Chapter 113: Dividing the House
The man who owned the house was Wei Liang. Captain Wang had guessed correctly that he was the captain of the Lianshan Brigade. When asked if Wei Gang had returned, Wei Liang glanced around at everyone.
Fifteen police officers must have consulted with the commune, the county, and even the city before they were dispatched. This wasn't something they could just handle on their own. Lianshan Brigade was remote, but not isolated from the world. At least when the annual grain tax was due, the grain guards still had to take people out to collect it.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him solemnly, Wei Liang immediately had an idea in his mind and said with an apologetic smile, "I'm back, I came back ten days ago. So, I'll take you to find Wei Gang. Wei Gang has a miserable life. His father died when he was three years old. Now that his life has just improved, his mother is gone. He brought his wife and cried all the way back to attend the funeral. He must be at home at this time. I'll lead the way for you." Then he started to walk out.
Captain Wang breathed a sigh of relief, his tense muscles relaxing. They might be outnumbered, but the villagers were even more numerous. The captain's understanding of the situation was more important than anything else. It wasn't that he was cowardly; the most important thing now was to find the person and get him out safely. With this in mind, he quickly stood up and said, "Thank you, Captain Wei. Please lead the way."
Wei Liang nodded repeatedly: "You are so polite."
A group of people followed Wei Liang and marched towards the village. Wei Gang's house was in the middle of the village, slightly north of it. From a distance, the door lintel was covered with white cloth, and white banners were placed on both sides.
The yard was quiet. Before they even reached the spot, they heard a woman's scream. Jiang Nan clenched his fists and tried to jog in to save her, but Zhou Zhixing stopped him. They had already arrived, so they had to proceed cautiously. They couldn't afford to lose a minute or two.
The situation was clear. Wei Gang was tempted by He Ling's beauty and kidnapped her to Lianshan Brigade, where he imprisoned her and attempted to force her to bear a child for him.
Hearing the sound, Wei Liang's expression froze. He was afraid that Wei Gang would do something else and that he would be in trouble. He hurriedly shouted, "Wei Gang, open the door, open the door quickly."
The yard was silent for a moment, then the sound of a man cursing could be heard, followed by the creaking of the gate. Seeing so many police officers, Wei Gang's first reaction was to close the door. Captain Wang, anticipating Wei Gang's move, immediately blocked the door with his foot. The others, seeing this, didn't hesitate, ramming the door with all their might. Three or five strong men joined together, pinning Wei Gang, who was attempting to escape, to the ground.
Wei Gang rubbed half of his face on the ground, struggling with his hands and feet, and kept cursing: "Big Liangzi, I will fuck your ancestors eight times! It's not easy for me to marry a wife, and you dare to bring the police here? You have no conscience and have forgotten your ancestors! You forgot how you came here, you forgot the breeding of the team..."
"Wei Gang!" Wei Liang growled, his face gloomy. He squatted down and stared straight at Wei Gang, "If you do something wrong, you have to admit it, understand? There are so many people in the village. If you are innocent, everyone will speak up for you and won't let you be taken away by the police for no reason, understand?" But if something happens to you, I'm sorry, we still have money to earn, and we won't be buried with you!
The farm is a collective business for the villagers. It can bring in a lot of money, and it can help everyone stop committing crimes and live in peace! But it's not just you, Wei Gang, who's responsible for this! It's just selling goods on the black market, so it doesn't matter who sells them. It really wouldn't be possible without you, Wei Gang!
Seeing the threat in the captain's eyes, Wei Gang stammered for a moment before finally lowering his head and stopping his struggle. Not long after, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing found He Ling, chained and dying, in the cellar.
In just twenty days, He Ling looked nothing like her photo. Her hair was dry and yellow, tangled in knots. She was naked, her body covered in bruises. Her mouth was stuffed with rags, and she could only whimper and groan. When she saw the two men come in, she huddled in a corner like a frightened animal.
Jiang Nan's eyes immediately turned red. In the photo, He Ling had been youthful and energetic, her eyes filled with the clear, innocent naiveté of a twenty-year-old. But now, He Ling looked like an old woman imprisoned in the cold palace for years, aged and lifeless. She also looked like a mistreated little animal. Seeing strangers, even though she and Zhou Zhixing were wearing police uniforms, her instinctive reaction was fear, not joy at seeing a police officer.
