God-Tier Get Rich System – CH91

Chapter 91: The Trouble of Renting

The male coworkers were enthusiastic and eager to help, but they constantly made jokes about him and the female coworkers. Maybe they meant no harm, but he found it very unpleasant.

As time went on, even the cafeteria ladies recognized his lunch box.

After a few times, Xu Huazhang simply stopped eating at the cafeteria altogether.

He rented a small room, about four or five square meters, in the county. He put together a simple bed, a stove, and a pot.

Every morning, he would buy convenient food like buns, steamed bread, fried dough sticks, or pancakes from a state-owned restaurant. At noon, he would heat it up and eat in his little room, and take a nap there.

He didn’t want Mu Lantu to worry, and he didn’t want Mu Lantu to feel uncomfortable about those female coworkers, so he didn’t tell him.

Mu Lantu’s heart tightened in pain. Along with the heartache came guilt. He had neglected his man—he hadn’t visited the mechanical plant in such a long time.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Xu Huazhang didn’t think it was a big deal. He pulled him into an embrace. “Baby, I wasn’t starving. Didn’t you give me pocket money?”

But what Mu Lantu said next made Xu Huazhang feel all his earlier tension had been for nothing.

“Huazhang, do you know what image popped into my head when you said that?”

Xu Huazhang gently pecked his forehead. “What image?”

“You, folding up your long legs, pitifully sitting on a tiny stool, like a lonely old man guarding some ‘leftovers’ on the stove. That little stool is missing a leg, and the stove is broken—missing a piece of metal… Pfft…” The more Mu Lantu talked, the more amused he got. He completely forgot the heartache and doubled over laughing.

Xu Huazhang had dark lines running down his face. He solemnly said, “Baby, I’m really not miserable enough to be eating ‘leftovers’!”

“I know—ow, my stomach hurts! Hahahaha…” Mu Lantu clutched his belly, gasping for air, his cheeks bright red.

What a goofball.

Xu Huazhang found him both amusing and helpless. He had to rub his belly.

“Baby, your description was so vivid. When the royalty system for publishing is reinstated, you should consider writing a novel.”

Mu Lantu gradually calmed down, and the heartache returned.

“Let’s buy a place in the county, okay? Or I can bring you meals.”

Just as Xu Huazhang was about to answer, he saw steam pouring from the steamer.

“Are the buns done?”

Mu Lantu checked his watch. “They need fifteen minutes total. Five more to go.”

Xu Huazhang picked up the earlier conversation. “No need for you to bring food.” Even if Mu Lantu rode a bike, it would take over an hour round trip. It wasn’t worth it.

“Buying a house also doesn’t work. There are no listings in the county at all. These days, every household has several kids, and there’s no such thing as commercial housing. Houses are more scarce than anything—highly sought after.

As soon as something opens up, people with connections and status always hear first. Ordinary folks like us never get the chance.”

Even renting was difficult.

Some young people had no room at home and couldn’t get assigned a place through work units, so they had to rent just to get married.

The little room he rented was only available because he pulled some strings.

“I’ll think of something,” Mu Lantu said stubbornly. “If nothing works, I’ll just spend money and build one myself.”

But you needed land for that.

As long as Mu Lantu stayed safe, Xu Huazhang wouldn’t stop him from doing anything he wanted. He was still young. Running around would keep his spirit high.

“Take your time. Don’t stress out. Once I get promoted one more level, I’ll qualify for a private dorm. But with the way things are now, it’s safer to stay where I am. Once 1977 comes around, and if everything goes as expected and the college entrance exam resumes, we’ll use that to return to Beijing.”

Mu Lantu thought the same. He had brought all his books with him.

The next day, he rode Xu Huazhang’s bike to the county.

The educated youths saw him as they came out into the yard.

“Mu’s going to the county again.”

“So jealous,” Bai Ningning sighed.

Lu Manman said, “No use being jealous. We don’t have their talent.”

Yue Xiaoying’s spirited face showed a bit of confusion. “Are we going to live like this forever?” These kinds of days felt like they had no end in sight.

The group fell silent.

What else could they do?

Xu Jincheng tried to boost morale. “This kind of life isn’t so bad. It’s plain but stable. Have any of you been writing letters to friends? In other places, educated youths have been through all kinds of trouble—some even lost their lives. At least we’re still alive, with food to eat and clothes to wear.”

Happiness is relative. The others perked up slightly.

Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze lagged behind the group.

“I’ve been having a little idea lately,” Du Xuewen said quietly.

Miao Jiaze lowered his voice too. “What idea?”

“It came from watching Brother Xu and Brother Mu. It’s just a concept for now,” Du Xuewen said.

“Don’t keep me guessing. Spill it.”

