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As for the bathroom, Xiaoshan had long wanted to have one at home.

It's just that we didn't have enough living space before, so we couldn't do it.

In this day and age, hiring someone to do renovations not only means paying them wages, but also providing them with three meals a day.

Therefore, Xiaoshan had no choice but to invite Feng Chunlian back to help cook for the workers and supervise them at the same time.

After breakfast, before going to work, Xiao Shan distributed a Daqianmen cigarette to each of the workers who were about to start work.

The foreman, Master Chen, smiled and thanked Xiao Shan, saying, "Don't worry, comrade, we'll make sure you get the job done perfectly."

Master Chen is a veteran decorator in Beijing. This is the first time he's worked for such a polite family, so he's determined to do his job well.

Although providing meals is the norm in the industry, this family served them unlimited steamed buns made from two kinds of flour, and the pickled vegetables were also oily, which was far superior to the meals of other families.

You know, people who do this kind of physical labor need to have some oil in their stomachs to get by.

They never expected that their first breakfast on the first day of work would be so juicy and flavorful.

They were paid the same wages, but the other party was willing to provide such good food and drinks, and even distributed good cigarettes before work started, so naturally they had to do a good job for them.

Not only must the work be done beautifully, but the materials used must also be of high quality; only then can we live up to their attitude.

Xiao Shan told Master Chen about his plan, then asked for Master Chen's opinion and made some minor adjustments.

"Comrade, regarding the red bricks used for this partition room, do you want to buy them yourself or should we do it?" After listening to Xiao Shan's renovation plan, Master Chen asked Xiao Shan.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Shan said, "If time isn't a problem, could you take me with you to get an expert opinion this afternoon?"

"No problem!" Master Chen lit the Daqianmen cigarettes that Xiao Shan handed him, took a puff, and said.

In the afternoon, after finishing his work, Xiao Shan returned home and went to buy red bricks with Master Chen.

Master Chen led Xiao Shan all the way to the deepest part of the building materials market: "The building materials at the very back of this market are of the best quality. I don't usually tell this to just anyone!"

"Coming with you today was definitely the right decision!" Xiao Shan said with a smile, offering his support.

With Mr. Chen's help, Xiaoshan successfully ordered a batch of high-quality red bricks.

In addition, Mr. Chen also asked Xiaoshan to buy some glass and iron pipes to make windows for the house.

Xiaoshan called three flatbed trucks at the building materials market to transport all the items back to the courtyard house.

Afterwards, Xiao Shan went to the next street to find Sun the carpenter, who was quite well-known in the surrounding streets.

Ask Carpenter Sun to help build some tables, chairs, sofas, and modular cabinets.

Upon hearing that Xiaoshan was going to buy so much stuff, Carpenter Sun beamed with delight.

Then he went inside and brought out two catalogs: "These show the styles of tables, chairs, sofas, and cabinets. Take a look and see if there's anything you like!"

Xiao Shan took the booklet and flipped through it one by one.

Sofas from this era were mostly made of leather and filled with foam and springs.

Xiao Shan chose a standard silver-gray two-seater sofa and planned to put it in the living room.

The table and chairs were a retro style.

As for the cabinet, Xiaoshan chose one that looked simple and practical, so that it could be placed next to the kang (heated brick bed) to store small items.

After selecting the style, Xiao Shan returned the catalog to Carpenter Sun and paid a deposit.

After leaving Sun the carpenter, Xiao Shan returned to the courtyard house and helped the workers move all the broken bricks out of the house.

Then the workers started laying terrazzo floors inside the house.

They kept busy like this until dinner time.

The workers held their rice bowls and ate with great relish.

At the same time, the workers felt that they had made the right decision to come and help out, as the employer was very kind.

The lunch was not only juicy and flavorful, but the steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water were also plentiful.

You should know that when they were working for other families, they would usually have stir-fried cabbage or shredded potatoes for lunch, with hardly any oil in their food, and they mostly ate cornbread.

