Chapter 62: The House Is Built, and the Villagers Are Envious
Chapter 62: The House Is Built, and the Villagers Are Envious
When the Credit Union Director appeared before him with a beaming smile, Deng Shirong knew that the government had introduced policies to support farmers' economic development. For the Credit Union Director, Deng's loan application was a welcome opportunity.
They exchanged pleasantries before getting down to business.
Bo Wanhu asked first, "Comrade, how much do you wish to borrow?"
Deng Shirong wasn't sure how much he could borrow, so he responded, "Director Bo, I’d like to ask, how much can I borrow?"
Bo Wanhu's eyes lit up. This was a big client. He quickly explained, "That depends on your loan project, Comrade. Are you planning to start your own business or perhaps get into farming or livestock? Different needs have different loan amounts."
Deng Shirong said, "Director Bo, the production team has divided the land, and my family received a fairly large mountain. I plan to develop it for fruit trees. I’ve already arranged for the saplings, but I lack the funds. So, how much can I borrow for this purpose?"
Growing fruit trees was exactly what the government encouraged, perfectly fitting the loan criteria. Bo Wanhu’s face lit up with enthusiasm. "Comrade, for fruit tree planting, the loan amount is usually based on the planting area. How many acres do you plan to plant?"
Deng Shirong replied, "About twenty to thirty acres."
Bo Wanhu nodded. "For twenty to thirty acres, a loan of five to six thousand yuan should be no problem."
Deng Shirong smiled and nodded. "Alright, let’s go with that. That amount should be sufficient."
Seeing that Deng Shirong wasn’t at all concerned about the loan amount, Bo Wanhu couldn’t help but think, _What a great client! If I had a few more like him, I could easily complete my assigned tasks._
"Alright, then, Comrade, please fill out the necessary forms."
...
Ten minutes later.
Bo Wanhu shook Deng Shirong’s hand with genuine enthusiasm. "Comrade, I’ll expedite the approval process and notify you once the loan is approved."
Deng Shirong smiled. "Thank you, Director Bo!"
Bo Wanhu replied sincerely, "I wish I had such ‘troubles’ every day!"
From Bo Wanhu’s attitude, Deng Shirong could tell he had a significant loan target to meet. The Credit Union Director was a prominent figure in the village, and it would be beneficial to maintain a good relationship with him. There might be times in the future when he would need Bo Wanhu’s help.
With this in mind, Deng Shirong said earnestly, "Director Bo, I heard you have a loan target from your superiors. Once my orchard is up and running, I’ll encourage the villagers to follow suit. I’ll try to recommend several clients to you so you can exceed your target."
Bo Wanhu’s face lit up with joy. "Comrade Deng Shirong, you are truly a blessing in my life. Regardless of how this turns out, I owe you a favor."
Deng Shirong laughed. "Director Bo, you’re too kind. I’ll be on my way if there’s nothing else."
"Alright, let me see you out!"
"Thank you, Director Bo. Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
...
On the 22nd day of the eighth lunar month, the cement floor of Deng Shirong’s house was finally laid.
With this, the house construction was officially complete. All that remained was to install the doors and windows and furnish the rooms. No further renovations were needed.
After all, these houses were only meant to be temporary for Deng Shirong. There was no need for fancy renovations. Once the village had electricity in the 1990s, he planned to build a more impressive house and give it a proper makeover.
As the houses were completed, the entire Naye Village gathered to take a look.
Even though the houses were empty, the uniform blue brick walls, cement floors, and the bathroom had already left the villagers in awe.
Especially the bathroom—after Deng Shirong explained its purpose, the villagers were envious, their eyes turning red. Compared to the disgusting outhouses, who wouldn't want to use a clean and hygienic bathroom?
The women, in particular, looked at the bathroom with genuine longing, thinking that if they ever built a new house, they would definitely include a bathroom like the one Uncle Jiu (Elder Jiu) had.
Deng Shirong's bathroom didn't have the modern, comfortable flush toilets of the future. Instead, it had a squat toilet with a large water tank and a manual flushing system.
There was no electricity or running water, so this was the best he could do.
Even so, for the villagers of this era, it was already a luxury.
Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying were among the visitors. Although they already knew about the bathroom, Guan Yongying couldn't help but look at it with envy, just as she always did.
Deng Changfu noticed and whispered in her ear, "When we build our new house, we'll have a bathroom like this too."
Guan Yongying rolled her eyes. They had only been married for a short time, and their savings were limited to the dowry from her parents. Her in-laws, eager to have her marry into the family and gain more land, had given her family an extra 400 yuan, leaving them with a significant debt.
In this situation, building a new house was out of the question for now. It might take years before they could live in a house like Elder Jiu's.
Deng Changfu understood her frustration and made a silent vow to work hard and pay off their debt as soon as possible, and then save money to build a new house.
At the scene, many others made similar resolutions.
After the tour, the visitors gradually dispersed, and news of the new houses spread to the neighboring villages, drawing even more people to come and see for themselves.
After all, this was an era where even a new Phoenix or Forever bicycle would draw a crowd. Deng Shirong's large blue-brick houses and advanced bathroom naturally piqued everyone's curiosity.
As expected, the visitors left with faces full of amazement and envy.
For the next few days, people kept coming to see the houses, much to the delight of Deng Yunzhen and her siblings. They relished the envious looks from the visitors.
With the houses completed, furniture became the next priority. Due to financial constraints earlier, Deng Shirong had only commissioned the doors and windows, not the furniture. Now, with the credit union loan about to come through, he had the funds to commission thirteen bed frames (one for each room), eight large wardrobes (one for each person), three dressing tables (for his two daughters and future daughter-in-law), a large dining table, and several chairs.
(End of Chapter)
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