1970s: My childhood sweetheart ran away, and I turned around and married the wildest chief.

Qiao Wanqing said coldly, "Too expensive. You're trying to fool me because I'm young, aren't you? This house costs 50,000? Do you think money grows on trees?"

The middle-aged man's face turned ugly with anger. "This place has more than a dozen or twenty rooms of various sizes. It's well-preserved and in a prime location. How can it not be worth 50,000? The front and back yards are both very large. Once we add some greenery and a rockery, everyone who sees this house will love it."

Qiao Wanqing wasn't going to listen to his nonsense. She waved her hand and said, "This kind of house is not something ordinary people can afford. It's not something people who buy this kind of house would do. This isn't a tenement. If you really partition it like that, with small rooms everywhere, the house will be ruined."

"Besides, only the walls of this house are well preserved; the interior is in terrible condition. Even if I buy it, I'll still have to renovate it. Otherwise, how can I live here? Like I said, people who can afford a house like this can't accept living in such an environment. They'll definitely have to spend money to repair it. The interior is already unusable. If we want to make any changes, it will cost a lot of money. I'll just be buying a frame."

"Thirty thousand. If you're willing, we can go and transfer the property this afternoon."

The father and son were both angry to hear Qiao Wanqing being so picky about the house, but when they heard her say that it would be transferred immediately for 30,000 yuan, they were secretly pleased. This at least showed that the girl was really rich and willing to buy it.

She'll probably buy it if the price is right.

This house is indeed very nice, but not many people are willing to spend so much money to buy it. If they stay in China and wait patiently, they will definitely be able to get one. The key question is, how long will they have to wait?

They didn't want to stay here for a second longer. What if the policy changed one day and they were unlucky again?

Thinking back to their days in the countryside, these pampered scholars had no one to serve them. Rice and wheat flour were luxuries. They could only eat coarse grains that even their dogs wouldn't eat. They could only have meat once every ten days or half a month. They worked seven or eight hours a day, but only received a dozen yuan a month for living expenses. They lived in a drafty tile-roofed house. They were not even as well off as the servants in their family.

They never wanted to experience that hellish, unfree life again. Let whoever wants to stay in this godforsaken place stay. Countless times in the dead of night, they regretted not taking their possessions and following their old friends to cross the ocean and head towards their dream homeland.

"Thirty thousand won't do, that's too low. Give me forty-eight thousand... at least forty-seven thousand, and the house is yours."

"After I buy this house, I still need to find someone to repair and rearrange it. It will cost at least 20,000 yuan to repair the house. There is no furniture inside yet, so I will have to spend money to buy furniture. It will cost at least 30,000 yuan to move in completely. It is not worth spending 70,000 to 80,000 yuan on a house. It will cost at most 35,000 yuan."

The old man next to her spoke up, "Young lady, judging from your clothes, we can tell your family is well-off. To be able to spend so much money on a house, your family must be very well-off. My son and I are both educated men, we don't know how to haggle. You really want to buy it, right? We won't waste any more time negotiating. Forty-three thousand is the lowest price. If you're willing, you pay and we'll go with you to transfer the property. Otherwise, don't waste any more time."

Qiao Wanqing raised an eyebrow. Indeed, she was not short of money, so she didn't need to haggle over a little money like ordinary people. As long as the matter was handled well, she didn't care about spending a little more or less, as long as the price wasn't outrageous.

"Alright, since you're so agreeable, sir, I won't say any more. Forty-three thousand, I'll go back and get the money. See you at the Housing Authority in two hours."

After both parties agreed, Qiao Wanqing went back first. She really needed to get the money. In this day and age, 43,000 was no small amount. The money was so big that it filled a huge bag!

This house was introduced by my grandfather. Everyone in the know knows about it, and the property rights are very clear. My grandfather is aware of all these things, so Qiao Wanqing naturally wants to acquire it as soon as possible. In a few years, the price will double.

After the father and son left, Qiao Wanqing bought some gifts and went to the nearby neighborhood office. She gave the man a few cigarettes and the woman a few pieces of milk candy, and asked them for more information.

With such a big house and so much money, she wanted to find out through every possible channel, just in case her grandfather missed something and didn't know what secrets were behind the house.