Zhou Zhixing immediately turned around and said, "I'll go find some clothes, you talk to her."
"Okay." Jiang Nan choked up, walked over slowly, and whispered, "He Ling? Don't be afraid, I'm a policeman, a policeman from the 10th Operations Department of Chaoyang Oilfield. Your parents and relatives haven't forgotten you, and your friends haven't forgotten you either. We are here to find you at their request. Don't be afraid, wait for my colleagues to find your clothes, and we will take you home, okay? You have suffered serious mental damage now, and you can apply to return to the city. When you return home to your parents, no one will know what happened in Su Province. We won't tell anyone either. My colleagues and I will say that you helped the police with the case and pretended to be missing, but you were actually living in the police force. Do you understand? No one will know what happened to you, I promise."
As he spoke, Jiang Nan raised his hand and tried to take the rag from He Ling's mouth. He Ling subconsciously dodged for a moment, then looked at Jiang Nan and the police uniform she was wearing. After a while, big tears fell down and she kept sobbing. Jiang Nan wiped away her tears, took the rag from He Ling's mouth, and said softly, "It's okay, it's all over, it's all over."
Zhou Zhixing coughed lightly outside. He Ling subconsciously flinched again when she heard the sound. Jiang Nan patted her hand gently and explained, "It's okay. My colleague brought the clothes over. Don't be afraid."
He quickly stood up and trotted over. Zhou Zhixing said, "These are the clothes I borrowed from the captain's house." He pointed to the key and said, "The key to the chain."
Jiang Nan gritted his teeth and took a few deep breaths before taking the clothes and saying, "It's okay, I'll help her put them on."
Zhou Zhixing hummed, "Don't worry. We've caught him red-handed, and Wei Gang can't escape! He deserves the death penalty."
Jiang Nan nodded, turned around and went down to the cellar again, helped He Ling put on her clothes, and said comforting words from time to time, "It's okay, Wei Gang has been arrested and sentenced to death, don't be afraid", "There are fifteen policemen here this time, they will definitely take you back", "The team leader didn't help Wei Gang, and other people in the village won't interfere. We can definitely get away, don't worry."
He Ling lowered her head and remained silent. After she changed her clothes and was finally about to leave, she said in a hoarse voice, "Really... can he be sentenced to death?"
Jiang Nan nodded without hesitation, and He Ling then took Jiang Nan's hand and left the cage where she had been imprisoned for nearly twenty days.
Outside, Wei Gang was already handcuffed. The villagers gathered outside the courtyard, watching them coldly. Judging from the situation, there must be at least a hundred people! Those empty eyes seemed to say, if you don't need to do business with the outside world, you can't take this woman away! Jiang Nan glanced over. Great, all men! Where have all the women in the village gone? Were they all sold, or bought back, afraid to let them see?
Jiang Nan clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and waited. Once she got out, she would report to her superiors that there was something seriously wrong with the Lianshan Brigade. If she didn't wipe out the entire group, she would quit being a police officer!
Captain Wang calmly chatted with Wei Liang, "Captain Wei, it's getting late. I'd like you to arrange a place for us tonight. We have to leave early tomorrow morning. The parents of this educated youth are going crazy looking for us. We're in a hurry to get back. We really can't stay any longer."
Wei Liang chuckled: "It's not a big deal. Then...how about you stay at Wei Gang's house? You see, the conditions in the village are not good, and there are no extra rooms for you..."
Captain Wang glanced at Wei Liang a few more times, then said with a forced smile, "Then I'll obey your orders. Xiao Sun, Xiao Li, arrange for the evening shifts."
Wei Liang laughed awkwardly twice, nodded and bowed a few times, then said to the villagers, "Go back, what are you looking at! Wei Gang did something wrong, but none of us villagers did! Be good and mind yourselves. Anyone who causes trouble will be arrested with the police tomorrow. The Lianshan Brigade has no room for criminals!"
