Chapter 68 Chapter 68 House

Ten adults, four children, six dishes, two of which looked like leftovers from New Year's Eve.

Wang Nian also discovered that Luo Xiangyun and her mother-in-law had one thing in common... neither of them could cook.

It was a nice dish of stir-fried bacon with garlic sprouts, but the garlic sprouts were completely black and no green could be seen at all. It was definitely because the bacon was not washed thoroughly.

"Eat, eat." Shi Guoqiang picked up his chopsticks first, and Shi Yuehua immediately stretched out her chopsticks to pick up the duck leg from the roast duck.

Hu Xiumei was not to be outdone, and simply put the other duck leg into a clean small bowl: "Leave some food for Xiaojun."

Luo Xiangyun snorted coldly and actually stretched out her chopsticks to reach into Shi Yuehua's bowl.

Shi Yuehua moved even faster. She grabbed it with her hands and stuffed it into her mouth. She bit off a large piece of meat with all her strength and gave Luo Xiangyun a provocative look.

"You damned girl." Luo Xiangyun cursed.

The three children didn't pick up their chopsticks for a long time. They searched on the table for a long time and finally set their eyes on the stir-fried cabbage that was placed in front of Wang Nian.

At this moment, Shi Guoqiang put down his chopsticks, picked up the bowl that Hu Xiumei had put the duck legs in, and poured it into Shi Shuwen's bowl.

"Share it with your brothers and sisters."

“…”

Everyone was shocked.

Then Shi Guoqiang picked up the duck meat in front of Hu Xiumei and placed it in front of Wang Nian: "Eat more meat, so that your family life will be better in the future. The children are growing up."

Wang Nian was shocked again.

This meal surprised Wang Nian. After he swallowed the stir-fried cabbage that almost choked him to death with two chopsticks, he ate a few mouthfuls of rice.

I don’t know if Shi Feiying’s policy of currying favor has worked, but Shi Guoqiang is particularly friendly to Shi Shuwen and his two siblings.

One moment he said he would take Shi Feiying to attend the commendation meeting in the factory, and the next moment he said he would give Shi Shuwen a bonus if he got first place in the exam.

Even Shi Wan showed some concern for him for the first time.

He Liang, who was sitting next to Shi Shuwen, was treated as a transparent person. He didn't even ask who the strange girl sitting next to Shi Wan was while eating half of his meal.

Luo Xiangyun and Hu Xiumei's faces dropped to their chins, and they looked at the three children with dissatisfaction in their eyes, and then turned their attention to Wang Nian.

If a child knows how to flatter others...it's probably because of his mother's teaching.

Shi Guoqiang was talking to the children happily. He didn't eat much but had already drunk several glasses of wine.

Just before getting drunk, Shi Xiangming put down his chopsticks and slowly wiped the corners of his mouth.

"Dad, I heard that your factory is going to convert the public housing into private property?"

Hu Xiumei and Shi Xiangqian looked at Shi Xiangming at the same time, their eyes alert, as if they might get angry at any moment.

Shi Guoqiang just nodded slightly, and Hu Xiumei immediately became restless.

"What do you mean, third brother? You're just coming home and you're already thinking about your parents' house?"

"What do you mean by 'concerned'? Xiangming is also our parents' son, so he should own half of our house." Wang Nian said with a sneer on his face, his expression full of sarcasm: "Besides, Xiangming was just asking casually, why are you panicking... Or should I say that it's you and my brother who are concerned about our parents' house?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Xiang Qian and I have been taking care of our parents for so many years. Have you ever taken care of them for even a day? And you are talking nonsense here!"

"You still have the nerve to say you want to serve me, but first tell me where the money that big brother cheated Xiang Ming went..." The hand on his leg was suddenly covered by a big hand, and Wang Nian immediately stopped arguing.

Shi Xiangming smiled, his smile was warm but his eyes were cold: "Since we are talking about this, I will help you settle the bill."

He scanned his parents one by one before speaking.

"After I started working, I sent home 10 to 30 yuan every month. I don't know how much living expenses my eldest brother gave to our family every month... He often sent telegrams asking for money for my sick parents..."

"Wait, what did you say?" Hu Xiumei was shocked and pulled Shi Xiangqian hard: "You mean Shi Xiangqian sent you a telegram asking for money for my parents' medical treatment?"

