“Thank you so much just now!” Just as Andrew Grant was shaking his head with a wry smile, a pleasant fragrance suddenly wafted from behind, and a girl with a ponytail, wearing denim shorts and showing off two long, fair legs, appeared in front of him.

“Don’t mention it, it was nothing.” Facing such a youthful girl with a hint of charm in her innocence, Andrew Grant showed a trace of shyness on his face.

“My name is Emily Foster, what’s yours?” Emily Foster proactively reached out her delicate hand to Andrew Grant.

“Andrew Grant, as in ‘rising sun in the east’.” Andrew Grant gently shook the delicate hand that was offered to him, his shyness deepening.

“That guy just now is called Jason Brooks, he used to go to the same high school as me, one grade above. Relying on his family’s money and influence, he’s always harassing pretty girls at school.” At this point, Emily Foster’s pretty face flushed slightly, because she suddenly realized her words sounded a bit self-congratulatory. Fortunately, Andrew Grant didn’t seem to notice, so Emily Foster secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “Luckily, he graduated this year and will probably be reporting to university in the next couple of days, otherwise it would be a real hassle. But if you’re staying in Songyang these days, it’s best to avoid him. Honestly, it’s my fault for getting you involved.”

“How can you blame yourself for this? If anyone’s to blame, it’s that guy’s parents for not raising him properly!” Andrew Grant said.

“How old are you, talking like such an old man?” Emily Foster saw that Andrew Grant looked only about fifteen or sixteen, but spoke just like her parents, so she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.

“Really?” Andrew Grant smiled awkwardly. He had been training with Brian Clark since he was little, spending so much time with the elderly that he naturally developed a more mature mindset, though at heart he was still a teenager.

“Of course! And the way you taught Jason Brooks a lesson was so calm and cool, not like a teenager at all. By the way, you must have practiced martial arts, right?” Emily Foster said, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity as she looked at Andrew Grant.

“I’ve practiced a bit. Normally, a few grown men wouldn’t be able to get close to me.” After all, Andrew Grant was still a young man from a mountain village with little worldly experience. Being praised face-to-face by a beautiful girl, he couldn’t help but blush, rubbing his nose and modestly replying.

“A few grown men wouldn’t be able to get close to you?” Emily Foster looked at Andrew Grant’s relatively tall and slender frame, typical of someone still growing, then suddenly smiled, shot him a sidelong glance, and said playfully, “Hehe, I see you’re not only mature for your age, but you also like to brag! Just kidding, anyway, I really have to thank you today. I have an appointment with a friend, so I have to go. Bye!”

With that, Emily Foster waved at Andrew Grant, swaying her slim waist and striding off on her long, fair legs, looking especially youthful and energetic.

“She actually said I was bragging?” Watching Emily Foster’s departing figure, Andrew Grant shook his head with a smile. He had already been modest; in fact, with his current martial prowess, even a dozen grown men wouldn’t be able to get close to him.

Of course, Andrew Grant wouldn’t go out of his way to catch up and explain to Emily Foster. After shaking his head with a smile, he continued eastward with his suitcase.

In China in the 1990s, even in big cities there were hardly any decent real estate agencies, let alone in a small place like Changxi County. Usually, landlords would just write “For Rent” on a sign or hang a board at their door.

At that time, apartment-style commercial housing was rare in Changxi County; most buildings were four or five stories tall, built along the street or alleys. Houses were connected, and each family owned a whole building from the first floor to the top. Each floor was about forty or fifty square meters, with stairs inside winding from the first floor to the top.

The first floor was usually a street-facing shop, the second floor was the living room and kitchen, and the upper floors were bedrooms. Since a building often had four or five, even six or seven floors, people would often leave one or two floors vacant. Some families, unwilling to leave them empty, would rent out a floor or two.

As he walked along, Andrew Grant saw some places for rent, but none suited him, and the ones he liked weren’t available. It wasn’t until he was almost at the foot of the lush little hill he’d seen from the station that Andrew Grant finally found a rental he liked.

The rental was a five-story street-front building, with a sign-making shop on the ground floor. The shop was filled with all kinds of nameplates and signs.

The shopkeeper was a slightly chubby middle-aged man. When he saw Andrew Grant standing at the door, staring at the rental sign, he got up from his seat, walked over, and said with a smile, “Young man, are you looking to rent a place?”

Chapter 0009: Special Rental Conditions

“Yes, boss. Are you the landlord?” Andrew Grant nodded and asked.

“That’s right, I’m the landlord. But I only rent my rooms to high school students from Changxi No.1 High School. If you’re not a student there, I’m afraid I can’t rent to you,” the landlord said.

“I just got accepted to Changxi No.1 High School this year.” Andrew Grant smiled.

“So you’re a first-year student this year? That’s great. Which township are you from, and what was your score on the entrance exam?” The landlord’s eyes lit up at his words.