"Xiao Wan, this money is for you. Keep it for yourself. We’ve saved quite a bit as well, and I want Cong Nan to keep an eye out to see if there are any houses for sale nearby. It’s not a good thing to always be renting a place," Lin Yinghui said as he set down the abacus and handed five thousand yuan to Lin Wan.
"Brother, you’re giving me too much,"
The hotpot restaurant made about twelve thousand a year, and from the workshop at the distillery, after paying the workers’ wages, rent, and other costs besides the machines, it was still quite a considerable amount.
Brother and Brother Li each got over five hundred yuan. Having just started within half a year, renting a place and buying machines, the pure profit was already considerable.
"Take it. Brother has to go to school, and you’re the one worrying about the store. This money is what you deserve. Besides, Brother takes the big share, and you’re still losing out,"
Lin Wan smiled, gave her brother a playful glare, and decided to take it.
"The money from the clay pot shop is all in Mom’s savings account. There’s over two thousand yuan, should I take it out too? Your brother is right, let’s buy a courtyard. Every time we pay rent to the landlord, Mom feels heartache,"
"Mom, you keep that money. The money in the account is enough. I inquired, buying a plot for more than one thousand yuan. Buying someone’s yard would probably require around three thousand. Let’s look around first before deciding."
"Brother, have Brother Li keep an eye out for a courtyard next to the road. It doesn’t matter how good the house is, as long as it’s by the road."
"Is Xiao Wan thinking we can do business if it’s roadside?" Lin Yinghui’s eyes lit up as he asked.
Lin Wan nodded. "Yeah, it doesn’t matter if the courtyard is run-down. At worst, we can rebuild it ourselves."
"That sounds good, but such courtyards aren’t easy to find."
"It’s about luck. Let’s take our time to look, no rush."
After leaving Mom’s house, Lin Wan went to the supply and marketing cooperative, using the tickets she had saved all year. When Lin Wan handed military purchase coupons to the salesperson, the initially indifferent attitude changed immediately. These days, there’s a lot of respect for military personnel, and military special supplies don’t require people to stand in line.
Everyday vegetables and fruits can be bought at the market. Lin Wan picked out a few yards of fabric, planning to make new clothes for Grandma. She also bought some snacks and fruits.
Red sugar, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, bought a few pounds of meat, and over ten pounds of rice. Then she headed back home.
It’s New Year, and many married daughters bring some gifts to their mothers’ homes before the New Year. Even at Uncle’s house, Auntie brought Grandma quite a few dried vegetables, but no meat at all.
Mother-in-law also visited once, bringing two fish, a chicken, and a duck for Grandma. But Grandma refused and insisted the mother-in-law take the chicken and duck back home.
I vaguely heard Grandma saying it was not easy for her.
When leaving, the mother-in-law gave her two yuan, saying it’s customary for elders to give the first-year newlywed.
Lin Wan didn’t decline and accepted it.
When Shen Qing left, Lin Wan secretly packed two pounds of lamb and some crayfish for her.
To be honest, their family was already much better off compared to others. Even though they were in the city, holding onto their iron rice bowls, it couldn’t beat having many people in the family.
More mouths to feed and less earning, and during these times, most families had several siblings. Housing was scarce. Even if there was a house for sale, there was no money to buy it.
Many families squeezed together in two to three room courtyards. Bunk beds vertically, and it’s common to divide the house into two levels.
If you’re not at the age to marry, it’s fine, but when it’s time to get married, it really troubles the elders.
To get a house for their children, many people scrimped and saved, either gifting the factory leaders to get allocated a house or saving up to buy a courtyard.