Chapter 123: An Encounter In His Hometown
Today was the day they boarded the airplane and returned to Song Jing. Yang Ming woke up quite early. He noticed a sleeping cat next to him, Lan Ling. He patted her shoulder and said, "Lan Ling, it's time to wake up. We need to go to the airport today."
"Go to the airport?" Lan Ling said in a drowsy manner. Although she usually woke up earlier than Yang Ming, it was 3 a.m. at that time. She was still quite sleepy. "Can I sleep just a little more?"
"Alright, you can fly back on your own. I will go ahead and leave first!" Yang Ming laughed.
"I'll wake up." Lan Ling quickly sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Yang Ming found it amusing. "Quickly brush your teeth. You may sleep again on the plane."
"Oh, great." Lan Ling didn't wear anything when she slept. Hence, she was nude as she walked into the bathroom. She didn't hold any reserve in front of Yang Ming.
Yang Ming had an impulse to pull Lan Ling back to the bed and ferociously... But, time was limited, so he could only think about it.
As he quickly packed up his luggage, he used his x-ray vision and scanned the whole room. He didn't want anything left in the corners.
Suddenly, his gaze stopped at a corner. Yang Ming couldn't help but frown a little...
After Lan Ling tidied up herself, Yang Ming went and brushed his teeth. When they were ready, Yang Ming carried his luggage and left the room with Lan Ling. Zhang Bing and Zhang Jiefang shared a room. After the previous lesson, Zhang Jiefang wouldn't dare to call another prostitute.
Since Zhang Bing and his dad also came out, the four of them checked out of the rooms. A staff member came and examined the room's facilities. Yang Ming eyed the worker thoroughly and remembered his appearance.
The journey was quiet. Finding a place for Lan Ling to stay in Song Jiang was a challenge. He couldn't bring her directly home, right? Although their relationship was akin to marriage, things had to follow a gradual progression. He needed a step-by-step approach for his parents to accept it.
It seemed he would need to find a house for Lan Ling before persuading his parents to accept her.
Initially, Yang Ming's parents wanted to pick him up at the airport. But because of Lan Ling, it would be hard to explain the situation. Hence, Yang Ming told his parents not to do so. Zhang Jiefang would have his driver take him home.
In order to arrange a place to stay for Lan Ling, Yang Ming called his parents the moment he arrived in Song Jiang. He informed them that he would stop over at Zhang Bing's house. He also added that he would return home in the evening. Since his parents were working during the day, they didn't mind.
In the afternoon, Yang Ming brought Lan Ling and Zhang Bing to visit a housing agency.
"May I ask who is looking for a house?" The business model for Song Jiang's housing agencies wasn't yet under chain management. Most of them were small private businesses. Also, most of them were owned by middle-aged women. The lady in front of them looked at them with a doubtful expression.
"Her." Yang Ming pointed at Lan Ling. "I may come over and stay."
"What's your relationship?" The middle-aged aunt tended to be nosy.
"We're a couple." Yang Ming answered.
"Couple? Have you come into age yet?" The middle-aged aunt curled her lips.
"Are you doing a background check!" On one side, Zhang Bing ran out of patience, "Do you still want to do business? If not, we will look for someone else!"
"Ai, please don't go." Although the middle-aged aunt tended to be a busybody, business came first. "Do you have an identity card?" She needed some assurance whether these three kids were serious or not.
"Yes." Yang Ming didn't want to waste too much time, and he explained himself. "We are students of Song Jiang University. My girlfriend is from another state, and she wants to rent a place to stay with me. Can you help me look for a suitable place?"
The agency aunt heard that they were students, and she felt at ease. She was worried they were just idle people. It would be troublesome if they couldn't pay the rent.
"Wait. Let me look into it for you." The agency aunt took out a book of records. "What is the standard you are expecting, and the price range?
"One or two rooms should be fine. The best would be a house built after 2000. It isn't a concern whether or not it has been decorated. Rather, a good environment is our priority." Yang Ming wasn't very knowledgeable in this aspect. He only told his needs to the agent.
"En, there are three places which match your requirements. The houses are all built after the year 2000. One is located in the Hua Fu residential area behind the Song Jiang Industry University. Another two are dormitories for faculty members and staff at the Song Jiang Industry University." The middle-aged aunt said, "The one in Hua Fu residential area is slightly more expensive. The house is from last year with a larger area of eighty-eight square meters. For the dormitories, one of them is from 1999 while the other one is from 2002. The area is approximately the same with thirty-four square meters. The one from 1999 has furniture while the other one from 2002 doesn't.
