The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 107

The person who entered to retrieve the register was an assistant who ran errands for the brokers.

He knocked and came in, apologized, then stepped forward and found the open register in front of Mei San.

At the same time, he lowered his voice to share some gossip. “Mr. Mei, that residence in Xinghua Ward has been sold.”

Mei San froze, then turned pale with shock. “What? Who sold it? Isn’t that sending someone to their death?”

Only after shouting did he seem to remember the three customers in the private room. Criticizing a colleague like this reflected poorly on the entire brokerage, so he fell silent in embarrassment.

The assistant did not understand his concern. “Who else but that money-grubbing fellow surnamed Guan?”

This Broker Guan plainly had a terrible reputation and few friends. Even the assistants who ran errands for the brokers regarded him with disdain.

“I’ll be going. They need the register at the front to draw up the deed!”

“A-Yin, lives are involved. I need to go take a look.” Zhao Li leaned close and whispered into Han Yin’s ear.

Han Yin made no fuss and nodded repeatedly.

Mei San watched in confusion as Zhao Li rose and followed the assistant out.

“Please continue, Mr. Mei.” Han Yin smiled at him.

Zhao Li followed the assistant to a private room near the front.

The moment he opened the door, Zhao Li heard an affected voice inside. “Congratulations, sir! Congratulations on acquiring such a magnificent residence.”

“For this location and this layout, only three hundred taels is practically the same as getting it for free.”

As the assistant closed the door, Zhao Li secretly slipped a foot against the panel.

It did not shut completely. She folded her arms and listened from outside.

The speaker was plainly the broker surnamed Guan, offering congratulations in an exaggerated tone.

“The price certainly is low, but is there truly nothing wrong with the house?” The buyer’s voice sounded hesitant. He clearly knew that cheap goods were seldom good, but he could not resist the temptation or the broker’s clever tongue.

“Nothing at all.” Broker Guan slapped his chest loudly and swore by heaven and earth. “All those tales of ghosts and gods are only fit to fool children.”

“As for people dying, which street in Shengjing has not seen someone freeze to death in any given year?”

“But who has ever heard of a haunting?”

Outside, Zhao Li arched a brow. Ten years ago, the man’s words might not have been wrong. Now, that was far less certain.

As she thought, the conversation inside continued.

“Look, you’ve been searching for a long time. This property’s price and location suit your needs better than any other. People died there? What does that matter?”

“Isn’t poverty more frightening than dead people?” Broker Guan asked pragmatically. “If you pass this up, you won’t find another spacious home in such a good location at this price.”

“There are seven or eight people in your family. You’d be crammed together anywhere else. The residents of Xinghua Ward are all well-to-do, the neighborhood is respectable, and the ward even has a private school. Think of your grandson.”

After this barrage of persuasive talk, the buyer finally stopped hesitating. “All right. Draw up the deed. I’ll visit the bank shortly.”

The moment Zhao Li heard that his household had seven or eight members, she stopped hesitating too and pushed open the door. “Wait.”

“I saw this house first.”

Zhao Li was not determined to snatch this bargain for herself. But since she knew the property might be dangerous, she could not let someone else buy it.

Broker Guan had been delighted to hear the buyer agree and was rising to prepare the deed.

When someone suddenly interfered, he looked toward the doorway in displeasure.

Seeing a beautiful young woman, he demanded irritably, “What do you mean by this, miss?”

The buyer, a kindly-looking old man who had only just reached his difficult decision, also frowned deeply.

“I said I saw it first,” Zhao Li repeated.

Broker Guan immediately grew angry. He was about to lash out, but although Zhao Li’s clothes were plain and unremarkable, her looks and bearing were exceptional. Not daring to offend her too badly, he said, “Miss, you…”

“Business is conducted in order of arrival. I saw it first, so naturally I have priority.”

Zhao Li pointed toward the private room where Mei San sat.

Hearing the disturbance, Mei San came out as well. Seeing Zhao Li point in his direction, he looked utterly bewildered.

Anger flashed in Broker Guan’s eyes.

“How can a young woman like you be so unreasonable? We were already about to draw up the deed.”

The old man, who had still been hesitant before, became anxious the moment a rival buyer appeared. All his doubts vanished, and he urged hurriedly, “Pay her no mind. I agreed to buy it first. Draw up the deed, quickly.”

“Right away.” Broker Guan answered and made to go inside.

Zhao Li felt an instant headache coming on. “I said I saw it first.”

She hesitated over whether to reach for her badge.

She had intended to handle this matter in a private capacity. She did not want to add another tale to the Jingning Guard’s overbearing reputation, but now…

Mei San and Han Yin, who had followed her over, also changed expression.

Mei San reminded her quietly, “Miss, didn’t I just tell you about this residence…”

Han Yin gently tugged Zhao Li’s hand as well. “This house may be cheap, but it’s frightening. Even if you don’t want to watch someone throw away his life, you needn’t buy it yourself.”

Han Yin softly tried to dissuade her.

Zhao Li shook her head, signaling that she would be fine. Then she said to Mei San, “Mr. Mei, please draw up the deed for me.”

“Mei San, what is the meaning of this?” Seeing a sure sale about to fly away, Broker Guan grew anxious.

He turned his anger on Mei San.

Mei San looked completely innocent. He had no idea what was happening either.

When a crowd began gathering to enjoy the spectacle, Zhao Li motioned for Mei San and Han Yin to enter, then kicked the private-room door shut.

The buyer immediately grew nervous. “What are you doing?”

Zhao Li addressed the old man. “Sir, a bargain isn’t worth your life. Two entire families have already died suddenly in this house. Do you intend to take your whole family with you?”

The old man froze. “Two… two families died?”

He turned to Broker Guan. “Didn’t you say only two people had frozen to death?”

Broker Guan looked away, not daring to meet his gaze. “Several people did indeed die…”

At his expression, the old man understood everything. He had been duped. He glared furiously at Broker Guan.

Then he repeatedly cupped his hands to Zhao Li in thanks and hurried out the door.

“Mr. Mei, draw up the deed for me.” Zhao Li calculated that everyone at the Night Watch Bureau could contribute a little.

Mei San was still dazed.

He had assumed Zhao Li was merely a young woman standing up against an injustice. He had not expected her to truly buy the place.

“Miss, you really mustn’t buy this residence.”

Knowing that he meant well, Zhao Li shook her head. “Don’t trouble yourself over it, Mr. Mei. Just prepare the deed.”

Mei San wanted to keep trying, but seeing her resolve, he went reluctantly to draw up the contract.

Zhao Li turned a humorless smile on Broker Guan. “Tell me, have you no conscience at all? If something had happened to that old gentleman’s household—all nine of them—how did you plan to repay those lives?”

Broker Guan lowered his head, sweat beading across his brow.

Zhao Li had made the decision, but she did not have that much ready silver. She asked Han Yin to wait there while she returned to the Pacification Office.