When they arrived at the hutong area, Zhou Xiang went to the first house again. This time, someone came to open the door.
An old man in his fifties or sixties opened the door and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Look at houses and buy houses." Jiang Weifang said according to what her niece taught her.
"Then come in!"
Stepping through the red gate, you will see the courtyard, with gray brick walls, gray cylindrical tiles, red rafters, and red wooden carved window lattices.
Everything is so simple and down-to-earth.
There are three main rooms, one ear room on each of the east and west sides, and two east and west wing rooms on each side.
There are two rooms on the south wall. The southeast corner is the main door we just came in, and the southwest corner is the toilet.
There was a tree planted next to the west wing in the courtyard. Its clothes had fallen off and it was standing naked in the cold wind.
The wooden roof and window frames in the house were well preserved, and the stone tiles on the ground were neatly arranged. Jiang Weifang and Zhou Xiang looked at each other and nodded.
Jiang Weifang asked, "Uncle, what's the price for this house?"
"Including furniture, it's 30,000. If you don't want furniture, it's 28,000."
"We want furniture, and you pay for the license." Zhou Xiang said.
The old man looked at Jiang Weifang, and Jiang Weifang nodded, "I think so too."
This is the first time I’ve met someone who doesn’t bargain. How much does it cost to get the certificate?
"Okay, but do you have enough money?"
"I brought it."
The three of them went to the nearest Housing Authority to handle the formalities. Looking at the three words "Jiang Weihui" on the property title, Zhou Xiang finally put his mind at ease and could proceed.
The old man wrapped the money in his old clothes and went back to the courtyard together. "I'll pack my things and leave."
Half an hour later, the key was in Zhou Xiang's hands.
"Let's go to the next one."
This time, all four families in the two alleys took a look, and the two families in Zhima Hutong asked for 30,000 yuan, and gave away furniture.
The two families in Jingsha Hutong asked for 32,000 yuan, and also gave away furniture.
The aunt and nephew went aside to discuss, "What do you think?"
"Take them all."
Jiang Weifang was shocked. "Do you have that much money?"
"I have yellow croaker. Go talk to that young man and ask him what the price would be if we trade it in gold."
"good!"
There was a craze for going abroad in the 1980s. If you asked a young person if he wanted to go abroad, he would definitely like gold trading.
Sure enough, the young man who was talking to Jiang Weifang over there nodded happily.
Jiang Weifang walked back and said, "He wanted 600 grams of gold, saying it was only 54 per gram in the bank and 50 per gram in a private transaction. He sold the house for 30,000 yuan."
"Okay, I agree. Then ask him if anyone in those companies is willing to trade in gold."
Finally, another family in Jingsha Hutong, led by a young man, traded in gold, also for 600 grams.
Zhou Xiang suspected that the asking price of 32,000 was his collusion, but who cares! He would make more money in the future, and those who were selling their houses would cry their hearts out.
It was still the same Housing Authority, and the staff even asked Jiang Weifang why she bought so many yards and what her purpose was.
"No, big sister, I have many brothers and sisters, and we had a fight during the New Year because the old man couldn't live here.
The old man was so angry that he took out all his valuables and said he would buy a yard for everyone and that no one was allowed to go to his place anymore because he liked peace and quiet.
"Then you're buying them together?"
"The old man is old. Although he doesn't want us to go over, we can't really abandon him. So we bought a piece of land and moved him over. He also likes living in a small yard and growing flowers and vegetables. This way we can live close to him without being crowded."
"What about your work residence permit?"
"The old man was assigned to the capital after the founding of the People's Republic of China. We will all be transferred here gradually. Let's buy a house first. At least we won't be crowded when we come back for the New Year."
"Actually, you're all good people, and you're quite filial. It's not easy for the old man, he gave up everything he had to buy you a house."
During the conversation, four property titles were completed, but only one title was in Jiang Weifang's name. The clerk asked curiously, "Why are all of them in Jiang Weihui's name?"
"That's the eldest, so she handles everything. I'm the youngest, and I'm not in the same place as them, so I wrote a separate one."
"Oh!" The clerk always felt something was wrong, but the other party had all the necessary documents and sufficient reasons. He was not from the police station, and the bureau did not have any regulations prohibiting a person from owning multiple properties.
Everyone accepted this flawed excuse.
After returning to one of the courtyards, everyone started to divide the loot. The cash was given first. The two took the money, gave the keys and left, saying that the pots and pans in the yard were also given away for free.
The last two people, each holding a big yellow croaker and two small yellow croakers, handed over the keys and gave away all the junk in the yard for free.
These people have posted red paper announcing the sale of their house a long time ago and no longer live here. They usually just come here to watch over the house and cook.
Jiang Weifang held the property deed and felt like she was dreaming. In just half a day, she already had a small courtyard in Beijing?
"Let's go! Go buy some locks, change the door locks, and tidy up."
The aunt and nephew went out to buy a lock, had lunch, and then came back to clean up. Jiang Weifang lived in Zhima Hutong, and Zhou wanted her to go clean up first and come back to help after changing the lock.
After her aunt left, she just looked around and cleaned up the garbage. It was useless to clean up the place any more because no one lived there.
Zhou Xiang also put the pots, pans, and utensils in the west wing into the cupboard to keep them tidy.
After locking the new lock, I went to the next place, and finally to Zhima Hutong. After cleaning up, I went to find my aunt with my travel bag, and found that she was still cleaning.
"Aunt, why are you disturbing such a clean place? Now you don't live here anymore, it will be covered with dust in a few days. Just keep it tidy. I have already arranged all four sets."
"Ah? I forgot."
"I see you're excited."
"Yes, I was excited. I thought I now had a courtyard in Beijing and would have a home there in the future. My heart would never drift away again."
"Okay, stop cleaning, lock the door and go!"
"Where are you going?"
"Let's go stay at the guesthouse!"
"Still staying at the guesthouse? That's a few dozen bucks? Or, why don't we just go back? There's a car available tonight, right?"
Zhou Xiang actually wanted to go to Wangfujing Department Store, but since his aunt said so, he gave up. "Yes, there are plenty of trains. Then go back! Otherwise, you won't worry about your family."
When Jiang Weifang heard this, she threw away the broom, washed her hands, and changed the lock on the door.
"Walk!"
The aunt and nephew took the bus directly to the train station.
After buying some midnight snacks and sitting in a restaurant, Jiang Weifang understood a truth when she saw Zhou Xiang sitting on the Diaoyutai. If you are thin-skinned, you can't eat, but if you are thick-skinned, you can eat as much as you want.
After returning home in the morning, Jiang Weifang quickly took a shower. After being out for the past two days, she felt like she was covered in dust from head to toe.
After washing up, the two of them ate a bowl of hot dumplings and sighed comfortably. Home is still the best!
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