Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 150 Family Court

The warmth spread throughout the city's streets and alleys, adding a touch of simple comfort to this era of rapid development.

Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan stood in front of Jiang Man and Qin Yishen's house, gazing at the familiar eaves, their hearts filled with emotion.

These days I'm staying here, and although I have a place to shelter from the wind and rain, the feeling of being a guest in someone else's house is never pleasant.

Now, the couple has finally saved up some money and, filled with anticipation for a new life, decided to move out with their child and have a home that truly belongs to them.

The real estate agent they arranged to meet was a middle-aged man named Lao Chen, who rode a dilapidated old bicycle with a bulging black leather bag tied to the back seat, containing various housing documents.

Old Chen spotted Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan from afar, waved enthusiastically, and called out, "Brother Xu, Sister Wang, we've been waiting for you! I've found you some nice houses today, just waiting for you to take a look!"

Our first stop was a tenement building located in the old city.

As you enter the hallway, you are greeted by dim light, and the walls are covered with mottled water stains, exuding an old and worn atmosphere.

Old Chen climbed up to the third floor with practiced ease and opened a door. The house wasn't large, with only one bedroom and a cramped living room; the kitchen and bathroom were shared.

Wang Xiu frowned and paced around the house, examining it closely. The cement floor was uneven and full of potholes, making it easy to trip if one wasn't careful. "This house looks a bit small, and the shared kitchen and bathroom are so inconvenient to use."

Old Xu scratched his head and voiced his concerns. Old Chen quickly explained, "Brother Xu, this is the old town area, a great location! It's close to the market, schools, and hospitals, making life very convenient. Plus, the price is reasonable. With the little money you've saved, it's not easy to buy a house like this in this area."

Wang Xiu walked to the window and looked out. Outside the window was a narrow alley, with clothes drying overhead, crisscrossing and blocking almost half of the sunlight.

She hesitated at the thought of her child growing up in such a cramped environment.

After leaving the tenement building, they headed to their next destination—a newly built residential community.

Along the way, Xu Laosan and Wang Xiu sat on the back of Lao Chen's bicycle, bumping and jolting through the streets and alleys.

As they watched the new buildings constantly springing up along the roadside, their anticipation for their new home grew stronger.

Upon arriving at the residential area, the scene before me was completely different from that of the old town. Brand-new buildings stood in neat rows, and newly transplanted saplings lined both sides of the road. Although they were still a bit immature, they added a touch of vitality to the community.

Old Chen led them into a building and to a two-bedroom apartment.

Upon opening the door, the interior was in a simple, unfinished state, with exposed cement walls and a rough cement floor, but the space looked much more spacious than that of a tenement building.

“This apartment is in a new community. Although it looks a bit simple now, you can decorate it according to your own preferences. In addition, the community environment is good, there is property management, and it is safe and clean.”

As Old Chen spoke, he gestured to illustrate the layout of each room.

Wang Xiu's eyes lit up as she wandered through the rooms, imagining what it would be like to furnish and arrange household items there in the future. The child excitedly ran around the room, shouting, "Mommy, Daddy, I love it here! Now I'll have a place to put my toys!"

Xu Laosan was also carefully examining the house. He knocked on the wall to check the quality of the house. "This house is indeed nice, but the price is much higher than the previous one. After we pay the down payment, we might not have much money left for renovations."

A troubled look appeared on Xu Laosan's face. Old Chen saw what he was thinking and quickly said, "Brother Xu, the houses in this new community will appreciate in value! Spending a little more money now will definitely not be a loss later. Besides, you can do some simple renovations first, and then slowly add furniture when you have more money in the future."

Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan exchanged a glance, both seeing the conflict in each other's eyes. They walked around the house a few more times, carefully examining every corner, discussing the renovation plan and budget.

Just then, the cheerful laughter of children drifted in from outside the window. It turned out that the children in the neighborhood were playing in the open space. Looking at the scene outside the window, Wang Xiu felt a warmth in her heart. She thought about how her child could have playmates in such an environment and grow up healthy and happy, and felt that the higher price seemed worthwhile.

After viewing the new apartment, it was nearly noon, and the sun was getting quite hot. Old Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and said to them, "There's one last apartment, not far from here. Why don't we go take a look? We can compare them and then make a decision."

Although Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan were a little tired, they still nodded; they didn't want to miss any possibility. The last house was located in a staff housing compound.

Walking into the residential compound, you'll find it shaded by green trees and very quiet.

In the courtyard, some elderly people sat under the trees, chatting and enjoying the cool air, while children played and frolicked nearby, creating a lively atmosphere. Old Chen led them to a building and up to the second floor.

This apartment has two bedrooms. Although the decoration is simple, it looks clean and tidy.

Although the furniture inside was somewhat old, it was all arranged in an orderly manner. There was a large window in the living room, through which sunlight streamed and cast bright patches of light on the floor.

Although the kitchen and bathroom are not large, they are separate and well-equipped.

“This is a residential compound for employees of a work unit. The neighbors get along very well, so you can look out for each other if you live here. Plus, the price of the houses is quite reasonable and within your budget.”

Old Chen explained. Wang Xiu walked onto the balcony and saw the courtyard below.

Several women were hanging clothes out to dry, chatting as they did so, their faces beaming with happiness. She seemed to already see her future life here, sharing the little things with her neighbors, and her children playing safely in the yard.

Xu Laosan was also very satisfied with the house. He and Wang Xiu discussed it in a low voice: "This house is good in all aspects, the price is reasonable, and it's not too far from where we work. Moreover, the atmosphere of this residential compound feels particularly good, it has a very homey feel to it."

Wang Xiu nodded, her eyes full of agreement: "Yes, I also think this one is good. We've looked at several, but let's go with this one. I feel at ease living here."

Ultimately, Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan decided to buy the house located in their workplace's staff quarters. When signing the contract with the landlord, their hands trembled slightly, their hearts filled with excitement and joy.

They knew that from this moment on, they finally had a home that truly belonged to them, a home that could shelter them from the wind and rain and embody their aspirations for a better future.

As Wang Xiu left the residential compound, she looked back at the building. Sunlight shone on the building, giving it a warm glow.

She held Xu Laosan's hand tightly, then looked at the excited child beside her, her heart filled with anticipation for the future.