"How much is the rent?" Yang Ming felt the dormitory was better.
"Dormitories for faculty members and staff are rented for 800 yuan while the one from the Hua Fu residential area is 1500 yuan." The middle-aged aunt said.
"Can the rent be any cheaper?" Yang Ming asked.
"The price of the house at Hua Fu residential area is negotiable. The dormitory is already at its lowest price." The middle-aged aunt said, "If you like it, I can contact the house's owner for a visit."
Yang Ming and Zhang Bing studied it for a while. They also asked for Lan Ling's opinion. The three of them felt the dormitory was the best. The reason was that the residents were mostly university lecturers. It wasn't a mix of different sorts of people in society. Hence, it was safer.
"Let us visit the house at the dormitory!" Yang Ming said.
"Alright, I will explain about the commission fee first. Once you decide to rent, both you and the house owner will pay ten percent of the rental fee as my commission." The agency aunt said.
The ten percent would be worth eighty yuan, and it seemed logical. Yang Ming nodded his head. "No problem."
"As a reminder, you can't contact the house owner privately!" The agency aunt said, "To insure myself, you will need to pay a deposit of fifty yuan. Or else, if you cheated on me, I can't earn any money!"
Yang Ming thought this was indeed the case. He looked at the business license on the wall and felt it wasn't a scam. So, he paid the agency aunt fifty yuan.
The agency aunt gave him a receipt just as she contacted the house owner.
"One of the house owners went out. The only one you could visit now is the house from 1999. Is that alright?" The agency aunt asked as she put down her phone.
'Yes, when can I visit?" The furnished one would be better. Yang Ming was alright with it.
"Now." The agency aunt said, "The house owner is a professor of the Song Jiang Industry University. The house has several units. He had an extra one which is empty."
The agency aunt ran her business on a small scale. She handled it alone. Hence, she just locked the door and brought Yang Ming to visit the house.
She noticed the Chrysler 300c which belonged to Zhang Bing's family parked outside of her door. The agency aunt couldn't help but ask, "If you have such a great car, why are you still renting?"
However, she immediately shut her mouth. She subconsciously guessed that Yang Ming and Zhang Bing were sons from rich families. Lan Ling was a girl that Yang Ming kept as a mistress.
Zhang Bing didn't know what was in the agency aunt's mind as he explained, "This car belongs to my father's company. It's not ours."
With this explanation, the agency aunt confirmed her thoughts. Along the way, she looked at Yang Ming and Lan Ling with a doubtful gaze. She even questioned whether Lan Ling's identity card was genuine or not. Which part of her shows that she was seventeen?
Song Jiang's Industry University's family area was on the campus. After Yang Ming enrolled in the university, he could look for Lan Ling easily. Since the school built the dormitory for its faculty members and staff, the environment was great. There was an exclusive cleaning staff. Those who wished to enter or exit would need a key card. If there were friends visiting, the security room would call the house owner to verify. Hence, random people couldn't enter.
At this time, Yang Ming couldn't enter, and all of them waited outside the dormitory as they waited for the house owner to let them in.
After ten minutes, a Volkswagen Golf parked at the gate of the residential area. An old man in his fifties came out from the car. The agency aunt quickly greeted him. "Professor Liu, I've brought the ones that seek to visit the house."
"That's great! Let's go and visit the house... Eh." When Professor Liu met Yang Ming, he was surprised.
Yang Ming, on the other hand, was caught by surprise the moment Professor Liu came out from the car! This person was Liu Weishan whom he met in Tengchong!
"Elder Liu, how can it be you?" Yang Ming was delighted. Zhang Jiefang had already told Yang Ming about Liu Weishan's identity. Hence, Yang Ming acted in a courteous manner.
"You are..." Liu Weishan felt Yang Ming was familiar, but he couldn't recall where he met him.
Yang Ming was startled. It seemed that Liu Weishan didn't recognize him just now. He couldn't help but be disappointed. But, Liu Weishan had such great fame. He must interact with lots of people every day. It was reasonable if he couldn't remember me with only one encounter.
"Oh, ya! Now I remember. You are the little fellow that I met in Xing Hua Bookstore in Tengchong!" Liu Weishan scratched his forehead as he suddenly spoke up.
Chapter 124: Weird Lan Ling
"Elder Liu, you still remember me!" Yang Ming realized that Liu Weishan recognized him and felt very happy.
