Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 50 New Home
"Uncle Li, Brother Li, please come this way!" Zhou Yongqiang walked through the screen wall and pointed to the house on the left. "These four rear-facing rooms were renovated two years ago, and they look brand new inside. The westernmost one is a small boiler room, which can provide its own heating. My friend has few family members, so we don't need it for now, but it can also be converted into a kitchen." He looked at Zhao Tiezhu and said, "Brother Zhu, what do you think of this courtyard? Isn't it impressive?"

"Okay." Zhao Tiezhu was a little dazed, as if he was still thinking about the flush toilet from before.

Old Li sighed, "It's nice, but it's too expensive. I don't think it's necessary to rent such a big one."

“Uncle Li, you’re being disrespectful. People are divided into different classes, just as trees are divided into pine, cypress, willow, and poplar. People should live in places that suit them. Brother Li, your business is getting bigger and bigger. Is it appropriate for you to live in a tenement building?”

This sounded like a compliment, but Old Li didn't like it. "We're farmers who grow crops. Our homes aren't any better than those in the tenement. What's there to complain about?"

“Uncle Li, there are all sorts of people in this tenement. You earn over a thousand a day, aren’t you afraid the neighbors will be jealous?” Zhou Yongqiang turned to Li Zhe and asked, “Brother, what do you think?”

“Brother Zhou, you’re right.” Li Zhe agreed. If you really ran into a neighbor who was full of birds, you wouldn’t have time to do anything else but fight each other all day long.

“You’re a smart man.” Zhou Yongqiang gave a thumbs up and pointed to the four back rooms, explaining, “My friend’s ancestors were businessmen. In the early days, this row of houses was a street-facing storefront. During the period of public-private partnership, it was converted into a state-run canteen. It was only a couple of years ago that it was returned to its original owner. After the renovation, it hasn’t been rented out again.”

Zhou Yongqiang pushed open the door to the east room. “Look how spacious this room is. Brother Li, as your business grows bigger and bigger, you’ll definitely be staying in the capital. This room is perfect for you as your bedroom.”

Li Zhe peered inside. The walls were painted half-green, there was a single bed on the left and a square table against the right wall, but otherwise there was no furniture, making the room seem empty.

The only drawback of the house is that it faces the street, so you can't sleep in late in the morning. But that's not a problem for Li Zhe, since he has to get up early for his business and can't sleep in anyway.

Zhou Yongqiang pushed open the door to the second room. "This room is the largest. The south door leads directly to the street. You can open a vegetable shop here, or use it as a reception room."

Zhou Yongqiang then opened the doors to the third and fourth rooms. "The third room can be used as a guest room, where Uncle Li and Zhuzi can stay when they come to Beijing on business. The fourth room can be used as a warehouse to store vegetables."

After Zhou Yongqiang finished speaking, he looked at Old Li beside him and asked, "Uncle Li, what do you think of my arrangement?"

Old Li leaned on the vermilion door frame with his right hand, "It's nice, but the rent is too expensive!"

“Uncle Li, you can’t just look at the price. You won’t find another place like this with a secluded courtyard. Besides, each of the five rooms has its own purpose, and you won’t be able to manage without one.” Zhou Yongqiang then looked at Li Zhe beside him, “Brother Li, what do you think?”

Li Zhe is not a person of this era. Now that he has made money, he doesn't want to suffer the hardships of this era anymore. He would definitely not do it if asked to stand in line for a public toilet in the morning, freezing like a grandson.

"Brother Zhou, can you give me a discount on the rent?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yongqiang knew he had a chance. "Brother, I really didn't ask you for a high price. My friend is a respectable person. Do you think someone living in this courtyard would be short of money? He's only willing to rent it out because of my influence."

However, since you've asked, I'll swallow my pride and ask again for you.

"Okay, thank you for your trouble. I will definitely thank you properly once things are done."

"Brother, don't be so formal." Zhou Yongqiang smiled, turned around, and went through the hanging flower gate into the backyard.

Old Li pulled Li Zhe aside, "Second brother, are you really going to rent such an expensive house?"

"Dad, we've planted three acres of vegetable greenhouses, and the vegetable production is increasing. We can't just take them all directly to the market, so we definitely need a warehouse in the capital."

The courtyard house is full of all sorts of people; if a kid steals a basket of cucumbers from you, it'll cost well over a hundred or two. Oh well, a little price is fine, at least I can get a peaceful night's sleep in my own courtyard.

