Chapter 143: Aunt Shen, Mortified Beyond Measure

Aunt Shen was speechless in the face of the facts.

"Alas!"

After half an hour, she finally sighed, her expression heavy as she said, "Then we can't keep going down the wrong path."

"Um..."

Before Aunt Shen could finish, Xu Yuexin pressed her onto the sofa, kissing her firmly while letting out a muffled hum.

"Mm..."

"Sss..."

At noon, Aunt Shen slumped weakly against the sofa, a thin towel blanket draped over her, her delicate shoulders exposing snow‑white legs that hung limp.

"Are you here to pay New Year's greetings?"

Looking at the relaxed Xu Yuexin beside her, Aunt Shen couldn't help but doubt his motives.

"Of course."

"We just finished the greetings."

Xu Yuexin's tone was filled with the joy of a successful conquest, making Aunt Shen blush with utter embarrassment.

"Be more proper..."

Aunt Shen gently brushed her still flushed cheek and said, "You should hurry home, otherwise your wife will be anxious."

"We usually have dinner earlier than this night."

"I'll finish cooking for you first, then it's not late to leave."

Xu Yuexin said, dressed, rose from the sofa, and walked toward the kitchen.

Lighting the stove, pouring oil, stir‑frying the dishes...

After a busy spell, Xu Yuexin prepared both lunch and dinner dishes for Shen Qingru.

"The rice is ready; you can cook it yourself later."

After finishing the last dish, a steamed young hen, Xu Yuexin stepped out of the kitchen and said to Shen Qingru.

"You've worked hard; you must be exhausted."

Shen Qingru thanked him.

"Not tired; when are you leaving?"

"After the Lantern Festival."

"Alright, I'll come see you tomorrow."

Xu Yuexin stepped forward, both hands on Aunt Shen's shoulders, and said, "Remember to stay home."

"Mm, but you must remember..."

Aunt Shen, her face reddened, reminded, "Today is the last time."

When she recalled what had happened this morning, she felt utterly mortified.

"One more thing."

Xu Yuexin placed a kiss on her delicate cheek, then turned and left.

The next day, Xu Yuexin went to Shen Qingru's house and suggested going to Dianxinju to make an overseas call to contact the house‑selling Lao Huaqiao.

Shen Qingru agreed, mounted a motorcycle, and rode with him to Qu Dianxinju.

Overseas calls cost fifty cents per minute; they prepaid two dollars for the call fee, with adjustments made afterward.

The two agreed that Xu Yuexin would place the call and negotiate with Lao Huaqiao.

"Doo, doo..."

"Hello, who is this?"

"Hello, Liu Xiansheng, I'm Xiao Xu, the one who wanted to buy your house last time."

"Oh... Xiao Xu, you want to buy my house again?"

Hearing Lao Huaqiao say that, Xu Yuexin and Shen Qingru exchanged a smile.

It seemed he was still eager to sell.

"No, no, I've already bought another house. This time a friend of mine wants to buy."

"Oh, I see. I'm currently in the United States; if you intend to buy, I can have my relative take you over there to look."

"If you like it, you can negotiate with him and sign a Contract."

"Sir, that doesn't seem right, does it?"

Xu Yuexin said bluntly, "Buying a house is a serious matter; I can only meet the owner in person."

"Sss... let's discuss later. Give me your phone number, and when I have time to return to the country, I'll give you my phone number."

"Alright, here's my phone number..."

After giving his number to Lao Huaqiao, Xu Yuexin hung up.

"He seems so eager; he'll probably come back quickly."

On the way back, Xu Yuexin said to Shen Qingru in the back seat.

"Mm, I think so too," Shen Qingru nodded.

A few days later, Xu Yuexin was arranging his travel gear for Xiangjiang at Guogongfu.

At that moment, a phone rang from the bedroom.

Xu Yuexin placed his clothes on the suitcase, turned, and walked into the bedroom.

When he answered, it was Lao Huaqiao calling.

"Little Xu, I've already returned to Beijing; the person is in the courtyard."

"When are you and your friend coming over?"

"That soon? My friend is still out of town."

Xu Yuexin laughed, "How about we go to your place the day after tomorrow?"

Dragging it out a bit lets us keep the initiative.

"You all hurry up, I still have matters in the United States."

Lao Huaqiao said impatiently, "It's hard enough to find a spare moment to come back."

Obviously, Lao Huaqiao didn't expect Xu Yuexin would still make him wait.

After the call with Lao Huaqiao ended, Xu Yuexin dialed Aunt Shen's number to inform her of the news.

"The day after tomorrow? Okay, we'll go together then."

"Alright, I'll pick you up at your doorstep."

Xu Yuexin said.

On the morning two days later, he rode his bike to Xi Erhuan to pick up Aunt Shen and go buy a house.

"Didn't you bargain down to 220 last time?"

Aunt Shen sat on the back seat and asked Xu Yuexin, "How much bargaining room do you think is left?"

"Getting it down to 200 is probably hard; 210 still has some hope."

Xu Yuexin thought briefly and said, "Let's go, hold on tight."

"Hey, go slower."

Aunt Shen, a bit panicked, quickly clung to his waist.

"Boom…"

Xu Yuexin slammed the throttle, and the motorcycle shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Soon after, the motorcycle carrying the two of them arrived at the destination.

Xu Yuexin parked the motorcycle and walked with Aunt Shen to the small courtyard, ringing the gate.

"Sir, are you home?"

"Yes, in a moment."

From inside, Lao Huaqiao's irritated voice sounded, and the door opened, revealing his poker face.

Lao Huaqiao was displeased, and Xu Yuexin was pleased.

Even before reaching the negotiation table, draining the other side's patience is a good thing no matter how you look at it.

"This is your friend, right?"

Lao Huaqiao glanced at Aunt Shen and asked Xu Yuexin.

"Um, hello sir."

"Let's go see the house first."

Shen Qingru said politely.

The party first inspected the front courtyard's ear room, then the annex rooms, and also the Guogong Mansion Main Hall in the main courtyard.

After a round of tours, both sides began negotiating price.

"240 per square meter, not selling for even a cent less."

Inside the Guogong Mansion Main Hall, Lao Huaqiao tapped the table with his finger and said forcefully.

"Hey, didn't you say 220 per square meter last time? Why the change of heart?"

Without waiting for Shen Qingru to answer, Xu Yuexin pretended to be surprised and said,

"Domestic wages and prices are rising, so the house naturally has to go up as well."

Lao Huaqiao said confidently.

Alright, even though the old man lives in the United States, he's quite knowledgeable about domestic affairs.

"Prices may rise, but the problem is that few people are spending money on houses now."

Xu Yuexin chuckled, "They're all unit‑assigned houses."

No matter what the old gentleman says, Xu Yuexin will stick to his target price.

Want to raise the price? No way! (End of chapter)