1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 97 One person and half

Jiang Xian was excited for a while, and then Feng Ji told him that it was a rental.

He didn't say no outright. His parents were still living in a crowded compound, so he could rent it if it suited him. Anyway, he decided to go and see what it looked like.

The next morning, I left the hotel with Feng Jicai.

Following another Tianjin writer, I rode a bike along Xinhua Street towards Xicheng District, crossed Hufang Bridge and set foot on Hufang Road.

"This is my sister-in-law's house. Her husband works at CCTV and was given this house."

Looking to the east side of Hufang Road, you can immediately see a yellow three-story building on this piece of land.

This type of building has a general name, called "Kochi Building". It was designed by Soviet experts and was originally built for Soviet experts to live in. It was considered very high-quality residence in those days and the tube-shaped building could not compare at all.

It was morning now, and there were people selling soy milk on the roadside with poles on their shoulders, and an old man setting up a stall selling chimneys.

“They say that this building was built using Soviet blueprints and leftover materials from the Great Hall.”

"."

No.

Jiang Xian was stunned.

How much material was left over from the construction of the Great Hall? How come every old residential building in Beijing is made of the leftover material from the Great Hall?

Jiang Xian put his bicycle on the side of the road and locked it to a tree with an iron chain. He explained, "It's almost the end of the year and there are many pickpockets. A few days ago, a buddy of mine in my unit was picked up by a pickpocket who even stole his shoes."

The three of them walked in. The house was on the third floor, and the corridor was relatively clean and tidy. At least no one was cooking outside.

"This building used to belong to the Writers Association and Poetry Magazine. Later, as you know, the property owner changed hands and it was taken over by CCTV. Poetry Magazine is now fighting with them every day, but it can't get it back."

"Wow." Jiang Xian was stunned.

He took a quick look and saw that the house was about 60 square meters, with four rooms in total and an old Soviet-style open-plan layout.

There is no heating, and most families now store honeycomb coal at home and use it in coal stoves for heating. When winter comes, the balcony is full of cabbage and honeycomb coal.

"Look, there's your own kitchen and toilet. You can close the door and enjoy peace and quiet."

Jiang Xian nodded, "It's good. I can usually invite three or five friends to come to my house to use the toilet together."

This is considered a proper residential building. Most of the residential buildings in Beijing nowadays are tube-shaped buildings, and some are tube-shaped buildings that have been converted from office buildings. People on one floor share a kitchen and toilet. The toilet is the kind that has several stalls separated by partitions, and there is no distinction between men and women.

"You can calculate it yourself. This place is not far from Tiananmen Square. You can just stroll there," said the household owner.

Jiang Xian stood by the window and took a glance. The location was indeed good. Next to it was the Hufang Road Community. This made it not even called a community, because there was no such term, and ordinary people had no concept of a community. It was called a 'building courtyard'.

This community has existed since the 50s. In order to show its "high-end" status, commercial facilities were planned downstairs. Near the intersection is the Hufangqiao Department Store, which is very large and has hardware tools, bicycles, sewing machines and everything else. Shopping is very convenient.

Living here, you can enjoy the advantages of being close to the water and the moon, so you can take advantage of it.

Moreover, as an older brother, he also has to consider Jiang Ke's schooling. This place is not far from Wei Ran Hutong. After their family moves in, he doesn't have to worry about whether Jiang Ke has to travel far to school or whether he needs to transfer schools.

In short, he is very satisfied with the house and he likes it very much. It's a pity that the property rights are too confusing. No one can figure out whether it belongs to CCTV or the Writers Association. It's also a public housing and he can't buy it.

"What is this place called?"

"No. 15 Hufang Road."

Jiang Xian thought about it and remembered this place. The Writers Association and CCTV quarreled every day. In 80, they compromised and each got half.

Later, the Writers Association and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles built another Gaozhi Building at No. 15, Hufang Road. Friends who often contribute to Poetry Magazine must be familiar with this area, because the editorial office of Poetry Magazine is here.

"The rent is 11 yuan a month."

"6 yuan." Jiang Xian raised his sword and swung it. "A new house with three bedrooms in Qiansanmen is only 3 yuan a month. Your house is so old, how dare you ask for such a price?" "11 yuan? 5 yuan is too low. Where can you live in a house that costs 6 yuan? The most I can do is to reduce it to 6 yuan a month."

"No, the property rights here are so messed up, I don't know what will happen if someone from the Writers Association comes to evict me one day, and I live in fear. Do you have the nerve to ask me for 10 yuan a month? I'll give you a break, 8 yuan."

".Fine."

The two of them simply went through the formalities, and there was no such thing as a deposit of three months and payment of one month.

"Please sign it for me, otherwise I will just move in today and you will bring someone else in tomorrow."

"That can't be."

"Anyway, let's sign it first. I'm not afraid of trouble if something like this really happens."

"You can rest assured."

Jiang Xian walked around the room and said, "I guess your house is the real deal, but unfortunately I can't buy it."

"From what I see from you, do you want to buy a house?" the homeowner asked.

"I do want to buy it, but I want to buy one with property rights, the kind that puts the ownership in my hands. I don't want one that only gives me the right to use it." Jiang Xian was very clear.

"Hey, you're right." The landlord introduced, "I have a friend who wants to sell his yard. It's a quadrangle courtyard with one entrance. It's an old yard built before the liberation. The property rights belong to them, and it's absolutely clear."

"Really?" Jiang Xian became excited.

“There are just a few rooms occupied by people.”

"Stop, stop, I don't want anyone living here." This kind of yard with people living in it is very troublesome. Jiang Xian doesn't want to touch it. Once he takes over, there will be a lot of shit waiting to be dealt with.

"You are a rare person. These days, everyone is waiting for their company to allocate housing, but you still want to buy one." The homeowner was amazed. "I have many friends. I will ask around for you later."

"Then please help me find out, especially about the courtyard. I love courtyard houses."

After seeing the owner off and picking up the keys, Jiang Xian ran to Wei Ran Hutong. His mother was at home, so he just happened to say something.

"Where?"

"Hufang Road, just exit the alley and turn toward Hufang Bridge, and you'll see it when you get there."

"What kind of house is it? A compound or a courtyard house?"

"The Kochi Building, the kind that was built by Soviet experts, that style is all Russian."

"Is it?"

Rao Yuemei was happy but also worried about the money, so she planned to move there in a couple of days.

"Why do you want to rent a house? It's not like you don't have enough room at home."

"How can we live here? Look at how old Jiang Ke is. Is it convenient? I have to empty the urine pot every day. Isn't it tiring?"

Jiang Xian said righteously, "Listen to me, pack your things quickly, I have already paid the money, so move in quickly. Every day you stay less is a day's worth of money."

"Where are your things?"

"Just leave it here."

Jiang Xian stroked the purple clay teapot lovingly, and was extremely excited.

"That way I'll have somewhere to do my work."

(End of this chapter)