My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 22

Cheng Yi not only prepared lunch for herself and Lu Jiahe but also made some fried sauce noodles for Guo’er and Lu An.

At first, Guo’er and Lu An were too embarrassed to eat at the same table as their master and future mistress. However, after Cheng Yi repeatedly persuaded them, and with Lu Jiahe’s approval. They all sat together on the stone stools in the courtyard.

After the four finished their meal and rested for a while, they set off to look at shopfronts. They visited several in a row but were unsatisfied with all of them. Finally, on a street not far from the academy, they found one that met their expectations.

Cheng Yi looked at the empty room covered in cobwebs and felt like leaving, but after seeing so many shops, only this one truly appealed to her. Its location and size were quite good.

“What do you think of this place?” Cheng Yi couldn’t make up her mind right away, so she asked Lu Jiahe for his opinion.

“The location’s great. Close to both the city gate and the academy, with plenty of foot traffic. It’s just, it looks pretty run-down.” Lu Jiahe felt like he was inhaling a mouthful of dust with every step. The place seemed neglected for too long, and he worried there might be hidden problems.

“Has this place always been unrented?” Lu Jiahe walked up to the shop owner and began asking questions.

The owner’s expression stayed calm. “To be honest, many people have wanted to rent this place, but none of them stayed for more than a few months before leaving.”

“Did something happen here? Logically, shops on this street should do very well.” Cheng Yi sat down on a nearby chair, determined to get to the bottom of things. She didn’t want to spend money without knowing the full story.

The owner, knowing Lu Jiahe’s status and seeing that they were genuinely interested, decided not to hide anything.

“The location and everything else are fine, but every time someone rents it, they say it’s haunted. The managers get so scared they run off. Now I can’t even sell the place.” The owner sighed heavily.

Cheng Yi was intrigued. As a modern woman from the twenty-first century, she naturally didn’t believe in ghosts or supernatural beings. “This place is haunted? Did the managers actually see anything?”

“They did! Ah, this shop has really become a burden for me.”

“How about this,” Cheng Yi said, “would you let us observe the shop for two nights? If no ghosts appear, we’ll rent it. If they do, we’ll still pay you for the two nights’ use. How does that sound?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiahe hurried over to her. “How can that work? This place is haunted. Even if nothing happens in those two days, what if something appears later?”

The owner had been about to agree. After all, two days’ rent was better than nothing, but hearing Lu Jiahe’s objections, he swallowed his words.

“Then we’ll just hire a Taoist priest,” Cheng Yi said dismissively. She didn’t want to talk too much; she was trying to negotiate the rent down. If she said too much, the price might rise.

“No, no, that’s just wasting money,” Lu Jiahe insisted, sitting with an expression that screamed, I’m angry.

Cheng Yi felt that since she hadn’t argued with her all day, Lu Jiahe was getting restless again.

“Are you renting this shop, or am I?”

“You are.”

“Was the money given to me by the old lady, or to you?”

“To you.”

“Then why are you still talking so much?” Cheng Yi shot her an annoyed glance.

“But. But.” Lu Jiahe was fuming inside, angry at how clumsy her words were and why she couldn’t win against this person!

When the shop owner wasn’t looking, Cheng Yi lightly nudged Lu Jiahe’s foot. “But what but? Your grandmother already said this matter is up to me.” To prevent further protests, she turned to the shop owner. “So, what do you say? If it’s fine, I can pay you today’s rent right now.”

“Of course, of course.”

With that, Cheng Yi nudged Lu Jiahe again, signaling her to take out the money. “You pay first; I’ll pay you back later.”

“Why should I?” Lu Jiahe was already upset and didn’t want to rent this place. “My grandmother gave you money, and now you’re asking me for more?”

Seeing this, Cheng Yi smiled apologetically at the shop owner, then leaned close to Lu Jiahe’s ear and whispered, “She gave me silver notes. If he sees them, he might raise the rent, and we’ll lose out.”

Lu Jiahe clenched her robe tightly, the ticklish sensation near her ear making her restless. “Guo’er,” she called, taking a deep breath and gesturing for her maid to bring her money pouch. “Here.” Reluctantly, she handed the pouch to Cheng Yi.

“Thank you.” Without hesitation, Cheng Yi took it, pulled out a small silver ingot, and placed it before the shop owner. “Will this do? After all, even if we don’t rent, you won’t be at a loss.”

