Lin Li listened to the master craftsman's words while carefully touring the place.
In the courtyard, an old locust tree occupies the central position, its lush branches and leaves almost blocking out half the sky.
A few withered yellow leaves lay scattered under the tree, and several wild chrysanthemums grew wildly in the corner of the wall.
The door to the main room was ajar. Through the crack, you could see several pieces of old-fashioned furniture inside. Although covered in dust, their original exquisiteness was still faintly discernible.
Seeing Lin Li preparing to walk towards the main house, the master craftsman also stood up and led the way.
Pushing open the door to the main house, sunlight streamed in: "Look, although this house is quite old, the beams are sturdy, and the bricks and tiles are all made of high-quality materials. There's enough space to park a bicycle in the front yard, and you can even grow some vegetables in the backyard."
"Yes! It's beautiful!"
Lin Li looked around and nodded. She was very satisfied with this courtyard house.
"Shall we go explore other places?"
"good!"
Lin Li followed the old master's figure to the backyard.
The fence in the backyard was a bit crooked, and there were several old flower pots piled up in the corner, with a few tender green grass sprouting from the soil.
She was increasingly satisfied with what she saw!
"Master, I want this house." Lin Li's voice was firm and strong.
The old master looked at her with surprise: "Young lady, have you thought this through? This is no small amount."
"I've made up my mind." Lin Li pulled out her savings book from her pocket. "I've saved up some money over the years, and this courtyard house is just what I want!"
"Once you've made up your mind, that's fine!"
The old master craftsman glanced at the passbook in Lin Li's hand and smiled. "Then let's go to the bank to transfer the money first, and I'll take you to complete the transfer procedures tomorrow."
"Okay!"
After completing the transfer and arranging a meeting place and time with the master for the next day, Lin Li took the bus and swayed back to the guesthouse.
The next day, Lin Li got up very early, as she had a very busy day ahead of her.
First, I need to go to the housing management station in Dongcheng District to complete the formalities, and then I need to go to B University to find Professor Li.
When Lin Li left the guesthouse in a hurry, she didn't even notice that several little tails were following her!
After finally finding the housing management station, they saw the old man already waiting at the door. He smiled and said something to Lin Li, who was covered in sweat.
"Don't rush, the door's just opened!"
Lin Li looked at the newly opened door, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her face, and smiled, "I'm not familiar with this place, I've been looking for a long time!"
"It's alright, you'll get used to it once you live here longer!"
As the experienced worker spoke, he led Lin Li into the housing management station.
Upon entering the housing management station, the room was filled with the smell of old paper mixed with ink.
Several wooden desks were pieced together, and the desks were piled high with documents and files.
There weren't many people there, so the experienced worker led Lin Li straight to a staff member wearing black-rimmed glasses who was looking through documents.
"Comrade, there's a courtyard house here that we'd like to transfer ownership to."
The staff looked up at the veteran worker and greeted him warmly.
"Did you sell another house?"
"Yes, isn't that why we brought people here to complete the transfer procedures?"
As the old craftsman spoke, he asked Lin Li for her identification, and then handed over the sales contract and the original homeowner's identification.
The staff member took a look and smiled at the experienced worker, saying, "You're so meticulous! You've handled all the paperwork perfectly, saving us a lot of trouble!"
"Hahaha!" The old master craftsman laughed heartily, then said modestly, "Not at all, not at all!"
After the experienced worker finished registering the information, he took Lin Li and left the housing management station.
Before parting, he handed her the keys to the courtyard house. "The housing management station still needs to check the documents, which will take a few days. You go and get the house ready first. Once everything is done here, I'll bring you the property certificate!"
"Thanks!"
Lin Li took the keys, her face beaming with joy. She finally owned her first courtyard house in Beijing!
Seeing Lin Li's beaming smile, the old man's wrinkles deepened. He waved to her and walked towards the center of the real estate agency.
Lin Li glanced at the time on her wrist; it was almost time to meet Professor Li, so she hurriedly prepared to take the bus back.
As she turned into a slightly secluded alley, Lin Li quickened her pace involuntarily. This shortcut was the one the old man had pointed out earlier, saying it would save her several minutes.
Withered vines climbed all over the blue brick wall, rustling in the wind.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from behind. Before Lin Li could turn around, a dark figure darted out from the side and grabbed the canvas bag she was carrying.
"Let go!" Lin Li gripped the canvas bag strap tightly and kicked it out.
The man was wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled low, covering most of his face. He was dressed in faded blue overalls and had a pungent smell of sweat mixed with cheap tobacco.
Because of Lin Li's sudden kick, he staggered and fell to the ground!
A few barks came from deep within the alley, and the faint sound of bicycle bells could be heard in the distance.
Lin Li glanced at the man and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Thief! Robbery!"
The man in the baseball cap panicked. He hurriedly stood up and lunged at Lin Li again...
One punch, two punches...
Every punch landed squarely, making a loud thud!
Despite the excruciating pain, the man gritted his teeth, grabbed the fire poker he had left in the alley, and swung it at her!
'Click,' 'Bang!'
The man fell to the ground again!
Just then, hurried footsteps came from not far away, and a deep male voice shouted, "What are you doing!"
"Comrade, he's robbing us!"
Lin Li hugged the canvas bag tightly to her chest and pointed at the man in the baseball cap who had fallen to the ground.
Seeing the crowd gathering, the man in the baseball cap struggled to his feet, clutching his stomach, and tried to turn and run away.
Before Lin Li could deliver another kick, he had already been subdued by the enthusiastic crowd around him.
"Call the police! There's a robber here!"
Before long, a kind citizen led two police officers in dark blue uniforms and peaked caps to walk over quickly.
"Officer, there's a robber here!"
When the man was immediately handcuffed and taken away by the police, his baseball cap was nowhere to be seen, revealing a head of greasy, tangled hair.
His faded work pants had large holes at the knees, and were stained with fragments of bluestone and dark red blood.
He suddenly shouted, "I'm not a robber! She's my wife. This morning she wanted to take all the money in the house back to her parents' house, and we argued because I disagreed. I'm not a robber!"
? ? ?
The scene fell completely silent!
The police loosened their grip on the man a little, and the surrounding crowd, watching Lin Li and the man with gossipy expressions, slowly began to whisper among themselves.
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