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Lin Yuyao looked at this familiar yet strange place, feeling as if it were a world away.
Although the town appeared shabby now, it would eventually undergo redevelopment, making every household a millionaire.
Being a developed city in the east, its growth was rapid.
Though it looked remote now, houses nearby would sell for twenty to thirty thousand, with more expensive ones exceeding fifty thousand.
If it weren’t for Lu Jiangting, she would truly want to stay here and develop her career.
Seizing the opportunity to earn more money, she didn’t want to end up as poor as she had in her previous life.
“Yuyao, we argued a while back, and I thought you wouldn’t come with me, so I hadn’t applied for the accompanying military status. You might… not be able to stay in the military compound for now, and we’ll have to rent a place in this town.”
That was perfectly fine with her.
“Mm.” Lin Yuyao casually responded.
“I borrowed some money from my sister, but it’s not much. I can rent a place for you for a month. What do you think?”
Lin Yuyao ignored him and walked ahead, dragging her suitcase.
She had been here before in her past life and knew where to find cheap housing.
Soon, she arrived in front of an old five-story building. It was the kind of tube building that required climbing stairs, there were so many factories nearby, and workers from other places preferred to rent in this area.
Lu Jiangting looked up. “Do you want to rent here? It’s quite nice; let me ask.”
Still ignoring him, she let him know to wait while he went to inquire.
There was a property management office for the buildings, and after a while, Lu Jiangting came out, waving to her. “Yuyao, come over here.”
Only then did Lin Yuyao walk over.
Lu Jiangting excitedly told her, “I asked, and they said there are two apartments available; one on the first floor and one on the fifth. I think the first floor would be convenient, what do you think?”
Lin Yuyao replied directly, “I want the fifth floor.”
“Huh? The fifth floor is hard to climb. Also, there are water shortages sometimes. Plus, it gets hot in the summer.” Lu Jiangting explained.
She still wanted the fifth floor. As a single girl, the first floor was too unsafe.
Seeing she wouldn’t budge, Lu Jiangting had no choice but to relent.
Loss of word, Lu Jiangting just agreed. “Fine, the fifth floor it is.”
Lu Jiangting took out his officer’s ID, and they were given a suitable price.
For a small room of about ten square meters, the rent was ten yuan a month. It even had a small, private bathroom, which was quite rare for single-room rentals in that era.
The woman in charge of renting out the rooms smiled and said, “The fifth floor is great. You’re young and agile; climbing stairs won’t be a problem. With such a lovely girl, the first floor isn’t safe. Most people on the fifth floor are girls, and the remaining are young couples working nearby. Plus, the fifth floor has an open balcony, perfect for drying clothes.”
Lin Yuyao smiled and thanked the woman, signed the rental agreement, paid the money, and received the keys.
The ten yuan came from Lu Jiangting, who still owed her three hundred yuan.
Three hundred yuan was the dowry her parents had saved for her for a long time, which he had given to Fang Qing. It was infuriating.
This rent was his responsibility, serving as interest.
When Lu Jiangting offered to help her with the suitcase, she refused. She took the keys and quickly climbed the stairs with her suitcase. Lu Jiangting followed behind, carrying his own suitcase. After Lin Yuyao opened the door and entered, she tried to close it behind her. Lu Jiangting blocked the door, and the frustration he had been holding in finally erupted.
“How long are you going to keep this up? I’ve tolerated you this whole way.” He sound irritated.
Lin Yuyao replied, “I didn’t ask you to endure it; if you don’t want to, you can leave now.”
“You…” He truly felt defeated by her.
“What do you mean, “if I don’t want to endure, I should leave?”
Lin Yuyao found it amusing; he had said this countless times to her in her previous life.
Did he realize how uncomfortable it was for her?
How pitiful that she had been the one enduring all along.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Jiangting patiently said, “Yuyao, we can’t keep going on like this. How are we supposed to live?”
Live together?
She had told him more than once that she didn’t want to be with him anymore, but he never listened.
Lin Yuyao released her grip and turned to enter the room.
Lu Jiangting hesitated, wanting to say something.
Seeing her like this, he ultimately said nothing.
He tossed his suitcase inside, then began to look around and check the doors and windows.
Upon seeing the lock, he frowned and said, “Yuyao, this lock needs to be replaced.”
Without even needing a key, he yanked the lock, and it popped open.
Lin Yuyao looked at the flimsy lock and realized it definitely needed replacing.
Lu Jiangting surveyed the place again, “The doors and windows need to be fixed. I won’t be able to come back every night, If I’m busy, I can’t look after you. Living here alone won’t be safe.” He sounded concerned.
Huh?
He still planned to stay here?
What a nice thought.
Lin Yuyao remained silent, thinking to have him reinforce the doors and windows first.
It was still early, so they put down their luggage and went to the nearby shop to buy daily necessities, including a sturdy lock and tools for reinforcing the doors and windows.
He had little money to begin, and now he had spent it all, leaving him only two yuan.
“Yuyao, we only have two yuan left. Let’s just grab something quick for dinner tonight, is that okay?”
“Mm,” she responded coldly.
Seeing her indifference, Lu Jiangting felt helpless but wore a sulky expression, suppressing his frustration.
In her previous life, Lin Yuyao had endured plenty of his emotional neglect, and now she wanted to see just how long he could withstand her cold treatment.
Dinner consisted of steamed buns and thin porridge, accompanied by the pickled vegetables they had brought from home.
Lu Jiangting mentioned that he wouldn’t get paid for another ten days, meaning they had to stretch those two yuan for that long.
He planned to skip breakfast the next day and eat at the military base.
Did that imply he intended to sleep here tonight?
Lin Yuyao strongly opposed this, saying, “You can’t stay here, fix the window and then leave.”
Lu Jiangting, who was in the middle of repairing the window, was taken aback. “What? You want me to leave at this hour?”
Lin Yuyao dragged her suitcase over, stuffing the clothes she had just unpacked back inside.
Lu Jiangting set down his tools and tried to stop her. “What are you doing?”
Lin Yuyao replied, “If you don’t leave, then I will.”
“Don’t! Where are you going this late? I’ll leave once I finish fixing everything, does that sound good?”
Unable to argue with her, Lu Jiangting finished repairing the windows and doors; with a dark expression, he slammed the door as he walked out.
As soon as he left, Lin Yuyao hurriedly locked the doors and windows.
After three days on the train, her feet were swollen, and she felt grimy.
She boiled a large pot of water, took a bath, and even washed her clothes.
Her little apartment had a small balcony, which made laundry very convenient. However, the neighboring balcony was separated by a wall less than two meters high, and it felt unsecured; she could easily climb over with a stool.
Moreover, she could hear everything the neighbors were saying. Yet, listening to their voices reassured her.
It seemed to be two young girls who had come from the countryside to work in the nearby factories.
By 1988, the developed cities in the east already had numerous factories.
After three days on the train without a good night’s sleep, exhaustion hit her once she finished her tasks. She collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.