Chapter 77
It is said that a mother is strong, and Qin Xiang saw the true meaning of this sentence from her sister.
But think about it, she was just like this in her previous life. She went through all kinds of hardships for her two children. She accompanied them to eat, drink and play, arranged the best schools for them, used all kinds of connections to arrange the best teachers, provided all the conditions she could, and even studied with the children to prepare for the college entrance examination.
But her contribution was far less than the few meals Aunt Cui cooked and the little favors she promised.
Qin Xiang shook her head and glanced at Nian Nian. Every child is different. In her previous life, after her sister's death, Zhao Qianjin quickly married a new wife. With a stepmother, there's a stepmother. Poor Nian Nian had been trapped in the Zhao family's cage, suffering utterly. She had wanted to take Nian Nian home, but the child had developed mental problems and wouldn't let anyone get close. Right before her death, the Zhao family threatened Nian Nian. Her parents, heartbroken, pooled their money and brought her home to raise her. When she died, no one knew what became of her.
"Auntie, I like it here."
Nian Nian's voice brought Qin Xiang back to her senses. She smiled and asked Nian Nian, "Why do you like this place?"
Nian Nian pointed to the children not far away who were calling her to play with them and said, "They don't call me a loser. Grandma praises me for being a good child."
A child's world is always the purest, but sometimes they are also the most easily influenced by adults. The children at the chemical factory, having heard Gao Yulan scold Nian Nian so often, would surely have picked up on her. The children here, unaware of Nian Nian's situation, may have simply thought she was being playful, hence their kindness.
Qin Juan listened to Nian Nian's words and hugged her tightly. "We'll live here." She looked at Qin Xiang. "If the money is not enough, I need to lend you some."
Qin Xiang agreed immediately, "Okay."
Qin Juan was so determined to buy the house here that Qin Xiang was also happy. She looked at Qin Juan seriously and said, "Sister, I don't think it will be a loss if I buy the house here."
Qin Juan laughed, "Well, I know. As long as it's good for Nian Nian, I'm willing to do anything."
In this life, she is Nian Nian's only support, and Nian Nian is also her only support. For Nian Nian, she has to struggle hard to stand up.
She remembers how good her brother and sister are to her, but she can't always cause trouble for them.
So Qin Juan mustered up the courage to ask the landlord for information. The landlord was kind enough to say, "It's probably almost time to get off work. They usually come back at noon these days, so they'll probably be back soon."
As she was talking, the old lady laughed. She pointed at the gate and said, "Here comes Director Qi and his wife."
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiang and others looked towards the gate and saw two people who looked like cadres coming in.
The old lady smiled and said, "Lao Qi, someone is looking for a house. I recommended your house. Can you talk to them?"
Director Qi was shocked. "No more, Sister Liu, thank you very much."
Aunt Liu waved her hand and said, "Don't be polite. We all live in the same compound." She leaned closer to Director Qi and said, "Let me tell you, not many people are buying houses these days. If you want to sell, you'd better do it quickly, otherwise you don't know who will buy it next time."
When living in the city, everyone's housing is mainly solved by the unit. There are not many units like breweries that are profitable enough to be allocated housing. Many state-owned units have problems surviving, let alone being allocated housing.
Even in this situation, few people are willing to buy a house. Lack of awareness is one factor, but the main issue is money. Some families have several working people, but in the city, everything costs money, and with many children, few can afford to spend that much money all at once.
Aunt Liu also had good intentions. Director Qi nodded and said, "Okay, I'll talk to them."
Director Qi looked at Qin Xiang and the others. Director Qi's wife Liu Meijuan also said, "Let's go up and take a look and chat."
Qin Xiang and the others breathed a sigh of relief because the other person had a good attitude. He seemed to be easy to talk to.
And with her third brother around, Qin Xiang wasn't worried and followed the couple upstairs.
When going upstairs, he met several neighbors on the second floor, and Director Qi greeted them with a smile.
Someone asked Qin Xiang and others, and Director Qi said, "I came to look at the house."
