Chapter 478: Renovation
Chapter 478: Renovation
New Industrial News: "Recent Speculations on the Princess's Grand Wedding, Prices of Royal Decorations Skyrocket"
Financial Times: "Princess's Relationship Stable, Lane Armory Recommended for Long-term Investment"
The Sun: "Exclusive Interview - Princess: The Best Partner is a Friend to the Soul"
Entertainment News: "Central Cross Theater Premieres New Play - 'I Fell in Love with a Lion'"
"...Huh?"
What in the world...?
Although he had mentally prepared himself, after getting off the public carriage and walking back home, Lyon couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance as he saw the posters plastered outside the newsstands along the road.
Ever since the 'Palace Incident', Princess Veronica had been busy stabilizing the situation, tirelessly suppressing the old nobility, and smoothly taking over power from the old king. She was so busy that she didn't have time to bother him.
However, even though she hadn't come in person, she had been constantly expressing her love while working, taking every opportunity to steer the conversation in that direction. Then, she would hire people to spread news and start a frenzy, publicly displaying their affection.
Despite not having seen her for over a week, it seemed as if they were in a passionate love affair, causing half the people in the capital to believe that Lyon was about to marry the princess...
It was absurd.
Lyon clicked his tongue in exasperation and turned the corner towards Happiness Apartments. Just then, Strong Old Man, whom he hadn't seen in a while, emerged from the small garden next to the building, carrying a pair of incredibly long gardening shears.
"Good day," Lyon greeted politely, heading towards the apartment lobby while under the watchful gaze of the old man.
After two months of repeated confrontations and the experience of being tied up with yarn and hung up for a night whenever he tried to lay a hand on Lyon, the old man's not-so-sharp mind finally managed to remember the new rule of Happiness Apartments:
No villains allowed, except for a certain 'evil demon spawn' who was the only exception and could come and go freely.
Although he was still concerned about the safety of the residents, he would occasionally limp by Lyon or sit outside his bedroom window at night with a pair of gleaming shears, but he no longer directly attacked him.
"Hmm?" The manager, who was knitting in her office, looked up in surprise when she saw Lyon entering the building. "Why are you here so early? You usually come back late at night, don't you?"
"Hehe, it's a special situation today..." Lyon opened the small window of the manager's office and handed her a package of high-quality yarn. "I've been working hard these days, and I'll be going on a business trip in a few days, which might take some time. So, the Bureau gave me a few days off to rest in advance and spend more time with my family. By the way, where are Anna and the others?"
"They'll be back soon," the manager said, taking the yarn with a hint of surprise. "It's school dismissal time, so Anna should have picked up the two kids and they're on their way back... Oh my, this yarn isn't cheap! I can't accept it!"
"It's not that expensive, it's just a small gift. Please take it," Lyon insisted, pushing the yarn back after the manager tried to return it. "I'm really busy with work and often stay out all night, so Anna has to take care of William and Melanie by herself. You and Uncle John have been a great help to our family. I appreciate everything you've done.
Compared to the care you and Uncle John have shown us, this is just a small token of my gratitude. I didn't even buy it specifically; I just happened to see it on my way back and thought you might like it, so I bought it."
Lyon took out two large whetstones and a package of selected flower seeds from his mirrored cufflinks, adding them to the yarn package. With a sincere expression, he said, "Mrs. Mary, please accept it. The Purification Bureau pays well, and these things are nothing to me.
"Okay, fine."
Seeing Lyon's persistence, the elderly administrator reluctantly accepted the yarn package, intending to knit a pair of gloves and hats for the Lane family's children before returning the favor.
After taking the gift, she seemed to suddenly remember something and asked with a hint of concern:
"By the way, did you know that the municipal office came by these past few days? They said they're planning to renovate Happiness Apartments and expand the area."
Renovating Happiness Apartments?
Upon hearing the administrator's question, Lyon couldn't help but pause slightly.
Indeed... Despite the meticulous care of the elderly administrator and the burly old man, the original purpose of Happiness Apartments was an almshouse from over ninety years ago. It was, in essence, a century-old building.
According to the kingdom's Building Maintenance Law, all mid-rise buildings in the capital must undergo inspection every ten years and be repainted and extensively refurbished every fifty years. It seemed that the time for Happiness Apartments' refurbishment had arrived.
However, there's always a way around every rule. The kingdom's laws were meticulously drafted, but both inspections and renovations required money and manpower to execute.
Given the kingdom's recent financial constraints, where even military pensions could be withheld, the municipal office was understandably reluctant to take on such an unrewarding task. Only buildings in the rich and noble districts could expect proper maintenance.
After all, building collapses were the construction company's responsibility, and the municipal department could only do so much. Considering the limited funds, they could barely manage to keep up with the maintenance.
But if the laws were strictly enforced, with street-wide inspections and renovations, the official in charge wouldn't even dream of a promotion. They would likely spend the rest of their career in the municipal office's toilet, scrubbing toilets with their bare hands.
So, not only were renovations and refurbishments neglected, but even the decade-long inspections were rarely conducted. The municipal office staff would merely show up, hastily list a few maintenance projects, claim some maintenance funds, and call it a day.
While the municipal department was inactive, the residents couldn't afford to be complacent. After all, their safety was at stake. In recent years, the renovation of Happiness Apartments had been solely funded by the elderly administrator, who, along with the burly old man, had been working for nearly a century without much savings.
Even with their meager salaries, combined with the residents' contributions, they could only afford the most basic maintenance. Many parts of Happiness Apartments were in a state of disrepair, barely holding together, and even the handrails in the corridors were missing in several places.
If it weren't for the burly old man's nearly hundred years of maintenance work, which had honed his remarkable repair skills, the future of this happy apartment building would have been uncertain.
...
"This is great news!"
After recalling the condition of Happiness Apartments, Lyon exclaimed with delight:
"The apartments do need a renovation. If the municipal office is willing to take on the refurbishment, you and Uncle John will have a much easier time."
"That's true..."
The elderly administrator nodded in agreement but couldn't help but express her concerns in a soft voice:
"But John and I, we are a part of this apartment building. If Happiness Apartments undergoes renovation and expansion... Will we still have a place here?"
(End of Chapter)
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