Chapter 121 Part 1

Chapter 121 Part 1

Secretary Yang sensed the silent and tense atmosphere in the room. He was somewhat puzzled but didn't have the imagination to connect the dots that these two people knew each other, let alone that they were married. He simply thought that one wanted to buy and the other didn't want to sell, leading to a standoff.

So he quickly spoke up to ease the tension, saying: "This is Professor Zeng's house, right? Is Professor Zeng not at home? We were introduced by Minister Wang Qingshan. He said he had already arranged with your family. Comrade, do you think there might be some misunderstanding here?"

How come the agreed sale of the house suddenly turned into a refusal to sell?

Fu Mingze blinked, his frozen thoughts finally creaking into motion.

Professor Zeng?

Since when did their family have a Professor Zeng?

It seems they really came to the wrong house.

But it was his wife who came to the wrong house... or maybe not?

"Xiao Ze, is someone looking for Professor Zeng? Tell them they've got the wrong house, Lao Zeng is at number nineteen," the elderly woman's voice came from inside the house. "Oh dear, I just can't find that scarf Moer gave me..."

Fu Mingze instinctively looked at Shen Moer. Shen Moer blinked and took another look at her husband. Hmm, dressed in a suit, clearly about to go out.

She spoke up: "Secretary Yang, it seems we made a mistake. Since Professor Zeng is at number nineteen, let's go to number nineteen."

After saying that, she promptly turned around.

Whatever the situation was, it really wasn't a good time to face her in-laws... meeting them now would only complicate things further.

"Ah, oh, oops, my fault, it's all my fault for not asking clearly. Comrade, I'm so sorry, we came to the wrong house, our apologies for disturbing you!" Secretary Yang also realized his mistake and quickly apologized to Fu Mingze with a smile, then hurried after Shen Moer.

Fu Mingze watched helplessly as his wife turned and left without even a greeting...

Clearly, there was a major trust crisis between the couple.

His wife was secretly saving up to buy a house behind his back, and he was hiding the fact that his family was wealthy bourgeoisie from his wife... it seemed, perhaps, his situation was more serious.

Fu Mingze had a headache and called out: "Grandma, ask Mingzhuo to accompany you to Grandma Qiu's place. I suddenly have something urgent to attend to."

Without waiting for the elderly woman's response, he quickly walked out of the house.

The elderly woman poked her head out of the room: "What?"

Fu Mingzhuo, sitting in the living room reading a book: "Big brother said he has something urgent and can't accompany you to Grandma Qiu's house."

The elderly woman glared at him: "He also said you should accompany me."

Fu Mingzhuo: "..."

He reluctantly put down his book and muttered: "Big brother is really something. Grandma, just now a pretty lady came to the wrong house. Big brother stared at her for a long time, and as soon as she left, he immediately abandoned you and followed her. Could it be that big brother is having a change of heart and planning to abandon sister-in-law to become a scoundrel?"

The elderly woman frowned: "Impossible, your big brother isn't that kind of person."

Fu Mingzhuo: "You didn't see the way he looked at that lady, it was intense."

The elderly woman: "...You're just a child, what do you know? Don't talk nonsense."

Meanwhile, Shen Moer and the others quickly walked out of number nine. Secretary Yang apologized as they walked: "Comrade Shen, I'm really sorry. It was my carelessness that led to the wrong address. But fortunately, we cleared it up and didn't cause any major misunderstandings. Number nineteen isn't far, we can go there right now."

Indeed, no major misunderstanding occurred.

It just seems to have uncovered some significant deceptions.

Shen Moer maintained a smile: "It's alright, thank you, Secretary Yang."

If it were someone else, today's incident would be as simple as getting on the wrong bus and getting off at the next stop. It's just that today's mistake was too coincidental, causing trouble that Secretary Yang couldn't even imagine.

Of course, this can't be blamed on him.

Shen Moer's thoughts were still a bit jumbled, but she wasn't a young girl who couldn't handle things, so she quickly composed herself.

Other things can wait; the priority now is to buy the house.

The two hurried towards No. 19 Courtyard. Not long after, footsteps were heard behind them, and Fu Mingze caught up: "Moer."

Secretary Yang looked at Fu Mingze in surprise, then turned to Shen Moer, hesitating before asking: "Shen Moer, so you two know each other?"

Shen Moer paused for two seconds, then said: "Yes, we know each other, but not very well."

Fu Mingze: "..."

Shen Moer looked at Fu Mingze: "Fu Mingze, I have a meeting with Professor Zeng. Can we talk about this later?"

Fu Mingze: "...I'll accompany you."

Shen Moer thought for a moment: "Alright, let's go."

Secretary Yang glanced at them, curious about their relationship, but kept a straight face.