Qin Xiang and the others followed along all the way. When they arrived at Director Qi's house, Liu Meijuan opened the door and said embarrassedly, "I've been packing up recently, so the house is a bit messy."
After opening the door, the helpless situation was obvious. The living room was right at the entrance, but there was also a bed against the wall. There was also a wall on the east side that was broken through, and there was also a bedroom inside.
The house was indeed a bit messy as Liu Aijuan said, and some things were already being packed up, in preparation for selling the house and moving to a new one.
Director Qi brought a bench for them to sit on and asked, "Who will buy this house?"
Qin Xiang glanced at Qin Juan, and Qin Juan tightened her fingers and said, "I'll buy it."
Director Qi then looked at her and said, "You've seen the house. The land is good, and it's very close to the Experimental Primary School. The asking price is 800. If you accept, I can go with you this afternoon to handle the transfer procedures."
Qin Juan calculated her savings, which totaled only about 600 yuan. Even if she took out all the money, it still wouldn't be enough. She asked nervously, "Director Qi, can the price be any lower?"
Director Qi frowned, "My price is not low anymore."
Before Qin Juan could say anything, Qin Xiang said, "Director Qi, you know it's not easy to buy or sell a house these days. For 750 yuan, can we pay you in cash this afternoon to handle the formalities? To be honest, we're also looking at houses elsewhere. Honestly, we don't need a lot of space for just the two of us. Isn't that right?"
Hearing this, Director Qi looked at her a few more times, and then thought about this problem. What Qin Xiang said was right. It is not easy to sell or buy a house now. In fact, their house had been rumored to be for sale for a long time, but when someone came to inquire about it, they left as soon as they heard the price, or they bargained down to five or six hundred. At this time, Director Qi didn't even want to say anything and just drove the person away.
Seven hundred and fifty dollars was the highest offer he had ever heard.
Director Qi also wanted to sell it for a high price, but the situation was bad and his family was waiting for the money, so selling it for 800 yuan was probably a bit difficult. He glanced at his wife next to him and saw her nod. Director Qi gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, then 750 yuan, pay it in full. I'm waiting for the money, and I won't accept it in arrears."
Qin Xiang laughed. "Of course, we don't want to default. So let's arrange a time this afternoon to go and handle the formalities? Hand over the money and the keys."
Director Qi saw that Qin Xiang's words were quite effective, and nodded immediately. "Okay, then at two o'clock in the afternoon, we still need to pack up, but you have to give us a few days to move everything out. We don't want most of the furniture here anymore, so if you want to use it, keep it. If you don't want to use it, just tell us and we'll take it away."
Qin Juan was quite happy at the side. "We will use it. Thank you, Director Qi."
It is not easy to buy new furniture now without certain conditions and acquaintances. With Qin Juan's current savings, she will still owe money after buying a house, so it is even more impossible for her to buy new furniture.
Qin Juan was very happy when she thought that such a big house would belong to them. She looked at Nian Nian in her arms and said, "Niannian, this will be our home from now on."
It was already noon, and Qin Xiang took them to have lunch, then went home to get money to go to the housing management office.
Qin Xiang knew that Qin Juan didn't have much money, so she gave her three hundred yuan. "You still want to set up a stall, right? At least keep some money and buy the house first."
After a moment's consideration, Qin Juan accepted her sister's kindness and took out a pen and paper to write an IOU to Qin Xiang. "Brothers should be clear about accounts. I'm lending you these three hundred yuan. I'll pay you back as soon as I have money."
It is said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Qin Juan finally understood this at this time. Thinking about her mother and sister-in-law, and then looking at her younger sister and third brother, Qin Juan felt so emotional.
Qin Yang didn't use the money he took out, so he hugged Nian Nian and said, "Wait until this afternoon and your third uncle will take you to buy something delicious."
Qin Juan was helpless, "Don't buy too much, don't spoil the child."
But Qin Yang didn't listen at all, "Nian Nian will never be spoiled."