"Yes, I do, I do. The last time when I went up to Tengchong, it was for a personal matter, so I didn't meet a lot of new people. Therefore, you had a lasting impression on me!" Liu Weishan smiled, "Little kid, why did you come to Song Jiang?"
"Hehe, I am originally a Song Jiang person. I just finished my National Higher Education Entrance Examination, and preparing to further my education at Song Jiang Industry University!' Yang Ming smiled.
"The one who's renting the house is you?" Liu Weishan asked.
"Yeah, and my girlfriend," said Yang Ming as he pointed at Lan Ling.
"Okay, not bad. The young lady looks rather lively." Liu Weishan complimented as he said, "Let's go have a seat at my home. I will go and prepare the key!"
"I say, are you both still renting the room here?" The middle-aged aunt saw how Yang Ming knew the house owner and felt somewhat dissatisfied. It seemed like her business was gone.
"Thank you, but I know him by myself, so we won't have to trouble you!" Liu Weishan said with a sense of apology to the middle-aged aunt.
"Then let me speak of the ugly words up front first. The fifty yuan deposit that you have paid is non-refundable!" The middle-aged aunt didn't want to give free labor.
Even though it was reasonable for him to know Liu Weishan, it wouldn't be fair to the middle-aged aunt. Therefore, Yang Ming didn't mind that much, just nodded his head and said, "Alright, let it be non-refundable. You also have worked hard for a long time already."
Once the middle-aged aunt heard these words, she left feeling satisfied. She still needed one yuan to return on the bus!
"Elder Liu is a lecturer at Song Jiang University?" Yang Ming heard the middle-aged aunt mention this.
"Yeah, I teach here." Liu Weishan said, "You went to Tengchong for a vacation?"
"Not really. My friend, Zhang Bing - him!" Yang Ming said as he pointed at Zhang Bing, "His father is a person who is in the line of business for jades and jewelry. We were in Tengchong to gamble for jades. I was only following them."
"Hehe, so this was the case!" Liu Weishan said, "I thought you wanted to get involved in this business!"
"I will be honest. I do have this plan." Yang Ming didn't want to lie as well. If he could get Liu Weishan's support, his business could grow big really quickly. "I wanted to earn a bit of pocket money while I was still studying at university."
"Not bad. This is good thinking." Liu Wei Shan nodded his head. "I am quite experienced in studying jades and rocks. If you have any problem, you can find me for advice."
They followed Liu Weishan to his residence. Liu Weishan invited them into his home. Then he instructed his spouse to make some tea. Yang Ming assessed Liu Weishan's home in detail. The house was about 150 meters square. All of the interior design was elegant, giving an antique feel.
"Which course do you plan to go for?" Liu Weishan drank a mouthful of tea and started chatting.
"I haven't thought about it. I wanted to discuss that with my family." Yang Ming answered.
"En, I teach history. For my profession, it's fine if you want to be an academic. But if you want to find a career, then it could be a bit challenging!" Liu Weishan said, "It's right to discuss with your parents for a while! How about you, young man?" Liu Weishan asked Zhang Bing.
"I plan to learn business administration. My family runs a business, therefore once I have graduated, I can help out with my family business." Zhang Bing didn't have much choice. Zhang Jiefang had already decided for him.
"Yup, Song Jiang University's business course is pretty good!" Liu Weishan nodded his head, "Let's go and have a look at your unit."
"Liu Weishan took out his key and brought Yang Ming to the unit downstairs opposite his home.
"It's that close!" Yang Ming felt a bit surprised.
"En, right opposite. Hai..." Liu Weishan couldn't help but let out a sigh which baffled Yang Ming.
Once they were on the 3rd floor, Elder Liu opened the door on the left. What surprised Yang Ming was the that interior design of the house was also exquisite. Even though the style was a bit old, all of the furniture was rather new, as if no one had stayed in it before.
"That new! No one stayed in this house before?" Yang Ming felt rather strange.
"Ai, this house was intended for my son after he got married. But..." Once Liu Weishan spoke to this point, he shook his head and said, "It's alright. Let's not mention about the past."
Yang Ming naturally didn't understand what Elder Liu meant. Prepared for his son's wedding? Then where's his son? Was there a better house? Since Elder Liu didn't want to continue, he didn't probe further.
