Chapter 972: Chapter 845: Bargaining (Part 1)

Chapter 845

"Is there enough time?"

"It’s fast to drive by myself. Since this return has caused such a sensation, if I don’t visit those elders, it would chill their hearts."

Mr. Zhang nodded in agreement.

Next to him, Zhang Guofu reminded, "The elderly couple who sold this courtyard have already left, so you don’t need to go."

Zhang Guoqing was taken aback and then remembered the elderly couple’s age, nodding his head. It’s really a pity, but it’s better they left, to avoid future suffering.

He instinctively looked outside at the courtyard. He still remembered the old man who had spiritedly glared at him and scolded him for being a reckless man, fit to be a soldier.

Now he really had become a soldier, the flower beds had long been turned into vegetable gardens, and the old man who cherished flowers had indeed left.

"Did they sell all those flowers and plants?"

Zhang the Second disdainfully said, "Not just the flowers and plants, for a bit of money those beasts would do anything. Not even three months after the person passed, they stirred up trouble for some stuff." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Zhang Guoqing’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He had long wanted to acquire that batch of ancient books, especially the missing canopy bed from the complete furniture set, and the necklace from the Wang Baiwan family that somehow disappeared into the void. What was the relationship between the Wang Family and his past life? These mysteries might soon see the light of day.

"Didn’t the old man distribute everything before he passed? I remember he had even arranged for his grandsons’ wedding and childbirth expenses in advance."

"That’s where the problem lies."

Zhang Guoqing looked at his brother, who had transformed into his second sister-in-law, and just wanted to laugh.

"Originally, the old man said before he left to distribute the private money among those not yet married after his wife’s passing. Unexpectedly, just after he was buried, the old lady fell into a fit and also passed away, and the second family believed that the eldest who lived with the old lady must have taken that sum of money."

Zhang Guoqing recalled the old man’s money-hiding skills, "Could it be that neither family found it, and the old man hid it somewhere?"

Zhang the Second laughed, "At that time we also advised them to go back and search properly, but in the old second’s family, there was a little granddaughter of over five years old who didn’t attend the funeral due to a zodiac taboo. The little girl was left beside her great-grandmother and claimed she saw her great-grandmother take a wooden box from the cabinet and run away."

Well, such a young child wouldn’t dare to lie to the police.

"But the eldest’s wife also had witnesses saying she never entered the bedroom before that. It’s a case of conflicting statements from both sides. Later, they decided to sell the old folks’ possessions to make up the marriage money for those not yet married. That’s why the eldest brother advises you not to visit."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Thank you, big brother. Dealing with such families, even without any issues, tends to cause trouble. Who would have thought such a wise elderly man would have such inept sons."

Mr. Zhang looked at his three sons, "As you can see, that’s why you must educate your children well. Especially when they get married in the future, pay more attention to the opposite party..."

Zhang Guoqing listened to his father’s advice on how to choose a life partner, and by the time he finished speaking, it was already past eight o’clock in the evening, so he bid farewell and left.

The northwest wind howled, as there was still a pedestrian path cleaned during the day inside the county town. The couple walked out from the guesthouse, and the closer they got to the suburbs, the more their ankles sank into the snow with each step. Dodging the patrol team, moving quickly as the destination was not far, Zhang Guoqing found a quiet corner, and the couple quickly disguised themselves.

Only then did Zhou Jiao, hurriedly brought out from the guesthouse, have the chance to ask, "How do you need me to cooperate with you?"

"You’ll be my little brother. After the deal is done, I’ll have them move the items to a spot not far from the provincial road turnoff where you can keep watch in silence."

Zhou Jiao nodded knowingly. A couple appearing would be more noticeable than two brothers.

"I’ll first have their young ones keep you company over there, and after everything is moved we settle the remaining payment. Once we have the money, we’ll leave as soon as they do. Do you see any problems with this?"

Zhou Jiao shook her head. In this bitter cold weather with not even a shadow in sight, nothing’s more opportune than this time and place. The couple wasn’t really doing anything wrong; if they didn’t buy, those people wouldn’t be able to keep the items.

The couple changed their coats, covering up so that only their eyes were visible, and hand in hand headed toward the big courtyard. In the stillness of the night, knocks on the door sounded unusually loud.

After a while, a middle-aged man’s voice came from the door, "Who is it?"

Zhang Guoqing thickened his voice, lowering his tone, "Here to see the goods, open up."

Perhaps many people had come to see the goods at night over the past few days, so upon hearing this voice, the door immediately opened a wide gap. Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing pulled Zhou Jiao along and squeezed in.

"Were you introduced by Old Li? Let me make it clear first, if you want to buy piecemeal, don’t even look at the goods. I don’t offer credit, this is cash-only."

Seeing it was the old man’s eldest son, Zhang Guoqing’s eyes flickered slightly, he nodded, and patted the leather bag held tightly in his arms.

The man’s eyes lit up, "Come on, let me show you the goods first. What’s your name?"

Zhang Guoqing smirked, "Less nonsense, forgotten the trading rules?"

"Yes, yes, my bad." The man hurriedly patted his mouth and motioned with his hand for them to follow him inside.

Zhou Jiao sighed quietly. Truly undignified, she couldn’t imagine how such a wise elderly man raised such a person.

Entering the second courtyard, the old couple’s sitting room was filled with porcelain, scrolls, and other old items. By the wall beside the sofa, several burlap sacks were piled up.

"Uncle, should I call my dad over first?"

"You be here too, we’ll call him over after our discussion."

Zhou Jiao first stepped into the former study, pushed open the door, only to find it empty. The former bedroom was the same.

The old man’s eldest daughter-in-law came in a hurry and seeing the situation said, "The furniture is all in storage, do you want it? We’ll sell it to you cheap."

Her words were immediately supported by her husband, "Don’t look at them being in the storage, many things were barely used when my parents were alive. If it weren’t for the kids not liking them, I would have used them when the kids got married."

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a look, both seeing the astonishment in each other’s eyes. Truly unduly wasteful of their heritage! Leaving antiques in storage in such cold weather.

Zhang Guoqing nodded indifferently, "As long as it’s usable, if the price is right, I’ll take it all, but you’ll have to get it to the highway for me."

"No problem. Have a look at these first, these are my father’s favorite ancient books and artifacts, all brought back from Beijing. They won’t be cheap."

Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing was only annoyed, snapping back, "Then why haven’t you sold them yet? Be reasonable, I have to turn a profit, if it’s too expensive, keep it yourself."

The old man’s eldest hurriedly pushed his wife aside, "Don’t interrupt!" He signaled with his eyes to look at the nephew, "Wife, go make some tea for the comrades."

Meanwhile, Zhou Jiao had finished a rough inspection, nodded twice at Zhang Guoqing, and quietly returned to his side.

"No need, it’s getting late. Give me a price, and if it’s right, I’ll take it!" Zhang Guoqing said, signaling outside, implying that if it was too high, he’d leave.

"I told Old Li eight hundred..."

As soon as Zhang Guoqing heard this, he immediately turned to leave.

"Hey, don’t go, I haven’t finished speaking yet."

Zhang Guoqing feigned anger, "Are you messing with me!"