Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets
Chapter 106: The Second Floor of the Small Building (Part 2)

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The Second Floor of the Small Building (Part 2)

After another busy half-month, we still couldn’t find the perfect place—either the houses were some distance apart, or really far away from each other. Finding two adjoining houses just wasn’t easy.

Tang Zhengde and his brother Tang Mingli were very persistent in this aspect and would rather wait to buy than settle for houses that were too separated.

If the houses were next door to each other, it would be easier to look out for one another in case something happened.

One day, Tang Mingli got a tip from a friend about a single-story house beside a two-story building, with the two properties sitting right next to each other. The two-story building was newly constructed not long ago, while the single-story was an older house yet to be replaced.

Upon hearing this, Tang Mingli immediately dragged Tang Zhengde to check it out. It just so happened that Tang Yue was off on the weekend, so Tang Mingli pulled her along as well, and Tang Jun, eager to join in the fun, naturally followed.

Zhang Hualian was at the shop, organizing things.

Tang Mingli had a very good relationship with his friend. They spoke directly to each other, and the friend led them to a location in the county town, slightly distanced from the first middle school, which seemed a bit remote from the city center as it stands.

Tang Yue carefully recalled the changes in Wangjiang County from her previous life; this area seemed to become the largest shopping mall later on.

When they arrived where the houses were located, the single-story house looked somewhat worn but was still made of brick, whereas the two-story house looked quite new on the outside.

The single-story and the two-story house were right next to each other, just a short few dozen meters from the entrance of the alley.

Both houses had excellent natural light, and even if they weren’t new, one could feel comfortable as soon as they stepped inside.

Tang Yue quietly discussed with her parents and uncle, concluding that if the price was right, there couldn’t be a better option than these houses.

With an idea of what he was willing to pay, Tang Mingli began to ask the homeowners for their prices—the single-story house for sixteen hundred, the two-story house for a doubled price, three thousand two hundred dollars.

"That expensive?" Tang Zhengde couldn’t help but take another look at the single-story house again. It was north-facing with south-facing windows, comprising four rooms with a kitchen and storage room at the back, and further behind lay a stretch of mountains and woods, with bamboo and trees.

Once inside the courtyard and going further in, there was a large yard with ornamental trees planted, which looked quite pleasant.

The two-story house had the best design of the time, spacious and well-proportioned.

Tang Mingli only felt that the house was a bit too big.

Tang Yue said, "Uncle, although it’s a bit large now, in the future, when you marry little aunt and have children, it won’t feel so big anymore."

"That’s true." Tang Mingli thought about it and suddenly felt that the house wasn’t too large after all. Moreover, after searching for so long to find two adjacent houses, it wouldn’t be easy to come across another opportunity like this, where both neighboring homeowners wanted to sell.

Thus, Tang Mingli asked his friend to negotiate the price with the homeowners, and in the end, they purchased the properties for fourteen hundred and eighty dollars for the single-story and two thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars for the two-story house.

That very afternoon, after paying the money, the houses were transferred to their names, and at the same time, Tang Jun’s household registration was also conveniently moved under the new house’s registry.

"It’s great, I can go to school in the county when I’m in the second grade of junior high," Tang Jun said excitedly, adding, "Sis, from now on, I’ll have an urban household registration."

Tang Jun is smug and always feels especially excited and thrilled. During the past half year, although he could come to the county every week, transportation was always inconvenient. Whenever he thought of his parents and sister in the county while he himself was in the town, he would occasionally feel especially lonely.

"Hmm, Xiao Jun, from now on, you can come home every day." Tang Yue playfully blinked and said, "This place is close to First Middle School, and even if it was a high school, it’s not far. A walk would take just over ten minutes."

"Mhm." Tang Jun’s little face turned bright red with excitement.

Zhang Hualian and Tang Zhengde had just warmed up to their money, which then disappeared quickly, but looking at the excited faces of Tang Jun and Tang Yue, the siblings, they suddenly felt happy again. Even if the money was spent, they believed they could work hard together in the future to earn even more.

Tang Zhengde said, "Mingli, come over for dinner tonight. I’ll cook a few more dishes."

In the evening, the table was laden with a full spread of delicious food, everyone overjoyed about buying the new house. Even Zhang Hualian, who never drank, had quite a bit to drink.

Zhang Hualian had had a hard time for more than a decade after marrying Tang Zhengde, and now, at last, her hardships had turned to sweet joy.

Tang Yue and Tang Jun were still young and couldn’t drink, but they were so happy that they couldn’t stop smiling.

"Mingli, I never dreamt in my life that I could buy a house."

"Everyone says Xiao Yue is a stepdaughter, but in my heart, she’s my own daughter."

"Although we’ve bought the house, it belongs to Xiao Yue in the future, Xiao Jun will have no part in it."

Tang Zhengde, while burping from alcohol, said a lot to Tang Mingli before looking at Tang Jun and saying, "Xiao Jun, this money was earned by your sister, the house was bought by her, so in the future, this house has nothing to do with you."

"Dad, I want a house, and I will earn it myself in the future!" Tang Jun declared ambitiously, a sense of pride rising in his heart. Others’ sisters were still asking their families for tuition and living expenses, but his sister had managed to earn money and buy a house for the family.

He is the male offspring of the family, and he too wants to follow in his sister’s footsteps, to earn money and buy a house, to give his parents a good life.

"Good, you are truly a son of Tang Zhengde, ambitious." Tang Zhengde held a glass of wine, while Tang Jun held a glass of orange soda, father and son clinked glasses, much like adults.

"Son, cheers."

"Dad, cheers!"

Tang Jun sipped his orange soda, feeling that it tasted especially good. He smiled with his eyes squinted, looking almost identical to Tang Zhengde, his resoluteness fully apparent.

"Mom, from now on, we will surely get better and better." Tang Yue also clinked glasses with Zhang Hualian. After drinking, Zhang Hualian’s cheeks were flushed; despite her face roughened by hardships, her eyes, very much like Tang Yue’s, revealed the beauty she must have possessed in her youth.

"Xiao Yue, in the future, our family will live happily together." Zhang Hualian was very happy, couldn’t help but drink excessively, and Tang Mingli and Tang Zhengde, the two brothers, were even drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

In the end, it was Tang Yue and Tang Jun, the siblings, who cleaned up every dish and utensil on the table, then carried each of them to bed. Tang Zhengde and Tang Mingli shared a room, Zhang Hualian was moved to Tang Yue’s room, and Tang Jun squeezed into Tang Zhengde’s bed.

As the morning sunlight poured in, Tang Jun woke up early. The bed, originally small, with two grown men and him, a boy in between, forced Tang Jun to curl up in a corner, with a sore back and aching waist. Coupled with the overwhelming smell of alcohol, he didn’t sleep well at all that night.