binnovel Chapter 212 Decoration
Chapter 212 Decoration
“This is my nephew. He just bought an apartment in the aerospace research institute’s residential area and wanted you to help him assess how much it would cost to renovate it. But given the size of your place, Mr. Liu doesn’t have time to go and check it out in person. Could you arrange someone to do it for him?” He Zhijun said with a smile.
Liu Qiang smiled and put down the documents in his hand: "There's no need to arrange someone separately. I also have something I'd like to ask for your opinion on. I'll go with you and treat you to dinner. It's a rare opportunity for you to come, so I should at least show you some hospitality."
With a tool bag on their backs, the group left the office. Liu Qiang gave the receptionist a few instructions before they all left together.
They had only been gone a short while when they came back to see the house, which confused the staff. After they found out that they were there to take measurements for renovations, the staff finally came over and opened the door.
As soon as he entered, Liu Qiang nodded, "This apartment layout is good. It's well-ventilated from north to south, with large, bright windows. The layout is just right, with no wasted space. This design is excellent."
If the professionals all agree, then it's the right choice. Liu Qiang took out a tape measure and pen and paper to start measuring, saying as he did so, "I still recommend enclosing this balcony with glass windows; it's very popular now."
Once it's all set up, this balcony will be great for drying clothes, protected from wind and rain, and with good natural light. I can also build a cabinet against the wall to store clothes hangers, laundry detergent, and other miscellaneous items.
Next up are the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom... The dimensions have just been measured, and the general design of the house is almost complete. Even without seeing the blueprints, it sounds pretty good just from hearing about it.
Liu Qiang roughly drew a sketch: "Take a look. I think we don't need to do so many fancy things now. Simple and practical is best. We'll use the best materials. It won't be a problem for at least twenty years."
Jingyan looked at the blueprints: "The water and electricity need to be redone, right? We need to install more power outlets. We need to buy refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines now, plus some other small appliances. If we don't have enough power outlets, we'll have a lot of trouble later."
Liu Qiang noted down the requirements and nodded: "Okay, I'll include all the home appliances I can find on the market and see how many sockets I need. In the end, I'll leave one more socket in each room than I originally planned, and that should be about right."
Jing Yan nodded: "Can you estimate the approximate cost of the renovation now?"
Liu Qiang checked the dimensions of each room: "The actual usable area of this house is 110 square meters. We need to make cabinets for the kitchen. There are those that can be fixed to the wall. Our carpenters in the renovation team can make them. Leave space for the gas stove, range hood and water heater."
Do you need to install heating lights in the bathroom? That would require a false ceiling and a washbasin, which you can buy ready-made. For the bedroom wardrobe, are you planning to buy a ready-made one or have it custom-made and fixed to the wall? If you're going to have it custom-made, our carpentry team can do it.
Jing Yan looked at He Ci'en, who looked completely clueless. Jing Yan sighed and said, "Well, you can handle these things. Just make it according to the most suitable plan for us, and then give us the drawings and price."
Liu Qiang put the notebook away and nodded: "Okay, I'm relieved to hear that. I'll make it the best for your nephew. Since it's for his own home, I'll keep it simple so it won't look too outdated over time."
After leaving the residential area, the three parted ways with Liu Qiang. After returning to the island, Jing Yan began to immerse herself in the kitchen making kimchi and various sauces for He Ci'en, which was her forte. He Ci'en leaned against the kitchen door and looked inside, asking her uncle, who was leaning against the other side in the same position, "Uncle, how did you manage to marry Auntie back then?"
Second Grandma should be quite picky, by all accounts. I heard Grandma say that Second Grandma tried to set you up with so many girls from good families, but you refused them all. Did Second Grandma ever make things difficult for you back then, Auntie?
He Zhijun smiled and shook his head: "I've always been the reckless type. I was attracted to your aunt because she was pretty. Just look at her now, she doesn't look old at all. Back then, she stood out in the mess hall's food area, and I fell for her at first sight."
I know my mom well; she's not a bad person, just a bit dramatic. So when I came back from my holiday, I told her I had a girl I liked, but she might not be willing to marry me. The battalion commander went to sound her out but was rejected.
Your second grandmother's curiosity has been piqued. You know, back then, my family was considered quite well-off. How many women around us were interested in me as a person? Weren't they all after my dad and mom?