"Stove, water heater, furniture - all of them are available." Liu Weishan explained, "Because it's a house that belonged to the university, therefore there isn't any property fee or heating fee. However, you have to settle the water, electricity and gas bills yourself. If you want to surf the internet, you could register for the university's broadband. It's just eighty yuan per month."
"Things are rather good here. I am pretty satisfied." Yang Ming nodded his head. "Then, Elder Liu, let's sign the contract?"
Liu Weishan smiled and just waved his hand. "Sign what contract? It's fine. Just stay here. Consider it as taking care of my house for me. Or else I would need to hire people occasionally to clean things up too."
"Elder Liu, what you mean is that you don't want the rent?" Yang Ming was shocked. "Then how is that right for you?"
"Just photocopies of your IC for me will be fine. Let me request an apartment pass for you." Liu Weishan said, "Money-wise it's fine. Do you think I am someone who would care for that extra eight hundred yuan? The reason I am renting it out is just for me to find someone who can take care of the house for me."
"This..." Yang Ming couldn't quite wrap his head around it yet. He had only met Elder Liu once earlier, why would he give him the house to stay in for free?
"Hehe, you don't have to think that much. I didn't have any other intention." Liu Weishan saw how Yang Ming was hesitating and understood what he was thinking immediately. "I wanted to find someone whom I can trust to stay and not let this home rot by itself. But let's put the ugly words up front. If you both mess up my home, I am going to kick you out! This is the benefit of not requiring a contract. I could use my right as the house owner at any point in time!"
"No worries, Elder Liu. I promise that I won't change any original arrangement of the home." Yang Ming felt relieved after listening to the explanation. Liu Weishan was a highly reputable person. He wouldn't have any other intention towards me.
Yang Ming and Lan Ling went around the house. The more they looked at it, the more satisfied they felt. This was like a newly decorated house for them! Television, washing machine, refrigerator - everything was there.
While they felt satisfied, Yang Ming also felt a bit curious. Why would Liu Weishan's son not stay here?
In the bedroom, a big wedding picture captured Yang Ming's attention. A young man who looked pretty much like Liu Weishan was hugging a woman who didn't look pretty but very virtuous. They both showed a sweet smile.
Yang Ming guessed, this would be Liu Weishan's son and daughter-in-law. However, Yang Ming felt even more curious, If the wedding picture was already inside, why were they not living here?
As he thought about it, Liu Weishan and Zhang Bing walked in. When Liu Weishan saw that Yang Ming was looking at the picture on the wall, he sighed and said, "Take the picture down. Let's stop hanging that. I don't even know if they are able to come back."
Yang Ming didn't ask any further, because Liu Weishan's words were somewhat ambiguous. Therefore, he only said, "Alright, I would surely keep it well later!"
"Sure. I am not feeling very well. I will go home first. I will hand the key over to you both! Whenever you all have time, feel free to come over to my house." Liu Weishan's face did not look good... "The apartment pass would not be ready for two days. During these two days, you can tell the security guard that you are here to find me."
"Alright, Elder Liu. Are you okay?" Yang Ming asked with concern.
"It's fine. I am old now. Just feeling a bit sad when I thought about my past! I will be off first." Liu Weishan waved his hand and walked out of the house by himself.
After Liu Weishan walked away, Zhang Bing said softly, "Why is this Elder Liu so mysterious and generous? He doesn't want any money from this house?"
All Yang Ming did was shake his head. "Maybe it was as he had described. He didn't care about that little bit of rental fee. This was perfectly understandable. It's just that Elder Liu's expression seemed rather strange just now."
"En, I felt that way too. Especially when he was talking about his son." Zhang Bing agreed.
"Could it be that Elder Liu had some kind of conflict that his son decided not to stay with him?" Yang Ming guessed.
"Possible, or maybe he went out of the country? Who knows?" Zhang Bing said, "Nevermind. Today was your lucky day! You didn't need to spend a single cent, and you got such a nice house! How envious I am!"
"F***, didn't I spend that fifty yuan middleman fee?" Yang Ming retorted.
"F*** you! If you felt like that was a lot for you, then take the receipt from the middle-aged aunt and go ask for the money back!" Zhang Bing said.
"It's alright. She would have scolded me again." Yang Ming shook his head. "Oh, yeah. Lan Ling, what do you think about this home? En? Lan Ling, why don't you say anything?"
At this moment, Lan Ling was staring at the big wedding picture, stupefied!
"Lan Ling, are you okay? Why are you stunned?" Yang Ming asked curiously.