Arriving at No. 19 Courtyard, the gray-haired Professor Zeng was indeed waiting at home. The elderly man, his face weathered, sighed as he gazed at the somewhat bleak winter courtyard: "My child has settled in Guang City and has no desire to return to the capital. I'm old; if my health holds, I could still contribute, but unfortunately, my body can't take it anymore. I think selling the house and reuniting with my children in Guang City is the best option."

"This house is our family's ancestral home. In principle, we shouldn't easily sell the legacy left by our ancestors, but these things have caused our family much suffering. Selling it might be the best course of action. What's more important than family unity and safety?"

Professor Zeng knew Secretary Yang and glanced past him to look at Shen Moer and Fu Mingze: "You two make a fine couple. I heard from Old Wang that you've successfully been admitted to Capital University. Selling this house to you seems like a good fit."

Before Shen Moer and Fu Mingze could speak, Secretary Yang quickly clarified: "Professor Zeng, you've misunderstood. It's Shen Moer who wants to buy the house. Mr. Fu is her friend who lives nearby, so he came along to check it out."

Fu Mingze: "..."

He glanced at Shen Moer, who didn't object.

Professor Zeng looked closely at Fu Mingze: "Surname Fu, are you from the Fu family in No. 9 Courtyard? I know your elders, but I don't recognize the younger generation. Are you from Zhiyuan's family or Boyuan's?"

Fu Mingze replied, "My father is Fu Zhiyuan."

Professor Zeng sighed, "Your parents have endured a lot during these years of being sent down, haven't they? It's not easy for the whole family to survive. I heard that the old folks have been staying with your uncle in the borderlands these years? Your uncle is a key national oil talent, and although the borderlands are quieter than the inland, the living conditions are harsh. Ah, being able to endure is already good."

Speaking of family background, the Fu family is probably among the least fortunate in the area, but their Fu Boyuan is a key national oil talent. Moreover, the family acted decisively; before others could react, they had already dispersed, ultimately preserving the whole family.

Unlike some families who remained in the capital during the most chaotic times and ended up...

Shen Moer glanced at Fu Mingze.

What about the promised ordinary working-class family, all living in the capital? What about the promised sick mother, young brother, and often ill grandparents, the whole family barely getting by on a meager salary? What about the promised only uncle's family working as oil workers in the borderlands?

Fu Mingze felt a chill and bravely replied to Professor Zeng, "It's all luck."

Shen Moer smiled and said, "Not just luck, but also the wisdom to assess the situation, right?"

The word "wisdom" is stressed.

Fu Mingze: "..."

Professor Zeng smiled: "Comrade Shen has a point, being able to judge the situation and act accordingly is not something everyone can do."

Fu Mingze was out of patience, looking at Comrade Shen with a hint of pleading in his eyes.

Professor Zeng didn't press Fu Mingze further about his family matters. After all, the main task today was to sell the house. He shifted the topic and began introducing the property to Comrade Shen.

After showing Comrade Shen around, Professor Zeng said: "This is the property. You might need to make some repairs after purchasing it, but this old house was built with good materials. If properly maintained, it can be handed down through generations. My asking price is 20,000. Someone offered me 18,000 a couple of days ago, but I didn't agree. I think Comrade Shen is a good fit, and I feel comfortable selling the house to you, so I won't negotiate further. I'll sell it to you for 18,000."

The price seemed exorbitant, especially since Comrade Shen had previously bought a small courtyard for just 800 yuan.

But the size difference was significant. The small courtyard she had bought before was just an ordinary little house, while this one was a large three-section courtyard house. The area difference was immense, not to mention the vastly superior location, which was said to be not far from the former imperial palace.

This location was nearly as prestigious as the palace Comrade Shen had lived in during her time in Great Liang. Such a location has always been extremely valuable throughout history, and Comrade Shen naturally understood this.

Old Wang had previously helped them appraise the price, suggesting around 20,000. Now, the owner himself offered it for 18,000, which was very fair.

Strictly speaking, they were getting a bargain.

So Comrade Shen didn't negotiate further and instead discussed the payment: "We can probably come up with 10,000 in cash, and there's still 8,000..."

Fu Mingze promptly said: "I'll cover that, I'll go home and get it."

Comrade Shen glanced at him but remained silent, instead asking Professor Zeng: "For the remaining 8,000, would you accept an equivalent amount in gold? I have a pen pal in America who told me that gold prices are now tied to American currency, and international gold prices are relatively stable. Also, as far as I know, Guangzhou is close to Hong Kong, where people prefer gold over currency."

"You needn't worry about me deceiving you with counterfeit gold. We can have it appraised by professionals, and besides, even if I buy your house, I might run away, but the house certainly won't."

Fu Mingze looked at Comrade Shen, his mind momentarily blanked. Not only could his wife come up with 10,000 yuan in cash, but she also seemed to have a considerable amount of gold.

Where had she gotten so much money?

Where had the gold come from?

