As darkness fell, Fang Meili's family finished dinner, and Yuan Xinkang drove to Yu Jihong's house to pick them up.
"Merry, we're fine as we are. You didn't need to come to pick us up."
"You've brought your things with you, just bring them up to the door."
Yu Jihong and Fang Yu took the things out, and Yuan Xinkang put them in the car. Yuan Tingting was already sitting inside. When she saw them get in, she moved to the side and said, "Sister Fang Yu, sit next to me."
The engine started, and the car bumped its way out of the village, leaving only its silhouette swaying in the night.
Fang Meili, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and said, "I was planning to go back to the county town to open the shop after lunch, but a group of guests came to my house, so it's not convenient to leave now."
"I'm busy all year round, so one more afternoon won't make a difference," Yu Jihong said.
"Yes, once the door opens, we'll be seeing Lunar New Year's Eve again."
"That's how it is when you open a shop; it's easy to open one, but hard to keep it going. And you've kept it going for so many years."
"Yes, I've been doing this for so many years. How many years? I started the year I got married, in 1984, so it's been 15 years."
Fang Meili and Yu Jihong chatted, while Yuan Tingting and Fang Yu whispered among themselves.
The car drove onto the asphalt road, becoming much smoother. The headlights drew two streaks of light in the night, and the minivan, carrying a full load of people chatting idly, headed towards the county town.
Upon arriving in the county town, they stopped by a tree near the stairwell. Yuan Xinkang got out of the car and unloaded their belongings. "Let's take them up together," Fang Meili said as she got out.
"No need, no need, Fang Yu and I can carry it up in one trip," Yu Jihong said. "Oh, Mei Li, you two come up and sit down."
"No, no, we brought so many things from home, we need to go back and sort them out."
"Okay!"
Opening the room door, I saw that it was small and had been closed for the past few days. A warm feeling wafted out. "I was talking to Meili in the car just now. We didn't go to see any houses before school started."
"Are you going to buy it in a few days?" Fang Yu asked.
"Take advantage of these few days before school starts to look around. If you find something suitable, buy it as soon as possible. I've lived here for half a year and I quite like it. But if we buy it, we won't have to pay rent when we live in our own place, and you'll have your own room too."
"good."
The streets of the county town in the first month of the lunar calendar were still immersed in the lingering atmosphere of the New Year. Red lanterns swayed in front of shops, and occasionally a few belated firecrackers would explode, leaving a faint smell of gunpowder in the air.
Yu Jihong and Fang Yu have been running around the county town for the past few days, from brick and wood houses in old alleys to newly developed apartment buildings. Their legs are sore from all the running, but they are happy.
"Mom, I think house hunting is quite interesting. I wonder what kind of house we're going to see next, and what the scene will be like when we open the door?" Fang Yu was still excitedly reminiscing about the balcony of the house she had just seen.
“Now that you mention it, it’s true.” Yu Jihong replied with a smile, “Back in the countryside, I just thought that when I had money, I would build a house that was similar to everyone else’s. I’ve never seen so many different layouts.”
"Yes, just like the first-floor apartment with the small yard yesterday. The old lady planted so many roses in the yard; it must look especially beautiful in the summer. And this balcony today, it's so comfortable to sunbathe in the winter."
"Compare prices at three different places. Buying a house is a big deal. We need to consider the environment and the price. Come on up, let's go see the next one."
Fang Yu sat on the back of the bicycle, pressed her face against her mother's back, and smelled her mother's faint scent, feeling at ease and warm inside.
Finally, I chose a 70-square-meter two-bedroom apartment recommended by Fang Meili. Pushing open the wooden door painted with light green paint, a refreshing breeze wafted in. There was no musty smell of the old house, only the faint scent of fresh lime and wood.
To the left of the entrance is the living room, and to the right is the kitchen. Outside the living room is a south-facing balcony with a laundry sink and clothesline. Sunlight streams through the bright glass windows, warmly bathing the floor and making one feel lazy. Fang Yu fell in love with this place at first sight, imagining herself basking in the sun in a small recliner in winter and hanging up freshly washed clothes to dry in the summer evenings.
“We haven’t lived in this house for very long, and it’s still very well maintained. My daughter and son-in-law are very clean, and they used good materials for the renovation. They are selling it because they want to buy a house in the city for their work,” said the original owner’s mother.
Yu Jihong stood in the center of the living room, looking around. Fang Yu peeked into the bedroom from the doorway. Yu Jihong walked over and asked with a smile, "What do you think?"
"It's very good." Fang Yu was also very satisfied.
"Sister, we really like the house. Could you talk to your daughter about the price and get a discount?" Yu Jihong countered.
"It's not expensive. The surrounding environment here is nice. It wasn't cheap when we bought it. You were introduced by an acquaintance, so we didn't ask for a higher price."
"Sister, could you ask your daughter and son-in-law for us again? A sold house is like a married daughter. If the buyer takes good care of the house, you can come and sit for a while when you have time. It will make you feel comfortable."
“You might say that you two are both clean and tidy people and will keep the house tidy, so I'll talk to my daughter and son-in-law about it. But this house belongs to them, and I can't make the decision for them. They have to decide for themselves.”
“Okay, no rush. We’ll buy it next month, when my daughter turns 18, and then we’ll buy it in her name.”
The older woman's smile softened instantly. She looked at Yu Jihong with a sense of sudden understanding and resonance in her eyes.
The older sister was silent for a few seconds, as if she was thinking about something, then sighed, her tone tinged with emotion, "You think far ahead. A mother always thinks about how to protect her daughter."
Yu Jihong smiled at her but did not answer.
The older sister reached out and patted Yu Jihong's hand. "Okay, I understand. I'll talk to my daughter and them about the timing. They're still looking at houses, so we'll try to wait a little longer. As for the price, I've already said it depends on their own wishes."
"Okay, thank you for your help. We'll head back now."
On the way back, Fang Yu asked, "Mom, the money to buy the house was earned by you and Dad through hard work, so why is my name on the deed?"
"Silly girl, everything in our family will be yours in the future, so we can just put it in your name. Mom wants to give you a stable home, no matter what happens in the future. I want you to be able to live a peaceful and secure life in the county town."
The conversation returned to the topic of housing. "If I buy this house, I won't have to spend money on renovations. I can move in after a quick cleaning, which saves me money and effort. We won't have time for renovations once school starts."
It was indeed almost time for the start of the new school year. Kindergarten registration had begun, and Yu Jihong was still in the same class as Fang Yu. The teachers started decorating the classroom to welcome the children, and the childcare workers came to clean.
Parents of returning students register and take them home, then they come back when classes start. For some new students, parents bring them over to see the classroom and familiarize them with the environment.
Yu Jihong was wiping the glass of the activity room with a rag.
"Ji Hong?" a tentative voice came from the side. "Is that Ji Hong?"
Yu Jihong turned around abruptly, nearly dropping the rag in her hand. Beside her stood Xiufeng, a neighbor from her maternal village, holding a little boy's hand.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com