Jian Zhiqing put down his luggage, really liking his temporary residence.
Of course, his favorite was the rough fabric bed sheet. When he goes back, he’ll ask Granny Lu to bring it so he can use it at ho.
Granny Lu prepared a table full of dishes, treating Jian Zhiqing like her own grandson.
Jian Zhiqing was very gracious, eating two bowls of rice and a good amount of dishes.
After dinner, both of them were tired, as they had been traveling the whole day and couldn’t rest much on the train. They slept until evening when they finally woke up.
Granny Lu’s dinner was ho-cooked, with ingredients from rural recipes—all grown, milled, or pressed by her own hands. Naturally, the food had a countryside flavor different from what one finds in big cities.
Jian Zhiqing quite enjoyed the al, no wonder Qin Xiangnuan always said Granny Lu’s cooking was delicious—it really was, she wasn’t lying.
The next morning, Granny Lu prepared another table full of food, making Jian Zhiqing not want to leave.
They had agreed on a ti with the people at the train station, planning to et around ten o’clock. It’s better to be early than late, so after they ate, they swiftly reached the agreed location. Unfortunately, the eting was in an office, not at a dining table.
Qin Xiangnuan felt it was better to talk things over at a dining table, believing that sharing a al could soften hearts and make people more agreeable.
At this ti, people weren’t as cunning; everything was straightforward. If they really treated them, it’s uncertain how the other party might react—it truly was a different era and cultural mindset. Thirty years later, it’s vastly different from now.
"Have a look at this," the manager, nad Manager Huang, who wore gold-rimd glasses and appeared quite learned, often pushing his glasses up. His expression was mild, but it was evident that he was very astute.
Soone in his position, especially working in the developnt departnt, surely couldn’t be simple-minded.
Qin Xiangnuan took a brief look at the paperwork before handing it to Jian Zhiqing. She suppressed her excitent, hoping that the second and third premises were still available and not chosen by others. If these two could be secured side by side, it would be a permanent asset.
Jian Zhiqing carefully reviewed them, understanding almost everything.
"How can we switch to two premises? Which two exactly?" He flipped the contract on the table. These details had to be clarified, including their exact location and geographical advantages.
Manager Huang smiled, "You have co at the right ti. You’re the first to arrive, so you get to choose first. Where to pick, it just depends on personal judgnt. However, anywhere near the station will likely not have bad prospects." He stood, walked to the window, and pointed outside, "It’s those newly built ones—on the east side, the first row of four-story buildings. Our offices are housed above. If the building does not beco too old or is not compulsorily demolished, it might remain unchanged for a century. Even if it’s redeveloped later, it’ll be beneficial, not detrintal."
Qin Xiangnuan winked at Jian Zhiqing.
That row on the east side was what they saw when they got off the train. Could it be that their luck was really that good to have their wishes fulfilled this ti?
Indeed, that’s exactly what happened.
Qin Xiangnuan secured two spaces, choosing the second and third ones mainly because they arrived first, thus picked the best spots. As for others, Qin Xiangnuan couldn’t manage them; once they had the property deeds, she finally breathed a sigh of relief that their most crucial task this trip was accomplished.
"Are you satisfied?" Jian Zhiqing rubbed Qin Xiangnuan’s hair. No wonder she was so happy.
"Very satisfied," Qin Xiangnuan patted the property deeds in her pocket. However, these shops were to be rented out. Yes, she had to post a ’For Rent’ sign soon; she might need to co here again.
Soon she would write ’For Rent’ and the contact information, waiting for people to bring money to her.
For now,
she grabbed Jian Zhiqing’s wrist. It was just past eleven, and they had ti to roam around. She hadn’t properly explored the provincial city in a long ti. The city had changed so much over the years, and she might not recognize it a few years later.
But it was increasingly resembling the provincial city she rembered from her mory.
"Brother Jian, do you want to go back or continue walking?" she asked Jian Zhiqing, happy to follow his wishes today.
"Are you treating?" Jian Zhiqing raised an eyebrow.
"Of course," Qin Xiangnuan held her head high, nearly having money in hand now, she could even afford a grand feast.
"Let’s go," Jian Zhiqing put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the comrcial area—the area with foreign investnts. Indeed, it had beco a signature landmark of the provincial city. At least for the next decade or more, no building would be taller or any place more bustling than here, and this area had already established a climate, bound to be a central location in the future.
They casually walked around the place a few tis. At this mont, that distinctive building stood alone, and all roads were built surrounding it, indicating it was destined to beco the comrcial hub of the entire provincial city. As for other places, decades later, they may approach this central area, yet this location was irreplaceable.
They didn’t eat out; Granny Lu had prepared als and was waiting at ho.
Qin Xiangnuan only liked homade als and had never found restaurants or outside food appealing. No matter how delicious, she preferred Granny Lu’s cooking. In her past life, she was poor—this lifeti, she cherished.
Upon returning, she first found so paper and wrote ’For Rent,’ adding her ho phone number, and finally added Jian Zhiqing’s work number as well, fearing she might miss calls while in class. There wasn’t any call history or similar features, and Granny Lu, often at ho, didn’t understand these things, so it was only possible by relying on Jian Zhiqing.
After finishing dinner at ho, they had to head back to the Capital City. Granny Lu was genuinely reluctant; the children had grown up under her care. From being holess to now having a house, a business, and money, it seed their lives were improving. Yet, the children had gone to study in a place far away. Sotis she really wanted to care for them, leaving everything behind.
However, she couldn’t settle in the big city. Moreover, since the children were independent, she felt slightly relieved. Otherwise, she would have moved to be with them no matter what. But eventually, she felt she needed to be there for them.
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