Chapter 53
Wang Mengmei wanted to refuse, but Jian Feng pulled her aside and she agreed.
"Just go do your thing, I'll go check it out tonight."
As a couple for many years, Wang Mengmei immediately knew what Jian Feng was thinking.
The words she wanted to persuade him to do were stuck in her throat, and she finally said only one sentence: "Come back soon."
In the life of an ordinary person, there are very few good fortunes, especially for those who still live in tube-shaped buildings without private toilets. There are few rich people. Most of them are like my family, and some are even worse off. Seven or eight people are squeezed into a small house, with snail shells as the temple, bunk beds and curtains. The family, big and small, live in a very cramped environment, and their days are dark.
Many people were delighted by the sudden opportunity to make a fortune, but at the same time they also began to think about bargaining with the factory.
Of course, the more people you have, the better when it comes to bargaining.
Wang Mengmei suddenly felt relieved. If she had not received the news in advance and made up her mind early, she would be like everyone else now, feeling happy but also confused.
Should I sell the house or not? Should I bargain for the price or just tell the factory that I won't sell it and keep it for myself to get the rent?
Everyone has different thoughts.
We agreed to meet at 8 o'clock, but the place was full at 7 o'clock.
After finishing his dinner, Jian Feng went to the largest family's house on the first floor. The house was full of people inside and outside. The host boiled two pots of hot water and greeted everyone warmly.
Jian Feng greeted him and pulled over a stool to sit down.
Auntie Ma, who had just clamored to the factory to give her a three-bedroom, one-living-room house, was the most present. Her husband, two sons, and two daughters-in-law sat in the middle, discussing enthusiastically with the people around them.
"I heard that our factory is planning to sell the house for 3,000 yuan per square meter!"
"Wow! It's so high!"
"Auntie, who told you this?"
"She is my cousin's daughter. She is in charge of logistics. She is telling the truth."
Auntie Ma's words immediately caused a burst of exclamations. A house that cost three thousand yuan per square meter made many people's hearts beat fast.
There was a gleam in Aunt Ma's eyes.
"I will only be happy if my house has at least four bedrooms and a living room!"
"Otherwise I won't move!"
Her husband and she share one room, her two sons each share one room, and her grandson...
Auntie Ma's face flushed red, and her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Jian Feng frowned. Three thousand per square meter? How is that possible?
He had read in a magazine that even a new house in Shanghai now costs no more than three thousand.
Auntie Ma was still chattering away, and around her a group of people with the same abnormal blush on their faces surrounded her.
"Auntie, your house is 30 square meters, right? Mine is 60 square meters."
Auntie jumped up as if she had been poked. "What's wrong with my 30-square-meter house? My house is at the corner of the street. It's the first house on the corner!"
Auntie Ma stood up and looked down at everyone: "Who among you has a house that is in a better location than mine?"
Auntie Ma couldn't help but feel proud. When the house was divided, her husband was a coward. Everyone else had chosen a house, but he was unlucky and got the house at the very edge next to the bathroom. Over the years, she had quarreled with her husband many times.
But now it seems that this is actually a belated gift from fate to her!
Auntie Ma looked around, searching for an ally. After looking left and right, her eyes fell on Jian Feng. The two families had houses built in the same year, with the same size and layout, both of which were more than 30 square meters. Jian Feng's house was not far from hers, and it was in a good location not far from the street corner.
Auntie Ma enthusiastically called Jian Feng to sit next to her: "Feng, come, sit over here."
Jian Feng: "No need, auntie. I can hear you even if I'm sitting here."
Auntie didn't take it to heart and said to Jian Feng in a loud voice, "Feng, what do you think? Talk to Auntie."
When Auntie Ma asked this question, many people pricked up their ears, waiting to hear Jian Feng's answer.
Jian Feng's family has turned over a new leaf this year, and they haven't been conspicuous in public, but Wang Mengmei's small restaurant business is obvious to all. There are six tables in the storefront, but they are often full. Not to mention that they now have a night stall, which often has more than ten small folding tables and is very lively.
When the houses were distributed, many people did not want the first floor. The foundation of the family compound was not high enough, and the first floor here was always damp. Sometimes when it was cloudy and rainy, the rain would always gather here, which was very annoying. If the conditions were really better, I would have moved to a house with a separate bathroom long ago.
If you think about it carefully, Jian Feng has the best conditions among the people present today. Many people guess that Jian Feng and his wife probably have several thousand dollars in their hands.
Auntie Ma looked hopeful: "Feng, what are you planning?"
She thought that although Jian Feng made money, no one would complain about having too little money. Who knows, maybe Jian Feng has seen the world and wants more than her.
Jian Feng looked embarrassed, and after a while he carefully considered his words before saying, "I...plan to sell it to the factory."
He has nothing to hide. Even if he hides it temporarily, everyone will still know it in the end.
Besides, Jian Feng thought, they have been neighbors for many years, and he still hopes that everyone he knows can seize this opportunity.
Auntie's eyes widened: "You plan to sell it at the original price?!"
Jian Feng took a deep breath and said, "Aunt, I think this is a good opportunity. Since the factory has taken possession of the house, we might as well just sell it. After we get the money, we can buy whatever house we want. Isn't that great? I heard that the area of Renjiazhuang is said to be included in the urban area, and the houses for landowners can be bought for 310 yuan per square meter. I know someone who can help me..."
