Thinking of this, Chen Lan gently tugged on Xu Mingxuan's sleeve and then gave him a look, signaling him to argue with Sister Zhao. Her meaning was that they couldn't just agree so readily; they had to negotiate. Otherwise, others would think the couple was crazy, buying such a dilapidated house without discussing terms. There had to be a problem. So, he should go and discuss the terms first before they made a decision.
As expected of a couple who had been married for years, they were perfectly in sync. Xu Mingxuan understood the signal from Chen Lan, nodded knowingly, cleared his throat, and said, "Comrade Zhao, my wife and I are honest people. It's not that we don't trust you, but this matter is of utmost importance to a family like ours."
Sister Zhao nodded and replied, "I can understand that, Comrade Xu. Buying and selling property has always been a big deal since ancient times and cannot be taken lightly."
Xu Mingxuan was slightly surprised by Sister Zhao's understanding nature. He paused for a moment and then continued, "Comrade Zhao, I speak rather directly, so please don't take offense. Five hundred yuan is not a small sum for a family like ours. It's all the savings we've painstakingly accumulated over several years. Therefore, to be on the safe side, my wife and I must first go to the warehouse of the Revolutionary Committee to take a look. Only after confirming the situation will we feel at ease. We have no other intentions; we just want to see if those things are truly in the warehouse. If they are, then we won't have to worry about materials to repair this old house. If that's the case, we will honor our word and immediately pay for this dilapidated house, I assure you, Comrade Zhao, it won't be difficult for you. We hope you can understand our predicament."
Sister Zhao nodded again and said, "I understand. Of course, I can understand. Comrade Xu, what you're doing is reasonable. I understand your difficulties."
Seeing that Xu Mingxuan had said his piece, Chen Lan chimed in, "Yes, that's right. We will absolutely not make things difficult for you, Sister Zhao. We're just afraid of any mishaps. If we don't confirm beforehand and buy the house, and then there are no materials for repairs, wouldn't we become the big spendthrifts? Would it really come to the point where we all fall out and demand a refund? That would be quite unpleasant, wouldn't it? You see my point."
Sister Zhao replied, "Comrade Chen, Comrade Xu, I assure you that you will never see such a situation. I can understand your concerns, and it's right to confirm first before paying, to avoid any arguments and unpleasantness later. After all, no one's money is obtained easily; it's all saved penny by penny through hard work. Moreover, five hundred yuan is not a small sum, and it should be treated with caution." Su Dan Novel Network
Old Zhangtou nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Yes, that's right, big sister, big brother. You should do just that, or you'll be at a significant disadvantage. Five hundred yuan! That's not a small amount; it takes a family years of saving and frugality! I'll go with you later to help you assess and ensure everything is in order."
Seeing that everything had been clarified, Chen Lan gave Xu Mingxuan another look and said, "Well, Sister Zhao, since we've made things clear, shall we go and look at the warehouse now?"
Upon hearing Chen Lan's agreement and Old Zhangtou's words, Sister Zhao, without heeding his ramblings, immediately promised happily, "Okay, no problem, we can go now. We'll go back to the housing management office together right away. I need to report to our director first so she can inform the Revolutionary Committee people to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. I guarantee you can pick and choose whatever you like until you're satisfied. Let me tell you a secret: if you like those old-fashioned pieces of furniture, I can let you take some good cabinets home for free."
Chen Lan thought this was an excellent suggestion and quickly thanked her with a smile, "Then I'll have to thank you very much, Sister Zhao. This is truly a godsend! To be honest, even if the house is repaired, if the rooms are empty and lack everything, it won't be livable. I was just worrying about where I could buy a bed, cabinets, and other necessary items. Sister Zhao, could we discuss purchasing some old furniture from the warehouse for daily use? What do you think?"
Sister Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I'll talk to our director about it later. It's just a pile of junk taking up space. Besides, you're paying for it, so it shouldn't be a big problem. However, those old furniture pieces are all damaged to varying degrees and can't be used immediately. You'll need to find a carpenter to repair them after you buy them."
Chen Lan thanked her profusely, showering her with compliments. To be honest, Sister Zhao was quite simple and kind, with no ill intentions. Although she had to say some things against her will regarding the sale of this dilapidated house, she had actually secured many benefits for them, which were worth far more than the house itself. It was a matter of reciprocating good deeds, and she would find an opportunity to thank her properly.
As for Old Zhangtou, he was truly a good person. He was the type who helped based on what was right, not on personal relationships. He was very upright and insightful. They should simply entrust him with the work of repairing the house and furniture, giving him a chance to earn some extra money to supplement his household expenses.
The matter was finally settled, and the issue of the house was essentially resolved. The group walked happily along the narrow street, chatting and admiring the scenery on both sides as they ambled along in the shade.
The street was lined mostly with houses of varying heights, some with brick walls and others with mud walls. Most of the blue brick walls were painted with red slogans in red paint, such as "Be vigilant, defend the motherland," reminding them of their purpose.
"Grasp revolution, promote production, promote work, and promote preparedness." The text was concise, clearly conveying the priorities of the era.
"Self-reliance, strive for strength, hard work, and frugality." This slogan could be said to be the strongest note of the era, telling everyone that these were the nation's current key tasks.