Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 646: It's just that I can't bear to part with it.

I went to check out the two houses that were being renovated. I saw Xiaoliwen with her hair wrapped in a towel supervising and directing the work on site. She looked quite professional.

Xiao Liwen was also pleasantly surprised to see Xiao Wei, and immediately started to act cute and affectionate. This girl was raised like a princess since she was a child, and she has a natural talent for acting cute.

Xiao Wei said, "Your ID card shows you're younger than me, but you're actually older. How dare you act like a child with me?"

Xiao Liwen said, "That's all nonsense. Only an ID card is legally recognized. Besides, look at how petite and delicate I am, how dare you discuss my age with me?" Xiao Hong wasn't jealous at all, and just covered her mouth and laughed.

Xiao Wei asked, "How are things going with those other places? Do you think they'll be able to get a good price?" Apart from the two properties that Yu Qiu had bought, the rest of the properties she had found were all privately owned. At this point, the properties weren't worth much money, but they were very important, and moving would be a hassle, so these other places had been hesitant. Of course, they also wanted to get a good price.

Li Wen said, "One place has agreed on 35,000, but the other places are still hesitant. I'm so stressed out that I haven't gone to any places these past few days."

Xiao Wei said, "Take it slow, there's no rush. Let's discuss it one by one. It's okay if we can't buy it."

Li Wen pouted and said, "I'm not doing it yet. I've been pestering you for so long. Besides, if we open fewer stores, I'll have less to manage, right? I'm not doing it."

Xiao Hong said, "Isn't it better to manage fewer businesses? Isn't it tiring to manage too many?"

Li Wen said, "Managing a lot of stores and a lot of people makes me seem so powerful. I want to show my old lady that she always treats me like a child."

Xiao Hong glanced at Xiao Wei with a smirk; he was practically a child who hadn't grown up. However, Li Wen was undoubtedly capable in her work—serious, hardworking, and responsible. It's just that her mindset wasn't mature enough. Her future marriage prospects would probably give her mother, who treated her like a baby, a real headache; she simply didn't realize that.

Xiao Wei said, "Alright, you go back to work, I'm going to the lumberyard."

Li Wen said, "I'll go too. I can take a look at the custom parts. This old guy is too slow. I need to complain to him."

The three of them came out, and Li Wen exclaimed, "Wow, this car is beautiful! Boss, you're so cool! I want one like this in the future!" She climbed onto the side frame using both hands and feet, touching and looking at everything, clearly smitten.

Xiao Hong climbed into the back seat, and Xiao Wei started the car, saying, "Can you drive this car? Can you see the road?" Xiao Wei is just over 1.7 meters tall, and he's a bit short to drive this car. Xiao Liwen is only a little over 1.5 meters tall.

Li Wen was a little discouraged, leaning back in her seat and saying, "It's not long, what should I do? I can't return this."

Xiao Hong said, "It's okay, there's always a way."

When they arrived at the lumberyard, Old Xu was already preparing to go to Fengtian. Several of his apprentices and most of the workers would be going with him. He was taking advantage of the time to pack his things, tools, blueprints, and so on. The large equipment couldn't be moved, and the tools issued to individuals were left unattended.

As soon as Xiao Wei came in, he saw Lao Xu squatting on the ground organizing a pile of blueprints.

Turning to look at Xiao Wei, Old Xu asked, "Why did you come over here?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'm going to Andong tomorrow. I'll ask if you're coming. You also need to go to Fengtian to measure the lines. We need to start working on it as soon as the renovation is finished, so it doesn't drag on too long. It's already autumn."

Old Xu shook his head and said, "I'm not going to Andong. I've checked there, and there are no problems. I need to keep an eye on things in Longcheng these next few days to get them done quickly. Otherwise, I'll leave before they're finished and cause trouble. Look at Xiao Liwen's eyes; she's mentioned me several times, like my stuff is just blown out of thin air. It needs to be processed, doesn't it?"

