Chapter 137: Chapter 134: She and I Think Alike

After thinking it over, he said to Li Shuqing, “To be honest, if I wasn’t in urgent need of money, I really wouldn’t want to sell these properties. If you can take all of them, I’ll knock another five hundred off the price. I can’t go any lower.”

Li Shuqing looked to Li Xiangyang. Seeing him nod, Li Shuqing agreed, “Alright. Let’s go see the other places.”

Wang Chuan nodded and led them out of the courtyard. One building was next door, two were across the alley, and another was at the end of the lane.

Li Xiangyang told Lin Lan and the others the price, then said with a smile, “You all pick first. Whatever’s left will be mine.”

Yao Xiuyun pulled on Lin Lan’s arm. “Sister Lin, let’s pick the two east-facing buildings. What do you think?”

Lin Lan smiled and nodded. “Okay!”

Seeing that they had decided in just a few words, Wang Chuan was also pleased. He said to Li Xiangyang, “Should we transfer the deeds after we see the storefront, or do it now?”

Li Xiangyang smiled faintly. “Let’s see the shop on Vegetable Market Street first, then we’ll transfer the ownership.”

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” Wang Chuan exclaimed. “Mr. Li, you’ve got real boldness. You definitely won’t regret buying our family’s shop.”

Li Xiangyang replied politely, “You flatter me, Mr. Wang.”

After leaving the alley, Wang Chuan got into a black sedan and led the group to Vegetable Market Street in the eastern part of the city.

The Wang family’s shop was on Vegetable Market Street. Next to the supply and marketing co-op stood several boarded-up, gray-brick, tile-roofed buildings. They were originally used by the co-op and had been kept shut after being returned to the Chen family.

Wang Chuan opened the door, and the group went inside to look around. Lin Lan noticed a small courtyard in the back. It was more spacious than the one on Limin Street, but not as bright.

After settling on a price with Wang Chuan, Li Xiangyang pulled Yang Dingbang and Xu Dong aside. “What do you two think?”

Yang Dingbang spread his hands and gave a wry smile. “I already gave you all my money. It’s just enough to buy that small building.”

Xu Dong added sheepishly, “After buying that house, the cash I have on hand is pretty much gone too.”

“I’ll front the money for now. You two each buy one unit, and the remaining three will go to Lin Lan,” Li Xiangyang said without a moment’s hesitation.

Yang Dingbang stared at him in surprise. “Lin Lan can buy three units?”

“You’ve all tried Lin Lan’s pastries. I know her stuff sells well in Eucalyptus Forest and at a few black markets. I heard her family also started a pig farm, and her third brother… she said that after buying these, she’ll let them use the space to sell local specialty products. When the economy opens up more in the future, you guys can just rent your places to them. It’ll be a hands-off and worry-free investment.”

Li Xiangyang looked at the two of them, a little smug. ’The woman I have my eye on was never going to be the type to just depend on others to get by, wallowing in self-pity!’

Seeing his smug expression, Xu Dong found it almost painful to watch and gave him a playful punch on the arm. “Look at you, all puffed up. You’re this happy just because Lin Lan is so capable!”

“Of course I’m happy,” Li Xiangyang said, not without pride. “Even Xiuyun, who’s plenty bold, was hesitant at first. I had to talk to her before she agreed. But Lin Lan… she and I are just on the same wavelength.”

Yang Dingbang laughed and clapped Xu Dong on the back. “If the creditor himself isn’t worried, what are we afraid of? We’ll just write him an IOU and pay him back in installments!”

Xu Dong smiled and nodded. “Alright! Let’s buy them then!”

“Great! It’s settled then. I’ll go talk to Lin Lan.” Li Xiangyang called her over. “Ding Bang and Dongzi are taking two units. I already bought the one across the street the other day, so you should take the remaining three! If you don’t have enough money, I’ll front it.”

Hearing this, Lin Lan shook her head repeatedly. “With the money I have left, I’m a little short even for one unit. I can’t afford three, not even with the money from my parents.”

Li Xiangyang looked at her and said earnestly, “I’ll cover what you’re short. You can just pay me back whenever you have the money.”

Seeing his sincere expression, Lin Lan wondered, ’How can I refuse him?’

“Lin Lan, just let Xiangyang front you the money for now. You can pay him back when you have it,” Yang Dingbang chimed in, trying to persuade her.

“Sister Lin, Xiangyang is just trying to help. You should just agree!” Yao Xiuyun and Xu Dong also chimed in.