Obviously, there was enough food for the villagers, and they left one after another. The crisis was temporarily resolved, and everyone simply ate the last of their dry food. Jiang Nan stayed with He Ling the whole time, not daring to leave for a moment.
There was no conversation that night. The mountains were quiet and peaceful. I drifted off into a daze and it was dawn the next day.
To build good relations with the police station, Wei Liang brought a basket of steamed bread and came over with a smile, "Captain Wang, are you up yet? Breakfast is on the table in the yard. It's not the best stuff, just steamed bread, but we'll make do with it."
Captain Wang pushed open the door, looking like he had just woken up. He didn't refuse, but instead collected money and food coupons from everyone, handed them to Wei Liang, and said, "We've finished all the dry food we brought with us, so we won't be polite with you. Take it, we'll go back after we finish eating."
"Look at this..." Wei Liang's eyes were filled with embarrassment, and he was too embarrassed to take it. Seeing Captain Wang's insistence, he held out his hand and accepted it reluctantly, "Then just eat it. It's summer, and we have to go to work, so we can't send you off for a while."
After a few more polite words, Wei Liang left.
Jiang Nan was worried, so she checked Wei Liang's channel to make sure he hadn't taken advantage of the situation to drug her. Only then did she feel relieved. It was good that he knew the situation, but she was afraid he was just an ignorant fool.
After a quick wash and breakfast, they set out early. It was the same mountain road they'd taken earlier, but this time it felt much easier. On the way, Jiang Nan couldn't help but tell her about her suspicions about the Lianshan Brigade. If nothing else, it was certain there were other women being trafficked in the village.
Captain Wang had obviously thought of this as well. He nodded and said, "I know. I'll report this to the police station when I get back. I guess they'll set up a special task force and go back into the mountains to investigate. The most important thing now is to send He Ling back first. We can deal with other things later."
Jiang Nan nodded. Prioritize matters, and deal with the current task first. She whispered words of comfort to He Ling, saying, "Captain Wang, could you help us get a unified narrative? If word of He Ling's... situation gets back to the oil fields, she'll be in tatters."
Captain Wang nodded: "Don't worry, we know what to do."
After a difficult journey back to the police station, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing had to deal with the interrogation and subsequent investigation, each and every one of which was beyond their power to intervene. They accompanied He Ling to the local educated youth office to complete the paperwork for returning to the city.
The staff at the Youth League Office were human beings too. Who wouldn't sympathize with He Ling's plight? The female staff members, in particular, sighed with regret. A good girl, coming to their place to join the queue, doing a good deed, who could have imagined she'd be kidnapped and imprisoned by bad guys? Just tell me, since we're both from Suzhou, wouldn't you feel guilty? That's why the paperwork went so smoothly. In three days, the paperwork for returning to the city was complete.
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing didn't waste any time and immediately bought their return train tickets. Because He Ling was still emotionally unstable, they used Captain Wang's connections to secure a less crowded sleeper berth. Of course, they secretly met with Wu Chunli before leaving. As for Qi Lei, upon hearing his name, He Ling shook her head vigorously, refusing to see him no matter what. With no other options, the two could only ask Wu Chunli to keep the news a secret and not let anyone know before He Ling left, as it would be disastrous for her.
Before leaving, the two sent a telegram to the police station and home, informing them of their return time, and then hurriedly boarded the train.
The green train's whistle blared, and He Ling seemed to come back to life. She had been staring out the window in a daze, but when the train started moving, she was already slumped over the small table, motionless. She made no sound at all, only occasionally shrugging her shoulders and trembling slightly.
Jiang Nan stopped trying to persuade her. He Ling had to figure things out on her own. She had said everything she could over the past three days, and she had also thought about what she would do after returning. The best thing for He Ling was to try to avoid contact with her, gradually distance herself, and let her completely forget about her and Su Province.
The train whirred forward, and time seemed to accelerate. Two days of train travel passed quickly, and He Ling reunited with her family on the platform. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing didn't bother them, and quietly walked away with Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua.
Later, at some point, the He family disappeared from the Tenth Operations Office. No one knew when they left, or where they went. Some said they were transferred to headquarters, others to the First Operations Office. There were all sorts of rumors.