Li Wen turned her head and snorted.

Old Xu asked, "What's the situation with Officer Li?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's under construction, hurry up, it should be finished by September without any problems."

Old Xu said, "We need to get a boiler. We'll need it for the drying machine. Electricity isn't as efficient as a boiler. Don't forget to build a firewall inside, otherwise it'll be too cold in winter. We can't light fires for this kind of work. Look at my factory, in winter we have to rely on people to tough it out. The heating is completely useless."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, it's not much trouble. By the way, could you contact Master Chang for me and ask if he's going to work in Fengtian? I'm planning to open a car repair shop, and I need a good welder. I'm also thinking of having Master Chang modify your equipment to make it safer."

Old Xu said, "Okay, I'll go ask him tonight. You're going to Andong tomorrow?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

Old Xu said, "Then I'll take the train to Fengtian tomorrow. Could you help me arrange a place to stay?"

Xiao Wei said, "Just call Xiao Hui when you get there. Do you have his phone number?"

Old Xu said, "Yes, it's the number I left at the restaurant last time."

Li Wen said, "What am I going to do with my things if you leave? Don't try to fool me."

Old Xu laughed and said, "Okay, okay, I'll remember. I promise I won't hold you back, alright?"

Li Wen pouted and said, "You're just lying, it takes you so long to finish in one day."

Old Xu said, "The renovations at the front will definitely be slow; we have to make sure it's sturdy. Do you think renovating an old house is an easy job?"

Xiao Wei asked, "How was the ceiling load-bearing structure modified?"

Old Xu said, "The arch beams I added are made of channel steel, and the attached beams are made of I-beams. I even built a small steel shed inside the house to support it, so it's definitely sturdy."

Back then, the walls of old houses were load-bearing structures, making interior renovations quite difficult, especially for those converted into retail spaces. With the increased space required, all the walls had to be demolished, and the load-bearing structure had to be rebuilt.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Xiaowei and Xiaohong went to Lalatun to pick up Master Zhai and his wife.

When they arrived, Master Zhai was in the process of handing over the house to the buyer. The things that still needed to be taken home had been taken away a day earlier. Old Xu provided the car, and Bozi and Yingzi, along with the big dog, followed the truck yesterday.

After handing over the keys and receiving payment, both families signed and sealed the agreement, and the sale was considered complete. In those days, rural houses didn't have property ownership certificates, and no one knew how to obtain them; however, land certificates were available. In contrast, urban areas didn't have land certificates.

A group of people came out of the yard. Xiaowei opened the car door, Xiaohong climbed into the passenger seat, and Master Zhai also got into the car. Sister-in-law Zhai looked back every step of the way, reluctantly moving to the side of the car, and tears streamed down her face.

Master Zhai said, "Get in the car. We've already sold it, why are we still thinking about it? Yingzi will definitely be with Bozi in Fengtian from now on, aren't we going?"

Sister-in-law Zhai wiped away her tears and said, "I know, I just can't bear to part with it." She turned and got into the car, and Master Zhai reached out and pulled her up, saying, "This car is quite tall."

Xiao Wei started the car, turned it around, and drove back into the city, saying, "I haven't asked yet, Master Zhai, can you drive?"

Master Zhai said, "When would I ever have the chance to touch a bicycle? Back then, being able to ride a bicycle was a big deal. My bicycle was specially approved by the bureau."

Xiao Wei said, "Then we'll need to hire a driver. We need a car to buy groceries, right?"

Master Zhai said, "The restaurant doesn't need to make any special arrangements. Aren't you going to the food factory too? The delivery trucks from there can just make a few trips along the way."

Xiao Wei shook his head and said, "It's okay for a short time, but not for a long time. The restaurant's grocery shopping time and the food factory's delivery time are a bit too close together. I'm afraid we won't be able to handle it."

(End of this chapter)