She thought of someone who could help her, Jiang Mei Li.
Jiang Mei Li's current job was in the Housing Authority. They talked on the phone a while ago. Jiang Mei Li said that her job was very leisurely. Her position was like a real estate agency in later generations, but it was a public sector. According to her words, because it was newly established, there were many people who wanted to sell their houses, but not many people who wanted to buy a house. Some people who want to sell their houses for an emergency. Normally, the house couldn’t be relied on.
Hearing Xu Xiao Jiao's intention, she was extremely delighted, "Oh, Xiao Jiao, you have helped me. Do you know? In one month, I only succeeded in one negotiation. Recently, our director said my position is of no use and needs to be abolished."
She frowned a little, "Say, if it’s abolished, what kind of position would be arranged for me? Now it's not easy to maintain this iron rice bowl. Maybe I will be fired."
Xu Xiao Jiao expressed her understanding. Just thinking about it, one could understand. In this era, people's demand for houses wasn’t that high. Even if there was such a department that could provide everyone with information, people won’t pay much attention to it, "Don't you manage the transfer of houses? Why have you been given a position like this?"
Jiang Mei Li explained, "Didn't the higher-ups say that they need to invigorate the economy and reform the constitution? I heard that many state-owned factories outside are undergoing restructuring and joint ventures. We who are in charge of the house can't make such big movements. Our leader thought a lot before he came up with such a position. It has a good reputation, serving the people. He reported it to the above as an indicator and is waiting for the performance. The result, nothing in a month."
Xu Xiao Jiao couldn't help laughing, "I really need your position."
There was nothing more reliable than a public agency.
Jiang Mei Li was curious, "Didn't your family move to the town? Buying a house this quick. Are you moving to the county?"
She was a little envious, "Bravo, Elder Brother Wei Ping's business seems to be very prosperous. No wonder going south is popular now. A few days ago, one person in our department resigned, saying that he is going to the south to do business."
Xu Xiao Jiao didn't plan to live in the town. "I want to buy a few houses and leave them sitting. I have some money in my hand and it’s lying around. Look, everywhere is developing now. Maybe the value will increase in the future. What do you think?" Right, as for doing business. That's Song Wei Ping's business. I don't care, I only spend money."
Now Jiang Mei Li had married. When she heard this, she was envious, "Xiao Jiao, you don't know, the few of us are so envious of you. Say, you don't have to go to work and live a leisurely life every day. How comfortable.”
Xu Xiao Jiao blinked at her, "Your dad is so powerful now. Isn't it fine if you want to do this?"
Xu Xiao Jiao knew that Jiang Mei Li's match had an average family background and was very kind to Jiang Mei Li. If Jiang Mei Li didn't want to go to work, her match probably wouldn't say anything.
Jiang Mei Li laughed, "No, no, my match and I have agreed to work hard. Try to rely on ourselves and buy a big television during the New Year."
"That's right! Money can't buy what you like." Xu Xiao Jiao sighed, "Actually, it's good for you to go to work and get off work together every day. The life is ordinary and warm. Look at me and Song Wei Ping. Although he can earn a little money, he goes out from time to time. Once he goes out, he’s away for such a long time. While I’m at home, feeling quite bored."
Jiang Mei Li blinked in understanding, "I understand, it's hard to sleep alone."
The two of them talked about girls' private conversations and joked a little. Xu Xiao Jiao asked Jiang Mei Li about the house.
She had no other requirements. It didn't matter whether the house was in bad condition or not. There were only two requirements. One was that the source must be clean. This way, the settlement can be made clear in the future and avoid any disputes in the future. The other was that the location must be in the places she had designated.
If it was too remote, she wouldn't consider it. In order to be able to hand in work to her director as well as helping Xu Xiao Jiao, Jiang Mei Li naturally did her best.
In this way, the days went faster.
In two months, Xu Xiao Jiao made more than ten trips to the county and had more than ten properties under her name. In fact, some of them were no longer properties. The houses above had basically collapsed. The place was big. But correspondingly, the price was cheap. Xu Xiao Jiao bought them.
Leave it aside, leave it all aside.
She sometimes felt it was fortunate that it was this era. There were no various tax policies of later generations. If there were various regulations on second and third houses, then her career wouldn't be able to develop.
By the time the money in hand was almost spent, more than two months had passed. Song Wei Ping had been away from home for more than three months.
The weather had changed from hot summer to autumn with clear skies and faint clouds.
Song Wei Ping called home, most frequently once every other day. When he was busy, he would call once every four or five days. Once, he even called once every ten days.
Xu Xiao Jiao knew that at that time, he must be very busy. Or even in trouble and racking his head.
However, what Xu Xiao Jiao didn't expect was that almost every other week, Song Wei Ping's letter would be delivered on time.
Even though he already coaxed her, he didn't give up the habit of writing letters.
