Chapter 199: Civilization Real Estate Agency

This is that kind of, uh, how should I put it?

Festive clothes.

It's bright red—if this were a retro trend that started in later times, it'd be called fashionable, but nowadays everyone follows Western style; Jiang Yunxiang's outfit clearly shows she's from the countryside.

Seeing Ye Cheng's strange look, Jiang Yunxiang felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Um, I only wear this outfit for holidays—there shouldn't be any problem, right?"

Ye Cheng really wanted to say there was an issue—just wear anything—but seeing the sister-in-law's expectant look, he forced a smile: "Sister-in-law, it's fine, Dou Dou, we're about to head out."

Jiang Yunxiang was going out, so Dou Dou would definitely follow.

"Oh, I forgot to wake Dou Dou up—he hasn't had breakfast yet."

After saying that, she turned and went inside to call her son.

Ye Cheng looked speechless—women really are different when it comes to dressing up.

"Sister-in-law, skip breakfast—we'll eat in the city later," Ye Cheng shouted through the door curtain.

"Ah, that... that works, sister-in-law will treat you to breakfast," Jiang Yunxiang said, waking Dou Dou and dressing him in the outfit she had picked out the night before—also only worn for holidays.

Dou Dou was still a bit groggy from waking up, so Ye Cheng carried him over to Li Yong's.

Along the way, several older sisters-in-law saw Jiang Yunxiang like this and each curiously asked,

"Sister-in-law Ye, dressing so nicely—are you planning to go to the city?"

Whenever someone asked, Jiang Yunxiang would deliberately slow her pace and explain with a smile,

"Ah, my A Cheng is going to the city to buy a house—I'm just coming along to have a look."

"Buying a house in the city—how impressive."

"Yes, he's doing well now, and he even said he wants to buy a place for Dou Dou to use for school."

"Oh, then Dou Dou can go to school in the city—getting into university will be a breeze."

"Hahaha, hopefully."

Listening to the neighbors' flattery, Jiang Yunxiang was overjoyed.

Ye Cheng could only follow along, smiling the whole way; at this pace it wouldn't take half an hour, and likely the whole village would find out.

After finally arriving at Li Yong's, Jiang Yunxiang suddenly saw Xiao Hu there and curiously asked, "Is he also going to buy a house?"

"Sister-in-law, he's just coming along to look around—I'm bringing him to see the world."

Xiao Hu is my own brother; if he follows me, he'll surely succeed too, so I should take him out more to gain experience.

Jiang Yunxiang sat in the front passenger seat, Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu squeezed Dou Dou into the middle of the back seat, and the carload of people set off.

After entering the city, Ye Cheng had Li Yong find a place to park so Jiang Yunxiang and Dou Dou could eat breakfast, and he had a bit himself.

City breakfasts offer many varieties, including xiaolongbao and the like.

Pine‑needle xiaolongbao—not only meat fragrance but also a unique pine‑needle scent; Dou Dou ate a whole basket by himself and was completely satisfied.

"How are the xiaolongbao, tasty?" Ye Cheng handed Dou Dou a napkin to wipe the oil from the corner of his mouth.

"Delicious, Uncle Er—much better than Mom's steamed buns."

This kid speaks bluntly—he obviously hasn't been beaten up by society yet—so Ye Cheng quickly corrected him.

"Mom's cooking is love‑filled breakfast; it's different—this isn't healthy, Mom's version is healthy, got it?"

"But it's not tasty," Dou Dou said, eyes wide open.

Ye Cheng closed his eyes, sighing, "Forget it, little treasure—Uncle Er can't save you; with your comprehension, you'll have plenty of hardship ahead."

Eat enough bitterness, and when you grow up you won't need to toil.

Ye Cheng this time plans to buy a school‑district house for Donghai No. 1 Elementary.

Donghai No. 1 Elementary is on Civilization Road, with several apartment buildings nearby—of course not the kind of commercial housing referred to in later times; they're just apartment buildings, i. e., the old, run‑down small complexes that later generations call.

After dropping off the four, Li Yong drove off, still having cargo to haul.

After getting out of the car, Jiang Yunxiang looked at the gate of Donghai No. 1 Elementary, hardly believing her eyes as she looked at Ye Cheng.

"A Cheng, Dou Dou will really be able to study here."

"Ah, buying the house is enough—let's go, let's see if there's an agency nearby."

Ye Cheng casually walked into a convenience store, bought a pack of cigarettes, and immediately learned that a real‑estate agency was just a short walk ahead.

The real‑estate agency industry grew alongside commercial housing; in later times the few big agencies basically monopolized the second‑hand housing listings, so ordinary people looking to buy or rent turn to agencies.

Moreover, because agencies charge fees based on transaction price, the industry has also produced many top‑salespeople earning over ten thousand a month.

The four walked along the road; along the way, people kept glancing at Jiang Yunxiang, secretly laughing, making her extremely embarrassed.

"A Cheng, is it that my clothes look bad?"

Ye Cheng thought to himself, it's not that they look bad—they're just a bit too eye‑catching; he and Xiao Hu had just thrown on some slippers, a little sloppy but still normal.

Jiang Yunxiang really is a bit exaggerated.

"Um, sister‑in‑law, it's that your clothes look nice—they've never seen anything like it and want to look twice," Ye Cheng said, telling a lie to spare Jiang Yunxiang embarrassment.

"Ah, city folks have never seen our clothes like this?"

"That's right—yours are all handmade, theirs are factory‑made, worlds apart."

After chatting a bit, we arrived at the agency, whose name is straightforward—just called Civilization Real Estate Agency, a tiny shop with various ads posted on the door, inside a few agents were on the phone.

As soon as the four entered, the agents sized them up from head to toe, but none came over to greet them.

In this line of work, having seen countless people, just looking at Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu like that, plus Jiang Yunxiang's outfit, it's obvious they're from the countryside with little purchasing power—coming here would be a pure waste of time.

Seeing no one attend to him, Ye Cheng went straight to an idle older sister—actually just in her thirties—and stepped forward to speak.

"Hello, we'd like to look at some houses."

The older sister gave Ye Cheng a once‑over with her snobbish eyes and drawled, "There's a posting at the door—you can look yourselves."

This attitude—damn, Ye Cheng's mouth twitched; are you still indulging yourself?

"What's this attitude? Is this how you act as an agent?"

The older sister rolled her eyes, just about to speak, when she saw a decently dressed middle-aged couple walk in at the door; her expression changed instantly, she shoved Ye Cheng aside and rushed over, warmly greeting,

"Ya, Zhao Ge, you've come, are you planning to buy something today?"

The man smiled slightly, "I brought my wife to have a look, to learn more."

"Oh yay, sister-in-law's here, come, sit, let me tell you guys."

Ye Cheng frowned, this damn, they know you're snobbish—it's too obvious.

He grabbed the older sister and said, "We were here first, shouldn't you greet us first?"