1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

When the two walked into Chen Xiao's house, Aunt Wang was instantly attracted by the sewing machine in the corner.

She walked to where the sewing machine was and kept stroking it with her hand.

This was something she had dreamed of buying, but no matter how she begged her old man, he would just say: he wouldn't buy it for her if she had no money.

"Chen Xiao, you're really rich! Not only did you buy a sewing machine, but you also bought a radio. Tsk tsk... Aunt Wang is really envious of you."

Chen Xiao waved his hand and said with a smile.

"I'll have to buy these things sooner or later, so I might as well get them all at once before the wedding."

The watch on his wrist was inadvertently revealed.

This made Aunt Wang even more jealous, and she said sourly.

"If I had known earlier, I would have introduced my niece to you. She's no less pretty than Qin Huairu, and she has a city hukou."

After saying that, Aunt Wang introduced Master Lei whom she brought with her to Chen Xiao.

"Look at my memory. I almost forgot something important."

"This is Master Lei. His family is a famous craftsman in the city. Almost all the imperial gardens of the Ming and Qing dynasties were built by his ancestors. They are a family of royal craftsmen."

Master Lei first raised his head proudly, then waved his hand modestly and said.

"Aunt Wang, look at what you're saying. What royal craftsman family? Now we're all just ordinary people."

Chen Xiao was also secretly shocked. He didn't expect that Aunt Wang would actually invite Yangshi Lei over.

I originally thought that they were just people with the same name and surname, Lei, but I didn’t expect that they were actually a family of royal craftsmen.

Chen Xiao asked politely with a fist clasp.

"May I ask what Master Lei's name is?"

"I am the tenth generation descendant of Yangshi Lei, my name is Lei Dali." Lei Dali returned Chen Xiao's salute and saluted in the same way.

"Chen Xiao, you can talk to Master Lei slowly. Your Aunt Wang has something to do at home, so she will go back first." Aunt Wang stroked the sewing machine a few more times reluctantly before getting up and leaving.

"Aunt Wang, I'm sorry to bother you today. I'm getting married next week, so you must come." Chen Xiao shouted at Aunt Wang as she walked out the door.

"Aunt Wang knows about it and will definitely come to your wedding."

After Aunt Wang left, Chen Xiao began to explain to Lei Dali the requirements for this furniture making project.

After all, I'm getting married soon, and all these old furniture in the house have to be replaced.

Lei Dali took a look at the layout of the room and then asked.

"Boss, do you have the wood ready? Or do you need my help buying it?"

Chen Xiao shook his head. He didn't have any of these things. Unlike other courtyard house residents, most of them kept some wood for furniture making.

"Master Lei, if I ask you to help me buy wood, could you help me buy Huanghuali or redwood?"

Lei Dali thought for a moment and then answered.

"Of course you can, but it's definitely a bit expensive. A room full of furniture like yours would probably cost you over 100 yuan."

"I'm not short of money, so I'll definitely choose better wood." Chen Xiao said.

Lei Dali fell into deep thought again, looking at the sewing machine and radio in Chen Xiao's house, the watch on his body, and the bicycle outside the door.

He knew that Chen Xiao was not short of money, and immediately hesitated whether to tell him about that matter.

His family still had a batch of fine golden nanmu, which his ancestors had secretly hidden while helping the royal family build gardens. If his family hadn't been in urgent need of money, he wouldn't have considered selling it.

After hesitating for a moment, Lei Dali finally spoke. He walked to Chen Xiao and whispered.

"I have some wood at home that's better than pear wood, but it's a bit expensive."

"Better than pear wood? Could it be Phoebe nanmu?"

Lei Dali nodded.

At this time, Chen Xiao's breathing became rapid.

Unexpectedly, he could get golden nanmu and use it to make furniture. This was something Chen Xiao couldn't even imagine.

Phoebe nanmu was listed as an endangered plant in 1984, and its sale and felling are prohibited.

If you make a batch of furniture with golden nanmu in 50 years and then sell it directly later, it will be a sky-high price!

Chen Xiao took a deep breath to calm his excited heart, and he spoke slowly.

"How much would it cost to build me a set of furniture using golden nanmu wood?"

"500 yuan!" Lei Dali said, stretching out a palm.

"Master Lei, you are asking for too much. How can a piece of golden nanmu cost 500 yuan? I'll take it at 400 yuan." Chen Xiao followed Lei and bargained hard.

He had only a little over 600 yuan left, and he was getting married next week, which would require another expense. Before the system was activated, he had to save as much as he could.

"No, no, 400 yuan is really not enough. That's golden nanmu! It was the royal wood in the past!" Lei Dali shook his head repeatedly.

But he was reluctant to miss this opportunity to sell the golden nanmu, as his family was in urgent need of money. Besides Chen Xiao, he had asked several other people. Only Chen Xiao bargained for him, while the others just asked about the price and then nothing happened.

"If you really want it, I'll give you a little less, 450 yuan! For 450 yuan, I'll make you a set of furniture! Except for the windows, I won't use golden nanmu for the rest of the furniture! And the labor fees are all waived."

Chen Xiao could barely accept the price of 450 yuan, as he was afraid that if he bargained further, Master Lei would not sell it to him.

If you buy it for 450 now, it will be worth at least hundreds of millions after 2000.

Chen Xiao deliberately gritted his teeth as if he was going through some difficult decision.

"450 yuan, then! But you have to paint it red for me. I don't like to be high-profile!"

"Boss, I understand all this. Don't worry, I will make it beautiful for you. Others will not be able to tell what material it is made of."

Chen Xiao walked into the bedroom and took out an iron box from under the bed. Inside was a stack of big black tens neatly arranged.

These are the pensions of the original owner’s mother and the savings over the years.

After counting 45 cards, Chen Xiao walked out of the bedroom and handed them to Master Lei.

He was not afraid that Lei Dali would take the money and run away. After all, he was Yangshi Lei, and he would not do anything that would damage the family's reputation.

Putting the money into his trouser pocket, Lei Dali said to Chen Xiao with a smile on his face.

"Don't worry, boss. The furniture will be ready for you in three days. It won't delay your wedding."

Then he took out a ruler and measured at Chen Xiao's house. After all the dimensions were measured, he said goodbye to Chen Xiao.

"Boss, I'm going back to make furniture first."

After seeing Lei Dali off, Chen Xiao glanced towards the Jia family.

At this time, the Jia family had their doors tightly closed and there was no sound at all.

Chen Xiao knew that given Jia Dongxu's character, he would never give up.

Chen Xiao was not afraid of causing trouble. If he wanted to live in this courtyard full of beasts, he had to establish his authority first and completely tame a beast so that other beasts would be afraid and dare not provoke him.

And Chen Xiao’s target is naturally Jia Dongxu!