Chapter 99: Buying a Courtyard House

Lu Kuan had been busy to the point of exhaustion these past two days.

After going to the police station to give his statement and explaining the course of the incident, the fact that Lü Changchun had committed attempted murder in full view of everyone meant there was no possibility of this matter being overturned.

The Ministry of Public Security was acting in accordance with the law and had already established a special task force, determined to turn this incident with such a vile impact into an ironclad case.

At the same time, his capture accelerated the police investigation into Zhang Tianshuo; once the chain of evidence was complete, the prosecution would soon file a public indictment against him for suspected involvement in organized crime.

As the news spread throughout the entertainment industry, especially in the old Beijing circles, everyone sighed at Zhang Tianshuo’s fall from grace while simultaneously turning their gaze toward Lu Kuan, the young director who had emerged from nowhere.

Those in the know couldn't help but recall the judgment he had passed on Zhang Tianshuo, voiced through Fan Bingbing.

"Zhang Tianshuo was born in the year of the Wood Rabbit, with the Earth Dragon in the year branch, and sits on Wood Tiger; this year, the fortune and the year clash, stirring up prosperous Earth—opposing its prosperous momentum, disaster is inevitable!"

Some things are just uncanny; you have to believe them!

"Director Lu, where are you going?"

Just as they exited the police station gates, Liu Yifei and her mother also came out from inside; they had been in a different interrogation room and had also just finished their statements.

"Hello, Liu Ayi."

Lu Kuan had returned to the appearance of a relaxed young man, though Liu Ayi would never dare to treat him lightly again.

This kid was as stubborn as a mule; he would flip his face at a moment's notice, and no one’s words could sway him.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhao Linger had risked her life to save him that day, perhaps his footage would have been cut by now, and everything he had done would have gone down the drain.

Lu Kuan looked at the gauze on the young girl's arm: "I have an appointment with an agent to look at some houses."

"Xiao Lu, are you buying a house?"

It seemed that after the assassination attempt that night, Liu Yifei had unlocked a level of intimacy with Lu Kuan, and she dared to openly call him "Xiao Lu" even when they weren't working.

A life-saving benefactor certainly holds some psychological advantage.

That’s why the old saying goes that a great favor is like a great grudge; having a little girl call you "Xiao Lu" every day is truly vexing.

Lu Kuan put on a straight face and glared at her, but the girl just raised her eyebrows triumphantly, not taking it to heart.

She had also figured out Lu Kuan's temperament.

As long as she didn't slack off during work like filming or morning practice, he was generally calm and composed.

"Mom, we don't have anything to do today anyway, let's go with Xiao Lu and take a look!"

Liu Yifei’s scenes in *The Story of a Noble Family* had long since wrapped, and *Whiplash* had also finished filming.

Now she was just waiting for the start of the school term in September and the arrangements for *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* with Zhang Jizhong.

There was also an EP Lu Kuan had prepared for her; Anita Mui was having people revise the production, and during this time, Liu Yifei also had to undergo professional vocal training.

An EP is a mini-album, usually with a total duration of half an hour to forty minutes or 5 to 6 songs; it is a debut method quite suitable for new singers, aside from releasing singles.

Liu Ayi helplessly tucked her daughter's hair behind her ears and politely asked for Lu Kuan’s opinion: "Director Lu, is it convenient?"

Lu Kuan had no objections; he didn't have a car, so it was perfect to hitch a ride with Liu Yifei’s driver.

"Let's go. I don't have much experience, so I'll have to ask Liu Ayi to help me keep an eye out."

He and Zhang Jian had arranged to meet Xu Kai, a designer from an ancient architecture firm, near Nanluoguxiang.

It is said that a courtyard house is a miniature Beijing, and Beijing is a magnified courtyard house.

The real craze for buying and selling courtyard houses in later generations wouldn't begin until 2004, when the Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources and Housing Administration announced new policies encouraging individuals and enterprises to purchase courtyard houses in the old city's cultural protection zones.

