Yan Jiecheng's Leisurely Life in Siheyuan

Chapter 132 Calculation
After Yan Jiecheng left, Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui followed Yi Zhonghai to his home.

Upon returning home, Yi Zhonghai didn't greet Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui; he simply sat in the living room without saying a word.

Yan Fugui and Liu Haizhong exchanged a glance, and in the end, Yan Fugui spoke first.

"Old Yi, we know that the old lady has been well taken care of by your family, and the house should rightfully belong to your family. But as you just saw, everyone was very angry, and we couldn't do anything about it."

As soon as Yan Fugui finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai flew into a rage and said angrily.

"Old Liu, Old Yan, you two were right there when the old lady was dying. You both clearly heard her say that she wanted to give two rooms to our family. Why didn't you say that just now?"

Faced with Yi Zhonghai's complaints, Liu Haizhong said with a wry smile.

"Old Yi, you saw what just happened. Do you think it will make a difference if Old Yan and I stand up and say these things?"

Yi Zhonghai paused upon hearing this. He knew what had just happened and that even if Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui told the truth, no one would believe them.

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but feel resentment towards Yan Jiecheng.

If Yan Jiecheng hadn't arrested Sha Zhu, how would the residents in the courtyard have dared to disregard him?

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but look at Yan Fugui and say something.

"Old Yan, why don't you go and talk to your eldest son and ask him to release Sha Zhu as soon as possible? They used to live in the same courtyard, how can there be a knot that can't be untied?"

Faced with Lao Yi's eager gaze, Yan Fugui couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Old Yi, you know my family's situation. Do you think my husband will listen to what I say? Old Yi, I think we should think of another way."

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai misses Sha Zhu terribly.

If Sha Zhu were here today, how would the residents of the courtyard dare to be so presumptuous in front of him?
While the three stewards were discussing things inside the house today, Qin Huairu was also whispering to Jia Zhangshi at home.

"Mom, what do you think will be the final outcome of what happened today?"

"What other outcome could there be? In my opinion, no one will get their hands on this house. It will probably end up being taken back by the local government for disposal."

"No way, the old lady's house is private property, how could the street administration possibly take it back?"

Madam Jia naturally understood what Qin Huairu was planning, but she scoffed at it and gave a cold "humph".

"Hmph, don't get your hopes up. Everyone living in this courtyard is a shrewd person."

“They would naturally give face to the three stewards for small matters on a daily basis, but this is a house, and no one would give it up easily.”

"No matter what decision Yi Zhonghai and the other two make, there will always be people who are dissatisfied, and in the end, the neighborhood committee will have to step in."

"Even if the neighborhood committee intervenes, it will be difficult to satisfy everyone, and in the end, the matter will most likely be taken back by the neighborhood committee."

After listening to Jia Zhangshi's analysis, Qin Huairu was quite surprised.

She really didn't expect that her unreliable mother-in-law could analyze things so logically; indeed, experience counts.

Seeing Qin Huairu's surprised gaze, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but sneer.

“Huai Ru, do you think I’m just a troublemaker who throws tantrums? I was a widow once too. If I were really like you, I would have been eaten alive by the people in this courtyard long ago. How could I have raised Dongxu?”

It seems I really underestimated this old hag.

Qin Huairu muttered something to herself, then continued to ask.

"Mom, all these years, Auntie has been taking care of the old lady's food, drink, and toilet needs. The neighborhood committee knows this, so they shouldn't let Auntie and Auntie work for nothing, right?" "Hmph, do you think Yi Zhonghai and his wife are good people? They don't do anything without a profit. Although Yi Zhonghai and his wife have been taking care of the old lady all these years, don't forget that the neighborhood committee gives the old lady a subsidy every month. How much can an old lady like her spend? The rest still goes to the Yi family, doesn't it?"

……

While the residents of the courtyard were secretly plotting at home, the three stewards finally reached an agreement and came up with a solution.

After leaving Yi Zhonghai's house, Liu Haizhong had his youngest son go door-to-door to notify everyone to attend a meeting at the Intermediate People's Court.

Actually, there was no need to notify them; at this time, the residents of the courtyard were already gathering in twos and threes in the central courtyard.

At Liu Haizhong's call, everyone quickly gathered together as usual.

This time, the three old men didn't put on airs as usual; they simply stood in the center of the room.

After Liu Haizhong counted everyone and confirmed that all the households were present, he put his hands behind his back, cleared his throat, and said.

"Dear neighbors, regarding the old lady's house, after discussion among the three of us in charge, we have finally come up with a solution. Now, let me, the third uncle, tell you all about it."

After Liu Haizhong finished speaking, Yan Fugui adjusted his glasses and continued.

"Dear neighbors, in order to satisfy everyone, we plan to divide the old lady's estate into three parts."

"The largest main room was divided into two rooms, which became two separate units, and the side room was counted as one separate unit. The three units were then divided among the front yard, the middle yard, and the back yard..."

Before Yan Fugui could finish speaking, some people objected.

“The old lady is from the backyard, so why should she be involved in the frontyard? What does the middle yard have to do with this? I don’t agree with this arrangement.”

Who do you think you are, to have the audacity to agree or disagree?

Soon, an argument broke out in the room.

Seeing the argument break out in the room, the three old men remained calm. After a while, Liu Haizhong coughed and spoke.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Uncle San hasn't finished speaking yet. Let's discuss this after he finishes."

After everyone quieted down, Yan Fugui continued speaking.

"Gentlemen, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

"The three of us old men discussed it and decided that since everyone wants a house, then everyone should contribute money and effort to the old lady's funeral arrangements as well."

……

"Uncle, the old lady's mourning hall has been set up and the coffin has been prepared. Where else can we spend money?"

"Yeah, Third Uncle, you're not trying to make a quick buck, are you?"

Faced with the crowd's doubts, Yan Fugui waved his hand and said...

"Everyone, the old lady's shroud and coffin were all paid for by Sha Zhu and Uncle Yi. Now that the old lady's inheritance does not belong to them, it is natural that the person who inherits the inheritance should pay for it."

"Besides, everyone has been busy these past few days and put in a lot of effort. We can't let their hard work go to waste. After we send the old lady off, we should at least host a couple of meals to reward her, right?"

After Yan Fugui finished speaking, the entire Intermediate People's Court immediately fell silent.

Although everyone in the compound wants the old lady's house, they'd have to think twice before asking them to pay for it.

(End of this chapter)