Chapter 324
The two thugs were taken aback that the man managed to resist the temptation to gamble despite having the money. By the time they realized what had happened, the man had already disappeared.
Seeing their chance slipping away, they reluctantly turned their attention back to Jiang Yexun and He Xingzhi.
“You guys seem unfamiliar. How about joining us for a game?” one of the thugs offered.
“No thanks! We’re just ordinary folks living our lives. We’d never touch such things, no matter what,” He Xingzhi replied apologetically, smiling at the thugs. Without waiting for their reaction, he promptly closed the door.
The thugs muttered curses at the closed door, grumbling, “Cowards.”
Inside, Jiang Yexun and He Xingzhi paid no mind to their opinions.
“Brother Ye, do you think the money the man has will last?” He Xingzhi asked curiously.
Jiang Yexun gave him a sidelong glance. “Do you think gamblers can ever be saved?”
“True! But anyway, it has nothing to do with us,” He Xingzhi said, shifting the focus. “Brother Ye, do we need to prepare anything else? Although a house as a betrothal gift is quite substantial, it seems a bit bare without any additional items.”
“Alright, let’s go back to the guesthouse and bring my mom over,” Jiang Yexun said, heading out the door.
He needed to find someone to redo the wiring throughout the place, fix up the bathroom, and get the whole building thoroughly cleaned, inside and out. He couldn’t leave it in this grimy, chaotic state. With his mom overseeing things, he could then go shop for other necessities with peace of mind.
Not long after, Jiang Yexun and He Xingzhi brought Aunt Guo to the house. She looked around at the Western-style building and nodded approvingly. “Not bad, not bad! Such a nice house… You guys really struck gold, getting lucky enough to find someone foolish enough to sell it. Alright, you two go on and get busy—I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things.”
Jiang Yexun and He Xingzhi agreed and hurried off. Earlier, when handing out candy to the neighborhood ladies, Jiang Yexun had hinted that he was buying a house and would need help with the cleaning once he closed the deal. Many of the women, noting how generous Jiang Yexun was just with small gestures, figured he would pay well for any help he needed.
Without much persuasion, a number of them quickly volunteered, saying they’d show up to help when the time came. So, Jiang Yexun went around gathering them up and, following their recommendations, found people skilled in plumbing and wiring.
In no time, Jiang Yexun returned to the house with a bustling crowd in tow.
“Sorry for the inconvenience, everyone. I’m planning to propose to my partner tonight, and they might come over to check out the house. Could you please have everything cleaned before dinner? I’ll make sure to reward you generously.”
The neighborhood were eager for the generous pay, and with the chance to play matchmaker, they became even more enthusiastic with their cleaning efforts.
After expressing his thanks to them, Jiang Yexun followed another lead to the home of an old carpenter. Though most of his work was custom orders, he often took the time to create intricate, carved furniture when business was slow.
As soon as Jiang Yexun stepped inside and saw the finely carved desks, wardrobes, and five-drawer chests, his eyes lit up. To him, only furniture this exquisite was worthy of his Xiaoxiao.
“Hello, sir,” Jiang Yexun greeted. “I’d like to know if these cabinets are for sale?”
The old carpenter, expecting a more typical request, paused in surprise before glancing at the finely crafted furniture lined around the room.
“You’re interested in these pieces? I made them with special care, taking two or three times longer than usual, so they’re priced accordingly,” he replied.
“I understand. Name your price, sir. I’m sure my partner will love your work,” Jiang Yexun said with a warm smile.