Rebirth: The Comeback of the Girl
Chapter 167 Bargaining

Chapter 167: Chapter 167 Bargaining

"If you want money, the compensation is only 350 yuan per square meter. If you want a unit, you can sell it for 500 yuan per square meter after a year. Everyone knows that getting a house is more profitable!"

Old Li’s heart skipped a beat, this girl is really shrewd!!

According to the Demolition Office’s plans, it would be best if everyone took money instead of housing and were compensated at the current market price.

But! The reality is more than 90% of people want housing over money, and those few who want cash are bound to be the hard-nosed holdouts, expecting so much they almost want to exchange one house for the money of two.

After all, apart from the department store building, there are no other buildings in the entire town center.

Once these buildings are completed, selling them won’t be a worry at all! Selling for 500 yuan per square meter would be extremely easy!

These past few years, house prices have been rising; how could next year’s single-story shops not be close to 400 dollars a square meter!

For a multi-story building, each square meter is one hundred yuan more expensive than a single-story one, which for those in business, doesn’t count as expensive at all!

Old Li, fully aware that everyone would prefer housing, chuckled without reaching his eyes and probed, "Girl! Does your family want a house?"

Zhen Yu didn’t answer him but turned to Mrs. Zhen, "Mom! How many square meters is our shop?"

Mrs. Zhen spoke without hesitation, "Exactly 65 square meters."

Zhen Yu knew the rough figure, and now with a clear mind, she turned to Old Li, "Then Uncle Li, my family would like a unit of one hundred square meters."

"That’s impossible!" Old Li almost fainted! "Your 65-square-meter shop can only choose from sizes between 60 and 70 square meters. If there’s no such size on the first floor, then you can only pick the unit that is closest in size!"

Zhen Yu had deliberately quoted a high figure, and once Old Li finished explaining, she immediately climbed up the ladder, "Then, how many square meters do you have available on the first floor?"

"Eh, let me check, okay!" Old Li got up and rummaged through some materials, returning a short while later with a stack of portfolios.

"The smallest estimate on the first floor is 72 square meters!" After careful examination, Old Li finally said.

"Oh! 72 minus 65, that means we need to make up for 7 square meters, which at 350 yuan per square meter, amounts to 2450."

Mrs. Zhen was already confused, weren’t they set on not wanting a house, just the money? What caused her daughter to suddenly change her tune?

Before she could figure it out, Old Li hemmed and hawed, "That, that’s not right! It’s not calculated at 350 yuan."

Zhen Yu knew it, the extra square meters would not just be charged at the current market price. Would real estate developers ever be that kind-hearted!

She inwardly smirked but feigned ignorance as she asked, "Why not? Isn’t 350 the market price you mentioned?"

"Are you sure you want to exchange for this 72-square-meter unit?" Up to this point, Old Li was still grasping at straws, not wanting to disclose the increased price without confirming that Zhen Yu really wanted a house.

Zhen Yu immediately nodded, "Yes!" After all, without written proof, if I say I want it, I want it, right?! Naive!

Old Li then looked towards Mrs. Zhen, who was gazing back at her daughter under Zhen Yu’s subtle cue.

Mrs. Zhen also nodded.

"Alright then! For these additional 7 square meters, the price increase is based on 450 yuan per square meter." Old Li cheerfully said, "Cheng, why don’t we start signing the agreement?"

"Wait a minute!" As soon as Zhen Yu got the price, she immediately changed her statement, "We don’t want a house! We want money! Compensate us at 450 yuan per square meter!"

"!" Old Li had thought all the while that this girl wanted a house which would be worth more next year, and whether it was for personal use or reselling, it would be profitable!

How did she suddenly change her tune? He knew that Cheng had opened a Shoe City – if she demands cash now, does she no longer want to continue her business?

And most importantly, this girl just pushed up the price, wanting 450 yuan!!

"Impossible!" Old Li flatly refused, "The compensation price can only be based on the market rate!"

Zhen Yu didn’t argue with him, instead she cleverly asked, "What about the rewards for being the first to sign the demolition contract? You clearly said we were the first! There should be rewards for those who actively cooperate with the Demolition Office to sign the agreement!"

"Ah! There is such a thing, but it’s not that much!" Old Li didn’t expect Zhen Yu to know even this.

"How can there be none? Shouldn’t the first one to sign the compensation agreement be compensated at the highest standard?" Zhen Yu retorted, "Otherwise, could you show me the demolition regulations?"

"Well, that, there’s no need for that!" Old Li waved his hands hurriedly, "Give me a moment to check for you!"

In his heart, he knew 450 was the final strategy for dealing with the hard-nosed holdouts! Who could have imagined, a little girl would be so troublesome!

To agree or not to agree?

While he was pretending to look through the regulations with great intent, Zhen Yu spoke again.

"How is the compensation for the cessation of business calculated?"

"What?" Old Li subconsciously looked up and asked back, then he fully understood – he had met an expert today! But such a young expert, that’s rare...

"You can continue to operate your shop until the end of this year, and here ’end of the year’ means Chinese New Year." Old Li decided to beat around the bush first; he couldn’t let any more slip, and it was time to make that girl name her price.

"Oh." Zhen Yu suddenly brought the conversation back, "So the compensation ceiling is 450, right?"

Old Li’s eyebrows twitched, and Zhen Yu immediately burst into laughter, "Ha! Uncle Li, we’re all acquaintances! Since it’s according to the rules, naturally whoever signs first benefits. Don’t you think so?"

Old Li was silent for a while and finally let out a resigned sigh, "Cheng, you really have raised a good daughter!"

This meant he had agreed. Mrs. Zhen, hearing this, immediately began flattering Old Li with more sweet words than she could spare.

Zhen Yu sat beside them, listening with a smile, and occasionally chimed in with a compliment. It wasn’t until Mrs. Zhen said she was tired that Zhen Yu spoke up again.

"Uncle Li, I don’t want to make things difficult for you," Zhen Yu said with a tone of empathy, "I reckon 99% of people will opt for housing in exchange, so our family will also claim to have chosen housing over money. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing this, Old Li realized she was offering to keep a secret for him, or rather, she wanted him to keep a secret for her!

He understood that the Zhen family’s choice to take money was also not something they wanted publicized. If people didn’t tell the truth, it would indeed make his demolition work much easier. Otherwise, everyone would come asking for 450 yuan... Just thinking about it was frightening!

So, Old Li immediately agreed, "Alright! Let’s just say that to everyone! It’s easier for all of us!"

"Then let’s talk about the compensation for the cessation of business." With the conversation reaching this point, there was only this final detail left, so Zhen Yu’s tone was quite relaxed.

"Girl! How much compensation do you think is appropriate?" Old Li kicked the ball back to Zhen Yu.

Zhen Yu shook her index finger, "No money."

"What?" Old Li was taken aback, and then he quickly realized, "Then what do you want?"

"We’ll move out on May Day." Zhen Yu had just finished speaking when Old Li wanted to refuse. She had to quicken her speech, "Listen to me first!"