As urbanisation accelerates, demolition has become a buzzword in society.
In the urban villages of first-tier cities, demolitions can mint numerous multimillionaires.
For someone like Xie Qian encountering a large factory demolition, emerging as a billionaire would not be surprising at all.
In other cities, it is harder to produce multimillionaires through demolition, but if the old house is spacious enough, swapping one old flat for several new ones does happen from time to time. Of course, one-for-several deals usually involve sacrificing location; some families see their central city homes demolished, only to receive compensation in several suburban units.
This leads some demolition households to forgo all housing and opt for cash instead.
From today’s perspective, seeking a demolition compensation of one or two flats plus cash seems perfectly reasonable, but in a few years, those who chose thus will regret it to their core.
Because what appears as remote suburb now will, with urban expansion, become the city centre in due course, and property prices will soar accordingly.
Anyone who clutches onto those several demolition flats tightly will, a decade or so later, laugh all the way to the bank.
For ordinary folk, buying old houses in hopes of demolition is a gamble, but for Yang Xi and Deng Juan, the odds of their old houses being demolished are extremely high, thanks to Wen Ying helping them cheat. Comparing against the city map provided by Boss Wang, Wen Ying recalled numerous area transformations. She circled several spots: dilapidated private homes now, destined to become high-end office towers and bustling malls in a few years!
Another old house?
Yang Xi hesitated.
She had long declared her intent to move the three elders into a new home, earning neighbours’ envy. If the next purchase was another old place, it would sap her drive to upgrade.
While Yang Xi fretted, Deng Juan agreed outright.
I want an old house!
New or old did not matter to Deng Juan; she only craved a home of her own.
Achieving that with a modest outlay left her deeply content.
Besides, no old house from Wen Ying’s lips could be shabbier than those back in Deng Juan’s village: crooked earthen huts that would draw mockery even in the countryside.
You will surely rejoice in this choice one day!
Wen Ying said with a smile, not pressing Yang Xi further. After wrestling with it awhile, Yang Xi decided to heed Wen Ying.
Wen Ying had no time to house-hunt personally for them; she simply relayed their needs to the agent, who could scout accordingly. Yang Xi’s flat ought to be near the current Yang home, lest the elders struggle with drastic changes. For Deng Juan, floors were immaterial, as long as daily life was convenient and the space ample!
With Yang Xi and Deng Juan in accord, the rest fell into place.
Deng Juan returned to Rong City but could not go home to the village; Chen Li had cleared a room for her early.
Until your flat is sorted, stay here whenever you are back in Rong City. Even after you buy your own, you are welcome anytime, Sis still says.
It being the big holiday, Deng Juan reminded herself repeatedly not to weep and barely held back her tears.
The rural home was lost to her, yet Rong City offered another, a haven for this wanderer to rest.
No one was gladder about Deng Juan’s temporary return than Deng Jie and Deng Hao.
These two children, all but raised by Deng Juan’s hand, were deeply attached to her. Little Deng Hao pestered her with questions, then praised how pretty she had become, coaxing a pursed-lip smile from Deng Juan and thoroughly dispelling her lingering melancholy.
…
Loans for old houses differ slightly from those for new builds, so Wen Ying specially consulted Chen Ru.
Chen Ru handled no mortgages herself, but asking colleagues was no bother.
Chen Ru had never delved into Rong City’s old house prices before, but at Wen Ying’s words, a thought struck her: With over ten thousand for down payments aplenty, can your great-uncle and little uncle both afford to buy?
Zhu Meiqun’s heart was set on buying a flat in the provincial capital for Wen Kai.
This house was for Wen Kai’s future wedding, and Zhu Meiqun aimed squarely at a lift new-build.
Yet Chen Ru pondered: that lad Wen Kai was bookish enough to likely stay in the capital for development. New or old, this Rong City flat would go unused by him anyway!
Demolition would be ideal, but if not, no matter; Wen Kai unoccupied it, Zhu Meiqun and her husband could live there.
Then there were Wen Changlin and his wife, keen for their child to access provincial education. A purchase meant residency, residency eased schooling, and good schools zoned by district: out-of-area household registration demanded sky-high exam scores for admission!
Buying for residency would spare Wen Changlin’s couple so much effort.
Chen Ru shot Wen Ying a playful glare: You seem sharp enough usually, yet at the crucial juncture, you grow dim. You pick houses for friends, how could you forget your own great-uncle and little uncle?
I truly did forget…
Wen Ying owned her lapse and promptly alerted the agent to scout several more listings.
If prices suited, Wen Ying reckoned she could snag two old houses herself to hold, costing little enough.
The agent, holidaying at home, was thrilled by the sudden influx of deals and ended his break early to work for Wen Ying.
Chen Ru carried weight among the Wen kin; her nudge to buy now swayed Zhu Meiqun and Wen Ying’s little aunt-in-law on the spot.
Great-uncle Wen had not expected house-buying to move so swiftly, nor had Wen Changlin.
Opening a shop while buying a house: steps a tad too wide!
Wen Changlin sought counsel from second brother Wen Dongrong, who looked profoundly sage: How do you reckon our family fares?
Need you ask? Second Brother, your household thrives, enviable to most!
The couple’s ventures blossomed anew, their only daughter excelled beyond measure, no want of cash or homes: life was utterly cushy!
Wen Dongrong clapped his younger brother’s shoulder: Our family finances are your second sister-in-law’s domain.
Eh?!
What meant this? Urging silence, letting the wife have her way?
Wen Changlin’s protest fell on deaf ears.
Fine, if the wife insisted on buying, he could not stop her. Better to hustle more policies, earn extra commissions to weather the coming financial strain!
Wen Changlin got it.
As for Wen Ying’s great-uncle… honest folk had honest virtues. Wife wanted a house? Buy it then. Renting another’s offered no security; only owning in Rong City truly rooted them.
Wen Kai learned of the home purchase plans and raised no objection, merely telling his parents that from term start, they need not send living expenses awhile.
A classmate tipped me to a job, earning a bit monthly to cover school costs.
That part-time gig had begun penniless.
An entire year, Wen Kai burned his summer there, weekends too.
He was no prodigy; school brimmed with sharper minds, no shortage of harder workers either.
But Wen Kai accepted classmates’ kindness, heeding the well-off one’s guidance to the right firm. This year, he learned volumes and, through diligent show, won the supervisor’s nod.
The supervisor authorised a modest wage, occasional small bonuses, and pledged Wen Kai a direct post upon graduation!
While peers idled with football, romance, games, this second-year Wen Kai had his post-graduation job secured!
