The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

After the reform and opening up.

Private housing can now be freely bought and sold between individuals.

Housing prices in Beijing have started to rise, but the increase is mainly in apartments.

The buildings are now equipped with indoor heating, so there's no need to burn stoves every winter. It's comfortable to live in them, and going up and down the stairs doesn't make you feel superior.

But it's still much better than those crowded tenement courtyards, which don't have indoor toilets and where you have to carry a newspaper when you go out in winter. Xu Damao can't stand them anymore.

Moreover, due to historical issues, the buildings are much clearer. In the case of the large courtyard houses, some houses belonged to the factory, while others were occupied by families whose owners had "disappeared."

Like the house that Xu Damao is currently renting for the video arcade, the original owner passed away a few years ago, and his relatives took over the house. These kinds of houses are hard to deal with. If you buy one and it gets taken back, you'll lose everything.

Hongxing Community is great! There are many residents and the houses are big. The bedrooms can be used for living, and you can even open a small video arcade inside. The Hongxing factory is doing well, and the workers have money in their pockets.

Four hundred yuan, anyway, it was earned from Yan Bugui. His housing quota as a teacher at Hongxing Elementary School was unused at the time. Even though he retired, Yan Jiecheng was still in the factory and could use the quota to buy Qin Huairu's house and then transfer it to himself.

Xu Damao wouldn't skimp on money if it could be settled. Old Yan was a money-grubber; with 400 yuan to his name, he wouldn't be afraid to work. The house where someone had died had been vacant for so many years, so he figured the factory wouldn't ask for a high price.

Xu Damao had just left when Yan Bugui went out the door. He had invested three thousand yuan and earned six hundred, which was quite a lot of money for him.

Moreover, Xu Damao had agreed that once the house was settled, he would get the four hundred yuan. It was like a carrot tethered to a donkey's eyes, filling him with motivation.

First, go to the bank and deposit the money. Xu Damao's tape business has recently stopped, which means he can no longer make money. We have to get that four hundred yuan no matter what.

Once the house is in my hands, I'm not afraid he won't renege on his promise.

After depositing the money at the bank, Lao Yan rushed to Hongxing Elementary School. To be honest, the old man really knows how to get things done when there's a benefit to be had.

"Teacher Yan, why are you suddenly thinking about buying a house? Qin Huairu's house, haven't you heard? So many people died there. Don't you think that's bad luck?"

The old accountant, who was counting the abacus beads, was actually a retired employee of the factory's finance department. Schools have winter and summer vacations, so it's a good place to retire and still contribute some of his remaining energy.

However, the old accountant still didn't like Lao Yan very much. When he asked someone to do something, he didn't know to bring anything. He came empty-handed. The accountant could refuse to accept the gift, but if you didn't give him anything, it would seem like you were too calculating.

"Accountant Zheng, I'm getting on in years, and I'm used to living in a courtyard house. An apartment building is much more comfortable. Could you please help me ask around? If it works out, I'll definitely treat you to a meal!"

Old Yan's guarantee is utter nonsense. If he can't even produce anything at this point, then success is even more highly unlikely.

But the person being pestered got annoyed, and the old accountant finally picked up the phone on the table and made a call to the factory's finance department.

"The house is still in the factory and hasn't been sold yet. As for the current price, we need to ask the leaders. There's also the issue of quotas. You didn't participate in the fundraising back then, so now that you're back, it's best to have your son buy it. I remember your eldest son works in the factory; have him ask the workshop leader!"

After hanging up the phone, Accountant Zheng adjusted his glasses. He had helped make the call out of consideration for their past relationship. As for the rest, he left it to Old Yan's eldest son, telling him to ask the leader himself.

"Accountant Zheng, you deal with so many people, could you give me a rough estimate of how much the factory is preparing to sell? That way I'll have a better idea!"

Old Yan's butt was welded to the stool, so it was impossible for Yan Jiecheng to go and buy it. His eldest son was even more calculating than his father. If he could solve it himself, then he would solve it himself.

"House prices have probably risen quite a bit in the market. It's probably impossible to get the same price as the previous fundraising. A house in Hongxing Community should be worth three or four thousand yuan now. Although someone died in this house, it's on the first floor. The factory estimates it should be worth at least three thousand yuan!"

"Thank you, thank you Accountant Zheng, for taking the time to come to my house for a drink!"

Yan Bugui nodded with a smile. Since Xu Damao was paying for it, if the job was done well, he would get four hundred yuan, which would be equivalent to earning the money for half an apartment.

