Rebirth: The Comeback of the Girl
Chapter 168 Signing the Agreement

Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Signing the Agreement

"Chinese New Year is in February, and it’s freezing in the Great Northeast. Can we demolish or build then?"

Old Li pondered for a moment, "Isn’t May Day too late then?"

"Not late at all!" Zhen Yu had calculated the timing before suggesting it, "The Demolition Office sets Chinese New Year as the relocation date, but you and I both know, there will definitely be holdouts who can’t be negotiated with!"

"At the latest by Tomb-Sweeping Festival! We have to start construction by Tomb-Sweeping Festival! We must demolish then; otherwise, we won’t finish building before winter comes!" In reality, Old Li knew that the Chinese New Year relocation date had room for delay.

Zhen Yu chuckled, "This time there’s quite a bit to demolish and construct. My family’s row of shops could be the last to go."

"That has to be decided based on the situation at that time. Right now, no one can be sure; I can’t just agree to that!" Old Li said earnestly.

"How about this! We write in the agreement that we’ll relocate between Tomb-Sweeping Festival and May Day. You notify my family right after you’ve settled with the last household, and we’ll immediately vacate the shop. How’s that?"

"Okay!" Old Li felt this method was good since it allowed timely adjustments based on the actual condition, "Shall we sign the agreement now?"

"Sure," nodded Zhen Yu, "Is the demolition compensation paid out immediately?"

"Normally, it should be given during relocation, which is before Chinese New Year," Old Li said.

"No! Once the agreement is signed, the money must be transferred immediately!" Zhen Yu insisted, "Once I receive the money, I’ll hand over the property deed and the land certificate to you. With the demolition agreement, even a forced demolition is legal!"

"I need to check with the higher-ups about this. There’s no precedent for this!"

"Why don’t you call them now? Don’t you know? Nowadays, those who owe money are the real bosses!" Zhen Yu feigned a worried expression and secretly signaled her mother with her eyes.

Old Li was still hesitant, wanting to break through the demolition barrier today but not willing to set this kind of precedent.

After receiving her daughter’s signal, Mrs. Zhen started playing the weak card "Old Li, I shouldn’t have trusted the station too much. But you know about the lawsuit my mother got into with the relatives this year, right?"

Mrs. Zhen did not mention it, and Old Li had really forgotten it. Now that she brought up "lawsuit," a light bulb went off in his head!

"Oh, the one where Auntie sued that tigress from the truck fleet?"

"My mother said her mother is some sort of distant aunt of mine; I don’t even know how they got involved! Anyway, the money was lent out," Mrs. Zhen sighed, half-truthfully, "My mother is now living from place to place with my brothers, relying on others to support her! The old lady remembered the money. When she went to ask for it, that tigress only had two words, ’no money’!"

Old Li replied with some indignation, "This, this kind of person! The old lady lent her money out of kindness, but she won’t pay it back when it’s needed. Who would dare to deal with her in the future!?"

"Who dares to deal with her, I don’t know! Anyway, even though my mother won the lawsuit, she couldn’t get the money back!"

"What do you mean? She won’t pay even after losing the lawsuit?" Old Li was confused; they were all ordinary people, and in their hearts, they believed the law was supremely sacred and effective!

"What’s the use of winning? She simply has no money. Can you kill her over it?" Mrs. Zhen said, then quickly shifted the topic, "It’s like with this demolition. If the shop is torn down and the station doesn’t have the money, and I cry myself to death at the courtyard entrance, what good would it do?"

"This, this..." Old Li didn’t expect Mrs. Zhen to be waiting for him! He was at a loss for words.

Mrs. Zhen gave him an idea, "That’s why it’s first come, first served! I’m the first to cooperate and sign the agreement, so I should be the first to get the money! The station doesn’t have zero funds, surely not just making empty promises?!"

"That’s impossible! Absolutely not!" Old Li immediately responded, "You have a point, I’ll call and ask for you now!"

"Great! That would trouble you, Old Li." Mrs. Zhen, having cornered Old Li into submission, quietly sat down to wait.

—

Old Li went inside the office to make a phone call, while Mrs. Zhen and Zhen Yu exchanged glances in the outer room.

Mrs. Zhen raised her eyebrows towards the inner room, can this really work?

Zhen Yu smiled and closed her eyes—rest assured, Mom!

She could guarantee that no other family would be as quick as hers! They received the notice yesterday and were here to sign the agreement today.

Most people had this mentality—even if they were resolute about wanting their houses, they would wait a few days first to see what others were doing.

Without competitors, there’s no need to rush.

Surely real estate developers must have prepared the compensation funds before the demolition notice was released. As for whether the funds prepared were sufficient, only they would know.

And which families could get the money on time, that was up to each one’s ability!

Old Li stayed inside for nearly ten minutes before coming out slowly.

Mrs. Zhen watched him all the way, and as Old Li sat down with a stern face, he suddenly burst into laughter, "Done! Once you’ve signed the agreement, you can go to finance to get the money!"

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhen also laughed, "Thank you so much, Old Li! You know I’ve had a hard time after the divorce, raising two kids on my own, so please make sure to keep the money matter a secret for me!"

"Of course, of course! Don’t worry!" Old Li assured her as he pulled out two copies of the agreement, "Shall we sign?"

"Yes!" Mrs. Zhen called her daughter over, "Xiao Yu, come sign the agreement!"

"Okay."

Old Li had already realized that Zhen Yu was the decision-maker and handed the agreement directly to her.

Together they filled in the blanks on the agreement as previously discussed and after Mrs. Zhen signed her name, she bid farewell to Old Li and headed to the finance office with her daughter.

—

When they had walked a bit away from the Demolition Office, Mrs. Zhen suddenly let out a heavy sigh, "Ah! Finally managed to toss out this hot potato!"

"Heh," Zhen Yu somewhat didn’t understand her mother’s mentality, "Is it really that necessary, Mom?!"

"Of course, it is!" Mrs. Zhen snarled, "I don’t want to see a single thing from the Zhen Family again! I seriously wish I could move to Qi City tomorrow!"

"Just hang in there!" Zhen Yu comfortingly said, "Wait till they find out we’re getting a house, then let’s see how they make a fuss!"

"Shouldn’t let the cat out of the bag, right?" Mrs. Zhen was still not quite at ease.

"It shouldn’t."

In fact, Zhen Yu thought that even if the news leaked, it wouldn’t matter. In the worst case, she would just have to put up with Mrs. Zhen staying in town until their house was demolished next year.

There were only two people in the finance office of the transshipment station.

Because she had planned to get the money straight away today, Zhen Yu had even made sure her mother brought the bankbook.

As soon as they walked in, both people in the office looked up.

"Oh! Old Cheng! Xiao Yu!" Mrs. Han stood up from her seat to greet them, "Was that you on the phone just now?"

Clearly, Mrs. Han had already received the notice to release the funds upon seeing the first demolition agreement.

"Yes, it’s us," Mrs. Zhen smilingly said, "The sooner you sign, the sooner you’re at ease! Dragging it out, you still have to sign in the end."

"That’s true!" Mrs. Han agreed.