Chapter 536 Renting a house (please guarantee the minimum monthly ticket)
In the early autumn of the third year of Tianfeng, it came earlier than in previous years.
This is the answer Eugene Flower came to after detecting the withering of the flowers and plants it raised.
early morning.
In the inner courtyard of the Zhao family, Zhao Paner and his beloved dog had just stepped into the dining room when they saw Eugenehua holding a letter and looking down.
"Mom?" Zhao Pan called in confusion, and saw the beautiful woman lifting her head and said happily: "Your brother sent a letter from the front line. I just delivered it this morning."
"Brother's letter?!"
Zhao Pan's eyes lit up, and his feet in the "cotton drag" were jogging over and grabbed the letters of the house. The girl's buttocks fell and hit the round stool, her eyes sank between the lines and couldn't be pulled out.
The content in the letter is simple, it only asks about the recent situation at home, especially Zhao Pan's academic progress.
As for the great victory on the front line, the thrilling war was just a note.
Eugene's eyes were slightly red and she smiled:
"Dalang won a great victory on the front line. His letters from his family were sent to the palace with military information. At this time, I believe that all the officials in the court would know that the capital would spread later."
Zhao Pan raised his head, the girl's green jade fingers were still clenching the letter paper, and worshiped:
"Brother can always do things that ordinary people cannot do."
Then his eyes dimmed:
"But the letter said that the eldest brother is going to be in Taicang and cannot come back. He can't eat the persimmon cakes made at home."
The weak-hearted Eugene Flower rarely poses the grandmother's demeanor and says seriously:
"Your brother is doing big things. Just study hard. The persimmon cake girl has prepared it and ask someone to send it to the front line."
After the empress ascended the throne, the Imperial College opened a separate girls' school, and only the ladies from the wealthy families in Beijing can attend.
Zhao Pan gave up learning martial arts and went to school to study, with excellent grades.
Zhao Pan said "happy" and sighed, "It's a pity that I don't know when I will meet next time."
Suddenly, the Jingbadog called "Mantou" under the dining table had somehow supported her limbs, grinned at the air, made a fierce look, and started to "woof".
Eugene frowned and said unhappily: "What's wrong with this dog?"
Zhao Pan bent down and picked up his beloved dog, but was surprised to find that under the hair of the Jingba, his small body was trembling and his teeth were fighting. It seemed fierce, but in fact it was trembling.
The mother and daughter couldn't see it. In the position where the Jingba dog was staring closely, Zhao Duan stood up, smiled at it, and got up to float outside the mansion.
After testing, he could still move freely in Zhao's mansion, but the further away from the mural, the shorter he could maintain his existence.
...
The imperial palace and the martial arts hall are towering ancient trees, silent and uninhabited.
Eunuch Hai was alone, sitting on a chair in the patio, opened his eyes, faced the sun, and saw Zhao Duan floating back.
"Don't stay at home for a while?" the old eunuch in a bright red python robe asked with a smile.
Zhao Duan sighed softly, and in the sun, his expression was helpless:
"If they could see it, I might consider it."
Eunuch Hai thought for a while:
"Maybe through some methods, you can have a fake body, but it is still hard to say whether you can do it. You can only think about it slowly. This kind of warlock is better at it."
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"No hurry. It's better to keep my ability confidential for the time being. Anyway, it's enough for Your Majesty and you to see it. But I'm going to take action next and I won't return frequently."
Eunuch Hai said curiously: "Have you entered Yongjia Prefecture City?"
More than ten days have passed since the Western Front, and news about this battle has spread.
As expected, King Jing began to attack the eastern front, Xue Shence went to the main attack, and Mochou followed him as the supervisor.
In name, Zhao Duan will stay in Taicang Prefecture City, defend the western front with Sun Xiaozhun, Yuan Feng and others, and restrain Zhao Shixiong.
Only a few people knew that the real Zhao Duan had already secretly sneaked into the Huai River Road, Yongjia Prefecture City, and hid in Zhao Shixiong's territory.
Zhao Duan nodded: "Well, the aftermath of the battle has stabilized, and it's time for me to act, time waits for no one."
In this operation, for the sake of top secret, Zhao Duan did not bring anyone around, and experts such as Lang Shiba and Jiyue were also stayed in Linfeng.
However, there was an elite team of shadow guards who also sneaked into Yongjia Prefecture City, and if necessary, they could be dispatched by Zhao Duan.
"Okay, be careful with everything yourself. When you are in the enemy camp, you will not have time to rush to help you." Eunuch Hai took out a piece of information and spread it in front of him, and pages of paper were suspended in the air:
"This is what you need, information about Zhao Shixiong and important personnel in Yongjia City."
Zhao Duan's eyes fell on the paper and quickly remembered it.
Eunuch Hai said:
"Zhao Shixiong has entered the worldly realm twenty years ago. Now he is afraid that he has a great perfect worldly realm and profound martial arts. He is still surrounded by a woman, and he is the Gongsun family. He is the new inner room he established after Zhao Shixiong's wife. He is from Gongsun Villa in the Jianghu and is good at swordsmanship."
