Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 386: Chapter 382: The Old Mansion

Upon learning that Huo Sining was heading to the old house, Huang Hanyun eagerly volunteered to take her there. Huang Hanyun was very familiar with the old house, so naturally, it worked out well for her to drive and lead the way.

Huo Sining got into the car with Li Quan, and Huang Ranping and Su Qingqing also hopped in on their own initiative.

These two, Su Qingqing and Huang Ranping, hadn’t seen Huo Sining for a few days and had been sticking close to her ever since her return. Now that they saw she was heading to the ancestral home, they of course followed eagerly, which rendered Huo Sining somewhat amused and exasperated.

However, she knew very well that those two were certainly unshakable, so she could only let them tag along.

Heitan had been languishing at home these past few days because Huo Sining had been away from the Huang Family, so no one dared to take him out for walks. Now seeing Huo Sining going out, the fellow immediately stood up and followed her, his big round eyes begging pitifully.

Huo Sining sighed in resignation—it didn’t seem like she was going on a business trip but rather a picnic.

Unable to resist the giant pup’s charm offensive, Huo Sining gestured for Heitan to get into the car as well.

Luckily, Huang Hanyun was driving her dad’s Jeep, which had ample space. There was enough room for everyone to sit inside without feeling overcrowded.

The car made its way to Chang’an Street Lao Huai Hutong. The Jeep was too large to maneuver through the lane, so Huang Hanyun had to park outside the hutong, whereupon the group got out and walked in.

”The houses in Lao Huai Hutong are all of the siheyuan style. Because the government’s cultural heritage department registered these houses some years ago, they can only be repaired and maintained and must not be sold as properties,” Huang Hanyun explained as they walked.

”When your father was alive, he hired a person to look after the house. His name is Ling Tong, your father’s comrade-in-arms, a retired soldier with good reflexes.”

”However, Ling Tong’s face was disfigured by acid during a mission, and his throat was also burned. Although he survived, he had to be discharged, and he couldn’t find work elsewhere. Your father took pity on him and let him stay in this old house.”

”He is competent, and over the years, he has been protecting the property. Despite his facial scars and vocal impediments, he has dealt with all that have come to disturb the place.”

”I do support you coming here to check on the property, but I suggest you keep Uncle Tong. First of all, Uncle Tong is already in his forties. If you let him go, he will have nowhere to turn. Secondly, he is indeed skilled. Keeping him here will also make the house safer.”

As Huang Hanyun said this, Huo Sining got the picture and nodded, ”I understand. To protect this house, Uncle Tong must have invested a lot. I certainly won’t turn away someone who has shown such loyalty and hard work.”

Huang Hanyun smiled. She didn’t doubt Huo Sining; it was just her professional habit acting up, which made her instinctively bring her work mindset into her life, feeling sympathy for those struggling in poverty, and hoping others would treat them kindly.

As they talked, the group had reached the interior of the hutong. The ground was paved with blue bricks, and siheyuan courtyards lined both sides. They quickly arrived at the location of the old house.

The large lacquered red doors stood guard, with intricate and exquisite triptych of clouds and sparrows under the eaves, clearly a hallmark of Qing Dynasty architecture. Even the columns on the rear eaves were fitted with inverted lintels, and on each side of the gate sat a small stone lion, exuding significance despite its location within an alley.

Judging from the courtyard gate, the house was in impeccable condition, the doorways and surroundings remarkably clean. The lacquer and painted colors on the eaves and door lintels appeared aged, but this only added to the nostalgic charm, making the sight extremely pleasing to the eye.

Indeed, noticing that several people were examining the house, Huang Hanyun proceeded to explain, ”This Jiao Guangliang Gate, the house was built by a Qing Dynasty First-Rank Official. After the family’s decline, the house was sold off. Through several changes of hands, it ended up being purchased by your grandmother.”

Su Qingqing smiled and said, ”I knew it; such a house would certainly have a profound historical and cultural heritage.”

Huang Hanyun nodded, ”Precisely because it has a certain historical value, it has attracted some lowbrow antique hunters. If it wasn’t for Uncle Tong keeping watch, I’m afraid those petty thieves might have dug some holes and emptied the house.”

So-called antique hunting involves individuals with a hobby for collecting and a unique eye going to old houses with certain historical value to look for antiques. If the owner agrees, they would offer money to purchase the findings.

Of course, this is the general rule. The Imperial Capital has a long history and rich cultural heritage, incomparable to ordinary cities. These old siheyuan courtyards are indeed great places for antique hunting, and if genuine antiques are found, a fair transaction following commercial rules is permissible.

However, there are some who take immoral shortcuts, with the intent to stumble upon underpriced items, resorting to other improper means and methods of stealth and theft when the owner disagrees to sell.

Such individuals are deeply loathed by the owners of the siheyuan, but even with constant vigilance, there are times of oversight. To guard such a large property against those coveting it and to prevent any opportunities, one can imagine the hardship involved.

Huo Sining felt deeply grateful for this man known as Uncle Tong.

As she pondered this, Huang Hanyun gently knocked on the copper handle of the door twice, followed by the sound of dogs barking within the courtyard.

”Uncle Tong has raised two German Shepherds inside; they’re very alert,” Huang Hanyun explained softly.

Just as she finished speaking, the door suddenly opened from the inside, and a man shorter than one meter eighty emerged, opening the door. He nodded at Huang Hanyun and then turned his gaze to Huo Sining and the others beside her.

As Huang Hanyun mentioned, Uncle Tong’s face was disfigured by an acid attack, covered in purple and crimson scars, deeply wrinkled like a ghastly specter, with more scars crisscrossing his throat.

In short, it was a face beyond recognition. Despite Huang Hanyun’s earlier warning and mental preparation, when suddenly confronted with such a visage, everyone, including Huo Sining, was startled.

Of course, the shock lasted only for the first second of viewing; once accustomed, it no longer seemed odd. Like Huang Hanyun, who was already used to it, her gaze saw Uncle Tong as she would any other person.

Huo Sining was not the type to judge by appearance; even upon seeing Yin Zeyan with his Yin and Yang face, she remained composed. However, for some unknown reason, upon seeing Uncle Tong, a strange emotion welled up inside her, making her distinctly uncomfortable.