Chapter 12: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 12 Only Public Housing Can Return to the Rebuilt Site

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Mom, don't be anxious first."

Aunt Da acted swiftly and decisively, taking off her apron and saying she'd go right then: "I'm going to Director Zhang's at the Neighborhood Committee right now to find out exactly what's going on."

"Eldest Sister, wait for me, I'll go with you."

Uncle watched them leave, took a flashlight from the inner room, lifted the curtain, and rushed out after them.

The room fell quiet, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

The younger ones didn't dare make noise anymore, helped clear the bowls and chopsticks, sat side by side on horse stools, and honestly watched television.

—

Director Zhang of the Donghua Street Neighborhood Committee was a warm-hearted older sister, about the same age as Aunt Da.

Aunt Da worked as an accountant at the County Zixiang Supply and Marketing Cooperative and dealt with the Neighborhood Committee more often, so they got along quite well and were quite compatible.

Showing up at someone's door late at night, it wasn't proper to go empty-handed.

Aunt Da and Uncle discussed it and bought two bottles of sorghum liquor on the way.

The sister and brother weren't turned away; Director Zhang happened to be home, having finished dinner and sitting at her own doorway, fanning herself with a big cattail fan to cool off.

"Since you're here, just come, why bring things?"

Aunt Da and Uncle carried the sorghum liquor inside; Director Zhang was a smart person, and without asking she knew why they'd come, fanning her cattail fan and smiling as she ushered them into the house.

"Hostess Zhang."

As soon as she entered, Aunt Da poured out her troubles: "You know our situation best; back then we obeyed the Neighborhood Committee's arrangement and moved to Donghua Street..."

"Sigh, this matter isn't easy to handle."

Director Zhang stopped smiling and sighed with difficulty: "This time for the demolition, the explicit regulation states that only public housing and private housing with property certificates can return to the rebuilt site, and from demolition to when the new houses are built takes at least two years; during that period every household must find their own place to live, and the street can't accommodate so many people."

"Only public housing can return to the rebuilt site, so what about my family?"

Hearing this, Aunt Da became anxious: "We've lived on Donghua Street for over thirty years; surely with the demolition they won't just sweep us houseless households out the door and make us sleep on the street?"

"That certainly can't..."

Director Zhang, as befitting a Neighborhood Committee director, was skilled at ideological work and spoke very nicely: "You want to sleep on the street, and I'm not willing either; what kind of relationship do we have? Could I ignore you and let you be homeless?"

Aunt Da was delighted: "Then what do you say we should do?"

"The key to this matter lies with Huang Daye."

Director Zhang leaned forward, in a very intimate posture, and gave private advice: "The return housing is allocated according to actual living area; Huang Daye's family has many rooms, so the house they get in the future will also be many, definitely more than one set; if you want to live there, as long as Huang Daye agrees, just keep renting his house."

"But there's one thing I need to make clear to you in advance: private housing with property certificates and public housing are still different; private housing gets demolition subsidies, one hundred yuan a month, while public housing gets nothing..."

"Also, Huang Daye is old and in poor health; once a person reaches that age, who knows when something might happen; if in two years the old man really isn't around, given his son's character, whether they'll let you keep renting is uncertain."

"So I say, the best approach is for you to buy the property rights to the house; that way you not only get demolition subsidies but also solve the housing problem once and for all."

"Buy a house?"

Aunt Da showed a troubled expression: "How much would that cost? My family has no money."

"If you don't buy, you can only rent."

Director Zhang thought for a moment and added: "Then you must settle the renting matter while Huang Daye is still alive; it's best to write a paper contract to guard against future changes."