Chapter 802 The More the Merrier That evening, Lu Qingyang was working on his abacus under the lamp, calculating over and over again in several thick ledgers.

Finally, he leaned back, picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip, a smile involuntarily curving his lips.

After all these years of ups and downs, running a restaurant in Beijing, a pharmaceutical factory in the south, and also having a clothing business and those "technical collaborations" that are hard to talk about, the savings he has accumulated, after deducting all expenses and reinvestment, are probably around a million.

This number, if placed in 1981, would be so heavy it would practically smash through the floor.

His mind immediately started racing: With so much money, it's not good to keep it sitting on the books forever.

In a few years, money will become less and less valuable.

His gaze naturally fell on the house.

The next day, he first went to see Fang Zhongwen, but didn't mention the amount of money directly. He just smiled and said:

“Dad, I’ve been thinking that our family is growing bigger and bigger, and the children are growing up day by day. Although this house is big enough, it’s still a bit cramped. I’m thinking that we should take advantage of the current policy relaxation and see if there are any suitable yards to buy one or two more. Even if we don’t live in them, they’ll still be a part of our assets.”

Fang Zhongwen, a man who had weathered many storms, understood immediately. He pondered, "Yes, that makes sense. Only with a stable home can one have a fulfilling life. Having one's own property brings peace of mind."

Ma Hongxia and Liu Dong had just emptied their savings to buy a courtyard house in a Beijing hutong, so there was no need to remind them. However, he had to remind the others to buy as soon as possible.

On this week, Zhao Rui came to the store to find Xiao Hua. The two talked in the courtyard, their eyes filled with undisguised sweetness.

Seeing that the time was right, Lu Qingyang strolled over and pulled Zhao Rui to sit down on a stone bench.

"Given your situation with Xiaohua, I think it's pretty much a done deal. Any plans for the next step?"

Zhao Rui smiled a little embarrassedly: "What's the big deal? Once I get a job, the company should provide me with a house, right? I'll take care of things then."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyang shook his head: "A company-provided apartment? Hey, you'd better be prepared to wait in line for three to five years. And when you finally get one, it might just be a single room in a cramped apartment building with some kind of orientation and location. Would you really want Xiaohua to squeeze into that pigeonhole with you then?"

Zhao Rui scratched his slightly messy black hair and muttered, "That's because...everyone does it this way, as long as you have a place to live, that's enough."

“Look at you, Zhao Rui. You’re a top student from Beijing University, you need to be more resourceful. Don’t you want to come home from get off work and have your own yard with Xiaohua to sunbathe and grow some flowers and plants? Don’t you want your kids to have a place to run around and play, instead of having to share a communal kitchen and toilet with several other families? Don’t you want to live a more comfortable and carefree life than other families?”

His series of "Do you want to or not?" were like a small hammer striking Zhao Rui's heart.

Zhao Rui subconsciously imagined the scene, his eyes lighting up, and blurted out: "Of course I want to! Who doesn't want to live a good life? But, at worst, I can still live with my parents."

As soon as Zhao Rui said this, Lu Qingyang looked at him as if he were a blockhead who couldn't see the light.

He almost choked on the water, and, feeling both annoyed and amused, he pointed at Zhao Rui twice.

"My dear Zhao, you've really gone stupid from studying so much!"

Lu Qingyang's tone was undisguisedly sarcastic, "Still living with your parents? You're happy with it, and Xiaohua is happy with it too, right? You're not even married into the family yet, and you're already thinking about taking your family and sponging off your parents? Your mindset is a bit problematic."

He leaned closer, counting on his fingers to calculate for him, but every word he said hit the nail on the head: "You count on your fingers again, are the current house prices relatively cheap? A small courtyard house in a slightly out-of-the-way location is only worth a few years' worth of your family's savings. And look at the whole of Beijing, aren't there more and more people? Isn't there only so much land? In the future, let me tell you, these bricks and tiles will be worth more than all those blueprints in your current laboratory!"

Seeing Zhao Rui's still somewhat bewildered face, he bluntly stated, "If you buy now, you're building a home, giving Xiaohua a stable place to live. Even if the company does provide housing in the future, this yard can be rented out, and it'll be a golden goose! You'll have income even if you're just lying around. This means you have a way out, understand?"

"I've explained everything clearly to you. Go back and discuss it thoroughly with your parents, explaining all the details to them. This opportunity won't wait for anyone. Don't wait until the price skyrockets in a couple of years and then regret it. Don't blame me for not warning you today."

Zhao Rui was completely sobered up by Lu Qingyang's combination of beatings, scolding, and lavish descriptions of a lucrative future.

"Understood, Qingyang! I'll go back tonight and discuss it with my parents."

With Lu Qingyang's invaluable advice in mind, Zhao Rui strode home.

During dinner, as he rummaged through the rice in his bowl, he seized a moment when his mother was in a good mood and casually mentioned, "Mom, Qingyang told me something today that was quite interesting."

"Oh? What new ideas does Qingyang have now?" Zhao's mother asked casually, picking up a piece of food with her chopsticks.

Zhao Rui then recounted Lu Qingyang's profound insights on buying and owning property as faithfully as possible.

At first, Zhao's mother listened, but then her chopsticks slowed down, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were calculating something in her mind.

After Zhao Rui finished speaking, she did not immediately express her opinion, but instead murmured thoughtfully, "Qingyang is a quick-witted child. He often sees things several steps further ahead than others."

She put down her chopsticks and looked at Zhao, who had been silent all along. "Old man, what do you think? This matter sounds a bit far-fetched, but upon closer inspection, it seems to make some sense."

After a long pause, Zhao slowly began, "That kid from the Fang family is a shrewd one. Since he said that to Xiao Rui, he must have his reasons."

He turned to Zhao Rui, "He said houses are cheap now, like they're free?"

“That’s what he said!” Zhao Rui nodded quickly. “He also said that prices will definitely go up in the future, since there are so many people.”

Zhao's mother took over the conversation and began to calculate the details: "Over the years, your father and I have saved up some money from our salaries, plus the little bit left by your grandparents. We were originally planning to use it to help you get married once you had a stable job."

"If I were to use the money to buy a house... if it were really like Qingyang said, where I could not only live in it but also rent it out to generate income, that would be better than leaving it in a credit union. Even if the price doesn't rise, having a tangible property in my own hands would give me peace of mind."

The elderly couple looked at each other and exchanged glances for a moment.

Zhao is a researcher and isn't usually interested in these things. "If that's what you think, then it's settled. Don't look at me; your mother manages the money at home."