Chapter Fifty Buying a House

  The next day, Ning Qingmin took a leave of absence and rushed to the warehouse, where he and Zhang Yu counted the goods together. They also unpacked various quantities of embroidered products to check their colors and codes, and after finding no abnormalities, they packed them up properly and asked the porter to call for a vehicle to send them to Miss Tian's company.

  After delivering the goods and signing the supplementary contract, Ning Qing returned to her seat with a happy smile. When it was almost time to get off work, she checked her account and found that the payment for the goods and the new deposit had been credited, which made her extremely delighted. She told Zhang Yu about buying a house.

  Zhang Yu listened to Ning Qingmin's words and hesitated, saying: "Boss, if we take the deposit to buy a house first, won't it be a bit risky? What if the delivery is not smooth or the other party delays the payment period, and at the end of the month, we have to settle the payment with the factory, then our funds will be tight."

  "That's also true." Ning Qing smiled and looked at Zhang Yu with appreciation: "Not bad, you've made progress."

  Although it is said that Ning Qingmin still decided to pay the deposit to buy a house, because after May Day, good locations were snapped up. At that time, even if the delivery was not smooth or the customer really delayed payment, as long as the newly purchased house was put out, the problem could be solved. At most, some handling fees would be lost.

  Jing Qing thought for a moment, then Zhang Yu handed her a glass of water and said: "Boss, Rui Li took the bus over today and only arrived at night. I can go pick her up myself, anyway our place is close to the train station."

  "Go, you've accepted her. Buy some daily necessities." Ning Qingming came back to his senses, handed the money to Zhang Yu, and said with a smile: "Starting next month, your salary will be increased to 1,500. If business is good, there will be a bonus at the end of the year. Zhang Ruili has just arrived, so it's 1,000 for now."

  "Long live the boss!" Zhang Yu smiled, with a salary of 1,500 yuan, including food and accommodation, which was much better than his classmates who went out to work at the same time. Moreover, he could learn a lot from this boss.

  On Labour Day, Ning Qingmin finally bought a three-bedroom apartment as he had wished. He couldn't contain his excitement and called home to share the news about buying the shop and now the house. His mother listened to Ning Qingmin's words and fell silent for a long time before mumbling: "Xiao Min, be honest with me, have you seen your father? Did he give you the capital to do business and let you buy a house?"

  "Mom, believe me, it's really me who spent six thousand yuan to buy three rooms. And Zhang Yu has been helping me for so long, she can also be my witness."

  "It's not that I don't trust you, but you've always been timid. This time, you did something only a grown-up can do. Either you were extremely lucky or there's something fishy going on." Ning's mom raised her voice, "Is it because your dad secretly helped you? Don't worry, he'd help his own biological daughter, I have no reason to stop him."

  "Mom, don't worry. In the future, I'll be even more powerful than Dad and lead you to show off in front of them, venting out that stagnant air in your chest." Ning Qing said with a half-joking tone.

  "I'll find some time to go and see what's going on with you?" Ning's mom sighed on the other end. "Don't be reckless, it's not worth risking your life for money."

  "Mom, why don't you just bring grandma over too? We've already bought the house. You can come and enjoy life here." Ning Qing's wish was fulfilled early on. Disregarding her mom's confusion, she persuaded: "You're stuck in the countryside running that small eatery. The money you earn is only enough for living expenses. Why bother?"

  "Don't underestimate this small eatery. It's what earns your tuition and living expenses." Ning's mom was unhappy with Ning Qing's disdain for her small eatery. She drew out her words, saying: "Besides, I'm used to working hard with your grandma. If we just sit around doing nothing, we'll definitely feel anxious. We won't be able to eat or sleep well."

  "There's a wholesale clothing market near my place. There are also snack shops with 'For Rent' signs on them. If you really can't stay still, then come over here and continue running the snack shop instead. You'll definitely earn more money than in the countryside. I'll help you with the capital." Ning Qing was worried about buying a house, but her mother refused to move over, so she had to persuade her strongly.

