"Could you help find a better place to live? Just for ."
The agent, perceptive enough not to ask where the others had gone, enthusiastically took Su Li to view several more properties.
Eventually, Su Li chose to rent a small two-story house with a balcony for one hundred yuan a month.
The second floor spans over seventy square ters with a single room, including a spacious walk-in closet.
The first floor consists of a living room, with an additional small servant’s room. Moreover, a small space adjacent to the house was converted into a kitchen.
The house’s layout, decorations, and other features would be considered avant-garde for this era and would be a distinctive vintage style in future generations.
Su Li was very satisfied, especially since such a good house could be rented for only one hundred yuan, which was indeed a bargain.
When leaving Shanghai, aside from a simple bundle, Su Li had nothing else, unlike the Lv siblings who each had a suitcase full of personal belongings.
Consequently, Su Li needed to buy quite a few things.
The seemingly ample one thousand yuan quickly proved insufficient.
After signing the contract with the agent, Su Li wandered the streets and brought back Sister Zhu, a widow in her thirties.
Sister Zhu was a pitiful soul, having lost her parents, her husband, and recently her only son to illness.
People advised Su Li against taking her in, claiming her life was full of bad luck.
Hearing these comnts, Sister Zhu displayed indifference, as if the remarks weren’t about her.
"Can you cook?"
"If you can, co with ."
Sister Zhu hadn’t expected to be selected, and she remained dazed even after returning ho with Su Li.
Su Li, unconcerned, went out again.
This ti, besides purchasing food items, the biggest expenditure was Su Li’s various clothing and cheongsams, as well as pearl hairpin accessories.
Changing into new clothes and savoring the snacks Sister Zhu had just brought from the kitchen, Su Li sighed deeply, "This is what I call comfortable living."
But after eating a plate of four small snacks, new survival issues arose.
Su Li was out of money.
With only fifty-six yuan, forty-six jiao, and eight fen left, she couldn’t even afford next month’s rent.
She had to step out and find a way to make money, or else the few days of enjoying life she’d had would co to an abrupt end.
Things settled into normalcy for Su Li, as she calmly prepared for her new life. anwhile, the elderly woman and two children who had parted ways with her were also temporarily enjoying their cozy lives.
Having money in hand ant no fear in their hearts.
Old Lady Lu spent so money to see a Western doctor; a few white pills took care of most of her ailnts.
Then, the three of them settled into the city’s largest hotel.
They were all quite satisfied with the current situation. The hotel was grand and luxurious, even surpassing the ones they’d frequented with their father in the past, and even more opulent.
The hotel service was excellent, with doorn at the entrances and the grandeur of the lobby filled with well-dressed, foreign faces.
Kuai Ying, excited, rested her face in her hands and said, "That woman’s so ignorant and petty; we should have stopped listening to her long ago..."
Freed from the suddenly daunting aunt, Kuai Ying’s personality revived, chirping happily like a little sparrow behind her brother.
Kuai Yangyang did not restrain his sister’s disdain for Su Li, "Perhaps she’s excessive, but she’s still a mber of our father’s household. We shouldn’t say too much for now; we’ll decide once our parents arrive."
Despite his words, he couldn’t help but resent Su Li for taking away a thousand yuan.
Old Lady Lu remarked, "We all misjudged her; who’d have thought the silent Fifth Madam was so cunning and insidious."
Kuai Ying, uninterested in further ntion of Aunt Su, glanced brightly at a young girl walking past, "Her little Western dress is gorgeous; I’ve never seen that style before, and look at those little boots—they seem like they’re made of lambskin..."
Old Lady Lu smiled, "Later we can buy one just like it; our young Miss is so beautiful, dressing in fine clothes will make her look even better."
Kuai Yangyang, having relaxed, affectionately patted his sister’s head, "If Ying likes it, we’ll buy it."
In truth, even he was envious, seeing a young man similar in age to him in attractive clothing.
Comparing themselves to the other guests coming and going, his initially esteed apparel suddenly lost its charm, making him feel almost as if they’d just co in from the countryside.
A child’s pride and inferiority are peculiar; Old Lady Lu remained subservient to the young master and miss, devoid of any principles.
When they discovered half of their two thousand yuan was spent within just three days of arriving at Port City, they initially weren’t worried, believing their parents would soon join them.
However, after Kuai Yangyang’s fifth telegram failed to get a response, they began to fear.
On the fifth day, Old Lady Lu frantically rushed inside, "Master, it’s bad news—ho has fallen."
Kuai Ying, ignorant of the situation, continued fiddling with her newly acquired Western dress, naively saying, "If it’s fallen, then it’s fallen. Mom and Dad will surely find a way to co join us."
Kuai Yangyang felt a jolt but feigned calmness, "Sister is right; maybe they are drifting over the sea as we speak."
"Calculating the ti, they should arrive in a few days, so Grandma, please check at the port every day."
Upon hearing the young master’s request, Old Lady Lu managed to stay composed, but as the wait dragged into the tenth day, anxiety beca unavoidable.
On the fifteenth day, Kuai Yangyang and his companions moved out of the hotel with two large boxes.
Staying any longer ant their remaining funds would barely cover als.
Ironically, Old Lady Lu, with the two children, moved into the small, undesirable house Su Li had evaluated.
The agent was still the sa young man, eting them with a broad smile, though the monthly rent was firm at fifteen silver coins.
Old Lady Lu frowned, "Weren’t we quoted twelve silver coins that day?"
Agent: "That was then; this is today’s price. If you co a few days later, it might be eighteen silver coins."
The agent had an indifferent attitude, suggesting they rent it if they wished.
Old Lady Lu estimated the master still had over two hundred yuan; the hotel had been like a Golden Cave, burning through their funds. Staying there for about half a month had diminished their money significantly.
Seeing Old Lady Lu hesitate, Kuai Yangyang made the decision, "Then we’ll stay here."
He turned to Old Lady Lu, saying, "Since ho’s situation is still unclear, we must spend our money wisely."
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