This place not only has steamed buns made from two kinds of dough, but also stir-fried shredded vegetables with lard in the evening. The difference is huge.

Chapter 386, Renovation Completed, Becoming the Most Stylish Guy in the Compound! (Please Subscribe!)

"Brothers, this employer is honest, so we have to do our job well too." After having dinner at Xiaoshan's house, on the way home, Master Chen said to his helpers.

"Don't worry, Master Chen, we know what we're doing!" one of the younger helpers said with a smile. "We'll definitely put in our best effort tomorrow and try to finish the job before the deadline!"

"Alright!" Master Chen nodded in satisfaction. "Everyone, come early tomorrow!"

The next day, after finishing his own business in the morning, Xiao Shan went to the department store to buy a fireplace and a squat toilet.

While the workers are still here, I bought the fireplace and got the chimney installed.

Otherwise, it will be too late to buy a fireplace once the house is renovated.

Xiao Shan went to the department store and asked where they sold iron fireplaces.

Soon, Xiao Shan arrived at the place that sold iron fireplaces.

Here in Xiaoshan, we saw many iron fireplaces with openwork designs, all in Western styles.

These fireplaces are usually only bought by wealthy families.

People buy these items to put at home either for their aesthetic appeal or to create a certain ambiance.

After all, if practicality is the primary concern, a stove is far more practical than a fireplace.

After wandering around Xiaoshan, he took a fancy to a square, black iron fireplace.

The fireplace is enclosed on all four sides, with only a small door on the front, which is opened when adding firewood.

There is also a small stove on top of the fireplace, which can be used to boil water.

The fireplace vent is right next to the small stove. Once it's brought home, we can connect it to the flue and use it.

"Hello, how much is this fireplace?" Xiao Shan asked the salesperson, pointing to the fireplace.

The sales clerk glanced at the item in the direction Xiao Shan was pointing: "80 yuan, plus an industrial invoice."

Xiaoshan never expected that this iron fireplace would require an industrial permit.

However, Xiaoshan had no shortage of industrial tickets, so they bought them without hesitation.

Then I went and bought a squat toilet with a flush and various things for showering.

Afterwards, I found a trolley and someone helped me move the two items to my home.

By evening, the floor of the house was completely finished, and the walls had been freshly painted.

At Xiaoshan's request, the house abandoned its original high ceiling and installed a false ceiling, which significantly reduced the interior ceiling height.

The part above the ceiling is vacuum-sealed, with a flue installed, thus avoiding the flue being exposed and unsightly.

The reason for abandoning the original ceiling height was mainly for insulation.

Besides, the original room had too high a ceiling, making it unnecessary for a single-story room, and not enough for a duplex loft, which was a bit awkward.

Therefore, Xiaoshan simply gave up some of the floor height.

This not only maximizes the heat output of the fireplace, but also makes it look more comfortable.

Besides the fireplace, the bathroom was also completed in the afternoon.

Next, all that's needed is to fix the doors and windows, and then wait for Carpenter Sun to finish making and deliver the furniture. Once that's done, the renovation will be complete.

A few days later, all the doors and windows of the house were installed.

The windows are made of rippled glass, which ensures privacy while allowing some light in.

Next, Xiao Shan asked Zhang Chulan to buy him a thick piece of cloth to make curtains.

Aunt Erda in the courtyard knew how to make curtains, so Xiaoshan took the fabric directly to her.

"Such fine fabric, you're going to use it to make curtains?" Aunt Er asked, clutching the fabric in her hand, looking like she was wasting a precious resource.

Xiao Shan smiled at his aunt, "Auntie, I put a lot of effort into decorating my house! This fabric was a gift from a friend. I figured my wife and kids wouldn't be able to wear it, so I decided to use it as curtains."

Auntie Er glanced at the cloth in her hand with some reluctance: "Alas, what a pity!"

After complaining about this, Auntie Er didn't say anything more and followed Xiao Shan to get a measuring tape to take the measurements.