Shi Xiangming looked at Shi Xiangqian and said, "Dad fell down, Mom had a stomachache and was hospitalized, Dad was hit by a car... Brother, you still remember everything, right? If you don't remember, I still have the telegrams. Do you want to take them out and count them?"

Shi Xiangqian shrank his head like a quail again.

Hu Xiumei was so angry that her chest kept heaving, not because Shi Xiangqian was finding an excuse to cheat her out of money, but because she didn't even see a trace of the money.

Shi Xiangming continued to count the money he had sent home over the years.

Shi Guoqiang's face became increasingly darker, and Luo Xiangyun also became furious when she heard the numbers Shi Xiangming said.

Of the money that passed through Hu Xiumei's hands, only half of it finally reached her, and the rest was confiscated.

After recounting all the things that his elder brother and sister-in-law had done, Shi Xiangming suddenly changed the subject and sighed, "Actually, I didn't want to talk about these things just now. They are all things of the past. What's the point of talking about them?"

"So what do you want to say?" Shi Guoqiang asked.

"Actually, I just heard Sister Shen talking about public housing, and then I asked." Shi Xiangming looked helpless, as if he was forced to continue talking: "But since Sister-in-law has mentioned it, it's best for us to talk it out first."

“…”

"I estimate that the three rooms will cost at least 5,000 to 10,000 yuan to convert the public housing into private housing."

"So many!" Luo Xiangyun shouted.

"This is just my estimate of the factory workers' wages. The money needed will be much more by then."

"What should we do?" When it comes to making a decision, Luo Xiangyun will subconsciously wait for Shi Guoqiang to make the decision.

"You haven't finished what you were saying!" Shi Guoqiang saw through it.

Shi Xiangming nodded: "What I mean is that when the time comes, my elder brother and I will pay for it. The one who pays more will take two rooms, and the one who pays less will take one room. If my elder brother is unwilling to pay, then I will pay for it all... and this house will naturally belong to me in the future."

"Xiang Ming means that you two old people should keep the money for your retirement, and you don't have to pay a penny for the house." Wang Nian immediately added.

Luo Xiangyun's complexion looked a little better.

"Brother, what do you say?" Shi Xiangming asked.

"Impossible!" Hu Xiumei responded first, slamming her chopsticks on the table. "Xiang Qian is the boss, why shouldn't he get a share of the spoils?"

"Sister-in-law, do you mean that you will pay for it all?" Wang Nian immediately replied with a smile: "If you pay for it all, the house will naturally belong to you. Xiang Ming and I have no objection."

"Who said it's all out!" Hu Xiumei shouted.

"So you don't want to pay but want the house?" Wang Nian deliberately showed a look of surprise on his face and quickly raised his voice: "How can such a good thing exist in the world!"

Hu Xiumei didn't say anything, but every expression on her face seemed to be saying four big words - as it should be.

"What did Dad say?" Shi Xiangming turned to ask the person who could make the decision in the family.

Shi Guoqiang had been watching expressionlessly from the beginning, occasionally interjecting, and when asked, he slowly took a sip of wine: "Xiang Ming is right, there are three rooms, whoever pays more will get it."

"Mom! Look at Dad." Hu Xiumei anxiously pulled Luo Xiangyun's sleeve: "Xiang Qian is the eldest, Xiao Jun is the eldest grandson... In the past, when the family was divided, the eldest should have the largest share."

Luo Xiangyun was not happy in her heart, but she did not dare to show it on her face. She could only pull up her sleeves with a straight face and said, "Then why don't you just pay a little more money?"

"Where can we get so much money? Xiang Xiang only earns a hundred yuan a month to support such a large family..." Hu Xiumei argued, and her attitude made it clear that she didn't want to pay the money and the house was his.

The two of them suddenly spoke at the same time to refute Hu Xiumei's words.

Shi Guoqiang tapped the table lightly: "Your family of four only pays 15 yuan a month for living expenses, and it has not increased for so many years. Do you have the nerve to say that you support such a large family?

"I pay 30 yuan for living expenses every month, and I don't eat or drink for free." Shi Yuehua shouted.

Since she sobered up, Shi Yuehua hasn't paid much attention to her second aunt and third uncle's family. She just lay down on the sofa and yawned every few seconds, completely immersed in her own world.

This girl probably can't be a singer...