After that, both domestic and foreign individuals could freely buy and sell them, and individuals who purchased them could even enjoy a 50% reduction in deed tax.

This was all to protect the ancient city's cultural relics and attract social capital to participate in the repair and maintenance of the old city.

"Hello, Director Lu!"

Xu Kai was waiting at the entrance of the hutong early, yawning and looking rather listless.

After looking at the two women and one man getting out of the car, he keenly captured who the big client was today.

"Hello, let's go take a look."

Lu Kuan and the others walked while listening to the introduction from this ancient architecture designer who had graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

"Director Lu, are you buying a courtyard house for personal residence or for renovation into a restaurant or other purposes?"

"For personal residence."

"That’s fine. If you were renovating, there would be many more restrictions, but if it's for residence, there are many more courtyards to choose from."

Liu Yifei asked in confusion: "Are there so many restrictions on how you can decorate a courtyard house after buying it?"

Xu Kai patiently explained: "The Housing Management Bureau has relevant regulations."

"You can use modern construction methods for repairs, but you must preserve the original appearance, and the repairs must use carvings, partitions, bricks, and tiles removed from the original building; you cannot use methods like rubble walls, suspended beams, or wax-gourd pillars."

Liu Ayi clicked her tongue in surprise; it wasn't that she thought it was expensive, but that it was too much trouble.

"Xiao Lu, actually, living in a villa is quite nice too. Why did you think of buying a courtyard house?"

Xu Kai glanced at her without speaking, not immediately figuring out the relationship between the three.

He had grown up at the foot of the Imperial City, and after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts, he had apprenticed under Ma Xuchu, the last descendant of an ancient construction family, and had deep attainments in ancient building repair and design.

It was just that interest couldn't put food on the table; the transaction volume for courtyard houses was very small, so he could only handle design work while moonlighting as an agent.

Being an agent for courtyard houses was also difficult; the property rights of some famous courtyards were extremely complex.

Moreover, the co-owners in a single courtyard were categorized in various ways; if you wanted to obtain the property rights for the entire courtyard, you had to work on them one by one.

Usually, failed transactions happened at this step—a whole family would scheme against each other, each raising the price, making it too difficult for the buyer to coordinate.

This was also the reason he lacked spirit; there were many people looking at houses, but reaching a deal was too hard.

After visiting several courtyards that were all quite average, the group entered Courtyard 102. Lu Kuan examined the spirit wall and the hanging flower gate, and hearing the question, he smiled:

"Liu Ayi has forgotten my primary profession? Daoism emphasizes the unity of heaven and humanity. I still prefer living in a place that is grounded; with my feet on the earth, my heart feels comfortable."

Xu Kai’s eyes lit up; this "grounded" sentiment truly spoke to his heart.

"Does a courtyard house have anything to do with that stuff of yours?"

Liu Yifei had lived in a villa in Changping since returning to the country, and she was also curious about these solidified artistic treasures.

"That is only natural."

Lu Kuan guessed that this Xu Kai had some big items in his hands that he hadn't brought out yet, and he was inclined to put on a show of mystery in front of him.

"Xiao Liu, Liu Ayi, look."

"The *I Ching* says that Qian is Heaven, is round, is the ruler and the father; Kun is Earth, is the mother and the square."

"This corresponds to the morphological characteristics of a courtyard house. From the perspective of the Five Elements, Earth is in the center, and the center of a courtyard house is also earth."

"Just like this Courtyard 102, with the main room, side rooms, and south-facing rooms forming the four cardinal directions, and the corner rooms and the gate forming the four secondary directions, it forms the Eight Trigrams orientation, with Xun being auspicious."

"So, the gate is usually opened at the southeast corner; this way, the orientation is a layout that 'bears the Yin and embraces the Yang,' and the inner courtyard is a place that 'hides the wind and gathers the Qi'."

Boss Lu calmly glanced at the top student from the Academy of Fine Arts: "Designer Xu, is what I said reasonable?"

(End of chapter)