Before Jian Feng could finish his words, Auntie was so angry that she didn't want to pay any attention to him.
She felt that Jian Feng was deliberately humiliating her.
"What kind of place is Renjiazhuang! We are all from the cotton textile factory, and I will not leave here anyway!"
After saying that, he glared at Jian Feng fiercely and said, "If you want to sell it, then sell it! Anyway, I won't sell it!"
Jian Feng tried to explain: "Auntie, the price offered by the factory this time is really favorable. Storefronts in the city are not so expensive now. If you don't believe me, just go and ask around..."
Auntie Ma's daughter-in-law also chimed in: "Brother Feng, what you said is wrong. We are neighbors living in the same building, so we should stand together. If you come up and agree now, how can we negotiate with the factory?"
"That's right, you make money, don't take it seriously, we depend on it to make a living."
"Don't you know what Renjiazhuang has become?"
…
Jian Feng frowned as he listened to the accusations: "They are planning to build a train station in Renjiazhuang, and the construction is about to start. Everyone, I am really doing this for your own good..."
Auntie Ma's son said sarcastically, "Then don't do it for us. If you have the ability, go buy it yourself."
Jian Feng exhaled from his chest, knowing that he had finished what he was supposed to do.
"Since everyone is unwilling to listen to me, I will leave first."
Of course, there were some people sitting in the room who took his words to heart, but they were frightened by the aura of Auntie Ma and her group and did not dare to interrupt.
After Jian Feng left, Auntie Ma's son spat.
"The richer you are, the less human you are!"
The curse was so harsh that some people around frowned, while others just lowered their heads and pretended not to hear.
Auntie Ma greeted everyone and repeatedly reiterated what she had heard about the "three thousand yuan per square meter".
"As long as we all insist on not selling, the factory will definitely take our opinions into consideration. As long as everyone holds on, they will get what they want in the end!"
"That's right!"
"Don't sell it!"
"I've wanted to move to a new house for a long time. It would be best if we could move to two houses this time."
"Hahaha, me too. Both of our houses are big, 60 square meters. Why can't we exchange them for two?"
…
The group of people were having a great time, but a few of them were sensitive enough to notice something was wrong.
All those present here today are ordinary working-class families. There are two families on the first floor who are occupying the houses but not living in them. They are basically small leaders in the factory.
But today, on an occasion like this, they were not here.
Looking at the aunts' faces that became happier as they talked, these people felt a chill in their hearts.
If they could really bargain their way to a conclusion in the factory, shouldn't the young leaders run faster?
I was so nervous that I kept thinking about everything after I went out, and I couldn't sleep when I got home.
The wife of one of them kicked him out of the house because of his cowardly appearance.
"Since you can't make up your mind, why don't you go ask Jian Feng?"
The man smiled bitterly and said, "Why should I ask? Can someone be so frank and honest with me?"
His wife rolled her eyes at him and said, "You are just being too narrow-minded. I think Jian Feng is quite kind. If he was really selfish, he wouldn't have gone to let you guys vent your anger. If it were me, I wouldn't have gone. Is it worth it for me to listen to those nasty words you say?"
The man turned around a few times and said, "Wife, who is right?"
He was also confused. What Jian Feng said seemed to be right, but what Auntie Ma said was too tempting.
It’s just a choice, and a whole new world awaits a family.
He had to be careful.
His wife was poking the coal stove, and the beehive coals were burned and stuck together. She could only use a discarded kitchen knife to cut a line in the middle. Then she piled the burnt gray beehive coals on the ground and put a new piece of coal on the unburned one.
The holes of the honeycomb coal are aligned, and the flame burns from the bottom to the top, producing a bright red glow.
"Look at Auntie Ma's family, then look at Jian Feng's family, and you'll know who to listen to."
If there really was a capable person in Auntie Ma's family, could they be living like this now?
The two sons both got married after school and became a family at the age of 17 or 18. Seven or eight people lived in a small house. They were always bickering or quarreling. The sisters-in-law and the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law were so fed up with each other that they didn't even want to see each other's faces.
This is also the reason why Auntie Ma insists on having a big house.
She was unable to reconcile the conflicts within her family and could only hope to cover them up with a large, spacious house.
The man thought for a while, then walked out silently. After taking a few steps, he turned back.
"Do you still have the lotus root powder your mom gave you? Give me a pack."
The woman didn't ask anything and took out a bag of lotus root powder from the cupboard and added a small bottle of honey.
"Remember to take the flashlight. I'll hold the door open for you."
The man responded.
When he arrived at Jian Feng's house, he didn't feel comfortable going in, so he just shouted "Brother Feng" from outside.
Jian Feng opened the door: "Xiao Shi, come in."
Xiao Shi walked in with a smile on his face: "Brother Feng, did I bother you?"
Jian Feng smiled and said, "No."
Xiaoshi: "That's good... huh?"
There were four people sitting in the room. They saw the embarrassment on his face, and then saw what he was holding in his hand, and then they showed some understanding.
Jian Feng moved a seat for him: "Come on, sit down and talk."
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