Chapter 117 Yard
"Master Zhu! Master Zhu, are you here?"
"Here it comes! Who is it?"
After knocking on the door twice, an echo came from inside. Then the closed door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with a slightly weathered face.
"Master Zhu, it's me, Yue Lao Er." Fang Yazi stepped forward with a smile and handed a cigarette to Master Zhu first, then gestured to Song Yuanchao behind him: "Didn't you say last time that you were planning to sell the house? Well, I'm bringing people over to take a look today. If it's suitable, then we can probably do it."
Master Zhu glanced at Song Yuanchao and stepped aside to make way for him: "Come in and talk."
"Hey, Mr. Song, let's go in." Fang Yazi called to Song Yuanchao, and the two of them entered the yard. Master Zhu closed the gate and called them to go inside.
The courtyard is a quadrangle with two entrances. There is a large screen wall at the entrance, and the courtyard is around the screen wall.
Compared with the three-courtyard house we just saw, the structure of this two-courtyard house is slightly simpler. It is a courtyard about 20 meters wide and 30 meters deep, with east and west wing rooms on the left and right, and the main house opposite. However, Master Zhu's two-courtyard house is much larger than the ordinary one. Not only is the courtyard large, it also has east and west ear rooms, in addition, there are also winding corridors and hanging flower gates.
There is a big tree in the middle of the yard, which looks to be at least a hundred years old. Under the tree there is a stone table, stone benches, a set of tea sets and a radio box (semiconductor radio), which is playing Liu Baorui's stand-up comedy.
Master Zhu asked Song Yuanchao and the others to sit down, turned off the radio box, and took out two teacups to pour tea for them.
"Thank you, Master Zhu." Taking the teacup with both hands, Song Yuanchao took a sip and put it aside, looking around the yard.
It has to be said that Song Yuanchao fell in love with this courtyard house at first sight. First of all, this courtyard house covers a large area. Although it is a two-story courtyard, it is one of the more exquisite ones, and it is only a little smaller than the three-story courtyard house they just visited.
In addition, this courtyard house is well preserved. Although some places look old due to the passage of time, they are well maintained, wiped and cleaned. Not even a fallen leaf can be seen in the yard. From this we can see that Master Zhu is a particular person, otherwise he would not look like this.
The most important thing is that the household of this courtyard house is simple. Yue Laoer just said that Master Zhu lives there alone. If there are no problems with the formalities, all he needs is Master Zhu's nod.
"This house was bought by my grandfather when Marshal Cao was in power." While drinking tea and smoking, Master Zhu talked about the origin of this courtyard house.
The Marshal Cao he mentioned is Cao Kun, who once served as a big shot in the Beiyang government. That was nearly 60 years ago.
Master Zhu's grandfather was a Shanxi merchant, who was very famous in China's modern commercial history. Although the Zhu family was not considered a wealthy family among Shanxi merchants, they also had a solid financial background.
60 years ago, the Zhu family moved from their hometown to the capital and spent 2,800 oceans to buy this courtyard, thus settling down in the capital and living there.
Master Zhu has lived here for more than half a century. He was born and raised in this courtyard. It can be said that half of his life is inseparable from this courtyard.
Master Zhu has four brothers and sisters, he is the youngest, he has two older brothers and one older sister. Later, due to the war, Master Zhu's parents and his brothers and sisters went south first, and then left the mainland. However, because he was young and the journey was long, he did not follow his parents and stayed in Yanjing with his grandparents.
More than 30 years have passed since the separation of his parents and brothers and sisters, and Master Zhu has grown from a four or five-year-old child to a middle-aged man.
Master Zhu has been living with his grandparents over the years, but he has experienced many hardships because of his background. Although he is only over 35 years old now, he looks more weathered than people in their 40s. It is conceivable how much he has suffered over the years.
When he was 23 years old, Master Zhu's grandparents passed away one after another, and he was left alone in Yanjing without any relatives. Now, Master Zhu works in a machinery factory. Although he has good skills as a fitter, he has not been promoted in the factory because of his family background, and has been working in the front-line position for more than ten years.
"Master Zhu, can I take a look at this courtyard?" After listening to Master Zhu's story, Song Yuanchao stood up and asked the houses on both sides.
"Just take a look. I won't accompany you." Master Zhu didn't stand up. He just sat there and said this with a hint of loneliness in his words.
Song Yuanchao somewhat understood Master Zhu's thoughts. After all, the house he had lived in for many years suddenly had to be sold. If he were in their shoes, he would probably feel the same way.
Nodding slightly, Song Yuanchao walked towards the east wing. He first stood under the corridor and looked at the window panes and decorations outside the wing. When he got closer and took a closer look, he found that this courtyard house was very exquisite. When the house was built, good materials were used. Although a hundred years have passed, it is still well preserved, especially the carvings on the window panes are still clearly visible. Although some places are damaged, it does not affect the overall appearance and beauty.
