Chapter 30 A New Beginning

No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6 of Narcissus Street are row buildings with a polygonal four-slope roof. The overall appearance is gray and blue, and the three chimneys stand out.

Of course, there are no lawns, gardens, or porches here. The entrance faces the street directly.

With a series of copper keys, Scott of "Tingen City Housing Improvement Company" opened the door and introduced:

"None of our townhouses have a lobby. The entrance is the living room. There is a convex window facing narcissus street. The lighting is very good..."

In the eyes of Klein, Benson, and Melissa are a group of cloth sofas bathed in golden sunshine and a spacious space comparable to their previous two bedrooms.

"This living room can also be used as a living room. On its right is the dining room, and on the left wall is a large fireplace for you to warm in winter." Scott pointed out expertly.

Klein glanced at it and confirmed that it was a rough open pattern. The dining room and living room were not separated at all, but it was far away from the convex belly window, which was quite bleak.

There was a small red rectangular wooden table, surrounded by six cushioned hardwood armchairs, and the fireplace on the left wall was the same as the foreign movies and TV dramas Klein had seen before.

"Behind the restaurant is the kitchen, but we don't provide any appliances. Opposite the living room is the small guest room and bathroom..." Scott stepped forward and introduced the rest of the layout on the first floor in detail.

The bathroom is divided into two internal and external rooms. The outside is the washroom, and the inside is the toilet, separated by a folding door. The guest room is said to be very small, but it is also as big as the compartment Melissa currently lives in, which makes her a little confused.

After seeing the first floor, Scott led the three brothers and sisters to the stairway next to the bathroom:

"Down there is an underground storage room. The air inside is very dull. Remember to ventilate before entering."

Benson nodded quietly and followed Scott up the stairs to the second floor.

"There is a bathroom on my left side, and there are two bedrooms on the same side. The same pattern is on my right side, except that the bathroom is near the small balcony."

During the talk, Scott opened the door of the bathroom and turned aside to allow Klein, Benson, and Melissa to look at each other without hindrance.

This bathroom has more bathtubs than the one on the first floor. There are also folding doors beside the toilet. Although there is some dust, there is no other dirty place. It is not smelly or crowded.

Melissa looked at this place in a daze until Scarlett walked to the next bedroom, then she converged her eyes and followed slowly.

After a few steps, she looked back again.

Klein, who has seen the world, is also very pleased and expected, because even if the landlord often supervises everyone to clean, the public bathroom is still not clean enough, which often makes people feel the urge to vomit, let alone the queue when some people are impatient.

The other bathrooms are the same as this one. Only one of the four bedrooms is slightly larger, with bookshelves, and the rest are of the same size, with beds, tables, and closets.

"The balcony is very small, so you can't dry too many clothes every time." Scott stood at the end of the corridor and pointed to the place separated by a door and a lock. "There are also complete sewers, gas pipes, and meter facilities, which are very suitable for gentlemen and young ladies like you to live in. You only need 13 Sul of rent and 5 pence of furniture use fee per week, and you need a deposit around."

Before Benson spoke, Klein looked around curiously and said:

"If you want to buy it, how much pounds will it cost?"

As a traveler in a big food country, the desire to buy a house and buy a home always exists in his heart.

Hearing this question, Benson and Melissa were both shocked and looked at Klein with the eyes of the monster. Scott replied firmly:

"Buy? No, we will not sell the property, only provide leasing."

"I just want to understand, understand? Understand." Klein explained awkwardly.

Scott hesitated for a few seconds and said:

"Last month, the owner of No. 11 Narcissus Street just sold a similar house. In the form of a lease term, 300 pounds for 15 years is much cheaper than direct rent, but not everyone can afford such a large sum of money at once. If you want to buy it completely, the owner's list price is 850 pounds."

850 pounds? Klein quickly began mental calculation:

My weekly salary is 3 pounds, and Benson is 1 pound and 10 Sul... The rent is 13 Sul, plus I eat well every day, and I need to spend nearly 2 pounds a week, as well as the sharing of clothing, transportation costs, interpersonal expenses, etc., and so on. At most, I can save more than 10 Sul a week. One year, about 35 pounds a year, 850 pounds a year, and it will take more than 20 years... Even if it is only 300 pounds in the way of a land lease, it will take at least eight or nine years... This does not consider future marriage Family separation, childbirth, travel, and other things

In a world without personal housing loans, most people should have to choose to rent houses

He stepped back, glanced at his brother Benson, and motioned him to negotiate the rent price.

As for Melissa's wishes, just look at her bright eyes!

At this moment, Klein had the illusion of "close the door and letting Benson go".

Benson nodded with his walking stick without inlaid silver, looked left and right, and said:

"We should look at other houses again. The lighting of the restaurant here is too poor, and the balcony is too small. Look, only the bedroom has a fireplace, and the furniture is too old. We moved in to exchange more than half of it..."

He picked out a lot of problems slowly and slowly, and in ten minutes, he successfully "persuaded" Scott to reduce the price to 12 souls of rent, 3 pence of furniture usage fee, and 2 pounds of deposit.

There was no more time to waste. The three brothers and sisters followed Scott back to the "Tingen City Housing Improvement Company", signed a contract in duplicate, and went to the Tingen City Notary Office to find a notary for notarization.

After paying the deposit and the first week's rent, Klein and Benson still have 9 pounds, 2 sules, and 8 pence left.