But that's all in the past. Now, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing have been on a business trip for half a month. Not only did they successfully bring back He Ling, but according to a telegram from Suzhou two days ago, the Lianshan Brigade was investigated and rescued no less than ten abducted women. Before they even got off the train, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were singled out for praise by their superiors.
After returning home with a lot of bags, Jiang Mancheng touched the Su Province specialty silk that his daughter brought back and praised it, "I didn't expect this craft to still exist. In the past, during the Wei Dynasty, the Su Province area paid tribute to the emperor with silk. I remember there was also the kesi silk craft, which the ladies in the palace loved."
Chen Jinhua also particularly liked the silk scarf that Jiang Nan brought back. She couldn't let it go and kept stroking it: "It's better than the ones sold in the supply and marketing cooperative. Not only is it smooth, but the patterns are also fresh. The supply and marketing cooperative doesn't even sell it."
Jiang Nan washed the lychees and came out of the bathroom with a basin. He smiled and said, "I go to the supply and marketing cooperative in the commune every morning to check. I buy whatever is in stock. Dad, Mom, stop looking. That thing won't get away. Eat lychees. I brought them from Su Province specially. Try them and see if they are sweeter than the ones in the system."
Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua then put down the silk in their hands, as if they were afraid of wasting it. They folded it carefully before standing up and then walked over to eat the lychees.
Honestly, this stuff isn't as sweet as the ones sold in the system. The fruit in the system is the product of generations of cross-breeding and breeding by scientists, so it's definitely tastier than what we have today. It's just that with the tight controls these days, they can't buy much, but if you sneak out for a picnic every now and then, you can still sneak in a little.
Leisurely peeling fruit, Jiang Mancheng inquired about the investigation at the Lianshan Brigade, feeling a pang of worry for his daughter. If it weren't for the interests of the farm, the Lianshan Brigade would have swarmed them. They might not dare to kill, but what about beating them up? Don't think they wouldn't dare; such incidents are not uncommon!
Seeing his daughter and son-in-law sitting there peacefully, and his wife being so carefree as not to think about these things, Jiang Mancheng fortunately kept his mouth shut.
It's okay. It's better to go on fewer business trips in the future.
After returning home, they didn't have much time to rest and went to work the next day. After not seeing each other for half a month, the two of them distributed the fruits they brought to everyone and started the new day's work in a lively manner.
In September, the new housing complex for employees at the oil field was completed, and with it came an even more frenzied scramble for housing. One day, a family claimed only two working parents could get a room, and the next day, they heard Secretary Tu was personally overseeing the distribution. More and more families of employees were blocking the entrance to the complex. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were forced to dispatch police, using a loudspeaker to urge everyone to leave, claiming that the housing standards would be announced soon.
It came out very quickly, but who listened?
There were quarrels and fights, big-character posters criticizing others, and countless anonymous letters, all reporting corruption or bribery, or stealing company property for personal gain. There were reports of everything, big and small. It was as if if this person fell, they would get a room.
In reality, it's not that simple. Seniority and professional titles are quantifiable. One is one, two is two; there can be no ambiguity or falsification. Even something as vague as your contribution to your organization is the product of years of hard work; it's not something you can achieve overnight.
Unfortunately, with profit at stake, no one wants to be that old. They only believe in one principle: when the people ahead fall, those behind them move up the rankings and have a better chance of getting housing. Therefore, every day when they arrive at the police station, a pile of letters of denunciation are left at the door. Within three to five days, the letters are piled up like sacks. Just imagine how busy it is.
This letter said that someone took paper from the unit, and that letter said that someone stole food from the cafeteria. These were all trivial matters, and under normal circumstances, they would just be laughed off. But now it was the time for housing allocation, and even the smallest matters had to be taken seriously, and we had to investigate seriously at the unit.
Perfunctory? Do you believe that tomorrow you'll receive a report accusing you of being idle, not working seriously, and not responding to the call to serve the people? With just one accusation, they'll say you're wronged! You'd be better off putting in the effort and going through the investigation!