"In addition, he often accompanied the guards and his troops were all confidants, and his military power was extremely good."
"But in Yongjia Prefecture, it is not entirely led by Zhao Shixiong. The main force in the city is the old subordinates of the southwest border army, but there is still a force, which is the private army of the family and generals of King Mu Xu Jingyan. There are not many numbers but the status is extraordinary. He serves as the "military supervisor" and is scattered in various border battalions and does not interfere in the war. However, Zhao Shixiong must also pay attention to the opinions of this group of people."
Zhao Duan stared at the portraits on the paper, withdrew his gaze and quipped:
"It seems that Xu Jinglang's fear and distrust of Zhao Shixiong is more serious than he imagined. He actually let so many 'inspectors' in. Xu Jingtang can know Zhao Shixiong's every move."
In comparison, the empress was the only one who was released from the front line, Zhao Duan and Mo Chou, which shows her trust in Xue Shence.
"Okay, I've recorded it all. But intelligence is just intelligence after all. I have to see it with my own eyes to know what it is."
Zhao Duan stepped forward, his figure passed through the sea, through palace walls, and penetrated into the deepest old building.
...
...
Yongjia Prefecture City is located at the southern end of the Huai River Channel, facing the river from the Linfeng Taicang Prefecture.
As one of the two richest and most prosperous Huai River Road in the Dayu Dynasty, Yongjia has a very good geographical location.
The water system is well connected, and the entire city is cut and connected by water flows like human meridians. The Yongjia River water towards the east crosses the Grand Canal and reaches the East Sea.
The buildings here are also very different from those in Linfeng. There are more small buildings in the city and densely packed, even the air is more humid.
The most typical architectural feature of Yongjia City is that there are many bridges, large and small stone bridges and wooden bridges that run through the streets in the city.
Departures such as "upside urban area" and "lower urban area" are generally divided according to the height of the terrain.
Similar to the "inside" and "outside" cities in the capital, but the boundaries are more blurred and there is a mixed settlement with intertwined teeth.
Zhao Duan woke up from an inn room and felt the fatigue of his soul. He first fed himself a pill.
Then I got up and washed up.
While washing his face, he slowly outlined his smile at the strange face in the bronze mirror that was modified with the mask of "Thousand Illusion God Lord".
"Sure enough, this kind of game of fighting with people with your brain is more suitable for me. Are the worlds and the world a bigger temple? Under the emperor, King Mu and King Jing are treacherous ministers. If you defeat Xu Jingtang, start with you Zhao Shixiong." Changing into a low-key long gown and jacket, and paying for the inn accommodation, Zhao Duan carried a bag and hung a gentleman's sword on his back. When he left the inn, he had become a young man with a little scholarly anger.
Walking on the streets of Yongjia City, looking at the rows of shops, pedestrians and vendors on both sides.
Zhao Duan was a little dazed. Even if he was in a war zone, he lived his life for ordinary people.
He walked into a shop on the street and said to an old man in his fifties at the counter:
"I made an appointment yesterday, and I'll go to see the house today."
The old man who was engaged in a house trading and rental business, similar to a later real estate agency, showed a professional smile, immediately brought a letter to lead Zhao Duan to the market on the edge of Shangcheng District.
Because it was during wartime, inns were often checked, and it was inconvenient. So Zhao Duan planned to rent a small courtyard in the city and have a place to settle down.
I have selected a house with the Yakushu yesterday, and today I went to "sign a contract" to move in.
On the way, the old man smiled and said:
"Don't worry, this young master, the house I chose for you is absolutely right. If you want to say that this is a mess, you should live in a little bit of a good place, right?"
Zhao Duan said casually: "Are you uneasy in the city?"
The old man smiled:
"It's nothing, it's just that there are more gangs in the Xiacheng District. You have to raise the price and move it in, so it's really quiet."
Zhao Duan smiled but said nothing.
He wanted to move in the city, and it was impossible for him to live too close to the city center where the close inspection was. The reason why he did not choose the lower city area was because he deliberately hid it, but it was eye-catching.
The two arrived at an alley called "Hongni Lane". They stopped at the entrance of the third yard. The man raised his hand and knocked on the door, and opened his throat and said:
"Mr. Du, I'm bringing the tenant here!"
Zhao Duan stood in the alley, his ears were extraordinary. Through the gate of the courtyard, he heard an angry voice from a woman coming from the courtyard:
"Run! Run again! If you don't study hard, you will learn badly and hang out with those young men outside the school! Du Ruhui! If you don't care about your son, you will stop me neatly!"
Then, a bitter voice of a middle-aged man sounded:
"Madam, someone is here, don't shout, let the neighbors laugh."
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows. Is this landlord's family actually a "wife's strict control"?
Although the empress ascended the throne for three years, it was not enough to change the local customs of Yu. However, because of its wealth, many women were particularly confident in their backs to their parents' homes. Therefore, the proportion of "shy women" is indeed more.
At this moment, the sound in the courtyard stopped and the footsteps approached. Suddenly, the gate of the courtyard opened. A man in his forties or fifties, wearing a long gown of a scholar squeezed out his smile:
"Please come in quickly, this young master is a tenant, right?"
