Chapter 24: Frugality in Managing the Household

Chapter 24: Frugal Household Management

The golden afterglow outside the window faded into darkness. Klein looked into Melissa's eyes, momentarily speechless, as all his prepared lines proved useless.

He cleared his throat twice and thought quickly

"Melissa, this isn't about wasting salary. When Benson and my colleagues come to visit in the future, are we supposed to entertain them in a place like this? When Benson and I get married and I have a wife, are we going to use bunk beds?"

"Don't you both still lack fiancées? You can wait a bit longer and save more money," Melissa said with clear logic.

"No, Melissa, this is the rule of society." Klein felt quite a headache and could only resort to grand principles. "Since I earn a weekly salary of 3 pounds, I must have the decency that matches a 3-pound weekly salary."

To be honest, having once squeezed into shared rental rooms, he was not unfamiliar with current living conditions and had fully adapted to them. But it was precisely because of that experience that he understood more deeply the inconveniences such environments caused for girls. Furthermore, his goal was to become a Beyonder and study mysticism; he would inevitably need to perform magic rituals at home in the future. An apartment with many people and gossip would easily lead to problems.

Seeing that Melissa wanted to say more, Klein quickly added

"Don't worry, I'm not considering a detached house; I plan to look for a terraced house. In short, we must have our own bathroom. Also, I like Mrs. Slane's bread, Tingen biscuits, and lemon cake. We can first consider places close to Iron Cross Street and Narcissus Street."

Melissa pursed her lips slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then gave a slow nod.

"Besides, I'm in no hurry to move. I have to wait for Benson to return," Klein smiled and said. "Otherwise, when he opens the door, he'll be shocked and bewildered, saying, 'Where are my things? Where are my siblings? Where is my home? Is this even my home? Did I go to the wrong place? Goddess, please tell me if this is a dream! How can I go out for a few days and come back to find I don't even have a home anymore!'"

He imitated Benson's tone, causing Melissa's eyes to curve involuntarily, revealing shallow dimples on her cheeks.

"No, Mr. Fraenkel will stay at the door and make Benson hand over the apartment keys. Benson won't be able to go upstairs at all," the girl teased the stingy and greedy landlord.

In the Moretti household, everyone loved to make Mr. Fraenkel the protagonist of jokes whenever they had free time; this trend had been started by the eldest brother, Benson.

"Right, he won't change the locks just for the next tenant." Klein smiled in agreement and pointed toward the door, saying jokingly, "Miss Melissa, shall we go to the Silver Crown Restaurant to celebrate?"

Melissa sighed softly and said

"Klein, do you know Selena? My classmate, my good friend."

Selena? An image of a girl with burgundy hair and deep brown eyes immediately surfaced in Klein's mind. Her parents were both believers of the Evernight Goddess, and she had been blessed with the name of Saint Selena. She was not yet sixteen, half a year younger than his sister Melissa, and was a happy, cheerful, and extroverted girl.

"Yes." Klein nodded to indicate he remembered Selena Wood.

"Her brother, Chris, is a solicitor. He currently earns nearly 3 pounds a week, and his fiancée works part-time as a typist." Melissa described the situation first before continuing, "They have been engaged for over four years. To ensure a stable and decent life after marriage, they are still saving money until today and haven't entered the church yet. They plan to wait at least another year. According to Selena, people similar to her brother are all like this; they usually can't marry until after age 28. You have to prepare in advance, save money well, and don't waste it."

*It's just going to go to a restaurant for a meal, is there a need for so much grand principle...* Klein didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "Melissa, I have a 3-pound weekly salary now, and it will increase every year in the future. You don't need to worry."

"But we need to save money to guard against accidents. For example, if that security company suddenly goes bankrupt. I have a classmate whose family situation deteriorated instantly because his father's company went bankrupt, forcing him to find temporary work at the docks, and he had to drop out of school." Melissa advised her brother with a serious expression.

...Klein reached out and covered his face

"That... that security company has some... well, some connection to the government. It won't go bankrupt easily."

"But the government isn't stable either. After every election, if there is a change in political parties, most positions will be replaced, and everything becomes a mess," Melissa countered persistently.

...*Sister, you really know a lot...* Klein shook his head, feeling both exasperated and amused

"Alright..."

"Then I'll stew the leftover ingredients from yesterday into a soup. You go to the street to buy a pan-fried fish, a piece of beef with black pepper sauce, a small jar of cream, and bring me a mug of ginger beer. In short, let's still celebrate a little."

These were all foods frequently sold by vendors on Iron Cross Street. A pan-fried fish was 6 to 8 pence, a piece of beef with black pepper sauce was 5 pence, a mug of ginger beer was 1 penny, and a small jar of cream was about a quarter pound, costing 4 pence—buying 1 pound of cream directly would only cost 1 shilling and 3 pence.

The original owner was responsible for purchasing the household ingredients every holiday and was not unfamiliar with prices. Klein calculated for a few seconds and concluded that he would need approximately 1 shilling and 6 pence, so he directly pulled out the two 1-shilling banknotes.

"Mm." To this, Melissa no longer objected. She put down her stationery bag and took the money.

Watching his sister take out the small jar for the cream and the basin for the other food, walking lightly toward the door, Klein thought for a moment and called out to her

"Melissa, use the remaining money to buy some fruit."

