Shao Guangrong didn’t care much for anything except vehicles.

He couldn’t afford to indulge in cars, so he focused on motorcycles. Whenever he saw a new model he liked, he’d sell his current one and add some money to buy the new one. His current sidecar motorcycle couldn’t go very fast, but it was perfect for dating.

Kang Wei knew it was his prized possession and figured he shouldn’t push the guy too hard, especially since Xiaolan’s Sister-in-law’s family still relied on Shao Guangrong’s uncle’s help in Shang Du.

“Fine, I’ll cover the money first. Keep your motorcycle and pay me back gradually!”

Shao Guangrong grinned.

“I know you’ve been making money with Brother Cheng, so I won’t be too polite about it.”

Shao Guangrong’s smug attitude after getting his way angered Kang Wei into giving him a beating. But the two were used to roughhousing, and after their scuffle, Shao Guangrong followed Kang Wei back to look at the house. All the walls that needed demolishing in Kang Wei’s home had been knocked down. Even at eight in the evening, Liu Yong and his team hadn’t finished work. There were no time restrictions on renovations back then – if not for worrying about disturbing the neighbors, Liu Yong would have worked through the night with his crew.

Gong Yang, usually just an artist, had rolled up his sleeves to help. Seeing his dedicated work, Liu Yong said he’d pay him wages on top of the “design fee.”

In the countryside, mason’s wages were 5 yuan per day for skilled workers and 3 yuan for laborers. Shang Du paid better – 7 yuan for skilled workers and 5 yuan for laborers. The two workers Liu Yong brought to Beijing were paid 10 yuan per day. They were very satisfied with the wages – work was work anywhere, and they got free room and board in Beijing. They’d spent the first two days sightseeing around Beijing, giving them bragging rights for half a year back home.

Liu Yong paid Gong Yang as a laborer at 8 yuan per day.

Gong Yang was nearly forgetting his home. A week’s work in Beijing equaled two months of his living allowance – fifty or sixty yuan could buy quite a lot of painting supplies. Though he felt guilty about the design fee – Xia Xiaolan had designed all the renovation plans, he’d just stayed up late drawing two sets of proposals with seven or eight renderings.

He’d designed posters before, and just the materials for one poster cost 10 yuan.

How should he charge for these designs?

Gong Yang thought covering his paint and paper costs would be fair enough. His mindset was similar to the two workers – coming to Beijing with provided accommodation was truly eye-opening. At least he’d seen Tiananmen Square, and before returning he could sketch at the Great Wall. As a poor student, he wouldn’t have been able to afford even the round-trip train tickets on his own.

Plus, Kang Wei had promised to commission several pieces from him to hang as decorations after the renovation.

Thinking of all this, Gong Yang worked with great enthusiasm.

When Kang Wei brought Shao Guangrong home, he found the four still working, clearing debris, covered in dust with face masks leaving only their eyes visible.

The masks were Xia Xiaolan’s strict requirement – mandatory whenever there was dust.

“Uncle Liu, you’re still working? Perfect timing – I’ve brought you new business.”

Kang Wei dragged Shao Guangrong in.

Shao Guangrong looked at Kang Wei’s thoroughly demolished home, unrecognizable from its original state.

Just how extensive was Kang Wei’s renovation?

Liu Yong removed his mask, “Did you force young Shao to come?”

Liu Yong had dealt with Shao Guangrong before and initially didn’t know how to address him. Shao Guangrong’s uncle was a high official in Shang Du – even someone like Secretary Hou was important, and Liu Yong, as a farmer, had no way to interact with even higher officials. By rights, Liu Yong should address someone like Shao Guangrong as “Young Master,” but considering he was like Zhou Cheng’s future father-in-law, he wouldn’t dare.

They’d agreed in Shang Du to call him “Young Shao.”

Young Comrade Shao immediately showed his loyalty, “Uncle, I came on my own. I have a small apartment – it doesn’t matter when I’m living alone, but I’m planning to get married there in the future, so I want to renovate it.”

Marriage?

Now that was serious business.

Liu Yong didn’t know Shao Guangrong was telling a white lie and eagerly offered suggestions.

Kang Wei got his renovation renderings from Gong Yang to show Shao Guangrong. Gong Yang’s drawings were so precise they looked like color photographs – would this messy house really look like the renderings when finished?

Kang Wei had chosen one set, but Shao Guangrong pointed to the other: “I’ll renovate mine like this, so Sister-in-law won’t have to work hard again.”

Kang Wei, applying his newly learned knowledge, said, “That won’t work. This design is based on my house’s layout and size. The renovation plan needs to consider your budget too.”

Shao Guangrong was broke – Kang Wei was asking how much money he planned to borrow for the renovation. Shao Guangrong pulled Kang Wei outside and cleared his throat:

“How much did your renovation cost?”

Kang Wei pointed to his chosen plan, “Not counting appliances, the budget is 31,500 yuan.”

Shao Guangrong swallowed hard, taking a moment to find his voice.

“…Did Brother Cheng take you robbing banks?”

Since Kang Wei proposed the renovation, he certainly wouldn’t ask his family for money. Shao Guangrong could estimate Kang Wei’s monthly salary and thought he’d spend at most a few thousand on renovation. He never imagined Kang Wei would throw thirty thousand into renovating an apartment! And that didn’t include appliances – add a TV, washing machine, refrigerator, and other necessities, it would probably reach 40,000 yuan.

With 40,000 yuan, you could buy a courtyard house in Beijing and have money left over.

Shao Guangrong felt dizzy – was Kang Wei burning money because he had too much?

Being generous was one thing, but it wasn’t possible to use all the money just to support Liu Yong’s renovation business. Kang Wei still had money to lend him for renovation – Shao Guangrong couldn’t fathom Kang Wei’s wealth.

He must have robbed someone!

Kang Wei wanted to hit him again, “Do you still want to borrow money? How much?”

Shao Guangrong thought for a moment, “Borrow 10,000?”

Kang Wei nodded without hesitation, confirming Shao Guangrong’s suspicion about Kang Wei’s substantial wealth.

Who wouldn’t want that much money?

Shao Guangrong knew Kang Wei was closer to Zhou Cheng. Though favored at home, Kang Wei’s position was awkward due to his father’s early death. That’s why Zhou Cheng was the first to help Kang Wei. Shao Guangrong wasn’t jealous, just a bit envious.

But wasn’t this help a bit too generous?

He needed money too, having to borrow from Kang Wei just to renovate his apartment.

“That business you have with Brother Cheng – need any more people?”

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected that after running into Shao Guangrong the previous evening, he would come looking for her at the guesthouse the next morning.

Shao Guangrong invited her to look at his apartment and wanted to renovate it too.

“You don’t have to do this. Renovation depends on personal needs. Kang Wei had his needs – you’re just trying to support my uncle’s business, right?”

Shao Guangrong shook his head vigorously, “I’m renovating for marriage – it has to be done sooner or later. Can’t get married without a properly renovated home.”

Xia Xiaolan was quite pleased, “You’re getting married?”

“Soon, soon!”

Shao Guangrong boasted confidently, though he’d dated many girls but never lasted long with any of them. Marriage? He hadn’t settled down at all, thinking he could play around for another ten years. He’d consider marriage in his early thirties, taking a wife just to continue the Shao family line.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know Shao Guangrong well enough to know he was a playboy.

Kang Wei couldn’t expose Shao Guangrong’s lie either, holding back his laughter as they went to look at the apartment.