Don't underestimate the poor and elderly; I was thrilled to refuse the class beauty's adva

When the school bell rang, Zhang Yifan did not head towards the cafeteria as usual.

He greeted Fu Kai and said he wanted to go home to study.

Fu Kai was organizing his lesson plans on the podium with a thermos in his hand. When he heard this, he looked up at him. There was no surprise or hesitation in his eyes behind his glasses. He just nodded.

"Go back now. You can manage your own pace. I'll take care of things at school. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on WeChat."

Zhang Yifan said thank you, picked up his schoolbag, and walked out of the classroom.

There were still students running towards the cafeteria in twos and threes in the corridor. Zongwen caught up from behind and patted him on the shoulder, asking him why he wasn't going to eat.

He said he would eat at home. Zongwen paused for a moment, then waved and said, "See you tomorrow."

When he reached the school gate, the tea egg stall under the old locust tree was still open. The old lady waved to him from afar, and he nodded, turning the corner and heading home.

The college entrance exam is less than a month away.

He's already done most of the practice problems he was supposed to do at school. Fu Kai is right. Now he needs to fill in the gaps in his knowledge at his own pace, instead of sitting in the classroom following the same schedule.

The house is quieter now, so I can do a few practice tests on science subjects.

He walked to his front door, and just as his hand touched the key, he heard a high-pitched, loud voice coming from inside the house.

"Guilan, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but now that you're successful, you can't forget your relatives! Don't you know what kind of person your cousin is? He's been honest and simple since he was little, he would never tell a lie. If he had any other options, would he come to you for help?"

The key in Zhang Yifan's hand stopped in mid-air.

He recognized the voice. Although he hadn't heard it for several years, the tone and the sharp, affected manner were unmatched in the entire family.

Fang Zhiyuan's mother, his great-aunt, Liu Xiuzhi.

Fang Zhiyuan's snobbishness was something he cultivated, while Liu Xiuzhi's snobbishness was ingrained in her very being.

During the years when his father was still working in the factory, his mother would bring gifts to visit this aunt every year during the Spring Festival. When Liu Xiuzhi opened the door, she would only open it a crack, take the gifts, and stand at the door without ever saying "Come in and sit down".

His mother has been married for almost twenty years, and this aunt has never once visited his home.

I'm here today, for the house.

He inserted the key into the lock, and the sound of it turning instantly silenced the conversation inside.

I pushed open the door, changed into slippers, and walked into the living room.

The scene in the living room was similar to what he had expected, but it was more lively.

Father Zhang Rongshan sat on the edge of the sofa, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. His expression was one of being trapped by something, a mixture of irritability, helplessness, and a hint of suppressed impatience.

Liu Guilan, the mother, sat at the other end of the sofa with her arms crossed and her lips pursed into a thin line. When she saw him come in, her eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again, as if she felt a little sorry for letting him witness this scene.

My cousin, Fang Zhiyuan, sat on a folding chair opposite the coffee table, his eyes red-rimmed, clutching a crumpled tissue in his hand, his face drooping, as if he had just rushed over from the set of some melodramatic play.

Sitting next to him was Liu Xiuzhi, wearing a dark red floral shirt, with her hair permed in old-fashioned small curls, her lips as thin as blades, and her eyes gleaming with a sharp light, sweeping over Zhang Yifan like searchlights from the moment he entered.

A large shopping bag rested on the legs of the coffee table, containing two boxes of milk powder for middle-aged and elderly people. The gold lettering on the packaging indicated it was from a well-known brand.

But Zhang Yifan glanced at the expiration date and realized it was another discounted item nearing its expiration date.

Fang Jiahao sat on the ground, rubbing his eyes with his chubby little hands, mumbling "Daddy and Mommy, don't get a divorce," and crying so hard that snot bubbles were coming out of his nose.

Liu Xiuzhi hugged her grandson tightly, calling him her darling twice, then looked up at Zhang Yifan, her lips curling down slightly.

"Yifan's back! School's out? Come sit down, come sit down. Your great-aunt hasn't seen you in so long, you've grown so tall."

I used to hold you when you were little, remember? You were so tiny back then...

"Auntie, please get to the important matter."

Liu Guilan interrupted her, her tone harsh and without a single softening word.

Liu Xiuzhi's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

She patted Fang Zhiyuan on the shoulder, sighed, and put on a heartbroken expression:

"Guilan, your cousin is here about his child's schooling."

As you know, Jiahao will be starting kindergarten next year. There aren't any good schools in his area, and his wife argues with him about it every day.

She's now saying that if she can't get a school district house, she'll take the kids back to her parents' house and divorce him!

"Tell me, how old is this child? She's about to lose her mother. How can you, as her older cousin, bear to watch her go?"

Fang Zhiyuan seemed to have been touched on a sore spot, burying his face in his hands, his shoulders heaving, and his muffled voice leaking from between his fingers:

"Cousin, brother-in-law, I really have no other choice."

She's pressuring us too much; she said if things aren't resolved by the end of the week, she'll take the child and leave.

I haven't been able to eat or sleep for the past few days, and after much thought, I've come to you for help.

He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and his eyelids swollen.

He placed the tissue in his hand on the coffee table, and then took out a piece of paper from his briefcase and spread it on the table.

It wasn't the printed purchase contract from last time, but a handwritten document. The handwriting was messy, but the signature and red handprint at the end were clearly visible.

"I don't want to buy your house anymore. I know you're reluctant, and I know Yifan disagrees."

I just want to borrow a spot to transfer the house to my name first. I only need to use one spot for a school district property.

You can live in the house as you please, and I won't charge you a penny for water, electricity, or gas.

Once Jiahao starts school, I promise to transfer the house to you.

Brother-in-law, I've already written the agreement, it's in black and white. If you don't believe me, we can go to the notary office to have it notarized!

I'm just borrowing a spot, I really just want to borrow a spot.

If you're still worried, I can pay you the rent every month, at market price, not a penny less.

Fang Jiahao burst into tears again at that opportune moment, his chubby little hands tugging at Fang Zhiyuan's sleeve and shaking it violently, sobbing uncontrollably: "Daddy, I don't want you to divorce Mommy! Auntie, Auntie, please help us..."

Liu Xiuzhi wiped her eyes with her sleeve, her voice choked with emotion, and two murky tears squeezed from her shrewd eyes.

"Guilan, your uncle passed away early, and I raised Zhiyuan all by myself, supporting his education, his college entrance exams, and his civil service exams. Only after seeing him settle down and start a family did I feel at ease."

But now... look, this family is about to fall apart because of the children's schooling! You can't just watch your cousin's wife and children break up, can you? We're family, after all.