Chapter 259: Jia Zhangshi, Bring the Money

Huaihua is here.

Jia Zhangshi wasn't at all afraid that the eldest aunt wouldn't take out this money.

Yi Zhonghai's daughter—we the Jia family have helped raise her; you, as Yi Zhonghai's daughter-in-law, ought to take on some responsibilities after his death, right?

"Eldest aunt, today in front of the neighbors, we two families really need to make things clear—whose daughter is Huaihua? I won't say it, but you know in your heart; this is Yi Zhonghai bullying our Jia family. Yi Zhonghai is dead, some things are past, but the living must settle this: we the Jia family have been raising your family's child, and that hasn't been cheap."

A finger rose up.

The head was lifted slightly.

Wanted to look at the eldest aunt by lifting the chin.

Because one's own stature wasn't as tall as the eldest aunt's.

Jia Zhangshi's attempt to show authority backfired, making herself look like a ridiculous monkey.

"If you give our Jia family one thousand, then with this thousand, Huaihua's matter will have nothing to do with your Yi family; we the Jia family will raise Huaihua to adulthood, and when she grows up we will tell her the truth; as for whether she takes the Jia or Yi surname, it will be entirely up to Huaihua's personal wish."

The eldest aunt did not become angry just because Jia Zhangshi opened her mouth wide like a lion.

The expression on the face.

From beginning to end, it remained that kind of calm without waves.

She quietly watched Jia Zhangshi's performance.

Jia Zhangshi must have felt a little panicked from being watched.

They explained why they were asking the eldest aunt for one thousand.

"Do you think I'm just spouting nonsense? The neighbors are all here; I've calculated the account clearly and plainly: Huaihua's living expenses from age one to eighteen are two yuan a month, twenty-four yuan a year, over eighteen years that's nearly five hundred yuan; she still needs to buy clothes, and we the Jia family still need to support her schooling—these add up to two hundred yuan; plus dowry and such, it's at least five hundred yuan. Considering our previous good relationship, that's why I'm asking you for one thousand. Eldest aunt, do you think what I'm saying makes sense?"

The eldest aunt nodded.

Jia Zhangshi felt a surge of joy, but she feared the eldest aunt would oppose her, which would mean reducing the so-called Huaihua upkeep expenses.

This is all the Jia family's money!

"Eldest aunt, you say this money—should it be paid by your Yi family?"

"Should!"

If it weren't for the fact that there were over a hundred neighbors nearby, Jia Zhangshi would definitely have jumped up and down on the spot to vent her ecstasy.

One thousand yuan!

That equals three years of Qin Huairu's salary.

With this one thousand.

The Jia family could then live a prosperous period.

Accustomed to eating white flour steamed buns and meat dishes, Jia Zhangshi eating cornbread hoarsened her throat, drinking cabbage soup irritated her throat, and she still needed to buy a whole new set of clothes.

"When will you give the money? Eldest aunt, rest assured, as long as you give our Jia family one thousand for Huaihua's upkeep, I will swear before the neighbors, swear that this matter will be over just like that."

"I'll give it to you now."

Jia Zhangshi extended her hand toward the eldest aunt.

To ask for money.

But unexpectedly, the eldest aunt reached out her hand toward Jia Zhangshi.

Seeing the big empty palm before her, Jia Zhangshi's mind instantly went into a tangle—what are you trying to do?

"Eldest aunt, this is!"

Qin Huairu, unable to watch any longer, explained the whole story to Jia Zhangshi; upon hearing that the eldest aunt had come back to demand money from the Jia family for Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi's nose almost twisted with anger.

What the heck.

All in all, the Jia family got nothing and still had to raise Huaihua for free.

The savings exceed two thousand—how much is ours and how much was given by Yi Zhonghai—although Jia Zhangshi isn't entirely clear, she could still estimate that it's about eighty or ninety percent.