Your aunt over there could never possibly know anything about my family. If she agrees to marry me, it's because of me. But if she doesn't agree, it means they don't think I'm good enough. So she insisted on going with my dad to see what kind of girl I am.
I think it's fate that brought us together. Originally, your second aunt was planning to find a place to stay at someone else's house nearby, to inquire about her family and see what kind of house she liked. But she didn't expect her house to be so big with so many rooms, so she simply rented a place there.
She and her fourth sister were both kind and honest people who took good care of my parents. They were especially good at having their own bottom line. Back then, your second grandmother gave them a slightly higher allowance for food, but your aunt didn't try to take advantage of it; instead, she made things clear and straightforward. I think it was perhaps because of this open and honest personality that your second grandmother cherished her so much.
As he said this, He Zhijun's voice became noticeably softer, and he continued, "Actually, even now I don't know why your aunt agreed to marry me, because before my parents passed away, she didn't remember me at all."
Moreover, for a long time after our marriage, I could sense that she was very distant and polite towards me. Although she took good care of me, something just didn't feel right. Later, we became more and more compatible, but she didn't depend on me. You know, I was so insecure at the time, afraid that if I didn't treat her well in some way, she would leave. I always had a feeling of not being able to hold on to her.
It wasn't until An'an was born that I was sure her heart was at peace. By then, we had been married for four years. You always said I was tolerant of your aunt, but actually, it was always me who was afraid your aunt would leave me.
Because I know that even if your aunt leaves me, she can still live a good life, but if I leave her, things might turn into chaos and misery.
He Ci'en nodded thoughtfully: "But Uncle, don't you mind that Aunt didn't love you when she married you?"
"Love? What right do I have to demand it of her? My love for her wasn't pure at first either; I was attracted to her at first sight. It was only after living together that I discovered her independence and self-reliance, and that's what attracted me even more, which is why I grew to love her even more."
If she were a housewife whose life revolved solely around her husband and children, I don't know how long my shallow affection would have lasted. So, what right did I have to demand her wholehearted devotion?" He Zhijun understood his own thoughts well and was able to openly admit his own little schemes.
He Ci'en gave him a thumbs up: "Having this kind of understanding is quite impressive."
“Ci’en, no matter what kind of partner you choose in the future, you can’t have the mindset of wanting everything. You have to be clear about what you need, distinguish between primary and secondary things. You have to give up something to gain something. If you want everything, you might end up with nothing.” He Zhijun looked at him with some earnestness.
He Ci'en didn't reply, her eyes lowered, lost in thought.
Liu Qiang's assessment was very quick; he called the next day. The price for the plumbing and electrical system upgrades, plus basic renovations including cabinets, ceilings, lighting, and wardrobes, was 19,000 yuan. To be honest, that price wasn't expensive, considering the high-quality electrical wires, pipes, wood, and paint used. Since we were family, he gave us an extra 20% discount and rounded it down to 15,000 yuan.
He Ci'en... looking at the 15,900 yuan in her savings account, her heart was bleeding. Suddenly, she only had 900 yuan left. It seemed like she had never had such a small amount of money in her savings account since she started college.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll pay before I go back to the research institute tomorrow."
Liu Qiang laughed on the phone: "Just bring 4,500 yuan tomorrow. We pay in three installments for renovations. Thirty percent is collected before work begins, and the remaining thirty percent is collected when the work is halfway done—that is, when the basic work is completed except for the cabinets."
We'll collect the remaining 40% payment after all work is completed and inspected. This way, both parties can feel at ease. As the homeowner, you can also come and check on the progress of the renovation regularly, and see if you're satisfied with the completed areas. This way, we can make any necessary adjustments promptly.
He Ci'en breathed a sigh of relief, "Then how long does it usually take to complete the whole thing?"
"Normally, it takes three months. After all, waterproofing the bathroom and painting and leveling the walls and ceilings are time-consuming, especially painting the ceiling, which requires three coats, and each coat must be completely dry before the next coat can be applied."
Otherwise, in just a few years, the paint will peel off, making the house dirty. And if a piece falls at an angle that isn't right, it could injure someone, which would be a real problem. This is something you really can't rush.
