Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 33: Buying a Large Compound

The older brother’s name was Li Yingchun—it sounded like a woman’s name. It wasn’t that he’d changed his surname after marrying into the family; his original surname had always been Li. He was in his forties, of medium build, a bit on the chubby side, with a steady disposition, and always wore a cheerful expression. Mu Dong quickly called out, “Big Brother,” then handed him a cigarette and lit it for him. The two of them stood in the courtyard smoking and chatting. At the noon meal, Mu Dong told his in-laws and his brother-in-law about his plan to get married on May Day, and everyone agreed. With only this youngest daughter left to marry off, once her wedding was over, the elderly couple would have fulfilled their duty to their children for this lifetime. His older brother was also very pleased with Mu Dong—the young man was handsome, polite to others, and now so capable. His younger sister had good taste; she’d set her sights on her future husband many years ago. After lunch, Mu Dong and Xiao Xiao left together. Before they left, Mrs. Li quietly asked Xiao Xiao, “Are you still going with Little Mu to his place?” Xiao Xiao blushed slightly and replied, “Mom, Mu Dong is teaching me how to drive. Haven’t you forgotten that I drove us home before the New Year? Mu Dong said he’ll buy me a car once I’ve learned.” “Really?” Mrs. Li was a little surprised. “Go on, go on. Make sure you learn well.” Xiao Xiao pouted slightly, thinking to herself, “She’s just giving her daughter away for a car.” The Li family watched as Xiao Xiao sat in the driver’s seat and slowly drove away, their hearts filled with joy. When Mrs. Li brought up the car at just the right moment, their joy turned into sheer delight. The two headed home first. Mu Dong told his parents they’d already registered their marriage and pulled out the bright red marriage certificate to show them. His parents were both delighted; his mother was so moved she nearly shed a tear. They then returned to the yard. Mu Dong told Xiao Xiao to go practice driving on her own while he looked around and went back to his office. The yard had been open for three days, and drivers had been trickling in to load their trucks. Before the Spring Festival, many drivers had received a case of liquor from Boss Mu, and on their return trip, they brought some local specialties from the south, saying they were for Boss Mu to try. Boss Mu mused that while people often say morals are declining, in reality, one heart can still be touched by another. Mr. Mu couldn’t possibly eat all of these treats himself, so aside from keeping a little for his own use, he distributed the rest among his relatives and workers. And so, the joy and gratitude were passed on. On the evening of the ninth day of the first lunar month, Mu Dong checked the figures: since reopening after the New Year, he had sold a total of 25 truckloads of sand—700 cubic meters—with sales totaling 35,000 yuan. Mr. Mu reflected that, as the saying goes, “On the 3rd, 6th, and 9th of the lunar month, business picks up.” He estimated that starting tomorrow, sales at the yard would gradually pick up, and by the 16th day of the first lunar month, they would return to normal. In early March, as temperatures rise and the northern regions thaw, construction projects across the country will resume normal operations. At that time, sales would reach their peak, and prices should rise again. Now that he has some capital on hand, he can consider starting a willow storage operation. Storing willow branches isn’t as simple as storing sand—sand can just be piled anywhere, but willow branches must be kept indoors and protected from moisture and fire, which requires a dedicated warehouse. “How should I handle the warehouse?” Mu Dong wondered. There are two options: either rent one or build one himself. Building one would be too much trouble, so he’d better rent one. Mu Dong called his third uncle and Mu Huafeng, inviting them to the yard for a drink so he could ask them if there were any warehouses for rent in the nearby towns. After thinking it over, he also called his eldest aunt and asked her to look around the county seat to see if there were any suitable warehouses available. That evening, Uncle Mu San and Mu Huafeng arrived at the yard. Joined by Zhong Guodong, Mu Daguo, and a few others, they drank and chatted together. Xiao Xiao stayed for a while, but as she couldn’t stand the smoke, Mu Dong told her to drive home and rest. Mu Dong then brought up his plan to rent a warehouse and mentioned that he wanted to buy some willow branches. As for why he wanted to buy them, Mu Dong explained that a big-time businessman in Quancheng wanted to sell them to other regions. Well, everyone knows that Mu Dong has a big boss backing him. Mu Huafeng actually thought of a suitable location: the town’s old elementary school. The old elementary school in Tanzhuang Town was built in 1993 and covered an area of about six or seven mu. At the time, this three-story school building was the finest structure in town. Back then, children like Mu Dong, who attended village elementary schools housed in tiled-roof buildings, looked forward most to going to the town elementary school every Children’s Day to watch the cultural performances—that way, they could