Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties-Chapter 40 - Discuss
40: Chapter 40 Discuss
40 -40 Discuss
They entered a household where there was only a granny with her grandson playing on the heated brick bed.
Seeing Lin Xia enter the room and after she explained her intentions, the granny was quite enthusiastic.
She said that in the front street there was the Xu Family, where Old Xu had passed away a few years ago, leaving behind his widow with four children.
Now the eldest daughter was married, the two sons worked out of town, and the widow of Old Xu lived there with the youngest daughter; they might have an empty room.
However, whether they would rent it out or not, she couldn’t say.
Lin Xia was overjoyed and thanked the granny.
“Granny!
Thank you so much!
We’ve really met a benefactor today!”
The granny couldn’t stop smiling at being praised.
“You girl, you really have a way with words!
What benefactor, not benefactor, I’m just someone who loves to talk and laugh with a warm heart!
You go and ask them, it’s right on our street up front!”
“Granny, you have such a kind heart!
You’ll definitely have good fortune!
This is your grandson, right?
He looks very sturdy and handsome too!” Lin Xia didn’t just hand out pleasing words for free, she also generously gave the granny’s grandson a handful of sugar cubes.
She was truly grateful!
She had been to more than one or two households on this street and yet none had told her about this Xu Family.
Sometimes, a person’s kind thought, or a few words, might not seem much to themselves, yet it could solve another person’s urgent need.
“Look at you!
Just me saying a few more words, and you give so many sugar cubes, why so much!” Lin Xia made the granny feel quite embarrassed, “All right!
No need to keep thanking me, I’ll just come with you and help ask!”
At that time, a sugar cube was nearly a penny, a handful cost several cents; although it wasn’t that nobody could afford it, the way the girl spoke and acted showed a generous and decisive nature that made her quite likable.
She also didn’t mind giving a hand, thinking that if they really could stay in the Old Xu’s house in the future, it would be creating a good karma.
“That would be wonderful, Granny!
I don’t even know what else to say to thank you!” Lin Xia couldn’t ask for more!
If they had gone to knock on the door rashly, the other party would definitely have their guards up, but with a neighbor like this granny, they would likely be more at ease.
“What’s there to say!
This is fate!
My surname is Zhao, you can just call me Granny Zhao!” So, the granny, holding her grandson, went with Lin Xia and the others to the Xu Family in the front street.
Upon their arrival, they saw a middle-aged woman coming out to pour water with a big iron ladle in hand.
“Gui Qin!
What brings you here today?”
Granny Zhao smiled, “Shuxiang, I’m bringing people to ask about something at your place!”
The woman addressed as Shuxiang looked back at Lin Xia and the rest following Granny Zhao, “Then let’s talk inside the house!”
Lin Xia observed this Granny Shuxiang, who seemed neat and efficient, with hair combed tidily, wrinkles on her face but a clear twinkle in her eyes.
One could vaguely tell she would have been quite a beauty in her youth.
She exchanged glances with Lin Qiu and Lin Chun, quietly following Granny Zhao into the courtyard.
Once inside the Eastern House, Granny Zhao without ceremony put her grandson on the bed and got straight to the point, “Shuxiang, these three kids are looking to rent a room, and they just happened to come to my place.
It hit me that your Western House has been empty, so I brought them here.
Take a look, see if you are interested in renting it out.”
Shuxiang looked at Lin Xia and the others, focusing on Lin Chun for a moment, “Renting is fine!
But I have to understand the situation clearly.
What is the relationship between the three of you?”
She couldn’t just let anyone move in; although there wasn’t anything valuable in the house, she still harbored some worry and fear with a young man around when she had a daughter herself.
Lin Xia smiled, “Granny!
He’s our eldest brother; we are actual siblings!”
Shuxiang nodded, “Ah!
Then how many of you will be living here altogether?”
Lin Xia answered warmly, “Three of us!
My eldest brother won’t be staying here, and we have a younger brother, he’s in high school!” It was normal for her to ask these questions.
Shuxiang continued to inquire, “Any other family members?
What about your parents?”
Lin Xia put away her smile, speaking half truths, “Auntie!
I won’t hide it from you; my mom passed away a few years ago, and less than a month after her death, my dad brought home a woman who had a son and a daughter.
Now, they bully us even more ruthlessly, and my dad doesn’t want us to stay at home anymore.
So, we thought about holding our heads up high and renting a place to live by ourselves.
Don’t worry, Auntie, I work at a processing factory, and my sister works at a quilt factory.
We both have jobs, we’re not bad people!”
Zhao Auntie clapped her hands, “Quilt factory?
Shuxiang, doesn’t your eldest daughter work at the quilt factory?!”
Lin Xia, Lin Qiu, and the others all lit up with hope.
After all the roundabout talk, they had finally bumped into a connection like this.
They should be able to rent the place now, right?
Upon hearing Lin Xia’s words, Shuxiang actually felt quite sympathetic, “Yes!
My Haihua works at the quilt factory!
How long have you been working there?”
Lin Qiu, being addressed, first glanced at Lin Xia before answering, “I’ve only started at the factory not long ago!”
She was embarrassed to say that she had only gone for a few days before stopping.
She feared that if she said the wrong thing by mistake and they couldn’t rent the house, then what?
Lin Xia hurriedly added, “That’s right, Auntie!
My sister dislocated her arm yesterday, so she didn’t go to work!”
After all, if they managed to rent the place, Xiaoqiu would need to stay at home to recover for a while.
Some things were better said upfront.
Zhao Auntie could see Shuxiang was inclined to help and spoke up, “Shuxiang, you’ve seen for yourself, these kids are all honest and decent.
They’ve told you their situation and are sincerely looking to rent.
Think about what you feel, and let’s hear it out!”
Shuxiang pressed her lips together, “Gui Qin, as you know, my eldest has married off, and the second and third are out of town.
It’s just me and my old girl at home.
With half-grown children coming in and out…
It’s different because you brought them here.
If they had come on their own, I really wouldn’t want to rent.”
Zhao Auntie bluntly said, “Shuxiang!
We’re all family here.
I truly see that these young girls are sincere, or else I wouldn’t have brought them to you.
How about this, first show them the Western House.
If they think it’s suitable, you two can discuss the price!”
“Alright then!” Auntie Xu stood up, “Come with me to take a look.”
Lin Xia and the others followed behind her, trying to contain their excitement as they went to see the Western House.
The layout of the Western House was similar to the one they were living in, with beds at both the southern and northern ends.
However, this house’s beds had a cabinet at the southern end and were configured at a corner on the northern end to sleep two, offering considerably more space.
Several winnowing baskets placed on the beds contained dried beans, dried potatoes, and such, while the floor was laid with red bricks, showing cleanliness and tidiness.
Lin Xia and the others were very satisfied; they hadn’t expected the room to be so nice.
After coming out of the Western House, Lin Xia took a special look at the kitchen range and large pot adjacent to it, nodding in approval.
With some additional supplies like food and seasonings, they could start cooking for themselves.
When they returned to the Eastern House, Zhao Auntie asked Lin Xia, “Girl, what do you think?”
Lin Xia smiled and said, “Auntie Zhao!
It’s quite nice!”
Zhao Auntie again helped out by asking, “Shuxiang, so what do you say?
How much do you want to rent it for?
This is for you two to discuss.
If everyone finds it acceptable, then we’ll rent it.
If not, we’ll hurry out to inquire at other houses.
Don’t you agree?”
Lin Xia and the others watched as the two aunties sat on the kang bed, conversing back and forth without interrupting.
After a moment of silence, Shuxiang finally spoke, “Let’s make it three yuan!
I’m not asking for much.”
