Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 283 Rare Opportunity_1

Chapter 283: Chapter 283 Rare Opportunity_1

Zhulan put down the rouge and looked back; the young servant driving the carriage was indeed familiar. Zhulan fell silent and looked up at the sky, thinking, the capital is so vast, yet to encounter him here.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhou Shuren, with a twitch tugging at the corner of his mouth, began to speak, "Master Yao."

Yao Zheyu leaned against the carriage window, his tone playful, "Scholar Zhou doesn’t seem like he just arrived in the capital. Since you’ve come, why didn’t you visit the Hou Residence to find me?"

In his heart, Zhou Shuren thought he certainly did not wish for a longer life, "Master is jesting. How could someone of low status like us dare to seek out the nobles in West City? Besides, I do not have a deep acquaintance with the Master, and I am well aware of my place."

Yao Zheyu stared into Zhou Shuren’s eyes for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Not only does Scholar Zhou have a noble character, but he also possesses great self-awareness."

Zhou Shuren bowed his head, "This is also the way for us of lowly status to survive."

Yao Zheyu stopped merely to confirm whether Scholar Zhou had come to the capital to look for him; since that wasn’t the case, there was no need to pay further attention. He had no time to concern himself with a minor Scholar. As for the debt of lifesaving gratitude, it existed if he said so, and it did not if he declared otherwise, "Master Yao has matters to attend to and must leave now."

Zhou Shuren, "Please go ahead, Master."

Zhulan felt that the male lead was becoming more and more pretentious. She didn’t know what he had experienced after returning to the capital, but he was certainly becoming more imposing. He seemed to care less and less about the life-saving debt to the Zhou family. He didn’t even mention it just now!

After the carriage left, Zhulan bought the rouge she had chosen, and she and Zhou Shuren did not stroll outside anymore, heading directly back to the inn.

Back at the inn, Zhulan spoke, "Yao Zheyu has changed quite a bit, hasn’t he? It feels like he has been greatly provoked. Why is there a feeling that he has turned ruthless, trusting no one at all?"

Zhou Shuren felt the same, "All I can say is that our wings are too strong; we have indirectly changed too much."

Zhulan chuckled; their wings were indeed strong. However, it was still best to stay as far from the male lead as possible, otherwise, it would be too easy to become cannon fodder.

The next day, Zhulan met with Scholar Deng, who looked to be in his thirties. Knowing that she wanted to purchase a house, Scholar Deng said, "Since Brother Zhao recommended you, I will certainly handle the matter thoroughly. However, as for the price, I won’t offer any discount just because of Brother Zhao’s referral. I have a family to support. Brother Zhou has visited my home before and I hope for your understanding."

Zhou Shuren, "I understand, understand. I’ll entrust this matter to Brother Deng."

Patting his chest, Scholar Deng declared, "With me here, Brother Zhou will definitely not buy a problematic house. I’ll also try to find the best location possible. Brother Zhou just needs to wait for the good news."

"I thank Brother Deng here. The food and drinks are prepared; let us eat and talk."

"Good, good."

Zhulan dined in her own room while waiting. It took two hours before Zhou Shuren returned.

Zhulan was very curious, "Can we really trust Scholar Deng’s guarantee? He’s just a Scholar, after all. How can he make such assurances?"

Although she trusted Zhao Bo, she wondered how, in the capital, a mere Scholar dared to make such guarantees.

Zhou Shuren had deliberately plied him with drinks to extract this information, "We can trust him. Scholar Deng let slip that his sister is the Deputy Minister of Revenue’s concubine and has borne his sole son. Naturally, he takes good care of his inexpensive uncle. Scholar Deng’s academic pursuits are lackluster, reaching Scholar at most. He makes a living by trading information. His work is reliable."

Zhulan had not expected such a strong connection, "Then why is Scholar Deng’s home still in such disarray?"

Zhou Shuren, "When marrying, one should marry a virtuous wife."

These five words summed it all up.

The next day, Scholar Deng arrived with a broker. Brokers were the most deceitful; no matter where, they took advantage of non-locals.

Scholar Deng personally brought the broker along, who claimed that all the houses for sale were secure and without disputes, "Scholar Zhou happens to be buying a house at an opportune time; recently, many have left the capital to return to their hometowns, so there are more sellers. As someone introduced by Scholar Deng, I won’t cheat Scholar Zhou. I have four good houses in my hands: two in South City, and two at the border between West City and East City."

Zhou Shuren asked, "How about the two houses in South City?"

