristocratic family, but she would not blindly ignore the reality.
She can live in a luxurious house, and can also be content in a thatched cottage.
Her dignity was never brought out by the environment, but this place became special because of her living here! Gu Qingcheng had such confidence and pride.
"Okay! Everything will be done as you say."
After receiving the money, the old man became particularly easy to talk to.
"By the way, my house is in the yard in front. If you have any problems, you can come to me!"
"Hey, we are all neighbors, we should take care of each other."
The old man pointed to a yard in front and said enthusiastically.
"Hey, thank you, Uncle Zhu."
After renting the other person's house and seeing the other person signing and stamping the contract with his own eyes, Gu Qingcheng also knew the other person's name.
She thanked him politely and saw Uncle Zhu out the door.
Then, she said to the two soldiers, "You two have worked really hard today. The money is not much, so please take it and have a cup of tea."
Gu Qingcheng took out two silver dollars and stuffed them into the two men’s pockets.
There was an obvious flash of surprise in the eyes of the two soldiers: Hey, we just rode in a rickshaw for half a day without any effort, and we got a dollar for free.
Their monthly salary is only one dollar.
It may not be received on time and in the exact number.
This Ms. Gu is really generous!
Logically, she could have refused to give it, after all, she was Commander Ma's "friend".
But they still gave it to him, which shows that they understand the ways of the world and are generous.
"Oh, Ms. Gu, how can this be so embarrassing!"
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
The two of them were talking, but they were not slow at all in collecting the money.
The two soldiers were very happy with the heavy money in their hands, and they said actively: "Ms. Gu, if you have any errands in the future, just come to us!"
"We can't help with other big things, but if you need to run errands or move things, we brothers will do it without a second thought!"
The two men patted their chests loudly.
Gu Qingcheng smiled and nodded, and took the initiative to ask the two people's names.
Then she saw them off, watched them leave, and closed the gate.
Hearing the sound of a door behind them, the two soldiers took out the Yuan Datou coin from their pockets.
I held it in my hand and blew it, then put it to my ear to listen to the sound.
"Hey! Really!"
"It must be true. I heard that our Commander Ma helped Ms. Gu sell her property and made several hundred dollars."
"Oh, this one is a wealthy woman!"
"What? Are you moved?"
"Bah! I'm not stupid, how dare I try to steal the Commander's girl."
"How did you steal the commander's girl? You may not know that the commander-in-chief has acted as a matchmaker for our commander. Our commander may marry a foreign student as his second wife."
"Is this true? The commander is not--" He is interested in Ms. Gu.
He helped to sell the property and didn't even take any benefits. What a huge favor this is.
"Of course it's true. Don't forget, Adjutant Dong and I are from the same hometown."
"Bah! You and Adjutant Dong are not from the same county, so how can you be from the same hometown?"
“Why not…”
The two soldiers were arguing with each other as they walked.
They had received benefits from Gu Qingcheng and still had some favorable impressions of this Ms. Gu.
It's a pity that such a good person had his face disfigured. Otherwise, even if she couldn't become the commander's wife, she could at least become his concubine.
The "disfigured" Gu Qingcheng closed the door and began to pack her things.
The landlord, Uncle Zhu, left us simple furniture but no bedding.
The original owner was driven out by the Li family. After Gu Qingcheng came here, she did not find a fixed residence, but lived in an inn.
Therefore, Gu Qingcheng did not buy any new bedding or anything like that.
She just bought some ready-made clothes for herself and her fat son.
There were only these clothes and envelopes of silver dollars in her suitcase.
"I still have to go out and buy some things!"
Gu Qingcheng walked around, cleaned up a bit, and dug a few holes near the wall.
She originally had five hundred dollars in her hand, after deducting the train fare, rent and "tips" for the soldiers.
She now has four hundred and eighty-two dollars left.
Gu Qingcheng took out another twelve dollars, divided the four hundred and seventy dollars into several portions, and buried them in the pits.
Mark the location, backfill the soil, step on it, and camouflage it.
Then, Gu Qingcheng took her fat son out of the yard.
After locking the door and taking the key, Gu Qingcheng followed the direction indicated by Uncle Zhu and came to Zhu's house.
Uncle Zhu was not at home because he sneaked out during working hours.
After finishing his personal business, he handed the lease and the money to his wife, and hurried back to continue his work.
Although Uncle Zhu was not at home, his wife, Aunt Zhu, knew that Gu Qingcheng had rented a house.
Opening the door, looking at the veiled young wife outside, Aunt Zhu was very enthusiastic, "Ms. Gu, right? What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Auntie. I want to ask if there is anyone selling bedding and blankets around here?"
"Yes! We are next to the university, and there are many teachers and students from other places, and they all need these things."
Where there is demand, there is a market.
Therefore, there were shops specializing in selling bedding and ready-made clothes near the University Hall.
Aunt Zhu pointed the way enthusiastically. If Gu Qingcheng had not strongly refused, the old lady would have wanted to take Gu Qingcheng there directly.
In addition to being her own tenant, Aunt Zhu herself is a warm-hearted person.
Gu Qingcheng: ...It’s too enthusiastic. I’m a little uncomfortable with it.
She was used to being noble and really lacked experience in interacting with ordinary people.
"You, go to Yu's shop and tell him that you are a tenant of our Zhu family."
In this way, Shopkeeper Yu would not dare to ask for an exorbitant price.
"Okay! Thank you!"
A feeling that she had never experienced before surged in Gu Qingcheng's heart...
Thank you for the reward from Laofu Liaofa Shao Nian Kuang 1977, thank you for your support, thank you everyone!
(End of this chapter)
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