The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 146 - 144: Girls Can’t Stay After Growing Up

Chapter 146: Chapter 144: Girls Can’t Stay After Growing Up

After dinner, it was already dark, and carrying out the TV went unnoticed.

Lu Jingqiu tidied up the wall cabinet in the living room to make space for the television, and the antenna was routed from the rooftop to the outside.

Lu Xianrun found a bamboo pole outside, tied the antenna to it, and extended it from Jingqiu’s room’s balcony to a spot with a good signal to fix it in place.

The television had twelve channels, but after fiddling with it for a while, only three stations came through—Central Television, the provincial station, and Capital City’s television station. Even so, it delighted everyone, including Jingqiu, who wanted to fully experience this life after having lost ten years in her previous life.

It took Dad and Jiang Nanzhou two hours to get the television set properly, and they even managed to receive Central Television. They watched a TV drama for a while, although what it was about, nobody really understood.

Even so, Dad and Jiang Nanzhou were thrilled.

When Second cousin came back, they were still watching. He laughed and said, "After half-past eleven, there won’t be any broadcasts, and there’s also nothing before six in the morning."

Lu Xianrun said, "Does that mean we can only watch TV after six o’clock every day?"

"Yeah."

Upon hearing this, there was some disappointment, but reflecting on it, he didn’t have much time to watch TV during the day anyway, and if he came home early, he could still watch for a few hours.

With that thought, he felt the TV was a bit of a waste. His daughter would be at school for a week and wouldn’t be home, and he was busy as well. Thinking it over, he said to Jiang Nanzhou, "This TV should be considered Jingqiu’s dowry. Take it with you when you get married."

Jiang Nanzhou felt that after Jingqiu would get married, leaving his father-in-law alone would be quite lonely, so he declined, "Uncle Lu, you keep it at home to watch. We’ll buy one too."

Lu Xianrun shook his head and refused, "No need, no need. I’ll be interested for a couple of days, but I’m busy anyway. I don’t have time for this thing."

Lu Jingqiu said, "Dad, you keep it. We don’t need to watch it. I have to go to school, and if I get too caught up in this, it’ll distract me from my studies."

Yang Mingchao burst out laughing, "Uncle, sister, don’t fight over it. When Qiuqiu gets married, I’ll gift her one."

Lu Xianrun said, "Oh, Mingchao, you’re doing well for yourself."

"You bet." He had made a decent amount of money this time.

Jiang Nanzhou saw it was getting late and left with Yang Mingchao.

Recently, Jingqiu had developed a biological clock at school, and she felt sleepy now, so she went straight upstairs.

She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but very late into the night, she could still hear the sound of the TV downstairs.

The next morning, Jingqiu rode her bicycle to the farmers’ market, intending to queue up, but found several vendors pushing carts at the market entrance. There, fresh vegetables were sold alongside pastries and eggs; there were even two stalls selling steamed buns.

Jingqiu didn’t feel like queuing and bought vegetables from outside—two bunches of greens, a pound of potatoes, some bell peppers, eggplants, and green beans.

Although the street vendors didn’t require tickets, people preferred the convenience, and quite a crowd had gathered.

The bun stall was also busy. Curious about the taste, Jingqiu squeezed forward, "Comrade, what fillings do you have?"

"Meat, chive and egg, and black fungus with mushrooms."

"How much for each?"

"Meat buns are ten cents each, and the vegetarian ones are five cents each, all made with white flour."

"Give me two of each kind."

Jingqiu paid forty cents, opened her cotton bag, and let the vendor pack the buns inside.

Wow, the buns were quite big.

Jingqiu got home while they were still warm and stuffed a meat bun to her dad, "Hmm, did you buy this at the community breakfast shop? The meat today is really fragrant."

"Dad, there were people selling buns outside the farmers’ market. They really tasted good."

"Now people are so bold, bringing their business right to the farmers’ market?"

"Indeed, I noticed that the vendors inside the market looked quite upset, but there wasn’t much they could do since it wasn’t inside their market."

Jingqiu knew that farmers’ markets would eventually become privatized. With the opening up, the first to be decentralized would be the state-owned farmers’ markets.

After all, it was a significant matter of livelihood.

Jingqiu ate one mushroom bun and then one with egg, and drank a bowl of millet porridge. She was full.