Wasn't her family poor farmers for three generations, nearly starving to death?

It couldn't have been amassed in recent years. Even if she were involved in black market dealings, she couldn't have made this much money. And it certainly couldn't have come from her job at the embroidery factory, as she always led by example, never overclaiming even a single cent for business trips.

Fu Mingze looked at Comrade Shen, his expression unusually perplexed.

The person in front of him was clearly his wife, but for some reason, she felt a bit unfamiliar.

Professor Zeng was slightly surprised when Comrade Shen mentioned paying with gold, but he quickly nodded: "No problem, I trust you."

Actually, if gold was used as payment, he would be getting the better deal.

As Comrade Shen had said, people in Guangzhou preferred gold over currency. His son had hinted in a letter that many people had been secretly fleeing to Hong Kong in recent years, and since the end of last year, the number of escapees had suddenly surged, driving up black market gold prices.

Taking gold to Guangzhou might fetch more than 8,000.

They quickly reached an agreement, scheduling the payment and transfer for the afternoon. Comrade Shen and her group bid farewell, and Professor Zeng happily said he would call his son to come pick him up.

As they walked out of the alley, Secretary Yang keenly sensed that his presence might be superfluous. Very tactfully, he said he needed to return to work and would accompany Comrade Shen for the paperwork in the afternoon. Fu Mingze directly refused, saying he would handle the paperwork himself and that Secretary Yang didn't need to come.

Secretary Yang looked at the handsome, distinguished-looking man before him. While mentally criticizing how he had previously acted all high and mighty, saying things like "who's short of money" and "please leave," now he was sticking like glue, he smiled at Comrade Shen, waiting for her response.

Minister Wang had tasked him with assisting Comrade Shen, so naturally, he would follow her instructions.

Shen Moer smiled and said, "Secretary Yang, I really appreciate your help today. You don't need to trouble yourself further this afternoon. The paperwork for the transfer isn't complicated, and I can handle it myself."

Secretary Yang got the hint that Comrade Shen was confident she could handle it herself.

He didn't insist and said, "If you run into any problems, just give our office a call. I'm not too busy these days and can assist anytime."

Shen Moer thanked him again and, after saying goodbye at the alley entrance, walked to the bus stop.

Fu Mingze trailed behind quietly, asking as they walked, "When did you get to the capital? Did Dad and our daughter come with you? Why didn’t you call me when you arrived? I could’ve come to get you."

Shen Moer paused briefly and replied, "Isn’t the phone at your dad’s workplace? I was afraid calling might interrupt his work."

Fu Mingze: "...It’s our home phone. I was waiting for your call so I could pick you up and explain everything in person."

Shen Moer turned to look at him, her expression half-smiling. "Talk about what? That your dad’s not really a worker, and your family isn’t poor? That the rags you wore in Yangliu Brigade were bought off a beggar?"

Fu Mingze: "...Those were my own clothes, just... with a few extra patches."

Shen Moer: "Oh."

So it was a custom-made "costume," huh?

As they neared the bus stop, someone suddenly shouted, "Fu Mingze, what are you doing?"

Fu Mingze turned to see Dai Mingxuan riding over on his bicycle. "What are you doing, dressed like that and cramming onto a bus? Are you crazy?"

Fu Mingze: "Stay out of it."

Dai Mingxuan: "Listen, this isn’t right. I saw you from a distance trailing a pretty girl. I’m telling you, this won’t do. My sister-in-law is coming to the capital soon. Are you trying to be a heartless jerk like Chen Shimei?"

Dai Mingxuan pedaled his bicycle to block Fu Mingze, speaking righteously, "Fu Mingze, even if my sister-in-law’s from the countryside, the fact that she got into Capital University means she’s smart and cultured. She’s amazing, and you can’t be some ungrateful jerk. I’ve got to watch you like a hawk for my sister-in-law!"

Just then, the bus arrived. Shen Moer quickly pushed her way onto the bus and, looking back, saw Fu Mingze being held up by Dai Mingxuan, unable to follow. She couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Soon, the bus started moving and slowly drove away. Shen Moer leaned out the window and shouted:

"Comrade, thanks for looking out for your sister-in-law!"

Dai Mingxuan turned to look and immediately laughed. "Look at that, look at how enlightened this girl is!"

Blocked by the bicycle and the crowd, Fu Mingze could only watch helplessly as his wife was carried away by the bus. He glared at the idiot in front of him and said coldly, "That *is* your sister-in-law."

Dai Mingxuan: "Huh?!"

He turned to look at the bus, which was now far away: "..."

He quickly turned his bicycle around and pedaled as hard as he could, fleeing the scene as if his life depended on it.

For a moment, the look in Fu Mingze's eyes told him that if he stayed any longer, Fu Mingze might just kick him under the bus wheels.

Seriously, if your wife ditched you, go after her!