43: Chapter 43: Negotiating and Setting a Bottom Price, Then Running into Being Stalked on the Way Out

The old man quoted a high price, yet Lin Chen didn't even furrow his brow.

The room was already dim, with only a small window on the wall letting in a faint, grayish light that slanted across the damp, un-dried water stains on the floor. Patches of mold connected in the corners, and one leg of the worn wooden table was half missing. Wind seeped through the cracks in the broken window, rustling the old newspaper on the table. In the cramped space, the tension of haggling instantly intensified.

"At least 4,500! Not a penny less!" The old man stiffened his neck, his rough palm slapping the mottled tabletop, striking a posture of not yielding an inch. "No matter how run-down this place is, it's in a decent location. Even if you don't live here, you can rent it out for money. Don't think you can fool this old man with a lowball offer!"

Li Wei, standing nearby, grew anxious and wanted to speak up. He had just taken a step forward when Lin Chen gently raised a hand to stop him. Lin Chen remained where he was, his tone steady and completely even.

"Sir, let's not beat around the bush. Let's talk straight." Lin Chen pointed up at the large, blackened patches of mold on the ceiling, then gestured toward the cracked walls. "All three sections of the roof leak. Mold has soaked through half the wall. It's simply uninhabitable during the rainy season. Just redoing the waterproofing and replacing the tiles will cost nearly a thousand. The floor is cracked and sandy, the walls are damp and peeling, and all the doors and windows are rotten. I haven't even factored in the subsequent repair costs yet."

His gaze was frank, each word hitting the mark: "I can't take it for 4,500. At most, 4,000. That's my real, solid offer. No games."

"4,000 is too low!" The old man immediately raised his voice, his brows knitting together. He leaned forward indignantly. "I've lived here my whole life. This house was built with care back in the day. Your price cut is way too harsh!"

"I don't lowball people to cheat them, but I won't waste money either." Lin Chen remained neither submissive nor overbearing, his pace unhurried but every word solid. "When I buy a property, I sign a formal agreement on the spot and transfer the money immediately. I don't leave until the funds are in your account—no delays, no debts, and no coming back later to cause trouble. That's far more reliable than empty promises."

The old man's expression shifted, his eyes visibly wavering. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, looked up at the water stains on the ceiling, then down at the cracked floor. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the frayed edges of his faded shirt. Finally, he let out a long sigh.

"To be honest, David's people came to see me before, not long ago." The old man lowered his voice, a mix of resentment and lingering fear in his tone. "Those thugs looked fierce. They offered 3,000 right off the bat—even lower than your price—and threatened that if I didn't sell to them, I'd never have peace in this neighborhood again. I knew they were no good, so I didn't bother with them. I'd rather let this house rot in my hands than sell it to those ruffians."

"Sir, you're very wise!" Li Wei chimed in immediately, playing along. "David's gang only knows how to cheat honest folks like us. Lowballing is bad enough, but they even threaten people. Brother Chen is completely different from them. He always offers fair prices for properties and never bullies the elderly!"

Lin Chen didn't add much, just quietly watched the old man, leaving the decision to him. There wasn't a hint of impatience in his eyes.

The old man struggled internally for a while, chewing on his cheek. Finally, he gritted his teeth and relented: "4,200. Not a cent less! I'm already taking a big loss at this price. Any lower, and I'd rather let the house rot than sell it!"

A faint, almost imperceptible glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. In his mind, the AI simultaneously provided a prompt: 4,200 was within the reasonable profit margin, offered sufficient cost-effectiveness, and The Homeowner had no property disputes. The deal could be finalized directly.

Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded on the spot. "Deal. 4,200 it is. I'll be here tomorrow at 10 AM with the formal agreement and stamp pad. Once we sign, I'll transfer the money immediately—not a penny short. I won't go back on my word."

Seeing Lin Chen so decisive, the old man's tense expression finally relaxed completely. His stiff shoulders slumped, and he gave a firm nod, a look of relief finally appearing on his face.

"Good! I'll trust you this once! I'll be home all day tomorrow, not going anywhere. I'll be waiting for you!"

"Then it's settled. I'll be here on time tomorrow." Lin Chen gave a slight nod and turned to signal Li Wei.

"Thank you for your trust, sir! Brother Chen always keeps his word, so you can rest assured!" Li Wei replied with a smile, following Lin Chen as they headed out.

The two didn't linger. They quickly walked out of the dilapidated room. Lin Chen casually steadied the shaky wooden door and gently closed the mottled door panel.

The old-fashioned staircase was narrow and steep, its handrail covered in rust. The steps were dusty and littered with discarded miscellaneous items. The light was even dimmer than inside the room, forcing them to feel their way down slowly along the wall.

Just as they reached the landing between the third and second floors, Lin Chen's footsteps suddenly halted. He raised a hand to quietly signal Li Wei to stop, his eyes instantly turning cold.

Around the corner on the floor below, two furtive figures were huddled against the wall. One was leaning against it, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. The other was secretly taking pictures of the stairwell with his phone. Both were staring intently in the direction of the old man's apartment on the third floor. They were none other than two familiar faces—David's underlings.