Thinking of this, Chen Lan did not immediately withdraw her hand. Instead, she continued to extend the hand holding the peanuts towards her elder sister and explained, "Elder sister, I wanted to ask you where the Housing Management Office is located around here?"
When the elder sister heard Chen Lan asking this, she actually knew the answer. So, she didn't stand on ceremony. She took the peanuts from Chen Lan's hand and replied, "Sister, I really know the answer to your question. To tell you the truth, there is indeed a Housing Management Office in our area. They are specifically in charge of renting and selling houses in our neighborhood. You should go and ask there. Sister, do you know Xidan Street? The Housing Management Office is located there. Do you know the way?"
Chen Lan nodded and replied, "Elder sister, I just came from there. I know how to get to Xidan Street. It's not far from here."
The elder sister smiled and replied, "It's not far. It's good that you know! When you get there, you just need to ask someone, and they'll tell you where the Housing Management Office is."
The three of them, mother and daughters, returned to Xidan Street as if they were very familiar with it. After asking a passerby for directions, they soon found the Housing Management Office.
A very capable female comrade at the Housing Management Office warmly received Chen Lan and her daughters and asked them about their purpose.
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "Comrade, the situation is like this. My younger daughter has been admitted to our capital's Music Academy. My family lives in Dongcheng, not in Xicheng, so I was thinking of renting a place near Baojia Street for her to live for a few years while she studies."
The female comrade was very pleased to hear Chen Lan say this and congratulated her enthusiastically, "Congratulations, congratulations! Sister, you are truly blessed! And your daughter is also very promising. It's really not easy to get into university this year."
After speaking, she took out a registration book without further ado. She then flipped open the registration book and explained, "Comrade, there are courtyard houses in the areas you mentioned, such as Xisi, Zhaodengyu Road, Xidan, and Baitasi. If you want a house closest to Baojia Street as you said, then the houses near Baitasi are the closest. However, the owner of that house said they are only selling, not renting. Would you like to go and take a look?"
Chen Lan thought to herself that buying would be even better, so she nodded in agreement, "Elder sister, that would be great! If the house is decent, it would be good to buy it."
So, the elder sister from the Housing Management Office stood up, took the key, and said, "Let's go! Sister, it's not far from here. Let's walk there!"
After speaking, she led the way out of the Housing Management Office, taking Chen Lan and her daughters on foot.
As they walked, the elder sister introduced, "The environment around Baitasi is very good. The most famous thing in Baitasi is the White Pagoda! You can go and see it when you have time."
Indeed, it wasn't far. As they walked and chatted, they soon arrived in front of the gate of a very ordinary small siheyuan. The elder sister used the key in her hand to open the tightly closed gate and beckoned Chen Lan and her daughters to enter.
Chen Lan stepped inside and looked up at the siheyuan before her. She found that the siheyuan was not very large. The houses looked generally dilapidated and in need of repair to be habitable, but there were quite a few rooms, which should be enough for Chen Lan and her group to live in.
This siheyuan had three rooms facing south, three main rooms, and a small wing room on each side, east and west. There was no back courtyard, and behind the main rooms was a small garden. In the garden, there was a well and several trees were planted.
Chen Lan was very satisfied with this siheyuan. As the elder sister had said, the surrounding environment was really good, and the alley in front of the house was also very bright, capable of parking at least one car, unlike the narrow and crowded roads in the hutongs. If this siheyuan could be bought, it would be even better!
Thinking of this, Chen Lan said, "Elder sister, to be honest, the size of the house is quite good. It's just a bit old and dilapidated due to disrepair. If it's not repaired, it's probably not habitable. So, could your Housing Management Office help us by arranging some workers to repair this house? Elder sister, don't worry, I will pay for the labor and material costs, no matter how much they are! However, I only have one request."
The elder sister did not expect Chen Lan to be so accommodating, agreeing to buy the house immediately without even asking about the price.
So, she replied very happily, "There's no problem with repairing the house. This is what our Housing Management Office should do. We have dedicated workers who specialize in house repairs. Don't worry, their craftsmanship is absolutely trustworthy. Sister, feel free to state any requests you have."
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Elder sister, my request is nothing complicated. It's actually very simple. Can the workers be asked to repair it quickly? Because the child's school is about to start, I want to move in before the child starts school."
When the elder sister heard Chen Lan making such a request, she looked troubled. She said with some difficulty, "Sister, I know that the child's school is about to start, and you are eager to move in! However, our workers are paid a monthly salary. If you make this request, I'm afraid the workers won't agree."
Upon hearing this reason, Chen Lan smiled and said, "Elder sister, this is easy to solve. I can deposit the wages for fifteen workers for two months with your Housing Management Office right now. The monthly wage for each worker is calculated at fifty-five yuan. Elder sister, fifty-five yuan should be a considerable amount, right?"
After saying this, Chen Lan looked at the elder sister from the Housing Management Office. The elder sister shook her head and repeatedly replied, "It's not little, it's not little. The monthly wage for an ordinary worker is only around forty yuan. Fifty-five yuan a month is already more than enough for them!"
Chen Lan continued with a smile, "However, elder sister, I do have requirements! My requirement is that any part that needs repair must be repaired, any part that needs patching must be patched, the workmanship must be meticulous, and they must meticulously clean all the houses from top to bottom, of course, the back garden must also be thoroughly tidied up."
Having said this, Chen Lan glanced at the elder sister from the Housing Management Office again, and then continued with a smile, "Elder sister, if they can complete the work ahead of schedule, with quality and quantity guaranteed, within one month, then I will not ask for the remaining month's wages that are deposited with your Housing Management Office. That money can be at the disposal of your Housing Management Office, even considered as a bonus for everyone's hard work in the Housing Management Office, is that acceptable?"
The elder sister from the Housing Management Office, after hearing Chen Lan's words, smiled like a blooming flower. She said happily, "Yes, no problem. Completing with quality and quantity guaranteed is a must! Sister, just for your straightforwardness, I will take on this job for you. You can rest assured! I will definitely help you keep a close eye on it. If you have any issues later on, just come and find me."
Having said so much, what Chen Lan wanted was the elder sister's word.