Chapter 25:

Because of the housing allocation, all I’ve been hearing lately is news about it.

This is the norm. No matter which factory it is, during times like these, housing becomes the central topic of discussion.

Every time housing is allocated, everyone gives it their all. However, because there are too few houses and too many people in need, evaluations are conducted based on seniority, rank, performance, whether both spouses are factory workers, and other factors before the houses are distributed.

The allocated houses are usually quite small. For example, the current batch of houses isn’t very spacious.

Newcomers basically have no chance. Yu Xiang’an is a standard newcomer, though she also wishes to have her own place.

The factory is quite a distance from her home, and she wastes over half an hour commuting every day.

At home, there isn’t enough privacy either. At this time, it’s rare for people to close their doors, so family members can basically walk in whenever they want. Except late at night, other times aren’t convenient for doing anything else. If her farm were exposed, it would be disastrous.

This wasn’t the first time Yu Xiang’an had been called by Deputy Director Wang to help out.

No one found it strange, but now she had access to firsthand information, making her suddenly very popular.

Walking down the street, everyone greeted her with smiles. Even those who didn’t know her before would nod and say hello. Her social standing improved overnight.

Some even secretly gave her gifts, asking her to put in a good word for them.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

Aside from the changes around her, she also witnessed a family of over ten people, dragging their entire household to Deputy Director Wang’s office, begging him to approve their application for a new house.

Others tried to discreetly deliver gifts, but their guilty actions were too obvious, making it clear at a glance what they were doing.

There were also those who asked Deputy Director Wang’s distant relatives to intercede on their behalf.

Everyone was trying every trick in the book.

Undoubtedly, Deputy Director Wang had a headache over this. But at the same time, he was fair. No matter who came or what they offered, he remained impartial. He had already laid out the requirements.

Those who deserved it would get it.

But it wasn’t surprising that people resorted to such measures. This time, the newly built two-story building only had sixteen units.

That meant, at most, sixteen households could be allocated housing, but the food factory had over a hundred employees.

Too many monks and too little gruel.

And the gruel was far too scarce.

Yan Yuzhen was close to Yu Xiang’an, so she naturally asked her if there was any chance she could get a house.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t know either. This time, she had gained some understanding of all the factory employees with a certain level of seniority because she had gone through all the records for the statistics.

Yan Yuzhen’s situation was ambiguous—she wasn’t completely ineligible, but she wasn’t a sure bet either. She was right on the borderline.

She had received an advanced worker title, had seniority, and had worked there for over a decade. But she wasn’t a dual-worker household—no one else in her family worked at the factory, which was a disadvantage.

Yan Yuzhen was extremely anxious, sighing constantly. “My youngest son is at the age to get married, but because our home is so cramped, we can’t even spare a separate room for him. No girl is willing to marry into our family.”

Although her youngest son had a formal job and didn’t have to go to the countryside, getting married required at least a separate room. Without that, how could they even think about having children?

Yu Xiang’an nodded in agreement. “That’s true.”

Living with a big family, the bride couldn’t just sleep on the floor with the groom, could she?

Even she herself wanted a house—a private space that belonged only to her.

Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but start brainstorming.

At this time, buying a house wasn’t an option because there were no commercial properties. Occasionally, there might be a few vacant houses, but those were state-owned. In such cases, if families with severe housing difficulties applied, they might be allocated housing for free. But given Yu Xiang’an’s family situation—though their house was old, it was livable, and she was still an unmarried girl—no one would take her application seriously.

It was only 1970. The reform and opening-up policy was still far away, and the free buying and selling of houses wouldn’t happen for a long time. The only legal way for her to own a house was through factory allocation.

Factory housing allocation came in two forms: one was like the current situation, where the factory funded the construction of houses and distributed them based on employees’ qualifications. The other was when an employee made a significant contribution, and a house might be awarded as a reward.

In the first scenario, Yu Xiang’an didn’t think she could wait that long.

The second scenario was also difficult. At this time, even getting an “advanced worker” or “activist” title wasn’t easy, let alone making a contribution significant enough to warrant a house as a reward.

Were there any other ways besides these two?

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

It was frustrating, but she couldn’t give up.

*

The final list was released after much anticipation.

Once the list was posted, those on it were overjoyed, while those left off sighed in disappointment. Yan Yuzhen checked the list multiple times but couldn’t find her name. She was devastated—she hadn’t made the cut this time.

She wanted to complain, but she knew a bit about the people on the list, and they did have better qualifications than her.

But missing out this time meant the next allocation was far off.

With her family’s situation, there was no way to make extra space. How could her son ever get married like this?

They couldn’t even squeeze in an extra bed. Because of this, she didn’t dare introduce her youngest son to potential brides.

