Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 365 I'll Get You a Swing

Aunt Wang suddenly realized and said, "Oh, that piece is also ours. I was wondering why a piece of our yard was missing. That's good, it's better that cars can't enter the yard, it will be safer when we have children."

Uncle Wang took a quick look around, nodded, and came back saying, "Okay, this is a good way to do it, safe and clean. So there's a door inside this garage too? What's this over there? The annex you mentioned?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, cars drive in and people go straight into the courtyard through this small gate. The first floor of that annex is a few storage rooms, for storing junk and stuff; you need somewhere to put things." Uncle Wang nodded and said, "There's no lobby on the first floor of that annex?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, but it's a bit smaller. There are three rooms on the first floor, plus a kitchen, dining room, and toilet. The living room is on the second floor."

Looking at the building frame, Aunt Wang said, "It's really nice, but I can't tell what it will look like when it's finished. When will it be ready? Will it be done in October?"

"Xiao Wei is here? And who are these people?" Engineer Wang, wearing a hard hat, came out of the building.

Xiao Wei said with a smile, "Come and see, this is my boyfriend, and these are my boyfriend's parents. They will all live in this courtyard from now on."

Engineer Wang nodded to Uncle and Aunt Wang, then said to Xiao Wei, "The main building is almost finished being poured today. We'll start working on the foundation for the annex tomorrow. Any other plans?"

Xiao Wei said, "We don't know anything about this, so you can make the decision, Engineer Wang. Uncle Chen told me to do whatever you say."

Engineer Wang said, "The space is still a bit small. If it were half an acre bigger, it would be a beautiful little garden. Let's start working on it first, and then we'll see how it goes after the main structure is finished. Would you like to go in and take a look?"

Xiao Wei glanced at Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang and said, "Forget it, we won't be able to see anything now and it'll only cause you trouble. Let's check it out when we're doing the renovations." The materials inside were all messy, and Xiao Wei was worried that the people might bump into them and get hurt.

Engineer Wang said, "How about this idea? This area is a garage, and the front of the annex building is a storage room, while there are three rooms at the back. I'm thinking, why don't we combine the garage and the annex building together, and just skip the rooms on the first floor and build it directly here?"

He pointed to the missing section of the courtyard wall and said, "We can use the outside of the first floor as a garage and the inside as a storage room, with three rooms on one side and two doors. The rest of the space will remain unchanged: kitchen, dining room, toilet, and a stairwell. What do you think? The only problem is that after parking, you'll have to come out and then enter the courtyard through the main gate, which is a few steps away."

Uncle Wang said, "Okay, I'll walk as many steps as I want. I think this is pretty good, and the yard will be more organized." The three garages occupy more than fifty square meters, so this arrangement saves more than fifty square meters, which is indeed a good idea.

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to Engineer Wang. This way it will definitely make the room look more spacious."

Engineer Wang said, "The main building is over there, and the annex plus the garage is in this corner. In this courtyard, there's an S-shaped hard path leading in from the main gate. After turning this way, I'll dig out the widest part in the middle and make a flower bed for you. Then, I'll plant trees along this section and that end next to the courtyard wall. In that corner, I'll build a pavilion with stones for you. Is that alright?"

Xiao Wei asked Xiao Hong, "Do you think it's okay?"

Xiaohong thought for a moment and said, "So the pavilion is blocking the view behind these two buildings, right? That's good. Can you make it higher?"

Engineer Wang nodded and said, "Okay, we'll build it up with stones, add some flowers, trees, and water underneath, and then set up a pavilion so you can sit inside and look out. Is that alright?"

Xiao Hong nodded and said, "Yes, yes, it's best to sit in the pavilion so you can see outside, otherwise it's too cramped."

Xiao Wei said, "Won't sitting inside for a while mean we'll be watched from outside?"

Little Red twisted her little face and said, "Sure, I want to see outside anyway."

Xiao Wei pointed to the rooftop and said, "There's a rooftop garden up there, with flowers, trees, and stuff. I'll build you a swing up there so you can see the outside more comfortably, and it'll save everyone else from staring. We won't make the pavilion that high, just half of it will be fine."

Xiao Hong opened her big eyes and looked up at the building, saying, "There's a garden up there? Okay, is there one over here?" She gestured towards the building and asked.

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, there is one. It's a floor lower than the other one, and a little smaller, but otherwise the same."

Xiaohong thought for a moment and said, "Then, can the two sides be connected? Would it be nice to be able to walk directly from one end to the other?"

Xiao Wei scratched his head and looked at Engineer Wang. Engineer Wang said, "That's simple. Just add a ladder on top once the building is up. The space between the two corners is only about two meters wide, easy to handle. Is it really necessary?"

Xiao Wei said, "If she likes it, let her do it. It'll be more convenient for her to run around between the two places."

Engineer Wang nodded and said, "Then I'll make one for you. But you can't use cement; you have to use an iron plate. It's not the same foundation, so the settlement will be different. If we use cement, there might be problems later. We'll just weld an iron plate and it'll be fine. Even if we pull on it a bit, it won't be a problem."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, Mr. Wang, just do what you think is best. I'm sorry to trouble you again. Don't worry about the price of any of the materials, just make sure they're good quality. And in the end, Mr. Wang, give me the bill."

Wang nodded and said, "Okay, don't worry, I'll definitely get it done for you." He didn't know what Xiao Wei did, but this house was a project that the construction leaders had repeatedly instructed him to do well, so he naturally knew the importance of it.

Uncle Wang glanced at the time and said, "It's 8:30. Should we stay a little longer or go back now?"

Xiao Wei looked at Xiao Hong and said, "Ask my aunt and Xiao Hong."

Aunt Wang said, "Alright, just take a look around to familiarize yourself with the place. There will be plenty of time to look around after you move in. Go on, go on, that's more important." Uncle Wang's matter is the most important thing for the family right now; they won't feel at ease until it's settled.

So the family of four said goodbye to Mr. Wang, got into their car, and headed back. Uncle Wang lit a cigarette without saying a word, and Aunt Wang, unusually, didn't interfere. Both of them were a little nervous, even though the matter was practically settled, it hadn't been officially implemented yet. Sometimes people's emotions are quite inexplicable.

Taking the elevator upstairs, Old Chen's office had moved to the seventh floor. As the executive deputy director of the Northeast Bureau, his office was much larger, with a two-bedroom, one-bathroom lounge suite. Now, Secretary Wang of the Northeast Bureau was no longer in charge, and Director Qin was about to retire, basically just a figurehead retiring in Beijing for a recuperation trip. Old Chen was in charge of all the big and small matters in the bureau.

As a young and powerful executive, Chen's rise to power is imminent, and his influence is growing stronger every day.

(End of this chapter)