It was exhausting. Thirty days, a whole month, without a single day off. She didn't get home until ten o'clock every night. She didn't even bother to take off her clothes and would just fall asleep on the sofa. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua were heartbroken. Chen Jinhua had originally wanted to take a few days off during the National Day holiday and Mid-Autumn Festival to visit Chen Wanli in Xinjiang. But now that her daughter looked exhausted, she gave up the idea and decided to stay home to take care of her.
Jiang Mancheng had to persuade her. He said, "Jinhua, I'll be fine at home. Dad is alone in Xinjiang Province with no one to take care of him. He can't even eat well. Wouldn't it be great if you could go? Xiaonan has me, so don't worry."
Chen Jinhua hesitated: "Xiao Nan and Xiao Xing, how can you take care of them by yourself? Dad has a high position, the boss will send someone to take care of them..."
As he spoke, he thought for a while and suddenly said, "Mancheng, make a few more bottles of your meat sauce. Dad likes it. Let's send some over. If one day Dad doesn't want to cook, just go to the cafeteria and buy two steamed buns and eat it with meat. You can even mix it with noodles. I heard that people in Xinjiang like to eat noodles..."
What could Jiang Mancheng say? Of course he just obediently went to make the meat sauce. Chen Wanli was so old, yet he still went to Xinjiang Province to make a name for himself. Now he was the second-in-command. How could a young man under forty just watch his daughter and son-in-law suffer like this?
No one knew how Jiang Mancheng had manipulated it, but two days later, the province's largest newspaper published Jiang Nan's article on human traffickers. The front-page headline, in bold black lettering, featured the words "Author Jiang Nan" prominently. The article, which detailed forty common tactics used by traffickers, sparked heated debate across the province. The Provincial Public Security Department, the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Chaoyang Oilfield Public Security Bureau all sent representatives to interview Jiang Nan and organized study sessions with staff at all levels.
In late September, to everyone's surprise, national newspapers reprinted Jiang Nan's article. Soon after, Jiang Nan was hailed by official media as a "heroic police officer" and "anti-trafficking hero" for his outstanding contributions to the fight against human trafficking. This delighted the oilfield's leadership, who personally approved it, and Jiang Nan was allocated a 62-square-meter apartment without dispute. The original goal of "protecting and striving for success" had finally been achieved.
This was undisputed, and no matter how anyone reported it, there was nothing they could do. Jiang Nan's contribution was public, officially recognized by official media, and no one could ignore it. I successfully obtained the keys to the house, and the next day, October 1st, National Day, brought the first snowfall to Chaoyang Oilfield.
It's the annual season for buying winter vegetables again. Because of the issue of dividing houses, the team, which was already restless, has become even more noisy.
This one said, "Although my family is a single-income family, my husband has been working for ten years. Even if he has no merits, he has worked hard. Why is he not eligible for a share of the house?"
The other one said, "Even though everyone in my family has only been working for five years, both of us have been working for ten years, right? Besides, the contribution of two people is definitely greater than that of one, right? Don't just focus on our family. There are so many people who deserve a share of the house. You're just picking on the weak and afraid of the strong!"
As he spoke, he saw Jiang Mancheng's family coming over, and the old man pointed and said, "Jiang Nan has only been working for two years, but he has also been allocated an apartment. It's a large two-bedroom apartment of 62 square meters with a large living room. Why don't you keep an eye on him!"
Jiang Nan rolled her eyes, her heart completely blank. Ever since she'd gotten her apartment, she'd heard this kind of talk a lot. Even Zou Li from the police station had initially been a bit jealous of her and Zhou Zhixing.
There was no way Zou Li and his wife were allocated a house, and they still live with their parents. However, Zou Li's father is a leader, and the house is a spacious 96-square-meter, three-bedroom apartment. Even so, the young couple wanted their own place. They had heard about the family compound a long time ago, and since they are both working, they were unlucky enough not to get one.
In the days after the results came out, Zou Li looked very unhappy. He couldn't restrain himself at all when he saw Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing. He was in a bad mood for two days, and it was only on the third day that he felt better.
This was still a well-mannered person; at least he just put on a face and didn't say anything unpleasant. The other people in the building were different, like Old Lady Qiu. Qiu Pan'er and Tian Jiaguang weren't both working, and their length of service wasn't long, so it was impossible for them to get an apartment. But she didn't think so. She simply thought the Operations Department's leaders were flattering them and giving Jiang Nan an apartment for Chen Wanli's sake.
