The very next morning, Shi Man rushed over to Wang Qiqi’s house, only to find her dressed as if she were going out as well. Shi Man looked at her questioningly, "You're...?" She wondered if Qiqi was trying to avoid someone.

Seeing the late hour, Wang Qiqi grabbed Shi Man’s arm, "Let's go, I made plans with my sister and her husband." Yesterday evening, her cousin had called to ask her out to look at houses, and Qiqi had agreed to an early time. Of course, Wang Qiqi wouldn't admit she was dodging someone, though escaping him was certainly part of the reason.

Not long after Shi Man and Wang Qiqi left, Gao Kai really did knock on Wang Qiqi’s door again. After knocking for a while, an older auntie came up carrying groceries and saw him. "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Wang Qiqi," Gao Kai replied very politely.

"Oh, she just went out with her sister. They said they were going to look at some houses," the woman said before heading upstairs.

Gao Kai had thought Wang Qiqi was avoiding him, but he hadn't expected her to actually have an errand. Then, remembering what Shi Man had said yesterday, he grew uncertain. Could Qiqi’s cousin really be getting married? He dimly recalled Wang Rui mentioning it once, though at the time Rui had mocked her proud cousin for finding some penniless nobody without a single property. While Wang Rui’s tone back then had made him uncomfortable, he suddenly worried: if Wang Qiqi’s relative married someone poor, would his own mother ever approve of him marrying Qiqi? His mother often stressed that having many poor relatives was a huge burden, a point Gao Kai strongly agreed with. After their family became wealthy, the true colors of those relatives had become apparent. "Thank you, Auntie."

Gao Kai stared at the door of Wang Qiqi’s home, wondering if he would ever get a chance to step inside. Since the college entrance exams ended, he had only managed to exchange a few hurried words with Wang Qiqi that one morning, and hadn't been able to reach her since. Yesterday, despite all the schemes and money he spent, he hadn't even managed a proper conversation, barely a glimpse of her. This gave him a sinking feeling: was he truly fated to have no connection with Qiqi?

Wang Qiqi followed Song Yao, who had specifically come to pick them up, pulling Shi Man along as they boarded the taxi. "Where's Brother-in-law?" Wang Qiqi had expected to see Gong Peixing, so seeing only Song Yao struck her as odd.

"I went to pick up my parents," Song Yao explained. It would have been best for Song Yao to travel with her parents, but Gong Peixing worried that if he was seen picking up Qiqi, it might lead to gossip among the neighbors, so they arranged for Song Yao to collect her instead.

Wang Qiqi grunted an acknowledgment. "The property transfer is complete?"

Song Yao nodded. "Yes. When his parents saw the deed was transferred to my name, their faces turned terrifyingly pale. Later, they even made us sign an agreement stating that since the house was given to us, we couldn't cause trouble over any future property or savings they held under their names. Furthermore, if his younger brother gets married later and they buy him a house, we also can't complain. This made his father furious; he threatened to bring in the uncles and aunts as witnesses to clearly divide up the future elder care responsibilities." From her in-laws' words, Song Yao understood that their house was meant for her brother-in-law, and even his future marriage would be secured with property. This left Song Yao feeling quite bitter. Everything her own mother had predicted had come true—it seemed the older the ginger, the spicier it got. Yet, Song Yao wasn't overly worried now. With the house secured, even though they had external debts, Gong Peixing assured her that as long as they worked together, they would overcome any difficulty.

"What about the elder care issue?" Wang Qiqi was surprised by Gong Peixing’s nerve. She knew many people, even aware of parental favoritism, wouldn't act so decisively. "Your brother-in-law's relatives must be speaking ill of him, and what about them treating you, Sister? After all, this caused unhappiness over Gong Peixing's marriage; what if they pin the blame on Song Yao?"

Perhaps, upon her rebirth, Wang Qiqi had intended to secure an ally at home, aiming to build a good relationship with Wang Damei and her two children. But after more than a year of interaction, Wang Qiqi realized that Song Yao and Song Ziwen were actually quite decent people at this time, before being tainted by later societal ills. Moreover, their timely tips had helped Qiqi avoid Li Cui’s schemes multiple times. Wang Qiqi gradually changed her initial plan. Since they seemed genuine towards her, why shouldn't she treat them sincerely? She wanted to try and change their destiny, although ultimately, it depended on their own will to change. At present, the results looked quite promising.

Song Yao took Wang Qiqi’s hand and sighed. "At first, they thought the worst of me. But later, he explained everything. His father tried to renege, but Qiqi, he had actually recorded his parents' words! So when the uncles and aunts heard it, they backed down. Oh, and your brother-in-law said he’s keeping that tape, just in case they decide to cause trouble later." Song Yao shook her head, taken aback by Gong Peixing’s foresight.

