Chapter 128: The Difficulty of Housing Allocation

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Xu Meihui looked at the note and said, “The repair shop is quite a good place; they hire directly as permanent workers, which is rare.” After hearing Xiao Weiguo’s request, she pondered for a moment and continued, “Regarding your courtyard, there are two vacant rooms in the backyard, but these two rooms have some issues. Let me know if you want them.”

“First, these two rooms are similar to the ‘reverse-facing houses,’ where the living environment isn’t very good. If you choose to live there, it’s best to open two windows.”

“Second, Madam Xu from your courtyard’s family has her eyes on these two rooms. She’s even occupied them with some scraps, and her family often comes to the neighborhood committee, asking us to allocate those rooms to them.”

“However, her family clearly doesn’t meet the requirements, so we definitely can’t allocate the rooms to them. But to avoid trouble, whenever there are vacant rooms, those two usually won’t be assigned.”

The ‘reverse-facing house’ refers to a type of dwelling that faces north while sitting south, unlike the main house that faces south. Generally, these receive almost no sunlight, remaining damp and dark for long periods, and were traditionally used by servants living in the courtyard.

Waiting for Xiao Weiguo to consider, Xu Meihui continued, “Weiguo, if you ask me, you should choose a normal room. Of course, that means your family can’t live with you, but it’s better than dealing with trouble from that Madam Yang later.”

“If you really want to live together, I can decide to allocate those two rooms to you, which will also solve the neighborhood committee’s problem. But you must bear the consequences yourself—I’m telling you in advance.”

Xiao Weiguo turned to Xiao Pingle and asked, “Dad, what do you think? Which one should we take?”

“Weiguo, you decide. I don’t understand these things. But if anyone gives us trouble, don’t be afraid. Your old man’s strength wasn’t gained for nothing.”

Xiao Weiguo thought it over. From Aunt Xu’s words, that Madam Yang or her family seemed difficult to deal with. Recently, he hadn’t encountered that Yang lady, so he could ask Uncle No.1 for the details later.

But these were two rooms—each about twenty square meters, so over forty in total—more than enough for Xiao Hongmei and the others to live in. When the time comes, with property values reaching over a hundred thousand yuan per square meter, they would never give it up.

Even if there were difficulties, Xiao Weiguo was confident he could handle them. If necessary, he was ready to resort to force.

Xiao Weiguo was quite capable in a fight now.

He then said to Aunt Xu, “Thank you for your care, Aunt Xu. We’ll take those two reverse-facing rooms because they’re spacious enough for us. If we were allocated elsewhere, it would be only one room, which wouldn’t be enough, and we wouldn’t be together.”

“Since you’ve decided, don’t go back on it later.”

Then she called out, “Xiao Ning, come in here.”

At the sound of her voice, a young man pushed open the door and entered—it was the official Xiao Liu they had met before.

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“Director, what’s the matter?”

“This is the housing allocation notice. Please help with the procedures and then take Weiguo and the others to receive the rooms. Remember to inform the elders in the courtyard to cooperate with the handover. These rooms belong to the old No. 98 courtyard—the two reverse-facing rooms, you know.”

Liu Xiaoning glanced at Xiao Weiguo in surprise, unsure whether the director’s relationship with him was good or bad.

If good, why allocate such problematic rooms?

If bad, how come they got two rooms—even if reverse-facing, at least they had rooms.

With the ongoing major construction projects, the city was now overcrowded and cramped.

Many families lived in tiny rooms of barely over ten square meters, with seven or eight people crammed in.

Putting aside these thoughts, Liu Xiaoning said, “Okay, Director. You two, follow me.”

Xiao Weiguo bid farewell to Xu Meihui and followed Liu Xiaoning out. In the corridor, Xiao Weiguo offered a cigarette to the young official.

Unexpectedly, the other declined, waving his hand, “No thanks, I don’t smoke.”

Xiao Weiguo put the cigarette away.

After completing the registration, the three arrived at the No. 98 courtyard.

First, they stood before the two reverse-facing rooms, and Liu Xiaoning pointed out which ones they were.

He also explained the current housing renovation policies allowed by the neighborhood committee: opening two windows was permitted, but demolishing and rebuilding was strictly forbidden.

Strictly speaking, these houses were rented from the state, not privately owned.

Rent had to be paid every month.

However, during the chaotic decade, rent was waived, and later privatization occurred.

All in all, such low rent would only be paid for a few years.

Then, Liu Xiaoning saw Third Aunt Wang Ying at home, while Uncle No.1 and Second Aunt were out.

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He spoke to Third Aunt Wang Ying about the two rooms, asking the three elders to cooperate with Xiao Weiguo’s family.

“Those two rooms? Are you crazy? Why not take other rooms in the courtyard?” Third Aunt’s eyes widened upon hearing they were the reverse-facing rooms.

She continued, “You know that Madam Yang has been bedridden for years with mental issues. Recently, she’s improved a lot, but if you provoke her now, she’ll relapse.”

“No, I can’t say anything. You’ll have to wait for Uncle No.1 to come back. I have no authority; don’t ask me.”

Xiao Weiguo was curious about Third Aunt’s fear of Madam Yang.

From what he understood, if she was paralyzed, how could she cause trouble?

“Third Aunt, could you tell me more about Madam Yang’s family? I’d like to prepare myself.”

“Weiguo, you seem sensible, so I’ll tell you. That Madam Yang can’t move much and mostly stays in bed, but her two sons can move around. Those two brothers are idle and gather a group of young troublemakers around here. They’ll do anything.”

“Three months ago, Madam Yang cried all night from pain, and the neighbors yelled at her once. The next day, while they were at work, someone broke into that neighbor’s house and dumped a bucket of feces inside. It smelled awful.”

“Another time, they offended Madam Yang’s family. Those two brothers carried Madam Yang to that neighbor’s doorstep and left her there crying.”

“The neighbor took Madam Yang back, but then the two brothers carried her there again. It was very unlucky. Madam Yang was tormented nearly to death.”

“The two reverse-facing rooms aren’t for Madam Yang herself, but her two sons want to take them.”

“We’ve repeatedly tried reasoning with the two brothers, but they refuse to listen. They’re quite strong fighters, even Uncle No.1 fears those two scoundrels.”

So it was like that—it sounded quite difficult to handle.

Xiao Weiguo asked, “Third Aunt, what are the names of those two brothers?”