The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 198 - 193: Advised Instead

Chapter 198: Chapter 193: Advised Instead

This was truly an opportunity Lu Jingqiu didn’t want to miss. Just as she was pondering what to do, she arrived home, where Grandpa Xue gave her an unexpected piece of news.

"What? That family already sold the house?"

"Yes... Ah, it was my oversight. After I asked that day, I immediately sent a telegram to Niannian and also told Old Wang that we wanted the house, but I didn’t expect them to be in such a hurry to sell. It was also unlucky; they only sold it this afternoon, we were just an afternoon late."

Lu Jingqiu felt a tinge of regret, but beyond that, she wasn’t too heartbroken. Instead, she asked, "Grandpa Xue, how much did their family sell it for?"

"Three thousand eight, they really pressed down the price."

Xue Jianian said with regret, "It was already very cheap at four thousand before, and now at three thousand eight, it’s even cheaper."

Grandpa Xue said, "Indeed, the buyer must have known they were desperate to sell and pressed them down a lot. If they had waited another afternoon, they might have gotten four thousand."

Lu Jingqiu nodded, "Naturally, I could have met that price."

Grandma Xue said, "Old man, have they transferred the property deed yet? If not, there’s still room for negotiation."

Grandpa Xue replied, "No, they are transferring it tomorrow, but this..."

Lu Jingqiu quickly interrupted, "Grandpa Xue, there’s no need to go over. Although we want to buy a house, we also respect the principle of first come, first served. Since I’m not destined for this house, let’s just let it be."

Grandpa Xue sighed, "Tomorrow, I’ll go around and ask if anyone else is selling their house for you."

Lu Jingqiu shook her head, "Grandpa Xue, just now Niannian took me out, and I saw a house I liked."

"Where?"

Xue Jianian, naturally knowing which one she was referring to, looked at her in surprise.

Lu Jingqiu smiled and said, "The house by the pond at the end. There are three households there; I wonder if any of them are willing to sell."

At this remark, Grandpa Xue also frowned, "Niannian didn’t tell you? Those houses shouldn’t be inhabited. The area is low-lying."

Grandma Xue added, "Exactly, no one has lived there for several years now. Some people with bad backgrounds who didn’t have houses stayed there before, but it’s a pity they moved out after a few months. They would rather live in shanty areas than stay there."

Xue Jianian said bitterly, "I told her, but... Jingqiu, do you really want to buy a house there?"

Lu Jingqiu nodded, "If they sell for five hundred yuan, I’ll buy."

Grandma Xue laughed, "Sell? Why wouldn’t they sell? Just the other day, I heard Old Liu rambling about the houses by the pond. But you’re Niannian’s friend, and as your grandma, I still want to advise you, it’s best not to take those houses. You’re still young, not from around here, you don’t understand. If someone sold you a house there, unless you rebuild it, and rebuilding is not easy, you need quite a few thousand, right, and you’d also have to refill the land. Just refilling the land won’t do, the house might be fine, but during the rainy season, the surrounding area would flood, and you’d be trapped. You’d have to elevate the ground, which would end up costing each person at least four to five thousand yuan."

Lu Jingqiu listened intently, nodding, "Grandma Xue, you’re right. If I really needed to buy a house to live in, it wouldn’t be suitable here, but I’m not buying to live or to rent."

All she needed was to wait for a year, no, just half a year, and there would definitely be news spreading around here. At that time, demolition would be a big deal.

Although Lu Jingqiu was insistent, Grandpa Xue didn’t agree to help her inquire about it right away. He advised her to rest for a couple of days and think it over.

She didn’t really need to think about it, but she knew Grandpa Xue and the others were considering her best interests, so she didn’t persist.

That night, Xue Jianian lay in bed staring at her, "Jingqiu, do you really want to buy that house over there?"

"Mhm. You... would you like to buy one too? There are several families there; I don’t know if they would sell."

"What? Are you planning to buy several?"

Lu Jingqiu thought for a moment and said, "Niannian, I’ll tell you the truth. I have inside information that they might build new houses here next year."

"What, build new houses?" Xue Jianian instantly sat up upon hearing this, realizing her motion was a bit too sudden, she hurriedly lay back down again, anxiously said, "What do you mean, where are they building new houses, is the textile factory going to build dormitories?"