see the beautiful school building. Over the past decade or so, as the number of school-age children in rural areas has declined, education authorities have consolidated some rural elementary schools and established a type of school known as the “rural nine-year integrated system,” which combines middle and elementary schools under one roof. Last September, the town’s elementary and middle schools moved together to the newly constructed campus, leaving the old town elementary school vacant. After the town’s elementary school was left vacant, it was put up for public sale. Ordinary villagers couldn’t afford such a large property, while businesses weren’t interested in the rural setting. Furthermore, transportation near the school was poor—there was only a dirt road—so it remained unsold. Last November, several townships were incorporated into the development zone, and the land suddenly became state-owned. As a result, the school building became even harder to sell—why? Because the price went up! Originally, the asking price for the six or seven mu of land—plus a small building that was over a decade old—was 1 million yuan. After it was incorporated into the development zone, the price jumped straight to 1. 5 million yuan. A few business owners from the city did come to take a look, but after seeing the dense cluster of residential houses surrounding the school and the terrible dirt road in front of it, they frowned and walked away. “This rundown place,” they said, “we can’t run a polluting business here—the local residents would definitely object. And we can’t run a large-scale business either—the area is too small.” So the school building became a liability. Shortly before the Spring Festival, with the town’s finances tight, word was put out: 1. 3 million—anyone who arranged a sale would receive a 20,000 reward—but it still didn’t sell. Mu Huafeng learned about the school building around that time; as village chief, he received a notice from the town asking him to assist with the sale. Seeing that it wasn’t selling, the town put out another rumor after the Spring Festival: it could be leased for 50,000 yuan a year. They had no choice—even a little is better than nothing. With the town’s finances tight, every bit helps. Mu Dong had fond memories of the school—it had been the place of his childhood dreams—so he said he’d go take a look the next day. As long as the building was sound, he planned to rent it. The next morning, Mu Dong drove to town with Xiao Xiao and Mu Huafeng. Mu Huafeng contacted the town official in charge of rentals, and together they headed to the former town elementary school. As soon as he spotted the school building in the distance, Mu Dong couldn’t help but let out a sigh. The building that had seemed so tall when he was a child now looked so low and forlorn. The dirt road leading to the school gate was bumpy and uneven; the Audi’s undercarriage scraped the ground from time to time, making a hissing sound. This dirt road was about 1,000 meters from the nearest paved road, yet it took the Audi nearly 10 minutes to cover that distance—it was practically scraping its way along inch by inch. Once through the school gate, the guardhouse from his childhood memories was still there, as were the towering plane trees—though their leaves had all fallen, leaving the ground desolate. A cold wind blew, and the branches whimpered in the gust. As I approached the building, I saw that it wasn’t very large, with six classrooms on each floor. The building was constructed of reinforced concrete, and its main structure was in excellent condition; not a single flake of cement had chipped off the exterior walls. It had remained in regular use until just last year. For a building constructed in the 1990s, the quality was still quite good. Stepping into the hallway, however, the scene became a sight to make one shudder. Most of the windows were broken, and the floor was littered with shards of glass and dust; in some rooms, the doors and windows had even been pried off their hinges. As we walked further in, a pungent, foul odor wafted from deep within the hallway—there were actually urine stains and feces! Xiao Xiao couldn’t stand it anymore and ran out. Mu Dong pinched his nose and walked up the stairs to the third floor, staring blankly at the tall high-voltage power line tower in the distance. In this condition, how could it possibly be sold? How could it possibly be rented out? Maybe in a few years it might sell—but at the very least, the road in front of it would have to be fixed first. Wait a minute, this road in front of the house… Mu Dong glanced again at the high-voltage transmission tower in the distance. Something wasn’t right—in his memories from another timeline, the road behind that tower had already been paved! Mu Dong’s heart began to race—he’d overlooked it. When he first returned through the time portal, he’d been scouring the streets and alleys of Quancheng, comparing his memories and searching for opportunities, but how had he failed to consider the possibilities right here in his hometown? Mu Dong’s mind raced. The road in front of his house must have been paved with asphalt later on and extended in both directions—to the west all the way to the West River embankment, and to the east all the way to the East River embankment, passing right through Mu Village in