“I paid such a high price for this house precisely for peace and quiet. Otherwise why would I not just stay at the compound? I would however consider buying jointly with others. We could divide the house in two and each pay half. Or split it three ways among three people. Truth be told I am already having second thoughts. I may have acted too impulsively. I wonder if it is possible to back out.”
Apart from Xie Shijiao several others also hoped to rent from her. Xu Mengqiu was the most eager though she held her tongue for the moment. She was hoping someone as well off as Ye Xinya might agree to go in on the purchase. But Ye Xinya and the others with comfortable means simply did not have that kind of money to spare. Even if they did they had heard the refusal loud and clear. Not a single person spoke up.
Xu Mengqiu and Xie Shijiao waited and seeing no one step forward exchanged delighted glances. Both spoke in unison. “You see no one else can afford such an expensive house. Why not rent to us instead!”
Others who also wanted in lacked the nerve to be so forward but murmured in agreement. “Yes that sounds only fair.” “Do say yes Song Mianmian.”
Song Mianmian had been enjoying He Yun’s cooking too much to make a scene. She ate steadily and gracefully until the very last bite then stood up. “Very well. How much rent are you prepared to pay? Even with others living here I would still spend money to make this place peaceful and comfortable. If the rent is too low it would not be worth my while. And there is something far more important. If someone should come along wishing to buy the house after you have moved in would you accept being asked to leave at any time? Or should I turn down a good offer just for the sake of a little rent?”
She packed her stainless steel bowl and chopsticks away into her space and walked out. The group exchanged awkward glances. Then Song Mianmian turned back to He Yun. “He Yun your cooking is truly excellent. If I get hold of good ingredients may I call on you to help prepare them?”
She had no intention of indulging those with ulterior motives but neither would she make enemies of everyone. Her words did not go unnoticed. Those quick on the uptake including He Yun and Xiao Weihua realized that while Song Mianmian was no pushover she was also wealthy and well worth keeping on good terms.
He Yun nodded enthusiastically. “It would be my pleasure.”
Xiao Weihua called out to two young men and two young women including He Yun. “The rest of you come with me to see Comrade Song Mianmian to her new home. It would be ungrateful of us to accept her hospitality and then abandon her.”
The named volunteers readily agreed. They finished their meal quickly and returned to escort her. Xiao Weihua and the two young men vied to carry her things. Song Mianmian let them. The house stood only about three hundred meters from the compound. She had not bothered to inspect it beforehand having prioritized living alone above all else and had braced herself for disappointment. What she found exceeded all expectation.
The building was solid and well built with brand new furniture and kitchenware inside. The yard was lush with vegetables and featured a neatly covered stone well. The perimeter wall stood an imposing two and a half meters high topped with shards of broken glass. It was perfect. She realized the high price had included not just the structure but the furnishings well and all. Her spirits lifted.
Firewood was somewhat scarce however. She remembered Duobao’s warning that rain and snow would set in the day after tomorrow and last for a fortnight. “Could you help me gather plenty of firewood? I can pay you now.”
Eager to oblige they replied. “No need to pay in advance. We will bring it over and settle then.”
“Very well. There are five of you. Ten bundles each delivered by the evening after tomorrow.”
“Agreed. We will bring them at six each day.”
“Thank you. Safe journey.”
Song Mianmian showed them out hardly able to contain her excitement. This was the first home she had truly owned in either of her lives. Once the gate was fastened she stowed her bags away and stepped into the main house. The layout was spacious with a central hall flanked by bedrooms at the front and a kitchen and small utility room at the back. One side served as a washroom the other as a storage area and entrance to the cellar. The cellar stood one and a half meters high and covered eighty square meters. Though empty its walls were built of sturdy stone making it all the more appealing. Only the heated kang remained unlit. She slipped into her springlike private space bathed and slept deeply.
She woke at five the next morning feeling refreshed. Remembering the forecast she set off for town to phone Meng Wanning and stock up on supplies. Breakfast was a delicious ready meal from Du Qinghui’s reserves prepared by master chefs using space grown produce. She and Duobao ate together then packed candied fruit and fruit wine they had readied. Sending fresh produce directly would raise too many questions but preserves were perfectly plausible. Ordinarily curing fruit would take several days but Duobao’s metal affinity allowed them to speed the process using a sealed high heat method. The wine meanwhile was still fermenting. By the time it reached Meng Wanning after a long journey it would be ready to drink.
It had been too dark the previous evening to see the surroundings clearly. In daylight she noticed the house was the fifth from the village edge and stood close to the mountain trail. That was a distinct advantage for gathering wild produce. The previous owners had left two wicker baskets a large and a small. She chose the smaller one laid a garment over its contents and set out. Dawn was just breaking. She had expected to find the village quiet but nearly every household was already up and about. She had not walked far before several women stopped her.
“Young Song we heard you are looking for firewood. We have plenty ready cut. Would you be willing to buy from us too?”