“Yes, I do, I do. The last time when I went up to Tengchong, it was for a personal matter, so I didn’t meet a lot of new people. Therefore, you had a lasting impression on me!” Liu Weishan smiled, “Little kid, why did you come to Song Jiang?”

“Hehe, I am originally a Song Jiang person. I just finished my National Higher Education Entrance Examination, and preparing to further my education at Song Jiang Industry University!’ Yang Ming smiled.

“The one who’s renting the house is you?” Liu Weishan asked.

“Yeah, and my girlfriend,” said Yang Ming as he pointed at Lan Ling.

“Okay, not bad. The young lady looks rather lively.” Liu Weishan complimented as he said, “Let’s go have a seat at my home. I will go and prepare the key!”

“I say, are you both still renting the room here?” The middle-aged aunt saw how Yang Ming knew the house owner and felt somewhat dissatisfied. It seemed like her business was gone.

“Thank you, but I know him by myself, so we won’t have to trouble you!” Liu Weishan said with a sense of apology to the middle-aged aunt.

“Then let me speak of the ugly words up front first. The fifty yuan deposit that you have paid is non-refundable!” The middle-aged aunt didn’t want to give free labor.

Even though it was reasonable for him to know Liu Weishan, it wouldn’t be fair to the middle-aged aunt. Therefore, Yang Ming didn’t mind that much, just nodded his head and said, “Alright, let it be non-refundable. You also have worked hard for a long time already.”

Once the middle-aged aunt heard these words, she left feeling satisfied. She still needed one yuan to return on the bus!

“Elder Liu is a lecturer at Song Jiang University?” Yang Ming heard the middle-aged aunt mention this.

“Yeah, I teach here.” Liu Weishan said, “You went to Tengchong for a vacation?”

“Not really. My friend, Zhang Bing – him!” Yang Ming said as he pointed at Zhang Bing, “His father is a person who is in the line of business for jades and jewelry. We were in Tengchong to gamble for jades. I was only following them.”

“Hehe, so this was the case!” Liu Weishan said, “I thought you wanted to get involved in this business!”

“I will be honest. I do have this plan.” Yang Ming didn’t want to lie as well. If he could get Liu Weishan’s support, his business could grow big really quickly. “I wanted to earn a bit of pocket money while I was still studying at university.”

“Not bad. This is good thinking.” Liu Wei Shan nodded his head. “I am quite experienced in studying jades and rocks. If you have any problem, you can find me for advice.”

They followed Liu Weishan to his residence. Liu Weishan invited them into his home. Then he instructed his spouse to make some tea. Yang Ming assessed Liu Weishan’s home in detail. The house was about 150 meters square. All of the interior design was elegant, giving an antique feel.

“Which course do you plan to go for?” Liu Weishan drank a mouthful of tea and started chatting.

“I haven’t thought about it. I wanted to discuss that with my family.” Yang Ming answered.

“En, I teach history. For my profession, it’s fine if you want to be an academic. But if you want to find a career, then it could be a bit challenging!” Liu Weishan said, “It’s right to discuss with your parents for a while! How about you, young man?” Liu Weishan asked Zhang Bing.

“I plan to learn business administration. My family runs a business, therefore once I have graduated, I can help out with my family business.” Zhang Bing didn’t have much choice. Zhang Jiefang had already decided for him.

“Yup, Song Jiang University’s business course is pretty good!” Liu Weishan nodded his head, “Let’s go and have a look at your unit.”

“Liu Weishan took out his key and brought Yang Ming to the unit downstairs opposite his home.

“It’s that close!” Yang Ming felt a bit surprised.

“En, right opposite. Hai…” Liu Weishan couldn’t help but let out a sigh which baffled Yang Ming.

Once they were on the 3rd floor, Elder Liu opened the door on the left. What surprised Yang Ming was the that interior design of the house was also exquisite. Even though the style was a bit old, all of the furniture was rather new, as if no one had stayed in it before.

“That new! No one stayed in this house before?” Yang Ming felt rather strange.

“Ai, this house was intended for my son after he got married. But…” Once Liu Weishan spoke to this point, he shook his head and said, “It’s alright. Let’s not mention about the past.”

Yang Ming naturally didn’t understand what Elder Liu meant. Prepared for his son’s wedding? Then where’s his son? Was there a better house? Since Elder Liu didn’t want to continue, he didn’t probe further.

