The house Hu Yongcai found wasn’t far from his own home. While Hu Yongcai’s family lived in a work-unit apartment building, this was a single-story dwelling.

“Grandmother Yu lives alone now. Her younger relatives fled overseas years ago, and her husband didn’t survive the difficult years. Her house is quite spacious, but the elderly lady has quite a temper. If you don’t think it’s suitable, I can look for other options.”

Grandmother Yu had more than just a temper – her husband hadn’t survived the struggle sessions, but she had. They once owned considerable ancestral property, but only this house was returned to them. For Grandmother Yu, this was her final stronghold, and she still hoped her wandering younger relatives would find their way back home, so she held tightly to this small courtyard. Housing was tight for everyone now. Despite Hu Yongcai’s lucrative position, his family only had a small two-bedroom apartment, with several family members squeezed into less than 60 square meters – which was considered good living conditions at the time.

How big was Grandmother Yu’s house? It had five full rooms plus a small courtyard, totaling over 300 square meters. For the neighbors struggling with housing shortages, the sight of a lone elderly woman occupying a 300-square-meter “mansion” was quite impactful. Many people had designs on this house, but it seemed some leader was quietly protecting Grandmother Yu – without her consent, no one could take the property away.

Grandmother Yu was still in good health, working as a street sweeper to maintain her daily life. However, living alone in an empty house was lonely for an elderly widow, and the neighbors shunned her after failing to acquire her property. Hu Yongcai’s home was barely adequate, but being a man of integrity with no conflicts with Grandmother Yu, his wife boldly asked about renting rooms after receiving a sweater from Xia Xiaolan.

Grandmother Yu scrutinized Hu Yongcai’s wife with her upturned eyes for a long time. Just as the latter was about to withdraw her request, Grandmother Yu relented: “A country girl? Bring her to see me first!”

So today, Hu Yongcai brought Xia Xiaolan to view the house – not only for Xia Xiaolan’s approval but also for Grandmother Yu’s assessment.

Xia Xiaolan was very pleased with the house. For her business purposes, a tower apartment wouldn’t be convenient, but these rooms were perfectly square, with a level courtyard. The main gate could accommodate not just bicycles but even a tricycle for cargo. The walls were particularly high, the doors sturdy, and though neighboring houses were single-story dwellings less impressive than Yu’s house, the high walls ensured privacy and security. She immediately took to the place, nodding slightly to Hu Yongcai.

Grandmother Yu had been openly observing Xia Xiaolan since she entered. For other older women, Xia Xiaolan’s beauty might have seemed unsuitable for a respectable household, creating a poor first impression. But as a lone elderly widow without even a male dog in the house, Grandmother Yu had no concerns about Xia Xiaolan seducing anyone. Without such worries, she found Xia Xiaolan’s beauty pleasing to the eye.

In pre-revolutionary times, the Yu family had been prominent merchants in the commercial district, and Grandmother Yu had lived a life of luxury with concubines and maids, yet she’d never seen anyone more beautiful than Xia Xiaolan. But what use was beauty without capability? Without personal ability, looks could become a burden.

“Auntie, what a coincidence that my sister likes your house and wants to rent it. As for the price, perhaps you could name a figure and we can discuss it?” Hu Yongcai, as the intermediary, had to initiate this conversation.

Grandmother Yu raised an eyebrow, “Hu Yongcai, this girl surely isn’t your relative. Don’t lie to this old woman – let her speak for herself about who she is!”

Nonsense about being relatives – they must have received some benefit to be running around so eagerly.

Hu Yongcai smiled awkwardly, but Xia Xiaolan wasn’t embarrassed. Seeing that Grandmother Yu wasn’t easily fooled, she straightforwardly explained her background. Still holding her introduction letter, she was from Seven Wells Village in Anqing County, not a fugitive: “I’m just looking for a place to stay in the commercial district. Your house would be convenient for storing some goods. If suitable, I’d like to rent two rooms, and occasionally use your courtyard.”

The Yu house had five rooms, with the central room being the main hall and living quarters on either side. Besides these five rooms, there was a small, low-ceiling kitchen built with red bricks, and around the house was a bathroom with white tiles – an old-style flush toilet. This alone made Xia Xiaolan want to rent the house. Having become a 1980s country girl, she could tolerate everything else but not the fly-infested pit toilets of the countryside.

Those makeshift toilets, just wooden stakes with oilcloth or reed mats as walls, wooden planks to stand on – Xia Xiaolan felt using them was like going into battle. She couldn’t bear the terrible environment and feared falling in!

But she couldn’t say this. Having suddenly acquired a new consciousness, she couldn’t explain why she found it intolerable when the ‘previous’ Xia Xiaolan had managed.

She was truly satisfied with Grandmother Yu’s house. After observing her for a long while, Grandmother Yu said: “You can have two rooms, but let’s be clear – rent is 20 yuan per month. You can use the courtyard and kitchen freely, but you’re responsible for your food and drink. Rent must be paid six months in advance, and most importantly, you cannot bring men to live here!”

Too expensive! Twenty yuan monthly for two rooms, and six months’ rent upfront?

Hu Yongcai was ready to leave with Xia Xiaolan – after all, she could find a suitable single room in an apartment building for 10 yuan per month.

But Xia Xiaolan calculated faster than Hu Yongcai. Was 20 yuan monthly rent too much? For the newly reborn Xia Xiaolan, it was astronomical, but now it represented merely the profit from selling one piece of clothing. Even without selling clothes, Liu Fen could make that much in a day trading oil residue.

She truly valued this house and could afford the expense.

“I won’t bring any men, but I might have my mother stay with me. Would that be acceptable?”

Though Hu Yongcai thought it wasn’t worth it, both owner and tenant were satisfied. With Hu Yongcai as a witness, Xia Xiaolan and Grandmother Yu wrote an agreement. Xia Xiaolan paid 120 yuan upfront, securing her foothold in the commercial district.

Grandmother Yu collected the money and immediately gave Xia Xiaolan the house keys. Xia Xiaolan rented the two rooms on the right. Opening the door, she found only one room had a bed frame, while the other was empty. Fortunately, the rooms were extremely clean, without dust or cobwebs, walls papered with newspapers. With modest expectations, Xia Xiaolan only needed to buy bedding to move in.

“Grandmother Yu, let’s look after each other from now on!”

Xia Xiaolan was in high spirits, while Grandmother Yu responded with a heavy snort.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t in a hurry to return. She hadn’t looked for accommodation in Anqing County because she discovered that Xia Changzheng, Zhang Cui, Xia Hongxia, and others had stationed themselves there. Wanting no contact with these people, she chose to rent directly in the commercial district.

Staying away from troublesome people and matters would benefit both her and Liu Fen.

She had acted first and would explain later, renting the house before discussing it.

Liu Fen was confused by Xia Xiaolan’s strategy. The mother and daughter had finally settled comfortably in Seven Wells Village, and Chen Wangda had previously promised them a homestead and farmland. Why suddenly move to the provincial capital?

“Xiaolan, what are you thinking?”