After letting Song Yao calm down a bit, Wang Qiqi said, "At least this will make things easier for you and Brother-in-law down the road. If they try to cling on, Sister, focus on building your small family with him. Even though Auntie can be calculating sometimes, she manages the household quite well, right?"

Song Yao considered this and nodded. "Yes. But I won't be like my own mother; we have our own ways. Oh, Qiqi, did you know that after the property was transferred, your brother-in-law and I went around to check things out? We found some places barely twenty square meters renting for only a little over two hundred yuan. It’s not as high as you said." If a room cost five or six hundred, Song Yao calculated she could easily rent out six units, bringing in three thousand a month—thirty-six thousand a year! The thought of paying off the debt didn't seem nearly as insurmountable.

"That’s just one room with no facilities, so the price is naturally low," Wang Qiqi pursed her lips. "Sister, you need to configure it into a layout with one kitchen and one bathroom, then furnish it with appliances and furniture. That way, the rent will go up." And it would be more competitive.

What? "It needs to be set up as a studio apartment, complete with appliances?" Song Yao did the math. "That sounds like a brand new apartment! How much will the furniture and appliances cost?" She worried that with such limited funds, this task was practically impossible.

"The better you furnish the space, the easier it will rent. Think about it: would you rather rent a single room where you cook and sleep together without a bathroom for just over two hundred a month, or would you rent the one with a private bath, an independent kitchen, and appliances for six hundred?"

"The latter," Song Yao answered immediately. "If your brother-in-law and I were renting, I would definitely choose the latter, but the real problem is our salary." That was the crux of it.

"There are subsidies," Wang Qiqi thought, remembering where else people could stay. "And Sister, have you forgotten? They can share the rent, so the cost per person is much lower."

Although Wang Qiqi presented a confident picture, Song Yao remained uncertain. The initial investment alone would be substantial, requiring discussion with the family—and most importantly, approval from her mother and Gong Peixing.

Wang Qiqi, Song Yao, and Shi Man arrived in front of the house Gong Peixing’s parents had gifted them. Although Wang Qiqi had heard descriptions of the property, standing before it now, she was still startled. Shi Man exclaimed outright, "Oh my god, this building isn't finished yet, is it?" It had neither doors nor windows.

Song Yao nodded. "No, but it's quite large—a three-courtyard structure." She thought that its only saving grace was its size.

Three courtyards, situated on the far edge of the plot, separated by a narrow, one-meter-wide village lane, and beyond that, a small irrigation ditch—currently dry. On the other side of the ditch were neighboring homes, whose cement exteriors made them look far superior to the structure her brother-in-law’s family had provided.

Wang Damei circled the building, inspecting the front, back, top, and bottom. "Hmm, not bad. A little renovation, and we can partition five or six rooms. That’s over a thousand in income a month." Wang Damei had discreetly inquired about local rental income earlier; by comparison, she thought, perhaps waiting for demolition and new housing distribution was the only viable option.

Gong Peixing, after walking around the perimeter, felt his heart sink upon realizing the rent wouldn't be as high as hoped. However, since he had already fallen out with his parents, and simple renovation would only cost twenty to thirty thousand, earning over a thousand monthly could recoup the investment in just two or three years. Still, he wasn't ready to give up and wanted to ask Wang Qiqi’s opinion.

After touring the property, Wang Qiqi realized that this structure could easily accommodate six independent suites, and better yet, without needing an interior corridor. The only drawback was a slight issue with security. Wang Qiqi voiced her ideas, and predictably, she heard Gong Peixing gasp sharply.

"Actually, we can buy second-hand furniture and appliances," Wang Qiqi suggested. "Some second-hand markets have nearly new furniture and appliances, though you’ll have to put in the effort to choose. For instance, sometimes furniture or appliance factories close down and sell discounted items that are still reasonably good quality, often with warranties from the second-hand dealers. As for appliances, I think the quality of current models is quite decent."

Gong Peixing pondered this. He walked back outside to examine the building again. Some decisions were beyond him. This level of investment would nearly triple their initial outlay, a daunting prospect for a young couple already short on funds.

Wang Qiqi, however, was quite satisfied with the house’s potential. She regretted that someone wasn't in a position to buy it outright; she certainly would have snapped it up. What a pity.

After a moment, Gong Peixing finally turned to his father-in-law. "Dad, what do you think?"

Song Wenbo was actually quite impressed with Wang Qiqi’s proposal. It meant full suites, each with a balcony, private bath, and kitchen, fully furnished for immediate move-in. The problem remained the expenditure. "This will require a significant outlay, but I think renting them out won't be difficult. I checked surrounding complexes: a single room with appliances rents for a minimum of six hundred a month, some go for seven hundred." As for the final decision, it rested with his son-in-law.

【Gossip】 A Young Girl's Chronicle: A certain loli complains that palace intrigue is too stressful, preferring to lie to ghosts instead! The Wife Who Secures for the Husband: In an era bustling with gossiping busybodies, witness the vibrant life of one woman.