This was the feeling Wang Nian had the first time he heard Shi Yuehua's hoarse voice.

Why does a teenage girl's mouth sound like an old lady with phlegm in her throat, and she has to clear her throat after speaking?

"You have no right to speak. Shut up." Hu Xiumei slapped Shi Yuehua's hand with a chopstick.

Snap——

A crisp chopstick hit with great force instantly turned the back of Shi Yuehua's hand red.

Shi Wan cried out "Ah!", as if she remembered the memory of being beaten by her aunt when she was a child, and turned around and threw herself into Wang Nian's arms.

Wang Nian hugged his daughter and said unhappily, "If you are angry, just take it out on us two. Why hit the child?"

Shi Yuehua glanced at the back of her hand as if it was normal... then lowered her head and continued eating.

Wang Nian sighed again, what a weird family!

"Why do you care about my daughter's education?" Hu Xiumei rolled her eyes and kicked Shi Xiangqian with her foot. "Who are you to say that? You idiot!"

"I'll listen to you."

After three hits, he finally farted, but it was the same as if he hadn't said anything.

"Since no one wants to say anything, I have an idea that you can all consider..." Having said this, Shi Xiangming slowly brought the topic back to the point: "We can pay for the house, and we don't have to take the house..."

Shi Xiangming meant that after the specific amount of money for the house was determined, the two sons would each pay half.

The house will still be occupied by the parents while they are alive, and the house can also be passed on to the eldest brother in the future, but there is a prerequisite.

"My parents are being taken care of by my eldest brother and his wife. They will live with you in the future... If my parents get sick, we can share the medical expenses. I will also pay for their support every month. Of course... if my eldest brother doesn't want to, then it can be the other way around."

Hu Xiumei had an expression of disbelief on her face at first, but when the three words "on the contrary" came out, she immediately understood.

She felt that Shi Xiangming was retreating by advancing. He calculated that she didn't want to live with her in-laws, so he deliberately said that she could pay for the house all by herself.

The old man and the old woman still have their wages saved for so many years, which can provide them with enough food and clothing, and they can also sell the house to make some money in the future...

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Shi Xiangming's plan was a success. He immediately slammed the table in anger and shouted, "Of course Mom and Dad have to live with us."

Wang Nian chuckled.

There was no expression on his face, and the words "Fight me?" were almost carved on his face.

"What does your elder brother say?" Shi Xiangming asked again, and Shi Xiangqian immediately replied, "I listen to your elder sister-in-law."

Wang Nian asked for his parents' opinions one by one.

Luo Xiangyun wished that her eldest son would get all the good things, so she would never object and didn't even mention whether it was unfair.

Shi Guoqiang, however, frowned and was not very willing: "If it is really divided like this, it will be too unfair to the third child."

Shi Xiangming waved his hands nonchalantly.

"As long as you and mom can live well in your later years, it doesn't matter if I suffer a little..."

Shi Xiangming would definitely suffer a huge loss financially, but they had to spend the money in order to avoid future troubles.

"Since Third Brother has said so, your eldest brother and I can't be polite. You pay the money and we do the work, so that Dad can live happily in his later years."

"That's what my sister-in-law said, but..." Shi Xiangming paused, his expression suddenly turned cold: "My sister-in-law knows the relationship between our two families, but I don't believe her just because she says so."

Hu Xiumei quickly asked: "Then what do you want to do?"

"How about this... let's write down the specific contents of the agreement and make it fair so that we can have a basis for future actions."

"Agreement? What agreement?" Hu Xiumei immediately became suspicious.

"Just write down what we just discussed on paper, and after Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law read it and confirm it, they will put their fingerprints on it. Then, even if I regret it and want to divide the house... you can still use the agreement to sue me."

Shi Xiangming did not mention a word about what he wanted, but instead mentioned the house in every word.

Hu Xiumei had no time to think about other places as her mind was filled with the three houses. Then she thought that what Shi Xiangming said was indeed reasonable, and a smile instantly appeared on her face again.

Wang Nian watched the entire show and was very impressed by Shi Xiangming's conversational skills.

Using the house that the other party cared about as bait, Hu Xiumei was so happy that she thought a big pie was about to fall from the sky.

"Old Three is right. It's better for us to write an agreement."

