My Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden

“This private school was originally established by Master Cheng as a philanthropist, who funded my father’s establishment. So, if Qi Yu wants to take it over, go and visit Master Cheng and talk to him!” Zhou Rui said.

Qi Yu nodded, "Master Cheng!"

We're old acquaintances!

I almost became his son-in-law!

Looking at the moldy table, Qi Yu calculated in his mind that a table cost about one string of cash.

For now, I only need a maximum of twenty chapters, which is roughly twenty strings of cash, and eight strings to one tael.

Twenty strings of cash translate to a little over two taels, and at most three taels.

Repairing the school and the roof, and renovating the courtyard, will cost at most twenty taels.

The most expensive items are paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones!

Another huge hemorrhage is coming. I guess I'm just doing this for love, right?

After seeing the school, a general renovation plan had already formed in my mind.

Fortunately, there were no strict requirements for opening a private school; all that was needed was to report it to the government office.

Reporting wasn't difficult, since everyone in the government office was an acquaintance, and it was easier to get things done with acquaintances.

The only problem now is Master Cheng.

He funded the school, and the land deed was also in his possession; in other words, he was the real boss of this private school.

When I was down on my luck, he was the first to show me kindness. Although he wanted me to become his son-in-law, it was ultimately a form of protection.

Because of his brother Qi Lin's incident, his close friends and relatives avoided him like the plague.

I'm afraid I'll implicate them!

It is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm, so Qi Yu did not blame him.

At that time, there was only one person who was not afraid of being implicated, and that was Master Cheng Yuande.

He was also a well-known philanthropist in Jiangzhou City, often doing good deeds, such as repairing bridges and paving roads.

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Article 114 Yuande

Qi Yu stood at the gate of a mansion, looked at the door knocker on the mahogany door, sighed, raised his hand, and knocked on the door with the knocker.

Soon a servant came to open the door. Seeing Qi Yu's elegant appearance, he bowed and asked, "What brings you here, young master?"

Qi Yu returned the greeting with a bow and said, "I am Qi Yu, and I have something I wish to discuss with Master Cheng. Please inform him of my presence!"

"Please wait a moment, young master!"

The servant closed the door, followed by a series of footsteps, presumably to announce their arrival.

Not long after, footsteps sounded, and the door opened again; it was the same servant.

"Please come in, young master!"

The servant gestured for Qi Yu to enter, and the servant led the way after Qi Yu stepped through the gate.

Following the servants through the courtyard, we arrived at the main hall, where a richly dressed middle-aged man sat at the head of the table.

After the servants bowed, they walked out of the hall, and Qi Yu bowed to Cheng Yuande.

"Greetings, Master Cheng!"

"Did you need something from me?" Cheng Yuande asked.

Qi Yu nodded and said, "I want to take over that private school in Jiangting Village and reopen it, so I..."

Cheng Yuande interrupted Qi Yu before he could finish speaking.

"I know why you've come, but unfortunately you're too late. I've already sold that private school, and the land deed is no longer in my possession!"

Qi Yu was taken aback. It's been sold?

Who would buy a private school in such a remote village as Jiangting? There's absolutely no room for appreciation!

Qi Yu looked into Cheng Yuande's eyes, somewhat incredulous!

Could it be that Master Cheng is still resentful of me, and that's why he's unwilling to transfer the property?

Although you helped yourself, it's a bit unreasonable to expect you to become a live-in son-in-law just because of this!

Qi Yu nodded helplessly, ready to give up.

The reason for choosing that courtyard is that it is already there, so there is no need for a major reconstruction.

But this doesn't mean that you can't run a private school without it; it just means it takes more time and is a little more troublesome.

"In that case, I'll take my leave now!" Qi Yu bowed and prepared to depart.

“Qi Yu, if you want that land, there’s something we can do!” Cheng Yuande said.

Qi Yu blinked and asked, "What method?"

“That piece of land was said to be a geomantically auspicious site by a wandering Taoist priest, so it was bought by Master Liu, who is preparing to move his father’s grave there.”

"He approached me, intending to buy that land, and I was also prepared to sell it to him, but the transaction is only a verbal agreement at this point."