As he said that, he led Zhao Duan and Lao Yaren into this two-entry house. Soon, the scenery in the backyard came into view.
In the quite simple and elegant yard, outside the east wing door, there is a large wooden basin on the steps, and clothes are soaked in it.
A woman, about forty years old, was wearing a "apron", with her sleeves rolled up, and was carrying a wooden hammer that beat her clothes in her hand.
Zhengyu looked over with anger.
It can be seen that the woman is quite pretty, but because she is getting older and has troubled family affairs, she has a bad temper and anger. Her tall jaws and thin lips seem to suggest that it is not easy to talk to.
Next to the woman, under the steps on the other side of the wooden plate, behind a wooden pillar, a boy about ten years old was so panicked that he didn't dare to look at his mother, as if he was escaping from chasing, hunching his neck, looking here curiously.
And at the door of the west wing, a quiet girl was watching everything quietly.
She was about the age of the boy, and she was quite a little bit cute. She wore a well-fitting silk skirt, looked like her mother, with a cold look, and a little bit unrelated to her.
"I made an appointment to rent a house." Zhao Duan introduced himself, but his eyes passed by the man named Du Ruhui and looked at Du's wife who was actually making decisions.
When he heard that it was a tenant, Du's wife's eyes were a little sharper and her voice was slightly softer:
"Please sit in the house."
Immediately, she threw the wet mallet in her hand into the wooden basin with a "clang", smashed a bunch of water, and looked at her daughter with a cold face:
"Take Xiaobao to the room."
The girl didn't say a word and took the boy into the wing room indifferently.
Zhao Duan's eyes stopped for a moment on the cardamom girl, frowned slightly, and then stepped into the main house.
As expected, it is neither Du Ruhui, nor the old man who is really making the decision.
The fierce wife Du wiped her hands, crossed the threshold with great momentum, looked at Zhao Duan up and down, with a bad look and tone:
"Outsiders?"
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"The Huting people went to Linfeng to join their relatives because they avoided disaster. Now they can't get through, so they have to find a place to live in the city."
The accent problem is easy to solve. He has studied temporarily. In addition, Yu Guofan has some wealth in his family, and his descendants speak official language. He has also been to Huting. He knows the customs and cultures and is not afraid of being exposed.
In order to avoid war, there are many people who are hiding from the rebels. Now there are a large number of people in the city, and they are unable to go out of the city to go north and enter Linfeng-
Zhao Shixiong has completely blocked the road to the north. Once someone is found to "smuggle", he will be detained at the least, and at the worst, he will be treated as a "spy".
"Where is Lu Yin Pingshu?" Du's wife asked in a bad tone.
She didn't want to rent a house to outsiders, but it was obvious that the family was not very rich. Although she had two courtyards in the prefecture, she could not afford to support servants...
Du Ruhui seems to be a scholar and a scholarly family, but now he is "unemployed at home"... the family's food, clothing and expenses depend on rent to support...
Zhao Duan made a quick judgment, and the tooth next to him smiled and said:
"It has been verified a long time ago, and there is no problem. Besides, Mrs. Du, you see the demeanor of this young master, you must have a very good family education. If you become a tenant, you will never cause trouble."
Mrs. Du looked at Zhao Duan carefully and saw that although he looked ordinary, his every move was calm. His expression was slightly slow, and nodded and said:
"It's best not to cause trouble. Now the war is in chaos, the city's officers and soldiers patrol the streets at any time, and prices are soaring. The inn houses are priced at one day. Our Du family is an innocent and kind family. If it weren't for a good family, no matter how much rent it is, it would be unacceptable."
He said that he didn't care about money, but he never left money every word... It seems that he is really short of rent, but he is also afraid of causing trouble. The common mentality of the common people... Zhao Duan smiled and took out a small denomination silver note from his arms:
"I understand, this is half a year's rent."
Du's wife's face changed significantly with her naked eyes, her tone became softer, and her eyes were much more pleasing to her.
Then, she repeatedly made several requirements with a reserved attitude, including the details of not taking people home and not raising animals.
This was only under the witness of Yaren that the "leasing residence" contract was signed.
In this way, Zhao Duan had his own residence in the city.
Then, Yaren left, and Du's wife took Zhao Duan to the fourth yard next to the Du family, which was much smaller in size.
The courtyard is quite simple and clean, with bedding, brooms, and bowls and chopsticks inside. It is only separated from the landlord's family by a wall, which is Zhao Duan's residence.
"What else is missing? You can buy it at the shop on the street on the right outside the alley. By the way, if you don't know how to make it yourself, you can go to the shop next door to the street. The price is cheaper and cleaner than the other shops."
Du's wife said at last, then gave the key and walked away.
Zhao Duan watched the landlord leave, smiled, entered the house and put down his bags, walked out of the room to go out to purchase, but saw that the cardamom girl of the Du family was standing quietly at the gate of the yard at some point.
"You are being targeted." Du Shishi said with a calm look at him.
(This chapter ends)