The steel rolling mill was the largest state-owned factory in the province, and its staff quarters were also the largest in the province.

Chen Qingshu's home is in Building 19, on the fifth floor, a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment, 80 square meters.

"Old Chen, do you live alone?" Wang Peng asked.

Chen Qingshu pointed to the building behind him through the window, "I'm an only child, and my parents live on the fourth floor of that building."

"How much are the houses here?" Wang Peng asked again.

Chen Qingshu thought about it carefully.

“This is a staff and family compound. The ownership of the houses belongs to the steel rolling mill. We only have the right to use them, and in principle, they cannot be sold.”

"But the world has changed now, and the family compound has become private property."

"My parents bought this house last year for 40,000 yuan."

His father was a steel mill worker, and the original owner of the house was also a steel mill worker. It's all gone to America.

Wang Peng shook his head after hearing this.

Buying a house here for 40,000 yuan is not worthwhile, mainly due to the issue of property rights. It would be better to buy a future commercial property.

“I’ll sleep at my house tonight, and you siblings can stay here,” Chen Qingshu said. “I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.”

"No need," Wang Peng refused directly. "Our school rarely gives us a holiday, you should go and spend time with your parents."

Chen Qingshu checked his watch; it was already 5 p.m. So he gave the siblings a brief introduction to the layout of the house before heading home to visit his parents.

It has two bedrooms and two living rooms.

If he lives here, the siblings can only sleep in one room, or Wang Peng can sleep in the living room.

"Pengdi, it's so warm here." Li Fang took off her thick coat and walked to the radiator.

"It's so hot." She placed her hand on the radiator. "Is there hot water in here?"

Wang Peng nodded, "Sister Fang, don't be envious. When I make a lot of money in business, we'll buy a house in the provincial capital too."

“We don’t need to wait that long,” Li Fang said with a smile. “When Xiaowangzhuang is demolished, the government will compensate you with two houses. We only need one, and we can sell the other one and then buy one in the provincial capital.”

At this point, Li Fang shook her head, "Let's talk about it after you get into university. We'll buy a house wherever you go to university."

Wang Peng laughed and said, "Sister Fang, on the day you get married, I'll give you a house as your dowry."

"Nonsense." Li Fang blushed immediately. "You rest for a while, I'll go buy groceries and cook."

"Stop cooking, there's no fire going in here, let's go out to eat," Wang Peng said.

He went to the kitchen just now and found that the coal stove was cold and there were no cooking utensils in the kitchen.

Therefore, Chen Qingshu did not cook at home.

...

Building No. 20, fourth floor.

Chen Qingshu knocked on the door and returned home.

"Qingshu, why are you back so soon this time?" Liu Yili took her son's luggage. "Xiaoqing and your aunt are here."

“The student’s parent came to the provincial capital on business, and I hitched a ride with him,” Chen Qingshu said.

"Auntie, Xiao Qing, you're here." Chen Qingshu changed into slippers and walked into the living room.

"Qingshu, find a way to return to the provincial capital as soon as possible," said Zhang Chunhua, a middle-aged woman. "You can't just come back once a month; that won't work in the future."

Zhang Xiaoqing immediately said, "Ping'an County is very poor. I don't want to live in a poor mountain village with you in the future."

"I'm trying to figure something out." Chen Qingshu sat on the sofa watching TV. "You know, personnel transfers aren't easy."

Zhang Xiaoqing is his fiancée and childhood sweetheart. Their fathers were old comrades-in-arms and colleagues at the steel rolling mill.

She is twenty-five years old, dressed in denim, with very pretty features and slightly curly hair.

Chen Qingshu was six years older than her, so they should have been married long ago.

The Chen family had discussed the marriage several times, but Zhang Xiaoqing refused each time, because Chen Qingshu did not meet her expectations.

She made many demands, the first of which was to buy a house; she wouldn't get married unless she bought a house.

The Chen family had no choice but to borrow money from all over the place and grit their teeth to buy a house.

"Qingshu, are you serious about this?" Zhang Xiaoqing questioned. "I am serious. I can't go to Ping'an County with you."

"Don't worry, Xiao Qing," Liu Yili said with a smile. "Your uncle and I have asked around at all the junior high and high schools in the provincial capital, and there's no shortage of teachers for the time being."

“Sister-in-law, my husband Lao Zhang is friends with the principal of Experimental Middle School,” Zhang Chunhua said. “As long as the money is right, we can transfer Qingshu to Experimental Middle School.”

Liu Yili looked troubled. "Sister-in-law, Principal Li is asking for too much. My family just bought a house for Qingshu, which used up all our savings. We really can't come up with five thousand yuan."

"That's why I said don't rush. Old Chen and Qing Shu receive salaries every month, and they'll be able to save up five thousand slowly."

"Old Chen's idea is to get the two children married first, and then save up money to transfer Qingshu to the Provincial Experimental High School."

At this point, Liu Yili smiled obsequiously, "The kids aren't young anymore; Qing Shu is thirty-one this year."

Zhang Chunhua looked disdainful. "No way. Xiaoqing is my only daughter. I will never let her go to that godforsaken place, Ping'an County."

"Sister-in-law, I didn't say that Xiaoqing should go to Ping'an County." Liu Yili smiled apologetically. "After the wedding, Xiaoqing will live in the new house, and Qingshu will go to Ping'an County to teach. We'll find a way to transfer him to the provincial capital as soon as possible."

...

The mother and the future mother-in-law began to bargain.

It's like this every month.

Chen Qingshu stared at the TV commercials, but couldn't focus on a single scene. He felt utterly exhausted.

I only get two days off each month, and after a tiring train or bus ride home, I still have to listen to them arguing.

He and Zhang Xiaoqing had been engaged for four years, but Zhang Xiaoqing's demands kept increasing, and the wedding was being postponed again and again, which annoyed him.

After an unknown amount of time, the endless argument finally stopped.

Chen Qingshu snapped out of her daze and realized that all three women were staring at her.

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