Chapter 16: In-laws Arrive

“They are my siblings from the same mother!” Fenglan felt that her mother was being too heartless.

“You remember that you’re from the same mother, but who remembers that they’re from the same mother as you? Your husband died, who came to help you? How many big things can you encounter in your life? Where were your siblings from the same mother?” Wu Zhiqiu gave this stubborn head a good scolding.

“Give me the money!” Wu Zhiqiu really didn’t feel at ease leaving it with Fenglan.

Li Fenglan quickly gave the money to her mother. She meant that she would keep the money with her mother!

Wu Zhiqiu took out two hundred yuan from her pocket, “This two hundred is what your eldest brother borrowed from you when he got married. I’m returning it to you now! Put it with the rest.”

“Mom, I don’t want that money! I’ve given it to the family!” Fenglan quickly stopped her.

“Are you stupid? You have to raise your child by yourself in the future. You’re a widow and an orphan, aren’t you thinking about Manman?” Wu Zhiqiu scolded her eldest daughter, exasperated.

Yu Manman, with her big, dark eyes, looked at her mother and grandmother.

“Manman is still young, she doesn’t need much money. Besides, I have a job! I don’t want this money.” Fenglan insisted on not taking the money.

“Do you know how much it costs to raise a college student? Is your salary enough? Why don’t you hope for a better life for your child? You and Manman are a family now, you should focus more on your child.”

“Mom, I’m also a family member with you and Dad!” Fenglan was nervous. What did her mother mean? She wasn’t part of the family anymore?

“Because you’re my daughter, we’re a family, that’s why I’m thinking about you and your child! Keep the money safe! Raise your child well, that’s how you can repay Jianmin.”

Fenglan’s eyes turned red, “Mom, I understand.”

Although Manman was only ten years old, she felt that her grandmother was right. She, her mother, her grandmother, and her grandfather were a family. Her second uncle was okay, but the other uncles and aunts were just ordinary relatives. Her father was gone, and they hadn’t even come to ask how she was doing. They weren’t even as good as the neighbors!

Wu Zhiqiu put the money away. She couldn’t keep it with her either. She would go out and buy two houses when she had time. After all, houses were the most valuable thing. She would use Jianmin’s money to save some money for Manman.

A week later, Fenglan started working, and Manman was on winter break, so she went to work with her mother every day.

Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang also went home.

As soon as Wu Zhiqiu entered the courtyard, Sister Liu seemed to be waiting for her at the front door. When she saw her, she quickly greeted her.

“What’s wrong, Sister Liu?”

Sister Liu glanced at the backyard, “Your mother-in-law and father-in-law are here, they don’t look happy. Be careful.”

Wu Zhiqiu thought for a moment. The old couple hadn’t been to their place in over five years, only when their children got married or when the eldest son took the college entrance exam. They were here now, most likely because the eldest son, that good-for-nothing, had brought them here!

“I know, thank you, Sister Liu.”

“Don’t be so polite with me! Your husband asked me to tell you, they’ve taken the children to their parents’ home.” Sister Liu patted her playfully.

Wu Zhiqiu pushed her bicycle and thought for a moment. Then she left the courtyard. Let them come if they want, she didn’t want to see those two old faces!

She went to her daughter’s house!

“You’re not going home?” Sister Liu asked in surprise.

“No! I’m not a masochist! I don’t need to be scolded to feel good!”

“Right, right, don’t show up, let them scold your husband.” Sister Liu joked.

“By the way, Sister Liu, are there any houses for sale around here?” Sister Liu had retired, and she loved to chat with the aunties and ladies in the neighborhood, so she was the most informed!

Wu Zhiqiu was busy working every day, so she didn’t have time to help Fenglan look for a house!

“Yes, are you buying a house?”

Wu Zhiqiu just asked casually, but it turned out there was one. They were in the second ring road, the first batch of areas to be demolished.

