Chapter 781 The Unclean House Dog Egg's ears perked up even more: "Uncle, have you heard of... those really cheap ones, like, um... like the house itself is quite nice, but... there's something about it?"
The shoemaker paused, hammer in his hand, raised his eyelids, gave him a meaningful look, and a half-smile played on his lips:
"Heh, you little rascal, you're young but know a lot about these things. You mean... the unclean kind?"
Dog Egg blinked and didn't say anything, which was taken as tacit agreement.
The master gestured with his chin towards the depths of the alley to the west:
"Look, go into Cotton Alley, the second to last house, the one with the old black lacquered door that's half gone. I heard that the family that used to live there... well, it wasn't very peaceful. It happened several years ago. The house was taken back by the street committee. The materials and location are top-notch, but it's been on the market for half a year, and the price has been lowered again and again, but no one dares to even look in."
He picked up a shoe, tapped the sole, and said slowly, "It's really cheap. A courtyard with a similar layout would cost at least 1,800. That one, I reckon, can be had for 1,200 or 1,300. But it's so cheap, it's a hot potato."
He shook his head and added, half-jokingly, "So, is your great-uncle's house... full of yang energy?"
Dog Egg felt a chill run down his spine, but the thought that the price was practically tailor-made for him made his curiosity overcome his fear.
He thanked the shoe repairman, pretended nothing had happened, and ran off towards Mianhua Hutong.
He didn't dare go in directly, but instead stood a few steps away, peeking and looking around cautiously.
The courtyard gate was indeed somewhat dilapidated, and grass had grown on the walls. Under the setting sun, it appeared exceptionally quiet, even a little too quiet.
He walked around the base of the courtyard wall, pondering:
"What...what were we talking about? If we could lower the price a bit more...maybe my parents would be bold enough to do something about it?"
After returning home, Gou Dan told his parents everything he had learned about the discounted rooms and the rumors surrounding them.
Upon hearing this, Ma Hongxia's face paled slightly, and she subconsciously rubbed the corner of her apron.
"This... this kind of cheap deal isn't so easy to come by. We wouldn't dare live in an unclean house. What if we accidentally offend something, or we can't sleep soundly at night?"
Liu Dong frowned and took a deep drag on his cigarette: "The price is really reasonable... but this talk... is really irritating."
The couple couldn't make up their minds for a moment.
I wanted to ask Lu Qingyang, but he's been so busy with the old man's affairs and the martyrs' search office lately that I couldn't catch a glimpse of him.
Just then, Zhao Rui came to the house looking for flowers and brought some apples with him.
Ma Hongxia's eyes lit up. Zhao Rui was a student at Beijing University, well-informed, and also the object of her affections, so he wasn't exactly an outsider.
She quickly washed an apple and handed it over, then took the opportunity to explain her predicament.
“…Gu Zhao, you’re a cultured man with broad knowledge. Could you help your uncle and aunt think about this house? Can we consider it?”
As Liu Dong spoke, he recounted in detail the information that Gou Dan had gathered.
Zhao Rui took the apple, but didn't eat it right away; he listened attentively.
"What you two described is not unusual. Many old houses have been around for a long time and inevitably have some folk legends about them. However, buying a house is a big deal, so it's good to be cautious. How about this: pick a daytime when the yang energy is strong, and I'll accompany you two, along with Hua and Gou Dan, to take a good look at the house inside and out. First, we'll check if there are any structural problems, such as whether the beams are sturdy."
First, check for cracks or tilting in the walls. Second, assess the dampness; look for severe dampness or mold in the corners and on the floor, as this can affect the risk of developing rheumatism. Third, consider lighting and ventilation; are the windows large enough, and is the house bright and airy? Fourth, inquire about the neighbors; the neighborhood environment is also important.
As for those rumors, we can chat with the long-time residents around the neighborhood and ask what really happened at that house, whether it was a real incident or just idle gossip. Once we understand the situation, we'll have a clearer picture. If the house itself is of good quality and the neighbors are on good terms, saving several hundred dollars just because of some unfounded rumors seems like a pretty good deal.”
He added at the end, "Of course, if we see it in person and feel uncomfortable, then we won't take it no matter how cheap it is. The point of living in a house is to have peace of mind."
Liu Dong stubbed out his cigarette and nodded: "What Zhao said makes sense. We have to see it for ourselves. Just listening to others and making wild guesses won't work."
Ma Hongxia breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face: "Yes, yes, let's go and see, let's go and see first. You cultured people always have so many ideas. After you said that, I don't feel so scared anymore."
Dog Egg, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement, thinking that this brother-in-law, who was also a man of principle and reliable.
Having agreed on a date, the group headed towards the courtyard in Mianhua Hutong.
During the day, apart from being a bit old and desolate, the courtyard doesn't seem scary at all.
The floor is paved with blue bricks, the roof is covered with old tiles, and the layout is quite good, but the paint on the window frames is badly peeling.
Zhao Rui accompanied Liu Dong and Ma Hongxia as they walked around inside and out, pointing and commenting on things like whether the roof beams were sturdy, whether the walls were damp, and how the lighting and ventilation were.
Until they moved to the backyard.
In a corner of the backyard, there stands a solitary old well, its stone rim worn smooth, with a few stubborn clumps of moss peeking out from the cracks.
For some reason, even though it was broad daylight and the sun was shining brightly, the well opening was completely dark inside, as if the light was sucked away there, giving off an indescribable chill.
Ma Hongxia subconsciously shrank back and gripped Liu Dong's arm tightly.
Liu Dong's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak.
Dog Egg was very curious and wanted to get closer to take a look, but Zhao Rui gently pulled him back.
Just then, an older woman from the neighboring yard came out to hang up her clothes. Zhao Rui took the opportunity to approach her, offering a polite smile and speaking in a moderate tone:
"Auntie, I have something to ask you. This courtyard is very quiet, but... we've heard there are some old stories about it?"
The middle-aged woman shook the water droplets off her hands, glanced at the well, her expression knowing, and lowered her voice:
"Oh, you're asking about that... That's all ancient history, passed down for generations."
"It is said that several decades ago, the family living in this courtyard was quite particular. There was a very beautiful woman in the family who was proud and looked down on the marriage arranged by her father. It seems that she was betrothed to some military officer as a second wife."
Sister Ge was unhappy. She made a fuss and begged, but to no avail. The night before the wedding... she died.
The next day, they pulled her out of there. Tsk tsk, she was so beautiful... After that, the well was abandoned and no one came.
Occasionally, someone who can't sleep says they can hear someone walking in the yard with wet shoes in the middle of the night, and a girl's low, mournful sobs... Ugh, it's all just hearsay. Who actually heard it? We certainly didn't."
"That's all baseless accusation. This is a new society now. Besides, that well was sealed off a long time ago. Go and see for yourselves; it's covered with a sturdy stone slab."
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