Du Xuewen glanced ahead to make sure no one was listening. “Since the village doesn’t offer easy jobs to educated youths, we can create one ourselves.”

There hadn’t been a harvester driver in the village before. But because Xu made a diesel harvester, that position was created.

Miao Jiaze got excited. “How would we create one?”

Du Xuewen shrugged. “I haven’t figured that part out yet. I said it was just a concept.”

Miao Jiaze looked to the sky. He shouldn’t have asked.

Once in the county, Mu Lantu went undercover again and wandered through alleyways, specifically looking for elderly folks to ask if there were houses for rent or sale.

From ancient times till now, grandmas and grandpas were born informants. They knew everyone, everything, and could do anything.

“Best if it’s a standalone courtyard, so I won’t bother anyone. If you grannies can help me find something suitable…” Mu Lantu held up one finger. “I’ll give you this much.”

“A dime?” one granny asked, clearly disinterested.

Mu Lantu corrected her. “Ten yuan.”

The three grannies’ cloudy eyes lit up.

“Really?”

Mu Lantu nodded. “Dragon Country (a.k.a China) folks don’t lie to Dragon Country folks!”

It was the first time they’d heard that saying—it sounded profound and powerful. They instantly believed him.

“Alright, we’ll start asking around right away! How do we find you later?”

“I’ll come back here at this time tomorrow.”

“No problem!”

Two of them dashed off as if on rockets—old, but surprisingly nimble.

Mu Lantu turned to the remaining granny.

“Granny, did you have something else to say?”

The granny looked mysterious. “I know a place. You’ll definitely love it!”

Mu Lantu sat with her on some broken bricks and handed her a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket.

“Please, go on.”

The granny munched as she spoke. “It’s a really nice house. Matches all your requirements. Brick walls, tile roof, private courtyard! Half of it’s paved with stone, very clean even on rainy days. The other half is a vegetable garden—you can grow your own food.”

Mu Lantu cracked a seed. “But?”

“Cough!” The granny nearly choked, then laughed dryly. “You’re a sharp one!”

Mu Lantu smiled. “If it had no flaws, it wouldn’t be available for me.”

“Listen, it’s not a big issue. The house belongs to a pair of siblings—parents passed away, so they depend on each other. So pitiful!” She launched into a dramatic performance, even wiping away imaginary tears. “If you rent from them—since they still need to live there—you don’t need to pay rent. Just provide lunch for them once a day and look out for them a bit, make sure they don’t get bullied. Isn’t that a great deal?”

Just provide lunch? Easy to say. And what if he saw the kids hungry in the morning or evening—could he just turn away?

Mu Lantu gave a fake smile. “How old are they?”

“Ten and four. Both very well-behaved, and they can help out around the house!”

Mu Lantu ran off immediately.

The granny awkwardly adjusted her greying hair. “Fine, don’t rent. Why run?”

Why not run? He was afraid she’d cling to him.

Mu Lantu wanted a comfortable living space—not more trouble.

He had some compassion, sure—but not unlimited. There were too many pitiful people in the world. He couldn’t help them all.

At first, Mu Lantu thought renting would be fine. Now, he changed his mind. He had to buy. Only in a home of his own could he truly be in charge.

Not relying just on the two grannies, he wandered elsewhere. No luck.

The next day, he returned to the agreed spot. The two grannies were already there.

He gave them each a handful of sunflower seeds. “Thanks for the hard work. May I ask your names?”

“I’m Granny Wei, she’s Granny Wu.”

“Granny Wei, Granny Wu, any good news?” Mu Lantu asked eagerly.

“No,” Granny Wei said, disappointed she wouldn’t get that ten yuan.

Granny Wu had a very odd expression—hard to describe. She looked as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Granny Wei seemed to sense that something was better said in private and made an excuse to leave.

Only then did Granny Wu say, “Young man, what if someone’s willing to rent you a place, but only on the condition that you agree to a fake marriage. Would you consider it?”

Mu Lantu took a step back. Was he the protagonist in some strange novel to be encountering all these bizarre things?

“Don’t be afraid. That girl is a really good person, she—”

Mu Lantu helplessly interrupted. “Granny, yesterday another granny told me the siblings were good kids. But whether they’re good girls or good kids has nothing to do with me. I just want to rent a place, not adopt trouble.”

Granny Wu sighed and didn’t press further. She talked about the siblings instead. “Those two really are good kids, just unlucky.”

Mu Lantu asked curiously, “What’s their relation to the granny from yesterday?”

Granny Wu shook her head. “No relation. Just neighbors.”

Mu Lantu felt a moment of guilt. He’d suspected the granny was related to the siblings and trying to offload her responsibility.

He pulled out five yuan and handed it to Granny Wu. “Please pass this to those siblings for me—just a little token of goodwill.”