After chatting for a few more minutes, Su He began planning how to decorate the house.

"Break down the two rooms, use the smaller one as a bedroom, and divide the larger one in the middle. Use one half as a living and dining room and the other half as a study, or put the study in the bedroom as well. That should be enough space. Use the remaining half to make another room for the children to live in later."

Lin Jingyan smiled when she mentioned the child and nodded, saying, "Okay!"

Su He felt a little embarrassed by his laughter, then pretended not to see it and quickly continued, "Open up a door behind the side room, add a wall, and use the extra space as a bathroom."

"Okay, don't worry, I'll arrange it."

After Su He finished planning, she looked at it carefully again. The only regret was that the space was too small to put a kitchen there.

After talking to Lin Jingyan, he said, "I've noticed that other houses have also added awnings outside their doors. Why don't we build a kitchen there too?"

When Su He came in, she also saw that each room in the second courtyard of the backyard had a corridor outside, which was now filled with covered sheds.

However, the corridor was too small, and adding a kitchen would definitely not be enough. Moreover, it was connected to the rooms, and the house was all made of wood, which was too dangerous. In addition, it would be inconvenient to light a fire and make smoke, so I quickly rejected the idea.

“Let’s build one like them, and use it as a warehouse. It’ll be good for storing coal in the winter.”

Lin Jingyan didn't object. "Okay, then let's get another small stove so we can cook simple meals at home from now on."

Su He didn't refuse either of them, saying "Okay."

After they had finished making arrangements, they finally opened the door and came out of the room.

After coming out, Su He observed the layout of the courtyard again and found that apart from the kitchen and water tap, there was no toilet. After asking, she learned that if she wanted to use the toilet, she had to go to the public toilet in the alley outside, which was very inconvenient.

However, many households sometimes prepare a chamber pot, so that the small ones can be used at night and emptied in the morning.

Su He was disappointed and sighed inwardly. It seemed she couldn't escape the fate of queuing for the toilet.

Why is it so hard to get a private bathroom?

...

Perhaps seeing them come out, the onlookers in the courtyard also gathered around.

Then a man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties walked over first.

"Are you Xiao Lin from the technical department? I'm an old man from our institute, and I welcome you on behalf of our institute."

Lin Jingyan smiled at him upon hearing this, "You must be Engineer Niu? I've heard a lot about Engineer Niu from our machinery factory. I never expected to be able to live with you. It's truly an honor."

Grandpa Niu laughed when he heard this, "Don't be so polite. It's fate that we live together. I'm the oldest man in our compound. If you need anything in the future, just come and talk to me."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Grandpa Niu warmly introduced him to the families currently living in the courtyard.

The first family to live in the main house is Grandpa Niu's family. Grandpa Niu is a level 7 fitter. The workers like them who rely on skills are different from Su He, who has an administrative rank, and Lin Jingyan, who has a technical rank. There are only eight levels in total. The higher the level, the higher the skill.

A level 7 fitter is already a very high-level senior technician, so it's normal for him to live in the main house.

The main house has two large rooms, which are considered the best rooms in the courtyard. However, currently, 11 members of Grandpa Niu's family live in it, so it must be very crowded.