Chapter 119 Dowry

It was lunchtime, and Uncle San didn't want to trouble his in-laws, so he asked Jiang Si to find a long-established state-run restaurant.

After lunch, Huo Tingzhou was about to take them back to Xishan Compound to rest.

My third uncle suddenly gave me an address.

"Xiao Huo, you've dropped us off here. We won't be staying at the Xishan Compound for the next few days."

Huo Tingzhou thought the old man was afraid of getting into trouble by entering the military region.

"Third Uncle, the gatekeepers have already informed you, so your comings and goings won't be affected these next few days."

"How about we go stay at Xishan Compound? It would be more convenient that way."

"No need, no need, I've already spoken to them," said Uncle San.

Jiang Si knew that her third uncle had a wide network of connections, so since he had said so, she would just let him be.

Moreover, the address that Uncle San announced is also in Xicheng District, just one street away from the Huo family's old residence, so living here is quite convenient.

However, when they arrived at their destination, Jiang Si was still slightly surprised.

She originally thought that the house her third uncle was staying in was a small bungalow or a house in a family compound, but she didn't expect it to be a courtyard house.

After glancing at it a few times, Jiang Si looked away.

She didn't let Huo Tingzhou take her there, even though it was only a short distance; instead, she arranged a job for him.

"When you get back, help me pack a few outfits, and don't forget the things on the dressing table."

"Oh, and there's a suitcase in the wardrobe. Bring it to me as well."

Huo Tingzhou had no idea what was inside the suitcase, which had a combination lock.

If she needs anything, she can just take it from her spatial storage.

Third Uncle was about to say that it didn't need to be so complicated.

You can find anything here.

But thinking about the surprise he was going to give the little girl later, he held back from saying anything.

The two had been together every day during this period, and Huo Tingzhou was still a little unaccustomed to being separated for a few days.

However, the couple cannot meet the day before the wedding, which is a customary practice among the older generation.

Huo Tingzhou could only keep it to himself, no matter how reluctant he was.

"Then you guys go in and rest for a while. I'll bring your things over later after I've packed them up."

Jiang Si nodded, and only looked away after Huo Tingzhou's car had left the alley.

At this moment, Uncle Zhong had already opened the gate of the courtyard house.

Just as the group was about to carry their luggage inside, a loudspeaker suddenly sounded behind them.

Shortly after, two Jiefang brand trucks pulled over to the side of the road.

The car door opened, and more than a dozen burly men stepped out.

Jiang Si was stunned when she saw the person in the lead.

This person was none other than the branch leader who had helped capture Master Yan last time.

Seeing that Jiang Si was staring at him, Ninth Master smiled and made a joke.

"What, little girl, don't you remember me?"

"Ninth Master is too kind. How could I not remember you? I owe you a lot for your help last time."

Upon hearing this, Ninth Master laughed even louder, "It's nothing, it's nothing. We're all family. Don't be so polite next time."

After saying that, he quickly bowed to his third uncle with a deep salute befitting a member of the gang.

The ceremony was only halfway through when Third Uncle glared at him and stopped her.

"You're on the street, so watch out. It's fine if you bother me, but don't bother my Si girl."

"Alright, alright, stop standing around outside and come in to talk."

"Okay, okay."

Ninth Master happily agreed and then turned to give instructions to his men.

"Be careful when lifting things, so you don't bump or knock them over."

As soon as Ninth Master finished speaking, the people who got off the truck with him quickly climbed into the back of the truck and removed the tarpaulin covering the truck bed.

Jiang Si was completely stunned when she saw what was in the truck bed.

"Third Uncle, these things..."

"These things are the dowry I prepared for you."

As he spoke, Uncle San pulled the man towards the courtyard.

"Let them move their things first. Come over and take a look at this yard. What do you think? Do you like it?"

What does that mean?

What does this courtyard mean? Does she like it?

"Third Uncle, you didn't actually buy this courtyard, did you?"

Third Uncle raised his voice.

“Didn’t you say before that Xiao Huo would be transferred back to Beijing in a few years? So I picked out a two-courtyard house for you.”

"It's not far from the Huo family's old residence, so it's convenient for you to go back there regularly."