Yan Yuzhen was worried, and so were the others who didn’t make the list. Some, unwilling to accept it, went to Deputy Director Wang.

On her way to work, Yu Xiang’an saw a couple kneel before Deputy Director Wang, begging him to take pity on them—they were still living with the wife’s parents and had no place of their own. Deputy Director Wang was helpless. “Get up. The decision has been made. Everyone has urgent needs, but the factory only has so much housing.”

Yu Xiang’an had an idea. She had been thinking about it for a while and felt that if she proposed it, there was a chance it might be adopted. If not, she had nothing to lose. If it was adopted, she might have a shot. So she waited until Deputy Director Wang had finally persuaded the couple to leave before stopping him.

“Director Wang, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you—about housing.”

Hearing the word “housing,” Deputy Director Wang frowned and looked at her. “Xiao An, you haven’t been at the factory for long, have you?” Was she also asking for a house?

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Director, of course I’d like a house, but I know I’m not eligible yet—I just started. But I’ve noticed that many people have small homes with too many family members, making it impossible for their sons to get married. I also know the factory has real difficulties and can’t meet all employees’ housing needs. So I have an idea—maybe it could help solve this problem. I’d like you to hear it out. You’re experienced and knowledgeable—you’d know if it’s feasible.”

“An idea to solve this problem? Let’s hear it.” Deputy Director Wang was intrigued.

“Here’s the thing. I noticed there’s a small unused plot of land in the southeast corner of the factory. It’s unlikely the factory will expand there in the future—it’s near the roadside. I think that land could be put to use. Our county has a brick factory. If the factory is willing to develop that land and coordinate with the brick factory to build houses, allowing formal employees to purchase them at cost, then people wouldn’t have to wait for factory allocations to get a new home. I think this could solve the urgent housing needs for some.”

Deputy Director Wang listened carefully. “Purchase at cost? What do you mean?”

“The factory provides the land and helps coordinate with the brick factory and workers. Then, after calculating the costs, employees can buy the houses at cost price. This is different from the factory’s welfare housing—those are free, while these would be collectively purchased by the workers as a form of employee benefit. Those without urgent needs don’t have to participate, but those who desperately need a house for marriage could buy one. If they don’t have the funds upfront, they could pay a deposit and then repay the rest in installments from their monthly wages until it’s fully paid.”

“For families with many members where two rooms aren’t enough, larger units like three-bedroom apartments could be built. There could also be two-bedroom and one-bedroom options, based on demand. If you think it’s feasible, Director, you could hold a workers’ meeting or consult worker representatives. If everyone agrees, it can proceed. If not, then it won’t. Don’t laugh at me—this is just a rough idea.”

Deputy Director Wang was thoughtful. “You’re being too modest. I think what you’re saying makes sense. Xiao An, go back and write down your proposal in detail, then give it to me. I’ll think it over. Thank you for the suggestion—it’s good for young people to have ideas. Keep it up!”

Seeing his attitude, Yu Xiang’an relaxed. It seemed there was hope. “Yes, Director. It’s almost time for work—I’ll head back to the office and come find you later.”

“Go ahead.”

Deputy Director Wang was excited. If the factory really offered this benefit, he would purchase a house himself.

His wife wasn’t a factory worker, and although his rank qualified him for housing, the current allocation wasn’t enough for his family of three sons and a daughter.

His youngest son wasn’t married yet. If purchasing was an option, he’d definitely buy a house for his son’s marriage.

With multiple wage earners in the family, they could even afford a spacious three-bedroom.

They could move into the new house and let the youngest son use the current one for his marriage.

Having independent housing would also raise the standards for finding a daughter-in-law.

Thinking about this, he got excited before calming down.

There were many things to consider—like whether using that land was permissible under policy, the construction costs, whether workers would agree, and how the purchasing process would work.

He decided to think it through carefully and then hold a meeting for everyone to discuss whether it was feasible.

Yu Xiang’an had done all she could. Now, it was a waiting game. She thought the chances were good.

One issue remained: if this really succeeded, how could she openly produce the money for a down payment? If purchasing became an option, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Her current wages were split between contributing to the household, personal expenses, and savings.

Though Yu Qinghan didn’t take her money, she regularly contributed to household expenses, buying food and necessities.

He told her to save the rest for her dowry. In a way, he was quite open-minded—or simply loved his children deeply.

But if she wanted to buy a house, her monthly wages were fixed, and Yu Qinghan would have a rough idea of how much she had saved.

Yu Qinghan probably didn’t have much savings either, with two siblings in the countryside needing support, a large family to feed, and relatives like her grandfather and uncle in the village.

After submitting her written proposal, there was silence for a while. Deputy Director Wang first refined the details himself before holding a meeting with factory leadership to discuss feasibility.

There was no precedent for this.