Lin Lan felt it would be ungrateful to refuse again. Besides, she really did like the location. She nodded and said, “Thank you! I’ll write you an IOU. I’ll pay you back right after New Year’s Day.”

“Great. Whenever you say you’ll pay me back is fine,” Li Xiangyang said happily.

Looking at his happy expression, Lin Lan sighed internally. ’I owe him so many favors. How will I ever be able to repay them all?’

Li Xiangyang arranged things with Mr. Wang, telling him to go home and get his documents and meet them at the Housing Management Office. They would withdraw the money and then transfer the deeds. Afterward, Li Xiangyang would go with him to look at the other shops.

The group parted ways on Vegetable Market Street. Wang Chuan left with Li Shuqing.

After they got in the car, Li Xiangyang asked Lin Lan, “Did you bring your household registration book?”

Lin Lan hesitated for a moment before saying, “I brought my family’s household registration book, but I’m buying this property for my parents. I’d like to register it under my father’s name.”

“No problem,” Yao Xiuyun said from the side. “When we get to the station later, I can issue a certificate for you to register it under your father’s name.”

Lin Lan nodded happily. “Thank you, Xiuyun.”

Next, the group went to withdraw money. Lin Lan and Yang Dingbang had their money in the Bank of China, while Li Xiangyang and Xu Dong used the China Construction Bank.

Lin Lan and Yao Xiuyun went to the police station first to get the certificate. Li Xiangyang took the opportunity to say to Xu Dong, “Dongzi, be a good pal. When we register the property deeds later, do you think you could swap for the one next to Ding Bang’s?”

Xu Dong looked at his shameless, wheedling expression and gave him a punch. “You shameless jerk.”

Li Xiangyang cupped his fists. “Thanks! Thanks! I’ll be sure to toast you with a few extra drinks for this.”

Yang Dingbang shot him a sidelong glance. “What about me? If you don’t suck up to me a little, I’m spilling the beans right now!”

“Does that even need to be said?” Li Xiangyang laughed, putting his arms around both of them.

When Lin Lan and Yao Xiuyun came out, the group went to the Bank of China across from the Municipal Hospital to withdraw money, then turned around and headed to the China Construction Bank near the Vehicle Factory.

When they arrived at the Housing Management Office, Lin Lan and the other two wrote out their IOUs for Li Xiangyang.

Li Xiangyang took the IOUs and casually stuffed them in his pocket.

After they finished registering the property deeds and came out, Li Xiangyang left with Wang Chuan.

’If the price is right,’ he thought, ’I’ll just buy all the remaining properties and shops Wang Chuan has.’

Lin Lan looked at the two property deeds and the keys in her hand, thinking about how she had spent all her money and was now several thousand yuan in debt, all for these two pieces of paper.

’Still,’ she thought, ’exchanging it for property is the right choice, much better than letting the money depreciate in a bank.’

Yao Xiuyun was happily discussing with Xu Dong and Yang Dingbang about hiring people in a couple of days to clean up the house near City No. 1 Middle School. Then their children wouldn’t have to travel so far for school anymore.

After getting in the car, she looked at Lin Lan with admiration. “Sister Lin, you’re incredible. It makes me want to quit my job and go into business with you.”

Lin Lan gave a wry smile. “Making money with a craft means waking up before dawn and sleeping past midnight. It’s all hard-earned money, and your body can’t take it in the long run. It’s better to have a steady job like you guys. There’s security in that.”

’I’ll wait another two years,’ she thought. ’When the economy is even better, I’ll ask them to pool their money and start a business with me.’

“That’s true,” Yao Xiuyun said, her gaze falling on Lin Lan’s chapped and cracked hands. She spoke with sympathy, “It’s really not easy for you to earn money. I hope things open up soon so you don’t have to suffer out in the sun and rain.”

Lin Lan was full of confidence about the future. “It’ll be soon. The situation is only going to get better and better.” ’And when that day comes,’ she thought, ’you’ll all thank Xiangyang for dragging you here to buy property.’

Yang Dingbang dropped the other two off at the entrance to the Civil Defense Unit office before leaving with Yao Xiuyun.

Lin Lan rode her bike to Eucalyptus Forest and saw that the usual meat seller’s spot had been taken by a young man delivering coal.

At their own stall, Lin Yuezhen was busy packing pastries and filling flatbreads. Lin Lan smiled and walked up. “Sis, I’m here.”

An older woman took a paper bag, and as she did, she said to Lin Lan, “Little Lin, your sister can hear, can’t she? She just lost her voice at some point, right?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep