Ding Yaren's face was deathly pale, but this time he refused to back down. Twenty taels of silver was a fortune, enough to support his family for several years.
Ding Yaren didn't move aside. Instead, he respectfully addressed the two men, stating that Young Master Lu was his client and that he had sold him the residence in Yuhua Lane.
Seeing Ding Yaren's uncharacteristic defiance, the two agents were taken aback. One of them suddenly reached out and shoved him forcefully to the side, snarling, "Get lost! Shopkeeper Liu of this agency is my distant cousin. Are you trying to get fired?"
Upon hearing this, Ding Yaren's expression turned cold. He was short and thin, with a slight limp, making him unfit for strenuous labor. He had endured years of humiliation in this agency, always swallowing his pride.
Lu Ye and his companions witnessed this scene, startled by the sheer audacity of the people in the capital, brazenly attempting to steal credit from a colleague.
They recalled how, upon entering the agency, these two agents had been closest to them. After a cursory glance, they had been too lazy to approach them, while Ding Yaren had been exceptionally warm and polite.
Now, hearing that they had purchased a large residence, these agents were shamelessly crowding them.
Lu Ye was about to speak up for Ding Yaren when Shopkeeper Liu, holding several contracts and beaming with joy, hurried over. "Ah, Young Master Lu, you truly have a discerning eye. Many people have inquired about that residence in Yuhua Lane. It's surrounded by few neighbors, the environment is serene, the interior is quite new, and the layout is very practical. If you had been any slower, you might not have secured it!"
Lu Ye smiled, "Shopkeeper Liu speaks the truth." In reality, Ding Yaren had already given him the unvarnished truth about the residence, which was the exact opposite of the shopkeeper's claim that "many people have inquired."
It was said that the grand residence had been built twenty years ago by a renowned general for his wife. Later, the entire general's family was executed, and the house ran with blood, with many female members hanging themselves within its walls.
Many officials in the capital considered the residence inauspicious, detrimental to their careers, and were unwilling to purchase it. The Ministry of Works then sold it at a high price to a merchant.
However, after moving in, the merchant's family suffered repeated misfortunes. Upon hearing the rumors surrounding the residence, the merchant immediately moved out with his entire family. The house was subsequently used for rental income.
Although it had been rented out intermittently over twenty years, the tenants' families had all experienced unfortunate events, gradually turning the residence into a notoriously haunted house, making it difficult to rent.
The merchant, in his helplessness, had to sell it at a low price. However, due to its reputation as a haunted house, even at a reduced price, it was difficult to sell. It had been on the market for half a year.
Indeed, without the rumors of hauntings and ill fortune, the residence would have been worth twenty thousand taels.
However, Ding Yaren had deliberately avoided the other four individuals when discussing the residence's history, speaking only with Lu Ye.
Fortunately, this Young Master Lu seemed utterly unfazed.
Shopkeeper Liu smiled and nodded, glancing at the people beside him as he considered who should be entrusted with the property deeds and land title for processing. The taller of the two agents who had shoved Ding Yaren immediately interjected, "Cousin, I sold that residence. Hand over the property deeds and land title to me, and I'll escort Young Master Lu to the government office to handle the official registration."
Shopkeeper Liu's eyes lit up. He patted the man's shoulder and praised, "Well done, Da Long. You managed to sell such a large residence. Then I shall entrust these deeds to you—"
Watching his business being snatched away, Ding Yaren stood at a distance, his shoulders trembling violently, his face ashen.
"He didn't sell this residence. It was that Ding Yaren who sold it," Lu Ye interrupted Shopkeeper Liu, speaking in a loud voice.
Ding Yaren's head shot up, tears welling in his eyes. He looked at Lu Ye with immense gratitude.
The agent named Da Long stared at Lu Ye in disbelief, clearly not expecting the man wearing an ugly mask to speak up for Ding Yaren.
Ding Yaren wore patched clothes and was a cripple. Wealthy buyers had always shown him disdain.
Shopkeeper Liu's face flickered with embarrassment. He glared at Da Long, "Why are you stealing credit? Ding Yaren was the primary one who sold this residence—"
Lu Ye immediately retorted, "No, not primarily. It was entirely Ding Yaren who sold it, with absolutely no involvement from this strongman," Lu Ye pointed at the agent named Da Long.
Lu Ye found people like Da Long utterly detestable, bullies who relied on their connections. He would never give such individuals any face, stating his words directly and clearly in front of him.
Ding Yaren raised his hand and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward and said respectfully, "Shopkeeper, it was I who received Young Master Lu, and it was indeed I who sold the residence in Yuhua Lane."
Shopkeeper Liu let out a forced, insincere laugh, "Old Ding, you've done well."
Ding Yaren quickly bowed, "Thank you for your praise, Shopkeeper. It is all thanks to Young Master Lu's kindness in looking out for me."
Shopkeeper Liu's smile vanished. He waved a hand at Ding Yaren, "Hurry and take Young Master Lu to the government office to complete the paperwork for the deeds."
"Yes, yes, yes," Ding Yaren replied, bowing and scraping.
Lu Ye said, "Wait a moment. Your agency has a commission for selling a residence, correct? Shopkeeper Liu, please calculate Ding Yaren's commission and pay it to him in advance."
Shopkeeper Liu was clearly taken aback. After staring at Lu Ye for a moment, he laughed, "Ten taels. Ding Yaren is entitled to ten taels of silver."
"Ten taels?" Ding Yaren exclaimed in shock. Wasn't it twenty taels? Qi Da Long had received twenty-five taels for selling a residence worth two thousand taels, so why was he only getting ten taels for selling one worth eight thousand?
Lu Ye scoffed, "For a property transaction of eight thousand taels, Shopkeeper Liu is only offering Ding Yaren ten taels?"
With a patron backing him, Ding Yaren gritted his teeth again and said, "He should at least get twenty taels." If he could secure this money, he wouldn't mind leaving this place. Even if he couldn't find another job, he could start a small business with five taels of capital.
Shopkeeper Liu gave an awkward smile, "Young Master Lu, you are unaware—"
"Give him twenty-five taels commission, and pay it now. Otherwise, this young master will not buy the residence," Lu Ye stated expressionlessly. He had heard about the general commission rates for agents in the capital, and this Shopkeeper Liu was clearly bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
Upon hearing this, Ding Yaren immediately knelt before Lu Ye, "Thank you, Young Master Lu, for standing up for me. I only ask for twenty taels... I will be satisfied."
Lu Ye helped him up and deliberately said in a loud voice, "Do not compromise. What is yours, you must actively pursue. Otherwise, certain people who rely on power will only bully you more."
The agent named Da Long knew Lu Ye was indirectly scolding him. However, he dared not show any displeasure, as Lu Ye was the patron.
Alas, his judgment today was severely lacking. How could he have let such a significant patron slip through his fingers?