This made Xu Xiao Jiao feel sweetened. Occasionally, when she was bored, she would take out the letters and postcards and read them one by one.
At first, the postcards were of pink flowers and landscapes. Later, the postcards became features of the places he visited. Occasionally, he would write some notes or thoughts.
She liked that he said that he would take her to the places he had been to in the future. When it wasn’t busy, they could simply walk and see the scenery.
As the weather got colder day by day, Xu Xiao Jiao missed Song Wei Ping more and more deeply.
Occasionally she would lean on the hanging basket, mindlessly swayed, and then fall into a daze.
When Wu Chun Hua saw her daughter like this, she knew what was on her mind, "Do you miss Wei Ping?"
Xu Xiao Jiao could no longer say anything duplicitous. She and Song Wei Ping had never been separated for such a long time from their marriage to now. "En, Mom, Song Wei Ping has been gone for nearly four months."
Wu Chun Hua nodded, "Ain’t that right. Though Mom doesn't know what Wei Ping is doing outside, if you are reassured, Mom can rest assured. However, it's been more than three months. A while ago, you went to the county every now and then to do something. Although Mom doesn't know what you are busy with, you had something to be occupied with. So the days go by quickly. However, you have been idle these days, so you feel that the days go by slowly."
Xu Xiao acknowledged with an ‘en’, "It's truly slow."
Wu Chun Hua laughed at her, "Silly girl, then go find Wei Ping. Anyway, you know where he is. There is no matter at home now. Mom is at ease with you going alone."
Xu Xiao Jiao had actually thought about this for a long time. She even wanted to give Song Wei Ping a surprise.
But she was a little scared. When she thought about meeting Song Wei Ping, she even felt timid about being close.
Maybe love makes people hesitate. She had never thought of caring about Song Wei Ping before. But now, she would think how he was so busy and her arrival would distract him and she would need his care. If he wasn’t energetic enough, what to do if something goes wrong on the construction site?
"Mom, Song Wei Ping is very busy now, so I won't add to the drama. I’ll wait. Anyway, he will definitely come back before the New Year."
Wu Chun Hua didn't expect her daughter to be so sensible, "The New Year won’t be celebrated for another three months."
Xu Xiao Jiao held her chin, "Three months then."
She’ll just wait.
The days passed by slowly. Ten days before December, heavy snow came quietly on this day.
In the afternoon, Xu Xiao Jiao sat with Wu Chun Hua in the pot stewed meat shop. The room was lit with briquettes and wasn't cold at all.
She looked through the door of the store at the heavy snow falling outside.
"Fortunately, we didn't make much pot stewed pork today. The snow is getting heavier and heavier and there aren’t many people on the road. Let's close the shop soon." Wu Chun Hua chatted with Xu Xiao Jiao while warming herself by the fire.
Xu Xiao Jiao nodded, "It seems the weather forecast is quite accurate."
Wu Chun Hua lowered her head and turned the roasted chestnuts over, "There's nothing wrong with this, right? It's the weather forecast. But, with this snow falling, the weather will get even colder. It's December in ten days. The New Year is slightly over a month away. Wei Ping has been away for half a year. I don’t know when he will come back.”
Xu Xiao Jiao smiled, "It's soon now."
Wu Chun Hua peeled one of the roasted chestnuts and handed it to her daughter, "I told you to go find him and you didn’t. Another two months is gone. Now you are happy."
Xu Xiao Jiao acted coquettishly toward Wu Chun Hua, "I'm being sensible."
Wu Chun Hua smiled and nodded at her, "Sensible. My Xiao Jiao is the most sensible."
She laughed as she stood up, going to close the door of the pot stewed meat shop.
"Oh!" Wu Chun Hua looked into the distance with a look of surprise on her face, "Xiao Jiao, look, isn't that Wei Ping?"
Xu Xiao Jiao was stunned and shook her head, "Mom, you must have seen it wrong. Song Wei Ping called the day before yesterday and said it’ll be ten days to half a month."
Wu Chun Hua squinted her eyes and confirmed again, "Oh, it is Wei Ping. On this snowy day, Wei Ping!"
Seeing the man wave his hand in response, Wu Chun Hua turned to Xu Xiao Jiao, who was approaching from the side, "Look, it's Wei Ping."
In the blink of an eye, Song Wei Ping came closer to Xu Xiao Jiao's sight.
The snow was really too heavy. Xu Xiao Jiao was stunned when he walked through the vast expanse of white.
Seeing that her daughter was silent, Wu Chun Hua hurriedly called to Song Wei Ping, "Hey, Wei Ping, why did you come back without even making a call to get Xiao Jiao to pick you up? It's snowing."
Song Wei Ping stood outside the pot stewed meat shop, looking at Xu Xiao Jiao through the shop door.
He placed the cake he had carefully protected on the big table at the door.
"Come back to celebrate Jiao Jiao's birthday. Today is her birthday."