"There’s one meat bun left. When Jiang Nanzhou arrived, I sneakily gave it to him, ’Try this, it’s delicious.’"

Jiang Nanzhou took a bite. It was filled with pork and green onions.

"Delicious, right?"

"Did you make this yourself?"

Lu Jingqiu shook her head, "Where do I have the time? I bought it at the entrance of the farmer’s market." She then told him about the stalls at the entrance of the farmer’s market.

Jiang Nanzhou said, "In no more than two years, supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores will feel the impact."

It must be said, Jiang Nanzhou had a far-sighted vision.

After tidying up a bit, they informed her father and rode out on their bicycles. Lu Xianrun had just seen his daughter saving the meat bun for Jiang Nanzhou, feeling a touch of sourness in his heart. Ah, once a girl grows up, she’s not going to stay around.

He waved his hand to hurry them out, out of sight, out of mind.

Jiang Nanzhou took Lu Jingqiu to the two places they had looked at last time. Upon inquiring, they found out that one of the properties had been abandoned, as the family seemed to have gone abroad and the situation was unclear. The house was dilapidated, and it was said someone had died there, so no one dared to touch it.

For the other property, the family’s relatives were returning soon, so it was no longer for sale.

Jiang Nanzhou felt somewhat regretful. He had taken a liking to that little Western-style building.

Lu Jingqiu found the place too gloomy and didn’t like it much, "Why don’t we go ask at the housing authority?"

"Okay."

The city government wasn’t far away, and it took them just ten minutes to get there.

This housing authority was significantly inferior to the one in Capital City, located next to a building, looking quite old and dilapidated. To those unaware, it might even be mistaken for some fly-by-night company.

"Hello."

"Hello, are you here to buy or sell a house?"

After entering, several tables were arranged in the hall with quite a few people reviewing documents, and two families seemed to be there for property transfer.

There was also a little girl sitting by herself.

Jiang Nanzhou asked a young man who seemed less busy, "We’re looking to buy a house. Are there any vacant ones nearby?"

The young employee shook his head, "Last month, two sets of properties were sold as soon as they were put up. If you want a house, you’ll have to wait."

Housing was tight, and it was possible for the housing authority to have none available. Even if they did, some people would arrange deals privately. Just a little inquiry, and someone would buy.

Jiang Nanzhou asked, "How long would we have to wait, roughly?"

The employee replied, "That’s hard to say. Maybe someone will come in today to register a property, or there might not be any for a month or two. You can register here, and we’ll notify you once something is available. What size yard are you looking for?"

"Something reasonable will do. You can contact us as soon as you have something; we’re available anytime to view the property," said Jiang Nanzhou, as he went to register.

A young girl around Lu Jingqiu’s age looked at her hesitantly and asked, "Comrade, my family has a house for rent. Would you be interested in renting?"

Lu Jingqiu was taken aback and looked towards the voice, finding a pretty young girl watching her, "Your family’s house is up for rent?"

The girl nodded, "It’s a small Western-style house, two and a half floors with a big yard."

Lu Jingqiu hesitated. It wasn’t easy finding a house these days and she turned to look at Jiang Nanzhou.

Jiang Nanzhou, having finished the registration, checked the time and said, "If you want to see it, let’s take a look." They were going to randomly search for houses later anyway.

The girl brightened up at Jiang Nanzhou’s words, stood up quickly, and ran into a room to knock on the door. When a voice from inside answered, she opened the door and said, "Uncle Zhao, I just met someone looking to rent. I’m going to show them the house now."

The person inside came out straight away, looked at Jiang Nanzhou and Lu Jingqiu, and said, "Hello, my name is Zhao, I’m the director here. The house from Xiao Shen’s home is indeed quite nice. If you like it, just come here and I’ll act as a guarantor for both parties and we can sign an agreement."

Jiang Nanzhou nodded, "If it’s suitable, we will definitely trouble Director Zhao." Saying so, he shook hands with Director Zhao.

As the three of them left, Director Zhao made a special point to give a few last instructions to Comrade Xiao Shen.

Lu Jingqiu realized, Director Zhao wasn’t entirely at ease with them.

When they were out of sight, she gave Jiang Nanzhou a helpless smile, "I’m a good citizen, you know."