After painstaking effort, measuring, drawing, and replanning for the Xiong family...
Introducing renovation styles that were at least five years ahead of their time in northern rural areas, and he was still expected to pay out of his own pocket?
Such an action would be impossible for any mortal with even a shred of self-interest, unless they were a Bodhisattva descended to earth.
Was Qin Chuan a Bodhisattva descended to earth?
Obviously not. After all his efforts, why would he pay out of his own pocket?
“Uncle, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I was just about to talk to you about this!”
Qin Chuan said to Xiong Lianshan.
“For your new house renovation this time, I have two plans. This first one is the one I’m talking about now!”
Qin Chuan pointed to the renovation rendering in his notebook and explained patiently.
“Although it will cost a little more, I guarantee the effect will be absolutely top-notch. Once the renovation is successful, it will surely bring your family boundless glory and make you the envy of everyone in the surrounding villages!”
As he spoke, Qin Chuan carefully observed the expressions of Xiong Lianshan and his son.
Xiong Lianshan’s face remained impassive, but Xiong Dongmao was far less composed, his breathing quickening, clearly tempted!
Qin Chuan continued, “The second option is to stick with what my father and your family previously agreed upon: old-fashioned doors and windows, large old wooden chests, tables, and stools. Of course, the cost remains the same!”
“The choice is entirely yours. I’m just offering an opinion…”
As Qin Chuan finished speaking, the room fell silent, and the faces of Xiong Lianshan and his son flickered with indecision.
Qin Chuan didn’t rush, and continued working with his elder brothers.
However, even as he worked, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, recalling past events.
1998 was indeed a very special year.
That year, the Asian financial crisis erupted, there was a great flood, and a bumper grain harvest…
But the most significant event was the abolition of the welfare housing system, which ushered in an era of fully commercialized housing.
The stagnant real estate market, which had been in decline for years, erupted like a volcano, and the real estate boom truly arrived, creating countless millionaires overnight and causing wealth to skyrocket.
In his previous life, Qin Chuan ran a furniture store, an industry that was a branch of real estate, with a very close connection.
Many times, Qin Chuan lamented that if he had invested the same energy in real estate as he did in his furniture store, his wealth would have at least multiplied tenfold!
Unfortunately, he had missed the real estate boom back then, and by the time he wanted to get involved, it was already too late.
Now, reborn, Qin Chuan of course would not let slip the real estate boom again. He wanted to be the pig standing in the wind.
Qin Chuan recalled that the government would officially announce the abolition of the welfare housing policy in July, leaving him with little time, only six months!
To get a share of the pie, he had to build his own team within these six months and seize the great opportunity.
The renovation of the village chief’s new house was actually all within Qin Chuan’s plan.
He was not just helping his family, but also using it as a breakthrough, creating a benchmark, which was the ‘show flat’ approach consistently used in later real estate.
Qin Chuan believed that with his skills, his experience from later generations, and his aesthetic sense, the village chief’s house, once renovated, would surely cause a stir in the surrounding villages.
At that time, wealthy families would proactively approach him to help renovate their homes, and business would come knocking on his door.
Don’t underestimate rural areas; often, people in the countryside are more prone to comparison than those in big cities.
When any couple earned a little more, it would attract the envy of many, let alone a significant matter like renovating a new house, which concerned face!
“Xiao Chuan, tell me, if we go with your new renovation design, how much more will it cost?”
As Qin Chuan’s thoughts were soaring, Xiong Dongmao’s voice suddenly interrupted, startling him.
“This… this… I haven’t calculated it carefully yet, so I can’t give you an exact figure!”
Qin Chuan came back to his senses, showing a hint of embarrassment.
He genuinely didn’t know, as so many years had passed, and he had forgotten the prices of that era. It was difficult to say too much or too little.
Xiong Dongmao was stunned, seemingly not expecting such an answer from Qin Chuan.
“Qin Yang! Qin Yang!!”
Just as the atmosphere in the room was becoming slightly awkward, hurried shouts, accompanied by the sound of frantic running, suddenly came from the courtyard outside.
Qin Chuan immediately recognized the voice as his eldest sister-in-law, Wu Yanyan. His eldest brother, Qin Yang, had already strode out.
“What’s wrong, wife?”
Qin Yang asked.
“Qin Yang, it’s bad! Our dad suddenly has a high fever and is shivering all over. Mom sent me to call you!”
In the courtyard, Wu Yanyan said with a look of anxiety, her eyes glistening with tears.
“What?!”
Qin Chuan and Qin Gang, who were in the house, turned pale and immediately jumped out, running towards home as if their tails were on fire. They completely forgot about the Xiong family father and son!
Nothing was more important than their old father’s health right now…
When the three brothers rushed home, they saw their mother, Jiang Cuihua, standing by the bed, tears streaming down her face, looking haggard.
On the dining table were half-eaten meals, clearly indicating that Qin Shuren had suddenly fallen ill halfway through breakfast.
“Dad!!”
Qin Chuan and his two brothers quickly rushed to the bedside, looking at Qin Shuren lying there.
In less than half an hour, Qin Shuren’s face was flushed red, his body was trembling, beads of sweat the size of soybeans were continuously appearing on his forehead in the middle of winter, and his consciousness was beginning to blur.
Qin Chuan reached out and touched his forehead, then quickly withdrew his finger. It felt like touching a furnace, incredibly hot!
“Second brother, quickly start the three-wheeled vehicle and take Dad to the hospital!”
Qin Chuan shouted to Qin Gang, who immediately ran out without delay.
“It’s all my fault, all my fault!”
“Last night, your dad had a fever. He refused to go to the hospital and told me to use a hot towel to cool him down!”
“So I followed his instructions. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out like this…”
Jiang Cuihua continuously wiped away tears, crying inconsolably, filled with self-reproach and guilt.
“Mom, don’t worry yet! Dad will be alright!”
Qin Yang comforted her.
Qin Chuan’s heart felt like it was being squeezed, and he clenched his fists tightly.
This situation was all too obvious. The old couple had wanted to save money!
After all, the old Qin family was depleted of funds, and every little bit saved was a gain.
This was almost a ingrained mindset of the older generation; no family was an exception.
Rural people couldn’t afford to get sick; a serious illness could change the fate of an entire family…
“Mom, it’s not your fault. The most important thing now is to get Dad to the hospital!”
Qin Chuan said, “You immediately prepare bedding and a change of clothes. It’s very cold in the three-wheeled vehicle, you must not let Dad catch another cold!”
“Okay, okay, I’ll pack right away!”
Jiang Cuihua quickly began to pack. A few minutes later, Qin Shuren was loaded onto the three-wheeled vehicle.
“Mom, you don’t need to go. We three brothers are here. You wait at home for good news!”
Qin Chuan stopped his mother from getting on the vehicle.
“How can that be? Even though you three are brothers, you are all men. How would you know how to take care of someone?”
Jiang Cuihua became anxious, looking as if she absolutely had to go.
“Then eldest brother, you don’t need to go. If we all leave, our sister-in-law will be home alone with the child, and we won’t be at ease.”
Seeing that he couldn’t dissuade his mother, Qin Chuan spoke up decisively.
Qin Yang hesitated, glanced at his wife, and finally jumped off the vehicle with a determined look. He then pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and directly shoved it into Qin Chuan’s hand.
“Take it. If it’s not enough, call Aunt Guihua from the village. I’ll find a way to get more money!”
Looking at the wad of cash in his hand, which even included change and small bills, Qin Chuan’s veins bulged on the back of his hand. He knew that this was likely eldest brother Qin Yang’s entire savings…