"That's fine!" Shi Xiangming achieved his goal, and without further ado, he directly set a time to sign the agreement: "Let's go sign the agreement on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and then find a lawyer to notarize it, so that it will have legal effect in the future."

"Lawyer? And you want fairness?"

"Mom, do you understand that now you need to find a lawyer to file a lawsuit? Only with a lawyer can the lawsuit agreement be valid in the future."

Shi Yuehua has watched a lot of Hong Kong TV dramas, in which the people have to find lawyers for everything, and she can't help but show off immediately.

"Sister-in-law, why are you worried? My brother is just a clerk in the unit. When he looks at it and says there are no problems, you can just sign it," said Wang Nian.

"That's true."

Snap, snap, snap——

"Since you have all discussed it, let's continue eating." Shi Guoqiang tapped his chopsticks.

After dinner.

The New Year's greetings were over and everyone said goodbye and left.

This time, Luo Xiangyun and Hu Xiumei saw them off with a smile on their faces. They walked them to the door and warmly invited them to come to their home to play again.

He Liang, who had had a very low presence since he entered the door, seemed to finally be able to breathe, and he let out a long breath as soon as he walked out of the door.

"Uncle, what do you think? Doesn't this mean that all the benefits are being taken by uncle's family?"

“Have you ever heard that a harmonious family brings prosperity?” Shi Xiangming smiled.

"What does a house have to do with a happy family? It's because you're so easy to talk to that your aunt-in-law keeps asking for more."

"What do you think is better, losing some money or living with your grandparents while your uncle and aunt find excuses to come to your house every day?"

He Liang: “…”

He Liang felt like his brain was about to explode just thinking about living under the same roof.

"What if my aunt-in-law cheats on me in the future?"

"That's why we need a lawyer to seek justice. Do you think your aunt is willing to give up those houses?"

Hu Xiumei was greedy but short-sighted. After all, her family was poor, and she could not give up those rooms no matter what.

"I don't believe that my aunt and grandmother will not come to make trouble in the future..." said He Liang.

"Your second uncle is only responsible for signing the agreement, and the rest is left to your second aunt." Wang Nian smiled.

Shi Xiangming also laughed.

Zhou Shanxiu pulled He Liang's arm and said, "My second aunt will never lose in an argument or a fight."

The two, who were both family members of factory employees at the time, met each other frequently on various occasions. When Xu Jie had a mental breakdown at a wedding banquet, she saw with her own eyes that Wang Nian kicked him and sent him flying.

As long as he stands on the right side, Wang Nian will have plenty of room to display his talents.

Seeing this, He Liang said nothing more and took a taxi home as he did when he came.

After a whole morning of mental torture, the two older children were so tired that they closed their eyes and went to rest as soon as they got in the car.

Only Shi Feiying was still energetic and was playing with a toy gun in the car.

"Shi Feiying." Wang Nian restrained the moving Shi Feiying and reached into his trouser pocket, and indeed, he took out an envelope.

It wasn't a red envelope, but an envelope with torn edges.

Before leaving, the adults stood in the yard and exchanged polite words. Shi Feiying went into the house to say goodbye to Shi Guoqiang. When she came out, she looked like a thief. Wang Nian knew what must have happened at the first sight.

"Where did you get the money?"

"It's the New Year's gift from my grandpa." Shi Feiying smiled, looking proud with her little face raised high: "Mom, am I really awesome?"

"You are amazing... Look at Ming."

He took out a thick stack of ten-yuan red envelope, which was just as much as the one Liao Guang gave.

Wang Nian was surprised, while Shi Xiangming was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

"Did your grandfather really give it to you?"

"Yes! Grandpa told me not to tell you and save it for buying candy later."

"Why does your dad like Feiying so much?" Wang Nian was curious.

Shi Xiangming shook his head and sighed. If he had known, his relationship with his father would not have been so cold for so many years.

"Grandpa said I look like someone." Shi Feiying fiddled with her toy gun and suddenly said, "It seems to be an aunt named Luo. Grandpa has her photo!"

Wang Nian: “…”

Could Shi Feiying be talking about the fiancée who died in a car accident after they got engaged?

The more Wang Nian thought about it, the more he felt that this possibility was extremely high.

After his son finished speaking, Shi Xiangming suddenly remembered something: "I almost forgot to tell you that someone will be coming to our house this afternoon."

