Chapter 10: Buying a House, Surprises Await

Yu Zihan felt like she was about to be jolted to the brink of misery from the bumpy ride when they finally arrived at Qingcheng Bus Station.

They quickly got off the bus, and Yu Meijuan immediately squatted by a tree pit, vomiting heavily.

Yu Zihan pulled out a preserved plum from her space and handed it to her mother. Yu Meijuan wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and popped the plum into her mouth. It was only then that the wave of nausea finally subsided.

Seeing that her mother was starting to feel better, Yu Zihan said, “Let’s go rent a place or buy a house. Otherwise, we’ll have to stay in a guesthouse.”

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead. I forgot that I have motion sickness,” Yu Meijuan replied, resting for a bit to recover.

Both in her previous life and this one, Yu Zihan was quite familiar with Qingcheng. When it came to buying a house, one piece of information came to mind: with the acceleration of urbanization, certain areas began to be demolished. Qingcheng was quick to follow this trend and started land and housing reforms.

In 1988, the eastern part of Qingcheng began a large-scale demolition project. First, the chaotic riverside market was cleared and planned for redevelopment, eventually becoming the famous Riverside Street.

The street was divided into Upper Street and Lower Street. Upper Street was home to a wholesale agricultural market, and Lower Street was dedicated to wholesale clothing and shoe markets. These two commercial streets supported Qingcheng’s prosperity for the next twenty years.

At the start of the planning, no one was interested in the storefronts there. However, over time, by the 1990s, the price for a single storefront had risen to 100,000 yuan, and by the 2000s, it had climbed to 200,000 yuan.

The East Shun Alley in the eastern part of the city was also included in the redevelopment plan. The reason for its inclusion was largely due to the old and dilapidated condition of the houses. After demolition, high-rise buildings were constructed. The demolition was done based on square meters, so those who had courtyards gained the most benefit.

On the way, Yu Zihan shared the news about the demolition with her mother. Hearing this, Yu Meijuan was overjoyed. Such a lucrative opportunity existed! She eagerly followed her daughter toward the eastern side of the city, hoping to buy a courtyard house. If it was demolished later, they could make a fortune.

Qingcheng wasn’t large, and East City was not far from the bus station. In just ten minutes, they arrived at East Shun Alley.

“It’s so run-down! No wonder they’re demolishing it. Many of these houses are already in danger of collapsing,” Yu Meijuan remarked, looking around at the dilapidated houses.

Noticing her mother’s concern, Yu Zihan reassured her, saying, “We have the right to choose. We can pick the houses with larger courtyards and more solid structures. If we stay for two or three years, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Yu Meijuan followed her daughter despite still feeling a bit worried about buying a house here.

As they walked, they came across an older woman, and Yu Zihan immediately recognized her as a well-informed, experienced local—often referred to as “Bao Da Ting,” meaning the go-to person for neighborhood matters.

Yu Zihan stepped forward and blocked her path, saying, “Auntie, I need to ask you something.” As she spoke, she took a piece of candy, a large white rabbit milk candy, from her space and handed it to the woman.

The older woman was naturally a warm-hearted person, and with the candy in her hand, she felt that this young girl knew how to make connections. She smiled as she spoke, “What’s the matter? You’re so polite.”

Although she teased a little, her heart was warmed by the gesture.

“Auntie, I’m looking to buy a house, and I was wondering if you have any information on that?”

“Oh, well… actually, there is a house for sale, but…”

The older woman glanced at their clothes. Although the mother and daughter were attractive, their clothes were worn out. The fabric was faded from frequent washing, and there were visible patches on their clothes.

For someone like them to suddenly come up with 3,000 yuan seemed a bit far-fetched. She was skeptical.

Yu Zihan understood what the woman was thinking. She glanced at herself and her mother and felt a little embarrassed about their appearance.

She spoke up, “Auntie, please tell us the details. We are really sincere about buying a house. If you know anything, could you let us know?”

“The house for sale is the largest and best one in our alley. The family’s son is abroad, and they’re moving out too.

That’s why they decided to sell the house. But the price is high—it’s 3,000 yuan.

If you think you can afford it, I can take you to see the house. But if you don’t have the money, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”

The aunt, following the principle of setting expectations upfront, made sure to warn them about the situation.

When the mother and daughter heard the price, they immediately realized that it was based on the money in their pockets. Yu Meijuan felt a bit conflicted. If they bought the house, they would have no money left, which made her uneasy.

But Yu Zihan, knowing their financial situation, didn’t hesitate. She tugged at her mother’s hand and said firmly to the aunt, “Please take us to see the house.”

The aunt, noticing that they weren’t intimidated by the price, quickly realized that these two weren’t as simple as they seemed.

“Alright, follow me. You’re lucky to have met me. The old couple who owns the house is a good friend of mine. They mentioned the sale to me a few days ago. They also know I know many people in the area,” the aunt said, her tone filled with pride.

“You can tell, Auntie, you’re quite capable,” Yu Zihan complimented her as they walked.

They reached the end of the alley, where a high courtyard wall made of blue bricks came into view. The wall was tall, and it was clear that the property was quite spacious.

This was exactly the kind of house Yu Zihan had in mind. She squeezed her mother’s hand, silently expressing her joy, though her face remained calm, masking the excitement she felt inside.

They arrived at an old but charming door, and the aunt began knocking.

“Coming,” a frail, elderly man’s voice called from inside.

The door opened to reveal an elderly man with white hair. He gave the group a once-over, clearly understanding why they had come.

However, when he saw their clothes, his face immediately showed disappointment.

Yu Zihan felt uncomfortable, noticing that, as always, appearances seemed to matter more than the person. She glanced at the aunt and confirmed her suspicions—this was indeed the aunt’s style.

“Old Luo, these two are interested in buying a house in this area, so I brought them over. Can you talk to them?” the aunt said to the elderly man.

“Let’s have them take a look at the house first,” the old man replied. Though he doubted whether they could afford his house, he maintained his manners and allowed them to see the property.

Yu Zihan and Yu Meijuan followed the elderly man as he led them through the house, observing it carefully.

The house was a typical courtyard style, with five main rooms, three rooms on each side wing, and a stove room in the east wing.

On the west side of the yard, a few apricot trees were planted. Beneath the trees were stone tables and benches for shade. On the east side, a small flower bed made of stone was visible, though it was barren in the winter season.

The outhouse was located in the northwest corner of the yard.

Without the owner’s permission, they didn’t enter the main house to look inside.

“This house is great. Grandpa, what’s the price?” Yu Zihan said decisively, making her intentions clear.

Upon hearing this, the old man couldn’t help but give her a second look.

He noticed that the young girl was calm and composed, neither overly humble nor arrogant, and her demeanor didn’t quite match the worn-out clothes she was wearing.