Chapter 213: Jia Zhangshi: We Have Money

Jia Zhangshi's side room is being renovated.

This news shocked everyone in the big courtyard.

Jia Zhangshi acted all proud and smug, showing off everywhere.

"How's that? Without Qin Huairu, I'll only live better—she's the one holding me back, not me holding her back."

Because Jia Zhangshi was the first house in the big courtyard to get renovated, Lei Gensheng did the work very conscientiously.

The small side room exudes a sense of luxury everywhere.

This luxury also underscores the meaning of Jia Zhangshi's words.

She indeed is living better.

In contrast, Qin Huairu's family of four is cramped together; although the furniture is complete, compared to Jia Zhangshi's new home, it feels like heaven and earth.

Old ladies constantly stream in to tour it, and Jia Zhangshi can't get enough of it.

Every time they enter, they keep praising how good this and that is.

"Do you see this wooden floor? I heard only high officials can use it."

"Do you see this smokeless stove? Just toss in a bit of wood and you can cook a meal without any smoke."

"Do you see this new-style fire wall? Inside there's no coal smell, and the temperature stays fine."

"Most importantly, changing coal or coal briquettes is done outside, so it doesn't dirty the interior."

"Over here, do you see these floor tiles? I heard they're very expensive, and I've used them."

"Look at our cabinets— they're all built‑in, not only good‑looking but also space‑saving."

………

………

Jia Zhangshi chatters nonstop, happily advertising for Yang Qing every day.

Aside from the workers being annoyed, everyone else is quite satisfied.

Ten days later, the workers withdrew, and the house entered the drying stage.

Yang Qing came to collect the final payment.

The more Jia Zhangshi looked, the more she liked it, wishing she could move in right away.

But upon seeing Yang Qing's smiling face, her smile instantly vanished.

Yang Qing didn't stand on ceremony with him, speaking bluntly.

"Auntie Jia, settle the final payment."

Jia Zhangshi glared.

"Final payment? What final payment?"

She obviously wanted to welch on the debt.

Yang Qing had long been prepared; he pulled out the contract and pointed it out to Jia Zhangshi.

"Auntie Jia, look—this is the contract we signed."

"It states that after the project is completed, Party A must settle the remaining balance in one lump sum; if Party A fails to fulfill the contract, Party B retains the right to use the house, directly to recoup costs and any losses incurred."

Jia Zhangshi didn't expect Yang Qing to not argue with her but to produce the contract.

This wasn't what she had imagined.

"Who knows if there are any other problems with your renovation? Let's wait until I've lived there a while before we talk."

"When you buy something, defective goods can still be returned."

Yang Qing opened the contract again.

"Auntie Jia, this is the specifications and materials list we agreed to."

"We followed the contract exactly; as long as our materials are fine and the design is fine."

"Then we've fulfilled our obligations; any other issues are none of our business."

At that moment, the other women also gathered around.

They all talked at once, asking what had happened.

Jia Zhangshi saw people coming, felt someone was backing her, and her courage returned.

"He just finished the renovation and already came for money—I haven't even inspected it yet."

"Everybody says, for something this expensive, not letting us try it out and just demanding payment—does that make sense?"

"Yang Qing, are you bullying a lonely old widow like me?"

"I tell you, if you think that, you're wrong—I'll go to the Jiedao and sue you, costing you your job."

Yang Qing reached out his hand.

"Please go ahead, but I need to remind Auntie Jia once more: if you don't fulfill your contractual obligations on time, you'll have to pay a penalty."

"Three yuan per month, plus the final twenty yuan—meaning that during this period you won't get the house; the usage rights belong to us, and we'll still earn three yuan each month."

"If you keep not paying this sum, it will keep accruing until you're insolvent, at which point the house will be turned over to our company."

Jia Zhangshi was startled by Yang Qing's calculation; doing the math herself, she broke out in a sweat.

"Isn't this outright robbery?"

"Even a greedy landlord isn't as ruthless as you lot."

"The cost of breach is too heavy—it's practically worse than loan‑sharking."

Others were likewise startled by Yang Qing's calculation.

The thought of taking advantage after Jia Zhangshi welched vanished instantly.

Yang Qing spread his hands, feigning helplessness.

"There's nothing we can do—this is all Jiedao property; not involving the police is already lenient, otherwise you'd be charged with misappropriating Jiedao assets and be worse off, right, Auntie Jia?"

Jia Zhangshi, being coaxed and threatened, took out 20 yuan.

"Here, here, you talk as if I would default on a debt."

"Am I that kind of person?"

Yang Qing gave a meaningful smile, and everyone understood.

At this time, the second aunt urged.

"Jia Zhangshi, hurry up and open the door; let us see the finished product. All we've done before is listen to you boast—let us see if it's really that good."

Yang Qing also tactfully presented the key with both hands.

"Then, our money and goods are settled; I wish Jia Shen'er a happy and fulfilling life."

Jia Zhangshi excitedly took the key.

Arriving at her distinctive door, the door was solid wood with a refined red hue.

At a glance, it is far more upscale than the other doors in the siheyuan.

The key is that the style has a strong antique feel and matches the courtyard well.

Beside the door is an inset glass window; compared to small panes, the large window is much brighter.

Opening the door, the floor is tiled, clean and tidy, with a shoe cabinet and clothes rack nearby for easy changing.

In front is a screen blocking the indoor view.

Turning in after entering, there is the stove, of moderate height, tiled with mosaic, looking clean and pretty at a glance.

Going further inside, it becomes wooden flooring; the washroom work desk and bed are here, with windows in the walls, bright and spacious, like another world.

"This is also great; such a small room not only includes all the functions one could think of, but it doesn't feel cramped."

"I like her desk; you can do anything on it."

"I like her window; her ear room is very bright, San Da Ma—her home is brighter than yours."

San Da Ma had a black line on her face; her home is a rear-facing house, so it appears a bit darker.

Whereas Jia Zhangshi got the ear room, which is darker than hers, but after they renovated, it's not only bright and spacious, but this room combines so many functions yet still doesn't feel cramped.

The grade, the grade—this instantly widened the gap.

Jia Zhangshi smiled so broadly she couldn't close her mouth; wherever she looked, everything was good.

After splitting from me, I'm living better than you; not giving me my grandson, I'll let Bang Geng come over himself.

Originally living in the ear room pitifully, it was not much different from living in the woodshed.

(The ear rooms in the side houses used to be the kitchen and toilet.)

Now a turnaround, my living is better than yours.

The pitiful old lady has become an old Buddha.

Just say, are you angry or not?

Looking at the old women who used to look at her askance, now their eyes are red with envy; even their speech is no longer sarcastic, everywhere revealing envy, jealousy, and hatred.

No way, who let us be rich?