Generally, the neighborhood committee is the most knowledgeable about these property rights issues.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The house was returned to the father and son by the state and was registered under the old man's name. There were no issues with the property rights, and the transfer could be completed directly.

Qiao Wanqing invited two staff members to go to the housing management bureau to witness the event.

The neighborhood committee took the house very seriously, so a male and a female staff member went to the housing management bureau while Qiao Wanqing went to collect the money. They were to meet at the housing management bureau together.

She had the passbook in her online space. She took the passbook and went directly to the bank to withdraw money. She put all the money into the big bag she had brought, then went to buy a few new locks. By the time she arrived at the housing authority, it was almost time.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, the father and son arrived. In front of the housing management bureau or the street office staff, Qiao Wanqing paid the money and had them write a receipt. The house was transferred to her name just like that.

With the newly issued property certificate in hand, I went to the neighborhood committee again to register the property and then changed all the locks on the house to my own. Done.

Holding a bunch of keys in her hand, Qiao Wanqing had a bit of a landlady vibe. In her previous life, she had struggled for a long time to buy a few houses and shops, but in this life, she had achieved it in her early twenties.

Time travel is wonderful, rebirth is wonderful!

It was noon, and she bought some groceries to celebrate at home. As she passed by the grocery store, she saw some newly arrived large fish.

She bought two large ones to take back, and cooked a table full of dishes for lunch. Qi Ya and her third aunt were used to the good food at home. After eating and drinking their fill, Qiao Wanqing watched as Qi Ya carefully wiped the twins' mouths and took them to wash their hands and faces. When the triplets were hungry, she went to make milk powder. The teenage girl was very quick and efficient and worked diligently.

After coming to Qiao Wanqing's side, Qi Ya changed a lot compared to when she was at home, and she grew taller.

She was already eighteen years old. She originally thought she wouldn't grow any taller at this age. Back in her hometown, she had stopped growing. But after coming to Qiao Wanqing's side, she actually grew a bit taller and gained weight. Moreover, she became much fairer and more delicate. Back in the Lu family's old house, she wasn't particularly hungry, but she definitely wasn't very well-fed either.

Teenagers, regardless of gender, are a time when they can eat a lot. The Lu family didn't have enough food for the girls back then. Because of her poor academic performance, she was considered not a worthwhile investment and was called home to work before finishing elementary school.

In a family like the Lu family, how could an abandoned little girl possibly receive any good treatment?

But things are different now. She's grown into a young woman, and she looks much prettier than before.

"Qiya, you're eighteen now, a young lady. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Qi Ya was breastfeeding her baby girl when she heard this and was taken aback. She said nervously, "Sister-in-law, I... I'm fine here."

It's really good; she never knew life could be this good.

She can eat her fill and eat well. There are so many delicious foods for girls, and new clothes too. She no longer has to give way to her younger brother or older brother. She feels very happy in this family.

Qiao Wanqing noticed her nervousness and said with a smile, "Don't be nervous. I'm not trying to get rid of you. I'm just thinking that you're eighteen now, all grown up. If you keep following me, you'll just be taking care of my children. In the long run, you won't actually develop any skills."

"At your age, I think it's too early to get married. You could learn a trade or something to gain experience in society. That way, it will be easier to make a living in the future. I'm wondering if you've thought about what you want to do in the future. Tell me, and maybe I can help you."

Qi Ya was a little lost; she didn't know what else she could do.

She has no formal education; she's a rural girl who has only ever known how to cook, wash clothes, and help her elders since she was little. She might know a little about farming, but those skills are useless in the city.

After coming to the city to live with Qiao Wanqing, she was able to help take care of the children. She was well-fed, warmly clothed, and had her own room. She never had to go hungry or cold. She felt very happy and wanted to stay like this forever.

The children are still young, and it will take at least three to five years to raise them. Even after three to five years, they will still be young and will need to be taken care of when they come back from school.

My sister-in-law can't stay at home forever. Her family is so well-off and she's highly educated. Once she's able to leave, she'll definitely have to go out to work. So, can she just stay here forever?

Thinking of this, Qi Ya lowered her head; she knew she couldn't.

This is her cousin's house. She is just a cousin from a different branch of the family. The children in the family will grow up day by day. After they start school, they will gradually not need so many people to take care of them. Her cousin's family has a nanny, who is provided by the military. They won't need her anymore.