The broker was introducing the properties, "The merchants in South City are plentiful, so the houses are naturally exquisitely spacious. Among these two residences, one has two sections, and the other has three. The two-section house is priced at eighteen hundred taels, and the three-section one at four thousand six hundred taels. These are quick-sale prices. If this were last year, you couldn’t get the three-section house for less than six thousand taels."

Zhulan took a deep breath inwardly. It was too expensive, beyond what she could afford.

Zhou Shuren inquired with an impassive demeanor, "What about the two residences at the junction of West City and East City?"

The broker didn’t even need to look at his notebook, he responded promptly, "West City is where the powerful live, Scholar Zhou should know this too, and East City has many common people, but there are also not a few officials residing there. The locations of these two residences are indeed prime. However, the houses themselves are just simple square courtyards, and the courtyards aren’t very large. Yet due to the location, each of these two residences is priced at twelve hundred taels non-negotiable. Oh, and the interior decorations can’t compare to those of the merchant’s homes."

Zhulan quickly did the math in her head. Some residents of the capital had lived through several great battles and, owing to their distrust in the imperial court’s military strength, had chosen to leave the capital, selling their houses in a rush, which made them cheaper than usual.

This opportunity was rare. Once the war ended, property prices were sure to bounce back, and if the war was won, the people’s confidence in the imperial court would be bolstered. It might even cause the property prices in the capital to double.

Zhulan tugged at Zhou Shuren and blinked three times at him. Zhou Shuren’s heart danced with joy. He thought about buying the two residences on the border of West City. Zhulan’s intention was to buy three properties. He couldn’t compete with Zhulan in business, so he gave an almost imperceptible nod in agreement.

Zhou Shuren said to the broker, "We would like to take a look at the two-section residence and the two properties on the border of West City."

The broker had a hunch. Scholar Zhou didn’t have enough silver to buy the three-section house, "Alright, let’s go take a look right now."

The broker paused before continuing, "Scholar Zhou, this is only because Scholar Deng introduced you, otherwise, I wouldn’t hold onto these offers in my hands. Just yesterday, quite a few people were asking about them!"

Zhou Shuren pulled out a silver angle and handed it to the broker, "Take this for tea."

The broker laughed heartily, "Scholar Zhou is too kind. Let’s get going!"

Zhulan sneered inwardly. In the capital, one needs silver for everything; without it, you can hardly make a move!

Zhou Shuren asked the inn’s waiter to call for two carriages, one for Scholar Deng and the broker, and another for Zhulan and Zhou Shuren.

When it was just Zhulan and Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan whispered, "If it looks good, let’s buy three sets. I’ve calculated that we can get all three for four thousand two hundred taels. We’ll give Scholar Deng fifty taels for his trouble, and we’ll have to give something to the broker, plus the silver for changing the property deeds. We should still have two hundred taels left over, which, along with the one hundred taels the eldest has and another one hundred taels we didn’t bring from home, means we could have four hundred taels on hand. Plus the silver from selling grain in the autumn, we should have enough silver to cover our expenses."

Zhulan paused before continuing, "If the war ends next year, the capital’s property prices are sure to rise. By then, selling just one property would cover our household expenses."

Zhou Shuren replied, "Alright, as you say."

Zhulan was elated, she could finally start making money through property deals. The opportunity was rare; not seizing it would be a waste.

Since the inn was located in South City, they first visited the two-section house. Zhulan examined it closely, as the merchant’s house was indeed exquisite. Were this house not in South City, a two-section residence like this would easily be worth three thousand taels.

Zhulan was impressed and then went to see the two residences at the junction of West City. The courtyards were indeed unremarkable, and the houses seemed to be in disrepair. What made the houses valuable was their location, or else Zhulan wouldn’t even consider buying them for eight hundred taels.

The broker asked, "Has Scholar Zhou taken a liking to them?"

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Yes, we’ll take all three. The time is not late, can the transfer be done today?"

The broker was stunned for a moment, not expecting them to buy all three properties. He was overjoyed as this meant a hefty commission for him. It was the biggest sale recently. Although many were selling, few were buying, all waiting to see how things unfolded.

The broker said, "Just bring the silver with you, and I’ll take care of everything today."

Zhulan didn’t trust Zhou Shuren to go alone and said to him, "Let’s go together."

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Alright."

The broker had his own ways. Zhou Shuren paid the silver to the sellers, and the broker handled the transfer of deeds. With silver in hand, by the afternoon Zhulan received the property deeds. After giving the broker his due and a token to Master Deng, Zhulan, with the deeds tucked away, headed back to the inn. Owning three properties in the capital made Zhulan’s step so light she almost floated.

But the good mood lasted only until she returned to the inn, as the waiter informed them, "Two guests have been waiting for you for quite some time."