Liu Qiang has always been a very patient person. He tries his best to explain things clearly to each customer, because no one's money is easy to earn and no one wants to waste money.
He Ci'en breathed a sigh of relief. In three months, he could save up several thousand yuan. Maybe once the house was renovated, he could buy appliances and furniture and move in. Why stay in the dormitory when he could live in his own home? He could cook for himself at home. Thinking of this, he suddenly felt that the money was well spent.
Because they brought so much stuff, on the last day of their holiday, before noon, the family had lunch early. He Zhijun and Jing Yan then helped He Ci'en carry the large bags and packages back to the research institute. As soon as they entered the dormitory, other people started coming to pick up their goods.
He Ci'en compared the records with the ones she had kept, then looked for the items by the name tags on the outside of the packaging bags. Once she found one, Jing Yan used her old steelyard to weigh it, confirming that the actual weight was close to the weight on the tag. She then showed the item to the buyer, delivered it, got the signature, and left. Yes, the process was underway...
He Zhijun was busy helping with sorting and finding goods; the three of them were quite busy. Only after most of the people had answered correctly and left did they have time to pack the things they were bringing for He Ci'en—jars of various sauces.
The labels on the jars indicate their categories, which saves me from having to open them every time I need to find something. Once opened, air gets in, so I have to eat it as soon as possible. Homemade food doesn't have that kind of high-tech or complicated process, and there's no refrigerator in the dorm, so I'm afraid it won't keep.
After packing their things, He Ci'en and his wife locked the dormitory door, took the meat meant for his boss, and headed to the family quarters to deliver it. With that, their shopping assignment was officially finished.
They went to Tai'an Repair Company instead. Perhaps Liu Qiang had specifically instructed them later, because the receptionist immediately said when she saw them, "Mr. Liu is in his office. You can just go up there."
Upon entering Liu Qiang's office, they found that the blueprints had already been prepared. The three of them looked at the layout of each space, as well as the overall picture after the renovation. Jing Yan couldn't understand the rest, but she had no problem figuring out where the cabinets were and where the bed would be placed, and she felt quite satisfied.
As for the layout of the waterway, sorry, she really couldn't understand it. Fortunately, the other two were more reliable than her. After asking a few questions, He Ci'en signed the contract, settled the first payment, and the three of them left.
The couple went straight home. He Ci'en happily returned to his dormitory with a stack of blueprints and contracts. When his colleagues from the neighboring dormitories saw him return, they all came over to visit, hoping to grab some kimchi or something to take home.
During their conversation, someone brought up the topic of company-provided housing. He Ci'en laughed and said that he had already bought one and would probably start decorating it once it was officially registered in his name, which made everyone quite envious.
Although the company only covered half of the cost, it was still a considerable sum. Influenced by Jing Yan, He Ci'en felt that only by owning her own house could she truly have a home, and thus unconsciously voiced this opinion.
Everyone seemed to be deep in thought. He Ci'en didn't think too much about it, but a few days later, while chatting in the office, she heard that more than half of the researchers in their group had bought subsidized housing. What to do if they didn't have enough savings? They would borrow from relatives and friends.
Everyone knows they have good jobs and high salaries, so they're not worried about not being able to pay their debts. It's a good idea to build a good relationship with them now. So, as long as their family is doing well, they can afford to buy a house, some big and some small.
With the house purchased, everyone was eager to move into their new home. However, the trouble of decorating arose again. He Ci'en showed them the blueprints of her house, and well, this brought in a lot more customers for Tai'an Decoration Company.
Liu Qiang wasn't stupid. Even if He Ci'en didn't personally take them there, he knew without a doubt that the renovations in this neighborhood were mostly due to his promotion. He wished he could give He Ci'en another big red envelope to thank him for introducing so many high-quality clients.
Before they knew it, it was New Year's Day 1996, which happened to be the weekend, resulting in a three-day holiday. It was time for He Ci'en to inspect the renovations, so he went home to pick up He Zhijun and Jing Yan to go and take a look.
I must say, after this renovation, it actually looks quite minimalist. The bathroom sink, toilet, and shower faucet are all installed, and the kitchen still has space for the stove, range hood, and water heater. The cabinets are also installed, with a pure wood feel, which looks quite comfortable.