newbobooks Chapter 280 Everyone's Arguing
Chapter 280 Everyone's Arguing
Inside the farmer's house.
The old woman's face was serious. "Hua Lin, I'm not trying to be mean, but we clearly agreed that Peng Fei would go to the old house to stay with his second uncle. Why did you go back on your word? And you even secretly came to see the eldest brother. You're putting us in a difficult position!"
Zhuang Chaoying comforted her mother, "Mom, I'm the eldest in the family, it's only right that I take care of Pengfei!"
Grandma Zhuang's lips twitched. "That won't work either. Your little courtyard and rooms are already small. With your family living here, it's already very crowded. Adding Pengfei would interfere with Tu Nan's studies."
"Grandma, it's okay, I'll take care of myself and won't be affected!" Zhuang Tunan also smiled and reassured his grandmother.
The old woman's mouth twitched violently. "No! You're too young. You can't guarantee anything."
The elderly couple were worried that Xiang Pengfei's family would follow the same pattern as other families, with the children returning first, and then the rest of the family returning one by one. That would be a huge problem, and they couldn't leave it to the eldest son; the second son would have to take over.
Zhuang Hualin cried, "Sister-in-law, Tu Nan's grades are good, he definitely won't be affected!" She knew that as long as Huang Ling nodded, things would take a turn for the better!
Grandpa tapped the table. "Hualin, don't make things difficult for your sister-in-law. I've taught you since you were little that you can't be too greedy. Why can't you put Pengfei in his second uncle's house?"
Although Huang Ling heard Zhuang Hualin's words, she remained silent. The old woman's words were made up on the spot, but they resonated with Huang Ling's heart; she truly didn't want Zhuang Tunan to take any risks.
Ever since Grandma decided that her eldest son would take care of her in her old age, the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law changed dramatically, and they even started to agree on some things. Before that, it was the second son's wife's prerogative.
Zhuang Hualin recalled that when they discussed this matter, the first thing the old woman said was, "We are both too old to take care of Pengfei!"
Actually, the two weren't that old; there were many people around them who were much older than them, raising their grandchildren. Zhuang Hualin felt a deep sorrow at having no place of her own in the house. She should have known, she should have known from the moment she started sleeping on the dining table!
However, in the end, Xiang Pengfei stayed.
When Huang Ling went to the restroom, she ran into Song Ying. Song Ying asked Huang Ling what she thought. Huang Ling felt sorry for Xiang Pengfei and liked him very much. She was willing to take care of him for a few years, but she was worried about disturbing Zhuang Tunan's rest, since there was only one year left until the college entrance examination.
Song Ying generously suggested that Xiang Pengfei could live with Lin Dongzhe, and that Xiang Pengfei could move into Zhuang Tunan's room after Zhuang Tunan went to university.
In the end, Granny Zhuang left in a huff. She had taught Zhuang Chaoying a lesson she deeply regretted.
Lin Dongzhe never imagined that he would one day sleep next to a man.
Not long after Xiang Pengfei moved in, the conflict between Wang Fang and Wang Yong escalated significantly, becoming far more dramatic than the farce involving the Zhuang family.
Zhou Zhiyuan returned from Shanghai because his older brother and sister-in-law in Shanghai had been suspended from their jobs, so Zhou Zhiyuan had no choice but to return to Suzhou to see if his wife Wang Fang's family could find a way out.
When Wang Yong saw Zhou Zhiyuan arrive, his anger reached its peak, and his curses became increasingly offensive. Wang Fang was also enraged and pulled out a kitchen knife, slashing her wrist, intending to die in Wang Yong's house.
Fortunately, Wang Fang's wound was not deep and did not cut an artery. She only needed two stitches at the clinic.
However, this matter still alarmed the leaders of the cotton mill, and soon someone in charge came down to coordinate. The person who came was Secretary Zhang, who had been threatened by Lin Dongzhe.
He looked at the layout of the yard and asked, "Could we extend this yard wall a bit further back to make room for a small bedroom?"
The head of the real estate department approached and whispered to Secretary Zhang, "The house next door is Song Ying's! The one with the child that night..."
"You guys discuss it! As long as they agree, this matter can be implemented." After saying this, Secretary Zhang left.
Wang Yong was unwilling to build an additional house in the courtyard, as it would take up a lot of his space. Wang Fang had no choice but to come and discuss it with the neighbors in courtyard number 37 herself.
That evening, the two families used this excuse to get together for dinner again.
Lin Wufeng explained the situation to Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling, who were not home. "The neighbors want to build an extension, so we need to move our bicycles and coal to the backyard. This will affect ventilation and lighting. We might live in this yard for the rest of our lives, so we need to think it through."
Zhuang Tunan was the first to express his opinion, "I agree."
Zhuang Chaoying frowned, but said nothing.
Huang Ling hesitated for a moment, then also voted in favor.
Lin Dongzhe gave everyone the final answer: "The corner outside the backyard wall is useless. We can ask the housing management department to allocate it to us to make a storage room to compensate for the loss of part of our courtyard."
After finishing their meal, Lin Dongzhe led both families to the backyard. They looked at the secluded corner and found it was indeed suitable as a storage room.
Song Ying and Huang Ling went to the real estate department together and raised this request, which the real estate department immediately agreed to.
When the two walked out of the real estate department, the department head politely saw them off, as if they were facing two superiors.
Wang Fang was in a hurry to get a house, so she asked the construction workers who came to help build the house to expedite the construction. The housing management department came and drew a white line, and Wang Yong wanted the line marker to move the white line a little towards courtyard number 37, but Song Ying discovered this and scolded Wang Yong back.
For some reason, Wang Yong became timid around Song Ying. When Song Ying scolded him, he wanted to talk back, but his body instinctively wanted to back down. In the end, he didn't mutter anything and sheepishly went back to his room.
The educated youth had their own circle, and sometimes they would get together to discuss things or exchange information. Wang Fang raised her needs at a gathering, and many people enthusiastically helped her solve her problems. They were all minor problems; they got some bricks and cement, and since several people were willing to put in the effort, the house quickly took shape.
Lin Dongzhe sighed, "The title of 'infrastructure maniac' must come from their very bones; at this speed, they'll never lose out on anything they do."
Wang Fang's house wasn't even finished when Wu Jianguo's house in the front yard started making headlines again.
Wu Shanshan's decision to change her college application to No. 1 Middle School has finally been exposed, because No. 1 Middle School has already released its admission results, and Wu Shanshan is prominently listed, and among the top applicants.
Zhang Amei was furious, feeling that Wu Jianguo had tricked her. Wu Jianguo confronted Wu Shanshan, and they started arguing. In a fit of anger, Wu Jianguo slapped Wu Shanshan.
Wu Shanshan covered her face and ran out of the Wu family courtyard, not returning until dark.
Wu Jianguo then became a little scared. He searched all the neighbors around him, but couldn't find him. The neighbors also kindly helped him search.
Lin Dongzhe strolled leisurely into the grove, Wu Shanshan's favorite spot. There was a crooked tree there, easy to climb. Wu Shanshan would sit there lost in thought when she was feeling down.
Lin Dongzhe discovered this secluded grove, and he brought Wu Shanshan here with him. However, Wu Shanshan had never come here alone before; she always came with Lin Dongzhe.