Disagreements were inevitable.

But many in the factory, like Deputy Director Wang, faced housing shortages and were personally in favor of the idea.

After a majority vote, it was decided to make the proposal public.

A month after Yu Xiang’an made her suggestion, news finally came—the factory would hold a workers’ meeting, and all employees were required to attend.

No one knew what it was about, and speculation ran wild.

Some tried to get information from higher-ups, but lips were sealed. Still, it probably wasn’t bad news.

Was it a raise? Or improved benefits?

Since it wasn’t bad, it must be good news.

At the workers’ meeting, Deputy Director Wang announced the proposal from the stage.

“Given the recent housing allocation issues, we’ve come up with an idea…”

After explaining it in detail, he asked, “Did everyone understand what I just said? This meeting is to gather your opinions. The food factory is our shared home, but building houses to meet every employee’s needs isn’t financially feasible for the factory. So this suggestion was made. What do you all think?”

“See this ballot box? Write down your answer and drop it in. If more than half agree, it will pass.”

He gave everyone three days to consider it.

Unsurprisingly, his words caused an uproar.

“Is this really possible?”

“Does that mean we have to pay for it ourselves?”

“If it means a new house, the price might be worth it.”

“I can’t afford it—my family doesn’t have that kind of money.”

Those with urgent housing needs and financial means immediately agreed—like Yan Yuzhen, whose family wasn’t short on money. If there had been another way to buy a house, she would have done it long ago.

Those without housing needs discussed it but remained indifferent. Paying for a house themselves?

No way.

But seeing how desperate some people were, they didn’t oppose it outright to avoid making enemies.

After all, this doesn’t infringe on their interests.

It’s just utilizing an unused plot of land in the factory.

Some even feel that if those people already have houses, the chances of them getting a free welfare house in the next allocation would be significantly higher.

Three days passed, and Yu Xiang’an helped register the voting results, so she was the first to know the final outcome.

More than half agreed.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

This step had been successfully taken.

Next, employees interested in purchasing houses received a questionnaire. Those who couldn’t write had others ask them the questions and fill in the answers.

This was to determine how many bedrooms each household wanted.

Deputy Director Wang specifically sought out Yu Xiang’an to ask if she had any further ideas.

Yu Xiang’an raised the issue of house design.

The current houses were all the same—unlike later generations, they lacked independent kitchens and bathrooms. She pointed out that with the factory’s previous housing allocations, many people hung clothes in the shared corridors, causing water to drip down and making it inconvenient to walk. Others cluttered the space with various items, blocking the path.

Of course, such issues were hard to eliminate entirely.

She suggested that the layout of the houses could be finalized now. Otherwise, they’d just be one large room, requiring residents to modify them later. Since they were already collecting preferences for the number of bedrooms during the purchase application, the room layout could be determined from the start.

Additionally, she proposed expanding the small balcony at the back to increase usable space. It could be used for drying clothes, growing herbs like ginger and garlic, or even converted into an independent kitchen based on personal preference. If living space was tight, sealing it off could turn it into a small room.

Since most city dwellers used coal stoves rather than firewood, expanding part of the balcony for a kitchen would be more than sufficient.

Deputy Director Wang found this reasonable. Having a private kitchen for each household would reduce disputes. For example, in his own family, if they cooked something special, they wouldn’t have to expose it to everyone’s gaze. If a nosy child came by, they wouldn’t have to reluctantly share—they could simply close the door and enjoy it as a family.

Since the employees were funding the construction, the factory couldn’t cover all the costs. The factory would only provide labor, land, and management, so the financial burden on the factory wouldn’t be too heavy. However, the purchase fees from employees were non-negotiable.

Deputy Director Wang listened to Yu Xiang’an’s suggestions, but if the additional costs were too high, they wouldn’t be approved.

Yan Yuzhen, with her large family, wanted a three-bedroom unit.

Yu Xiang’an chose a two-bedroom and borrowed money from both Yan Yuzhen and Sun Qingchun.

Given how short a time she’d been working, everyone knew she didn’t have much savings.

Sun Qingchun already had a house and wasn’t participating this time. He lent her a month’s salary without issue.

Yan Yuzhen, with multiple wage earners in her family, could also spare a month’s salary to lend her.

Yu Xiang’an agreed with them on a repayment plan, detailing how much she’d pay each month and when she’d fully repay the loans.

After signing up, Yu Xiang’an went home and told Yu Qingshan about her decision. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Are you sure?”

Yu Xiang’an: “I’m sure. Saving my salary isn’t as good as owning a house.”

“Houses are so hard to come by now, especially a two-story building. Once it’s wired for electricity and has water access nearby, it’ll be just a short walk to work at the factory.”

