Chapter 454: Chapter 450: Buying a House
Hongguo looked like a wilted chick, with a face full of words left unsaid.
Wen Ran was puzzled, "What’s going on? Why do you look so downcast?"
Next to her, Luo Wei adjusted his glasses and smiled, "Maybe it’s because Wen Hongguo’s history grades aren’t very good.
I called her name several times in class, but she couldn’t really answer."
After saying that, his smile widened even more, and he gently asked, "How is it now? Have you learned the homework I assigned in class?"
Hongguo wasn’t a child good at lying, so she just rolled her eyes and said, "Learned."
Learning is one thing, whether I can do it is another.
"Oh?"
Luo Wei swayed his crossed legs, "Then let me test you."
How should I say it?
If it were any of those greasy guys in the future asking this, Wen Ran would have let out a cold laugh and slapped those ignorant fellows in the face.
But now the one speaking was Luo Wei.
A bona fide history professor.
Damn!
"Isn’t it unnecessary?"
Protecting her own sister, Wen Ran kept her composure, "We’re at home, isn’t it nicer to chat? Why bring up studying?"
"Yeah," Hongguo said weakly, "plus, I came back in a hurry today and didn’t bring my books."
Though the words were tactful, the meaning was as clear as day.
"Haha," Luo Wei gave a shallow laugh, "No worries, we’re idle anyway, and besides, not having books won’t be a problem."
He adjusted his glasses confidently, "I have all those things memorized in my head. Let me see, your class should be up to..."
Hongguo shivered, and Wen Ran felt a shiver down her spine.
Good grief!
Luo Wei was definitely the nemesis of the sisters.
"Ah," Wen Ran nonchalantly pulled Hongguo behind her, "I said we won’t talk about this at home, Fourth Brother, really..."
She looked up and instructed Hongguo, "I think I hear Da Bao and Xiao Bao crying, go check on them."
Wen Ran made up an excuse, and Hongguo took it as a pardon.
She slipped away in a flash.
Luo Wei: "..."
He sighed, "I just wanted to test her on her studies, not eat her."
Wen Ran earnestly replied, "You might as well eat her instead."
Luo Wei was at a loss for words.
Well, this sister-in-law’s way of thinking is really different from normal people.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Luo Wei ate the dumplings made by Mrs. Xiao, and at the very moment he took a bite, tears welled up in his eyes.
Something wet was on his cheek, and he was puzzled as he wiped his tears. This time, his eyes carried a touch of seriousness, "I think you truly are my family."
No matter how long we are apart, dietary habits and familial bonds are engraved in us and cannot be erased.
...
The next day, Mrs. Xiao anxiously waited at home for news.
Wen Ran and Xiao Chenye slipped away.
When they take care of the children at home, the mother can just anxiously wait. If they leave the children at home and run off, the mother will have to divide her attention to take care of the kids.
The anxious feelings, they had to be set aside.
Hmm!
Thinking this way, Wen Ran felt that they were truly filial children!
Of course, these words were just to comfort themselves.
The bespectacled man they met at the restaurant yesterday was already waiting at the agreed location.
Upon arriving at the Jing University gate, Wen Ran smiled, "You’re pretty quick."
The bespectacled man smiled, "Isn’t it because I genuinely want to sell and leave?"
He turned to introduce everyone, "Zhang Cheng, this is his father."
Then, "This is Wen Ran, and this is her partner."
"Hello."
Neither side liked small talk, so after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they headed directly to their destination.
The first place they visited was the closest house from there.
A courtyard with two entrances, covering an acre of land.
A considerable size.
It took quite some time just to walk around it.
Zhang Cheng was quite eager to make the sale, proactively saying, "There are absolutely no issues with the house ownership. You pay and take possession.
Moreover, there’s no concern afterwards."
Wen Ran nodded, already deciding to take the house, "Alright, so what about your other property?"
"Do you still want to see it?"
Zhang Cheng tentatively asked, "Well, I’m in a hurry to sell, and I’ll drop the price a bit, but its intrinsic value is clear.
Even if I reduce it, it won’t be by much."
"I understand," Wen Ran engaged in the conversation, "So how much were you thinking for this house?"
"The house is rundown," Zhang Cheng looked at the house with a sorrowful gaze.
It’s unclear whether he was talking about the house or his own life.
Wen Ran fell silent.
Many things leave real scars, even if they gradually heal over time, the scars remain.
Can’t be erased.
"Name your price."
Wen Ran was concise, "We need to discuss this too."
"Alright!"
Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, "I’m not going to give you an inflated number, you can take this house for two thousand four hundred."
Hmm?
Two thousand four hundred?
Honestly, it was within Wen Ran’s anticipated range; she figured she’d take the house as long as it was under three thousand.
Not for the house, but for the location.
In such a high-value area, buying an acre now for two thousand four hundred, in the future, for two thousand four hundred...
Ha.
Just getting a spot to put your foot down would be a good deal.
However, even at a fair price, it didn’t stop Wen Ran from bargaining a bit more.
"Two thousand three hundred."
Zhang Cheng: "...Two thousand three hundred and fifty, that’s the price. If you want it, we can close the deal immediately."
Wen Ran sensed Zhang Cheng was slightly on edge and didn’t dare hesitate, promptly saying, "Deal!
Shall we pay and transfer the ownership now, or do you want us to see your other properties first?"
Zhang Cheng exchanged a glance with his father and solemnly said, "We need cash or gold, no other forms of payment accepted."
"That’s fine!"
Wen Ran readily agreed.
There was plenty of cash on hand, and gold too.
The reason for not having secured a suitable property before wasn’t due to a lack of funds but the current housing shortage-the number of people willing to sell was scarce.
Even if someone were selling, the prices quoted were outrageously high.
Wen Ran wanted to grab a few more for future leverage but wasn’t going to be an easy mark.
If it appreciates later, it’s because of Wen Ran’s investment foresight, unrelated to others.
"Alright!"
Zhang Cheng wasn’t hesitant either, directly taking the couple through an entire day of touring the properties scattered around the area.
Wen Ran was satisfied with most, except the last one.
The other houses, though remote and desolate, were uninhabited and could be maintained with some effort.
If funds became available in the future, they could even be refurbished.
But that last courtyard, though well-located and nicely built, was occupied inside.
And not by a single family, but by a dozen households.