After leaving the school, Lao Yan slapped his thigh, regretting that he hadn't partnered with Xu Damao sooner. If he had done it two years earlier, he could have saved enough to buy several houses.

After running between Xu Damao's video arcade and factory for several days, acting as a middleman to communicate between the two sides, he finally got the keys and property certificate for the house after the price was agreed upon and the money was in place.

The price wasn't cheap, 3,200 yuan, which is 70 yuan per square meter. That's enough to buy several courtyard houses. Perhaps it's precisely because of the high price that it hasn't sold. According to the factory, although someone died, it happened more than ten years ago, and they need to be materialistic and not indulge in feudal superstition.

With the keys and property certificate in hand, before the rightful owner, Xu Damao, even arrived, Old Yan's children immediately went home.

Adults and children alike came. Old Yan had no idea where these bastards had found out. Judging from their fawning smiles, it was obvious what they were after.

"Dad, I've been busy at the factory lately and haven't had time to visit you. How are you feeling? I got two pounds of pork ribs; Mom will stew them for you tonight to help you recover!"

As the eldest son, Yan Jiecheng glared at his younger siblings, then shoved his arm aside and began massaging his father, Old Yan's, shoulders.

Wow, this is the first time in decades that Old Yan has ever tasted such a flattering approach.

"Dad, why did you sell Qin Huairu's house? So many people died, it won't be able to be sold in the future. Isn't this money just wasted?"

Yan Jiefang wasn't as smart as his brother. He felt that his father was just wasting money. Three thousand yuan was spent on his wedding. When he got married, his father kept saying he had no money. But suddenly, when buying a house, three thousand two hundred yuan appeared out of nowhere.

"You're complaining now, Second Brother. I said I'd buy it for you. I'm not afraid, Dad. I'll come live with you. I can definitely keep her in check. We have two boys in my family. If we pee on them, Qin Huairu will be scared out of her wits if she dares to come back!"

Yan Jiekuang didn't flatter him, nor did he complain about his father's extravagant spending. He simply patted his chest and said he wanted to live with the old man. Anyway, his parents were getting old; they wouldn't live here for more than a few years before they passed away, and the house would be...

"Mom, where did you get the money? Buying a house is such a big deal, why didn't you discuss it with your children?!"

When Yan Jiedi saw that her three brothers had completely surrounded their father, she quickly grabbed her mother's arm and started to act coquettishly.

"Alright, alright, get back here right now. As soon as they heard that your dad bought a house, they all came knocking. Who usually comes to check on your mom and me? I didn't buy the house; someone else paid for it and asked me to buy it on their behalf!"

"Get lost, let my ears have some peace and quiet, I want to live a few more years!"

The more his children tried to prove themselves at this time, the more displeased Yan Bugui became. He impatiently shooed his sons aside, realizing that these ungrateful wretches were just there to collect a debt.

"Mom~?"

Yu Li gave Yan Jiecheng a wink, then walked to her mother-in-law's side and tentatively asked.

"Xu Damao paid for it. Do you really think your dad and I have that much money? Alright, don't tell anyone, go back home!"

The older woman acted the same way as Lao Yan. Even if she had savings, she pretended not to. It didn't matter whether her children were filial or not, but she had to keep the money in her own hands.

"Tch, I knew it!"

"They're gone, they're gone! No wonder they didn't want to leave their perfectly good house and had to buy a house in the Hongxing neighborhood!"

The debt collectors came quickly and left quickly, but if it were their own house, they definitely wouldn't give it up to anyone.

But if Xu Damao is the one paying, no one can get away with it. Xu, the owner of the Youth Video Hall, is quite wealthy now. His father used to be a teacher at the factory, so it's understandable that he would help with the purchase.

"No, Xu Damao, does running a video arcade really make that much money? He just bought a house for over three thousand yuan a month without any hesitation?"

Her husband, Yan Jiecheng, left, but Yu Li didn't. She became suspicious and wanted to see if her father-in-law was really going to give the property certificate and keys to Xu Damao.

In addition, she was no longer able to work as a temporary worker at the coal yard, and Xu Damao's wealth made her have some other ideas.

“He’s the boss now, do you know how much money he’s made? I’m just too old, otherwise I would have gone into business too, at least opened a restaurant, and made Sha Zhu the chef!”

What is said unintentionally may be taken to heart by the listener. When the salaries of those around you are roughly the same, the difference may not be very noticeable.

But now, it's all down to individual ability, and Yu Li felt a little anxious, subconsciously glancing at the apartment across the hall. (End of Chapter)