Zhuang Zhixi never benefited from the factory's welfare housing allocation. His family's current situation is entirely thanks to his father. Their three-and-a-half rooms have been rented since before liberation. Because they paid rent consistently before liberation and had many children, after liberation, when the machinery factory was nationalized, their family still got allocated three-and-a-half rooms.
But in reality, three-and-a-half rooms are quite a lot. Because of this, Zhuang Zhixi wanted to apply again. Although he qualified, it's hard to say when it would actually happen, unless the factory builds a new residential compound, which might offer some hope.
Zhuang Zhixi said, "Well, it seems I'll just have to wait for my wife."
Ming Mei raised her hand and replied, "I've also applied, but it's hard to say when I'll get allocated. Our unit's situation is similar to the machinery factory's."
