Chapter 185: 120 Local Tycoon Xiaojingkong (One more update)

Gu Jiao glanced at Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang maintained a straight face as he said, “I heard from our Academy’s Dean.”

Gu Jiao told Zhang Baoren, “My husband’s Dean lived in the Capital City for over a decade.”

Zhang Baoren suddenly understood, “Ah, now I see.”

Gu Jiao asked, “Are there houses on these two streets?”

“Ah, there are certainly…” Zhang Baoren looked at the two of them. Both were dressed simply. One claimed to be a student under supervision at Guozijian, but he was lame. The other had an exceptional demeanor but was scarred.

These two… they aren’t well-off financially, are they?

Zhang Baoren smiled, “Do you prefer one-compartment or two-compartment houses?”

Gu Jiao pondered a bit before saying, “We need at least five rooms.”

“That would require a two-compartment or three-compartment house,” Zhang Baoren replied with a smile. “Two-compartment or three-compartment houses are not cheap. The minimum monthly rent for a two-compartment house is ten tael. A three-compartment house costs twenty tael.”

Ten tael could feed a big family in the countryside for a year or two.

However, remembering that this was the expensive Capital City, Gu Jiao felt better about it.

Gu Jiao suggested going to take a look.

Zhang Baoren didn’t think they looked like people who could afford the rent and feared it might be a wasted trip. Though the other party claimed to be a student under supervision at Guozijian, were there not plenty of those in the Capital City? Deciding the two weren’t worth fussing over, heroes could fall from the sky in the Capital City, so he didn’t take Xiao Liulang too seriously.

However, having not done any business for several days, he had time on his hands, so he took the pair with him.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang visited over a dozen courtyards. Some were two-compartment and others were three-compartment houses, but none of them satisfied their needs.

The two of them returned to the post station.

Zhang Baoren followed, “Do you plan to finalize it today? If you wait any longer, the students coming from all over the country to take the exams will snap up all available rentable houses. Furthermore, the prices will not remain the same.”

Gu Jiao replied, “They are too small and too remote.”

She was referencing the houses near Guozijian. Yet, these were not on the main streets, but at the very end of the alleyways. Dark, damp, and very close to noisy shops – be it an iron shop or a carpenter shop, even a coffin shop.

How were they expected to study peacefully?

“With this price, these are the houses available. If you want something better, you’ll have to pay this much,” Zhang Baoren made a hand gesture.

“Thirty tael?” Gu Jiao asked.

“For a one-compartment house,” Zhang Baoren replied.

If a one-compartment house costs thirty tael, then how much more for a two-compartment or three-compartment house? Evidently, properties in the school district are expensive regardless of the era.

“Well,” Zhang Baoren sighed, “let me tell you upfront, Capital City houses cost this much. Good locations and houses are already bought by the wealthy. Those wealthy people aren’t short on cash and they won’t rent their houses! Even if you had a hundred Baoren, you could only rent those houses we’ve just seen!”

Gu Jiao then asked, “Didn’t you say there were better houses, but at a higher price?”

Zhang Baoren replied smilingly, “There’s a three-compartment house, the rent is a hundred tael per month.”

Gu Jiao frowned, “What kind of house costs a hundred tael?”

Zhang Baoren made a gesture, “Right across from Guozijian. Five hundred steps away! It’s the house where the young Master Zhaodu, and the young sacrificial wine used to live!”

Xiao Liulang’s mouth twitched, “When did he live there?”

Zhang Baoren pounded the table, “He did! If you live there, you might gain his good fortune, and pass all your exams!”

Xiao Liulang replied indifferently, “He never lived there.”

Zhang Baoren rolled up his sleeves, “How would you know he didn’t live there? You are not him!”

“The price is too steep, thirty tael at most,” said Xiao Liulang calmly.

Zhang Baoren, of course, was aware that his price was too high. Normally, one could negotiate down to thirty tael. But considering that Guozijian was about to start the new school term, property prices had risen again.

His absolute minimum price was fifty tael. If this family was unwilling to pay, he would find others. He didn’t believe houses in the school district couldn’t be rented out.

“Jiaojiao, what are you up to?” Little Jingkong woke up from his nap, rubbing his eyes as he ventured into the station’s grand hall looking for Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao picked him up and touched his little head. His hair had grown a bit, and now he sported a buzzcut instead of his previous bald look.

“We’re looking for a place to live,” Gu Jiao said, “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, where are we going to live?” Little Jingkong settled into Gu Jiao’s arms, clearly enjoying her playing with his hair.

“We’re not sure yet,” Gu Jiao shook her head.

Jingkong then turned his attention to the blueprints on the table and asked, “What are these?”

Zhang Baoren replied with a smile, “These are house deeds.”