The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 280 - 270: The Small Western-Style House

Chapter 280: Chapter 270: The Small Western-Style House

Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Nine: The Little Western-Style House

"Grandma Zhang, for this house of yours, what is the lowest price you can give per square meter? My friend has taken a liking to it. If the price is right, we can proceed with the paperwork immediately."

Grandma Zhang sat at the doorstep in a recliner, fanning herself with a woven fan, and gestured for them to sit down on the stool beside her.

"This house was built by a man his father hired," she began. "We were the first family in this alley. Others built their houses one after another, modeling them after ours, with many having similar layouts. But not many can compare to the decoration of our home. Plus, I’ve taken good care of this place. With the two kids away from home these years, I’m the only one living here, so there hasn’t been much wear and tear.

Furthermore, after I move in with my son, I won’t be able to take the furniture. It was all made with high-quality timber, and I’m offering it at a market rate, already a great bargain.

I can tell from your attire and demeanor that you both are cultured people. I’m particular about who I sell the house to—if I wasn’t, it would have been sold long ago.

Ah, after all, this house is my husband’s hard work. We’ve lived here for so long; it’s hard to let go. I’d like to find someone who truly loves this place and will care for it."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingqiu quickly reassured her, "Grandma Zhang, rest assured, I truly love this house. If I become its owner, I will surely take good care of it. What I love most are the decorated tiles inside the house and the flowers in the yard that you’ve tended.

To be honest, at my current home, I’ve also planted many flowers. I have a large terrace, but the varieties aren’t as good as the ones here."

This seemed to strike a chord with Mrs. Zhang, who laughed heartily, "Haha, I’ve asked many people for these flower seeds! Ah, if it wasn’t so far, I’d really want to take these flowers with me."

When Lu Jingqiu and He Yu heard Grandma Zhang say this, they knew they had a chance. Sure enough, Grandma Zhang asked them to come back the next afternoon as she needed to discuss it with her son.

Just like that, He Yu left with a thrilled Lu Jingqiu from Grandma Zhang’s yard.

He Yu checked the time, "It’s getting a bit late, but I can take you to the shantytown to have a look from outside."

Jingqiu shook her head, "No need, what if I get tempted?"

"If you’re tempted, just buy it."

"I do want to buy it, but I don’t have that much money. I can only choose one." Compared to the alleys here, the shantytown was bound to be demolished, but when it came to buying a house, she wanted to follow her heart. Even without seeing others, she truly fell for this place at first sight.

And she also found the price acceptable.

"So, you really want this one?"

"Yes, I’m not looking at others anymore."

He Yu responded with a smile, "I knew you would like this one. I fell for it at first glance too. Thinking of where you currently live, I figured you would definitely like it. These past days I’ve been persistently bothering Grandma Zhang for you."

"Ah Yu, thanks for your trouble this time."

"What trouble? Come on, let’s go home. My mom knew a classmate of mine was coming over; she probably has the food ready by now."

Knowing she was going to visit He Yu’s home, Jingqiu insisted He Yu stop when they passed a department store. After asking about his family, she bought many gifts for the He family, not even leaving out something for He Yu’s big uncle.

What was initially a small bag had turned into both of them carrying large bags and small bags: "Jingqiu, you’re too polite. Once we go up, my mom is definitely going to scold me."

"I can’t come to your house empty-handed, right? Let’s go upstairs."

The He family also lived in an alley, which looked older than the one Grandma Zhang lived in today. If it were to be demolished, it would be quite valuable.

The He family’s home was a three-story building without a yard. Upon entering, there was a staircase; to the left was a kitchen, and inside there was a living room and a bedroom.

As soon as Jingqiu entered, she smelled a delicious aroma.

"Mom, Dad, Jingqiu is here."

"Here you are! Welcome, welcome, Comrade Jingqiu!" He Yu’s mother was a tall, capable-looking middle-aged woman with an underlying gracefulness. She stood up to warmly greet Jingqiu as she arrived.

"Hello Aunt Wang, hello Uncle He."

Uncle He was a typical Shanghai man. He Yu had mentioned that both his parents were over fifty, but Uncle He looked like he was in his forties. He greeted her wearing an apron, "Come in and sit down. You must be tired from the drive. Uncle just made some tea, it’s waiting for you."

While helping Jingqiu with her luggage, He Yu said, "After I picked up Jingqiu, we still had some time, so I took her to see the house."

Mrs. Wang was helping Father He carry food into the dining room and asked, "Did you look at many places?"

Jingqiu shook her head, "No, we only looked at Grandma Zhang’s place, and I’m quite taken with it."

"Oh, the one on Fuyou Road, that’s a great location," Mrs. Wang commented.

He Yu said, "Mom, if you and Dad had seen that house, you’d know it’s really nice. I told you to buy it but you didn’t, and now Jingqiu gets the benefit. Just don’t regret it later."