Jealousy took over, and with others fanning the flames from time to time, Mrs. Qiu was so excited when she heard this that she shouted, "Oh, don't say that! Chief Engineer Chen has become the second-in-command of the Xinjiang Oilfield. What's wrong with him getting a house for his granddaughter? Old Guo, stop talking nonsense and let them take your son's house back!"
Chen Jinhua immediately quit. You can say anything, but you can't slander Chen Wanli! Chen Wanli relied on hard work to get to the top step by step! Dad is so old, and he is still exploring outside in the cold weather, sleeping in the open air day after day. Do you think it's easy? If you don't do this job, you don't know the hardships of exploration! The old man's joint disease is not acquired for nothing! Well, now an old lady who knows nothing wants to throw dirty water on Chen Wanli. Why!
The more Chen Jinhua thought about it, the angrier she became. She spat loudly, "Aunt Qiu, what are you talking about? What does my father have to do with my daughter Xiaonan's housing allocation? If you keep talking nonsense, I'll sue you in court! There are so many people listening, don't even think about denying it! Defamation is a crime, and if you go to jail, don't blame me!"
As she spoke, she pulled a newspaper from her pocket and shook it vigorously. The rustling sound of the papers colliding was particularly crisp and pleasant. She said, "Look, there's an article written by my Xiaonan in this newspaper, praising my Xiaonan as a 'hero in the fight against human trafficking'! How come it's only been seven days, and you've forgotten it so quickly? My Xiaonan got the house based on his own ability! If you're jealous, just let your own children submit articles. Secretary Tu said that as long as you can publish an article in this newspaper, he will give you a house. Go ahead, who's stopping you?"
Her eyes swept across the crowd, from left to right, and back again. She saw some people lowering their heads, pretending to stamp their feet and not meet her gaze, some looking up and hurried away, and most staring angrily at the newspaper, hoping the article would disappear.
It was this article that caused them to lose a house!
I thought so in my heart, but didn't dare to say it out loud.
Chen Jinhua snorted and turned to queue up. If they didn't explain themselves, they'd think they were guilty.
The snowflakes grew heavier, the wind whistling from the north. In less than half an hour, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua arrived. This year, with a larger family, the four of them had already discussed buying three hundred kilograms of cabbage to make extra pickled sauerkraut and kimchi. Jiang Mancheng and Zhou Zhixing remained silent throughout the entire process, silently carrying the cabbage.
As one of the few men, although he remained silent, he still made everyone afraid to pick a fight with the Jiang family.
Now that they had the keys, the four of them sent the cabbage home, had breakfast, and immediately went to see the new house. It was not even seven o'clock yet, the sun hadn't risen yet, and it was pitch dark all around.
The new residential complex, located north of the Fiberglass Residential Complex, covers less than 10,000 square meters, or roughly 15 acres. It consists of ten buildings and a bicycle garage. Because it's an older neighborhood, the distance between buildings is small, making parking difficult for those who own a car. Jiang Nan, though worried, appeared delighted. This house was hers.
The apartment we were assigned was in Building 6, on the fourth floor, on the east side. It was also a six-unit-per-floor layout, similar to the modern tube-shaped buildings. Since there was no furniture yet, the room looked quite large. The living room, connected to the balcony, totaled about 20 square meters. The kitchen was about 8 square meters, which wasn't small. Add in the 4-square-meter bathroom, and the total was 30 square meters. The remaining two bedrooms only added up to 30 square meters, but thankfully both faced south. The larger room was 18 square meters, the smaller only 12. It would be plenty for a child.
Jiang Mancheng was extremely satisfied and nodded repeatedly, "It's better than the house we have now. At least the bathroom is bright and bright during the day. Our current bathroom is dark and we have to turn on the light even in broad daylight."
This was the truth. Chen Jinhua was most satisfied with being able to cook at home, no longer in the hallway, under everyone's watchful eyes. She whispered, "Even if I secretly stew more meat at home, I don't have to worry!" Now, in the tube-shaped building they lived in, they still had to cook outside. Even with the system, the four of them only dared to secretly buy cooked food, never buying raw meat to cook. Now, with one pound of meat bought outside, they could secretly stew five pounds, and as long as no one suddenly checked the food, no one would notice.