Old Li smacked his lips and said, "Seventy-five a month, that's nine hundred a year. That's enough to build half a house. Why don't you go back and talk to your mother about it?"

"No need, it's settled then." Li Zhe said firmly.

A few minutes later, Zhou Yongqiang came out from the hanging flower gate. "Brother Li, I talked to my friend. He was originally impatient to bargain, but he agreed to round it down to 70 yuan per month for my sake. However, he has a request: the rent must be paid annually, plus a one-month deposit."

“Okay, that’s the price.” “Brother, you’re so decisive. I’ll go write the lease agreement, and we’ll settle it today.” Zhou Yongqiang turned and went into the hanging flower gate.

Looking at the other person's back, Old Li praised, "Yongqiang is really a kind person. Should we do something to show our appreciation so that he doesn't work for nothing?"

Li Zhe nodded; having a local who knew the area well to help was indeed convenient.

A short while later, there was a commotion in the backyard. Zhou Yongqiang and a young man walked out of the hanging flower gate. The man had a spiky haircut, wore a brown suede jacket and straight-pressed trousers, and looked like a man who paid attention to his appearance.

Zhou Yongqiang introduced, "This is the landlord, Mr. Ji, whose ancestors were famous merchants. This is Mr. Li, who runs a vegetable business at Chongwenmen Market. It's fate that we met. I'll treat everyone to a meal another day."

Li Zhe extended his right hand. "Mr. Ji, we'll be neighbors from now on. Please take care of me."

"Mr. Li, it's a pleasure to meet you." Ji Hongbin gave a perfunctory handshake, then withdrew his hand. "Before signing the contract, I have to say something. I have no problem with whether you live in it yourself or use it as a warehouse, but the front yard cannot be too messy or have any strange smells."

"Don't worry about that, I'll treat it like my own home and keep it spotless."

Zhou Yongqiang took out two contracts written in pen and laid them on the square table in the back room. "Two copies of the contract, cash payment, effective immediately. Mr. Ji, sign here, and Mr. Li, write below."

After signing the contract, Li Zhe looked at Ji Hongbin and said, "Mr. Ji, when you have some free time, could you accompany me to apply for a temporary residence permit?"

Ji Hongbin frowned slightly, a hint of impatience on his face.

Zhou Yongqiang picked up the conversation, "Brother Li, this is easy to handle. Suzhou Hutong is under the jurisdiction of Jianguomen Police Station. I have acquaintances there, so it's just a matter of a word."

Li Zhe didn't say anything. Whatever happens, as long as the temporary residence permit is issued, that's fine.

After the contract was signed, Li Zhe and Ji Hongbin each kept a copy. Li Zhe was to pay one year's rent and one month's deposit, totaling 910 yuan.

Seeing Li Zhe pull out a large wad of cash from his bag, Ji Hongbin was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but look at him with new respect. "Mr. Li, let's leave it at that for today. You guys get ready, and we'll get together another day."

"Alright, take care." Li Zhe watched Ji Hongbin enter through the hanging flower gate, and the latter closed the door, the sound of the lock being locked could be faintly heard.

Zhou Yongqiang looked around the front yard with envy in his voice, "Brother Li, this yard is yours now. Live here comfortably. If you need anything, just come find me at Chuanban Hutong."

"Brother Zhou, thank you for your help today. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please don't think it's too little." Li Zhe took out thirty yuan from his pocket and handed it over.

Zhou Yongqiang pretended to push him away, saying, "Brother Li, what are you doing? I'm not helping you for this reason."

"Of course I know that, you're not short of money, but this is a token of my appreciation, you must accept it, otherwise I'd be too embarrassed to trouble you again." Li Zhe stuffed it directly into his pocket.

"Alright! Being too polite would just make me seem pretentious. Like I said, if you need anything, come find me at Chuanban Hutong." After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhou Yongqiang took his leave.

Old Li asked in a low voice, "Second brother, didn't you give him a little too much?"

"Dad, Beijing is different from other places. It's very difficult to rent a place without a job or connections. We're new here, so having someone we know can save us a lot of trouble," Li Zhe said with a smile, looking at the tidy courtyard.

"We'll get some new gear sometime, and then we'll have a home in the capital."

Happy Labor Day! Please vote with my monthly tickets!

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(End of this chapter)