Many vendors on Iron Cross Street would purchase low-quality or long-stored fruit from elsewhere, and the people here were not angry about it because the prices were very cheap. As long as you cut off the rotten parts after returning home, you could enjoy the deliciousness; it could be considered a cheap luxury.

After saying this, Klein walked over quickly, pulled the remaining copper pennies from his trouser pocket, and placed them in his sister's palm.

"Huh?" Melissa's brown eyes looked at her brother with confusion and bewilderment.

Klein stepped back two paces and smiled slightly

"Remember to go to Mrs. Slane's and reward yourself with a small piece of lemon cake."

"..." Melissa's mouth opened slightly, her eyes blinked, and finally, she only uttered one word, "Okay."

She turned around quickly, pulled the door open, and ran down the stairs with a pitter-patter of footsteps.

…………

A river flowed through, with cypress and maple trees lining both banks, and the air was so fresh it felt intoxicating.

Having come to resolve the interview matter, Klein, carrying a revolver and holding a cane, stepped down from the public carriage for which he had paid 6 pence. He walked along the cement-paved road toward the three-story brick building nestled in greenery; that was the office building of Tingen University.

"As expected of one of the two most famous universities in the Loen Kingdom..." Klein, "visiting" for the first time, remarked to himself as he walked.

Compared to this, Hoy University on the opposite bank of the river could almost be described as crude.

"Hya! Hya!"

The shouts grew closer as two rowing boats rushed from upstream on the Hoy River, the wooden oars moving in an orderly and rhythmic fashion.

This was a popular rowing sport in all universities in the Loen Kingdom. Given Klein's background, where he would need scholarships to finish university, he had participated in the Hoy University rowing club along with Welch and others, and was quite a skilled rower.

"How young..." Klein paused to watch, letting out a sigh.

In another week, this situation would no longer exist because the school would be going on summer break.

Following the tree-lined road, he arrived in front of the gray three-story brick building. After registering, he successfully entered and familiarly found the office that had received him last time.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!* He tapped lightly on the half-closed door with his finger.

"Come in," a male voice came from inside.

Seeing Klein push the door open, the middle-aged instructor wearing a white shirt and a black tailcoat frowned slightly and said

"The interview is in one hour."

"Mr. Stone, do you remember me? Klein Moretti, the student of Senior Associate Professor Cohen. You have seen my recommendation letter," Klein said with a smile as he removed his hat.

Haven Stone rubbed his large black beard and asked in confusion

"Do you have something to discuss? I am not in charge of the interviews."

"It's like this: I have already found a job, so I won't be participating in the interview today," Klein stated his purpose truthfully.

"I see..." Haven Stone understood. He stood up and extended his right hand, saying, "Congratulations. You are a very polite young man. I will inform the Professor and the Senior Associate Professors."

Klein shook hands with him, intending to exchange a few pleasantries before taking his leave, but a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him

"Moretti, you found another job?"

Klein turned around and saw an elderly man with silver hair and deep features, but few wrinkles. His eye sockets were sunken, his eyes were deep blue, and his black tailcoat was crisp.

"Good morning, Mentor, Mr. Azik," he hurriedly saluted. "What are you doing here?"

This elderly man was precisely the Senior Associate Professor of the History Department at Hoy University, his mentor, Mr. Quentin Cohen. Beside Cohen was a middle-aged man of medium build with bronze skin. He held a newspaper, was clean-shaven, wore a bowler hat, and had black hair and brown eyes. His features were soft, his eyes exuded an indescribable sense of vicissitude, and there was a small black mole below his right ear that could only be seen upon close inspection.

Klein recognized him; he was Mr. Azik, a faculty member of the Hoy University History Department who often helped the original owner. He liked to argue with his mentor, Senior Associate Professor Cohen, and their viewpoints often conflicted; however, in reality, the two were very close friends, otherwise they wouldn't enjoy chatting together.

Cohen nodded and said in a calm tone

"Azik and I are here to attend an academic conference. What kind of job did you find?"

"A security company that does antique searching, collecting, and protection. They need professional consultants, paying 3 pounds a week." Klein repeated what he had told his sister yesterday, then explained, "As you know, I like exploring history rather than summarizing it."

Cohen nodded slightly and said

"Everyone has their own choices. I am very satisfied that you remembered to come to Tingen University to notify them instead of simply being absent."

At this time, Azik interjected and asked

"Klein, do you know what happened to Welch and Naya? I saw in the newspaper that they were murdered by burglars."

*The case turned into a burglary? And it's already in the newspaper?* Klein froze for a moment, then carefully chose his words

"I am not too clear on the specific details. Previously, Welch obtained a notebook from the Antigonus family of the Solomon Empire from the Fourth Epoch and asked me to help interpret it. I went to help for a few days, but then I got busy looking for work. The police even came to look for me a couple of days ago."

He deliberately revealed "Solomon Empire" and "Antigonus family" to see if the two history professors would know anything.

"The Fourth Epoch..." Cohen muttered with a frown.

The bronze-skinned Azik, with his weathered eyes, first froze, then took a breath and rubbed his temples with his left hand, which was holding the newspaper

"Antigonus... it feels very familiar... but I just can't remember where I've heard of it..."