Jiang Mancheng waved his hand and said, "Leave the renovations to me. I'll find a few people from the construction team and it'll be done in half a month. Paint it white. I'll also have someone find some tiles for the guesthouse floor and we'll lay them down. It's sure to look good. Ask your uncle for the carpentry. He knows a lot of people in the village and he'll be able to build the cabinets, beds, and other things in half a month. Let it air dry for another half a month, and then you can move in. Otherwise, if it's left empty all the time, people will gossip."
Jiang Nan nodded. You can't move into the house just by getting it. If you don't act quickly, you might meet someone unreasonable who might move in secretly and never come out.
Last year, there was a family like this in the youth worker dormitory. The newly married couple did not move in immediately after receiving the house they were allocated. Instead, they went out to play for two days. When they came back, they found that the house had been occupied by an old man and old woman they did not know.
Let's be reasonable. Those who occupy someone else's house aren't reasonable people. Call the police. When they arrive, the old man and woman sit on the ground and throw a tantrum, unable to get up. Arrest them. One complains of a headache, the other pretends to be unconscious. They're just throwing tantrums and making trouble. If you get angry and try to force them, well, the old man and woman can blackmail you into paying for a year's hospital bills. You work a year and leave nothing behind, you just go to support these scoundrels. Do you dare argue with people like that?
Today's elderly all come from the old society. When they were young, they were starving and underfed, and who doesn't have some kind of health problem? For a whole year, the young couple has been tormented. They can't even live in a nice dormitory, and now they're renting a house in a fiberglass-clad residential complex. When something like this happens, those who've been allocated a house and received the keys are the first to rush in and take possession. Some don't even bother decorating it, just throwing in some bedding and moving in.
Houses of this era weren't just adobe shacks. The toilets were already built in, the walls were painted white, the floors were cement, and the faucets and sinks were cement—all ready to go. Those who weren't particular could really move right in. The four of them were still looking at houses, and neighbors kept arriving, knocking on doors and looking at properties. It was a bustling scene.
Someone who knew Zhou Zhixing and Chen Jinhua secretly warned them, "The old man and woman downstairs are hanging around again. Don't go back home tonight. We need to leave someone in the house to prevent them from taking advantage of us."
Jiang Mancheng was filled with resentment. It was really a bad apple that spoiled the whole bunch. He was wondering why they were in such a hurry. It seemed someone was trying to take advantage of him! He gritted his teeth and said, "Xiaoxing, let's stay in the house tonight. Let's see who dares to come and occupy the room!"
After saying this viciously, he instructed Chen Jinhua, "Jinhua, take Xiaonan back to Xihe'an and tell Big Brother to bring the carpenter over this afternoon to measure the dimensions. Have the furniture made as soon as possible so Xiaonan and Xiaoxing can move in sooner."
Chen Jinhua nodded and was about to take a step when Jiang Mancheng stopped her again, saying, "Wait a minute, Jinhua, you stay here and let Xiaoxing and Xiaonan go back. If a bitch shows up, I, a grown man, can't handle it, so you'll have to do it."
Thinking about it, it made sense. Chen Jinhua patted Zhou Zhixing on the shoulder and said, "Xiaoxing, you two should go back quickly. I see the snow has stopped, but it's still very cold. Don't forget to wear your gloves, scarf, and hat."
The two nodded and quickly went downstairs. Speaking of which, the new community didn't have a name yet. When they came out, they looked back at the gate. It was empty, without even a single word on it. Jiang Nan asked curiously, "Why doesn't it have a name?"
Zhou Zhixing lowered his voice and said, "The leader will be inspecting in a few days. I heard that he wants the leader to write an inscription."
So that's how it is. Jiang Nan had nothing to say. The two of them rode their bikes in silence. Because of the north wind, their speed slowed down a lot. When they arrived at the west bank of the river, it was already ten o'clock in the morning.
