When Xia Xiaolan made to leave, Xiao Xu became anxious.
Whether high or low, she should at least counter-offer so he’d know where things stood!
But he couldn’t grab hold of Xia Xiaolan – how could he manhandle a young woman?
Besides, Manager Wu was watching.
While the owner was anxious, Xia Xiaolan was leaving.
The tenants, seeing Xiao Xu’s dejected look, were delighted, knowing today’s sale was dead. As they started berating Xiao Xu again, he kicked the wall: “If this house won’t sell, I’ll demolish it right here!”
Turn it to rubble and see how you live then!
Xiao Xu had wanted to sell months ago and had informed these people, giving them ample time to find new housing. None took him seriously, counting on his refined nature and believing that if they all stayed put, he couldn’t do anything about it.
Now that Xiao Xu threatened demolition, an elderly woman began crying, calling him a heartless capitalist trying to drive people to death.
Xiao Xu had no time for them now – he just wanted to find an intermediary to arrange a dinner with Manager Wu, to learn more about that young woman and whether there was any hope for the sale.
Xia Xiaolan wanted to negotiate the price and see other properties.
After all, the Nanluogu Alley courtyard wasn’t the only option – Manager Wu had found several properties.
The second house wasn’t far from Nanluogu Alley, near Shichahai… If Xia Xiaolan had more money now, she’d really want to buy more government bonds to thank Manager Wu – his property selections were truly thoughtful!
Shichahai comprised Front Lake, Back Lake, and West Lake, the third also called Jishuitan – the only place in the capital with open waters.
This area would become very famous in the future, especially Back Lake’s bar culture.
“Being able to see water right outside your door is quite nice.”
What could Xia Xiaolan say except that Manager Wu was right!
In the 1980s, most people’s living spaces were tiny, and those selling houses each had their compelling reasons. This family was selling because although the ancestral property had been returned, its allocation became a major issue. Several siblings all claimed insufficient housing and wanted this courtyard. The problem wasn’t scarcity but inequality – after endless arguing, they agreed to sell and split the money.
The tenants here were manageable.
The challenge was clear property rights – everyone needed to sign for the sale, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t want some greedy relative shamelessly suing her years later when property values increased.
While the Nanluogu Alley property was square, this courtyard was long and narrow.
Though not a perfect siheyuan, the narrow layout had advantages – one end connected to the alley, the other faced Jishuitan. If purchased, Xia Xiaolan had renovation plans, including converting the alley end into a garage. This was certainly extravagant – who’d use a Shichahai siheyuan for parking?
Xia Xiaolan thought, if bought early enough with sufficient space, why not use it for parking?
This narrow courtyard, irregularly shaped, measured 10-12 meters wide by 39 meters long, totaling 429 square meters.
Though over 100 square meters smaller than the Nanluogu Alley property, it was more expensive – the owners wanted 100,000 yuan!
With five siblings, they’d probably agreed to split about 20,000 yuan each after selling.
In 1984, 20,000 yuan was significant.
Even with the coming housing reform, when people could buy their work-unit apartments, 20,000 would certainly cover a two-bedroom unit. But those were apartments – siheyuan courtyards were different… If Xia Xiaolan bought and renovated early, with loose regulations now, she could modify it however she wanted.
She preferred this property to the previous one.
Manager Wu noticed too: “With stubborn tenants hard to remove, this one’s better – both the house and location are superior.”
Manager Wu found this house more comfortable, and Xia Xiaolan agreed.
But she wasn’t buying just for herself.
Spending 100,000 would leave her with only 20,000 in savings.
She didn’t regret spending 15,000 on books earlier – necessary expenses shouldn’t be regretted.
Previously comfortable with some savings, if she bought this house, she’d need to think about earning money again! Money was endless, and there were always ways to spend it. After buying the courtyard, she’d need renovations – not a small expense for such a siheyuan.
“They’re asking 100,000, but surely there’s room for negotiation, right Manager Wu?”
Manager Wu nodded, “Of course!”
Housing wasn’t state-price-controlled – the price depended on buyer-seller negotiations.
The sellers wanted 100,000, but buyers would naturally try to negotiate down.
If she could get this house for 80,000, Xia Xiaolan would pay immediately.
For the Nanluogu Alley property, her bottom line was 60,000. Buying houses wasn’t easy, and sellers needed luck too – with no real estate agencies, they relied on word-of-mouth. Everyone wanted to buy but needed money first. Buyers who could pay 80,000-100,000 weren’t easy to find. Returned overseas Chinese, southern businessmen, and smugglers had money, but weren’t everywhere in the capital.
Returned overseas Chinese would invest in their hometowns.
Few would buy property in distant Beijing unless, like Xia Xiaolan, they knew capital property values would soar.
Catching up with America – at least in first-tier city property prices like Beijing and Shanghai, they’d achieve that.
Xia Xiaolan was confident they wouldn’t find suitable buyers soon, wanting to negotiate further. Her money wasn’t windfall – saving 20,000 would help with other matters.
The Shichahai property exceeded her budget.
Though bigger was better with houses, it had to be affordable.
Xia Xiaolan thought this house was quite nice.
She didn’t commit immediately – Manager Wu took her to see a third property, the last one not nearby but near the Third Ring Road West. They agreed to visit on Saturday morning. Arriving the next day, it wasn’t far from Beijing Normal University.
That seemed fine, until in the courtyard, she encountered Xia Changzheng!
Xia Xiaolan was completely unprepared. She saw a shabby man washing his face by the well while Manager Wu and the owner walked ahead. As she examined the courtyard, the man looked up – she and Xia Changzheng locked eyes.
Xia Changzheng froze too, but the younger person reacted faster – Xia Xiaolan retreated to Manager Wu’s side.
“You little tramp!!!”
Xia Changzheng charged forward, knocking Manager Wu to the ground, leaving the owner dumbfounded.