Pretty and charming, dressed in the 90s, she's good at everything from making money to causing

It took Lin Ting half a meal to explain that she was renting a house and not living with her best friend.

Aunt Zhao readily accepted the fact that Lin Ting was going to open a shop, but as for her "good friend"...

Aunt Zhao stared at Jiang Zong with a look of utter disappointment for the entire meal, making his hair stand on end.

For the first time, he realized that Aunt Zhao's cooking wasn't all that delicious.

Lin Ting also felt that Aunt Zhao's gaze was a bit strange.

It's like being annoyed that your own pigs don't know how to root for cabbages.

She cleared her throat and asked, "Aunt Zhao, so do you know any rental properties around here?"

Aunt Zhao snapped out of her daze and finally looked away from Jiang Zong.

Jiang Zongchang breathed a sigh of relief.

He quietly placed a piece of scrambled eggs on Lin Ting's plate.

Aunt Zhao was staring at the posters on the wall, trying to figure out which houses were available for rent, and didn't notice Jiang Zong's little actions.

After a while, she said, "Aunt Li's house is probably going to be rented out. I heard her mention it before, but she has a strange temper. A college student once rented her house, but she made him run away after less than a week."

Aunt Li has a strange temper.

Lin Ting thought this person looked just like her landlord!

She asked hesitantly, "Aunt Zhao, you're not talking about that two-story building diagonally across from the school, are you?"

"Huh? You already asked?"

Lin Ting: "I rented it."

Aunt Zhao was stunned for a while, then smiled and said, "That's perfect. Aunt Li's family lives in the courtyard behind the small building. She can't live in such a big courtyard by herself, so she rented out a side room before. If you're doing business, it's good that you live nearby, so it's convenient to take care of each other."

Lin Ting pondered for a moment and nodded: "That makes sense. I'll go ask about it later."

"Ah."

Aunt Zhao thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "I don't mean to gossip about people behind their backs, I'm just afraid you'll unknowingly hurt the old lady's feelings..."

Lin Ting immediately perked up her ears: "Please elaborate."

Not only her, but Zheng Miaoying and Feng Yue also raised their heads.

Aunt Zhao didn't speak immediately. She considered for a moment before selecting what she could say and told Lin, "Aunt Li's husband was a veteran who went out and never came back. She raised her son alone... They moved here a few years ago. Little Li is a good son and earned that small house and the back yard for his mother."

"After they moved here, they opened a small shop, but college students don't have much money, so business has always been lukewarm... The winter before last, Xiao Li and his wife were hit by a car and couldn't be saved... They only had a little granddaughter left, and she was left with a problem, her leg... gone."

"So, you kids shouldn't ask these questions, and don't tell anyone. Just keep it to yourselves."

Everyone fell silent.

Aunt Zhao sighed silently, got up and went back to the kitchen.

Lin Ting finally understood why Grandma Li refused to sell that small building no matter what.

It wasn't just because of her longing for it, but also because as long as that building existed, her granddaughter could have rental income to rely on, and she would never starve.

"Boss, I saw Grandma Li yesterday."

On the way back, Feng Yue said softly, "When she saw me cleaning up the shop, she gave me a rag and a newspaper... even though she was grumbling."

Lin Ting smiled and asked her, "So, do you think you can live with her?"

Feng Yue thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes, she's not a bad person, she just has a sharp tongue."

"Then go and ask."

Lin Ting went around to the back of the small building and knocked on Grandma Li's door.

The old lady was feeding the chickens when she saw them and looked at them impatiently: "What?"

Lin Ting asked with a grin, "Grandma, do you still have any rooms available for rent? My newly hired shop assistant has nowhere to live, so I need to find her a place to stay."

Grandma Li looked her over suspiciously: "What? Isn't such a big bed on the second floor enough for her?"

"I'm just painting, and the smell is bad for your health if you keep inhaling it. Besides, it's not convenient for her to live in the shop all by herself. What if a thief comes in and steals my things or money? I'd accept that, but what if he steals her?"

Lin Ting's little mouth opened and closed, and the reasons she gave made Grandma Li feel—

"It's rare to find a boss who still has a conscience."

Lin Ting: "..."

"Just tell me, do you have it or not!"

Grandma Li didn't answer immediately, but looked at Feng Yue instead.

She looked Feng Yue up and down and asked, "You live here?"

Feng Yue nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it's me."

Grandma Li looked around for a while before finally turning her gaze away and saying, "Come in."

Grandma Li's courtyard is similar to a traditional courtyard house. She lives in the main house, and the west wing is for rent. There is a small vegetable garden in the courtyard, and she also raises chickens.

“This is the room, thirty yuan a month,” Grandma Li said, explaining her rules. “You’re not allowed in the east room, not even when you’re passing by. There’s a well in the yard, and you can use my kitchen. You can make your own coal for heating the kang (heated brick bed).

This courtyard must have cost a lot of money to build; the environment is quite nice, and it costs thirty-one yuan a month… Anyway, Lin Ting didn't think it was expensive.

Just as she was about to nod, Grandma Li said, "You can't owe rent. You're a big boss. If you're even a day late on your rent, I'll kick her out."

Lin Ting wasn't angry at all, and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, I don't owe you any rent."

As she spoke, she took out 360 yuan from her bag: "I'll rent it. I'll pay you for a year now, okay?"

Grandma Li, without any politeness, checked each bill to make sure it was real before putting it away: "Alright, you can stay here."

She took a few steps toward the main house, then suddenly stopped and turned back.

Her gaze lingered on Lin Ting and Jiang Zong for a moment before she said, "That kid isn't allowed to move in. Don't get involved in any romantic relationships here."

Lin Ting: "...?"

Jiang Zong: "..."

Yingzi weakly explained for Lin Ting, "They are good friends."

Grandma Li pursed her lips, her disbelief written all over her face.

"Anyway, I've already said it: if I see him go inside, I'll tell your school..."

"..."

Lin Ting felt that she needed to put a label on her forehead that said, "Jiang Zong and I are just good friends."

On second thought, this thing is too damaging to one's image, so...

I wonder if Jiang Zong would agree to have it pasted on his forehead.

She estimated it was impossible.

Unaware that Lin Ting was having impure thoughts about his forehead, Jiang Zong returned to his dormitory, took out his old mobile phone, and dialed his father's number a second time.

"Hello."

"Father."

"Hey?"

Mr. Jiang was stunned once again.

This kid has been calling me quite frequently lately.

He was not used to it.

Jiang Zong asked, "How can I get to know my friends?"

Jiang's father: "...?"

He is the head of the Chiang family, making tens of thousands of dollars a minute, yet his son treats him as a dating advisor.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and remotely instructed, "Talk to her!"

Jiang Zong: "..."

After saying that, Jiang's father also felt that this job was not suitable for Jiang Zong. After thinking for a while, he said, "Then you should eat and drink with her, drink more, and she will say anything!"

Jiang Zong: "..."

Drinking with girls?

Can she do it?