Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Accidental Purchase of a House

The peace of October brought Wang Nianjue the most comfortable time of the year.

The autumn wind blew across my face slowly, bringing with it a grape aroma that was a little too sweet, mixed with a hint of earthy smell.

Wang Nian used a hoe to turn over the taro that was buried deep in the soil. He took a look at the size of the taro and turned to talk to Hu Wenli.

"Two dishes are added to the menu today, one is taro with sand sauce, and the other is taro pork ribs."

“Is that taro?”

A taro that was turned over by the hoe was almost as big as the child's head. Hu Wenli had never seen such a big taro before.

"This is called taro. It's big and has a more glutinous texture. I'm sure you'll like it."

I tried growing taro from space seeds last year. It tasted sandy and sticky, and was large and durable to store.

I planted a row of them along the wall this year, which should be enough to last for a month or so.

"You are wasting your talent by opening a restaurant. You should teach people how to farm. You will definitely benefit the society."

Hu Wenli used a shovel to shovel the taro that Wang Nian dug out to one side, squatted down to weigh it, and couldn't help but make a joke.

The weight of the taro is suitable for its large size. One taro weighs at least four or five pounds. Two are enough for the restaurant today.

"You don't need to prepare materials for tomorrow this afternoon. Tomorrow He Liang is getting married, and my family is going to be the guest."

Another taro was turned out, and it was even bigger than the first one.

"Sister Guizhi's son?"

"Last year, Shi Guizhi and her family went to Guangdong Province in a hurry. They came back two days ago and said they were leaving again just to hold a wedding."

Not long after buying the house, He Liang decided to take his parents to Guangdong to show his filial piety, saying that he wanted to take them out for more travels while his parents were still healthy.

Wang Nian naturally supported it very much. After Shi Xiangming retired, he and his wife would also go around to see the beautiful rivers and mountains of their motherland.

"Then I was wrong to blame them." Hu Wenli said quickly.

Last year, He Liang brought his wife back to Anhuai to live with his family. I heard that not long after that, the family bought a house and moved to a new home. It seems that they have never been to Guanghua Street since then.

To be honest, Hu Wenli didn't have a very good impression of Shi Guizhi's son and daughter-in-law.

My parents had lived in my uncle's house for almost a year, and then they just left. No relatives have come to visit since then.

Hu Wenli privately complained to Lao Xiao about He Liang and his wife being heartless, but she never realized that she was just being petty.

"Speaking of houses, I heard from Shi Xiangming that you guys are also planning to buy a house?"

Wang Nian and Hu Wenli became friends, and Shi Xiangming and Lao Xiao also became closer. When they were having lunch and chatting in the cafeteria at noon, they talked about the conversion of public housing into private housing.

"I was just hoping you could give me some advice."

Hu Wenli knew very well that the reason why Lao Xiao told Shi Xiangming what the couple discussed was because he knew that their knowledge and brains were not good enough, and it would be better to find a reliable person to help make decisions.

"Is the rent payment not enough?"

"No." Hu Wenli shook her head, stood up, patted the mud off her palms and continued, "The money is enough, but Lao Xiao wanted to take this opportunity to buy a bigger house. The house we live in now is fine for the three of us, but if we have a daughter-in-law in the future... how can we let the girl squeeze into such a small house with us?"

Old Xiao was inspired by Wang Nian's family and decided to buy such a big house, at least so that the child would have a room to sleep alone in the future.

Now the three members of the Xiao family are squeezed into one bedroom and one living room, and Xiao Kangping can only sleep in the living room.

"Have you found a house you like?" With just one sentence, Wang Nian guessed that Hu Wenli must have found a house she likes, but the price is too high and she is currently hesitating.

"No. 19, Guanghua Street." Hu Wenli pointed to the right and said, "Why don't you come with me and take a look now?"

"Number nineteen?"

Wang Nian's home is at No. 15. Logically, No. 19 should be nearby, but she didn't hear any news about which family nearby was selling their house.

Zhou Yuying lives at No. 18, but Wang Nian often goes there, so she didn't notice that there is No. 19 next door...

Hu Wenli is a person who will do whatever she says she will do. She didn't care about anything else at the moment and pulled Wang Nian out to see.

19 Kwong Wah Street.

There really is such a house number, but the house is not next to No. 18, but in the alley to the right behind the video store.

It turned out that there was an alley here. Unlike Wang Nian's house, which had front and back yards next to the crosswalk, there was actually a large area of ​​houses if we continued walking further in.

It’s just that the alley leading into Guanghua Street is too narrow, and people usually go in and out from the other side, so Wang Nian usually doesn’t notice it at all.

