Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 427 - 412 Zhao Chun’s three-entry courtyard house

"Sangsang... do you think I can manage? Should I close the store first? Maybe reopen after you come back."

Aunt Tian wrung her hands nervously.

Speaking of where each product is placed and its features, she’d secretly memorized some details. Handling basic queries shouldn’t be an issue, yet she felt unconfident and extremely anxious.

"Don’t worry, Aunt. You can handle it. Just explain what you know, and if you can’t, tell them to wait until I’m back. Most are regular customers—they understand." She reminded her, "Always remember: honesty comes first, business second. The customer is like a god."

Aunt Tian naturally understood—it’s all about having the right attitude.

Yesterday, while chatting casually with a customer, they discussed courtyard houses. The customer even specifically mentioned the ones in Qingyao Alley on West City Road. All of them were old, historic houses. Although some damage had occurred, their original shape remained intact.

Qingyao Alley? She felt a strange sense of familiarity with the name.

Qingyao Alley lay at the far end of West City Road. Tian Sangsang led Meng Shuyan over, which took twenty minutes. Courtyard houses were clustered here, forming a large block. On either side of the alley were dense rows of courtyards.

Old-style doorways, polished door knockers, and red lanterns hanging above. But the large gates were tightly shut, hiding the interior from view. Courtyard houses maintained strong privacy. Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but think of the courtyards in East Sea. Walking further ahead would reveal the small interior gardens, showcasing their flowers, plants, and trees—all clear at a glance.

"Mom, we can’t see inside." Meng Shuyan tiptoed.

"That’s alright, sweetheart. Mom will explain. These are courtyard houses. In the middle is a big courtyard, surrounded by rooms that form a circle. It’s quite different from where we live."

At this moment, Tian Sangsang thought again of how courtyard houses, while private on the outside, were bright and open within. Southern gardens, in contrast, were designed with winding corridors that twisted and turned. Comparatively, they seemed more meticulous and thoughtful. Of course, those upscale courtyard houses, once renovated, could resemble flowing streams and artificial hills too.

"Clank—"

A long, heavy sound of a door opening startled Tian Sangsang and Meng Shuyan, making them instinctively turn around.

"Sangsang! Yanyan!" Zhao Chun stood at the doorway, greeting them with an excited smile, a camera hanging from his neck.

"Chun Zisu!" It had been a while since Meng Shuyan saw Zhao Chun. He rushed over but stopped short of throwing himself at him.

His little face flushed, showing a touch of shyness.

Zhao Chun lifted him up as Meng Shuyan played with his camera.

Tian Sangsang raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You live here?" So this was the courtyard house he’d mentioned.

Zhao Chun nodded. "What brings you two here?"

"Mom and I are house hunting!" Meng Shuyan exclaimed excitedly.

Zhao Chun glanced at Tian Sangsang, confused. Wasn’t she married? Why would she be buying a house instead of moving into Jinghuai’s place? But knowing her, she always had her reasons, so he didn’t ask directly.

"I’m looking for a place to live. If I have the money, there’s no need to rent—buying outright is simpler." Tian Sangsang summarized concisely, "These courtyard houses are nice. I really like them."

"What kind are you looking for? I know the homeowners nearby pretty well—some of them are planning to sell." Zhao Chun carried Meng Shuyan inside and said to Tian Sangsang, "Why don’t you take a look at mine first?"

"Sounds good," Tian Sangsang agreed cheerfully.

Following him inside, she experienced firsthand the beauty of courtyard houses for the first time—hidden treasures indeed.

It turned out Zhao Chun’s courtyard house wasn’t a typical one-entry layout but was surprisingly large, appearing to cover no less than 600 square meters, with both a front and back courtyard. You had to pass through the front courtyard to reach the main sections.

This was a three-entry courtyard house.

"Chun Zisu, your home is huge!" Meng Shuyan was taken aback, seeing such a unique house for the first time. Why were there rooms on all four sides?

"You can come stay with Uncle in the future; that way, Uncle won’t feel lonely anymore." Zhao Chun joked as he affectionately ruffled his hair. Truthfully, living alone in such a sprawling house could indeed feel a bit lonely.

"Then could Mom and I live here instead?" Meng Shuyan asked earnestly, "That way we wouldn’t need to buy one."

"Of course!" Zhao Chun chuckled. "If you two decide to move in, Uncle wouldn’t even charge rent—free stay for you." Between friends, money was irrelevant—forget even a discounted "friendship price."

However, Tian Sangsang dared not take it seriously. A married woman moving in with a young man? It would ruin Zhao Chun’s reputation.

"There’s no need for that," she waved her hand casually. "I’m rich—I don’t freeload. But if you were to move in with me, you’d be more than welcome."

Lines blur between host and guest; identities change dynamically.

"..." Zhao Chun touched his nose awkwardly.

"Courtyard houses are like this. My neighbor’s is much bigger than mine—a four-entry duplex. I think you’d love it. Want me to take you there later?" Zhao Chun put Meng Shuyan down, took out some fruit and snacks, and arranged them on a crystal plate, creating an appealing display.

Four-entry duplex. Tian Sangsang’s eyes sparkled, as if imagining money raining down from the sky. "Your neighbor’s selling?"

"Yeah," Zhao Chun replied. "But why would you want to buy a courtyard house? Most of them are somewhat rundown. Apart from their cultural heritage, they aren’t exactly cozy to live in—definitely not as comfortable as modern homes."

Tian Sangsang rolled her eyes at him. "Comfort is an easy fix! Just renovate. As long as the foundation is solid, you can do whatever upgrades you want. And these are historical buildings. While their value isn’t fully apparent now, what about the future? As people’s living conditions improve, they’ll start yearning for nostalgia and ancient relics. Values will double! I’m securing my retirement here; in twenty years, this place will be my golden treasure."

Zhao Chun’s courtyard house still had dust on its windows, clearly untouched by renovation. Although the rooms were cluttered, they weren’t dirty—surprisingly neat in their tidiness. A big box of instant noodles and an empty container rested in one corner...

Zhao Chun considered her reasoning, then noticed her scrutinizing his house, making him uncomfortable enough to scratch his head. "Er... it does seem a bit messy."

Meng Shuyan, munching on chocolate while fiddling with the camera, muttered faintly, "Beef-flavored ramen—that’s what my mom makes."

Zhao Chun blinked blankly, unsure what he meant.

Tian Sangsang shot him a meaningful smile, offering no further explanation, only commenting, "You live off instant noodles and fast food? Don’t they say it’s bad as a main meal?"

That smile gave him goosebumps. Zhao Chun hesitated, "Not entirely. I often eat out at restaurants. But when I’m editing videos late into the night, I just make some noodles." The West Room was his workspace, stacked high with clutter.

Late nights, instant noodles, fast food—a bachelor’s lifestyle... "You don’t cook at home?"

Zhao Chun lowered his head sheepishly, missing the days he used to freeload meals at Tian Sangsang’s place. "I live alone, my cooking skills aren’t great, and I don’t have time to make proper meals."

Tian Sangsang watched his pitiful expression and mused that if they really became neighbors, perhaps she might prepare an extra portion for him occasionally. "I’ve heard that staying up late harms your kidneys, and too much instant food or eating out damages them too. You should take better care of yourself. As your friend, I’m only advising for your own good. You haven’t even married yet—ruining your kidneys now would be regrettable..."

Zhao Chun didn’t fully grasp the connection—what did kidneys have to do with anything?