Because it was a purchase made through connections and the payment was made in full at once, the home buying process went very smoothly.
Xiao Jiu didn't even go there; she not only got the house, but also successfully transferred her household registration.
Tang Cuimei was not only their sister-in-law, but also their elder sister, so no one was being polite to anyone else.
These days, renovation teams are still quite honest. Cui Mei directly introduced one she had used before.
Although they all come from rural areas, they are skilled craftsmen who have truly honed their craft through practical experience.
Carpenters, bricklayers, and painters were all once the backbone of their respective units. They were meticulous and reliable, and their work was slow and steady.
Considering that the area is warm all year round, and given the humid weather, after discussing with the renovation contractor, we selected a batch of renovation materials that are not only waterproof but also environmentally friendly and healthy, with warm colors and a simple and elegant style.
In the days before shared area was defined, 150 square meters was the absolute indoor area.
It's a single-level apartment building with one unit per floor.
No wonder Fifth Sister said, "Mainly because my family has a house allocated to us, your brother has one in the army, I have one at my workplace, and there's also one in the fishing village specifically for vacationing. I'm usually too busy to manage extra properties, otherwise, I really wouldn't be willing to give you this house, it's the king of the house."
Xiao Jiu felt she had gotten a great deal, so she naturally planned to put her heart into the renovation.
When she returned to Hong Kong this time, her neighbors all said that she was only working sporadically and that she might as well rent out the house and at least earn a few hundred dollars.
After much consideration, she felt that what others said made sense. Ever since Zhou Yue and the three little ones came, she had been spending less and less time in Hong Kong.
So it was rented out for HK$800 per month, with a one-year contract and rent paid annually.
After renting out the storefront in Hong Kong, Xiao Jiu spent all his time working with the renovation team on the renovation of Tin Shui Wan.
Based on the stock of Xiaojiu, Zhou Yue used a buy-one-get-one-free promotion to bundle sales with celebrities who were not easy to sell and had little fame.
Sure enough, they managed to cover some of the less popular items.
He started by selling videos and celebrity merchandise, then occasionally sold snacks, candy, and even clothes.
As his customers became more and more diverse, he developed a thicker skin, becoming more and more shameless. When faced with scoundrels, he could use force to resolve the situation instead of clinging to his past identity and trying to persuade them with morality.
When faced with scoundrels, you can talk yourself hoarse but still not persuade them; resorting to force becomes the best solution.
When dealing with thieves, he also differentiates between them. If they are students, he will give them a chance to repent after catching them.
If someone repeatedly steals without showing any remorse, then don't blame them for being ruthless.
For thugs and the like, just beat them up until they submit and never dare to come back.
Thanks to this transformation, Zhou Yue's retail sales began to rise sharply, making him the best assistant for clearing out Xiaojiu's warehouse.
In just six months, Zhou Yue earned back 8,000 yuan from the money he made from selling the house, something he never dared to dream of before.
The house renovation was completed, and it was even left empty for two or three months to allow for ventilation.
On New Year's Day in 1985, they moved into their new home and specially invited Tang Cuimei's family to celebrate the occasion.
Before leaving, he gave each of his two nieces a pair of jade bracelets. After Tang Cuimei examined them, she gasped in shock.
"Your aunt is really generous; this is top-quality mutton fat jade."
The gift for the son was much simpler and more straightforward: a pair of gold bracelets.
"Mom, what about mine? Compared to my sisters', whose is more valuable?"
Tang Cuimei tapped Zhou Yu's head in an annoyed tone.
"You little money-grubber, this is all from your aunt's heart. Can it be measured by price?"
Tang Cuimei has two daughters and one son. Her eldest son is named Zhou Yu, and her second and third sons are named Zhou Ling and Zhou Xiu, respectively, which are derived from the phrase "钟灵毓秀" (zhong ling yu xiu).
Zhou Yu understood the implied meaning. "I know. My two combined might not even be worth as much as my sisters' set, right?"
Just as Tang Cuimei was about to reprimand them, Zhou Yu laughed and said, "No wonder my aunt said that pair of jade bracelets were dowry items for A-Ling and A-Xiu!"
Cui Mei was surprised, "Your aunt actually said that?" Does that mean the price is higher than she imagined?
"These two gold bracelets of yours aren't cheap either. Just look at their weight. Your aunt won't favor one over the other."
"Alright, these things are too valuable. Since they're meant for your dowry or for your weddings, I'll keep them for now and give them to you later."
He turned and called his sister, saying, "You're too kind. Why are the gifts for the children so expensive?"
"I know you don't need anything, I only gave you five hundred yuan, and you turned around and gave it to them."
Xiao Jiu quickly interrupted, "Sister, why are you being so polite with your sister? We wouldn't be able to buy a house without you!"
"There's no need for such formalities between us sisters. The bracelet for Zhou Yu is gold-plated jade; keep it safe and consider it a family heirloom."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Cuimei was dumbfounded. No wonder it was so heavy; it was actually a pair of gold-plated jade bracelets!
What kind of top-quality jade bracelet could be encased in gold?
This family heirloom is absolutely perfect!
As expected of Xiaojiu, it's truly generous!
We both have cheat codes, but compared to this, I feel so low-class!
In mid-February, thanks to Zhou Xing's connections, Xiao Jiu successfully registered a new ID card using Ning Meng, which made her appear five years younger than her actual age.
Born on May 5, 1955, she was an only child in a city in Guangxi Province. Her father was a martyr and her mother was a military doctor. She passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30. Her mother was devastated and was admitted to a mental hospital. The state took care of her in her old age.
Ning Meng's identity was then borrowed and transformed into Xiao Jiu.
“This girl has a congenital physical defect, that is, she is an imperforate woman, so she is not married. You are the perfect person to use this identity.”
Starting in April last year, ID cards began to be issued across the country. After Xiaojiu changed her name to Ningmeng, she finally gained an official identity in mainland China.
They no longer had to hide and be afraid to walk on the street, and they even used this identity to register their marriage and became a legal couple.
After they officially moved into Tianshui Bay, Tang Cuimei helped them find a retired nurse from a military hospital to work as their caregiver.
I pay 30 yuan a month to take care of the daily pick-up and drop-off for my three children, excluding weekends.
In other words, she doesn't need to worry about Zhou Yue's school hours during the day. She'll drop him off in the morning and pick him up in the evening to take care of him. He can leave once Zhou Yue gets home.
She doesn't need to come on weekends because the couple takes care of her. The job sounds simple, but it's not easy at all.
Because it's not one child, but three precious ones, fortunately, the time spent caring for them individually each day is short, and the family of thirty is very satisfied.
With a nanny to pick them up and drop them off, the couple could focus all their energy on their careers.
Xiaojiu even secured a 100-square-meter shop in Tianshui Bay for 300 yuan per square meter.
She divided the shop in two: the left side sold clothing and underwear, while the right side became a music and video store for Zhou Yue.
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