https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-332-Zhou-Chenglei-s-Good-Fortune/12945026/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-334-Is-Boasting-an-Innate-Trait-of-the-Zhou-Family-/12945028/
Chapter 333: Choosing Floor Tiles
Chapter 333: Choosing Floor Tiles
After leaving the hospital, Zhou Chenglei took out the strawberries for Jiang Xia to eat, taking only two as he was worried she might not have an appetite for dinner later.
A new restaurant had opened in the city, a rather spacious one, which they had noticed on their way there. Zhou Chenglei drove Jiang Xia to the new restaurant on his motorcycle.
Jiang Xia ordered the food, and although there were many dishes she wanted to try, she eventually settled on braised squab pigeon, tomato egg beef slider, and a green vegetable dish.
Pigeon and beef were rarely served at home, so when eating out, they preferred dishes they couldn't often enjoy at home.
Zhou Chenglei also ordered a coconut congee chicken soup.
After they finished their meal, Zhou Chenglei drove Jiang Xia on his motorcycle to choose floor tiles and wall tiles.
It was fortunate they had bought the motorcycle; it was much more comfortable traveling around on it than on a bicycle.
The couple arrived at the city's tile market.
At first glance, Jiang Xia felt overwhelmed by the colorful array of old-fashioned tiles, each with its unique pattern, like a kaleidoscope of designs from different eras.
Zhou Chenglei pointed to a type of red terracotta tile and asked Jiang Xia, "Should we use these tiles for the first floor? They're moisture-resistant and absorbent."
While they weren't particularly aesthetically pleasing, lacking any patterns, Zhou Chenglei wasn't sure if Jiang Xia would like them.
Living by the sea, they experienced several months of humid weather each year, especially during springtime.
The ground floor of their old house was compacted earth, which didn't feel damp, but laying tiles was a different story, as moisture could seep through.
The shop owner chimed in, "Yes, these red terracotta tiles are moisture-resistant and absorbent, and they're also very affordable. They're the best choice for the first floor."
Jiang Xia asked, "Are there other moisture-resistant tiles?"
"These red terracotta tiles are the most moisture-resistant. Nowadays, many people prefer polished concrete floors, like the one I'm standing on. While it's not as moisture-resistant as the red terracotta tiles, it does offer some protection against moisture, and it's very popular in the city right now. There are various colors available, and you can create different patterns. There's red, green, yellow, and light shades, and you can even see the stone patterns. Look, how beautiful!"
"And it's convenient. Unlike laying tiles, you don't need to fill in the gaps afterward. Look at my floor; isn't it beautiful as a whole?"
Jiang Xia wasn't particularly keen on the polished concrete floor; she felt it was more suitable for hospitals and schools.
"Then let's go with the red terracotta tiles for the first floor." Practicality was more important than aesthetics.
Even in rural areas, not many people could afford to lay these tiles; a simple cement floor was good enough.
"Okay," Zhou Chenglei agreed, then turned to the shop owner, "We'll take these red terracotta tiles for the first floor."
Jiang Xia glanced at the other floor tiles, most of which had patterns, mainly geometric and floral designs, with a few mosaic patterns as well.
The floor tiles were not very large, and some patterns were created by arranging four small square tiles together.
Jiang Xia didn't like overly flashy styles; she preferred simplicity, but she couldn't choose solely based on her preferences.
Interior design trends changed with the times, and people of this era would naturally favor the trends of their time.
She asked Zhou Chenglei, "Which tiles do you like? Should we use the same tiles for the second and third floors?"
Zhou Chenglei replied, "I'm fine with anything. Just pick the ones you like."
Jiang Xia: "..."
"Why don't you choose a few, and then I'll pick from those."
Zhou Chenglei understood that she was overwhelmed and didn't know how to choose.
Hearing that they were considering tiles for the second and third floors, the shop owner realized they were big spenders and enthusiastically introduced the newest and most attractive tile designs.
Zhou Chenglei ignored his suggestions and selected a few tiles that caught his eye, either plain-colored with no patterns or with the simplest designs.
Jiang Xia also preferred simpler designs, so she chose a plain tile similar in color to wooden flooring.
She chose another design with a large green rhombus in the center and white triangular patterns at the four corners, a style with a vintage flair.
She wanted something with vibrant colors, thinking the children would like it.
In the end, the wood flooring had a more subdued tone.
These two types of floor tiles also matched the colors of the two sets of sofas and cabinets she had previously selected.
"The floor tiles for the rooms and the hall will be the same, laid throughout."
Then they moved on to choose the ceramic tiles for the toilet and kitchen.
Jiang Xia chose plain white ceramic tiles without any patterns, a timeless choice.
In her opinion, all the other patterns were unappealing.
For the toilet, she picked a mosaic-like design, also in green.
"Do you want cornices and coving?" the shop owner asked.
Jiang Xia looked over, "The cornices and coving don't match the color of the tiles!"
"It won't be noticeable once they're installed," the owner assured her.
Jiang Xia thought, with such a noticeable color difference, how could it not be noticeable? She decided against it.
"I'll pass for now," she said, thinking she'd see if the tiler could cut the edges of the tiles diagonally.
Zhou Chenglei pointed at a bathtub, "Are you installing a bathtub on every floor?"
The owner explained, "This is an imported bathtub, perfect for a comfortable soak."
Jiang Xia glanced at it, "No, it's not practical."
Zhou Chenglei persisted, "It'll be convenient for bathing the kids and preparing medicinal baths."
When the brothers were young, their mother would often gather medicinal herbs to make baths for them whenever they had a fever or caught a cold. After soaking in the herb-infused water, their colds would be cured.
Jiang Xia considered his words, "Well, maybe one? It's unnecessary to have too many, and when you're not using it, it just takes up space."
Zhou Chenglei decided, "Two, one for the second floor and one for the first."
He wanted one in their bedroom's bathroom for them to use.
Seeing his insistence and knowing his love for baths, Jiang Xia let him have his way.
Shop Owner: ...
Rich people! Definitely rich!
They're installing so many bathtubs.
These things are expensive!
The owner asked again, "Do you want to tile the walls of the hall? Half-tiling the walls will make them less prone to dirt, especially for families with children."
Zhou Chenglei agreed, "Then let's do that."
"How about a toilet and a squat toilet? This toilet is also imported, making it super convenient to use, especially for the elderly and pregnant women. They won't have to endure numb legs from squatting."
This young couple probably doesn't have children yet, right? If they're willing to buy two bathtubs, they won't mind an extra toilet.
Zhou Chenglei: "Yes."
"How about a washbasin?"
"Yes."
...
Concerned about Jiang Xia's fatigue, the couple spent an hour selecting floor and wall tiles for the entire house.
At that time, there was no service for taking measurements on-site.
However, Zhou Chenglei was well-prepared. He provided the dimensions, and the owner calculated the quantities. They paid half the deposit upfront.
The initial estimate for the entire three-story house, including the kitchen, courtyard, flowerbed tiles, bathroom fixtures for three master bedrooms and three public bathrooms, decorative tiles for the main gate and courtyard gate, and courtyard wall tiles, came to over five thousand yuan. It was uncertain if this would be sufficient, especially for the courtyard wall and yard, as they hadn't been constructed yet.
After purchasing the tiles, the couple headed to Jiang's parents' home to visit Jiang Fu and Jiang Mu and spent the night there. They would return to the village the next day.
Zhou Chenglei had already called Jiang Fu in advance.
(End of Chapter)
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