In the days that followed, Xinyan became busy.
Besides attending regular classes, she also received a call from her mentor, saying they returned from their daughter’s place and resumed the previous study schedule.
Additionally, finding a shop became a priority.
He Jinxuan and Han Jingchen continued to help her search. They’ve seen many places, but none were satisfactory.
On this day, Xinyan left the school and was about to head to her mentor’s house.
She overheard some people chatting on the street: "The Ling Family is really leaving Beijing to live abroad with their daughter and son-in-law?"
"Yes, when I went over yesterday, I heard it clearly. They’re already looking for someone to sell their house."
"Are they not planning to come back?"
"Don’t know. I guess after all these years of hardship, they’re completely disheartened. But if nobody looks after the house, it will fall into disrepair, better to sell it."
"But if they keep the house, at least there’s something to remember. If they sell it, they won’t have a place to stay if they return."
"But their house is hard to sell, the yard is too big, and not everyone can afford such a big sum at once. Plus, they’ve stated they’re not selling parts of the house separately."
"I heard about their house sale before and intentionally went to have a look. I thought if they sold it separately, I’d buy the part facing the street and create a small independent yard with a wall."
"That area faces the main road; it would be noisy living there, and with your kids stepping out onto the main road, it’s not very safe."
"A few days ago, my cousin returned from the South and shared a lot about the situation there. I had given my job to my brother after having kids, and even though they’re older now, household matters haven’t decreased. Hard to find a suitable job.
The situation has changed, so I thought maybe I should do something myself. If I can buy that small yard, I might open a stall there. But whenever I mention it, the Ling couple insists they’re not selling parts separately, both are quite stubborn."
"Why not find someone to negotiate for you?"
"That’s what I was thinking too."
Xinyan stopped upon hearing their conversation and acted like she was waiting for someone nearby.
After listening for a while, she understood.
Now, she was directly interested.
She thought: This is tailor-made for me.
She disregarded her plan to visit the mentor, turned around, and walked ahead, found a public phone booth, and dialed a number: "Hello, mentor, it’s me."
"Yanyan?"
"Yes, mentor, I have some matters today, perhaps I can’t come over?"
Mr. Du didn’t object and casually replied: "Then, spend an extra hour over the weekend to make up the time for me."
"Mentor, I’m your most obedient disciple, how could you bear to do this."
"I can bear it quite well."
Xinyan pouted: "Alright then."
After hanging up, Mrs. Du, sitting opposite, looked up and said: "You old fool, is that how one should be a mentor?"
"If she weren’t my disciple, I wouldn’t bother."
Then added: "Even with talent, one must be self-disciplined. If I’m not strict, she might become careless."
Mrs. Du listened and didn’t argue further. The young lady seemed distracted these days, obviously preoccupied with something.
But when asked, she remained silent.
On the other side, Xinyan asked many people along the way before finding the Ling Family selling their house.
Initially, hearing the woman talk, she felt the yard should be what she wanted. Seeing the house, it was love at first sight.
Indeed, the house was perfect for her.
The house was a three-part courtyard with east and west wing courtyards, and the east wing was right by the street.
No wonder they didn’t want to sell it separately; selling one part would make the courtyard incomplete.
Xinyan walked around the house several times before stepping forward to knock on the door.
There was the sound of footsteps: "Who is it?"
Without holding back, Xinyan said: "Looking to view the house."
Upon hearing someone was looking to buy, the person’s eyes momentarily gleamed. But upon opening the door and seeing a young lady standing outside, there was instant disappointment.