Chapter 27: Dinner for Three Siblings

Chapter Twenty-SevenDinner for Three Siblings

Truly sharp…

Klein laughed aloud. Drawing upon his rich “experience” from before transmigration, he joined the attack with another line.

“In fact, there is no evidence whatsoever proving those great personages have brains.”

“Good! Very good!”

Benson burst into laughter and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Klein, you have become much more humorous than before.”

After catching his breath, he continued, “I still have to go to the docks this afternoon. I can rest only tomorrow. When that comes, mm… we can go together to the Tingen City Improved Housing Company and see whether they have any cheap but decent row houses for rent. Also, before that, we must visit Mr. Franky.”

“The landlord?” Klein asked in puzzlement.

Could their current landlord own row houses in decent neighborhoods?

Benson glanced at his younger brother and said in amused disbelief, “You have not forgotten that we have a one-year rental contract, have you? Only six months have passed.”

“Hiss…”

Klein drew in a sharp breath.

He truly had forgotten!

Although rent was paid weekly, the tenancy lasted an entire year. Moving now would count as a breach of contract. If they were sued, they would have to pay quite a lot of compensation.

“You still lack enough social experience,” Benson said with feeling, rubbing his retreating hairline. “And that was a clause I fought very hard for back then. Otherwise, Mr. Franky was only willing to sign three months at a time. For the wealthy, landlords rent directly for one year, two years, even three, seeking stability. But for us—for the old us, and for our neighbors—the landlords are always afraid someone will meet with an accident and fail to pay rent, so they prefer short-term contracts.”

“And that way, they can raise prices whenever circumstances allow,” Klein added, combining the original owner’s memory fragments with his own rental experience.

Benson sighed.

“That is the truth and cruelty of society today. All right, you do not need to worry. The matter of the contract is easy to resolve. Frankly speaking, if we delay rent by even one week, Mr. Franky will immediately throw us out and seize anything valuable. After all, his intelligence is inferior to that of a curly-haired baboon, and he cannot distinguish anything too complicated.”

Hearing this, Klein abruptly remembered a certain Sir Humphrey joke. He shook his head seriously.

“No, Benson. You are wrong.”

“Why?” Benson asked, baffled.

“Mr. Franky’s intelligence is still a little higher than that of a curly-haired baboon.”

Klein answered solemnly. Just as Benson’s smile began to show that he understood, Klein added, “When he is in good condition.”

“Haha!”

Benson lost control of his reaction.

After laughing for a while, he pointed at Klein and could not find a suitable way to phrase his response. He could only return to the main topic.

“Of course, as gentlemen, we will not use such a shameless method. Tomorrow we will go directly and communicate with Mr. Franky. Believe me, he is very easy to persuade. Very easy.”

On that point, Klein had no doubt at all. The existence of the gas pipeline was the strongest proof.

The two brothers chatted idly for a while. They put the small amount of pan-fried meat fish left from the previous night into the vegetable stew, and while reheating everything, used the steam to soften the rye bread.

Spreading a little cream onto the bread, Klein and Benson made do with a simple meal. Even so, they ate with considerable satisfaction. After all, the milky fragrance and sweetness lingered in a way one could not forget.

After Benson left, Klein took three soli in notes and some loose copper pennies, then went to the Lettuce and Meat Market. He spent six pence on one pound of beef, seven pence on a large Tussock fish with tender flesh and few bones, and also bought potatoes, peas, white radishes, rhubarb, lettuce, turnips, rosemary, basil, cumin, cooking oil, and other things.

During the…