Chen Lan handed over the money and received the property deed. She then told the older sister at the housing authority that she wanted to hire someone to clean up the courtyard and repair the house.
Just as Old Master Qian had said, the older sister in charge at the housing authority readily agreed. She immediately asked, "Comrade, how do you plan to repair this house? A major overhaul? Or tear it down and rebuild?"
Her question left Chen Lan momentarily stunned. She hadn't really considered this issue, lacking expertise and having not yet inspected the property to understand its condition.
So, Chen Lan replied, "Comrade, I'm not knowledgeable about this. Please arrange for someone to first clear out all the weeds. Later, I'll have a man from my family who understands these things come and take a look. After they've assessed it, we'll decide on the repair plan."
The housing authority sister nodded and said, "That makes sense. Such important matters should be decided by the men in the family!"
Everyone has different values and opinions, so Chen Lan didn't argue with her. Feeling worried that Jia Hui might not find her after registering, Chen Lan simply nodded, paid a deposit of three hundred yuan for the workers, and left the housing authority with Jia Yu.
Old Master Qian did not leave with Chen Lan and her daughters. He stayed at the housing authority to continue chatting with them.
By the time Chen Lan and Jia Yu hurried to the south gate of Imperial Capital University, Jia Hui had not yet come out.
After waiting for a short while, Jia Hui came bounding out. She spotted Chen Lan and Jia Yu waiting at the gate from afar.
She happily waved and called out, "Mom, little sister, you must have been waiting a long time! I'm starving! Is there anything to eat?"
Chen Lan handed her the cake and milk she had bought from the system. "You didn't eat anything this morning before going to school, so now you're hungry! Eat quickly!"
Jia Hui took the cake and took a bite before asking, "Mom, little sister, have you eaten?"
Jia Yu replied with a smile, "Mom and I ate a long time ago. We also went to the housing authority and bought a dilapidated house near Imperial Capital University!"
Jia Hui asked curiously, "Bought a house? Mom, is it for me? But, Mom, I plan to live in the school dormitory."
Chen Lan smiled indifferently and said, "Yes! It's fine to live at school for now. Besides, that house will take some time to repair."
Jia Hui seemed troubled. "But, Mom, what about the house you bought? Will it just be left empty?"
Chen Lan explained with a smile, "Jia Hui, it's up to you whether you want to live there or not. I just thought the location of this house was very good, it's close to your school, the size is just right, and the price wasn't expensive, so I spent a little money to buy it! When the house is ready, you can go take a look. Whether you want to live in it or not will be your decision. In any case, the property deed is in your name, Xu Jia Hui, so this house is yours!"
Jia Hui nodded and said no more. She lowered her head and quickly finished eating. After wiping her mouth with a tissue, she asked, "Mom, where are we going next?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and then asked, "When does your school start classes? And when do you plan to move into the dormitory?"
Jia Hui replied, "The teacher said that tomorrow is another day for registration. The day after tomorrow, we'll be assigned dormitories for students who need to live on campus, and the day after that, classes will officially begin! Mom, I'll move my bedding and luggage to school the day after tomorrow."
Chen Lan nodded and said, "Alright! Coincidentally, tomorrow we'll take some time to go to Xicheng District to check on the house your little sister has in Baitasi Temple. I wonder if the housing authority has finished repairing it? We'll come back here the day after tomorrow, and you can also take the opportunity to see the specific location of your house."
And so, Chen Lan lived a busy yet fulfilling life in the Imperial Capital. She had to provide supplies for Xiang Dong and Er Hu's transactions in the black market, and also accompany her two daughters as a study companion. She was constantly busy and enjoying herself. However, Chen Lan spent most of her time in Xicheng District accompanying Xiao Shi Mei.
By the time Xiao Shi Mei gradually adapted to school life, summer had arrived.
Time flew by, and the long-awaited Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully convened! Our country embarked on a new journey of reform and opening up.
In August 1980, the country announced the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Chen Lan brought her mother, mother-in-law, Mother Liu, and Aunt San Mei out of the valley and back to the Imperial Capital to live.
Professor Chen Shi and Professor Qian Si Yuan had both been rehabilitated and returned to their original universities to continue teaching. Her in-laws, Tan Da Yong and his wife, had also been rehabilitated and returned to their original posts.
Old Qian and his wife, Ming Wei, and Dr. Zhong insisted on continuing to teach at the Valley Primary School, awaiting the day when Chen Lan would rent land and build a new school.
Everyone else in the valley continued their work and lives as usual, all awaiting the implementation of the household contract responsibility system.
In October of the same year, Chen Lan, along with the brothers Xiang Dong and Xiang Xi, Er Hu, Xiao Shuan, and Lin Mao, led the entire construction team from the valley and all members of the Xiang Xi Cosmetics Factory to head south to Shenzhen to begin a new entrepreneurial journey.
They bought land and built facilities in the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, establishing their own construction company, transportation company, and cosmetics production and sales company.
In June 1981, Tan Wei Dang and Chun Ni, who had graduated from college, entrusted their two children to Aunt Tan and her husband, and chose to head south to start their own businesses.
Similarly, Chun Hua and Chun Fang, who were also married, left their children with their parents-in-law and headed south with their spouses to join Chen Lan and the others.
A portion of the university graduates from the valley also chose to head south and join Chen Lan in her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Jia Hui, who had been married for two years, chose to stay at the university as a teacher after graduation. Her sons were all well-behaved, following the country's job assignments and working steadily in state-owned enterprises.
In 1983, the household contract responsibility system was implemented nationwide. Chen Lan returned to the valley and helped more than a dozen families who did not wish to leave the valley pay to contract the entire valley.
Xu Ming Xuan also completed the "leave without pay" procedures at their Reclamation Bureau and planned to head south with Chen Lan and the others to start a business.
However, this time Chen Lan did not take Xu Ming Xuan back to Shenzhen. Instead, she brought Xu Ming Xuan back to her hometown of Gu'an County to invest and develop.
Chen Lan planned to contract a piece of barren land in Gu'an County to build houses, factories, schools, hospitals, and shopping malls, intending to transform it into a suitable retirement community with a "farmhouse style" living experience.