Chapter 1189: 1062: Miao Lishan’s Plan

"Jiao Jiao, I’ll get a pen, let’s discuss what we should prepare for the kids. What style should we choose for clothes? We should make a few more sets this time..."Zhou Jiao chuckled lightly, "Mom, besides May 1st, the other two can only wear military uniforms."

"They can wear them casually," Miao Lishan firmly disagreed, "Right, shoes! We can’t forget those; we need to buy several pairs. This time I’m definitely going to the Friendship Store."

Zhou Jiao saw her staring intently at her and nodded in amusement.

"Our little May 1st, when it’s decided which university they’ll attend, we should buy a small courtyard nearby first, to prevent any bullying in the dormitory. Some of those going to the exam could be his grandfather..."

Zhou Jiao looked at her half-crying, half-laughing, was she exaggerating? There are age restrictions for the registration conditions, where are the grandfather-generation candidates?

Besides, the child still has to take the graduate entrance exam, so there’s really no need to buy a courtyard; we already have enough courtyards at home, and the two-courtyard rented to the Women’s Federation has been empty for a month.

Thinking of this, Zhou Jiao quickly changed the topic to divert her attention, "Mom, should I rent out my courtyard, or just leave it idle?"

Miao Lishan blinked and quickly got it, "You mean the two-courtyard borrowed by the Women’s Federation, right? Which courtyard at home isn’t yours? Hasn’t Aunt Yi reached out to you?"

"Da Yi’s mom? No, she hasn’t."

"Then forget about it, I rejected it at the time."

"Mom, focus!"

Miao Lishan smiled awkwardly and continued, "Recently, at a gathering, a housing bureau friend mentioned a few foreigners working at the embassy were looking to rent. Aunt Yi wanted me to rent it through the housing bureau. Apparently, calculated by area, it could earn about two hundred US dollars a month. But I didn’t agree and refused."

Zhou Jiao nodded in agreement. Although the rent was high, renting through the housing bureau could mean trouble if anything happened.

"...Better not rent to individuals, who knows how many families would squeeze in, making the courtyard a mess. I’ve even considered selling it for you."

Zhou Jiao’s mouth dropped open in surprise at her words.

Miao Lishan looked at her amused, "What’s there to be surprised about?"

On the day the family went to the five-courtyard, she thought of selling the two-courtyard to buy a bigger courtyard nearby, adding a bit more money.

—Ideally, each of her three grandsons would have an apartment, and when they marry and have kids, it wouldn’t matter whether they choose to live together or not.

Zhou Jiao paused at her words, then raised her thumb, "Mom, you’re really a tycoon!"

Miao Lishan proudly lifted her chin, "What tycoon? Didn’t you say we’ve saved quite a bit from salaries over the years? Why hoard money?

If we buy properties registered in the kids’ names and pay taxes reasonably, what’s there to worry about? Your dad also agreed with my idea."

Zhou Jiao glanced at her speechless, then picked up her teacup—it’s good to drink tea.

It turns out, as she suspected, her dad was the advisor behind it all. Who doesn’t know her dad is a relentless property buyer!

—Look at how many courtyards the family already owns?

"Your great-aunt recently took a liking to a courtyard. Apparently, it used to be a Prince’s Mansion. It’s now a three-courtyard, with a small garden.

The location is excellent, near the waters of Shichahai, with beautiful views and convenient transportation, surrounded by wealthy and noble neighbors. Because it was once a residence of significant figures, it’s well preserved."

Zhou Jiao somewhat understood it was probably returned to those suffering hardship recently after their rights were restored. She didn’t ask which big figure had monopolized it before.

Since they could forcibly occupy and are now required to vacate, that so-called big figure should be defunct.

"Why think of selling?"

Miao Lishan sighed, "That family’s only left with a grandmother and grandson, worried about future risks, thinking of selling to move to Hong Kong."

"Old Mrs. Cheng also had someone inquire for a long time, saying it’s genuinely not expensive, wanting to buy it for your second cousin. She said the more the merrier among grandchildren, better to separate early."

Zhou Jiao recalled the Cheng Family’s big courtyard in Beijing, likely a legacy for the eldest son, and nodded knowingly, "How much?"

"Fifty thousand."

Zhou Jiao gasped in shock, "How much? Fifty thousand isn’t expensive? Since they want to move to Hong Kong, naturally they’ll want a gold transaction. Mom, have you calculated how much gold is needed?"

Miao Lishan laughed out loud, "What did you think, five thousand? Why else would I consider selling the two-courtyard to cover the difference? Isn’t it better to keep it?"

Zhou Jiao frowned, "Something’s not right, my brother just told me one courtyard costs only five thousand. You could buy ten courtyards. Is it necessary for great-aunt to be so extravagant?"

Miao Lishan gave her a disdainful look, "Courtyards bought for five thousand might at most have seven or eight broken rooms, not knowing where they are located.

This isn’t even comparable.

Spending fifty thousand for a three-courtyard is already cheap. Why else would Old Mrs. Cheng be tempted? Everything inside is well-preserved, even the furniture is made from quality wood."

Zhou Jiao weighed her wallet with a grievance, "I just realized how poor I am!"

Miao Lishan laughed heartily at her daughter.

—Poor?

Her Jiao Jiao wasn’t poor at all; she was just like a rural miser, hoarding money without spending it.

Zhou Jiao chuckled briefly; she was just trying to make her mom happy. If she wants to buy, she will. Even building a house with gold is no problem.

Moreover, as gold continues to rise, could it surpass real estate?

Such luck isn’t something everyone can have like Old Mrs. Cheng. From her observations, many hutongs in the city have been built so densely people can’t even move around, yet many still claim they can’t find a place to live.

Especially post-college entrance exams, many educated youths might return to the city, increasing the housing shortage, leaving no extra courtyards for their family to acquire.

Still, regarding Old Mrs. Cheng, Zhou Jiao made a special trip the next day, discreetly telling her that if she’s short on gold, she could help chip in.

Who is Zhou Jiao?

—Naturally cold-hearted, but at least she’s protective of her own. Like, "If someone treats me kindly, I’ll return the favor; if someone treats me poorly, I’ll repay them tenfold."

To Zhou Jiao, Old Mrs. Cheng wasn’t just about favor, she sincerely treated her like a true granddaughter, perhaps even better.

Knowing Old Mrs. Cheng wants to buy a courtyard, Zhou Jiao definitely couldn’t stand idly by. It isn’t because she has excess money to spend, but because she cares about the Cheng Family.

Not to mention, Old Mrs. Cheng secretly returned the dowry courtyards to the Zhou Family, and preserved the Gu Family’s remaining assets for years.

Though she did these discreetly, wasn’t it because her offspring could have suffered losses?

Having been with the Cheng Family for so many years, she had a rough idea of their situation.

—As many grandchildren in the Cheng Family are now marrying and having children, except for some heirlooms not for sale, their finances truly aren’t strong.

If Zhou Jiao guessed correctly, Old Mrs. Cheng wanting to buy a house this time might even use some of the gold returned to the Cheng Family for repairing the Gu Family mansion.

Poor Old Mrs. Cheng, despite her age, still planning for her descendants.