Chapter 469 The House Is Yours!

**Chapter 469: The House Is Yours!**

Su Taotao almost said she was just passing by, but when she saw this prime street-facing courtyard, she swallowed her words.

She turned to Fu Yuanhang and said, "Let’s go in and take a look."

Following the old man inside, they were both surprised.

With his unkempt beard and short fuse, they had expected his home to resemble a garbage dump—with barely space to step.

But to their astonishment, this unassuming single-story house was a hidden gem—impeccably clean, almost unnaturally so for a lived-in home.

Su Taotao couldn’t help asking, "Mister, is this really your home?"

The old man huffed, his beard bristling. "If it’s not mine, is it yours?"

Su Taotao: "... *At your age, still so fiery?*"

"Mister, your house is so beautifully arranged!"

The old man scoffed and tugged at the embroidered door curtain.

"What's so good about it? Taken over by capitalists for nearly a decade, wasted on all these flashy things. Wouldn’t it be better to spend the money on a few shots of liquor?"

Su Taotao: "... Whatever makes you happy, old man."

The old man led Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang on a tour.

The house layout was perfect. Though a single-story structure, it featured a feng shui screen wall, with the kitchen and bathroom on either side. The main hall faced the screen wall, flanked by bedrooms. A six-foot-wide covered walkway encircled the courtyard, keeping everyone dry in any weather.

The walkway was adorned with hanging baskets of flowers, and one could easily imagine the vibrant blooms come spring.

In the center of the courtyard was a water pump beside a prep sink, artfully integrated with a rockery. Below it lay a small fish pond paved with pebbles—a quaint little water feature.

If a traditional courtyard house was a cultured noblewoman, this modest hundred-square-meter home was a sweet, unassuming charm.

Each had its merits, and both perfectly suited Su Taotao’s aesthetic.

But the question was—why had she come in to see this house?

Did the old man really intend to rent it to her?

"Well? Satisfied?" The old man, now puffing on a pipe stuffed with tobacco, squinted at her through the smoke.

Su Taotao: "..."

She gave him a thumbs-up. "Your home is first-class—so elegant!"

Honestly, just the walkway alone could fit a dozen tables, turning it into an upscale private restaurant. This level of charm couldn’t be replicated even in the 21st century.

The old man exhaled a smoke ring. "Do you want to rent or buy?"

"What?" Su Taotao blinked.

The irritable old man pressed, "Weren’t you looking for a place? This place isn’t worth much. Dressed like that in cashmere, you can’t swing this place?"

Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang: "..."

"*Shack?* You were ready to burn the place down earlier!"

Su Taotao and Fu Zhengtu had been quite busy over the years and simply had no time to spend money. Their salaries were decent, and Su Taotao’s salary alone was unspendable—yes, completely unspendable. Buying anything required ration tickets, and after settling down, there wasn’t much else they needed. Mostly, it was just meals and the occasional piece of clothing—they really didn’t spend much.

The major household items and things bought for the children were all covered by Fu Zhengtu’s bonuses.

Fu Zhengtu’s salary over the past few years had barely been touched. His salary was directly deposited into a passbook, compounding interest in the bank. To be honest, after a few years, there were several tens of thousands saved up.

At this time, several tens of thousands had significant purchasing power. Other things aside, a poorly decorated house like this could buy several units.

“Such a nice house—you won’t keep it for yourself?” Su Taotao asked.

The old man sneered, overdoing his act, and choked on his cigarette smoke, coughing so hard his eyes watered, nearly bringing tears. It took him a while to reply:

“Look at me—a worthless old bone. Do I look like someone who’d get used to living in a place like this? A country hog can’t digest fine fodder. After years in a cowshed, I can’t sleep on high beds with soft pillows.”

Having slept in a cowshed in the countryside for years and seen all sorts of ox ghosts and snake demons, he got the creeps in this house—it didn’t feel like his at all.

Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang: “…”

This old man either sneered or mocked—he simply couldn’t hold a civil conversation.

After witnessing such a spectacle and piecing together the old man’s words, Su Taotao could roughly guess the house’s origins.

Most likely, the old man was a loner who, for some reason, had been sent down for re-education, even living in a cowshed. Recently, he’d had his reputation restored and returned to the city, but the house had been renovated and lived in by some petit bourgeois types for years before being returned to him—and he wasn’t happy about it.

Though the old man’s words were harsh, Su Taotao could afford the house. Still, she didn’t want to take advantage of him and felt it necessary to clarify the pros and cons.

“Old sir, your house is in a great location and well-decorated. Though the market price might not be high now, it’s sure to appreciate in the future. Selling it now would be a pity. Besides, where would you live if you sold it?”

The old man, who hadn’t bothered to look at her properly, finally gave Su Taotao a direct glance:

“You’ve got a face that spells trouble, but your heart’s not bad.”

Su Taotao: “…Gee, thanks.”

The old man took a few more drags on his cigarette and said, “I’ve got more than just this place. Selling it won’t leave me sleeping under a bridge—why worry about me?”

Su Taotao: “…So you’re a property tycoon, huh? My mistake.”

“I really like the house. How much do you want for it?”

The old man: “You buying it to live in?”

Su Taotao shook her head. “No, I’ve got a place to stay. I’m studying nearby and was thinking of using it for a small eatery. The location and decoration are perfect—it would just need minor changes to turn it into a shop.”

Even if the deal didn’t go through, honesty was important. Su Taotao didn’t want to deceive him and risk future disputes.

“Well, well, well…” The old man started his sarcastic tone again. “You’ve got some nerve—going into business? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?”

Su Taotao smiled. “You won’t.”

If she’d secretly bought his house for some “illegal activity,” this old man might’ve actually reported her. But since she was upfront about it, he probably wouldn’t go that far.

Besides, the Reform and Opening Up policies had already been proposed, and those with good political antennae were already preparing in advance.

The old man scoffed. “You know how I ended up in that cowshed? Sabotaging socialist construction—my own nephew reported me—”

Su Taotao thought to herself, *No wonder you disowned your relatives earlier—who'd keep a nephew like that around?*

The old man blew a smoke ring into the air and muttered, *"Looks like the weather’s about to change… All those years in the cowshed were wasted, sigh…"*

Heaving a deep sigh, he added, *"I can sell you the house, and I won’t report you either. But if you're running a food business, you gotta feed me once a day."*

Su Taotao: *"?"* Did she hear that right? Selling a house comes with having to feed him? *What kind of arrangement is this?*

The old man muttered to himself, *"Old and useless now… Just afraid I’ll die outside and no one will know. If I don’t show up for a meal one day, you’ll know I’m dead.*

*I’m not afraid of having no one to mourn me or bury me. I just don’t want to stink up the place before anyone notices and bother the neighbors…"*

Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang exchanged glances, their hearts aching a little.

*"Old sir, I’ll buy the house—just tell me how much.*

*I plan to open a restaurant. Never mind just one meal a day—I’ll give you three. As long as my restaurant stands and you’re alive, you’ll always have a seat at my table. This will be your canteen."*

Right under the imperial city's nose, every inch of land was priceless. Even if she paid more than the current market price, the future appreciation would be immeasurable. By any calculation, Su Taotao came out ahead.

Feeding an old man three meals a day was nothing.

And how could her restaurant possibly go out of business?

In the future, she’d probably be turning away guests before they even walked in.

Lending a hand to a lonely old man was just a daily act of kindness.

Hearing this, the old man’s tired eyes brightened. He stopped smoking and fixed his gaze on Su Taotao.

*"Really?"*

Su Taotao nodded with a smile. *"My word is my bond."*

*"Good!"* The old man slapped his thigh and let out a hearty laugh. *"The house is yours then!"*

Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang: *“???”*