I Can Talk To Cats

Chapter 5: Cat Meows (Part One)

Translated by Lime

The Lin Family was very lucky to be able to own a building in Xicheng. That year, Grandpa Lin Aijun made a fortune with the help of a national policy. Afterward, he didn't continue to invest in the government project. Most of the money was used to build their current building, and the rest was used to start a rental business.

Although Xicheng was far from the first-tier cities like the capital of Modu, it was a leader in the second-tier cities. In recent years, with the ever-increasing and outrageous prices of houses, the rental business had a chance to fight for a leading position. Every year, there were foreigners who would work here and settle down. Grandpa Lin especially selected a piece of land near the main street to ensure that there would always be tenants and to make sure that rent was not too low.

Eight years ago, Grandpa Lin died of an illness, and Lin Youyu, his only son, inherited the building. He and his wife, Wang Xiuzhi, not only continued to rent out to tenants but also had a cigarette and liquor shop on the first floor.

He and his wife led a calm life, not too busy and not too idle. Their days were steady and peaceful.

"It's a pity that your grandfather's eyes were not discerning enough." Father Lin muttered regretfully, turning to look at the building across from them. "When choosing land, we should have chosen that piece."

Across the street from them was a high-end neighborhood with lots of green areas and an excellent environment. Further that way was a prosperous business district and a newly built subway station. Many luxury cars entered and exited the security gate of the residential area.

In contrast, on their side of the street, other than the Lin family's building and other private houses, there were many crude buildings. In the streets and alleys, bicycles and motorcycles were scattered around, and there were many street vendors selling meat or vegetables. The two communities separated by just one road were starkly different.

For this kind of place, Chinese people had nicknamed it—the village in the city.

Fifteen years ago, the circumstances of the two sides were the same, but the demolition government policy did not favor the Lin family's side of the road. The neighbors on the other side of the road happily held the money they received from the demolition and the new homes that were allocated to them with red eyes.

Their fates were completely different, separated by just one street.

Every time Father Lin thought about it, he became regretful.

"All right, stop thinking about it." Mother Lin said to him angrily, "After all these years, you are still frustrated and brood over it unnecessarily. Even though the demolition didn't happen on our side, our Lin family is worse off compared to those who live in the villas opposite us."

"I don't mean that." Father Lin muttered gloomily, looking at the upscale residential area, and turned to talk to Lin Lan, "Lan Lan, let me tell you, if your grandfather had built the two small buildings on the opposite side, your family would have at least two buildings on that side. I heard a story of a Cheng family that had a traditional-style house, and because of the demolition, received four new houses. If our Lin family had built that..."

(T/N: A traditional style house in this context has a courtyard/open space in the middle and the building is designed around it to form a rectangle or square so there are 4 sections surrounding it.)