Standing at the gate of No. 2 Narcissus Street, they were holding a bunch of copper keys respectively, but could not open their eyes for a moment, rolling up various emotions.

"It feels like a dream..." After a while, Melissa raised her head and looked at the "Moretti's house" behind her and said in a low and floating voice.

Benson sighed and smiled:

"Then don't wake up."

Klein didn't feel as much as they did, nodded, and said:

"We have to change the locks of the gate and balcony door as soon as possible."

"Don't worry about it. Tingen City has a very good reputation for improving the housing company. The rest is the cost of your formal clothes, but before that, we have to go to Mr. Frankie." Benson pointed in the direction of the apartment.

...

After eating rye bread at home, the three brothers and sisters went to the townhouse on the street of Iron Cross Street and knocked on the landlord's door.

"You should know my principle and never allow the rent to be in arrears!" The short Mr. Frankie sat on the sofa and declared with great momentum.

Benson leaned forward, smiled, and said:

"Mr. Frankie, we are here to return the rent."

So direct? Is this negotiation really good? Klein heard a burst of surprise.

On the way over, Benson said that his bottom line was to compensate 12 Sules.

"Renting back? No! We have a contract, and we have half a year left!" Frank glared at Benson and waved his arm.

Benson looked at him carefully, and then said calmly after calming down:

"Mr. Frankie, you should be very clear that you should earn more."

"More money?" Frankie asked with interest after touching his thin face.

Benson sat up straight and explained with a smile:

"If you rent a two-bedroom apartment to three of us, it is 5 sul and 6 pence. But if you rent it to five or six people, and two or even three families who are working and earning salaries, I think they are willing to pay more for it, instead of going to a place where the security is very poor, such as down the street, 5 sul and 10 pence, or 6 sul, I think it is a reasonable price."

Seeing Frank's eyes shining and his throat wriggling, he continued:

"Besides, you must know that the rent of the house has been rising in recent years. The longer we live, the more you lose."

"But... I need time to find new tenants." Mr. Frankie, who inherited the estate and got the apartment, was obviously moved.

"I believe you will find it soon. You have the ability and resources, maybe two days, maybe three days... We will compensate you for the loss of this period of time, just use the deposit we paid, 3 Sules, which is very fair!" Benson immediately "agreed".

Frankie nodded with satisfaction:

"Benson, you are really a conscientious and honest young man. Well, we sign a 'suspension contract'."

Klein looked beside him in a daze and thoroughly understood Mr. Frankie's easy "persuasion".

This is too convincing

After solving the problem of the previous contract, the three brothers and sisters went to help Klein buy formal clothes and then began to move.

They didn't have any heavy and huge items, which belonged to the landlord. So Benson and Melissa jointly "rejected" Klein's idea of hiring a carriage, and went back and forth between Narcissus Street and Iron Cross Street by themselves.

Outside the window, the burning sun slanted to the west, and the golden yellow with a burning smell passed through the convex belly window and sprinkled on the surface of the desk. Klein looked at the neatly placed books and notes on the shelf, and gently placed the ink and pen on the cleaned table.

Finally, he was busy... He breathed, felt the rumbling of his stomach, put down his rolled cuffs, and walked to the door.

He had his own bed. The sheets and quilts were white, old but clean.

Klein twisted the handle and went out of the bedroom. Just as he was about to open his mouth, he saw the two opposite doors open together, revealing the figures of Benson and Melissa.

Looking at the gray dust and dirty stains on each other's faces, Klein and Benson suddenly laughed and laughed happily.

Melissa nibbled her lips and was gradually infected by them. She whispered with a smile.

...

The next morning.

Klein stood in front of the cracked mirror and carefully arranged the collar and cuffs of his shirt.

This set of white shirts, black tuxedos, half-high silk hats, black waistcoats and trousers, leather boots, and bow ties cost him 8 pounds, which made him extremely distressed.

However, the effect is also very good. Klein only feels that his book temperament in the mirror is stronger, and seems to be a bit handsome.

Clap!

He closed his pocket watch, put it in his inner pocket, took his walking stick, hid the left wheel, and took the rail coach to Zotland Street.

When he was about to enter the "Black Thorn Security Company", he realized that he was used to his previous lifestyle and didn't give Melissa extra money this morning, so he allowed her to continue walking to school.

Shaking his head and recording this, Klein stepped into the "Black Thorn Security Company" and saw the brown-haired girl Roshan brewing coffee there, making it fragrant.

"Good morning, Klein, it's a nice day today," Roxanne said with a smile. "To be honest, I've always been very strange. Don't you guys feel hot in formal clothes in this weather? I know that the summer in Tyngen is not as hot as in the south. It's not hot enough, but it still belongs to summer."

"This is the price of grace," Klein replied humorously. "Good morning, Miss Roxanne. Where is the captain?"

"The old place." Roxanne pointed inside.

Klein nodded imperceptibly and knocked on the door of Dunn Smith's office through the partition.

"Come in." Dunn's voice and tone were as low and gentle as ever.

Seeing that Klein had changed into a good suit, he nodded slightly and said with a smile in his grey eyes:

"Have you considered it?"

Klein took a deep breath and solemnly replied:

"Yes, I have made a choice."

Dunn sat up slowly, his expression quickly became serious, and his gray eyes were deep and unchangeable

"Tell me your answer."

Klein answered without hesitation:

"A fortune teller!"