Chapter 439 - 214: The Duan Family Is Just Too Rich

Chapter 439: Chapter 214: The Duan Family Is Just Too Rich

"Buddy, let me tell you, that’s not going to work. Mrs. Qiu’s ancestors were rich, and now her son is even richer. What kind of local specialty is going to impress her? If your friend wants to buy this Qiu Family’s Old Mansion, he’ll have to find another way." The shopkeeper shook his head, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"What brilliant insight do you have, then?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

The shopkeeper glanced at him and asked, "That braised beef you brought Mrs. Qiu last time, did she like it?"

"Hard to say. Look, it’s been almost a month since I was last here." Zhou Yan held back a laugh. ’It seems the shopkeeper is still hung up on me bringing braised beef to the Qiu Mansion last time. He probably hasn’t been sleeping well lately.’

Hearing this, the shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, a smug look spreading across his face. "That makes sense. When it comes to food, Mrs. Qiu is famously picky. She barely even buys my beef, so she must have just taken a courtesy taste of yours."

Just then, the main gates of the Qiu Mansion slowly swung open.

"I knew it would be you guys at this hour!" Duan Yu Yan walked out, calling with a beaming smile, "Momo!"

"Yuyan~~" Zhou Momo cried out in a cute, sweet voice and ran right into Duan Yu Yan’s arms, who scooped her up.

"Oh my, you’re wearing the little leather jacket I got you! And the hat is so cute too." Duan Yu Yan’s voice was also quite soft, with a sweet, affected accent.

"You’re so pretty today too! And you smell so nice." Zhou Momo tilted her head, looking at Duan Yu Yan, and showered her with compliments.

"Such a sweet talker. I’ll take you out to play in a bit." Duan Yu Yan pinched her cheek, then looked at Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao standing to the side. She smiled and said, "Mrs. Zhao and Uncle, you’re here! Please, come in and sit for a while."

"No, no, that’s alright. We were just helping him bring some things up on our way. We’re planning to spend the day out by ourselves. It’s not often we get a break from the kid, so we’ll get going," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile, waving her hand.

Duan Yu Yan smiled and nodded. "Alright then. If you get tired later, feel free to come back to the house and rest."

"Will do," Mrs. Zhao replied, then she and Comrade Zhou got on their bike and left.

Duan Yu Yan then turned to Zhou Yan and asked, "You didn’t forget the braised beef, did you? My grandma was just mentioning it yesterday, saying it’s been a while since she had your braised beef."

"I went to pick out fresh beef first thing this morning to braise it. How could I forget on an occasion like this?" Zhou Yan said with a smile. He lifted a small bamboo basket from the carrying basket on his back. It was covered with white cheesecloth to keep dust out and was filled with the braised meat.

"Perfect. My grandma is in the study practicing calligraphy. Come on in." Duan Yu Yan smiled, nodded, and turned to walk through the gate, still holding Zhou Momo.

"Wait, man... you... was a single word you said true?" The butcher shop owner was dumbfounded, on the verge of tears from sheer frustration.

’Miss Qiu came out to greet him personally, and Mrs. Qiu has been craving it. Just how good is this braised beef?’

’This kid... he’s not actually going to buy the Qiu Mansion, is he?’

’Damn it!’

’He’s a competitor!’

’That "friend" he mentioned... it’s him, isn’t it?’

The shopkeeper wanted to cry but had no tears, feeling only the urge to slap himself twice across the face.

’I should have kept my mouth shut!’

Zhou Yan smiled and consoled him, "Don’t worry about it, buddy. Life is disappointing ninety percent of the time, and the other ten percent isn’t worth looking back on. When I buy the house, I’ll give you a couple extra days to move."

The shopkeeper: ...

He was trembling with anger, and also felt a little cold.

"You son of a b—"

Zhou Yan didn’t hear him; he had already gone inside.

The Qiu Mansion’s housekeeper came out to help carry the rest of the food from the back-basket inside.

This was Zhou Yan’s second time entering the Qiu Family’s Old Mansion. After today, it would belong to him.

He had expected the inside to be emptied out, but upon entering the courtyard gate, he saw the rockery was still there, and the trees and flowers were unchanged.

In the main hall sat well-maintained solid wood tables and chairs that perfectly matched the old mansion’s style. For a moment, it felt as if he had dreamt his way back fifty years to a time when the Qiu Mansion was at its peak. ℯ𝔴ℯ

The Qiu Family was a scholarly lineage. Their ancestors had been government officials, but their fortunes gradually declined during the Republic of China era. They later flourished again for a time due to a marital alliance with the Duan Family.

Before the Liberation, the main branch of the Qiu Family had mostly gone to Hong Kong or abroad. Mrs. Qiu had bought back the Qiu Family’s Old Mansion, had some renovations done, and had lived here for several years.

The old lady was the daughter of a prestigious family. He had seen what she looked like in her youth—dignified and graceful. Now, though old, her elegance was bone-deep. The Qiu Mansion was still kept in a clean and tidy state.

"Will this furniture be moved out later?" Zhou Yan asked.

"You should ask my grandma in a bit. I’m not too sure about her arrangements," Duan Yu Yan replied. She put Zhou Momo down, took a chocolate from a nearby candy box, and unwrapped it for her.

"Is that white chocolate?" Zhou Momo asked, her face full of surprise.

"Yes, try it. Don’t worry, it’s not bitter," Duan Yu Yan said with a smile.

Zhou Momo opened her mouth to accept it, chewed for a moment, and her eyes lit up. "It’s sweet! Yummy~"

She dug into her pocket and produced a cookie, holding it up to Duan Yu Yan with a grin. "Yuyan, for you~"

"Oh? You brought this for me?" Duan Yu Yan looked a little surprised. She took it, smiling as she tore open the wrapper. "It’s a shortbread cookie! Let me see... imported from Japan. I’ll have a taste."

She took a bite, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "It’s sweet too! Yummy~"

After saying this, both of them laughed.

Zhou Yan smiled too. ’Those two really do get along.’

Zhou Yan placed the basket of braised meat on the dining table, then followed Duan Yu Yan to the study door with the sack of money, where he stopped without going in.

Mrs. Qiu, dressed in an elegant, light-colored cheongsam with her silver hair coiled in a bun, was standing at her desk writing. She finished the last few characters, then set down her brush and looked toward the door, a faint smile on her face. "You’re here."

"I just arrived. Thank you for inviting me to this home-cooked meal, Mrs. Qiu. I’ve also brought the money for the house," Zhou Yan said with a slight smile.