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“They are my siblings!” Fenglan felt her mother was being too heartless.
“You remember your siblings, but who among your siblings remember you? Your husband is dead, who will help you now? How many times in your life will you encounter such great trouble? Where are your siblings now?” Wu Zhiqiu firmly rebuked her thick-headed daughter.
“Give me the money!” Wu Zhiqiu insisted, feeling uneasy about leaving it with Fenglan.
Fenglan quickly handed over the money, indicating that it should be kept with her mother.
Wu Zhiqiu took out another two hundred yuan from her pocket. “This two hundred was borrowed from you for your younger brother’s wedding, and I’m returning it to you! Keep it all together!”
“Mom, I don’t want that money! It’s for the family!” Fenglan hurriedly objected.
“Are you being foolish? You have to raise your child by yourself now. You’re a widow with an orphan; you need to think about Manman!” Wu Zhiqiu shouted at her eldest daughter, frustrated.
Beside them, Yu Manman stared at her mother and grandmother with her big, dark eyes.
“Manman is still young and doesn’t need much money. Besides, I have a job now! I don’t want that money!” Fenglan insisted against keeping the money.
“Do you know how much it costs to support a college student? Is your salary enough? Why don’t you hope for the best for your child? You and Manman are family now; you should focus on her!”
“Mom, I’m also family with you and Dad!” Fenglan felt anxious, wondering what her mother meant by this.
“It’s precisely because you are my daughter that we are family. I’m thinking of you and your child! Keep an eye on that money! Raise your child well; it’s what Jianmin deserves!”
Fenglan’s eyes reddened. “Mom, I understand!”
Although Manman was only ten years old, she felt her grandmother was right. She and her mother, along with their grandparents, were family. The second uncle was okay, but the other uncles and aunts were just ordinary relatives! With her father gone, they hadn’t even come to ask how they were doing; they were worse than neighbors!
Wu Zhiqiu put the money away. It couldn’t stay with her either; she needed to go out and buy two houses in the coming days. Real estate would be the most valuable in the future. This money from Jianmin should be saved for Manman’s future!
A week later, Fenglan started her job, and Manman was on winter break, following her mother to work every day.
Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang returned home.
As soon as Wu Zhiqiu entered the courtyard, Sister Liu seemed to be waiting for her at the gate. Upon seeing her, she quickly approached.
“What’s up, Sister Liu?”
Sister Liu glanced towards the back courtyard. “Your in-laws are here; their faces don’t look good. Be careful!”
Wu Zhiqiu’s mind raced. The old couple had visited less than ten times in the past few decades, usually for their children’s weddings or when the eldest was preparing for university. They must have come this time because of the eldest son’s trouble!
“I understand, thank you, Sister Liu!”
“Don’t mention it! Your second son asked me to keep an eye out for you; they’ve taken the kids back to their mother’s house!” Sister Liu playfully slapped her shoulder.
Wu Zhiqiu pushed her bicycle, thinking for a moment, then went back out of the courtyard. Let them come; she didn’t want to see those two old faces!
“I’m going to my daughter’s place!”
“Aren’t you going home?” Sister Liu asked in surprise.
“I’m not going! I’m not a masochist; I don’t need to be scolded to feel good!”
“That’s right; you shouldn’t show up; let them blame your in-laws instead!” Sister Liu teased with a smile.
“By the way, Sister Liu, do you know if there are any houses for sale around here?” Sister Liu was retired and loved to chat with other neighborhood women; she always had the latest news!
Wu Zhiqiu was too busy with work to help Fenglan look for houses.
“Yes! Are you looking to buy?”
Wu Zhiqiu casually asked, not expecting there would actually be one. Their location was within the second ring road, a prime area for future redevelopment.
She quickly pulled Sister Liu out of the courtyard, hoping Uncle Yu’s family wouldn’t hear! This matter was to be kept secret between her and Li Mancang!
“Our eldest daughter has lost her husband, and that meager compensation she has, I worry it will just attract attention,” Wu Zhiqiu pointed toward the back courtyard.
Sister Liu quickly nodded in agreement. Indeed, the old couple’s visit was likely related to money.
“I was thinking of helping our eldest daughter acquire property, buying a house. Renting it out would provide some income each month, and when the child grows up, it would be an asset!”
“Qiu, you’re right. Buying a house for the child is a serious matter! Your eldest daughter is too soft-hearted; that money in her hands might be taken away by someone someday!” Sister Liu hesitated to mention that Wu Zhiqiu’s eldest and youngest sons had more than a few tricks up their sleeves. That money in the eldest daughter’s possession would surely be coveted!
“I was thinking the same. It’s better to buy the house directly; then it won’t matter who covets it!”
“Perfect! There’s a house with a separate yard in the back lane, three main rooms for sale. The owners are going abroad and don’t plan to come back! Would you like to go see it?”
“Let’s go!”
The two women agreed instantly, and Wu Zhiqiu rode with Sister Liu to the back lane.
The house was located on the eastern side of the lane and had a small vegetable plot. The courtyard was not large, but the three main rooms were very well-preserved!
Wu Zhiqiu immediately set her sights on it. Whether for living or renting, this house was quite good!
The owners were a couple in their fifties.
“Sir, Ma’am, how much are you asking for this house?” Wu Zhiqiu inquired, clearly interested, ready to buy if the price was right.
“You’re from the front lane, right?” the woman recognized Wu Zhiqiu.
“I live in the big courtyard at the front!”
“We’ve been neighbors for decades; I don’t need much for this house—twenty-five hundred!”
This price was quite fair; nearby houses were generally around the same price.
However, not haggling wasn’t Wu Zhiqiu’s style.
“Ma’am, I’ll take it for twenty-three hundred! Let’s finalize the sale today!”
“Sister, that’s too low! Two hundred less is significant; I can’t accept that!” The woman immediately objected; two hundred yuan was equivalent to several months’ wages.
“Ma’am, to be honest, I only have two thousand three hundred yuan, which is my late son-in-law’s compensation. It’s meant to buy a house for my eldest daughter!” Wu Zhiqiu put on a sad expression.
Sister Liu immediately explained the situation, “It’s not that my sister wants to haggle; it’s just that this is all the money she has! She’s worried her eldest daughter won’t manage to keep the money!”
The couple exchanged glances, both feeling sympathy for Wu Zhiqiu.
“Fine, it’s settled at twenty-three hundred. Let’s transfer the ownership today!” The man decisively agreed; they were in a hurry to leave since they had already bought their plane tickets. Selling to such a family made them feel at ease!
“Thank you so much!” Wu Zhiqiu expressed her gratitude quickly.
Sister Liu and Wu Zhiqiu happily left the lane.
“Thank you, Sister Liu! I’ll treat you to a meal at the state-run restaurant tomorrow!”
“Don’t be so polite with me! I just showed you the way; it’s not worth spending money on a meal! I have to head back; I haven’t cooked at home yet!” Sister Liu hurriedly walked back.
Wu Zhiqiu rode her bicycle to her eldest daughter’s place.
Fenglan was busy cooking. “Mom, didn’t you say you’d be home today?”
“I have great news to share!” Wu Zhiqiu couldn’t stop smiling as she thought about how valuable this little house would be! Only two thousand three hundred yuan—what a steal!
“What good news, Grandma?” Manman wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s.
Wu Zhiqiu patted Manman’s little nose. “You’re quite clever!”
“Fenglan, I bought a courtyard for you, just in the back lane from our house. It’s a separate yard, and it’s fantastic! We’ll finalize the ownership today!”