Pushing open the door and going in, the furniture inside was simple yet elegant. Walking closer and taking a closer look, he found that the room was filled with a complete set of old mahogany furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although these furniture looked dull, Song Yuanchao's heart couldn't help but beat violently at the sight of them.
"Wow!" Song Yuanchao secretly exclaimed. Just the set of furniture in the east wing would be worth a lot of money after a few decades. What's more important is that this whole set of old furniture is a good thing that cannot be bought in later generations even if you have money.
After closing the door, Song Yuanchao went to see the west wing. The structure of the west wing was the same as that of the east wing, and the furniture inside was roughly the same. As for the side room, it was a little worse, with some ordinary furnishings inside. When he arrived at the main room where Master Zhu lived, Song Yuanchao was even more surprised. In addition to the old mahogany furniture similar to those in the east and west wing, there was also a bunk bed that was as big as a small house. This bunk bed was exquisitely crafted, and it was full of figures and flowers and birds, just like a work of art.
After a quick tour, Song Yuanchao's heart was burning with excitement. He had made up his mind to buy this courtyard house no matter what, including the furniture in the house.
To calm himself down, Song Yuanchao returned to the yard, sat down on the stone bench, took out a cigarette and handed it to Master Zhu: "Master Zhu, why do you want to sell the house? Can you tell me?"
Taking the cigarette, Master Zhu sighed: "It's not that I can't tell you why I want to sell it. My eldest brother contacted me some time ago..." Master Zhu lit up the cigarette and started talking. About a month ago, his eldest brother who was overseas contacted Master Zhu through a channel and sent him a letter.
In the letter, Master Zhu's eldest brother told Master Zhu that their father had passed away a few years ago. Their mother is still alive, but in poor health, and she misses her youngest son very much, from whom she was separated since childhood.
After more than 30 years of losing contact, the two sides finally got back in touch, which they had been looking forward to for a long time. Master Zhu's eldest brother wanted Master Zhu to go overseas to reunite with them, so he invited him and told him in a letter that his mother missed him very much and hoped that he could go as soon as possible.
After receiving the letter, Master Zhu was so excited that he couldn't sleep for several days. He had thought about reuniting with his relatives many times, but as time went by, this idea had become less and less important. Unexpectedly, the message from his relatives suddenly appeared again, which made Master Zhu wish he could grow wings and immediately see his mother and brothers and sisters whom he cared about so much.
Master Zhu had no attachment to Yanjing, but he was anxious to see his relatives again. So he quickly made a decision to go overseas to reunite with his relatives, so he planned to sell the house and never return.
After listening to Master Zhu's explanation, Song Yuanchao asked Master Zhu about the property rights of the house. In response, Master Zhu went to the main house and found the real estate deed, which was sufficient to prove Master Zhu's property rights to the courtyard house.
Song Yuanchao took a close look at the real estate deed provided by Master Zhu, and then turned his gaze to Fang Yazi. Fang Yazi took the deed and looked at it carefully, then nodded slightly to Song Yuanchao.
Song Yuanchao had learned about the property rights of the courtyard house in later generations. It was actually somewhat similar to his Shikumen house in Shanghai, because his Shikumen house was in a similar situation.
According to the legal definition of later generations, the state recognizes the property rights of all those who have three types of property rights, namely, the real estate deed, the property ownership certificate issued by the state in 1951, and the property ownership certificate issued later. The most difficult one is the real estate deed in Master Zhu's hand, which means that this courtyard house is completely private.
After checking the real estate deed, Song Yuanchao was completely relieved, and the next step was to discuss the price.
Master Zhu directly offered 8,000 yuan, which is not a low price. You have to know how much the average income is now. 8,000 yuan is a huge sum of money. Ordinary people may not be able to save up this amount in their lifetime.
"Master Zhu, your price is too high. Today we went to see a three-courtyard house that is much bigger than yours, but they only sell it for 7,000. You want 8,000? That's a bit outrageous." Before Song Yuanchao could say anything, the landlord next to him started to bargain for him.
"7,000? How can a house worth 7,000 compare to mine?" Master Zhu smiled with some disdain: "I have a real estate deed, not the kind of house that was issued after the liberation, let alone those houses with residence certificates. How can this be the same? Besides, my grandfather spent a full 2,800 yuan to buy this house. I would be at a loss if I exchange it for this price now!"
"The past was the past, and the present is the present. Isn't this house for people to live in? Although your real estate deed is good, others can live in it just as well if they have a copy. What's the difference, right?"
Master Zhu shook his head like a rattle and said firmly, "Second Yue, don't say anything more. This deal is a consensual one for both of us. 8,000 is not a random price. This house is worth this price!"
"Master Zhu, why are you so stubborn? This business requires bargaining. You insist on this price, isn't it..."
Fang Yazi suddenly became anxious. He had planned everything well today, but he was kicked out before he even saw Guan Ye. He was embarrassed and almost implicated Song Yuanchao. Now Song Yuanchao had already taken a fancy to this house, but Master Zhu was stubborn and insisted on the price, which made Fang Yazi feel that he had lost face in front of Song Yuanchao.
