My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 34: Buying the East Wing

Soon, the four of them arrived at the neighborhood office.

Zhang Lei was also carrying a black bag, inside which were two chickens that he had placed there beforehand.

When Director Wang of the Subdistrict Office saw the four people arrive, Zhang Lei quickly said, "Director Wang, I am Zhang Lei, a purchasing agent from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Our Deputy Factory Director Li should have spoken to you by now."

Upon hearing Zhang Lei's self-introduction, Director Wang immediately remembered and said, "You're Zhang Lei. Your Deputy Factory Director Li has already called me. You're here to handle the housing allocation, right?"

Zhang Lei casually placed the black bag containing two chickens next to Director Wang's desk. Director Wang looked at the bag with a puzzled expression, so Zhang Lei quickly explained, "Director Wang, these are some game that my brother-in-law and his family hunted. They thought they would bring some for you when they came to visit you. They're not any expensive gifts, just some local specialties."

Director Wang frowned, but when he opened the bag and saw the two chickens inside, he gaped, as if about to say something. Seeing this, Zhang Lei quickly added, "Director Wang, you may not know my family situation. My wife's three older brothers and her father are all hunters in the mountains."

Director Wang finally relaxed, and her expression became exceptionally warm. She smiled and said, "Today we're arranging rooms for your wife's two younger sisters. Do you have any suggestions?"

Zhang Lei quickly said, "Director Wang, it's like this, my wife and I both live in courtyard house number 95. Do you see if there are any vacant rooms in the courtyard? If we live closer together, it will be easier for us to take care of each other."

Upon hearing this, Director Wang took out the blueprints for courtyard house number 95 and looked through them. After a moment, he frowned and said, "Zhang Lei, I'm really sorry, courtyard house number 95 is already full. There are no vacancies. How about I show you some other houses?"

Zhang Lei's gaze fell on the blueprints, and he suddenly pointed to a spot and asked, "Director Wang, where is this area?"

Director Wang looked in the direction he was pointing and explained, "This is the east wing of your compound, but these three rooms collapsed a long time ago and are uninhabitable. You should know that since you live in the compound."

Zhang Lei's eyes lit up when he thought of the east wing next to his own back house, and he asked, "Could you assign my two sisters-in-law's rooms here?"

Director Wang looked at him with a puzzled expression: "But this house is no longer habitable."

"Director Wang, this... this house, can we repair it ourselves?" Zhang Lei looked at Director Wang, his tone somewhat urgent.

Director Wang looked him over and slowly said, "If you repair it yourself, it will cost too much. Besides, these three rooms were completely collapsed back then. If you repair them now, it will be no different from rebuilding them."

Zhang Lei's mind raced, and he immediately followed up with, "Director Wang, could I use my housing allocation quota to buy this east wing?"

Director Wang pondered in his mind that the east courtyard had been abandoned for so many years, and the street office had long wanted to renovate it but had always lacked funds. If Zhang Lei was willing to take over, it would save a lot of trouble.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Buying is fine, but let me make this clear from the start: whether it's buying this yard or the subsequent reconstruction and renovation, you'll have to pay for everything yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei immediately felt reassured and quickly asked, "Director Wang, I'm willing to buy it! How much would it cost to buy this east wing?"

Director Wang glanced at the area on the blueprints, then did some calculations before saying, "The entire east courtyard is 120 square meters. If you want to buy it, it's two yuan per square meter, totaling 240 yuan."

Upon hearing the price of 240 yuan, Zhang Lei was overjoyed and quickly said, "Director Wang, I've made up my mind. We'll buy this yard."

Seeing Zhang Lei's anxious look, Director Wang kindly reminded him, "Zhang Lei, if you decide to buy it and rebuild the house, it will cost quite a bit."

Zhang Lei nodded firmly and replied, "Director Wang, don't worry, I can afford it."

Director Wang thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, since you're willing to buy it, I'll give you a receipt."

At this moment, Director Wang's gaze fell on the three identical-looking girls behind Zhang Lei, and he asked, "Which of these three is Ye Shuqi and Ye Shuhua?"

Zhang Lei quickly pulled Ye Shuqi and Ye Shuhua to the front and introduced them: "Director Wang, this is Ye Shuqi, and this is Ye Shuhua."