She was quite satisfied with the food factory and wasn’t planning to move anytime soon. With the college entrance exams and reform and opening-up still far off, having her own little home would make many things much easier.

Yu Qingshan nodded in agreement, though he was concerned about her choosing a two-bedroom. “Are you thinking ahead for starting a family? A one-bedroom would be enough. Didn’t you say even a one-bedroom is fifteen square meters, enough for four people?”

Compared to a one-bedroom, the two-bedroom would be a financial stretch. He worried the burden would be too heavy for her.

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “It’s fine, Dad. I’m keeping all my salary, and aside from home, I don’t have many expenses. Might as well use it to buy a house—it’ll be a form of security no matter what. And if I get a one-bedroom, it’d just be for me. With a two-bedroom, we could all live there.”

Yu Qingshan had another thought: if his younger daughter struggled to find a partner later, the fact that she owned a house could be a strong advantage. Some families were desperate for housing—they might even agree to a son-in-law moving in, let alone just marriage. With this house, she’d never have to worry about her future.

Yu Qingshan nodded. “Money’s tight at home right now. I can’t help you, but once things ease up, I will.” He’d given most of his savings to Yu Xiangyan earlier, so he didn’t have much left.

Yu Xiang’an shook her head. “Dad, I don’t need your help. Don’t worry—I’ve got it figured out. I’ll use half my salary each month for repayments, and the rest will be more than enough to live on. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Yu Qingshan did the math and finally nodded. “Then don’t buy things for the family anymore, understand? Your money’s for the house. The family doesn’t need your support—I can still earn.”

They’d managed fine before she started working. Now that she had a job and ate at the factory, the household burden was lighter. There was no reason they couldn’t manage.

Yu Xiang’an nodded, though she didn’t really agree. She’d still set aside some money each month for the family. After all, a quick trip to the black market could easily cover that—no need to cut back.

He treated her with sincerity, so she’d respond in kind.

When Yu Xianghai heard about it, he sighed. “I wish our factory had something like this.”

Right now, his place was enough, but what about later?

If they had more kids, or when the kids grew up and got married, it wouldn’t be enough.

“I hope we get this kind of benefit someday.” Even if they did now, he couldn’t afford much.

He pulled out fifty yuan for her. “You borrowed from your coworkers, right? Pay them back first. I’m not exactly flush, but I can give you twenty and lend you thirty—no interest, no deadline. Pay me back when you can.”

Yu Xiangan couldn’t help but laugh and pushed the money back. “If I needed it, wouldn’t I have asked the family? I borrowed from coworkers partly for appearances. Brother, keep this for the kids. If I’m really short, you’ll be the second person I ask.”

Yu Xianghai: “Second?”

Yu Qingshan coughed. “Of course second. The first is me.”

Yu Xianghai: “…”

Oh.

He’d forgotten about Dad.

“Take the money back. The down payment isn’t much. Once things settle down and it’s less noticeable, I’ll repay them slowly. No need to draw attention.”

When the Qin family heard the news, even Grandma came to offer money. No one objected. Yu Xiang’an explained gently, her heart melting.

What had she done to deserve such understanding family?

Even in later generations, many disapproved of women buying houses, believing the man should provide.

And in this era, son preference was far more pronounced than in the future.

That night, Yu Xiang’an couldn’t hold back and asked Yu Qingshan: “Dad, you don’t object?”

Yu Qingshan looked up at the bright moon. “Xiao An, you know, your dad used to be a country boy scraping by. Back then, I was just a teenage errand boy who barely knew twenty characters.”

Yu Xiang’an fell silent.

“Later, by chance, I got into a trading company and caught the eye of a master craftsman. He took me under his wing.”

He didn’t elaborate. Some things were better left unsaid.

“That’s also how I met your mother’s family… and your mother.” Speaking of the past, he smiled faintly.

“The Qins didn’t approve of our marriage at first. I was from the countryside, and I’d been a servant. The Qins weren’t originally from the county either, but they’d settled there a generation earlier and owned a small house. Later, after liberation, I became a free man. With my skills, I saved up and bought our current home. Only then could I marry your mother.”

“Even though you’re not a son, it’s the same. Back then, I felt like a drifter here—rootless. It wasn’t until I had a house that I felt grounded. Lately, I’ve watched you. You’ve grown up and hide it well, but I can still see it—you’re uneasy. If buying a house can settle you, why would I object?”

Yu Xiang’an was speechless.

Her eyes stung. She blinked rapidly, holding back tears.

Uneasy?

Yes. She couldn’t lie to herself. She’d kept smiling, telling herself to stay strong and face things head-on.

But suddenly finding herself in this unfamiliar era—how could she not feel uneasy?

She’d just suppressed it.

And he’d noticed. Without a word, he’d quietly supported her from behind.