The architectural styles of the houses are varied, including Chinese courtyard houses and red brick buildings, and No. 19 is the only two-story Western-style building among them.

The white walls and orange-red sloping roofs are a typical foreign style.

It must have been modified by the owner during this period. The window frames and doors are both green wooden frames, which look a bit out of place when mixed together.

"This half of the house is another family's, and the house on the right is the one to be sold."

No wonder there are two doors next to each other in the middle, and a wall more than half a person's height built in the middle.

There were several pairs of shoes and a lot of miscellaneous items placed on the wall. There was even a spittoon next to the wall, and a faint smell of urine wafted over.

Wang Nian frowned and said nothing.

The structure of the house is also in the shape of a U, with a high wall in the middle dividing the yard into two parts.

The main house has two floors, with a bedroom and a living room on the first floor, two rooms on the second floor, and a kitchen on the right side of the yard.

Wang Nian took a quick look around the room and finally lay down by the back window of the living room.

Through the window you can see a small yard behind the house, half of which is planted with weeds and half with vegetables, and you can also hear the cries of chickens and ducks.

"Is this yard yours or the one next door?" Wang Nian asked after taking a look.

"The landlord said that it was temporarily given to the neighbors and we would take it back after we bought the house," said Hu Wenli.

"Does he want it or do you guys go get it yourself?"

"That's not what I said."

"I don't think we can get this backyard back." Wang Nian pointed to the hoes standing in the corner and said, "The yard next door has been used for more than a year."

There were several spider webs connecting the hoe head and the wall, which didn't look like it had been borrowed for some time.

Afterwards, Wang Nian turned his gaze to the window and pushed it open with great effort. With a creaking sound, the shoes drying on the windowsill fell down.

"Look at the watermark on the windowsill. It must have taken years to form it."

Hu Wenli took a closer look and her brows couldn't help but frown.

The several gray-brown watermarks on the windowsill had long since seeped into the wall. If it hadn't been exposed to the sun for many years, there would have been no way such deep marks would have appeared.

"It must have been a long time since the window was opened." Wang Nian shook his head: "You can ask someone about the family next door and make a decision."

If you want to be completely independent and not be affected by your neighbors, then your neighbors won't be a consideration.

But for a divided house like this, with the backyards still connected, it would be very miserable to live there if the neighbors don't get along well with each other.

Hu Wenli nodded.

The two of them went to the backyard, which further confirmed Wang Nian's guess that the neighbors didn't get along well.

The yard next door is half-hardened, and the stone benches and fruit trees are kept quite clean, but on this side... the chicken coop stinks and the vegetable garden is filled with the smell of feces.

Hu Wenli covered her mouth and nose, feeling extremely disgusted.

“I almost got cheated.”

When they came to see the house, they were completely deceived by the other party's words that the ceiling was collapsing. They were happy that they would have a yard to grow some vegetables in the future.

"Go out and ask." Wang Nian suggested.

The two walked a few steps further into the alley and soon saw several old men and women sunbathing in front of a small shop.

The masters were playing chess. Wang Nian went over to watch for a while, and soon asked casually about the situation of No. 19.

"Number 19! Are you here to buy a house?"

It seemed that the master must know the situation of No. 19. He raised his head and looked at Wang Nian with a complicated look.

Wang Nian nodded hurriedly: "I live in No. 15 in front. I heard that No. 19 was for sale, so I quickly asked my sister to come and take a look."

"Are you the owner of [Home Restaurant]?" The eldest master shouted, immediately attracting the attention of many people.

Wang Nian nodded reluctantly.

"My granddaughter is having lunch at your restaurant." The old man's attitude changed instantly, and he happily asked the two to sit down: "I went to check it out. When the restaurant can offer lunch for the elderly, I will definitely go to take care of the business."

The old man is a retired worker. His son and daughter-in-law go to work, and his granddaughter goes to school. At noon, he is the only old man left at home to take care of the couple.

The granddaughter went home and asked her grandfather to go to the restaurant for lunch no less than ten times. Fifty cents was better than having to cook cold rice with boiling water at home.

After talking so much, the old man wanted to find out what was going on.

This one looks really good. The restaurant looks clean and tidy, all the dishes are freshly cooked, and the color, aroma and taste are at least quite good.

The old man was 100% sincere in saying this. As long as Wang Nian said that adults could also eat student meals, he would go to get lunch at noon.

Unfortunately, Wang Nian just smiled apologetically and said, "We are just two people and can't handle it right now. When we have more staff in the restaurant, we will prepare more for the convenience of our neighbors."

"That's a deal." The old man took advantage of the situation and continued, "We have at least a dozen masters and mistresses who can take care of your business."

"Of course, of course." Wang Nian smiled.