“Stove, water heater, furniture – all of them are available.” Liu Weishan explained, “Because it’s a house that belonged to the university, therefore there isn’t any property fee or heating fee. However, you have to settle the water, electricity and gas bills yourself. If you want to surf the internet, you could register for the university’s broadband. It’s just eighty yuan per month.”

“Things are rather good here. I am pretty satisfied.” Yang Ming nodded his head. “Then, Elder Liu, let’s sign the contract?”

Liu Weishan smiled and just waved his hand. “Sign what contract? It’s fine. Just stay here. Consider it as taking care of my house for me. Or else I would need to hire people occasionally to clean things up too.”

“Elder Liu, what you mean is that you don’t want the rent?” Yang Ming was shocked. “Then how is that right for you?”

“Just photocopies of your IC for me will be fine. Let me request an apartment pass for you.” Liu Weishan said, “Money-wise it’s fine. Do you think I am someone who would care for that extra eight hundred yuan? The reason I am renting it out is just for me to find someone who can take care of the house for me.”

“This…” Yang Ming couldn’t quite wrap his head around it yet. He had only met Elder Liu once earlier, why would he give him the house to stay in for free?

“Hehe, you don’t have to think that much. I didn’t have any other intention.” Liu Weishan saw how Yang Ming was hesitating and understood what he was thinking immediately. “I wanted to find someone whom I can trust to stay and not let this home rot by itself. But let’s put the ugly words up front. If you both mess up my home, I am going to kick you out! This is the benefit of not requiring a contract. I could use my right as the house owner at any point in time!”

“No worries, Elder Liu. I promise that I won’t change any original arrangement of the home.” Yang Ming felt relieved after listening to the explanation. Liu Weishan was a highly reputable person. He wouldn’t have any other intention towards me.

Yang Ming and Lan Ling went around the house. The more they looked at it, the more satisfied they felt. This was like a newly decorated house for them! Television, washing machine, refrigerator – everything was there.

While they felt satisfied, Yang Ming also felt a bit curious. Why would Liu Weishan’s son not stay here?

In the bedroom, a big wedding picture captured Yang Ming’s attention. A young man who looked pretty much like Liu Weishan was hugging a woman who didn’t look pretty but very virtuous. They both showed a sweet smile.

Yang Ming guessed, this would be Liu Weishan’s son and daughter-in-law. However, Yang Ming felt even more curious, If the wedding picture was already inside, why were they not living here?

As he thought about it, Liu Weishan and Zhang Bing walked in. When Liu Weishan saw that Yang Ming was looking at the picture on the wall, he sighed and said, “Take the picture down. Let’s stop hanging that. I don’t even know if they are able to come back.”

Yang Ming didn’t ask any further, because Liu Weishan’s words were somewhat ambiguous. Therefore, he only said, “Alright, I would surely keep it well later!”

“Sure. I am not feeling very well. I will go home first. I will hand the key over to you both! Whenever you all have time, feel free to come over to my house.” Liu Weishan’s face did not look good… “The apartment pass would not be ready for two days. During these two days, you can tell the security guard that you are here to find me.”

“Alright, Elder Liu. Are you okay?” Yang Ming asked with concern.

“It’s fine. I am old now. Just feeling a bit sad when I thought about my past! I will be off first.” Liu Weishan waved his hand and walked out of the house by himself.

After Liu Weishan walked away, Zhang Bing said softly, “Why is this Elder Liu so mysterious and generous? He doesn’t want any money from this house?”

All Yang Ming did was shake his head. “Maybe it was as he had described. He didn’t care about that little bit of rental fee. This was perfectly understandable. It’s just that Elder Liu’s expression seemed rather strange just now.”

“En, I felt that way too. Especially when he was talking about his son.” Zhang Bing agreed.

“Could it be that Elder Liu had some kind of conflict that his son decided not to stay with him?” Yang Ming guessed.

“Possible, or maybe he went out of the country? Who knows?” Zhang Bing said, “Nevermind. Today was your lucky day! You didn’t need to spend a single cent, and you got such a nice house! How envious I am!”

“F***, didn’t I spend that fifty yuan middleman fee?” Yang Ming retorted.

“F*** you! If you felt like that was a lot for you, then take the receipt from the middle-aged aunt and go ask for the money back!” Zhang Bing said.

“It’s alright. She would have scolded me again.” Yang Ming shook his head. “Oh, yeah. Lan Ling, what do you think about this home? En? Lan Ling, why don’t you say anything?”

At this moment, Lan Ling was staring at the big wedding picture, stupefied!

“Lan Ling, are you okay? Why are you stunned?” Yang Ming asked curiously.