Nian Nian giggled in her third uncle's arms.
After getting their belongings ready, the three siblings went directly to the housing authority, handed over their money and keys, and had the title deed changed. When Qin Juan placed the belongings in her hands, she couldn't believe it. "Is this my house?"
Qin Xiang smiled and nodded, "Yes, this will be your and Nian Nian's home from now on."
Qin Juan stroked the words above, a happy smile on her lips, "That's great."
"That house is a little older, but there's nothing else to choose from." Director Qi sold the house. Although he didn't get the expected price, he was very satisfied. Thinking of the large house their family was about to buy, Director Qi was also very happy. He talked to them for a long time.
It was Liu Meijuan who urged him to go back and pack his things, and only then did Director Qi leave happily.
Seeing everyone happy, Qin Xiang was also very excited. "Let's go out for a good meal tonight to celebrate."
In the evening, Qin Xiang closed the shop early, called the staff to go to a nearby private restaurant to set up two tables, and even bought a bottle of Moutai.
At that time, a bottle of Moutai cost only eight yuan, which was much more affordable than the thousands of yuan it would later cost. Besides that, there would be some new changes next year. In addition to requiring money, you would also have to use foreign exchange coupons, so it would not be so easy to buy.
Qin Xiang poured a little for everyone and said, "Just try it. Drinking too much will cause trouble. I'll buy a few more bottles when we leave, and we can drink at home when we have time."
After eating and drinking to his heart's content, Qin Xiang actually bought six bottles before leaving. Six bottles cost him 48 yuan, which was equivalent to an ordinary worker's monthly salary.
Qin Juan felt pained when she saw this and advised, "Xiangxiang, why buy so much wine? Just drink it occasionally."
Qin Xiang was happy, "It's not a loss to buy it now."
She also wants to collect stamps, and she has to buy some when she has time. She will keep them and sell them to support herself in her old age even if she gets unlucky.
Qin Xiang felt very happy, and was even happier after drinking a little wine.
After returning home and washing up, she fell asleep directly. Qin Juan covered her with a blanket and couldn't help laughing, "She's still like a child."
Nian Nian tilted her head, "Auntie is not a child."
"Yes, Nian Nian is the one." Qin Juan touched her head. "Let's go and wash up. We're moving to a new house in a few days."
Who would have thought that a week ago she was still enduring the Zhao family's blame and Zhao Qianjin's beatings, but in just a few days, she not only got divorced but also bought a house.
Qin Juan couldn't help but take out the property deed again, carefully stroking her name on it with her hand, and couldn't help laughing, "That's great."
Qin Juan put the house deed away contentedly and lay down to sleep.
We'll be moving in a few days.
Knowing that Qin Xiang's sister and niece were here, the girls in the store were also very polite to Qin Juan. Of course, the girls liked the sensible Nian Nian more, and they would take Nian Nian out to play when they had nothing to do.
Qin Juan was also busy. In the evenings, she would go to the night market in the square to observe the food stalls, and then come back to think about what she should do. In addition to this, she also went to the vegetable market to ask about vegetable prices and wrote and drew all day long.
Three days later, on the appointed day, Qin Xiang and Qin Yang accompanied Qin Juan and her daughter to the brewery's family compound. Seeing them coming, Aunt Liu said cheerfully, "You're finally here. Director Qi's family moved out yesterday afternoon, and they left the key with me before they left."
The old lady went back to the house and took the key to Qin Xiang. "I've given you the keys. Go up and take a look."
Qin Juan thanked them and the group went upstairs. Although the room was not very clean, it was not difficult to clean it up. Things like the bed, the wardrobe and the dining table were a bit old, so Director Qi's family simply didn't want these things, and Qin Juan didn't have to buy any more.
However, Qin Juan plans to move the small bed outside into the bedroom. She plans to wait for two years until Nian Nian grows up and can sleep in her own bed. Now she can put some miscellaneous items in it.
After determining which things were acceptable and which were unwanted, all that was left was cleaning. The three adults swept the floor and cleaned the windows, and they cleaned the house in the morning.