the middle. In that other timeline, after Mu Dong bought a car, he had taken this very road when he returned for the Spring Festival one year. He just couldn’t remember now what had become of that school back then, nor could he recall in which year this road had been paved. Mu Dong suppressed the pounding of his heart and immediately decided: he wouldn’t rent it—he’d buy it. Whether he sold it after it appreciated in value or kept it for his own use, this place held enormous potential. Though he was pleased inside, he still had to put on a show. Mu Dong came downstairs with a frown, handed a cigarette each to Mu Huafeng and the town government official, and said, “Director Zhou, this house really isn’t all that great.” Director Zhou was the office director of the town government and the person in charge of this school building transaction. The town mayor had said that as long as the property was sold, the introducer would receive 20,000, and he would get 10,000. Director Zhou knew the building wasn’t in great shape either. He sighed and said, “The town hasn’t assigned anyone to look after it, so it’s a bit of a mess. But with a little tidying up, it’ll still be usable.” Mu Dong replied, “It’s true it’s passable, but sprucing it up is too much trouble. If I go to all that trouble to fix it up, rent it out for a year or two, and then someone else rents it afterward, they’ll be getting a real bargain. How about this, Director Zhou? Give me a discount, and I’ll buy it. Once I’m done using it, I’ll rent it out myself and make a little money off it.” Upon hearing he wanted to buy it, the group stared at Mu Dong in surprise. Xiao Xiao found it strange—the place was so filthy; what was the point of buying it? Director Zhou and Mu Huafeng were thrilled. Buy it? Really? Doesn’t that mean I’ll make 20,000 (10,000) yuan? Seeing everyone staring at him in surprise, Mu Dong took a drag on his cigarette and said with feigned gravitas, “Director Zhou, to be honest with you, I went to elementary school in Mu Village. Back then, I was so envious of the kids at the town’s elementary school—they got to have class in a big building. To a kid, that place was like a palace. Also, look at these French plane trees—I loved them when I was a kid, and I’m glad they’re still here.” Mu Dong paused, took a drag on his cigarette, and continued, “Now that I see my old ‘palace’ has turned into this, to be honest, it breaks my heart. I’d like to buy it, restore it properly, and bring it back to its former glory. But I don’t have much money, and at the current price, I simply can’t afford it. Do you think you could ask your superiors for a reasonable discount?” As Mu Dong spoke, he became so moved that his eyes reddened, and he was on the verge of tears. Deep down, he couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of self-contempt. The others, however, were genuinely moved. So this was all about a childhood dream! How noble! Director Zhou said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Mu. Let’s head back together now, and I’ll report this to the town mayor right away!” So the group headed back to the town government office. Director Zhou settled the group in the reception room and immediately went to the mayor’s office, where he recounted what had just happened with great emotion and conviction. The town mayor’s surname was Hu; he was in his fifties. Mayor Hu was also somewhat moved, but a sliver of doubt lingered in his heart, so he decided to meet Mr. Mu in person. The moment he laid eyes on Mr. Mu, Mayor Hu began to believe him. A young man in his twenties—the very age when one is full of passion and dreams—so when such words came from this young man’s mouth, they were likely true. If Mu Dong had been a dozen or so years older, Mayor Hu wouldn’t have believed in such passion. Mayor Hu smiled and greeted Mu Dong: “You must be Mr. Mu, right?” He then extended his hand. Mu Dong quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “Hello, Town Manager Hu. You’re my senior, so just call me ‘Little Mu.’ ” Town Manager Hu’s confidence grew a little more—that modesty was typical of a young person. So he cut to the chase without further ado. “Director Zhou just told me everything. Our current quote is 1. 3 million. What are your thoughts, Mr. Mu…?” Mu Dong replied, “Town Manager Hu, my financial capacity is somewhat limited; I only have about 1 million in funds.” He didn’t mention how much he wanted to pay, but only stated how much he actually had. Township Chief Hu said, “The 1 million price was indeed publicly announced—but that was before the development zone was designated. To stick to that price now would be far too low…” Mu Dong fell silent, saying nothing. Town Mayor Hu pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, “Never mind. It’s rare to find someone with such passion; I shouldn’t scare him off.” “Never mind. The town appreciates Little Mu’s sentiment. Here’s what we’ll do: let’s be a little down-to-earth about it. 1. 