Chapter 115: House in Hand

"Uncle He, I'm convinced," Li Qiang gave He Daqing a thumbs-up after Yi Zhonghai left.

"When dealing with Yi Zhonghai you can't be soft-hearted; I'm doing this for his own good, anyway he has no children, after he dies it's better to give the house to us than let it go to the state, that way Yuzhu and Yushui won't have to argue over the house, and it works out that each sibling gets two rooms." He Daqing said with a smile.

"Dad, I'm convinced," He Yuzhu stood up and poured He Daqing a cup of wine.

"You kid, just learn from this," He Daqing said proudly.

"Dad, since Yi Zhonghai gave me his family's house, I don't need this money," He Yushui said.

"No, this was originally your living expenses; this way you and Yuzhu's family each get half," He Daqing said, leveling the bowl of water.

"Alright, Yushui, just do as Dad said; you also basically got two rooms for free, so stop being modest," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"All right," He Yushui could only reluctantly agree.

"What's wrong with you?" the old lady saw Yi Zhonghai return listless and asked with a hint of worry.

"Old lady, there's something I've been hiding from you. I didn't tell you, but today I have to tell you," Yi Zhonghai knew he couldn't keep it secret, so he confessed to the old lady.

"What is it?" the old lady really hadn't thought Yi Zhonghai would hide something from her.

"After He Daqing left, I used to send ten yuan each month to Yushui and Yuzhu as living expenses, asking me to pass it on. At first I thought I'd give them less each time when they had nowhere else to go, so they'd remember our kindness and later support us in old age. Later they became sworn siblings with Li Qiang's family and their lives improved, so I stopped sending. As time went on the money piled up and I couldn't bear to give it away. Who knew He Daqing would suddenly come back?" Yi Zhonghai sighed.

"Old Yi, how could you do something like this? Back then those siblings had it so rough," the old lady, who was still fairly kind, said, never imagining her bedmate of many years could do such a thing.

"I'm doing this for our old age," Yi Zhonghai kept telling himself that was his reason.

"So what now? He Daqing's back. Aren't you going to return the money?" the old lady said worriedly.

"Too late, I just went to return it, but He Daqing refused and wants to file a report," Yi Zhonghai said.

"What, file a report?" the old lady is now a bit scared; ordinary folks in any era don't want to deal with the police.

"Over the years He Daqing has sent back a total of two thousand yuan, which is no small sum; if he files a report I could be sentenced to at least ten years, maybe twenty, by then forget about a pension—just surviving would be lucky. You say if I'm locked up, you alone outside with no income—how would you live?" Yi Zhonghai's words seemed to tell the old lady that without him she couldn't survive.

"What can we do, Old Yi? You're this age—if you really go in, our family is finished," the old lady obviously realized the problem.

"Later I talked with He Daqing; as long as he doesn't file a report, I can compensate him," Yi Zhonghai said, shifting tone.

"As long as he doesn't file a report, we'll give him whatever compensation he wants," the old lady said, truly frightened.

"He wants the two rooms of the deaf old lady," Yi Zhonghai said.

"Then give them to him; anyway we have no use for them," the old lady said, relieved. Indeed, as she said, those two rooms have been vacant.

"He also wants our two rooms," Yi Zhonghai continued.

"He Daqing is being a bit excessive—if we give him our two rooms, where will we live?" the old lady said angrily.

"He said, anyway we have no heirs; rather than leave it to be confiscated later, we might as well give it to him. He promised we can keep living there, and after we pass away the house will belong to him," Yi Zhonghai explained.

"That works; his reasoning makes sense." The old lady thought, indeed when they die the house will surely be confiscated, so it's better to compensate them—at least the He family will remember them fondly.

"Okay, since you agree, tomorrow I'll go with them to transfer the title," Yi Zhonghai said, not expecting the old lady to be so easy to talk to.

"Go ahead; even if we don't give it to them, we can't take it with us when we die. I just hope Yuzhu will look after the house and bring us a bowl of water when we're old," the old lady thought, quite perceptive.

"Let's hope so," Yi Zhonghai said, now powerless to change things, only hoping He Yuzhu will remember their kindness.

The next morning early, Yi Zhonghai took He Yuzhu and his sister to the street office.

The street office director is still Director Wang, who by age should be about to retire.

"Old Yi, how come you're here?" Director Wang asked Yi Zhonghai; in her memory Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu's relationship had only eased a few years ago, now he comes with the He siblings, she surely feels curious.

"Director Wang, today I have a favor to ask," Yi Zhonghai said with a smile.

"We've known each other for years; just say what you need, otherwise next month I'll retire and won't be able to help," Director Wang said with a smile.

"Indeed, congratulations; after a lifetime of work, it's time to retire," Yi Zhonghai offered a compliment.

"Thanks, Old Yi, but you still haven't said what the matter is," Director Wang asked with a smile.

"Director Wang, you know my situation—the deaf old lady left me those two rooms when she passed, and I have no heirs. I came today to transfer those two rooms to Yuzhu, and the two rooms I currently live in to Yushui. While I'm still able I want to get this done, in case I become unable to move later and it becomes a hassle," Yi Zhonghai said, sounding righteous, not mentioning compensation at all.

"Old Yi, I have to remind you, the state still doesn't allow private property sales," Director Wang reminded.

"Director Wang, what are you thinking? This is a gift—you know my pension is enough for the two of us old folks, selling it would be pointless; better to give it to the siblings, hoping that when we're old Yuzhu will give us something to eat in return for today's favor." Even then Yi Zhonghai didn't forget to throw a jab at He Yuzhu.

"Since it's a gift, no problem—I'll get the paperwork done for you right now," Director Wang said with a smile; He Yuzhu and his sister said nothing the whole time, nor did they respond to Yi Zhonghai's remarks.

Not long later the paperwork was finished, and the three walked out of the street office.

"Master Yi, you don't need to say it. We've been neighbors for so many years; if that day ever comes, I won't stand by and let you starve," He Yuzhu said, then walked away with He Yushui.

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yi Zhonghai felt not only no sorrow over the house transfer, but a faint smile appeared. He knew He Yuzhu well; today He Yuzhu's words were telling him that when they're old they won't ignore him—wasn't that the result of all his scheming? Now He Yuzhu said it himself, Yi Zhonghai felt he'd wasted these years, why all the scheming? Yet He Yuzhu's final sentence filled him with immense satisfaction.