Free Web NovelChapter 665: Chapter 665: House Hunting
The sun was already high in the sky when the family finally left the house.
Qin Feng couldn’t help but express his joy, "It’s been so long since I had such a good sleep."
Nine people in total, five adults and four children.
Yin Le and Ah Wang rode in the carriage with the four kids, while Qin Yao, her husband, and Qin Feng each rode a horse, appearing both eager and leisurely as they headed west of the city.
In the Capital City, the real estate market is very mature, with people specializing in this business. Some have grown so big that they opened shops dedicated to connecting buyers and sellers.
The shops are well-decorated, and no matter who the guests are, the staff warmly welcomes them. From renting a cowshed to selling a large estate, they’ll take on any business.
If money can solve a problem, Qin Yao doesn’t bother herself too much. She followed Qin Feng straight into the biggest real estate shop in the city west.
Big shops have their advantages. Understanding Qin Yao’s intention, they immediately handed her a pile of property sale sketches.
The drafts include floor plans drafted by hired painters, clearly marked with the address and area, and their proximity to certain private schools or famous shops.
If a celebrity lives nearby, they’d mark it too.
If one is illiterate, the staff will assist; if someone sees something they like, they’ll directly lead them to visit the property.
If satisfied, both parties discuss the terms, agree on the price, and conclude the transaction right then and there.
The entire process is basically no different from modern real estate agencies.
There’s even a Money Shop with staff nearby, allowing one to handle borrowing and withdrawing money in one place, extremely efficient.
Of course, there are also loan sharks lurking nearby, eager to pounce on those desperate to sell their homes, tricking them into taking large loans using their homes as collateral.
While Qin Yao and Qin Feng browsed property listings inside, Liu Ji, Ah Wang, and Yin Le took the four children outside for a stroll, joining in the hustle.
Seeing a foreigner selling spices, Liu Ji immediately thought of hotpot.
Moreover, it was the kind his wife often talked about, the kind that was nicely spiced and fiery for dipping meat into, and washing it down with a little wine — quite the enjoyment!
Liu Ji couldn’t help but swallow a bit, stopping in front of the spice stall, unable to move, asking for some fennel, star anise, and peppercorns.
The foreigner with a foreign face, speaking fluent Mandarin, had been shouting for a long time without any business. Finally catching a customer, he quickly packed the spices while complimenting how handsome the father and sons were.
Who doesn’t love flattery? Instantly, Liu Ji was overjoyed. Noticing the stall had some dried goods, he chuckled and said:
"Give me some of this black mushroom too. I’ll take it home to see if it’s as delicious as you claim."
The vendor smiled even wider, praising them even more.
"That’ll be four taels and eight maces of silver," the vendor said, handing the packaged spices to Liu Ji with a smile.
Liu Ji accepted the items and naturally tapped Ah Wang on the shoulder, "Pay the man."
Ah Wang: "I have no money."
Liu Ji scoffed at him, fine, the master will pay for it himself.
Reaching for his money bag by his waist, he’d suddenly remembered using up his cash earlier showing off, treating others to tea for information.
Keeping a straight face, he pulled out two taels of broken silver, signaled the vendor to wait, handed the children to Yin Le and Ah Wang, and strode into the brokerage shop.
"Dear wife, I bought some spices. Let’s have spicy hotpot tonight, but I’m short five taels of silver."
Liu Ji whispered into Qin Yao’s ear, shielding his face with his hand while she surreptitiously examined the blueprints.
Speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Without lifting her head, Qin Yao casually spat out a single word, "Get lost."
Liu Ji: "Alright."
The smart man knows when to back off!
Qin Feng watched Liu Ji walk out of the shop towards the spice stall and turned to Qin Yao in confusion, "What’s going on?"
Qin Yao smiled faintly, "It’s nothing. They’re buying spices for tonight’s hotpot, a spicy one."
Even saying this made her feel a bit hungry. Liu Ji’s hotpot base was good, no different from the ones she had at hotpot restaurants in her previous life.
Pointing at two property sketches she had just chosen, she asked the store assistant, "These two will do. Can we visit them right now?"
The assistant looked at the sketches; they were two small three-entry courtyards, one in Cultivation Square and the other in Kuanzheng Square.
The former was adjacent to the Zhengping Square where the Imperial College was located, and the latter was on the main street entering the city through Beiding Gate, just one square apart from the former.
Looking outside the shop at the father and children roaming with the four kids, the clerk had an idea.
This family has many children, choosing properties not based on price but focusing on location and practicality, seems they possess some wealth, and surely prioritize educational resources.
"Madam wishes for a property close to academies and private schools, yet in a peaceful location?" the clerk tentatively asked with a smile.
Seeing Qin Yao nod, praised her for her keen eye, both selected properties matched her requirements.
However, the clerk recommended Kuanzheng Square more.
"Why?" Qin Yao inquired.
The clerk said, "Firstly, Kuanzheng Square’s houses are newer. Secondly, the neighborhood is friendlier. Thirdly, there’s a nice private school right within the square, offering more affordable tuition."
Even if people aren’t short on money, who wouldn’t want to save some silver?
The first and third points were beyond argument for Qin Yao; this information was already on the property listing, she chose it because of these factors.
But that second point, what did it mean?
The waiter didn’t explicitly explain, only leading them there to see it for themselves.
Liu Ji had already bought the spices, and the lack of funds for the black mushrooms made him return them, still falling short by three maces of silver, causing Da Lang to look on sympathetically and nudge Second Lang.
Reluctantly, Second Lang gave his dad a glare before pulling out the remaining three maces.
Liu Ji said grumpily, "I’ll pay you back later, you stingy fellow!"
Second Lang just huffed, not glaring at him anymore, because frankly, he too was craving the delicious smell of hotpot meat.
Qin Yao’s selected properties were just nearby, so the family followed the staff to see the Cultivation Square house first.
While passing the Imperial College gate, Liu Ji and the four kids gazed for a long time; it’s the top institution in Sheng Country.
There wasn’t a scholar anywhere who didn’t aspire to be part of it.
Walking north of the college’s main gate, they soon reached their destination.
Neighbors knew that this house was for sale. Seeing potential buyers visiting, many curiously popped their heads out to watch.
However, the onlookers’ attire marked them as servant maids or house servants; no owner showed up.
Ah Wang stayed outside to watch over the carriage and horses, two house servants approached to inquire:
"Hey, what does your master do?"
"This is Doctor Cui’s property; does your master also work at the Imperial College?"
From afar, a maid shook her head, "I don’t think so. They sound like they’re from out of town..."
"Did you see those kids? No servants attending to them, they don’t look like any ladies or young masters. Can they afford such a big house? Tsk, tsk, tsk~"
