"Where do you live?"
Down the mountain.
The Maserati drove away from Baoshan Cetery.
"Ho, of course,"
Jiang Chen answered matter-of-factly.
"The courtyard hasn’t been demolished yet, right?"
"Not yet. The new community has a roof, but it will take a few more months for formal occupancy. By this New Year, there probably won’t be anyone left in the courtyard."
"Isn’t that good? Moving to a new ho before the New Year brings a new atmosphere."
The Sanjian Courtyard is a residential area for laid-off workers. Jiang Chen and Fang Qing were born and grew up there. Over the years, many of the buildings began to age, with so even turning into dangerous structures. For instance, in the apartnt building where Jiang Chen lived, the stairwell’s electrical wiring was broken. It was manageable during the day, but at night, it was difficult for the elderly to see when going up and down, which was quite dangerous.
Actually, the courtyard should have been demolished long ago, but the governnt had its difficulties, financial constraints, no money, so every year they said they would demolish it, but there was no action.
In the end, it was Jiang Chen’s intervention that finally made the long-stalled demolition plan for Sanjian Courtyard co to fruition.
It’s like when one person succeeds, everyone connected benefits.
So it’s best to be kind to others.
Who knows if, one day, a neighbor might suddenly achieve success and bless those around them.
"Are you sure you don’t want to keep your family ho?"
"What’s the point of keeping it?"
"It’s of commorative value. Tong Dan said maybe in a few years, your ho will beco the ’Jiang Chen Forr Residence,’ a major cultural attraction in tourism promotion."
Jiang Chen chuckled softly.
"She’s really imaginative, turning my ho into a tourist spot. Even if the tourists aren’t embarrassed, I would be."
"Just demolish it. As citizens of Sha City, we should support the governnt’s plans. If everyone else’s ho is demolished, but mine remains, doesn’t that incite class conflict?"
"Joined the Party?" Fang Qing asked.
"Nope. I’m still a proud mber of the Young Pioneers."
The Maserati passed through the ancient city wall of East Gate, turned right, drove along the one-way road under the walls, and then onto the cobblestone-paved Zhang Juzheng Street.
East Gate is arguably the busiest gate in the Inner City District, and tourist buses from outside always stop there.
The dilapidated Sanjian Courtyard standing there is like a dust-covered rag from history, significantly affecting the external image of Sha City.
So things indeed should exit gracefully with ti, but the traces they leave in the heart will never be erased.
"Let’s buy sothing."
In front of the convenience store at the entrance of the courtyard, Jiang Chen signaled to stop the car,
"No need."
"Fair is fair."
Even back when he was penniless, Jiang Chen was always courteous. During the sumr and winter breaks, he would bring things for Fang Weiguo and his wife, regardless of their value, and even more so now.
He insisted on getting out of the car.
"Didn’t I just visit Uncle Jiang and them without bringing anything?"
Jiang Chen was speechless, then smiled and said, "That’s different."
"Really consider yourself a guest? If you bring sothing, my parents won’t like it. You’ve already done enough for them."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen didn’t insist further, not because he was persuaded.
A big reason was that if he nagged more, Fang Qing would likely argue with him.
No matter how much he contributed to Sanjian Courtyard or Sha City, in Qing Gege’s eyes, he was always just the guy who lived across the hall and ca over to her house for als, without any aura surrounding him.
"You were the one who told not to buy anything."
The Maserati drove into the courtyard, imdiately attracting attention from passersby.
Although the Sanjian Company had long collapsed under the wave of state-owned enterprise reforms, the way of life always finds a path. After being laid off, the workers and their families from the courtyard sought their own livelihoods, and no one starved, with many achieving remarkable success. Jiang Chen and Fang Qing were cases in point, just like Fu Zili, who thrived in Sha City.
Even though he’s currently incarcerated, going to prison doesn’t necessarily an the end. On the contrary, for a small city, it might be seen as a unique experience, akin to the scars of a strong person.
There are quite a few people in Sanjian Courtyard who now own cars, but an over-million-yuan Maserati is unique, and everyone knew whose car it was, offering respect, warmth, and even fawning looks.
The common people are mostly simple and honest.
They respect those who can benefit them.
Who doesn’t know that a golden phoenix has erged from the courtyard?
"It’s best not to wander around in the courtyard now, or you’ll be surrounded. Everyone knows it was your significant funding that made the demolition plan happen."
"How did it get out?"
"There’s no such thing as a wall that doesn’t let the wind through. And you know my dad, maybe he wouldn’t brag about as his daughter, but with your current success, how could he not ntion it?"
Jiang Chen chuckled speechlessly.
His Uncle Fang truly treated him like his own son.
"Still, you should advise Uncle Fang to be more low-profile. Wealth should not be flaunted, be cautious not to attract criminal attention."
It was indeed a play on humor.
It’s true that wealth should not be flaunted.
But Sha City is so small, anyone mindful knows which formidable figures are in and outside the city.
Before going in, Fu Zili was undoubtedly a big shot in the underworld, and well, he still is now.
And Fang Qing?
A first-tier city’s gold dal lawyer.
Not to ntion Jiang Chen, this Tathagata Buddha.
Sha City used to be called Pirate City, but even bandits have brains.
The Maserati pulled into a residential building and stopped downstairs.
Jiang Chen and Fang Qing got out of the car and climbed the stairs to their respective apartnt doors.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Fang Qing knocked on the door, "Mom."
No response.
"Didn’t bring your keys?"
Jiang Chen asked.
"Nope."
"Then co to my place for a while."
Jiang Chen warmly invited, then imdiately took out his house key.
"Creak, creak..."
The decaying wooden door, like an old man on his last legs, opened tremulously. Surprisingly, there was no dust inside. It wasn’t spotless, but looked relatively clean, nothing like a long-vacant house.
User Comments
0 comments from readers