Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

After Xu Bei left the guesthouse with the settled money, he glanced back at a room on the second floor.

Although he pretended to care and reminded Fan Baoli, it was definitely Fan Baoli who had a deeper grudge against Lao Ba.

If we ever run into each other again, we'll probably end up fighting.

However, Xu Bei was definitely not afraid at all; he would just deal with whatever came his way.

Afterwards, because he still had a lot of things to do, he didn't stay in the city for long and took a car back to the Forestry Bureau.

After an hour's drive, it was almost 11 o'clock when I got off the bus.

Since the station was quite close to the movie theater, Xu Bei simply went to the house he had bought to check on the progress.

Upon entering the courtyard, I saw a scene different from when I was looking at and buying a house yesterday.

Not only were there many different kinds of things and tools that had been cleared out in the yard.

Upon entering the house, one finds numerous cardboard boxes and packed luggage scattered on the kang (a heated brick bed) and floor. The vintage-style curtains hanging on the windows have also been removed.

Grandma Jiang wasn't there; all that was known from yesterday was that the male head of the household, Jiang Guangming, and two people who looked like relatives were working.

As soon as Jiang Guangming saw Xu Bei, he smacked his hands and flashed a bright smile.

"Young man, you're here. I was just wondering how to let you know. Do you have time this afternoon? Come with me to the real estate department and get things done."

Xu Bei was naturally delighted upon hearing this.

I originally thought that there would be no progress for at least two days, but it turned out that I was able to take the place so quickly.

"You have time, Brother Jiang. Is there anything I need to do?"

Jiang Guangming pushed up his glasses and solemnly instructed, "I've taken care of everything. You just need to follow me. But if anyone asks, just say you're my distant cousin. Your family is large, and this house is for you to live in after your wedding, given to you by your elders. Don't let it slip."

Anyway, once the name is changed to yours, it's yours, nothing else matters, right?

Xu Bei understood that no matter how powerful the relationships were, it was not advisable to make it public. "Of course, I know, Brother Jiang."

The two chatted for a while longer and agreed to meet outside the bureau's office building in the afternoon. Xu Bei then left first.

The thought that the house might be officially registered in his name in just a few hours filled him with immense joy.

Even when cycling outdoors in temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, I don't feel cold at all, inside or out.

Although people nowadays still have a strong sense of contractual obligation, and generally will accept a handwritten agreement when buying and selling real estate in private, Xu Bei certainly wouldn't miss an opportunity to eliminate potential risks.

In particular, he will be transferring the household registrations of several people over, and the fewer people involved, the better.

Zhao Fengying and the others had no idea what Xu Bei had done behind the scenes.

During lunch, we talked about how long it would take for the carpenter to give us a definite answer regarding the household registration transfer that the carpenter had promised to help.

And if this drags on for too long, will Xu Dashan cause trouble for the store again?

Although Xu Bei couldn't reveal the truth, he reassured them with his words, putting their minds at ease.

Zhao Fengying and the others now regard their boss, who lent them money and helped them, as a particularly capable benefactor, and they feel much more at ease.

Around 1 p.m., Xu Bei arrived at the agreed-upon location ten minutes early.

Then, they saw that Jiang Guangming, wearing a cotton-padded coat and leather gloves, had arrived ahead of time, carrying a bulging bag.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the two walked together into the bureau building.

Xu Bei has been visiting this place quite a few times recently.

Besides the Civil Affairs Department, which handles cases involving parents' divorces, the Real Estate Department is also quite familiar with the work.

After all, the place where my family runs the shop was rented from here.

Unlike the last time he came here on business and didn't know anyone, Jiang Guangming was obviously very familiar with the place, and he would greet people with a smile whenever he met them on the way.

Xu Bei observed everything with a cold eye, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that this was often how society, based on personal connections, was.

It's not easy for ordinary people to get things done, but as long as you have connections, things become much easier and no problem becomes difficult.

Jiang Guangming led Xu Bei straight to a certain office with a clear objective.

I knocked on the door, and a drawn-out voice came from inside.

The two exchanged a glance, and then the former pushed open the door and went inside first.

Xu Bei followed closely behind.

Upon entering the room, a wave of heat, a mixture of cigarette smoke and old newspapers, hit me.

The office was small, with two old-fashioned three-drawer tables placed by the window, piled high with various files and document folders.

A middle-aged man dressed in dark blue clothes with slicked-back hair was sitting behind a table, holding a chipped enamel mug in one hand and a cigarette in the other, squinting at a document.

When the man saw that it was Jiang Guangming who had entered, he put on a polite smile. "Director Jiang, what brings you here?"

But her eyes lingered on Xu Bei, scrutinizing him.

Xu Bei didn't care about such gazes at all, and looked back at the other party with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Section Chief Wang, this is a bit of a family matter. My cousin-in-law told you, didn't he..." Jiang Guangming said, while casually handing over the bag he was carrying under his arm.

The man stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, stood up with a smile like that of Maitreya Buddha, and said, "I told you, this one..."

Jiang Guangming patted Xu Bei on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Yes, this is my cousin. He's dating someone and wants to get married, so he needs a place to live."

I figured my house was spacious enough anyway, so I might as well change the registered owner to him; it's a way of helping out a relative. These are the application materials, and a certificate from his workplace.

Section Chief Wang took the materials and pretended to look through them. "This change is no small matter. We have regulations, but while your reason is plausible, the procedures are a bit complicated. But since... we'll definitely do our best."

After some feigned back and forth, Section Chief Wang finally picked up his pen and signed his name on the application form in a flamboyant manner.

Then he took out a red official seal from the drawer, pressed it into the inkpad box on his desk, and stamped it onto the application form with a snap.

Xu Bei knew that once they got through here, things would be much easier.

Sure enough, Jiang Guangming quickly took him to find another clerk.

Then the other party found a ledger belonging to their area and changed Xu Bei's name on it.

After the two walked out of the government building, Jiang Guangming said with a somewhat complicated expression, "This house is yours from now on. To be honest, if it weren't for the inconvenience of my mother living alone in a bungalow, I really wouldn't be willing to sell this old house."

Xu Bei could understand the other party's feelings, "Brother Jiang, although this house has been sold to me, you can come back and visit anytime you want in the future."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Xu Bei settled the remaining payment for the house as agreed.

At this point, all that's left is for the other party to move out completely, and then the house will belong entirely to him...