Chapter 2231
The Idea of Continuing to Live Together
Yi Zhonghai had already inquired about what the houses in Xingfu Jiayuan were like.
They say it's on the same floor, but once everyone closes the door, it's no different from two separate courtyards.
This is neither conducive to Yi Zhonghai visiting other people's homes nor to him inviting everyone over.
Over time, each family will only manage its own affairs, and they will be unable to unite as a whole.
What others consider a happy home is not so great in Yi Zhonghai's eyes.
His ideal place is still a courtyard house.
Everyone lived in the same courtyard. If you shouted from inside your house, you could summon everyone in the courtyard.
When he gets too old to move, he won't have to worry about others not taking good care of him.
Yi Zhonghai said, "It's best not to move. Everyone lives here, so it's convenient to look after each other."
Liu Haizhong secretly prefers to move away.
Seeing Yi Zhonghai's objection, he said, "These days, which young person still wants to live in a courtyard house? They all want to live in an apartment building."
Yi Zhonghai could not refute this point.
When the news of the demolition came out, Banggeng and the others were discussing the issue of moving into apartment buildings.
Even Qin Huairu expressed her desire to live in an apartment building.
This greatly frustrated Yi Zhonghai at the time.
Seeing that Liu Haizhong also preferred to live in an apartment building, Yi Zhonghai became somewhat worried.
Liu Haizhong is simple-minded, and he was afraid that Liu Haizhong would be fooled by his three sons.
They were especially afraid of Liu Guangqi.
Liu Guangqi holds a very important place in Liu Hai's heart.
If Liu Guangqi wanted to exchange his courtyard house for an apartment building, Liu Haizhong would very likely agree.
"Old Liu, the apartment buildings are good for young people like them, but not so good for us."
Everyone lives in apartment buildings, and once the main gate is closed, it's like having two courtyards.
If your child really doesn't care about you then...
"Old Yan and I can't help you."
This serves as a reminder to both Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui.
Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's reminder, both Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui felt a pang of anxiety.
The children in the family had long shown signs of being unfilial, and the parents simply couldn't fully trust them.
They knew perfectly well that their child's disobedience was inextricably linked to Yi Zhonghai, yet they still chose to associate with him.
That's because they need to team up with Yi Zhonghai to intimidate their children.
Yan Bugui sighed: "Let's take it one step at a time."
"If the courtyard house is really demolished, there's nothing we can do about it."
Yi Zhonghai started to get nervous.
Whatever he was afraid of, Yan Bugui would say, and he even suspected that Yan Bugui was doing it on purpose.
Yi Zhonghai also knew that Yan Bugui's words made sense.
Whether he likes it or not, Yi Zhonghai has to face this problem.
"I think we should go out and look for a place to live in advance. Let's find a similar compound, or look for those dormitory buildings in the factory."
We'll continue living together then.
Liu Haizhong said, "There's demolition everywhere now, where are you going to find a suitable house?"
Yi Zhonghai's tone was very firm: "We will search even if we can't find it."
When we go collecting recyclables tomorrow, let's ask around more.
Among the three men, Yi Zhonghai was the one who made the decisions.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui neither dared nor had the ability to refuse his decisions.
With the matter settled, Yi Zhonghai felt somewhat relieved.
However, I still couldn't sleep at all, night after night.
A perfectly good retirement plan has turned into this mediocre mess; how could he possibly sleep?
He had always dreamed that Qin Huairu would take care of him in his old age, and Qin Huairu did indeed take care of him in his old age.
But retirement was not what he wanted.
He wanted a life where he ate well, drank well, and was happy every day.
Most importantly, you don't have to do anything, just like the deaf old lady back then. And now...
He's over eighty years old, yet he still collects recyclables every day.
Forty years ago, when he first started preparing for retirement, he would never have imagined this.
If he had been able to think of all this, he would have given up on that retirement plan long ago.
The thought of giving up left Yi Zhonghai feeling quite uncertain.
He would certainly be willing to give up the Jia family, but he felt he couldn't give up Qin Huairu.
Yi Zhonghai sometimes thought that he should have agreed to Qin Huairu's request and married her directly.
After thinking about all sorts of random things all night, Yi Zhonghai, sporting dark circles under his eyes, went with everyone to collect scraps.
Yan Jiedi looked at her three brothers who had suddenly arrived, somewhat puzzled.
What brings you to my house?
Yan Jiecheng and his two companions looked around Yan Jiedi's house and found it to be quite extraordinary.
Although the house they lived in wasn't particularly nice, everything they ate and used clearly indicated that this was the life of a wealthy family.
"Jie Di, do you two make that much money? I remember the salaries at the police station aren't high."
"What does our salary have to do with you? What exactly do you want to do by coming here?"
Yan Jiedi naturally wouldn't tell the three people her true situation.
Yan Jiefang said, "I'm just trying to be helpful by reminding you not to let your brother-in-law embezzle; that's a crime."
Yan Jiedi snorted: "It's none of your business. Luo Hong is not that kind of person."
Yan Jie stopped the two of them: "Stop arguing. We came here on behalf of your parents to ask you to go home."
Yan Jiedi looked at the three people in confusion: "What benefits did your parents give you that you would run errands for them?"
Yan Jiekuang asked, "Do you think they can give us any benefits?"
"Why would you run errands for them if there's no benefit to it?" Yan Jiedi didn't quite believe them.
The Yan family motto is: You won't get poor from eating or dressing, but you will get poor if you don't plan ahead.
The Yan family's children are all doing very well in their studies.
It's not acceptable to be bad at it; anyone who doesn't study seriously will be taken advantage of.
Why would Yan Jiecheng and the other two run errands for Yan Bugui if they didn't get any benefits in return?
Yan Jiefang didn't bother beating around the bush: "Let me tell you the truth. Isn't it because there's news coming from the courtyard houses that they're going to be demolished?"
Yan Jiedi said, "I think it wasn't your parents who sent you to find me, but rather you yourselves who wanted to come here."
You're afraid I'll fight you for the inheritance, so you're trying to join forces to reject me.
We were all raised by the same father, so we know each other very well.
Yan Jiecheng and his two companions did indeed have this idea at first.
A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed the three brothers' faces. It wasn't shameful to scheme in the Yan family; it was shameful not to scheme at all.
"You're wrong. We came here because our parents asked us to."
Yan Jiedi looked at her three older brothers to make sure they weren't lying.
"That's really interesting. When something good happens in the family, they still remember their married daughter."
"Then tell me, why did Mom and Dad ask you to come over?"
The three brothers exchanged a glance and said directly, "We're definitely asking you to go back to talk about retirement."
Yan Jiedi politely declined, saying, "No, I am just a married daughter."
I've never heard of you all neglecting your elderly parents, so why should I be expected to take care of them?
"It wouldn't be my daughter's turn, no matter how it's arranged."
This is both Yan Jiedi's reason and reality.
Yan Bugui said that everyone in the family is equal, but in reality, he still takes better care of his son.
It's just that Yan Jiedi is young, so this kind of care doesn't seem obvious.
In Yan Bugui's mind, sons are for supporting him in his old age, while daughters are for earning dowries.
Yan Jiefang said, "Believe it or not, it's up to you. But Dad said that if you don't go back, he'll start picking up trash at your workplace."
Yan Jiedi said irritably, "It's that trick again. Is that all they know?"
Despite her annoyance, Yan Jiedi had no choice but to go. (End of Chapter)