Today Shi Xiangming mentioned seeking justice from a lawyer, but in fact he had no such idea before he walked into the room.

Then, the moment he saw Shi Guoqiang, he thought of the phone call he received a few days ago. The caller was a lawyer who informed him that he would go to the Guanghua Street office this afternoon.

"What did I tell you to do?"

"No, just said that grandpa left a document for me to take a look."

"Grandpa?"

The grandfather Shi Xiangming was talking about was Luo Chengqun, who raised him.

My grandfather passed away due to illness the year he just started working, and my grandmother followed her husband a few months later.

The ashes of both were sent back to their hometown for burial, which was thousands of kilometers away from Anhuai, so I never had the opportunity to visit them to pay my respects.

"It must be something my grandfather left for me when he was alive," said Shi Xiangming.

After my grandfather passed away, the house and school were taken back. My grandparents didn't leave any inheritance, so there wouldn't be any inheritance issues. The only possibility is that he left something behind.

"Then I'll go with you."

"Um."

Shi Xiangming nodded, closed his eyes and began to rest.

***

15 Kwong Wah Street.

"Mr. Shi?"

As soon as he got off the car, a man in a suit standing at the door recognized Shi Xiangming and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, I'm Lawyer Xu."

"Hello, Lawyer Xu."

"I'm a little early. I'd like to ask the staff of the neighborhood committee to take me to your house to wait. Do you mind, Mr. Shi?"

"I'm back late." Shi Xiangming smiled apologetically and invited everyone into the house.

At the two points agreed upon by the two parties, Shi Xiangming could not be contacted, and Lawyer Xu had actually been standing at the door for half an hour.

"It's no problem." Lawyer Xu smiled good-naturedly.

After entering the gate, Lawyer Xu looked around the small courtyard with confidence and spoke in a very polite manner.

"Then you call Lawyer Xu, and I'll take the kids upstairs to bed."

Shi Wanxu was so tired that he didn't even wake up after getting off the car. Wang Nian planned to carry him directly to the second floor to sleep.

Shi Shuwen was also yawning and went upstairs to rest.

When He Liang and Zhou Shanxiu saw that there were guests visiting, they got off the car and suggested taking their parents to see the new house.

After Wang Nian settled Shi Wan down and went downstairs, the living room was quiet and silent.

Shi Xiangming frowned as he flipped through the documents page by page.

Lawyer Xu smiled at Wang Nian, picked up the teacup and drank it slowly.

Suddenly, a long sigh was heard. Shi Xiangming handed over the documents, put his hands on his knees, and buried his face in his palms.

This is a will.

The will stated that all the property under the names of Mr. Luo Chengqun and Ms. Zhong Wen would be inherited by Shi Xiangming.

The estate includes a house at 15 Kwong Wah Street, as well as jewellery and gold.

"No. 15, Guanghua Street?" When he said this address, his mind seemed to still not wrap around it. Wang Nian asked stupidly, "Is this the house we live in?"

Lawyer Xu nodded.

“But isn’t this a public housing?”

"This house was rented by Anhuai Ship Design Institute from Mr. Luo, and the property rights are in his name."

There really are such coincidences in the world.

In order to retain Shi Xiangming, the design institute took great pains to find a suitable house and finally rented this house from Lawyer Xu.

I originally planned to move there after the new family quarters were completed, but I didn't expect to rent Shi Xiangming's grandfather's house by coincidence.

When Lawyer Xu arrived at the door of No. 15 today, he also felt that the coincidence was a bit too much.

"Then why is the will only be made public now?" Wang Nian asked again.

"It's written in Mr. Luo's will. You can take a closer look."

The will does state why it is being released now.

Before my grandfather passed away, Shi Xiangming had been forced by his family to marry Jiang Feng. The old man saw that the two would not be together for long, so he did not give out the house and money at that time.

It is clearly written in it.

If Shi Xiangming remarries, he will announce the contents of his will seven years after the couple's marriage. If he remains single, he will make his will public when he is 40 years old.

"My father and Mr. Luo are old friends. I have been waiting for you for almost ten years."

He has been keeping an eye on Shi Xiangming for the past ten years and even asked people to inquire about his marital status.

After confirmation, decide on a time to convey the will.

Wang Nian: “…”

The house problem that I was worried about in the morning was solved in the afternoon?