"When we have children in the future, we'll have more space to live here."

Uncle San was quite satisfied with the location and the condition of the house; the only drawback was that the second courtyard was too small.

It's not even as big as the Jiang family's garden!

"Ninth Brother, go and look around again, see if there are any three-courtyard houses nearby."

"this……"

Everything else was easy to handle, but this one thing really stumped Ninth Master.

"Third Uncle, please don't make things difficult for Ninth Master."

Jiang Si has been in Beijing for some time now and is fairly familiar with some of the city's policies.

Seeing that his third uncle looked puzzled, he gave him a simple explanation.

"Third Uncle, Beijing is different from Shanghai. They implemented a private housing renovation policy here in 1958."

"Private house renovation?"

"Yes, if a house has more than 15 rooms or the total area of ​​the houses exceeds 225 square meters, it must be handed over to the housing management bureau for unified state rental."

Renting it out is still better, since most of the houses have been confiscated.

This third uncle really didn't know that although Shanghai has similar policies, they are not as strict.

Jiang Si added, "The East and West districts are already overpopulated with fewer houses. Ninth Master must have put in a lot of effort to find such a good house in such a short time."

"You see, you have to bribe the housing management bureau, and you also have to bribe the tenants in this courtyard, and there are things like changing the property certificates. Spending money is a small matter, the key is that you have to have the connections."

After listening, Third Uncle glanced at Ninth Master and asked, "Is that what she said?"

After hesitating for a moment, Ninth Master finally nodded.

"This is difficult. Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Ah Zhong, when you settle the bill later, please include all of these in his account."

Upon hearing this, Ninth Master quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no... This really didn't cost much money, just consider it our way of showing our respect to you."

"One thing at a time."

Third Uncle was quite straightforward; when it came to property certificates, he had something on his mind.

"Ninth Brother, have all the paperwork for this house been completed? I hope there won't be any problems?"

"No, no, there are no problems with the house's paperwork."

Ninth Master hurriedly took out a stack of documents from his bag.

"This is the house transfer contract. The previous owner and all the tenants have signed and put their fingerprints on it."

"We've already made arrangements with the real estate bureau. Miss Si can just go and complete the transfer procedures when she has time."

These days, houses aren't allowed to be bought and sold privately, but there are always ways to circumvent the rules.

As long as the money and connections are there, there's nothing that can't be accomplished.

What's that stack of things underneath?

“That’s a new tenant contract. Don’t worry, we just used acquaintances to put the names on the leases. They don’t usually come over.”

Ninth Master explained, "We have no choice but to do it this way, otherwise people from above will keep trying to get in."

Just looking at this thick stack of paperwork, you can tell how difficult it is to buy a house.

Seeing this, the Third Uncle rarely praised him, saying, "Ninth Brother, you've got a kind heart."

"What you're saying is absolutely right. Miss Sisi's wedding is a joyous occasion."

Ninth Master smiled and handed over another list.

"This is Miss Si Si's dowry list. Please take a look."

The third uncle didn't take it, but gestured for him to hand it to Jiang Si.

"These are all prepared for you. Is there anything else you need?"

Jiang Si reluctantly took it and glanced at it.

It's called a list, but it's more like a small notebook.

Because there were so many things, Ninth Master thoughtfully categorized them.

There is furniture, home appliances, clothing for all seasons, daily necessities, bedding and textiles...

Jiang Si casually flipped through a few pages, and almost every category had a long list of things written under it.

No wonder they loaded two trucks today.

"Third Uncle, you've prepared way too much!"

"What do you mean by too much? This is less than a fraction of what your mother bought when she got married. It's just that in this day and age... Never mind, let's not talk about this."

Third Uncle waved his hand, as if he had remembered something.

"Ninth Brother, how's the matter I asked you to handle a few days ago?"

"Don't worry, sir."

Ninth Master nodded, his expression extremely serious, and then clapped his hands vigorously.

"Come, come, all of you, come here."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so men who had been deftly moving things just moments before all stood in a row.

Before Jiang Si could figure out what was going on, Ninth Master was already looking over with a smile.

"Miss Sisi, you can choose for yourself."

Choose whichever one you like!