The shop owner hadn’t intended to ask for money, but with a silver ingot practically thrown at him, how could he refuse? “Yes, yes.”

After handing the key to Cheng Yi, the shop owner hurried away. Holding the key, Cheng Yi finally felt a small sense of belonging in this unfamiliar city.

“Let’s clean up first. We need to let the neighbors know someone’s moved in.” Cheng Yi tucked the key away and looked at the others.

“Young Master, should I go home and call some people to help?” Guo’er asked, seeing how rundown the place was.

Lu Jiahe didn’t respond but turned to Cheng Yi.

Guo’er also looked at Cheng Yi, grumbling inwardly. She’s not even married into the family yet. Why is the Young Master listening to her so obediently?

Cheng Yi had originally thought the four of them could manage, but remembering how sluggish Lu Jiahe worked, she said, “Better call some people, but make sure they’re unfamiliar faces.”

“Why?” Lu Jiahe asked, puzzled.

To carry out her plan, Cheng Yi patiently explained, “We can’t let the neighbors know the Lu family rented this place. And you can’t show your face either. If they find out, the so-called ghosts won’t appear tonight.”

Lu Jiahe only half-understood but nodded and gestured for Guo’er to go home and bring some helpers.

After a busy afternoon, they finally tidied up the shop.

“Guo’er, go buy some food. We might be here late tonight, so we’ll have dinner here too.” Cheng Yi opened Lu Jiahe’s money pouch, took out a large silver ingot, and handed it to her.

“Isn’t that my maid? When did she become hers?” Lu Jiahe thought, watching Cheng Yi’s practiced movements in disbelief.

“This Young Master.” Guo’er dared not take the silver and looked at her master for help.

Lu Jiahe, wanting to see what Cheng Yi was up to, said, “Take it and go.”

“Yes, Young Master.” With her master’s permission, Guo’er took the silver and hurried off as if ghosts were chasing her.

After dinner, the four extinguished all the candles. Fortunately, the moon was bright tonight, its light spilling into every dark corner.

“Rustle, rustle.”

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Hiding behind the counter, the four turned toward the door at the sound. Two shadowy figures lingered at the entrance, emitting faint noises.

“This. Are they here?” Lu Jiahe’s voice trembled.

“Shh, keep it down.” Cheng Yi felt her sleeve being gripped so tightly it might tear, so she reached out and held the other’s arm to calm her.

In truth, all four were tense, especially Cheng Yi. Although she didn’t believe in ghosts, she had already traveled to a world that didn’t exist. Who knew what else was possible?

“Someone~ Who will avenge me~”

The eerie voice outside drifted into their ears, freezing them in fear.

As the knocking grew louder, Cheng Yi couldn’t stand it anymore. She grabbed the wooden stick she had asked Lu An to prepare earlier and swung the door open.

“Ah! Ouch!”

The “ghosts” outside hadn’t expected anyone to open the door. The two figures draped in white cloth fell backward, stunned.

“Shameless! Grown adults pretending to be ghosts to scare people!” Cheng Yi raised her stick and struck the two repeatedly.

“Ouch! Spare us, warrior! Have mercy!”

The two “ghosts” curled up and rolled on the ground, trying to dodge the blows.

Seeing this, the three hiding behind the counter rushed over and joined in, beating with such enthusiasm it was as if they truly meant to send the “ghosts” back underground.

“Stop! Stop! We’re human! Humans!”

The two tore off their white cloths, revealing bruised and swollen faces.

“Who are you? Why are you pretending to be ghosts to scare people?” Cheng Yi pointed her stick at them, ready to strike again if they didn’t talk.

The two cowered in the corner, trembling.

“Spare us, Young Master Lu! Please, have mercy!” The man with a black eye knelt before Lu Jiahe, kowtowing frantically.

The others turned questioning gazes toward Lu Jiahe.

“Why are you looking at me? I don’t know him!” Lu Jiahe was just as confused, glaring at the man. “Enough! Who are you? I’ve never seen you before!”

“In reply, Young Master Lu, I-I work at the eldest young master’s shop. Tonight, the eldest young master sent us here.” The man with the black eye stammered while sneaking glances at Lu Jiahe.

“Your big brother?” Cheng Yi looked at Lu Jiahe, then turned her sharp gaze back to the man with the panda eyes.