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Chapter 697: Chapter 687: Dad, Doesn’t Li Hongqi Have a House?
When Wang Dan heard Li Hongjun say that, she thought there was no hope left, and her complexion soured a bit. Thankfully, she had the sense not to throw a tantrum or curse by association right then and there, but instead, she calmed down and simply continued eating her meal with her head down.
This reaction actually pleased Shen Yunfang, as she didn’t like the relatives from Li Family and didn’t wish to have any financial entanglements with them. However, among the Li Family, this sister-in-law’s temperament was considered decent.
She was formidable, no one dared to take advantage of her, and while she might want to take advantage of others occasionally, if they didn’t let her, she wouldn’t make a hysterical scene like Qiu Shuping. She was someone who cared about her reputation.
Shen Yunfang could exchange a few words with this sister-in-law, and just because of this thin layer of mutual respect, she wouldn’t refuse to help if she could.
"Sister-in-law, when Goudan goes out to work, is he going by himself, or with someone else?" Shen Yunfang inquired.
Wang Dan’s spirits lifted at this question, thinking there might still be hope.
"I’m not at ease with him going out alone, he’s only sixteen after all, so I was thinking of finding someone to look after him." That is to say, he was to go out with someone else.
"That so, sister-in-law, it’s not that I want to make excuses, but if Goudan goes out to work with others, him having a place to stay by himself might give others the wrong idea, and that won’t be beneficial for Goudan. You know, inequality rather than poverty breeds discontent. Over time, that will surely lead to conflicts." If he was the only one among his co-workers with his own place to stay, that would make him stand out, and over time his colleagues might resent him for it.
Wang Dan didn’t quite understand Shen Yunfang’s last remark, but she caught the gist of it, "Then..." She wanted to suggest they all stay at her place, but before the words came out, she swallowed them back down. If it were her, she couldn’t do it, lending a room to her nephew was already a stretch, to let others move in would turn the place into a dormitory.
She knew well the value of a house and couldn’t let others spoil it.
"Sister-in-law, if Goudan goes to the Capital by himself, he can stay at our place without a problem. But if he’s going with others, it would probably be best for him to stay with everyone else, don’t you think?" Shen Yunfang patiently explained.
"Auntie, then I’ll just go to the Capital by myself," Goudan interjected confidently, at that rebellious age where one fears neither heaven nor earth. Irritated by his mother and aunt’s hesitant discussion, he decided to take the matter into his own hands.
Truth be told, he was truly longing for the Capital. After wandering around his uncle’s place there once, he came back obsessed, with no interest left for his studies, only the desire to make his way in the Capital.
Li Hongjun looked at his nephew and asked, "You’re going by yourself? What are you going to do in the Capital? Do you know where they need workers? What work can you do?"
"I have my strength. At home I can carry grain just like my dad, so why wouldn’t I find something to eat wherever I go?" Goudan argued, refusing to be underestimated.
"Simple-minded and all brawn, if you go out, you’ll just be someone who sells their manual labor," Li Hongjun said, not mincing words.
Having his uncle describe him that way, Goudan felt his eyes well up with anger. Teenagers of this era, in their rebellious phase, couldn’t stand being told they were incapable.
Wang Dan also didn’t like hearing her son belittled by Li Hongjun, "Hongjun, don’t put it that way. Here at home, a lot of people praise Goudan. You shouldn’t judge him by his rough exterior, he is kind and righteous."
Although Wang Dan’s three children were all raised without much fuss, their integrity was influenced by Wang Dan herself, none took after the Li Family members.
Shen Yunfang smiled and said, "Since Goudan wants to make his own way, as his uncle and aunt, we should definitely support him. If you want to go to the Capital, then you can stay at our home."
Goudan was so happy when his second aunt agreed that he almost jumped up. Wang Dan also had a big smile on her face.
"Ah, it’s the second aunt who cares for the child after all. Goudan, you should thank your second aunt right now," Wang Dan, fearing Shen Yunfang might change her mind, pulled her son along, hoping to settle the matter then and there.
"Sister-in-law, I haven’t finished speaking yet," Shen Yunfang raised her hand, "You can live in the house, but there are conditions. As for the rent, your second aunt certainly won’t ask you for it, but if you move in, you’ll have to pay for the utilities each month."
"It’s nothing; how much can that cost?" Wang Dan didn’t think it was a big deal when she heard it.
"Also, I am only lending the house to you alone; you can’t let anyone else move in. I have friends over there who help me watch the house, and if I find out you’re letting others move in, I won’t agree to it."
"You can rest assured, second aunt, I’ll be the only one living there."
"One last thing, you can live in the house, but you have to take good care of it. You can’t trash it, and you also have to keep it clean. Don’t turn my house into a pigsty after a few days."
Goudan and Wang Dan both nodded vigorously; these were not big issues.
"Since you’ve agreed, then that’s fine. But let me be clear; if any of these points are not met, I will take the house back," Shen Yunfang said with a smile.
"Heh heh, don’t worry, second aunt, I will live there carefully, as if it were my own home."
If someone else heard this, they might take it the wrong way, but Shen Yunfang didn’t mind.
With that settled, the atmosphere around the table warmed up again, and Wang Dan kept offering dishes to Shen Yunfang to the point of embarrassment for her.
Only Old Mr. Li seemed to have something on his mind, hesitating to speak.
Although the adults present could tell, neither Wang Dan and her husband nor Shen Yunfang and her husband cared, thinking Old Mr. Li certainly wouldn’t say anything agreeable, so they all pretended not to notice and ignored him.
Old Mr. Li struggled inwardly for a while, then, as though he had made up his mind, he asked Li Hongjun, "Hongjun, don’t you still have a yard in the Capital? Since you’re not going back to the Capital, why not let your brother live there when he comes back?"
As if afraid his second son would disagree, he hurriedly added, "After your brother gets out, he surely won’t have a job. If he doesn’t have a place to stay, it wouldn’t be fitting for such a grown man..."
When Li Hongqi was sentenced, his company had already fired him, which meant he would be unemployed once he got out, making his college education worthless.
"Dad, I think you’re mistaken. How could Li Hongqi not have a place to live? When we divided the family property, this house was given to him, wasn’t it?" Shen Yunfang looked around the room they were currently in; it was understood back then that the Li family elders were counting on their younger son to take care of them in their old age, so the house went to him, and her part of the family got nothing.
Old Mr. Li’s lips trembled, unsure of what to say. They indeed had favored the younger son back then, wanting to leave the best for him. However, at that time, his second son and daughter-in-law were provided for by the state, having better circumstances.
"Furthermore, Dad, Li Hongqi is supposed to take care of you in your old age. You’re living here, so he can’t just run off elsewhere. Even if our house in the Capital is empty, he shouldn’t even dream of living there," Shen Yunfang continued.