Hearing that something important was going on, even Ma Honghua helped prepare food, and Uncle Jiang Mantang immediately went to find the village carpenter. Du Hehua took the two of them to the utility room at home and pointed at the dried wood and said, "This is all the wood saved by grandma and your uncle. Don't worry, even if we get another house, there's enough to make furniture."
Jiang Nan looked at the wood piled up in half the room, her eyes wide with surprise. "Grandma, this... you secretly went up the mountain to cut trees?"
Du Hehua rolled her eyes at Jiang Nan. "Ask the villagers, who doesn't live in the mountains? So many people building new houses, could they have bought all the furniture? Stupid! But everyone just pretends not to know. Don't make a fuss, and don't talk nonsense when you go out, okay?"
Jiang Nan nodded and laughed: "Grandma, I love you so much."
Du Hehua quickly waved her hand: "Alright, stop it. I've prepared furniture for you, but there won't be any red envelopes for this year's New Year. I still have to take care of Xiao Huai and Xiao Tong's affairs, so I won't be involved in your affairs from now on."
Jiang Nan hugged the old lady's arm and said coquettishly, "That won't do. If I have a child in the future, you will have to take care of the child for me."
Du Hehua looked disgusted as the grandparents and grandchildren played along. Over in the kitchen, Ma Honghua muttered, "If I had known last year, I wouldn't have let Xiaogui apply for a house. Maybe he could have been allocated a two-bedroom apartment by now, and his dad and I could have moved in."
Yin Wenjuan heard something was wrong with the voice and whispered, "What nonsense! Xiaogui and Luo Tao have only been working for a year. The first requirement for this year's house is that both men and women must have worked for at least three years. Xiaonan was specially approved by the leadership because of her special contributions. Do you think Xiaogui and Luo Tao can get a share just by signing up? Don't let your imagination run wild!"
Ma Honghua curled her lips, realizing her sister-in-law had a point. She was immediately filled with jealousy. She wondered how Chen Jinhua could be so lucky, and she felt even worse. Then she realized that having a house was better than having no house at all. Besides, if she went to the oil field late, she would have a room to stay in. She gradually felt relieved.
After two bowls of noodles, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing devoured them, then headed to the oil fields with their uncle Jiang Mantang and carpenter Yin. Since it wasn't even two o'clock yet, they treated Yin, the carpenter, to a meal at a state-owned restaurant before heading to the new apartment complex for measurements. Jiang Nan explained her requirements: a floor-to-ceiling shoe cabinet at the entrance, one that would block views while still providing ample storage. She also wanted a wooden booth sofa, tall and low cabinets, and so on.
I might trade up for a bigger house in the future, but firstly, I don't know when I'll have the chance. Secondly, since I'm moving in, I have to make sure it's comfortable.
Uncle Yin listened with nods and took notes with a pen. Since he had to make a lot of furniture, he charged 20 yuan for the labor and promised to finish it in 20 days.
Jiang Mantang was cheerful all the way, delighted to see his niece's house. When he heard they were going to have dinner at the state-owned restaurant again, not only did Carpenter Yin refuse, but Jiang Mantang even glared at his younger brother: "Come on, you don't know where those two salaries went, right? Xiaonan will definitely need a lot of things for her new house, so you'd better save your money. Brother Yin and I are friends who have known each other for a lifetime, so you don't have to be so polite."
As he spoke, he put his arm around Carpenter Yin's shoulders and said, "Let's go back to my house for dinner. I'm sure there will be good food and wine prepared. In a state-owned restaurant, you can only eat food and not drink. It's not pleasant."
Carpenter Yin nodded repeatedly. Jiang Mantang also had a bicycle now. After going downstairs, he waved to the four people, refusing to let them send him off. He took Carpenter Yin and returned to the west bank of the river.
It was already five o'clock in the afternoon. Due to the threats from the old man and the old woman downstairs, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua stayed by the house all the time and asked the young couple to buy something to eat and bring it back.
"Your mother and I will stay in the room after finishing our meal and won't be going anywhere. You two can go back and bring a set of bedding. It's not that I don't want you two to guard the place, but you two are young, and the old man and woman are old. If they start to act up, it's hard for you two to handle them, so we have to do it. Go quickly, it will probably only take a few days. The leaders will know about the situation sooner or later and will take measures."
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