Zhou Xiang's guess was correct. Zhu Hang would give his mother 200 yuan for living expenses every month, and she could live on the third floor of his house, so she didn't have to worry about food and accommodation.
Zhu Hang felt relieved now that he had found a job that could be considered as spiritual support. As long as his mother stayed at home peacefully and didn't cause any trouble, he would just keep her!
When I told Zhou Yu about this, she had no objection. Her husband earned more money and didn't smoke, so he gave her the money to manage. Every month the money passed through her hands, so she just had to support him!
The next day, Guan Bo came to Zhou's house again and said loudly, "My daughter, I'm here to see you."
Father Zhou walked out of the dining room and said, "Fatty Guan, please bring the dry word with you. That's my daughter."
Guan Bo waved his hand, "Same as before, just call my daughter dear. She's eating in the dining room, right? Coincidentally, I haven't eaten either!"
As he said that, he entered the dining room and greeted Mr. Xiao first, "Hello, Mr. Xiao!"
"Hey! Great! Come sit down and eat together."
This loud voice is pleasant to listen to, and it should be spoken with confidence.
Guan Bo sat down across from Zhou Xiang and pushed the things in his hand in front of him. "Here! Here are the land deeds, house deeds, and keys. You keep them. As for me, I feel relieved. The things of the older generation are no longer lost with me. I can face my ancestors with dignity in the future."
Zhou Xiang accepted it without hesitation, "Don't worry! I won't touch a single bit, including the plaque."
Guan Bo smiled, picked up the steamed bun in front of him and started eating, "Okay!"
Zhou Xiang looked at his red eyes and said, "If Qiangqiang and the others really change, even if they don't change until they are in their seventies or eighties, I will return the land deeds and house deeds to them."
Guan Bo waved his hand and said, "No, I won't return it. If I return it, I won't be able to keep it. So I'll give you traditional culture. If I can't forge iron anymore, you can ask someone else to do it on the spot. We must not let traditional ironmaking skills disappear."
Hearing his resolute words, Zhou Xiang nodded, "Okay! I'll try my best. If I can persevere until the country recognizes blacksmithing as a non-cultural heritage, then this blacksmith shop may still be able to survive a hundred years after I die."
"So, can the house hold up?"
"I plan to hire someone to come back and fix it. They'll screed the outside and build a high step to prevent rainwater from flowing back into the road."
"I think you should re-paste the walls inside and outside."
Zhou Xiang shook his head. "It's not a mess. Just use some spray adhesive to reinforce the wall. The slogan on your wall is also a reflection of the times."
"Oh! You have too many thoughts in your head, girl. I don't care. I have nothing to do now. I accompany your godmother to set up the cold noodle stall every day. Any money I can earn is good."
Old Master Xiao became interested. "Zhou Xiang, stop talking and eat quickly. After dinner, I'll go see what attracts you to that house."
A group of people went to the north end. The dilapidated houses on the East and West Streets made Old Man Xiao frown. This small town was so dilapidated that it looked like it was in the 1950s.
Going east from the intersection, starting from the third house, are the houses built by the six families together, which look slightly better.
Below the window is a brick wall, and above it is all adobe. The roof is covered with small curved blue-gray tiles, and there are a few sparse blades of grass swaying on the tiles.
The whitewashed mud wall was covered with slogans from the 1960s and 1970s.
The third house from the east has a plaque hanging on its door: Steward's Blacksmith Shop.
The paint on the plaque was almost invisible, but the lettering was still clear.
Looking at the mottled wall, Old Man Xiao wondered, "Zhou Xiang! Is it worth spending money on a house like this?"
"Whether it's worth it or not doesn't matter. What I want is its meaning. If it stays, it will become a feature of the town. The park and the tunnel aren't attractive enough, and others are taking pride in demolishing houses like this and building new ones. Wouldn't this place become a feature again?"
Old Man Xiao nodded, "Maybe! According to what you said, in ten or twenty years, this house will be a treasure."
"Yes! That's what I mean. When everyone turns their adobe houses into brick houses or buildings, these 12 houses in this row will stand out even more."
Old Master Xiao imagined it for a moment, "Hmm! That's right, you're right. Whether it's worth it or not, keeping it is a feature."
When the five families saw Ling Ran and Zhou Xiang coming with a group of people, including a man who looked very powerful, they were a little scared. Could it be that Zhou Xiang was planning to use his power to intimidate them?
One of the families sent out a man in his thirties. The man moved to Ling Ran's side and said, "Ling, Ling Ran, you..."
Ling Ran waved his hand. "We're just taking this old man for a stroll. We're just passing by here. Have you made up your mind?"
The man didn't believe it. Since you were just strolling around, why were you asking now?
"We have agreed. For 100,000, all the property deeds and land titles will be yours."
Ling Ran looked at him with a half-smile, "If you insist on this price, I have conditions."
"You say." The man was a little excited. If the house could be sold for 100,000 yuan, all the problems at home could be solved and there would be some surplus.
"Everyone in the family is present and must sign a pledge that you will not use any reason or excuse to demand the house back in the future. Otherwise, we will compensate you for the mental and reputational damage you have caused us by paying ten times the future price of the house."
"W-what do you mean?"
"What this means is that if you regret it and want to buy the house back, not only can you not buy it back, but you will also have to pay compensation. Just the thought of this has caused us trouble.
For example, others will speculate whether we forced you to buy your house, or ask why we don’t return the house or compensate you if we have money. All these kinds of words are damaging to our reputation and spirit, so you have to pay!
Of course, if you regret anything, just keep it to yourself and don't come to us to regret it or go out and tell us nonsense. There's no problem. After all, look at your two houses yourself. Are they worth 100,000 yuan now? If I lose money on them, it's mine. If I make a profit, it's definitely mine too, right?"
The man nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, you're right. How can you take the loss and return the profit? We can't do such a thing."
Ling Ran shook his head. "This is what you or your generation think. What about the next generation or the next generation? Therefore, everyone in your family, young and old, must be present to sign and put their fingerprints on the agreement. I guarantee that there will be no regrets."
Those who are too old or too young can just have their fingerprints taken directly, but children who are only a few months old must have their parents’ consent and hold their fingers to have their fingerprints taken.
Go back and talk to them! If everything is settled, I'll buy both houses from each family for 100,000 yuan. Once I buy the houses, I'll move out within a day. So if you agree, you have to find a house first!"
The man nodded and turned back.
Old Master Xiao nodded at Ling Ran and said, "You think too carefully."
"We can't be careless! Many people are uneducated and don't understand a lot of things. Let's be frank so that we don't get accused of being rich and unkind later. They sold that shabby house for 100,000 yuan, which is not only enough for them to rebuild, but also to arrange marriages for two or three of their children."
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