RYEY -Chapter 318 Buying Back the Siheyuan

The Li Ming Grocery Store had everything, including cigarettes, alcohol, and other hard-to-find items that were rarely seen in the supply-and-marketing cooperative. Even if a product sold out, it could be restocked quickly.

When Li Huan came home over the weekend and saw how well the store was doing, he immediately wrote a job advertisement and posted it on the door. As a result, the Li Ming Grocery Store now had four clerks, making customer service faster and more efficient.

The most profitable business, however, was Qin Yue’s Qijun Clothing Store. Not only had it already recovered its investment, but Qin Yue was also planning to buy several neighboring shops.

But Zhao Hui shook his head. The market hadn’t fully stabilized yet; they couldn’t be so aggressive. Rather than investing in other businesses for now, it would be better to buy back the family’s old siheyuan.

Zhao Hui’s suggestion won everyone’s support. After all, it was their ancestral home—a large siheyuan complex made up of four three-courtyard siheyuans, with a vast area and top-quality materials.

However, Zhao Hui had visited over a dozen government departments, only to be met with refusals. Either the officials were unavailable, or they had no authority, and some didn’t even know which family currently owned the siheyuan.

“Dad, if we’re lucky, we get it; if not, it’s fate. Since it’s gone, we can choose another one,” Zhao Qijun comforted him, sensing Zhao Hui’s heartbreak and helplessness. After all, there were many siheyuans in Beijing, and finding one closer to Uncle Ye’s home was acceptable.

Finally, with Ye Jun’s help, they found a three-courtyard siheyuan. The price, however, was steep—20,000 yuan—with no room for negotiation.

When Zhao Hui went to inspect it, he found the siheyuan had been turned into a chaotic compound. The small bridges, flowing water, and pavilions were gone, replaced by toilets and stoves.

Even the intricately carved, bright red window frames were worn and chipped, swaying with the wind.

The bluestone slabs on the ground had turned muddy, and the once-planted flowers and shrubs were now patches for coal storage, covered with broken wooden boards for rain protection.

“This is a crime… such a beautiful historical building destroyed like this. I wonder if it can be restored.”

The original owner smiled bitterly, yet his heart ached. He had received the notice to return to the city and reclaim the siheyuan, and for several nights, he could hardly sleep from excitement.

But when he returned to the siheyuan at dawn, seeing the once low-key, luxurious residence in such a state nearly made him collapse beneath the half-standing screen wall.

Because it had become so ruined, when he sought restoration advice, experts all shook their heads. Restoration would cost too much and might not fully recover the original form. Rebuilding was impossible—it would lose the historical authenticity entirely.

After much deliberation, the owner decided to sell the siheyuan for 20,000 yuan. He was gambling that only someone who truly loved it would buy it.

“Brother, I really want this property, but I have two conditions: first, remove all residents, including their household registrations; second, help me find a construction team that can restore the siheyuan.”

The owner nodded but shared a frightening estimate: removing the residents was easy—the state had prepared new places for them, and they were eager to move. But restoring the siheyuan would cost at least 100,000–80,000 yuan.

Zhao Hui took a deep breath. He could afford it, but he had to pay discreetly; otherwise, inquiries about the source of the money would bring trouble.

Still, looking at the cracked doors with rusted copper rings, he resolutely nodded. The siheyuan was not only cultural heritage left by ancestors but also a symbol of his attachment to the old family home.

The purchase was completed, and the restoration team was contacted. Zhao Hui explained that, due to limited funds, the restoration would proceed gradually—partial payment for partial restoration.

The restoration team was pleased; restoring historic buildings is delicate work, and impatient clients often ruin the process.

They first restored two rooms. Zhao Hui transferred his family’s household registration from Cheng Qiao’s siheyuan and officially moved into their own siheyuan. Although Cheng Qiao didn’t mind, this gesture was about making a statement, and Zhao Hui insisted on it.

With his home settled, Zhao Hui began scouting new businesses, planning to buy a few more shops and sell small appliances, such as the tape recorders he had seen in the south and the very rare music tapes.

He secretly withdrew a box of gold bars and prepared to head south. Before leaving, he met Cheng Qiao:

“Qiao, do you want to exchange some money? It might help for future property purchases or business in Beijing.”

Cheng Qiao shook her head. Beijing wasn’t where she wanted to develop. Without strong backing, buying too much property or earning too much money would be disadvantageous for her and the children.

That weekend, Cheng Qiao and Ye Jun took the four children to the countryside park for a picnic. Liang Qingya drove, bringing all the picnic supplies, and everyone was in high spirits.

Qin Yue and Zhao Qijun, one heading south to restock goods and the other supervising the store, could only watch enviously.

“Mom, when can we close the store for a day and take everyone out to play?”

“Soon enough. After you marry Qian Longkun and have children, then we can think about taking them out. At that time, we can hire a few more clerks if needed.”

Hearing Qian Longkun’s name, Zhao Qijun blushed. They had already agreed to marry after university, once they had jobs and a house, and then they would consider having a child.

“Oh, and today Zhao Xiaobei is coming. From now on, she’ll help at the store every weekend.”

“Is that so? That’s fine. She seems like a good kid. Does she need the money?”

“Not really for living expenses, but she wants to pursue a diplomatic career and needs extra materials for study, so she spends a lot. She doesn’t want to ask the uncles for money.”

“A good child. Even if it’s just weekend work, pay her like the other clerks. That’s something we can help with, at least this little bit.”

Zhao Qijun smiled in agreement. After sending Qin Yue off to the train station, she rode her bike to the Qijun Clothing Store.

Zhao Xiaobei arrived with Zhao Xiaobao escorting her. The two clerks were thrilled to know she would be helping part-time.

Weekends were the busiest time for the clothing store. Even with the boss and Qijun present, they were so busy they barely had time to drink water or use the restroom.