Siheyuan: Craftsmen of a Great Country

Chapter 50 Picking out furniture
  "Hey, Xiao Jiang, are you here already?" As he spoke, Uncle Lei arrived.

Jiang Chen said: "I just arrived too."

Uncle Lei said: "Look, if there is anything you are not satisfied with, I can make some minor changes."

Jiang Chen shook his head: "It's already very good. I'm not that picky about where I live."

He mainly prepared for his mother to come, giving priority to getting the toilet and running water, and waiting for her to come to do the rest.

After saying that, he took out one hundred and ten yuan and handed it to Uncle Lei: "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Lei."

Uncle Lei accepted it with a smile: "It should be."

"By the way, a friend of mine is selling off the furniture at home. Do you want to consider it? There are sofas, chairs, coffee tables, cabinets, etc., and they are 70% to 80% new."

"If you want to change furniture, you can consider it. The price of buying new ones is at least several times more expensive, which is not cost-effective."

Jiang Chen took a look at the pitiful pieces of furniture. Even if they were put back, they would still be a bit empty:

"Are you coming from the right place?"

Uncle Lei smiled and said, "I know you are at work. If there is something questionable about its origin, your Uncle Lei will never recommend it to you."

Jiang Chen nodded: "Okay, let's go and have a look."

Uncle Lei nodded: "Okay, I'll take you to see it first."

"Xiaojie, look at these things first, don't move them in, otherwise it will be difficult to clean up later."

Uncle Lei took Jiang Chen and walked for half an hour before arriving at the destination.

The things have been packed up and placed on the road outside the house.

Two large solid wood wardrobes, two chairs with hand guards, three single sofas, one double sofa, two small coffee tables, and a large dining table.

There are also a bunch of other pots, pans, and the like.

Uncle Lei shouted at the door: "Lao San, come out."

Soon the third child came out: "Brother Lei, you're back so soon. Have you finished settling the bill over there?"

Uncle Lei nodded: "It's over, Nuo, this is the boss, upright. He has just renovated the house and wants to change some furniture, so I will take him to see it."

The third child had a smile on his face: "Okay, my boss, what do you want to buy?"

Jiang Chen looked around and found that they were all useful: "All together, how much does it cost?"

Uncle Lei said: "Oh, third child, this will save you a lot of trouble."

The third child took a look at his things and began to settle accounts.

After a long time, he said: "These things add up to more than one hundred and fifty at the current price, but I am going to the south soon. I am leaving in a hurry. I will give you a discount of 20% and you can take it."

Uncle Lei frowned and drank: "Whatever it is, it's only 120. This is my eldest nephew. Please explain it to me."

The third child said: "Brother, I did not quote randomly. Look at my wardrobe and chairs. They are all made of solid wood. Although they are not expensive wood, the price is not low."

"There are also these sofas, the prices now start at ten yuan. There are also bowls and basins, which also cost a lot of money."

"Well, since he's your nephew, let's put it together, one hundred yuan, one hundred yuan, right?"

Uncle Lei walked around the furniture again: "This chair of yours seems to be made of solid wood, but in fact it has no use except as a sink. You have the nerve to tell me it's expensive."

"And this sofa, I'm afraid it's all soft. If you really want to use it when you take it home, you'll have to repair it. How dare you settle the money with my nephew for those pots and pans of yours?"

"Let's do it like this. I'll give you a price. We'll find a car to pull it for 60 yuan. With this distance, I'm afraid the fare will cost several yuan."

Someone helped negotiate the price, and Jiang Chen was happy to stand by and watch.

The third child's face changed: "Brother Lei, you are too cruel."

Uncle Lei said: "Everyone's life is so hard now, and there are only a few people who have spare money to buy these gadgets from you. If you don't sell them today, you will have to throw them away as garbage when you leave in two days."

"Just 60, you can do whatever you want."

The third child gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Lei, even if it's for your sake, this is too low. How about more?"

Uncle Lei thought for a while: "66, I hope you will be successful in Liuliu in the south, right?"

The third child took a deep breath: "Brother Lei has helped me a lot before, okay, I'll give Brother Lei some face, 66."

Jiang Chen readily took out the money and gave him the money. Uncle Lei made some calculations and found three carts before transporting all the things.

When they arrived at the courtyard, the three cart masters, together with Uncle Lei and his son, and Jiang Chen, unloaded the furniture and placed it in the room.

Uncle Lei pointed to the furniture outside and said, "What do you want to do with it?"

With the new furniture, Jiang Chen no longer looked down on the pile of old things outside: "Throw it away?"

"By the way, if you guys like anything, take it away!"

I picked out all the useful things and took them back, and gave the rest to a few cart pullers.

Uncle Lei doesn’t need it anyway.

The masters were overjoyed. After discussing, they divided the things, loaded them into their cars, and left happily.

The home has a brand new look and looks much more comfortable.

Seeing the time difference, Jiang Chen stopped reading: "Let's go to the state-owned hotel, let's have a drink."

Uncle Lei did a good job. Lei Jie stayed here for a week. Both father and son worked hard today. If they were paid, it would be a bit disrespectful, so Jiang Chen wanted to treat them to a meal.

Uncle Lei waved his hand and said, "No, no, I've made some food at home, and I'll eat it when I get home."

"You just renovated the house and bought furniture. It cost a lot of money. It would be better to save some money if you can."

Speaking of money, Jiang Chen really doesn't have much money now.

When I came to Sijiu City, I brought more than 700 yuan with me, all of which I had saved in previous years.

I just arrived and bought food stamps for a big purchase, which cost me a small two hundred dollars.

It cost more than 300 yuan to install the house and furniture. Including the salary paid in September, I only have more than 200 yuan in my pocket.

But there’s nothing to spend a lot of money on later, so it’s enough.

Besides, more than two hundred yuan is really not a small amount.

Jiang Chen said: "Uncle Lei, why are you so polite to me? I haven't bought groceries today, so there won't be any fire at home. If you don't go, I have to go out to eat alone."

Uncle Lei pondered for a moment, then looked at his son: "That's it, eat whatever you want, don't order too much."

One meat, one vegetable, one soup, one peanut, and a bottle of wine.

During the dinner, Uncle Lei said: "After October, the temperature will drop very fast. It may snow when the temperature drops. By then, cooking and heating will be inseparable from briquettes."

"I see that you have prepared some briquettes, but I suggest you prepare more. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to transport them when it snows. It will be troublesome."

Although Sijiucheng has been vigorously promoting briquettes since 57, now people still use briquettes more for cooking and heating.

Jiang Chen nodded: "I have nothing to do this afternoon, so I will buy some to prepare."

Uncle Lei said: "How about letting Xiaojie help you?"

Jiang Chen waved his hand: "Xiaojie has been here for a week and hasn't slept well, so let's go back and rest."

"When the time comes, I'll just ask the truck master to help me move it."

Uncle Lei nodded: "Alright."

The few of them drank, ate, and chatted.

Jiang Chen had a good impression of Uncle Lei.

Uncle Lei is reliable, sincere and never makes things difficult for others.

For example, he said intentionally or unintentionally in front of Jiang Chen that Lei Jie was reliable, and he also hoped that the leader Luo Xue said would consider his son's work issues when he had the opportunity.

But he would never say it out loud to avoid embarrassing others.

Instead, try your best to think about Jiang Chen, handle things related to him beautifully, and create a good relationship.

If this kind of person is still around in 20 years, he will definitely be doing well.

Even now, he will definitely be able to help if something really happens.

As for Lei Jie, this guy is really down-to-earth in his work, and Jiang Chen doesn't mind mentioning him when he has the opportunity.

(End of this chapter)