She quickly pulled Sister Liu out of the courtyard, she didn’t want the Li family to hear! This was a secret between her and Li Mancang, she wouldn’t tell anyone else!

“Our eldest daughter’s husband is gone, and she has a little bit of compensation money. I’m worried that people will covet it,” Wu Zhiqiu pointed to the backyard.

Sister Liu quickly nodded. It was true, the old couple coming today must be related to money.

“I’m thinking of buying some property for the eldest daughter, a house. It’s good for renting, there’s some income every month. When the child grows up, it’ll be an inheritance.”

“Autumn, you’re right, buying a house for the child is the right thing to do! Your eldest daughter is soft-hearted, if she keeps the money, it might be scammed away by someone someday!” Sister Liu didn’t want to say it directly, but she knew that Autumn’s eldest son and youngest son were both cunning, and that money would be coveted by them sooner or later if it stayed with the eldest daughter.

“That’s what I’m thinking too. I’ll just buy a house directly, then no one will covet it!”

“Just so happens, there’s a detached house in the alley behind, three main rooms, for sale. The family wants to go abroad and won’t be coming back. I’ll take you to have a look?”

“Okay!”

They agreed immediately. Wu Zhiqiu took Sister Liu on the back of her bicycle and went to the alley behind.

The house was on the east side of the alley, with a small vegetable patch. The courtyard wasn’t big, but there were three main rooms, and the house was well-preserved!

Wu Zhiqiu fell in love with it at first sight. This house would be perfect for living in or renting out!

The owner of the house was a couple in their fifties.

“Brother, sister, how much are you planning to sell this house for?” Wu Zhiqiu liked it, if the price was right, she would buy it.

“You’re from the alley in front, right?” The woman had seen Wu Zhiqiu before.

“My family lives in the big compound in front.”

“We’ve been neighbors for decades. I won’t ask for much, two thousand five hundred.”

This price was fair, the prices of houses in the neighborhood were about the same.

But not haggling wasn’t Wu Zhiqiu’s style.

“Sister, I’ll take it for two thousand three hundred! We’ll transfer the ownership tomorrow.”

“Little sister, that won’t do, two hundred less, no way! No way!” The woman immediately refused. Two hundred yuan was almost a month’s salary.

“Sister, to be honest, I only have two thousand three hundred yuan. It’s my eldest son-in-law’s compensation money, I’m buying it for my eldest daughter.” Wu Zhiqiu played the victim.

Sister Lin immediately told Fengchun’s story, “Brother and sister, it’s not that my sister wants to haggle, it’s just that she only has this much money! She’s afraid that her eldest daughter won’t be able to keep the money, so she’s planning to buy a house for her!”

The couple looked at each other, and they both saw sympathy for Wu Zhiqiu.

“Then two thousand three hundred, we’ll transfer the ownership tomorrow morning!” The man made the decision. They were in a hurry to leave, their plane tickets were already booked. They were also relieved to sell the house to such a family!

“Thank you, sister, brother!” Wu Zhiqiu quickly thanked them.

Sister Liu and Wu Zhiqiu happily left the alley.

“Sister Liu, thank you! I’ll treat you to dinner at the state-owned restaurant tomorrow.”

“Don’t be so polite with me, I just showed you the way. What kind of dinner, don’t waste money! I’ll go back now, I haven’t cooked dinner yet.” Sister Liu hurried back.

Wu Zhiqiu rode her bicycle to her eldest daughter’s place.

Fenglan was cooking, “Mom, didn’t you say you were going home today?”

“I have good news to tell you!” Wu Zhiqiu hadn’t stopped talking all the way here. She knew how valuable this small courtyard would be in the future! Only two thousand three hundred, she had really gotten a bargain!

“What good news, Grandma?” Manman hugged her grandmother’s arm and acted cute.

Wu Zhiqiu poked Manman’s little nose, “You’re so smart!”

“Fenglan, I bought you a courtyard, it’s in the alley behind our house, a detached house, it’s great. We’ll go through the transfer tomorrow morning.”