After Father He set the dishes on the table, he beckoned Jingqiu to sit down, still smiling, "What’s there to regret? Both your brothers have their own homes. We aren’t short of houses."

He Yu said, "Dad, isn’t your unit about to allocate housing? Our family is all working now and doesn’t have major expenses. I advise you to buy an extra apartment."

"Jingqiu, you agree, right?"

Lu Jingqiu chuckled awkwardly. What could she say?

Aunt Wang beside her was serving her food and asked, "Jingqiu, I heard from Ah Yu that the house you bought in Yangcheng City was demolished?"

Lu Jingqiu nodded, "Yes, I actually came over from there."

Father He exclaimed, "Ah, that must have been profitable; there’s compensation for demolition, not to mention they give out new housing."

He Yu said, "Exactly, Jingqiu mentioned that the urban development here is fast, and house prices are shooting up."

Aunt Wang asked, "Jingqiu, did you buy a house here in Shanghai because you expected the prices to go up?"

Lu Jingqiu paused in her eating, considering how to respond, when she felt He Yu tap her foot under the table. Turning to glance at him, she noticed he was signaling her with his eyes.

Lu Jingqiu caught on in a second and quickly laughed, "Oh, yes, Aunt Wang, Uncle He, you see, the housing prices in Shanghai are even higher than in Capital City now. I’ve analyzed the property market here and the price increases over the past few years have been significant. With the government changing policies, the price fluctuations are even bigger. I remember housing prices were over fifty per square meter three years ago, and in just a few years, they’ve risen to eighty or a hundred. If this trend continues for a few more years, we could be looking at several hundred per square meter."

Father He and Mrs. Wang were both intellectuals and naturally understood the housing price fluctuation that Lu Jingqiu was talking about.

Being locals, they were also aware of the housing situation in Shanghai over the past few years.

Not only was housing in short supply, but it was indeed expensive. In recent years, to resolve the housing issue, the government had redeveloped urban villages, building quite a few residential buildings.

It was during those two years that housing prices surged, particularly for apartment buildings.

At the dinner table, most of what Lu Jingqiu discussed with the He family revolved around housing.

Lu Jingqiu was puzzled, but after dinner and tea, when He Yu took her upstairs to rest, she whispered, "Why did you kick me during dinner?"

He Yu quickly took her hand and said, "My dear sister, thank goodness you are quick on the uptake and understood what I meant. I simply wanted to persuade my parents to buy another apartment."

"Why, didn’t your dad say your family doesn’t lack housing?"

"We don’t lack it. My oldest brother just got married and his work unit just allocated him an apartment. My second brother just started working and has a dormitory. Plus, we have this old house."

"But recently my dad’s work unit is allocating housing, and it’s those kinds of apartments. Originally, my dad was eligible, but he plans to sell his spot to an old friend.

My brothers and I think Dad can’t always prioritize others. Over the years, counting on having our own place, he has passed on his allocation to others whenever there was a distribution.

In these recent days, as I helped you look for a house, I also gained some understanding. Property prices in our city have risen quite a bit in the last two years. Seeing you buy a house in Yangcheng City and getting a new place after demolition all within a year,

I think future housing in Shanghai will be even more numerous and expensive than in Yangcheng City. That’s why I want to convince my dad. My brother thinks with my dad’s two-bedroom quota, we could add some money and get one of the work units’ Western-style apartments. My dad is also eligible to buy one."

"A work unit’s Western-style apartment, huh? With this option available, isn’t Uncle He..." Stupid, Lu Jingqiu didn’t say out loud.

But He Yu understood and nodded approvingly, "My dad is just being foolish."

Lu Jingqiu smiled wryly. This apartment could be had for twenty thousand now, but who knows how many times that will be in a few years.

Of course, that wasn’t something she could say.

"Ah Yu, I think your idea, and that of your brothers, is very good. If you have your own quota, then buy an apartment for yourselves.

After all, even though your oldest brother has been allocated housing, your second brother hasn’t yet. It could take several more years before he gets one, and it will depend on his own abilities. And what if he meets someone and wants to get married in the meantime? He’ll need an apartment, right?"

"That’s true. My dad has given away his spots on several occasions to colleagues and friends, done plenty of good deeds. This time, we just don’t want him to let it pass."

"What does Aunt Wang think?"

"My mom is always preoccupied with her work unit and rarely bothers with these things; she doesn’t care much about it either."

Lu Jingqiu nodded in agreement, "That’s true. If she did care, she would’ve already been upset with Uncle He." Letting go of an apartment allocation from the work unit, one must be extremely kind-hearted.

She considered herself kind but couldn’t match Uncle He’s level of charity.

He Yu said with a smile, "I think my parents took it to heart tonight."

"They did?"

"Yes, after all, it’s quite a bit of money, and in a few years with the price increase, it would be a significant amount."

"That’s for sure." It’s not just doubling or tripling.