He suddenly felt that rejecting his elder brother, Ge Liutao, didn’t seem so difficult or sad after all.
Really, all that money belonged to Chiang Xiao, and he planned to save it all for her, and there was nothing wrong with that!
Ge Liutao walked over, wearing an apron, and seeing their happy expressions, couldn’t help but ask, "What are you all doing? Why are you so happy?"
Chiang Xiao burst out laughing.
Happiness, how could she not be happy?
Chiang Songtao stormed back next door in a rage, and Ho Laidi greeted him, filled with anticipation, "How did it go? Did Chiang Laoer agree?"
Chiang Songtao yelled at her, "Agree with your mother! You gave birth to such a wonderful son, who only knows how to cause trouble for me!"
Ho Laidi was so scolded that she was momentarily at a loss for words.
Chiang Xiao’s mood, however, was very good.
However, they didn’t stay in Siyang Village any longer than necessary.
The next day, they locked up again and returned to the town.
Chiang Xiao had already asked Principal Fu and He Jin to help her find a house near County Third Middle School, just waiting for their news before going to the county town to have a look.
Finally, after a few days, He Jin got back to her first.
He said he had found two places that basically met her requirements, but one was for rent, and the other was for sale, and suggested she look at them herself.
So, Chiang Xiao went to the county town with her grandparents.
He Jin took them to see the two houses, both of which were not far from the Third Middle School, about a twenty-minute walk away.
Chiang Xiao was undaunted by these twenty minutes, so she was satisfied with the distance.
She had never considered buying a house in the county town, so she went first to see the one for rent.
However, the rental apartment was on the fourth floor, and the staircase was a bit narrow and had no lights.
"What about at night?"
He Jin smiled and said, "At night, you go out with a flashlight."
Chiang Xiao felt that if it were just her, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but after all, her grandparents would also be living there, and it could be for two or three years. She still planned to find something more convenient if possible.
Seeing her dissatisfaction and a bit of indecision, He Jin said, "You’re not planning to buy, but want to be close to Third Middle School; it’s really not easy to find a house. Not many people rent out their places—they live in them themselves. I’ve offered for you to stay at my place, but you keep politely declining. I’ve even offered to charge you rent; isn’t that good enough?"
He had previously mentioned to Chiang Xiao about renting in his Mingchen Studio, where she could also paint and hang her paintings for sale. It would be great.
But Chiang Xiao had dismissed the idea without even considering it.
She wanted to live somewhere more peaceful. Mingchen Studio was filled daily with art enthusiasts coming and going, and sometimes there were even poetry gatherings that, she heard, might even sing to the moon late into the night. Why would she stay there?
Besides, it would be inconvenient.
Everyone knew that Mingchen Studio belonged to He Jin; if she moved into his house, what would that look like?
If a certain someone came back, who knew if he would think she had been less than virtuous during his year away.
Uh, Chiang Xiao was taken aback by her own comparison.
With nearly four months left until that person’s return, why did she feel as if time had stretched on like a century?
Pushing thoughts of that person to the back of her mind for the moment, Chiang Xiao asked, "Aren’t there any other rentals available?"
He Jin replied, "Well, there are a few other places, but they’re a bit far from Third Middle School; it’ll take over an hour to walk, so you’d probably have to take the bus to and fro."
That far, Chiang Xiao really did not want to consider it.