"Since we are neighbors, it is convenient to talk about some things." The eldest grandfather raised his chin towards House No. 19 and said, "You'd better not wade into that muddy water."

The family affairs at No. 19 Guanghua Street were nothing new to these old neighbors.

Before their parents died, they divided the house equally between the two siblings in order to show fairness.

In theory, this is a good thing, as the two siblings can take care of each other after living next door.

The bad thing is that the eldest son and his wife think that the house should only belong to the son, and how can a married daughter have the face to share the house.

"Yu Lao Da's son just wants to take over this house for himself!" said an old lady.

These two people pissed off their parents to death, but they moved in with a clear conscience and even took advantage of the aunt's family next door.

There's a big fight every three days and a small fight every two days. No normal person can stand it.

In the end, my aunt and her family had no choice but to move out, thinking that if they sold the house, my nephew and his wife would finally be at peace.

"I think their purpose is to buy the house cheaply." The eldest master revealed the two people's thoughts in one sentence.

Precisely because she knew what her neighbors were thinking, Yu Erniang always chose working hours to let others come to view the house.

Both times, they were discovered at the final stage of payment, and the niece-in-law brought people to make trouble, resulting in no deal being reached in the end.

"If you ask me, Yu Erniang is not a good person either. She is just cheating people by doing this!" The eldest master looked disdainful and knocked the armrest of the bamboo chair with his pipe. "As for how the two families will quarrel after the house is sold, it has nothing to do with her."

"The price is not cheap." said Wang Nian.

According to a rough estimate, the area of ​​the house, including the courtyard in the middle, is only about 100 square meters, but Yu Er Niang asked for 20,000 yuan.

It is more than three times more expensive than the current average house price of 60 yuan in Anhui City. I believe most people are attracted by the location and front and back yards of the house.

What the eldest master said is absolutely right, Yu Er Niang is indeed cheating people.

"Both families are dishonest."

"Don't be fooled. Boss Yu's son is a scoundrel. We can't afford to offend him."

"That house is a pit. You can't touch it at all."

The uncles and aunts were talking at the same time to persuade the two of them. During the conversation, one of the aunts mentioned inadvertently that two other families were also selling their houses, and Wang Nian's eyes lit up.

"Auntie, where are the two families who are selling their houses?"

"It's this old man's family. Ask him." The old lady pointed at the old man who answered first and said, "It's old man Xu who wants to sell his house."

"Master?" Wang Nian turned around and looked.

Mr. Xu was a little reluctant when he mentioned selling the house. After a long while, he sighed and stood up on his knees: "Come with me to take a look."

On the way there, the master explained why he was somewhat reluctant.

The eldest son died on the battlefield less than two years after his marriage, leaving the orphan and the widow to live with the couple.

The second son is capable. He was one of the first batch of college students arranged by the country to study abroad in the early years. However, that guy has no conscience. Not only did he not return to China after graduation, he also secretly took his wife and children abroad.

The house was originally given to the second son, but later when registering the house in Anhuai City, Grandpa Xu registered the house under the name of his granddaughter. It had been vacant before that.

"The house is a bit old. It will cost a lot of money to renovate it, but it will be uninhabitable if it is not renovated." Grandpa Xu described the condition of the house in great detail.

Because the family couldn't afford to rebuild the house, the house has remained empty.

But the less popular a house is, the faster it will fall apart. We are afraid that one day it will collapse and cause trouble to the houses of our neighbors next door.

So Grandpa Xu's wife suggested selling the house and leaving the money for his granddaughter to go to college.

As they were talking, a really dilapidated yard appeared before their eyes.

"My grandfather spent his whole life teaching before buying this house. It's such a pity that it has fallen into such a state in my hands..."

This also explains why Grandpa Xu was reluctant. No one would be happy to sell the house they had lived in since childhood.

"It's quite big, but..." Hu Wenli stood at the door and didn't want to go in. Her face was full of embarrassment: "You don't have money to repair it, and I don't have money either!"

If they had money, there would be no need for them to go through so much trouble to buy a house.

The yard covers an area of ​​at least 700 to 800 square meters. Just by standing outside the door, you can see that a lot of tiles on the roof of the west wing are missing.

"It's okay if you don't want to buy. I'll take you to see another place."

Grandpa Xu had no intention of taking the two people in. Seeing a hint of reluctance in Hu Wenli's words, he immediately waved his hand.

Wang Nian looked up at the plaque hanging on the gate of the courtyard, and suddenly an idea came to his mind.

"Master Xu, can you take me in to have a look?"

"This comrade doesn't want to buy it. It looks like you want to buy it?"

"If it's appropriate..." Wang Nian smiled and reached out to tap the door ring lightly: "I have always liked the architectural style left by our ancestors. It's good to have both heaven and earth."

