Chapter 48 - Settling In (3)
“If that’s what you are looking for, I so happened to have something that will work for you available right now. It’s a slightly older district behind the university district, not too far from City Xi Grade School. Two bedroom and one living room, about 30 m2. The landlord's son got married two years ago and had some remodeling done. The kitchen and bath were also renovated at the same time. Now that they have moved out to a bigger place, they wanted to rent the place out for some extra income.” Having heard Shu Yan’s requirements, Luo Hu immediately thought of a place that he has on hand.
It sounded quite good, but it’s all talk until she saw it with her own eyes. Shu Yan happened to live on University Avenue, so the two of them went over there immediately.
The house was located about 300-400 meters from the hotel. The remodeling was new and the place was clean along with the kitchen and bath. The landlord had taken with him all the furnishing except for the two beds. If they decided on this location, they’d need to purchase quite a few items. But overall, Shu Yan was quite happy with the place.
“How much is the rent and what are the terms?” asked Shu Yan.
“The landlord is asking $90, but since you are referred by Manager Wang, I can try to barter with them a little. $85 should be fine. The house is really quite good. It was a bit on the pricey side, which is why it is still available. One month rent deposit and three months’ rent upfront. That’s about the same time your house will be ready. Should work out pretty well.” Lao Hu took her to look at the water heater. They weren’t common yet in City Nan. With one of these, they could have instant hot water when they wanted to take a bath.
“Tell the landlord $70. If he’s okay, I will take it right away.” $90 was a ridiculous amount. She couldn’t believe the landlord dared to ask for such a price.
“$70 is impossible,” said Lao Hu as he shook his head. “I can maybe talk him down to $80. It’s not every day you find something that will work, what’s a few dollars?”
Shu Yan thought about it and felt that would work. She did just throw out $70 out of nowhere. She wanted to barter some more but thinking about the two children. Never mind, setting down soon was more important.
“Alright, $80. I can sign the contract and pay right away.”
“Okay, let me go talk to the landlord and get back to you. By the way, how do I get hold of you?”
Telephones were not yet common back then. Shu Yan gave Lao Hu the name of the hotel and took one last look at the house, then went back to the hotel.
Now that she had purchased a house, and the household register and schools were taking care of, all the major issues were more or less resolved. Shu Yan felt relaxed for a change and took the kids out to shop.
Ye Tianbao could still get by, but Ye Jingjing truly had no clothes to wear. She was about to start City Xi Grade School. She’d be looked down by others if her outfit were too crummy.
One should not think that kids didn’t care about things like that. Precisely because kids were not as good at hiding their emotions, their thinking was only more blatant and cruel.
“Mom, you are going to buy me clothes?” Ye Jingjing asked in disbelief.
Ye Jingjing felt that her mother had changed since they left their old home. She thought she was just dreaming all the time. She never thought her mom would buy new clothes for her. Why was mom so nice to her all of a sudden?
“Yes, let’s go. Let’s go get you some clothes,” said Shu Yan as she stroked Ye Jingjing’s fuzzy hair.
Back in City Xi, Shu Yan had taken her to a salon and had all her hair cropped off. Ye Jingjing had been wearing a hat since, but it was too hot today, so she had taken it off.
“I want some too,” Ye Tianbao acted like a dog off it’s leash once they left the hotel.