"I...I don't know what to do either? I can't do anything except housework. When...when the children grow up and don't need me anymore, should I go home and get married?" she asked Qiao Wanqing uncertainly.

Qiao Wanqing sighed inwardly. In this era, no one had taught her anything, and information was not readily available. Girls from ordinary families simply did not know what they should do and could not even imagine it.

When I was little, I helped with housework at home; when I grew up, I married into another family and did housework there.

Qiao Wanqing was very patient with her. "If you can't figure it out yourself, I can teach you. For example, do you want to stay in the city, or go back to your hometown in the future?"

"Stay in the city. For example, if you want to stay in the capital, even if I don't need you here anymore, I can find you a job so you can support yourself. In the future, you can find a husband here and stay in the capital."

"But if you stay here, you'll have no other relatives besides me and your brother. It will be very difficult for you to go back to your hometown to see your parents in the future, firstly because it's too far away, and secondly because the train tickets are expensive."

"But there are many advantages to staying in the city. The living conditions here are much better than in the countryside, and the family you marry into will be better off than in your hometown. This way, your children can also live in the city in the future and won't have to go back to farming."

Qi Ya quickly said, "I want to stay."

"Won't you miss home in the future?" Qiao Wanqing asked.

Qi Ya pursed her lips. "I do think about it sometimes, and when I do, I just go back and check on it."

She didn't like that home and didn't really want to go back, but her parents were still in their hometown, and she couldn't just never go back. Her mother... was also having a hard time.

If it weren't for her mother, she might have been married off by her grandmother back then, and she wouldn't have the good life she has now.

Auntie watched from the side, somewhat envious.

"If you can stay, it's better to stay in the city. The city is a good place to live. If you go back to your hometown, you'll just marry an ordinary man and have to farm and raise children. There will be a lot of hardship in the future. It's better to stay in the city and let your sister-in-law find you a job. Once you have a job, it will be easier to find a husband."

With Qiao Wanqing here, Auntie San didn't dare to be too direct. What she really wanted to say was that her cousin and his wife were so capable, they definitely had to stay. Anything they arranged for you would be hundreds of times better than what you would have back home. They certainly wouldn't treat you badly.

This is a golden opportunity to defy fate and change one's destiny.

Qiao Wanqing understood from her expression and nodded, "Okay, I understand. There's still plenty of time. My child is still young, and it will take at least three to five years. I'm worried that you're in a hurry to find a husband. If you're not in a rush, you can stay here with me for now. When you want to find a partner later, your cousin can help you find someone."

Qi Ya breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, then I'll stay here. Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll definitely take good care of my nephew and niece. There's no rush to get married. I'm still young. Let's talk about it in a few years."

In the afternoon, Qiao Wanqing arranged to see the house with another homeowner. This time the house was smaller, about 800 square meters, in a good location and facing the street. This time it was not a multi-story building; the main house and the east and west wing rooms were all single-story.

The main house has five rooms, three rooms each in the east and west wings, and four side rooms in total. The courtyard is a decent size. There is no rear building, but there is a back-facing room.

There are four rooms in the rear building, but the space is not large.

The house shows clear signs of previous occupancy, indicating it was inhabited by many people before. Although the residents were eventually evacuated and some miscellaneous additions were removed, a considerable amount remains. If the house is only rented out in smaller units, then repairs wouldn't cost much. However, if the entire house is intended for future rental to wealthier individuals, then repairs will be necessary.

The rear building faces the street and can be used as a shop in the future; overall, it's not bad.

The homeowner asked for 30,000, but I finally got it for 20,000.

Withdrawing money again, transferring ownership, registering with the local street office, changing locks—the whole process was completed in one day.

Qiao Wanqing returned home happily, thinking about how to arrange the two houses. The first one was so big, and the place would later become a tourist attraction, so the regulations weren't so strict yet. If she wanted to renovate or anything, she had to start quickly, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy to make changes later.

Once you buy a house, someone has to live in it, otherwise it will fall into disrepair over time.

The second house facing the street is best rented out as a shop, so you can make money while lying down.

Qiao Wanqing looked through her own family and the Lu family's hometown to see who would be most suitable to come over, since such a big house couldn't be left empty.

waste!