Chapter 250

Ha Gong Da.

Standing in front of the new building, watching the workers tiling the exterior walls, Qin Miao was somewhat shocked.

Only a few months into spring, and our Department of Four's building is already finished?

"San Shui, how does it feel?" Professor Zhao of the Civil Engineering Department walked over with a smile: "The facade and interior are being worked on simultaneously; in two or three days it will be done. By the way, the top floor, your Department of Four is to build it into a ground station for the satellite navigation system, and we are also renovating it in sync—later you can just move the equipment in."

In this era, renovation is simple: apply some putty, scrape the wall, lay a cement floor, install a wooden door—green, eco-friendly, no pollution, and no formaldehyde.

Qin Miao nodded: "Hmm, not bad!"

With money, things go fast!

"To the south, building a tower still takes five days per floor, but here at Ha Gong Da we do three days per floor. Once construction here is finished, we'll go build towers for the other departments. By the way, one faculty housing building has already been erected—come, let me show you!"

The Department of Four building is seven stories, while the faculty housing residential building is five stories, so it goes up faster!

The exterior walls were all tiled, gleaming in the sunlight, looking clean and tidy; on the side a mosaic pattern was made, indistinct up close but from afar revealing eight large characters: 'Strict discipline, mastery of skill.'

Seeing those characters, Qin Miao seemed to recall the argument that had taken place in the meeting room when he first arrived at Ha Gong Da.

"Come, take a look inside." Professor Zhao led Qin Miao to the first floor, his face full of excitement: "When you first proposed the design, we thought it didn't match living habits, but once it was built and we went in, it really is good—it feels even more like a home."

The living room is spacious, with north-south cross-ventilation, looking very bright; there is one bedroom each on the north and south sides, with a bathroom in between, the two bedroom doors face each other, equally well-ventilated, and the windows are the popular steel type of recent years, far better sealed than the old wooden ones.

"The president has already approved it; the remaining three faculty housing buildings will also be constructed according to this plan!"

"Hmm, good, good." Qin Miao nodded: "By the way, since the house is already built, has it been assigned?"

"San Shui, of course you get to pick first. After you choose, the school will allocate according to the old procedure. How about this floor? If you like it, this unit is yours; you don't need to worry about furniture—the school will cover everything..."

In the era without elevators, lower floors were the most popular; especially in times of little management, the first floor could occupy a large part of the external common area, even enclose a courtyard to grow vegetables—truly a golden floor. In the commercial housing era, the first floor of old, run-down buildings is also the most expensive.

The school's present state is entirely thanks to Qin Miao; therefore, when the faculty housing is built, the best floors must be prepared for him first.

To others it looks like the best floor, but for Qin Miao it actually isn't.

The first floor is noisy, with no sense of security; who knows how many people passing by will peek inside. If one wants to be intimate with one's spouse in broad daylight, even drawing the curtains won't stop the outside from hearing the commotion.

Poor lighting, mosquito bites, and clogged drains are nothing short of a disaster...

So Qin Miao instinctively wanted to shake his head, when at that moment a voice came from outside.

"Come, move the sofa in for me!"

Following the woman's voice, two men carried a rosewood sofa in through the building entrance, heading straight for the room with its door open here.

Professor Zhao blinked in surprise: "Hey, this faculty housing hasn't been assigned yet—who let you move furniture in?"

"Old Zhao, it's me!" A woman walked over, her face beaming: "Old Cui said that this building also has a unit for our family. Coincidentally, today the furniture arrived, so we have to move it in, right? Old Zhao, make way, don't get your clothes dirty."

It was Yang Guizhi, wife of Cui He'nian! She had come to seize the apartment by force!

Many people nostalgic for the housing allocation era have no idea how much scheming goes on behind the scenes; getting a unit is absolutely like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their magical powers—those with power use it directly, those without treat others to gifts and seek favors, and there are even some special deals...

Professor Zhao stood in the doorway: "No, this unit is reserved for San Shui; you should pick another."

This is the western end of the building, with the longest sunlight exposure; for northerners, who wouldn't want more sun in their home? One could say that, in everyone's eyes, this is the best unit in the whole building!

"San Shui? That San Shui? Our school's housing allocation goes by seniority; he's just a freshman, even if he's a substitute teacher in the Computer Science Department, his turn would still be far off!"

Yang Guizhi spoke righteously: "Our Old Cui is the Section Chief of Personnel, a senior administrator at the school; with a good apartment, of course school cadres should get first dibs! Our old unit is now vacant—let him move in there, and my old furniture can be left for him."

"Yang Guizhi, what are you doing!" Just then a loud shout came from outside.

Inside, Qin Miao wanted to laugh; the tone sounded like a foreign devil, huh? Wait, the one shouting is Cui He'nian? This old guy, isn't he usually terrified of his wife, the Hedong lion? This time he's grown a spine?

"Cui He'nian, what are you up to now? Do you still want to go home and sleep tonight?" Yang Guizhi's face darkened, hands on her hips.

"I've told you before, the newly built faculty housing is meant to solve the housing problem for young teachers and staff; those who already have a home are not included in this allocation."

"Of course I know; since we've moved into the new place, our old unit is vacated—let the young people live in our old place, right? We're not refusing to move out. But do these youngsters have the rank to deserve such housing?"

Just because new buildings are erected, does that mean new employees can get them? Certainly not!

These new homes are prepared for the leaders; the leaders move into the new houses, freeing up the old ones for others. Moreover, there are relevant regulations: what rank gets how much floor area!

"Besides, I've already bought the new sofa; I've inspected it—this unit is the best! Old Cui, come, take a look—how's my eye for detail..."

"What are you looking at? This unit isn't ours! Don't make a scene here—it'll just be a laughingstock! Hey, you few, carry that sofa out; my place is over in Building Five..."

"Cui He'nian! I'm telling you, this apartment belongs to our family—you heartless wretch, you never think of securing any advantage for the household! I'll make a fuss however I like; this flat rightfully should be ours, and young people ought to endure more hardship… even if the president shows up, I'd dare say this to him!"

"President Liu!"

"Cui He'nian, who are you trying to scare? Eh, President Liu? President Liu, how come you're here? Shouldn't our school's new faculty housing first meet the needs of our leadership and cadres?"

"President Liu, sorry for making you witness this joke."