After Old Jia's death, the Yagangchang factory compensated with three hundred fifty yuan in consolation money.

After Little Jia's death, the Yagangchang factory compensated with five hundred fifty yuan in consolation money.

Together they added up to nine hundred yuan.

This is money exchanged for the lives of Old Jia and Little Jia.

Jia Dongxu gave Jia Zhangshi five yuan each month; she saved continuously for five years, totaling three hundred yuan. After Qin Huairu took over the post, Jia Zhangshi saved fifteen yuan each month for two years, totaling three hundred sixty yuan. Adding the neighbors' donations and Qin Huairu's other benefits, they could roughly have one thousand seven or eight hundred yuan.

The money given by Yi Zhonghai.

At most two or three hundred yuan.

This money.

Gritting their teeth, they gave it away.

However, Jia Zhangshi was unwilling.

The Jia family couldn't possibly suffer such a loss, raising Yi Zhonghai's daughter for free.

All in all, I got not a single cent, yet I still have to give you money.

This isn't exaggerated?

"Eldest aunt, who did you hear say that your Yi family's Yi Zhonghai gave money to our Jia family? Go call Yi Zhonghai and let him tell me."

Jia Zhangshi, I can't call Yi Zhonghai back, but I have witnesses—the neighbors in the compound all heard you and Qin Huairu personally say that Yi Zhonghai gave your Jia family over two thousand.

In the crowd.

The sound of the neighbors raising a clamor came from.

"Jia Granny, these words were spoken by you personally—what's wrong? Not admitting it? It's as if the Jia family's talk is just fart."

Qin Huairu, don't play the victim; you also admitted earlier that this money was given by Yi Zhonghai. As the eldest aunt, being Yi Zhonghai's daughter-in-law, she has the right to demand this money from you; even if you cause a scene at the neighborhood office, the eldest aunt is still in the right.

"What does it have to do with you?" Jia Zhangshi, fuming inside, shouted at those clamoring neighbors: "What are you making a fuss about?"

The clamor did not quiet down just because of Jia Zhangshi's ranting.

On the contrary, it became even more intense.

Their words also turned into vicious speech.

"We can't stand it, can we? We're just helping the eldest aunt, letting her get back what she's owed."

"Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu, the money was given to you by Yi Zhonghai — you said it yourselves, and we all heard it. If we don't give this money to the eldest aunt, we might have to call a meeting of the compound to discuss whether your Jia family, which owes money and refuses to pay, still has the right to live in our compound."

"You refuse to pay rent and want to live for free, but out of neighborly loyalty we haven't expelled your Jia family from the compound; we merely gave you another apartment — this is a warning. If your Jia family still won't learn, taking Yi Zhonghai's money yet not giving it to the eldest aunt, don't blame us for disregarding neighborly feelings."

"The eldest aunt has no children; this money is her pension. What right do you have to withhold it? If you don't give it, we neighbors won't stand for it!"

Shazhu saw it clearly.

A Moral Heavenly Venerable fell.

Countless Moral Heavenly Venerables rose to their feet.

Obviously they were just jealous of the Jia family's riches, yet they insisted on finding some supposed righteous cause for themselves, each posing as a figure of justice and blaming the Jia family.

Jia Zhangshi suddenly realized: if the disreputable Jia family were actually expelled from the Siheyuan, they'd probably end up on the streets; she'd heard that housing is now in short supply.

Leaving the Siheyuan doesn't guarantee they'll find a place to live.

Just as the neighbors said, she couldn't just think of herself; she also had to consider Bangeng.

As for Bangeng's marriage, if the woman's family comes to ask about the Jia family's reputation, the neighbors will give them an earful — Bangeng won't be able to marry and will have to look in the countryside.

Jia Zhangshi still despises country girls; Qin Huairu has already broken her heart, and Bangeng insists he cannot marry a country girl.

That amounts to cutting off the family line.

Jia Zhangshi's attitude.

A softening appeared.