Chapter 177: The Dilapidated Courtyard

Chapter 177: The Dilapidated Courtyard

Ye Jianguo was actually ready to be discharged from the hospital, but he didn't want to stay in the house Ye Changqing and his family were renting, so he postponed his discharge.

With the family now here, Ye Jianguo decided to return home.

Ye Changqing objected, citing the difficult roads back home, and Ye Jianguo wasn't in any condition to travel.

"I'll rent another place in the city so you and Mom can stay here a couple more months."

With Ye Xiaoxiao and the others away at school, there were no kids at home to look after, and the elderly couple just tended to the farm and livestock.

These tasks could easily be handled by the grandparents and uncle at home.

"That would be too expensive."

Ye Jianguo was still worried about the cost.

Miao Cuifang chimed in, "We have money at home, and I brought some with me."

Ye Jianguo sighed. He'd been saving for the children's weddings, in case anyone needed to buy a house in the city, they'd need to chip in.

There were also the sons' bride prices and the daughters' dowries to prepare.

"If you don't agree, I'll have to telegram the kids and ask if they want you to rest up."

Ye Jianguo grew anxious.

"They're busy studying and working, why bother them?"

Miao Cuifang replied, "Then stop arguing and let me handle it."

Miao Cuifang handed Ye Changqing some money.

She knew her eldest son had given all his earnings to the family over the years, and had only been in the city a few months, so he surely had no savings, and this money couldn't possibly come from the eldest son.

Ye Changqing protested, "Mom, I have money."

"Take it and find a suitable courtyard. Dad's leg is inconvenient now, and he can't go upstairs.

Mom knows your intentions, but don't I know your situation? When the third child and Xiao Xiao left, they left money at home, and we have savings."

Ye Changqing had no choice but to take the money, but he couldn't help feeling uncomfortable.

As the eldest son of the family, it was his responsibility to support the family, but he was very dissatisfied with his current performance.

He also thought of what Eldest Brother Liu had said.

Ye Changqing's heart was slightly shaken.

Their family was still too poor, and such a family couldn't withstand some storms.

To be more secure, they needed more money.

...

Because of Ye Jianguo's insistence, Ye Xiaoxiao and the others outside didn't know what had happened at home.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changning made several phone calls.

Although the long-distance phone calls were expensive, they discussed important matters, and no one minded the cost.

Ye Changning had already expanded the market for Zhang's Plaster, and it was selling very well.

Even more popular than the plaster was the Big White Jar Face Cream.

So, there were many wealthy people in the coastal areas.

At the same time, due to the economic climate, women in the southern regions had a higher demand for cosmetics.

The Big White Jar Face Cream was a hit as soon as it entered the southern market. Ye Changning, being a savvy businessman, pushed the sales even harder.

He even opened a dedicated storefront in the south, exclusively selling the whitening cream.

He hired employees, opened a shop, and was now officially a business owner.

After discussing work and personal updates with Ye Xiaoxiao, Ye Changning hung up the phone.

Ye Xiaoxiao was worried because she hadn't received any letters from home recently.

Perhaps the recent rain had made the roads difficult to travel, so they hadn’t sent any letters.

Ye Xiaoxiao remembered that rain could affect the harvest, and her family might need to stock up on grain early.

She went to the post office to mail a letter along with a money order to Baishi Village.

Recently, besides saving money for a house, Ye Xiaoxiao had also saved some savings to repay the Hao family.

What Mrs. Hao did last time had deeply hurt her.

She couldn't return to that home anymore, but since she had been raised by the Hao family for so many years, Ye Xiaoxiao decided to repay them with money.

After all, she had been loved by the Hao family during her childhood. She couldn’t repay their kindness, so she would return the money instead.

It happened to be a day off, and after returning from the post office, Lu Hanchuan offered to take her out.

Ye Xiaoxiao asked, "Do you want to check out the courtyard I bought?"

Lu Hanchuan was fine with it; it wouldn't take much time to visit.

Lu Hanchuan headed to Lotus Hutong.

The area was full of courtyard homes, some privately owned and others shared by several families.

When Ye Xiaoxiao brought Lu Hanchuan to Courtyard No. 27, Lu Hanchuan was speechless.

The only thing presentable about the courtyard was the gate.

The houses inside were so dilapidated that even mice would avoid them. The only positive thing Lu Hanchuan could find about the rundown courtyard was its size—it was pretty spacious.

"This courtyard..."

"Isn't it nice."

Lu Hanchuan: "It's pretty big. It's rare to see such a large courtyard in the city center these days."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I knew you had good taste."

Lu Hanchuan was both amused and exasperated, knowing she was really praising herself.

"Should we renovate the yard? It's a big project."

"Let's not renovate for now. Save some money to buy another property."

Lu Hanchuan forced his gaze away from the dilapidated bricks and tiles: "Last time I mentioned that Han Xing's company is in real estate development. When the time comes, I can ask him to reserve a few properties for you, as many as you want."

If his girlfriend likes something, he has to make it happen.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I really can't stand you real estate types."

Lu Hanchuan raised an eyebrow: "Why? Isn't it a good thing to make sure everyone has a place to live?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head mysteriously.

"You'll see what I mean in a few decades."

Lu Hanchuan: "In a few decades, we'll both be old folks. Why are you still concerned about this?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Let's go. Where are you taking me? I can tell you're not impressed with my place."

As they walked out, Lu Hanchuan said, "I also have a place back in my hometown. I'll take you to see it sometime."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Where is your hometown?"

"It's in Hangzhou."

Even though Old Master Lu has a Beijing hukou, he's not originally from Beijing. He came from Hangzhou, and his hometown is in the countryside of Hangzhou.

The family compound was built later, when the Lu family was already quite well-off.

Even though it's in the countryside, it's a lot nicer than this place.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Alright, you said you'd take me there."

Lu Hanchuan: "How about this Lunar New Year? The old man doesn't go back often, but he always makes a trip around the Lunar New Year to check on things."

There are still plenty of relatives and friends back in the countryside.

The older he gets, the more he thinks about going back to his roots. Old Master Lu has been going back more frequently.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "We're not even married yet, and you're already trying to keep me from going home for the New Year?"

Lu Hanchuan: "I wouldn't dare! Our Xiao Xiao can go whenever she pleases."

Only then did Ye Xiaoxiao seem satisfied.

After leaving Lotus Alley, Lu Hanchuan took Ye Xiaoxiao to a manor in the suburbs.

You could eat, fish, and even stay overnight there.

Ye Xiaoxiao thought, isn't this just a fancy farmhouse?

But these days, calling it a farmhouse probably wouldn't draw much interest.

After all, farmhouses are a dime a dozen.