Second Aunt's house.
Second Aunt Mei Yifang lives right across from Big Uncle Mei Yongan, and she married one of his colleagues.
As soon as Big Uncle got home, Second Aunt Mei Yifang arrived as well.
As soon as she walked in, Second Uncle Qi Hua and their son Qi Yongwang craned their necks to look over at her.
Father and son both knew why Mei Yifang had gone out, so now that she was back, they couldn't help asking curiously, "You're back, how did it go?"
Mei Yifang put down her bag before answering, "The house got split up, the agreement's signed. Us siblings are dividing it into six shares, equal for all. Those two kids don't want to live with us, so they're staying over there, and Big Sister will look after them as usual."
Qi Hua asked, "How did you say it to them, you didn't make the kids cry, did you? If you ask me, you all should've waited. Their parents just passed, and now you want the house––how are the kids supposed to handle that?"
"Then what are we supposed to do? Little Sis and Little Bro are anxious as hell. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt didn't even get buried before they started scheming. We finally finished the funeral, these two can barely hold out. But honestly, I felt like Zhenzhen pretty much knew we'd come after the house. She only set a few conditions before agreeing to split it."
"What conditions?" Qi Yongwang asked curiously.
"They'll live there until demolition, until the place is uninhabitable. We'll help pay their water and electricity bills. Big Sister said each of us would give two hundred a month for living expenses, but in the end nobody paid anything, so I just followed everyone and came home. Oh, and they're not paying any rent."
Qi Hua couldn't help but laugh when he heard that, "No rent? Zhenzhen's pretty funny."
But the more Qi Hua laughed, the more he realized it wasn't funny. "Zhenzhen really thought it through. If she hadn't said that outright, maybe after a year your siblings really would try to make the kids pay rent."
Mei Yifang frowned, a bit annoyed. "Honestly, I wasn't planning to give in on the house––it should be ours. But for living expenses, we should've chipped in something, even just a little. Who knew, though, in the end nobody paid a damn cent. It doesn't feel right, does it? The kids have no one now, and we relatives act like this."
Mei Yifang's thinking was simple: what's mine, I won't let go of even a cent; what's not mine, I won't take. And if it's her duty, she won't shirk it. These two kids are her brother's children. She wouldn't take them in, but a bit of financial support would be fine. No need for the siblings to be so petty with each other.
Qi Yongwang thought about it simply. "Two hundred a month isn't much." In his mind, he could easily afford it—the amount was less than his own monthly pocket money. Giving the money might make his cousins remember them well, but even if not, two hundred is nothing.
Qi Hua knew exactly what the mother and son duo were thinking. "Your mom's just going along with the crowd. If everyone gives, she gives. If everyone refuses, she won't be the only one coughing up cash."
Yep, Mei Yinan really does think that way.
"But honestly, I think it's unnecessary. Since the house is already split, if the kids need help in life, we can lend a hand then."
Mei Yifang already felt guilty about the kids, so as soon as Qi Hua said that, she quickly nodded, "Alright, that works too."
Qi Hua was curious, "You split the money evenly, six parts? Your younger brother and sister didn't object? I can't imagine those two would leave a share for the kids."
"That was Zhenzhen's idea, otherwise there wouldn't even be a signed agreement. You think those two would ever agree if not?"
...
Little Aunt's house.
Little Aunt Mei Yifan lives pretty close, just across the street from Auntie's place, in the building opposite.
Little Uncle Wang Gaofeng heard the sound of high heels coming upstairs from the living room. Before she made it to the door, he rushed to open it, welcoming her from afar.
Seeing Mei Yifan grinning and radiant, he relaxed. Without even waiting for her to change shoes, he couldn't help but ask, "Well? Did it work out?"
"Worked out, how could it not? If it hadn't, I wouldn't have left today. But, uh…."
Seeing Mei Yifan hesitate, Wang Gaofeng pressed her, "But what? Didn't you say it was settled? What's the 'but'?"
"Ugh, why are you so anxious? The money's divided, but there's six shares." Mei Yifan deliberately emphasized the 'six shares,' sounding utterly annoyed at getting less.
Wang Gaofeng instantly frowned. "Why is it six shares? Shouldn't it be five? The people are dead, how can they still get a share? Tell me exactly what happened. I told you we should've gone together, you insisted not. How much did we lose out on?"
"Even if you wanted to go, Big Sister would have to allow it. Nobody brought outsiders." Mei Yifan was pretty discontent too, but she didn't dwell on that, and proceeded to describe everything in detail—water, electricity, living expenses, all of it.
As Wang Gaofeng listened, he became speechless. They hadn't even gotten their money yet, and already folks expect them to cough some up. Good thing she just came back; if she'd loaned the money out, he'd have made her go get it back right now.
But thinking more about how it all went down, Wang Gaofeng noticed another detail. He realized it and smacked the coffee table hard, furious. "Unbelievable! That little trickster really knows her stuff. She thought of all the details! I always thought she was a quiet pushover, but turns out she's got a lot going on upstairs. Quiet dogs bite, I guess—the kid's acting skills are impressive."
The reason Wang Gaofeng said this was that Mei Mengzhen had blocked every possible avenue for getting extra cash—whether water and electricity, rent, or fees from splitting the money, all shut tight.
He'd been planning that since the kids moved in with relatives and the apartment was empty, he could short-term rent it out. It wouldn't be much, but at least it was some income.
If the others didn't want it, he'd take it all; if they did, he'd share. But as long as there was money, even a single cent was worth it.
But watching the money he thought might be coming disappear—Wang Gaofeng, money-obsessed as he is, couldn't stand it, and started cursing.
"So you all agreed to this, huh? All agreed, and just let them stay, not even charging a single cent in rent?" How could that be okay?
Mei Yifan wasn't happy about it either, but what else could she do? "No one objected, and besides, if we kept pushing, we might end up having to pay them. Forget it, as long as we get our share. Don't bother with more schemes—the agreement spells it out clear, so there won't be any more twists. From the way Big Sister looked, she could just tear up the contract someday and then we wouldn't get a thing."
Wang Gaofeng nodded, "Yeah, doesn't matter. When the demolition payout comes, we'll figure out how to claw that cash back from her."
No matter how clever the kid is, there's no way a child can outmaneuver adults. The money he wants has never failed to land in his hands eventually.
When Wang Gaofeng said this, Mei Yifan caught on too. Yep, the money isn't gone, not yet. When the time comes, she'll find a way, and surely she's not the only one eyeing that payout.
Moments ago she was feeling annoyed, but now her mood brightened instantly.