Looking at the three identical-looking girls in front of him, Director Wang couldn't help but laugh and ask, "Are you triplets?"

Ye Shuqi stepped forward and replied with a smile, "Director Wang, we are triplets."

Director Wang smiled and looked at Zhang Lei, saying, "You're really lucky. I see all three of them as if they're double images."

Director Wang then looked at Zhang Lei and teased, "Is it possible that you might mistake your own wife for someone else's if you're not careful?"

Hearing Director Wang's teasing, Zhang Lei smiled awkwardly and said, "No, no, I've been around them for a while, so I can recognize them."

The three Ye sisters couldn't help but laugh at Zhang Lei's embarrassed expression.

At this point, Director Wang stopped teasing Zhang Lei and asked with a smile, "So, whose name are you planning to put this house under?"

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and said, "Let's put the east courtyard under the names of Shuqi and Shuhua. Shuqi can have two rooms, and Shuhua can have the courtyard and one room. Does that sound alright?"

Director Wang looked at Zhang Lei's method of dividing the property and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, don't make it so complicated. If they don't have any objections, just divide it by area, 60 square meters each for the two of them in the east courtyard."

Upon hearing Director Wang's method of allocation, Zhang Lei quickly expressed his gratitude, saying, "This is good, this method is excellent!"

At this moment, Zhang Lei handed over the three people's materials. Director Wang looked at the pile of materials on the table and asked in confusion, "Zhang Lei, what are you going to do with this?"

Zhang Lei quickly explained, "Director Wang, it's like this. I just brought them back to Beijing these past two days. Their household registrations are still in Yejiacun. I was thinking of asking you to help transfer them back to Beijing so that all four of us would have a quota."

Director Wang thought for a moment and said, "Okay, Ye Shuqi and Ye Shuhua both have jobs and meet the criteria for relocation. Ye Shuqin's household registration needs to be registered under your name."

Zhang Lei nodded and said, "Director Wang, that's exactly what I mean."

Director Wang quickly completed the relevant procedures, and the property deed for the east courtyard was obtained.

Director Wang looked at Zhang Lei and said, "The household registration transfer for the three of them may be delayed by about a week, since it takes time to confirm the information."

Zhang Lei immediately said, "Director Wang, it's alright, we can handle it."

He paused, thought for a moment, and then asked, "But we want to renovate that east courtyard now. Can we find someone to rebuild it right now?"

Director Wang thought for a moment and said, "That's no problem. If you need to find a construction team, I can recommend one to you."

Upon hearing Director Wang's words, Zhang Lei quickly expressed his gratitude, saying, "Really? Thank you so much, Director Wang!"

Director Wang waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, this is also part of our street office's work."

As he spoke, he wrote down an address for Zhang Lei and handed it over, saying, "Whenever you want to rebuild the east courtyard, you can go to Master Lei at this address."

Upon hearing the name "Master Lei," Zhang Lei paused for a moment, then asked, "Director Wang, are you referring to the famous Master Lei of the Styles Studio in Beijing?"

When Director Wang heard Zhang Lei say this, he smiled and nodded: "It seems you also know Master Lei. His ancestors built palaces for the royal family, and their family craftsmanship is unparalleled."

Hearing Director Wang say this, Zhang Lei beamed with joy and quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Director Wang! Thank you so much! The renowned Master Lei's skills are definitely top-notch!"

Zhang Lei looked at the blueprints, thought for a while, and said, "Director Wang, it's like this, as you know, my house is currently a rear building, with the east wing connected to the rear building. I'm thinking of blocking the gate from the rear building's courtyard to the west wing, and then opening a door in the wall leading to the east wing. Then we can share the east wing's gate for entry and exit. Is that feasible?"

Listening to Zhang Lei's words, Director Wang looked down at the blueprints and asked, "You mean you want to combine the rear building and the east courtyard together, and then leave only one door leading outside on the east courtyard side?"

Zhang Lei nodded quickly.

Director Wang put down the blueprints and said, "This is fine. Since the rear building and the east courtyard are your private property and do not involve public areas, this adjustment is acceptable."

Hearing this, Zhang Lei was overjoyed, and a smile appeared on his face. This meant that no one could easily pry into their privacy while they lived in the back annex.

Courtyard house blueprints☞