  Ning's mother hesitated slightly. Her tone was very uncertain. "Min, are you telling the truth?"

  "Mom!" Ning Qing said softly, just like when she was a kid. "Your daughter has suddenly become clever and capable, I know it's hard for you to digest this kind of thing, so just think that my potential has been inspired."

  Ning's mother found Ning Qingmian to be a bit different from before, and her heart was always uneasy. She made up her mind and said: "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I'll come over with your grandmother by car."

  "I'll go and pick you up at the train station when I arrive!" Ning Qing let out a sigh of relief, as long as they arrived, there would be a way to keep them from leaving.

  The next day, Ning's mother and grandmother hurriedly came, fearing that what Ning Qingming said about buying a house was being deceived. Ning Qingming rushed to the train station to pick them up.

  Ning's mother was forty-two years old, and although she looked a bit worn out, her figure was slender, with willow-leaf eyebrows and a pair of bright phoenix eyes that still showed that she had been a beauty in her youth. Ning's grandmother loved cleanliness, and the whole person was even more neat and tidy. The two people saw Ning Qingming change into another person, dressing properly, both staring wide-eyed and saying: "Heavens open your eyes, you finally came to your senses, no longer liking those dull and sloppy clothes."

  Ning Qingmin helped them with their luggage with one hand and hugged her grandmother with the other, saying: "Grandma, you're getting younger and younger. Standing next to my mom, you look like two sisters."

  "Hehe, your mouth has become sweeter." Upon hearing the praise, Grandma was delighted and smiled, saying: "Your mom is not dressed up, but if she were to dress up, she would still be a beautiful flower!"

  "If it were a flower, it would be a withered one." Ning's mother chimed in, her eyes fixed on Ning Qingmian. Ning Qingmian knew from his mother's gaze that she was searching for the shadow of his father within him. When he was young, many people said he looked like his father, and as he grew older, the shadow of his father still lingered on him. After being separated from his father for a period of time, his mother would often stare at him absent-mindedly, Ning Qingmian knew that she couldn't let go in her heart.

  Three people arrived at Ning Qingmin's rental house first, after putting away their luggage, they couldn't rest, and Ning's mother urged them to go see the newly purchased house.

  After seeing the new house, Ning's mother said in surprise: "The contract really has Xiaomin's name on it. After a while, when we get the property certificate, we can even transfer the household registration over!"

  "Mom, this plot of land is offering a housing purchase with hukou, and there are three quotas available. It's just right for the three of us, not too many or too few." Ning Qing said with a smile: "You can just stay here and don't have to leave."

  "Three thousand yuan per square meter, and it comes with simple decoration, the price is quite reasonable." My grandmother looked around and was particularly satisfied with the layout of the kitchen and bathroom, praising them endlessly.

  "Our little Qīng Mǐn has really made it!" After seeing the house, Grandma first believed in Ning Qingmin's ability. After all, people are always willing to believe good news subconsciously.

  "Xiao Min, take some time to go to the hospital for a full-body checkup. I watched a movie where there was a silly person who suddenly became smart, and later it was confirmed that he had something growing in his brain, pressing on the nerves...” Ning's mom said halfway, then suddenly slapped her own mouth saying "bad luck!" and spat on the ground, "Good fortune is, as if I never said anything!"

  Ning's grandma heard Ning's mom's words, looked nervously at Ning Qingming's face and went up to touch it saying: "It seems a bit rosier than during the Spring Festival, should be fine, right?"

  "Alright, tomorrow the three of us will go for a full body checkup!" This comforted Grandma and Mom, Ning Qingming gritted her teeth, deciding to visit the hospital she usually disliked going to.

  In the evening, Zhang Yu and Zhang Ruili saw Ning Qingmian's former boss and called out to him with a look of admiration. Ning's grandmother and mother slightly put their minds at ease, perhaps their own little Mian really had that ability.