Lu Jingqiu spoke equivocally, "I’m not sure who is building the houses, but I know it will definitely be in this area. If they are going to build apartment buildings here, the residents will surely have to relocate."

"Relocate, relocate where? Housing is so tight nowadays, where do they expect us to move? We definitely won’t agree to that."

Lu Jingqiu laughed, "You haven’t grasped my point. I’m saying, they want to build houses, and the residents here won’t just relocate for no reason. They’re living just fine, so why should I leave just because you tell me to? If I go, the house is gone. What would become of a whole family?"

"Right, my grandparents are old, and moving would definitely not suit them."

"They’ve thought of that too, but in order to build the apartments, they’ll surely find a way."

"What do you mean?"

"If they want you to move out, they’ll definitely offer some compensation."

"Compensation? It depends on how much they give. Compensation alone won’t do. There are so many people—where would they live? It’s not easy to buy houses nowadays."

"Right, moving out is okay, but we also want houses. We’ve thought of that, and those building the apartments above will have surely considered this issue. No matter what, they have to solve our housing issue."

"I don’t know the details of how it’ll be solved, but I’m certain we won’t suffer a loss."

"How can we not suffer a loss?"

"So many residents, right? Everyone bands together to negotiate conditions with the leaders—how much compensation, how housing will be arranged. Overall, it shouldn’t be worse than now."

"So, that’s why you came here to buy a house?" Xue Jianian had been puzzled at first, but then her face lit up with joy as she suddenly hugged Lu Jingqiu, "Jingqiu, what you said is very likely. If this information is accurate, buying a house here really is appropriate. Regardless of what the compensation is, there will definitely be money, and no matter what the houses are like, they’re bound to be better than this area. So, about that pond you mentioned, it really is suitable. Five hundred yuan—if that place really gets requisitioned, the compensation must be more than five hundred, right? But, that pond is so big and it’s low-lying land; they wouldn’t build houses there, would they?"

"I don’t know, but I think it’s possible. You see, there are many houses here; moving isn’t easy. In any case, it would take several months. But that area of the pond, just fill it with soil, and construction can start right away."

Xue Jianian nodded, "You’re right. But an organization building houses wouldn’t need much land, right? Do you think our house could possibly be requisitioned?"

"It’s in the plan, but exactly where it’s marked, I’m just guessing. What if I guess correctly?"

Xue Jianian had initially lain in bed wanting to persuade Lu Jingqiu, but in the end found herself convinced. Now her mind was in turmoil, and she couldn’t sleep a wink.

Why did Xue Jianian trust Lu Jingqiu’s words so much? It wasn’t just because Lu Jingqiu’s father was competent; he must have heard some insider news.

Otherwise, Lu Jingqiu wouldn’t have followed her all this way at this time.

Lu Jingqiu said things ambiguously, not wanting her to misunderstand, but Xue Jianian knew the compensation mentioned would definitely be substantial when the time came.

If it was just about finding them a house, and each family got a few hundred yuan in compensation, Lu Jingqiu certainly wouldn’t have been interested.

Xue Jianian thought about it all night, and only fell asleep when dawn was breaking.

Lu Jingqiu also didn’t sleep much, as it was not her own home, and she felt somewhat uneasy.

The next morning, Xue Jianian didn’t sleep in; instead, she went looking for Grandpa Xue early.

When Lu Jingqiu woke up, Xue Jianian was sitting on the bed with a smiling face, startling her into a jolt.

"Ah, are you trying to scare me to death?"

Xue Jianian giggled and said, "Jingqiu, I’ve made up my mind, I’ll buy a set of houses by the pond with you."

Lu Jingqiu paused while dressing and arched an eyebrow, "You’re not persuading me anymore?"

"Persuade what? If your information is reliable, then this deal is something where I would benefit from following you. If the information turns out to be false, I won’t miss five hundred yuan. Grandpa said he’d help you ask the family in front about the pond side. There are four families in total, one of the houses has already collapsed. Do you want it?"

"Yes, as long as there’s a property deed. Oh, and does the pond have an owner?"

"Why, you want to buy the pond too?"

Lu Jingqiu tilted her head at her, clearly implying something.

Xue Jianian swallowed and said, "I really don’t know about the pond. After all, we’re newcomers to the area too. I’ll have Grandma Xue look into it."

"Okay."