Xiao Shan planned to make the bedroom curtains a floor-length style, so after making the curtains for the bedroom and the other two rooms, there was very little fabric left.

After the curtains were finished, the furniture made by carpenter Sun was also completed.

Xiaoshan hired several movers to move all the new furniture into the house.

Looking at the arranged furniture, Xiao Shan felt that something was still missing, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Seeing Xiao Shan's troubled expression, Ding Qiunan, who was holding the child, casually suggested, "Why don't we put some rugs next to the sofa and bed? It'll look cozier that way!"

"That's right!" Xiao Shan slapped his forehead, realizing that a carpet was missing.

The sofa, fireplace, and bedding set are all European-style, which feels a bit odd paired with the terrazzo floor.

If you lay down a carpet, it will be harmonious!

Xiao Shan looked at Ding Qiunan and said with a smile, "My wife is so smart!"

The following evening, Xiao Shan invited his parents-in-law, master, and mistress over and set up a table to celebrate the completion of his new house.

Xiaoshan also invited Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong to accompany them.

He Yuzhu was invited by Xiao Shan to cook.

At the dinner table, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong both marveled at the renovated house in Xiaoshan.

"No wonder he's a talent who knows foreign languages; his thoughts are so different from ours!" Yan Bugui said admiringly, looking at Xiao Shan.

The current style of houses in Xiaoshan is a combination of Chinese and Western styles.

The furniture is mostly Chinese style, but there are also many European elements in the house, such as the fireplace rug and the floor-length curtains in the bedroom.

In Yan Bugui's view, such a design was very advanced.

Liu Haizhong didn't understand the difference between Chinese and Western styles. He just thought the new house in Xiaoshan was quite nice, grand yet cozy.

He Yuzhu was also envious and disbelieving of Xiao Shan's renovated house: "Xiao Shan, if Xu Damao ever brags that his house is the best-looking in the yard again, I will definitely slap him across the face!"

Before the house in Xiaoshan was renovated, Xu Damao's house was the most decorated in the entire courtyard.

After all, his ex-wife Lou Xiao'e's parents were very wealthy, and they spent a lot of money to furnish their daughter's new house with furniture that was all Western style.

However, the decorations in Xu Damao's house are from so many years ago, and naturally cannot compare with the newly renovated houses in Xiaoshan.

"Alright, Brother Zhu, hurry up and eat!" Xiao Shan smiled and put a piece of food on Ding Qiunan's plate. "Don't drag me into your argument with Brother Da Mao!"

He Yuzhu curled his lip: "Who wants to argue with him! That kid just needs to be taught a lesson, always showing off in the yard."

Chapter 387, A Difficult Mission: John Bull on a Business Trip! (Please Subscribe!)

This time, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were relatively restrained, so they didn't get drunk after the meal.

He Yuzhu only needs to help Xiao Shan send his father-in-law, mother-in-law, master, and mistress back.

When Xiao Shan and He Yuzhu returned to the courtyard, Li Caijuan had already helped clean up after the meal.

After seeing He Yuzhu and his wife off, Xiao Shan finally had time to admire their renovated home with Ding Qiunan.

Since they got a bathroom at home, Xiao Shan and Ding Qiunan have both felt that going to the toilet or taking a shower is much more comfortable than before.

Time flies, and soon it was the end of 1968.

As usual, Xiao Shan ran into Xu Damao at the gate of the steel rolling mill on his way home from get off work, and then got some shocking news from Xu Damao.

Xu Damao is going to get his marriage certificate with Yu Haitang tomorrow!

"Brother Mao, congratulations!" After a brief moment of shock, Xiao Shan smiled and congratulated Xu Damao, "You finally won the heart of your beauty!"

Xu Damao excitedly invited Xiao Shan to his home for dinner the following evening.

Xiao Shan readily agreed.

The following evening, Xiao Shan went to Xu Damao's house for dinner.

It was discovered that Xu Damao had not invited many people this time.