"If you really want it, I can sell it to you first!"

Qi Yu looked at Cheng Yuande, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Prioritize selling to me?"

Master Liu had already verbally agreed to what he wanted, so going back on his word now would undoubtedly be a breach of trust and could very likely have a significant impact on Cheng Yuande.

Cheng Yuande himself couldn't possibly be unaware of the pros and cons, yet he still prioritized selling to himself. Who would believe there wasn't something fishy going on?

"What do I need to give in return?" Qi Yu asked.

Cheng Yuande said, "I want to see my daughter!"

Qi Yu was speechless. See her?

But didn't she get married?

"I remember that after I got married, Miss Cheng got married, didn't she?" Qi Yu said.

Not long after I married Su Yue, Miss Cheng also got married. Is it appropriate for me to go see her?

Although there was nothing between the two of them, and they had only met once at most, it was still somewhat awkward because of the fact that he wanted to be his son-in-law.

Cheng Yuande said calmly, "Just tell me if it's okay or not."

Qi Yu thought for a moment and nodded. She was already married, so what did he have to be afraid of?

……

But when Qi Yu saw Cheng Yuande's daughter, he didn't know what to say.

The once gentle and elegant young lady was now sitting in the courtyard, her eyes somewhat vacant, looking rather foolish.

Qi Yu was very familiar with this situation!

Because in my past life, there were people with this condition in a mental hospital, and their condition was somewhat similar to my mother's.

"What's wrong, Miss Cheng?" Qi Yu asked.

Master Cheng sighed and said, "After Xin'er got married, she finally had a child, but she miscarried unexpectedly. Then she was divorced by her husband's family. Coupled with the blow of losing the child, her mind began to become unclear."

Qi Yu lowered his eyelids slightly, looking at the woman sitting in the courtyard with eyes full of sympathy.

"Master Cheng, why did you call me here..." Qi Yu asked, puzzled.

Cheng Yuande sighed and said, "Xin'er used to admire you very much, so I think it's you who can bring Xin'er back to her senses."

Qi Yu sighed, nodded, and then walked towards the woman sitting alone.

Qi Yu wasn't very familiar with her; in fact, they had only met once.

When Qi Yu approached Cheng Xin, he bowed respectfully, but Cheng Xin remained motionless, her eyes still devoid of light.

"Miss Cheng, do you still remember me?" Qi Yu asked.

Cheng Xin's empty eyes flickered, glancing at Qi Yu, but she still showed no reaction. She then looked up at the sky.

"Miss Cheng, are you missing your child?" Qi Yu asked.

Cheng Xin's empty eyes regained a little consciousness, and she finally looked at Qi Yu.

Qi Yu sighed. Losing her child and being abandoned by her husband was undoubtedly a huge blow to a woman, even like the end of the world.

“Miss Cheng, I run a private school with many innocent and kind children. If you’d like, you can come find me and I’ll hire you as a teacher to instruct those children!”

After Qi Yu finished speaking, he bowed to Cheng Xin again, then turned and left.

A heart ailment requires a heart remedy; he was merely a fleeting infatuation Cheng Xin experienced in her youth, and his importance was far less than Cheng Yuande imagined.

……

As Qi Yu walked out of the Cheng residence, he sighed helplessly.

Although they had only met once, Qi Yu had a deep impression of Cheng Xin.

Because she was a gentle, kind, and well-educated young lady from a respectable family, and her gentle nature gave people a warm and approachable feeling.

If I hadn't met Su Yue, I might actually have married her.

However, life doesn't offer "what ifs." I'm very fortunate to have met Su Yue, and I can only express my deepest sympathy for Cheng Xin's plight.

Everyone has their own choices and their own life!

Cheng Xin isn't crazy; she's just trapped in her inner demons and can't get out.

In her case, the best treatment would actually be to go out and move around more.

Qi Yu wanted to help her, hoping she would listen to his advice and come to him.

I will definitely hire her as a teacher!

There was no precedent for women teaching in the world, so I will set that precedent myself.

Women were forbidden from attending school? Was a woman's virtue defined by her lack of talent?

This is what is called etiquette and law!

What utter nonsense about etiquette!