Chapter 229 Rosewood Couch
Xia Juanjuan wanted to ask Xia Shuangshan to come over to eat, but Lin Yuru said, "Your father...went to another county to do bricklaying work early in the morning. He will probably not be home for several days."
Xia Juanjuan was stunned for a moment. Every time Xia Shuangshan went out to work, he was in the nearby commune. This time he went directly to another county?
"You're leaving the county? Why so suddenly? There was no prior notice."
"Hey..." Lin Yuru said with a forced smile, "He said there was a sudden job and the salary was not low, so he left early in the morning."
"Then did my dad bring enough money? For travel expenses and so on."
Lin Yuru said, "Well, we have enough money. Your brother sends us ten yuan every month. Your father and I are richer than any other family in the village now!"
Xia Juanjuan didn't think much about it. She thought that Lin Yuru was not feeling well today and was probably worried that Xia Shuangshan was going on a long trip, so she said, "Don't worry too much. He's grown up. He'll be fine."
After dinner, Lizhan packed up and set off.
Xia Juanjuan gave Lizhan the fresh flower cakes she made yesterday, as well as about seven or eight of them. Lizhan wanted to push them away, but Xia Juanjuan said, "You take them. I'll make some fresh ones for them in two days. We don't need them at home."
Li Zhan had to hold back.
He took one and tasted it, then asked in surprise, "Is this... a flower cake?"
Xia Juanjuan was stunned for a moment: "Do you know him?"
Li Zhan smiled and said, "I've eaten it before in Yun Province. There are a lot of flowers there, so they use flowers as stuffing. But wife, how do you know how to make this thing?"
Xia Juanjuan paused for a moment and quickly evaded the question, "This... didn't I go shopping by myself last time I went to Beijing? I saw people selling it in a department store, so I bought a piece to try. I thought it should be easy to make, so I tried it myself."
Li Zhan did not ask any further questions and said with a smile: "My wife is smart."
In addition to the flower cakes, they also brought some freshly baked scallion pancakes and a few peaches.
Xia Juanjuan rode her bicycle to send Li Zhan to town, and then returned reluctantly.
I didn't feel it when I came back. After the people left, I still felt empty inside.
But life goes on.
Li Zhan said he would be joining the army, which would be next year or the year after, so she had to hurry up and buy a courtyard house in Beijing.
Otherwise, once you really join the army, it’s not that you can’t use space teleportation to go to Beijing, but you have to be more careful about where you are stationed.
The next day, Xia Juanjuan told Lin Yuru that she was going to the county town and would probably be back in the evening.
Then, he went to Luo's house in the county town to pick a lot of peaches, and then he passed through space and teleported to the small courtyard in Jing City that he had rented before.
This small courtyard was not far from Liulichang Street, so Xia Juanjuan changed into the clothes she had bought in Beijing before.
She was wearing a floral dress with a slanting collar, which was common in rural areas. As soon as she went out, people would be able to tell that she was from another place, and they might even stop her and ask for a letter of introduction!
So, the last time she came to Beijing, she had already observed what people in the city were wearing and bought a set of clothes in a department store.
Now, after changing her clothes and tying her hair into a braid and bun, when she goes out, no one can tell that she is from the country!
Xia Juanjuan did not delay and went directly to the black market near Liulichang Street. She was mainly looking at the black market here, but she did not plan to sell supplies.
The title deeds of courtyard houses and other things cost thousands of yuan at a time, so it is impossible to give them to a stranger casually, so she still has to find a point of entry.
The only thing Xia Juanjuan could think of was the black market. However, if she really wanted to discuss the deal, she would definitely need an introducer in Beijing.
I will probably have to ask for help from the big black guy that Luo Cheng introduced last time.
However, if she can do it herself, she still doesn't want to go through others.
The black market in Jingshi is larger than that in Zhenshang or Moxian County, and it sells a much wider variety of items.
There are many old items being sold here, which is unmatched by other places!
Beijing is different from other places. Someone you pass by on the street may be a grandfather only one or two generations older than you.
Even though we are living in a tight situation now and have to think for several days before buying a pound of meat, there are still good things in the house!
Especially in recent years, these things are sometimes not good to keep at home, so many people take them to the black market to sell them, hoping to exchange them for some money and food. It's not a waste, right?
The last time Xia Juanjuan came to the black market, she was mainly looking for a house to rent, so she didn't look around carefully. Today, she just looked around with interest and found a few nice items.
After paying the money, Xia Juanjuan put the things into the cloth bag she brought with her and continued shopping.
At this time, a middle-aged woman came over and whispered, "Big sister, I see that you are good at business. I have some good things at home, and the items are relatively large. Would you like to come and take a look?"
After hearing this, Xia Juanjuan asked in a low voice: "What is it?"
The woman looked around and said, "There is a red sandalwood couch that was once placed in the house outside the palace by the eunuch who served the old Buddha. It is still well preserved!"
Xia Juanjuan was a little moved.
Rosewood is a good thing. The key is that this is old furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It will be worth a lot of money in the future!
Xia Juanjuan decided to take a risk, so she nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, big sister, take me to have a look."
Anyway, she was on guard in her heart. She didn't touch the food and drinks given to her by this woman. Ordinary people should not be able to touch her.
The woman took Xia Juanjuan through many twists and turns to the back door of a courtyard.
This is a courtyard house with three entrances. It looks like several families have lived in it. However, because they don't live carefully and have no money to renovate it, it looks a bit dilapidated.
The flower beds in the yard were planted with vegetables, and wild grass grew in the gaps between the square bricks on the ground and in the corners of the walls, but no one cared.
This woman was obviously a resident of one of the families in the courtyard. As she walked, she said, "This courtyard was passed down from our ancestors. Don't look at me now because I am wearing tattered clothes and have to sell things for a living, but our ancestors were also high-ranking officials. It's a pity that we, the descendants, can't keep the industry left behind... Alas..."
Xia Juanjuan asked with a smile: "I see there are several families living in the front yard. Are they also yours?"
The woman said, "How is that possible? They rent my house. But they don't pay the rent. The government rents it and gives it to them. We are considered lucky. Our parents have contributed to the country, so we can still collect rent. Some courtyard houses without owners, or those with problems at home, can't even keep the yard..."
As she spoke, the woman let Xia Juanjuan in.
Isn't there a carved rosewood couch in the inner room? It is well preserved.
"This red sandalwood is afraid of water. We usually use silk towels to wipe the dust and so on. We don't sleep with it and hide it in the warehouse. Now we have no choice but to sell it. But it is difficult to find a buyer for such a large item. Big sister, I just saw you buying those small things for five or ten yuan without blinking an eye. Can you get this thing?"