Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 39 Mrs. Winthrop (Seeking monthly votes and recommendations)
Larry looked around the apartment building and was very satisfied with the location.

On the one hand, it is close to the police station and has a well-connected network of streets, ensuring both safety and convenient transportation; on the other hand, the area is well-equipped with amenities, including fixed routes for public carriages, numerous restaurants and shops, and even large inns for gentlemen to store their horses.

Larry climbed three steps and knocked on the door rhythmically.

The door opened, and inside stood a maid dressed in simple women's clothing. She was probably in her thirties or forties, and her face showed signs of weariness.

"What can I do for you, sir?" the maid asked.

“I’m looking for Mrs. Winthrop; I’d like to rent an apartment,” Larry replied with a smile.

The maid nodded and stepped back, making way for him. "Please come in, sir. You may wait in the porch while I go and inform Mrs. Winthrop."

Larry entered the apartment building and found a porch on the first floor that doubled as a common room, with umbrellas, cane holders, and other daily necessities for the tenants on both sides. Thick old carpets covered the floor, and oak floors led to oak stairs. The first floor was mostly the private residence of the apartment owners, while the second and third floors were apartments available for rent.

Larry glanced down at his shoes and clothes, making sure they were clean and tidy, then straightened his back and waited for the landlord to arrive.

A short while later, a maid accompanied an elderly lady with a tall, upright figure and a sprightly spirit, dressed in a well-fitting and elaborate long dress, out of the room.

"Excuse me, are you looking to rent an apartment?" The old lady's sharp eyes sized Larry up and down.

Larry flashed his signature warm smile. "You must be Mrs. Winthrop. It's an honor to meet you. My name is Larry Livingston, and I work at Paine Weber Securities."

“A securities firm, hmm, that kind of work is respectable enough.” Mrs. Winthrop looked at Larry’s handsome face and smiled faintly.

Larry nodded and echoed her words, "Yes, madam. I'm single and don't usually come home very late, so I think I'll be one of your best tenants."

"Alright, kid, come up and take a look at the rooms. I have two apartments available right now, one on the second floor and one on the third floor, the second floor one is a bit bigger."

As they spoke, Mrs. Winthrop and her maid went first, followed by Larry. After going up the stairs, the three of them arrived at the second-floor apartment.

The apartment door opened, revealing a two-bedroom apartment with a stone fireplace in the living room. In front of the fireplace were a sofa, a rug, and a small coffee table with vases on it.

One room is the master bedroom, which is about 20 square meters. It has a large double bed and a wardrobe, as well as a large balcony filled with sunlight.

The other room is a study, which has a large desk and a mahogany chair, and a model of a sailing warship is displayed in the bookcase behind it.

There is also a separate toilet and shower room, and a small balcony behind the bathtub.

Larry looked the apartment inside and out and found that the gas lamps, ceramic bathtub, and walnut bookshelves were all new and showed no signs of use. He nodded in satisfaction. "I think it's very nice, madam. How much is this apartment?" Larry turned to Mrs. Winthrop and asked.

"Our rent is calculated monthly, $22 a month, payable every three months. But for the first time, you'll also need to pay a one-month security deposit."

Larry nodded, thinking to himself, "Isn't this just a deposit of one month's rent and three months' rent in advance?"
“Should we go up to the third floor and take another look?” Mrs. Winthrop suggested.

Larry frowned, suddenly recalling the three-story single room he had rented from the Mexican man in his past life, and an unpleasant memory washed over him. Larry simply waved his hand, "No, I think this place is fine, madam. If you could lower the price, that would be even better, and I can book it on the spot."

Mrs. Winthrop looked thoughtful and continued, "My child, you're putting me in a difficult position. You know, the rooms on the third floor are smaller than here, and they get very hot in the summer. I also ask the tenants to pay $18 a month."

Larry smiled. “But they might be a family, like a couple with two kids. They might be noisy and run around on your oak floors, disturbing your rest.”

Mrs. Winthrop gasped at the thought. “Well, you’re right. Even though you’re still a child in my eyes, I believe you’re much more dignified and composed… So, $20, that’s the lowest I can go.”

“Deal, thank you for your generosity, madam.” Larry smiled.

Mrs. Winthrop nodded and gestured to the maid, saying, "Carmel will be in charge of cleaning your apartment. If you have any other questions about the facilities, you can ask her, and she will pass them on to the service staff. Also, water and gas bills are paid separately and are included in the quarterly rent. Hmm, any other questions?"

Larry thought for a moment, "Could you provide a small safe? I'll have some personal belongings to store. Also, I'll be officially moving in the day after New Year's Day, 1892, is that alright?"

Mrs. Winthrop nodded. “No problem. Oh, by the way, do you need breakfast? My cook can serve a traditional American breakfast every morning at 6:30. You can order monthly or weekly, and settle the bill at the end of each month.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Larry nodded in agreement.

Larry then took out $10 as a deposit and paid it to Mrs. Winthrop, thus settling the matter of renting the apartment for himself.

Before leaving, Larry asked Mrs. Winthrop if there were any other places worth visiting nearby.
Mrs. Winthrop thought for a moment, then pointed to her finger and said,
"Two blocks away are riding clubs, billiard clubs, and oh, and shooting clubs that gentlemen might be interested in. To the east, facing the sea, are the Maritime Guild Hall and the freight exchange on Canal Street. There's a commercial street near Palm Park, but I've heard there are also private science salons there, where many inventors and outstanding craftsmen gather. That's about it."

Larry nodded, thinking that he would have to explore the specifics after settling in, but the shooting club was something he really needed, since his pistol was just for show and he couldn't guarantee its accuracy.

Thinking of this, Larry seemed to remember something else.
"Oh, by the way, Mrs. Winthrop, is it convenient for you to subscribe to newspapers here? I need to read the latest news every day, preferably the Boston Globe!"

When Larry mentioned this, Mrs. Winthrop suddenly laughed, and laughed heartily. She looked at Larry and said in a light tone,
“That’s so convenient, my husband, Edgar Winthrop, is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. You can have the latest newspaper for free and the first-hand authoritative news.”

(End of this chapter)