"The boss lady is quite knowledgeable." Grandpa Xu nodded with a smile, and in the blink of an eye, a bunch of keys appeared in his hand: "If I really like someone, I will be happy to sell it to you, even at a lower price."

This yard originally had two courtyards. During the revolutionary period, people were accused of being big landlords, and the backyard was demolished and turned into a toilet.

If their eldest son had not died, they would have been able to keep the remaining few houses by virtue of their status as a martyr's family.

So this courtyard originally had two entrances, but now only the wall remains.

There are three main rooms and one side room, three side rooms on each side, and a persimmon tree planted in the middle of the front yard.

After walking around the yard, I found that the degree of damage was even more serious than it looked from the outside.

The main house is a large tiled house made of green bricks, but the side rooms are made of mud tiles, and straw can be seen on the mud walls. It is estimated that they have become dilapidated buildings a long time ago.

"This house is no different from a rebuilt one." Wang Nian poked the wall lightly with his finger, and several small pieces of dirt rolled down instantly.

"If the house is habitable, we can release the news this morning and sell it this afternoon." Grandpa Xu was quite confident about this.

A plot of land of nearly 800 square meters in the city center must be worth a lot of money, not to mention that it is privately owned and can be bought and sold at any time.

However, because the cost of renovation is so high, most people would back off after just taking a look from a distance.

"How much are you going to sell?" Wang Nian asked directly.

Grandpa Xu is right. Although this house is almost a reconstruction, there are many places that can be modified.

Wang Nian estimated the location outside the backyard and found that the gate of the design institute should be about ten meters away, which means Shi Xiangming could reach the unit in the time it takes to burp.

The key is...this location is destined to increase in value.

Even if you don't live in the house yourself, you are guaranteed to make a profit by selling it after a few years.

"One hundred thousand for one price!" Grandpa Xu held out two fingers and crossed them, still without any expectation on his face: "No bargaining."

Hu Wenli was so shocked that she covered her mouth with her hands.

It is estimated that Lao Xiao could not save 100,000 yuan in her entire working life. She never even dreamed that she could have that much money.

"One hundred thousand..." Wang Nian only thought about it for a moment, then nodded: "One hundred and twenty-five yuan per square meter, this price is higher than Yong'an Road."

Yong'an Road is next to the city government, and it is a formal ring road.

"It's up to you whether you buy it or not." Grandpa Xu smiled and picked up a broom and waved it under the eaves.

Wang Nian glanced across the yard again and said happily, "Buy!"

Hu Wenli opened her mouth wide.

He just bought it for 100,000 yuan without even going back to discuss it with Shi Xiangming.

In other words... all the money in the family must be with Wang Nian, and one hundred thousand yuan is nothing to them.

For a moment, Hu Wenli just wanted to ask how much Shi Xiangming earned every month...

"Why don't you go back and discuss it with your wife?" Hu Wenli was not the only one who was surprised. Grandpa Xu also looked surprised.

"I'll bring him here tomorrow morning. If he's suitable, we'll come to you to handle the formalities."

"Okay." Grandpa Xu shook his head and chuckled. The huge stone in his heart seemed to fall to the ground at this moment, and the last bit of resistance disappeared.

Wang Nian didn't expect that he was just here to accompany a guest, but he bought a yard first.

The next step was to get back to business, so I smiled and hurriedly asked Grandpa Xu to show me the next house.

He bought the house from an old friend only last year. At that time, he just used the excuse to raise some money for his old friend's self-defense. The house has been empty since he bought it.

There is nothing special about the house, but you can see that the previous owner took good care of it and maintained everything well.

It is a two-story small western-style building with four rooms and a living room. The front and back yards together cover an area of ​​about 70 to 80 square meters.

Apart from a bedroom on the first floor that doesn't have very good lighting, there's nothing wrong with this house... and you have to add the high price!

The house is priced at $15,000 and I won’t bargain.

Although she fell in love with the house at first sight, the high price still deterred Hu Wenli.

Fifteen thousand was equivalent to draining away all the money that the couple had saved for more than ten years in one night. After buying the house, they couldn't even afford to buy furniture.

"If you ask me, I support you buying it."

Wang Nian also changed his previous dislike for House No. 19 and tried his best to persuade Hu Wenli to consider buying it.

Not only is the house square and clean, its independence alone makes it superior to all public housing, and its potential for future appreciation is also unlimited.

"If you don't buy it, I will buy it as well."

Finally, Wang Nian's words made Hu Wenli finally make up her mind.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and she is planning to do the same as Wang Nian and make a decision after Lao Xiao comes to see it.

Following Wang Nian’s choice...it’s always right!