08 million—if that works for you. We can sign the contract right now and complete the paperwork this afternoon.” Mu Dong knew the timing was just right. The extra 80,000 was a matter of saving face for the town. So he said happily, “I’m fine with that. Thank you, Town Manager Hu.” This time, his joy was genuine—not an act. Town Mayor Hu then turned to Director Zhou and Mu Huafeng and said, “The town supports Young Mu, so you two should show your support as well. We’ll cut the bonus in half—is that okay?” The two men nodded eagerly, “No problem, no problem.” How could they possibly object? Saying they wouldn’t give it at all—what could they do about it? Half was already quite a lot. Town Mayor Hu continued, “Then let Director Zhou help you with the paperwork. I have other business to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.” With that, he stood up and left. Director Zhou hurried off to prepare the contract, and Mu Dong quickly followed him out. In the hallway, he whispered to Director Zhou, “Director Zhou, thank you for your trouble. I won’t let you lose out on anything.” Director Zhou gave Mu Dong a satisfied look and walked away briskly. The contract was printed out quickly. Both parties signed it, and the town government affixed its official seal. Mu Dong then went to the bank to transfer the funds to the town government’s account. Immediately afterward, both parties headed to the District Bureau of Land and Resources to submit the land transfer documents. If all goes smoothly, in another 15 days, after the online public notice period is complete, they’ll be able to formally complete the transfer and receive the land title deed. By the time everything was finished, it was already noon, so Mu Dong treated everyone to lunch in the district. During the meal, Mu Dong discreetly slipped a red envelope containing 10,000 yuan to Director Zhou. Mu Dong knew that Mu Huafeng’s bonus was 20,000 yuan, so he assumed Director Zhou’s would be the same amount. Since the town mayor had cut it in half, he naturally made up the difference himself. If he’d known that Director Zhou’s bonus was originally only 10,000 yuan, Boss Mu would probably have been a little bummed out for a while. For Director Zhou, this was a complete and pleasant surprise—taking this money felt absolutely wonderful, didn’t it? When he returned home that afternoon, Mu Dong gathered his family together and first told them about the purchase of the town’s elementary school’s old building. Then, paying no heed to their stunned expressions, he quickly assigned several tasks. First, Tan Jiaming was in charge of repairing the dirt road leading from the school gate to the paved road. He was to use a crawler tractor to level and compact the ground, then purchase several truckloads of coal slag, spread it over the surface, compact it again, and finally sprinkle a layer of sand on top. This road absolutely had to be wide and smooth. He was to apply to Mu Xiaoxia for the necessary funds. Second, Mu’s father and her second uncle were to immediately hire a group of workers to clean the courtyard and the building, repair doors and windows, install glass, paint the interior walls, and inspect and repair electrical circuits. They were to apply to Mu Xiaoxia for the necessary funds. Third, contact a professional exterior painting company to paint the building’s exterior walls. With new owners, the building should have a fresh new look. 4. All of the above tasks, except for the exterior wall painting, must be completed within one week. After Boss Mu made his arrangements, everyone took their orders and left. Xiao Xiao stared at Mu Dong, somewhat dazed. She had witnessed everything that had happened today. She had never realized that this young man, who had always been so thoughtful and considerate, had grown into such a decisive and reliable leader. Seeing how the workers—including Mu Dad—quickly took their orders and set off, Xiao Xiao thought to herself, Mu Dong is so cool! They had originally planned to rent a place, but ended up buying a courtyard. Well, then, let’s go all out. Now that they had the space, Mu Dong planned to register a handicrafts company right away. That way, when they bought willow branches, they’d have a solid excuse—they were buying them for their own use, after all—and no one could say a word against it. There was no rush to register the company; they’d wait until the land title was issued. Next up was sourcing the willow branches. There was no specialized market for willow branches; they were mainly traded between farmers and small vendors. Additionally, during major rural fairs, several townships would set up small trading areas. Therefore, they had to focus on two approaches: first, purchasing directly at the markets, and second, encouraging vendors and farmers to bring their goods to them. In the end, Mu Dong abandoned the idea of buying at the markets—it was too labor-intensive—and instead decided to promote his business at the markets and wait for vendors and farmers to come to him. With funding secured, a location secured, and the procurement method finalized, it was time to break ground as soon as possible. Mu Dong approached his father again, insisting that the first floor of the building be cleared out as a priority within three days—it didn’t need to be painted just yet, as he needed it urgently. Then, Mu Dong went to the town’s print shop, where he supervised the design of a colorful flyer on the spot and arranged to pick it up the next day. That evening, Xiao Xiao—who was head over heels in love—finally moved into Mu Dong’s room. After all, they were already legally married, so let people say what they will. The two spent a blissful night together.