Chapter 271: Lending Money to Zhang Linlin to Open a Store

The housing prices in Xingfu Community are not high; the unit price is only 1,100 per square meter.

Because she bought an entire unit, Zhang Linlin further reduced the price to 1,000 per square meter.

Twelve apartments: the large ones are 120 square meters, the small ones 100 square meters, totaling 2,640,000.

However, the white-bearded old man's family heard that their housing price was only 120,000 and were somewhat dissatisfied.

"Boss Chen, our neighbors got 200,000 in cash, but here we only get 120,000—this is too unfair, right?"

Chen Yang explained: "This is just a bare shell; the subsequent renovation will still cost money!"

The white-bearded old man's family remained dissatisfied: "Boss Chen, the renovation couldn't possibly cost 80,000, could it?"

Chen Yang thought for a moment and said: "Then I'll give you two options. First option: each household takes 80,000, and I won't worry about further renovation costs. Second option: I'll cover the renovation costs and give you an additional 10,000 living subsidy."

The white-bearded old man's family immediately said: "We want the 80,000."

"Alright, go to the bank later to get a card, and I'll have the company transfer your demolition compensation to the card." Upon hearing they just wanted money, Chen Yang readily agreed.

Seeing Chen Yang willing to compensate 80,000 in cash, the white-bearded old man's family and their neighbors happily went to get bank cards.

"Chen Yang, these people are really stupid! For such a big house, if they want to live comfortably, the renovation costs would surely exceed 80,000," Zhang Linlin said, watching them leave, unable to help laughing.

Chen Yang dared not agree: "Rich people have their own renovation style, poor people have theirs. Let them do it themselves—they might actually save a lot of money."

Hearing this, Zhang Linlin, not understanding, said: "Saving money but living uncomfortably—what good is that?"

Chen Yang, who also endured hardship in his youth, couldn't help but sigh: "In the poor's world, just surviving is already good; who has time to worry about comfort? With this 80,000, if they could save half and use it for a small business, they could sustain their daily livelihood—far happier than working the fields in the countryside."

Zhang Linlin thought for a while and felt Chen Yang made sense. Nowadays in Qingshui City, an ordinary worker's wage is only 400 per month. Without eating or drinking, working hard for sixteen and a half years would be needed to save 80,000. Using this huge sum to start a business would indeed allow a good life.

"Chen Yang, what will you do with the remaining houses?"

"Just leave them for now! Maybe there will be more displaced households needing resettlement later."

Chen Yang has a handful of houses, and he doesn't mind having ten more.

Zhang Linlin hesitated a moment, then gathered courage and said: "Chen Yang, I want to run my own real estate agency. Could you let me act as agent for these houses?"

"Sure!" Chen Yang answered without hesitation. In Qingshui City, walk-up apartments have little appreciation potential; Xingfu Community, this type of resettlement area, has chaotic property management and a complex social environment. In another twenty years it will likely become an old, dilapidated community. If there is no further need for resettlement compensation, he also doesn't plan to hold them long-term.

"Chen Yang, thank you!" Zhang Linlin was very happy and couldn't help but want to give Chen Yang an enthusiastic hug.

"What's there to thank? I also don't plan to hold them long-term. If you can sell them, that's also doing me a favor." Chen Yang waved his hand and asked Zhang Linlin: "Has your shop opened yet? Later I'll introduce you to some business."

"Not yet..." Zhang Linlin said a bit embarrassed: "I just have this idea. Besides selling houses, I have no other skills."

Chen Yang suddenly remembered when he took a taxi into Xingfu Community, seeing at the entrance two closed shopfronts with advertisements for sale. He then told Zhang Linlin: "There are two shopfronts for sale at the community entrance. I suggest you buy them. Opening your own store would save a lot of rent. Even if you don't open a store later, such a well-located shopfront has great appreciation potential."

Zhang Linlin said a bit embarrassed: "Chen Yang, don't joke. As a worker, how could I afford a shopfront?"

Chen Yang still had a good impression of Zhang Linlin and decided to help her. He said: "Let's first ask the price. If the money isn't enough, borrow from me first. When you earn money later, you can slowly repay me."

"Chen Yang, how could I feel good about this..." Zhang Linlin didn't expect Chen Yang to voluntarily lend her money to buy a shopfront; moved, her eyes welled up.

Chen Yang laughed: "We're old classmates; you've also helped me a lot lately. Now that you're in trouble, lending a hand is just natural."

Zhang Linlin still hesitated a bit. The two shopfronts would cost at least several hundred thousand; if Chen Yang's wife found out he lent me so much money, how could she explain it later?

"Chen Yang, this isn't small change! Shouldn't you first discuss it with your sister-in-law?"

"No need." Chen Yang understood Zhang Linlin's worry and explained: "As long as we have no private feelings, she never interferes in financial matters."

Zhang Linlin recalled the embarrassing moment when she first met Lin Wei, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Chen Yang, I'm really embarrassed about what happened last time!"

"It's all in the past; let's just go look at the shopfronts."

Chen Yang didn't want to bring up the past, taking Zhang Linlin to view the shopfronts.

The negotiation went smoothly. The two shopfronts were listed at 300,000; Zhang Linlin counteroffered to 280,000.

Afterwards, Chen Yang took the seller to the nearby ICBC branch of Xingfu Community and paid the money directly.

"Chen Yang, I have 30,000 in this card; I'll withdraw it later and give it to you. The remaining 250,000 I'll give you an IOU for."

"Take that 30,000 for the shopfront renovation first. Repay me slowly when you earn money."

"How could I feel good about this..."

"Friends helping each other is natural; what's there to be embarrassed about. I lend you money because I value your ability to repay. If it were Tang Miaomiao, I wouldn't lend her a single cent."

Hearing this, Zhang Linlin couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Chen Yang, she's your first love. With all this resentment, could it be that you still have feelings for her?"

"Nonsense about a first love!" Chen Yang said angrily: "Don't listen to her nonsense. We never even kissed—how could that be called a first love?"

Zhang Linlin stared blankly. "No way—then what did she say about us?"

Chen Yang asked her: "Do you think a calculating, gold-digging woman would give her body to a poor guy?"

"Probably not." Zhang Linlin had also doubted Tang Miaomiao's words before; now, seeing Chen Yang's expression, she felt the likelihood of him lying was greater.

Just thinking of Tang Miaomiao gave Chen Yang a headache, so he pleaded with Zhang Linlin in a beseeching tone: "Since you're best friends, could you persuade her to change her target? There are plenty of rich people to meet at the bank; I'm not lacking one."

Zhang Linlin shrugged, embarrassed and helpless.

"Chen Yang, I can still help you with other things, but this really isn't possible. We've already fallen out!"

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