Stepdaughter of a wealthy family? The little darling of a Beijing tycoon

The old man's gaze was deep as he quietly sized up Shen Jingshu. Instead of immediately quoting the house price, he asked, "Young lady, do you know medicine?"

"I have some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, having learned it from my master," Shen Jingshu answered frankly.

"Oh, and your lineage too." The old man nodded slightly and said with emotion, "That's rare. Nowadays, most people who understand traditional Chinese medicine are elderly. I've never met anyone your age before. Judging from what I just saw, your medical skills must be quite remarkable."

The old man was a worldly man who had consulted many famous doctors before. He knew very well that his body was already exhausted and his time was coming to an end.

He paused, then slowly uttered a sentence: "I'm not selling this house."

Upon hearing this, the real estate agent immediately panicked and stepped forward: "Sir! You clearly said a few days ago that you wanted to sell this courtyard house! How come you've changed your mind now? Miss Shen has already taken a liking to it, you can't do this. We came here specifically today..."

The agent was speechless for a moment, filled with helplessness. He dreaded encountering situations where the homeowner changed their mind at the last minute, even though everything had been agreed upon beforehand.

Shen Jingshu showed no anger, but simply looked at the old man quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Under the eaves, the old woman's spirit frowned, full of confusion, looking at her husband, not understanding why he had suddenly changed his mind.

Ignoring the agent's anxiety, the old man looked at Shen Jingshu and said slowly and solemnly, "I can give you the house, but it's not for sale."

The real estate agent was stunned, his face full of astonishment: "Sir, what do you mean by that?"

The old man slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the lush flowers and trees in the courtyard, then over the faint silhouette of the old woman beside the recliner, a silhouette only Shen Jingshu could see. His voice carried a hint of melancholy: "I've spent my whole life guarding this courtyard and my wife. Now that my days are numbered, I can't rest easy if I sell this house to outsiders."

His gaze returned to Shen Jingshu: "Just now you were able to discern my lifespan, possess medical skills, and sense the unusual activity in the courtyard. I see you are no ordinary person. I will only feel at ease if I entrust this courtyard to you."

The real estate agent was stunned after hearing the old man's words. He was filled with disbelief and looked at Shen Jingshu with undisguised envy in his eyes. He secretly wondered why such a great thing had fallen on her head.

However, Shen Jingshu showed no surprise on her face; instead, she frowned slightly.

In her understanding, there is no such thing as a free lunch. As a cultivator, she values ​​cause and effect above all else, and believes in reciprocity in all matters. She is unwilling to accept such heavy favors from others for no reason, as deep entanglements of human relationships would only hinder her cultivation and enlightenment.

Her gaze fell on the old man, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a faint golden light of merit surrounding him. This was enough to show that the old man must have done many good deeds and accumulated merit throughout his life, helping others and helping the world.

Shen Jingshu remained calm and said, "Grandpa, I cannot accept such a valuable mansion for nothing. I cannot accept a gift without having done anything in return, and I do not wish to owe this favor."

Under the eaves, the old lady's spirit stood silently, showing no reaction to the old man's decision.

The old man wasn't surprised by her words; instead, a faint smile appeared on his face, as if he had expected her response. He slowly shifted his body, leaning back in the recliner, his voice hoarse yet earnest: "I'm not giving this to you for nothing. My days are numbered, and I have an unfulfilled wish. If you're willing to help me accomplish this, this courtyard will be my reward to you."

The real estate agent listened with bated breath, curious about what the old man's wish was.

The old man glanced at the real estate agent beside him and gently told him to go home: "Xiao Zhou, you can go back now."

The real estate agent looked reluctant and felt a deep sense of regret upon hearing this. This was a huge deal worth hundreds of millions for a courtyard house, and it was almost finalized, but now it had to be called off. However, the homeowner had already spoken, and he dared not linger.

Just as he turned to leave, the old man's voice rang out again: "I will pay you the full amount of the agency fee due."

The agent quickly waved his hand: "Sir, this is against the rules! The house transaction hasn't been completed, so I can't take your money."

"It's alright." The old man said calmly, "You've been working so hard these past few days to sell the house, so I still need to give you a fee for your trouble."

Knowing the old man's stubborn nature, and knowing he only had a month or so to live, the agent was filled with mixed emotions and decided not to refuse. He took a deep look at the old man sitting peacefully in the courtyard, said goodbye softly, turned and left the alley, carefully closing the courtyard gate behind him.

The heavy courtyard gate closed, isolating the courtyard from all the noise of the outside world, and the entire courtyard became completely quiet.

The old man pointed to the stone bench beside the stone table, looked at Shen Jingshu, and said gently, "Girl, sit down. Sit with this old man for a while. Do you know how to play chess?"

"I know a little bit," Shen Jingshu nodded in agreement.

"Then play the next game with me."

The two sat down on either side of the bluestone table, one old and one young, facing each other, without saying another word.

Black and white chess pieces fell alternately from fingertips, the crisp sound echoing in the quiet courtyard, becoming the only sound.

A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves softly.

The spirit of the old woman drifted slowly over and landed quietly beside the stone table, hovering there gently watching the two players playing chess, her eyes filled with peace.

Throughout her life, she accompanied the old man in playing chess for decades, through spring, autumn, winter, and summer, year after year. Now that the old man is nearing the end of his life, being able to watch him play one more game of chess is a rare and peaceful moment.

The courtyard is peaceful and serene, a game of chess is being played, with pieces being placed slowly.

The game of chess slowly came to an end, with the black and white pieces clearly arranged. In the end, Shen Jingshu won by a narrow margin of one piece.

The old man stared at the chessboard for a long time, then, unusually, he threw his head back and burst into laughter. His hearty laughter echoed in the quiet courtyard, dispelling the loneliness that had lingered for years.

"Hahaha! Good girl, your chess skills are so superb, even this old man can't beat you! You know, when I was young, very few could match my chess skills!"

Shen Jingshu lowered her eyes slightly, her expression humble: "I only know a little bit, and I won by luck."

The old man waved his hand, his eyes full of appreciation. His gaze fell on her, and the more he looked at her, the happier he became. This young girl was calm, insightful, and composed. She possessed great skills but was not ostentatious. She was a rare kind of pure and insightful person.

The old woman's transparent spirit, who was standing quietly to the side, looked at the old man's hearty laughter, and a soft, moist light quietly welled up in her eyes.

Since she passed away three years ago, the old man has been depressed and taciturn for three whole years, spending his days alone in the empty courtyard, his face never relaxed, let alone laughing heartily from the bottom of his heart.

This was the first time in three years since her passing that she had seen her husband smile so easily and genuinely.

A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves beside the stone table with tender caresses. The old lady gazed quietly at the old man, whose smile was radiant, her heart filled with contentment and deep emotion.