Chapter 1179: Chapter 351: [A Commission for the Simp]_3
I finally understand, like pleasing a girl, it’s like pleasing a client!
It’s the same effort and time spent, the same need to suppress your own pride.
But, if you please the client well, at least you can make money!"
Chen Yan nodded, sighing wistfully, "Alright, you’ve really thought it through."
"Exactly!"
Hu Shangke ate a piece of lamb, exhaling deeply, "I, in the past, was too confused.
I remember, I once saw someone write a question on the school’s confession wall, asking what the biggest difficulty in chasing a girl is.
Now, I’ve finally figured it out!
What’s the biggest difficulty?
The biggest difficulty is not being able to break the habit of, knowing full well she doesn’t care for you, yet you can’t help but hang on like a fool!
If you can break this habit, then there’s no difficulty at all!"
He raised his glass again, toasting Chen Yan, downed it in one go, and exhaled, "I really thank you, Chen Yan, and I’m not just being polite.
In the past year, I earned 150,000, of which 100,000 was thanks to the resources you gave me, it just came to me easily.
Now the environment is tough, for people like us who graduated from second, third, and sixth-rated schools, with so-so degrees, and no experience.
Earning 150,000 in the second year post-graduation is already great.
You know? A few days ago, I met that guy from the next dorm, what’s his name, big nose, full of acne, the one who got into a tiff with me while playing basketball..."
"Wang something Dong?" Chen Yan also reminisced, "I can’t remember the name, never asked closely."
"Right! I met him some days ago, this guy is delivering food now." He spoke with a tone of empathy, sighing emotionally, "Wearing the yellow robe, braving the wind and rain, that day I just ordered some shredded chicken, and he delivered it to our store, as soon as I saw him... Ah! My feelings at that time..."
He said, standing up again, raising a full glass of wine, "I can’t! I must toast you again! I know, if it weren’t for your help, given my performance, maybe I couldn’t have kept working at that store, perhaps I’d also end up wearing the yellow robe someday!"
Chen Yan didn’t stop him, letting him toast himself once more, gulping it down; only afterward did Chen Yan pat Hu Shangke’s hand, "Alright, you’ve toasted me three times already, your sentiments are well expressed, we’re classmates, so let’s just hurry and eat and drink without all this ceremonial stuff."
"What classmates? Just for that, I should call you my sworn brother!" Hu Shangke laughed loudly.
Chen Yan rolled his eyes deliberately, "Come on now, do I care about you calling me a sworn brother? During our four years at school, every night you begged for instant noodles from me, I don’t know how many times you’ve called me as such just to get half a bowl."
Then Chen Yan explained to Hu Shangke the reason he was looking for him — naturally, he couldn’t say it was about creating some kind of Immortal’s cave, he just said he was setting up a big Chinese-style house and wanted Hu Shangke’s help to get some Chinese antique-style furniture.
Upon hearing this, originally about to pick some food with his chopsticks, Hu Shangke put them down on the table lightly, silently waiting for Chen Yan to finish his words, Hu Shangke frowned, looking at Chen Yan, speaking seriously, "Brother, did you buy a big Chinese courtyard?"
"No, just renovated the old house a bit," Chen Yan replied vaguely, "If I wanted to buy a house, you’d definitely be the first person I’d turn to."
Hu Shangke breathed a sigh of relief but still looked at Chen Yan seriously, "Good that you didn’t buy — if you are considering buying property, I really have to advise you, don’t buy!"
He thought for a moment and continued, "This is my field, the entire real estate market situation is in my mind.
Brother, not to hide it from you, the current market situation is summarized in four words: miserable beyond words!
Frankly speaking, the housing prices are going down! Moreover, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, and the downtrend is set to last a few more years.
Firstly, with the current poor environment, fewer investors are likely to buy properties, ordinary needs can’t be met as income decreases, and purchasing power weakens.
Secondly, our country’s economic pillar has shifted and is no longer real-estate-focused.
Therefore, if you’re thinking of buying property, take my advice, hold off for now, wait.
A house bought this year is definitely cheaper than last year’s. Next year’s will be cheaper than this year’s. The year after next, definitely cheaper than next year’s.
If you buy now, just watch it devalue."
This was heartfelt advice, especially valuable coming from Hu Shangke to Chen Yan, considering Hu Shangke works in real estate agency, and Chen Yan stated he would look to him if he were to buy. Hu Shangke advising against it essentially meant steering away potential business earnings.
"Rest assured, I’m not buying a house," Chen Yan responded with a smile.
Why buy a house when you can set up an Immortal Cave Mansion?
A Paperman Puppet isn’t it better than hired housekeeping? More devoted than property management?
Chen Yan then reached for his phone, sending a document to Hu Shangke via WeChat.
This was a brief record by Chen Yan of his mansion’s general needs: three courtyards in and out, several wing rooms, parlor bedrooms, study guest rooms, ancestral hall...
Hu Shangke glanced at the document for a moment, suddenly inhaling sharply, his eyes nearly bulging round.
"Is this the big mansion you’re planning to create? So large??? Is this... a large house, or are you making a ministerial mansion for officials?"
Putting down his phone, Hu Shangke looked at Chen Yan, his gaze turning fervent, "Stepfather!! How rich are you really?!"
·
After finishing the meal, Hu Shangke accepted Chen Yan’s commission task, and the two left the restaurant full and satisfied. While waiting for a car at the entrance, Chen Yan took advantage when Hu Shangke wasn’t paying attention to pat his shoulder twice.
In his palm, a "Fortune-Telling Talisman" instantly dissolved, a faint subtle golden light merged into Hu Shangke’s body.
Simultaneously, Chen Yan clearly saw the strands of faint calamity qi entangled originally atop Hu Shangke’s head gently dissipating.
This trace of calamity qi was something Chen Yan noticed right when he saw Hu Shangke today. It didn’t surprise him too much.
People, walking through this world, will always encounter various things. There are times of luck and times of misfortune.
However, this trace of calamity qi was very weak, roughly only capable of causing a minor illness, such as a cold or a fever lasting three to five days.
Hu Shangke was probably just going to have a bout of bad luck recently, this trace of calamity qi, might be part of his fate, or maybe he accidentally came into contact with something he shouldn’t have lately, both very normal.
Sometimes, this is how people are, like if you encounter someone unfortunate, during your interaction with them, your fate and theirs might have some fitting or conflicting relation, their bad luck might rub off slightly onto you.
Alternatively, performing some misdeed accidentally may also lead to catching a trace of it.
These are usual matters, and Chen Yan didn’t take it to heart.
However, he casually helped Hu Shangke sweep away that trace of calamity qi, sparing him from potentially catching a cold or some small ailment.
That night, Chen Yan also transferred 500,000 into Hu Shangke’s account, as funding for him to arrange antique furniture — of course, the entire budget couldn’t just be this much, but if Hu Shangke found something suitable, he’d need a deposit, and in case any leg work was needed, it wouldn’t be fair for him to use his own money.
Little did he expect, trouble arose the next day.
·
