A life of success begins with being a landlord.

"No, it looks quite nice."

I nodded and beckoned Erxia to come in.

Erxia already knew Sister Li, so she nodded and greeted her, "Sister Li."

Sister Li looked Erxia over and over again, then nodded and smiled, "Erxia, your outfit today is so much more classy. Nobody would doubt that you're a college student."

"Thank you for the compliment, Sister Li."

Erxia pursed her lips, pushed up her glasses, and said shyly, "Actually, I was originally... a college graduate."

"Huh?" Sister Li and I both gaped in astonishment.

A beautiful college student, abandoned by her boyfriend after being seduced, is left stranded in Dongguan City, with no relatives or friends to turn to—what a dramatic life story!

"The university I went to didn't guarantee job placement, and there were no proper jobs," Erxia said with a self-deprecating laugh. "So, just like graduating from elementary school, we all had to work."

I waved my hand and introduced Ding Zhili to Erxia: "Ding Zhili, the scrap collector."

Erxia was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

Ding Zhili had already stood up, bowing and scraping: "Hello, Sister Xia! You're a college graduate, a scholar, please guide me in the future!"

That kid has a sweet tongue.

I suddenly regretted arranging for Sister Li to travel with him.

This pretty boy with that cute mouth, he might just steal my sister Li away.

Next, I briefly explained our plans and the goals of this trip to Erxia.

Erxia nodded: "Don't worry, Brother Zu, I'm Sister Li's follower and maid. I promise to take good care of Sister Li."

Sister Li was very satisfied.

I suddenly remembered the tiger, so I called Erxia into the room and whispered:

"That bastard Tiger, I confronted him and he agreed to give you some money to settle things. I'll give you the rest when he brings the money over."

Erxia bit her lip: "Brother Zu, I have hands and feet, I don't want his money. I never want to see him again in this lifetime."

"What, you think his money is too flashy?"

I'd also picked up Sister Ling's swear words, and rolled my eyes, saying, "You listen to me on this matter. No matter how much Tiger offers, you take it!"

Erxia finally nodded.

I paused for a moment, then said, "Take good care of Sister Li on this trip. If our business grows in the future, you can help us with the work. We won't treat you unfairly."

"Thank you, Brother Zu," Erxia said.

Sister Li called to me from outside: "Yaozu, Erxia, are you two reluctant to part and want to have a goodbye kiss? It's been half a day, you've kissed enough, don't keep going on and on."

Erxia blushed and dared not speak.

I hurriedly opened the door and glared at Sister Li: "Sister Li, don't talk nonsense. Erxia and I are talking about serious matters."

"Who knows if you guys are serious or not?" Sister Li shrugged.

Erxia smiled and said, "Sister Li, even if Brother Zu and I were being silly just now, let's talk seriously now, okay? When are we leaving?"

See, college students can still talk a good game; they have high emotional intelligence.

Sister Li nodded and waved her hand, "Let's go!"

I helped Sister Li carry her luggage downstairs.

Ding Zhili stood by the roadside trying to hail a taxi.

I walked over and warned Ding Zhili, "Little Ding, don't you dare have any ulterior motives towards Sister Li and Erxia, or I'll castrate you!"

Ding Zhili hurriedly assured him, "Brother Zu, don't worry. Sister Li and Sister Xia are both my own great-aunts. I treat them with the same respect and devotion. If I had even the slightest ulterior motive, may I be struck by lightning!"

"That's more like it."

As they were talking, the taxi arrived.

I put Li Jie's luggage away and waved goodbye to her.

"Yaozu, be careful at home, and don't forget to call me." Sister Li patted my shoulder, her eyes full of concern.

"Sister Li, I understand, I promise everything will be fine." I nodded solemnly.

Sister Li took Erxia into the car and waved goodbye as they drove away.

I wasn't too reluctant to leave, but I was also a little excited.

Once Sister Li is gone, I can do whatever I want and be a shameless landlord!

When the tiger is away, the monkey becomes king!

With that in mind, I, the Monkey King, got busy, carrying my ledger and running back and forth between buildings 26 and 27, up and down the stairs, collecting rent, utility bills, and posting notices to tenants...

In Building 26, I met Lao Xia cleaning.

The old man actually does a pretty good job when he gets to work; he's methodical and organized.

I handed Lao Xia a cigarette: "Lao Xia, you've worked hard."

Old Xia, however, kept a straight face, waved his hand, and said seriously, "I've quit smoking. I swear, from today onwards, I'll quit smoking and drinking. A man who doesn't make money won't even sleep with his wife!"

That's what I meant...

I patted Lao Xia on the shoulder: "Lao Xia, you're not young anymore, try to take things easy."

Sister Ling is so beautiful. Didn't you get enough sleep when you were young? Now that you're old, you still think about sleeping. You're so pathetic.

"I've come to terms with it."

Old Xia snorted and pointed down the street: "This place has no shortage of beautiful women. Once I'm rich, hmph!"

"That's true, you do a good job."

I nodded and smiled, then went about my own business.

When you, Lao Xia, have money, I'm afraid... no matter how many women you have, you won't be able to do anything about it.

I was busy until noon when I met Xue Meihua at the entrance of room 304 in building 27.

"Brother Zu, hello."

When Xue Meihua saw me, she quickly bowed and said, "It was all thanks to Brother Zu that we got the compensation..."

I nodded: "Weren't you at the hospital taking care of your sister? Why are you back?"

"I'm back to tidy up the room; my sister will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow."

"Discharged after only a few days?"

"Let's save some money," Xue Meihua said with a forced smile.

"My sister's amputation surgery went very well, thanks to the help of Brother Zu and He Tiantian. Once my sister is discharged from the hospital, I will definitely treat you to a meal to properly thank you."

I shook my head and asked, "Is there anything wrong with the house?"

"The bathroom light isn't working... I changed the light bulb, but it still doesn't work."

"Let me see."

I went into 304 to check the lines.

Just as I suspected, the bathroom upstairs, owned by Kuai Dafa, was leaking, causing a short circuit in the electrical wiring of this bathroom.

After some effort, I managed to get the light bulb working again and said to Xue Meihua, "In a couple of days, I'll fix the bathroom upstairs and tidy up the wiring for you."

"Thank you, Brother Zu. Please wash your hands and face." Xue Meihua handed me a towel.

I gave myself a hasty wash and prepared to leave.

"Brother Zu..."

Xue Meihua suddenly knelt down in front of me, hugged my legs, and burst into tears.

"Xue Meihua, what are you doing?" I panicked a little and reached out to help her.

"Brother Zu, we sisters can never repay your great kindness."

Xue Meihua knelt on the ground, looking up at me: "Brother Zu, if you don't mind...we're ugly, my sister and I can...we can...stay with you."

"Keep me company?" I paused, then frowned. "You mean, sleep with me?"

To be honest, the Xue sisters, Meihua and Meiying, are not ugly, and I don't mind their appearance and figure.

With a figure and face like that, I'd have to pay extra to find a partner like that back home.

Xue Meihua nodded: "Brother Zu, we sisters don't have anything valuable on us, so this is all we can do to thank you. As long as you don't mind, we can stay with you anytime..."

"at any time?"

I lifted Xue Meihua's chin and wiped away her tears: "Now, is it alright?"

"Brother Zu, you can do it."

Xue Meihua smiled, stood up, and slowly unbuttoned her top, revealing her underwear.

Snapped!

I slapped Xue Meihua across the face!