Chapter 252 Money Should Be Used Where It Matters

It is not difficult to rent a room. Just find someone who is familiar with the place and spend some money as a gift of cigarettes and alcohol, and you can always arrange a room for you.

But in the long run, renting a house is not a long-term solution.

The rent is rising every year, but you still don’t have any sense of status even if you live here for a lifetime.

Buying a house is different. Only when you hold the house in your own hands can you truly feel that you have settled down.

Xiao Zhiyu obviously thought so too.

He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a pack of brand new "Daqianmen" cigarettes, took out one and handed it to the old man who was smoking.

"Uncle, please help us think of a solution. We really want to settle down here."

When the old man saw the cigarette, his half-closed eyes brightened up instantly.

He slowly took the cigarette and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Oh, you're a sensible young man! There aren't many honest young people like you these days."

He took a puff of his cigarette and stopped hiding it.

“There’s actually one that can be sold.”

He paused, his tone a little mysterious.

"But... let me warn you, the price they ask is quite high! If you're looking for a bargain, forget it."

"Whose house? Uncle, please tell me!"

Ruan Chuxia's eyes immediately lit up and she leaned forward unconsciously.

She doesn't worry about money.

In the past two years, she has saved a lot of money by trading skin care products.

In addition, she has always been frugal, so she has enough money.

It’s barely enough to buy an apartment.

If it really doesn't work, there's still Xiao Zhiyu to support me.

The old man smiled and lightly tapped the ash from the cigarette butt on his fingertips.

"The Zheng family. Their house is not public property. It is private property passed down from their ancestors."

"That place has a good location. There are two bungalows with a small courtyard. There is also an old jujube tree on the wall, which can block out half the sky in the summer."

"Ouch!"

An old lady next to me slapped her thigh loudly.

"That house was bought by Old Zheng's father at great cost. During the land reform, he was nearly labeled a landlord, and he managed to keep it by working in the mines for over a decade! He's a spendthrift, and he's willing to sell it?"

The old man snorted twice with a look of disdain.

"What can we do if he doesn't sell it? He gambled away all the money left by his ancestors. He's lost his money, his wife ran away, and he doesn't know where his children are. He's also in debt and people are knocking on his door every day demanding payment. Even if I leave the house to him, he can't keep it! If he doesn't sell it now, I'm afraid even his bedding will be taken away."

This is absolutely true.

Everyone in the neighborhood knew that Lao Zheng was a notorious gambler.

He was quite honest when he was young, but after he got involved in Pai Gow, he couldn't get away from it.

Not only did he lose everything, but he also owed a huge foreign debt.

The wife couldn't stand it anymore, so she took the children and ran away overnight without even moving their household registration.

Now he is huddled alone in that old house. How can it feel like home at all?

Now that someone has come to buy his house, he must be very happy about it.

After hearing this, Xiao Zhiyu's brows relaxed slightly.

"Uncle, you just said the price is not cheap, so how much does Lao Zheng want?"

The old man took the cigarette and spread his hands without hiding it.

"That house is worth seven hundred dollars at most. It's in a great location, but it's old, the roof leaks, and the walls are peeling. Renovating it would cost hundreds. But he asked for a thousand!"

In that era, the average worker earned only about 30 yuan a month.

If a family of three can save five dollars, they are considered wealthy.

But for Ruan Chuxia, it was not a serious injury.

She has been selling skin care products for the past two years, and with the private money she saved before, she has nearly 800 yuan in her hands.

Xiao Zhiyu also had more than 400 yuan in savings.

The total money for the two of them is about fifteen hundred, which is barely enough to buy a house.

"The price is a bit high."

Ruan Chuxia bit her lip.

"But we want to talk to Lao Zheng in person. When it comes to houses, you can't just listen to what others say. We have to see it with our own eyes and then negotiate the price in person. Uncle, can you take us there?"

This matter concerns her future life, and she can't make a decision on impulse.

Buying a house is a big deal, and every step must be taken with caution.

She secretly surveyed her surroundings while weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

She would never nod her head rashly just because someone introduced her or for someone else's sake.

Her money was hard-earned, so she had to spend it wisely.

The old man didn't say much, he slowly stood up and walked in front to lead the way.

He is old and walks slowly but steadily.

This calm attitude is actually reassuring.

Lao Zheng lives at the back of the alley.

A two-story building with its own entrance and yard.

The Zheng family’s small building is hidden behind several old trees.

It doesn’t look very impressive from the outside, but it has a sense of tranquility that comes from the passage of time.

Although it is a bit shabby, you can tell at a glance that it was once a respectable family.

The glass of one window was broken and was barely patched together with cardboard.

But even so, the layout of the entire building is still regular.

Although the stone lions at the door are severely weathered, there are still blurred seal characters engraved on the base.

These details tell visitors: this house once carried the glory and dignity of a family.

The old man walked forward and knocked on the door twice.

After a while, the door opened and a man with a yellow face walked out.

The moment he opened the door, he subconsciously narrowed his eyes.

Seeing that it was the old man, he was startled: "Brother Wang? Why are you here?"

There was surprise and even a hint of panic in his tone.

Obviously, he didn't expect Old Man Wang to come to his house suddenly, let alone bring an outsider with him.

He subconsciously glanced behind him.

But soon, he forced himself to calm down and tried to force a smile.

"A rare guest, please come in."

The old man stepped aside, revealing Ruan Chuxia and Xiao Zhiyu standing behind him.

It was obvious that these two people were not ordinary buyers looking at a house.

One is capable and elegant, the other is calm and reserved, and it is obvious that they came well prepared.

"Are you still selling this house? I've brought you a big buyer."

Old man Wang's voice was not loud, but every word he said was powerful.

When he said this, his tone was calm, but it carried an invisible pressure.

He didn't even wait for Lao Zheng to answer, as if whether to sell or not was not something the other party could decide.

This is not only trust, but also a tacit rule.

The guests brought by Brother Wang are the ones who should be valued the most.

He stepped over the threshold without hesitation.

Ruan Chuxia and Xiao Zhiyu looked at each other and then followed.

Seeing this, Lao Zheng quietly stepped aside.

He knew Brother Wang's temper, and also knew that not many people would come to look at houses seriously these days.

Instead of procrastinating, it is better to go with the flow.

He stepped aside to make way for the door and watched the three people walk into the yard quietly.

As soon as she entered the door, Ruan Chuxia could see that the yard had been in disrepair for a long time.

As soon as she stepped into the threshold, her eyes swept around.

The whole yard seemed to be forgotten by time, and even the wind was too lazy to visit.

The place is not small, but it is covered in dust and no one cleans it.

Xiao Zhiyu glanced at the courtyard wall.

He walked forward, pushed it, and then knocked on it with his knuckles.

He first stood at the top of the yard, his eyes sweeping along the courtyard wall.

He approached the west wall, reached out and pushed hard at the corner, but the wall did not move at all.

Then he tapped the wall lightly with his knuckles, the sound solid.

He squatted down and carefully examined the foundation of the wall.

Although damp, there was no noticeable settling or tilting.