Chapter 9: Chen An’s job (1)

It was only when sunlight streamed through the window and shined onto his face did Chen An finally opened his eyes in a daze.

The consequence of severe myopia was that only a foggy view would greet one’s eyes in the morning. The fuzzy effect of sunlight hitting on indistinctive blobs of colour gave an illusion of heaven.

Chen An raised a hand to cover his eyes. As alertness gradually tinkled in, he slowly sat up on the bed. He squinted his eyes to grab his glasses and looked at the alarm clock. It’s a quarter to ten in the morning.

He use to be a person who gets up from bed at eight sharp every morning. To an extent, it was even obsessive compulsive. But as time passed, due to his old aliments and increasing age, he had to bow down to reality.

Gradually he no longer rise before eight, gradually he passed his work and authority over to Lu Feng.

Giving himself a lazy stretch, Chen An dragged his pasty-white fat body off the bed. Though this body is a little overweight, he is in fairly good health. He casually threw on some clothes before going into the cramp little bathroom to wash up. Only then did he enter the dining room to see a note and a box on the table.

Chen An opened the box to find a key and 200 yuan inside it.

He then read the note from Chen Yang:

[Uncle, I’m off to school. There is breakfast in the kitchen, all you need to do is heat it up. Inside the box is the apartment key and 200 yuan. Take the money first - it will be convenient for when you step out of the house. My number is 13900xxxxxx, give me a call if something comes up.]

As Chen An tucked the key into his pocket, he eyed the two large hundred yuan notes in the box. After some thought, he took one of the notes. Though he would be rich soon enough, he really is penniless now.

‘He really is a sensible child.’

After giving Chen Yang some casual words of praise, Chen An ate the breakfast Chen Yang prepared. Then with poorly-made pointed leather shoes on his feet, a nest of messy hair on his head and a document bag in his hand, Chen An left for 'work’.

Downtown Shanghai is bustling with people during the day. A middle-aged pudgy man in sunglasses could not arouse any interest or standout in this crowd no matter what he does.

With his bag, Chen An made his way to the sales centre in an upscale residential area in Shanghai. Under thick heavy glasses, a pair of phoenix eyes held only mild indifference as they cast a sweeping look around the luxurious interior. Other than himself, there were a few men and women dressed in luxury branded clothes being shown around the apartments by enthusiastic realtors.

With his current appearance, at a first glance he look like someone who does pyramid schemes. At a second glance, he look like someone who does real estate. At a third glance, he look like someone in financial securities.

In other words, he look like a man he couldn’t afford to buy a house.

Hence, when Chen An walked into the building, the busy realtors barely spared him a glance before ignoring him. Even the ones who were clearly not busy, gave him only a cursory look without any intention to approach him.

Having received the cold treatment, Chen An did not leave in a huff. If such a small matter could drive him into a rage, he would have died countless of times before.

Chen An took a leisurely turn around the sales center. Chen Yang’s tiny shabby apartment really didn’t suit his taste.

He really did go to work today. His job tasks was to look at houses and to buy one.

'Oh dear, don’t you have better houses than these?’ A delicate petite lady simpered impatiently. On one hand, she tugged at the arm of a middle-aged man while on the other, she carried a branded bag with an oversized logo.

'Yes, that’s right. Show us something better.’ The middle-aged man added with a laugh.

A flash of irritation flickered in the realtor’s eyes. This couple had been browsing for close to a hour yet nothing seem to catch their eye, rejecting one after another for all manner of reasons.

So they want something better? Something more expensive?

With an enthusiastic smile, the realtor pointed to the highest floor and said, 'Why don’t we take a look at that apartment? It is a maisonette that comes with its own personal private elevator, garden balcony and swimming pool. It is the best house we have here.’

'Is that true? It sounds rather great. Darling, should we take a look?’ The delicate lady’s eyes sparkled as she pouted at the potbellied middle-aged man by her side.

Seeing the look of hesitance in the middle-aged man’s face, the realtor added passionately, 'Sir, all our elevators uses palm print recognition technology to guarantee your security. Plus, the private home elevators will protect your privacy and indoors, we have also installed the latest home air-conditioning system as well as used American central vacuuming technology. If you are concern about safety, please rest assure. Here, we can say that we have the best security system in Shanghai.’

_________

'Once you open the balcony door, you are treated to the entire night view of The Bund. Such an apartment layout is truly a rare sight.’

'That… indeed sounds very good. How is it sold?’ the middle-aged man asked.

The realtor whipped out her calculator and with a smile added, 'Sir, every square feet is a 150 thousand. This suite is a total of 764 square feet so the selling price would be 146 million.’

Just as the man’s face stiffened, they heard a sudden voice from their side. 'I want this suite. What is the best price you can give me?’

This suite is not one that anyone can afford. The reason the realtor showed this house was to simply embarrass the arrogant couple and bring them down a notch. She certainly did not expect a big shot to appear and actually buy the house.

'You? Can you afford it?’

Those were not words the realtor dared to speak. Though she share the same doubts, she certainly did not share the same boldness. When that delicate lady overheard that someone wanted to buy the house, she turned her head back only to realise that it was actually a bucktooth, ugly and obese man dressed in cheap clothing. And in that moment, she stuck up her awl-like jaw to glare at Chen An.

Chen An smiled benignly as he took a credit card out from his bag. “If you want this house, I can let it to you. If you don’t, then this house is mine.’

He turned around to face the stupefied realtor and continued, ’ If they don’t want the house, I’ll take it.’

It took a moment for the realtor to regain her senses. Could this be a VIP here? It seems like bigwigs these days like to keep a low profile. Didn’t Xiao Lee sold a suite to a seemingly nondescript old lady a few months ago?

'Sir, Mam, do you still want this suite?’

'We… Of course we…’ But before the delicate lady could finish, the middle-aged man shot her a furious glare. Without a second look at either the realtor or Chen An, he threw a few clipped words of rejection before dragging the delicate lady away with him in a haste.