Qin Xiang said, "It's hot in the summer now. Let's buy a reed mat to put underneath, and then put a cool mat and bed sheet on top. I have an extra blanket over there, so bring one over. Then slowly add the remaining quilts and other pots and pans."
"As long as the house is bought, there's no need to worry about the rest." Qin Xiang looked at the cleaned-up house, feeling extremely happy. She said to Qin Xiang, "I plan to take Nian Nian to register her household registration tomorrow and change her name at the same time."
Qin Xiang was very happy for her sister. "This is great. We won't have anything to do with the Zhao family anymore."
Qingshui County is some distance away from the provincial capital, and the provincial capital is so big that if I don’t go back, I will have fewer opportunities to see the Zhao family.
Even if she goes to the capital to attend university later, her third brother will be here to watch over her, so she won't have to worry.
After the house was cleaned up, Qin Yang changed the locks and checked the window latches to make sure there were no problems. Only then did he feel relieved.
The next day, Qin Juan took Nian Nian to register her household registration and changed her name at the same time.
The once unpopular Zhao Di changed her name to Qin Niannian before she even remembered her own real name.
Qin Niannian likes this name very much, and Qin Juan likes it too.
It was already late July, and the college entrance examination results would be out in a few days, but Qin Xiang had no time to think about it for the time being because someone had gone to inquire about the shops in the university town.
Even though no one came to inquire, Qin Xiang also planned to rent out the business. He posted a rental notice next to the storefront that needed to be rented out and waited for customers to come.
As for the room reserved for Qin Juan, Qin Xiang did not post it.
However, someone did ask which one it was, and Qin Xiang just said that he was keeping it for himself and didn't say much.
A few days later, Qin Juan prepared her tools and was ready to set up a snack stall. However, what she prepared was not anything else but braised meat. After Qin Xiang tasted it, she praised it highly, saying that it was better than the crafts she had specially learned in her previous life.
Qin Xiang said happily, "There's no problem opening a shop with this kind of craftsmanship, but I think the price of meat is still too high for a night market. I think why not add something else? Something that's good quality and inexpensive, suitable for a night market?"
Qin Juan was a little dumbfounded, "Then what should I sell?"
At this time, Qin Xiang suddenly remembered the spicy hot pot and oden that are indispensable in the night markets of the future. These things are not difficult to make. In her previous life, she also learned this in order to let her children eat healthier and not eat junk food. It was a good opportunity to teach it to her sister. Anyway, she did not plan to work in the catering industry in this life.
Qin Xiang smiled and said, "Come on, I'll make something delicious tonight, and you can try it and see if it tastes good."
So in the evening, Qin Xiang made a pot of spicy hot pot. Except for Nian Nian who couldn't handle spicy food, everyone else enjoyed it and found it very satisfying. Qin Juan's eyes lit up, "Qin Xiang, you are really good."
Qin Xiang didn't avoid Qin Juan when she was making it, and at this time she said, "This thing is not expensive, the only thing you need to pay attention to is the taste. You can practice it for a few days, and when you are good at it, you can go directly to the square to set up a stall."
She had already foreseen the place being packed with customers.
Qin Juan nodded happily, and for the next few days she kept making spicy hot pot according to the recipe Qin Xiang gave her. Although Qin Juan had a soft personality, she was very serious about her work and followed Qin Xiang's instructions strictly without any ambiguity.
For several days in a row, Qin Xiang and others ate spicy hot pot every day. After Qin Xiang finally nodded, Qin Juan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but said, "Xiangxiang, thanks to you, otherwise I really don't know what to do."
Qin Xiang comforted him, "Let's not talk too much. Let's set up the stall first."
Renting a stall, buying some stools, small tables, and all sorts of other things were a breeze, with Qin Yang and Zhao Ping helping out. For future convenience, Qin Juan gritted her teeth and bought a handcart to make it easier to haul things back and forth.
The first Malatang stall in the provincial capital opened.
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