A century of poverty

Chapter 103 Attack

Time flies. My father-in-law has been with us through thick and thin, from building the store to having our grandson. The store has been open for over a year now. Although we're not rich, we live a peaceful and comfortable life.

The store had plenty of stock that day, so Zhiqiang rode his bicycle early to carry a boat to catch fish. He returned more than an hour later and poured the fish into a large basin outside the house. He had caught quite a lot: two catfish weighing seven or eight ounces each, several weighing four or five ounces each, and other miscellaneous fish such as crucian carp.

Zhiqiang happily gathered the utensils and began tidying up: "I'll be stewing catfish for lunch."

The father-in-law stood to the side watching with a smile, saying, "The old man in the west room lives alone. We invited him over to eat catfish, had a few drinks, and he never charges me for a haircut!"

Zhiqiang: "Alright, you go talk to that old fishy guy!"

The old man living in the west wing was from Beining, surnamed Guo. He was a highly educated man. For some unknown reason, he had ended up here alone, wandering the streets. He made a living by grinding hair clippers, cutting hair, and occasionally telling fortunes. He usually didn't tell fortunes for anyone.

I've heard they have sons and daughters, but they never mention it.

The father-in-law called him over, and the two ate catfish and drank wine. As the wine flowed freely and the conversation warmed, Old Guo said enviously, "You old man are blessed. Your son and daughter-in-law are filial, and your chubby grandson is just as good. You have no worries about food or drink, you don't have to do anything, and you don't have to worry about anything. These two children are honest in their daily lives; you have nothing to worry about."

Father-in-law: Yes! You're talking about people, I've been thinking about that too!

Old Guo: "What are you thinking about?"

Father-in-law: "People like you and me, in another twenty years, we'll be over eighty. We don't even know if we'll live to that age. What will we take with us when we kick the bucket?"

Old Guo tilted his head and looked at him: "Hmm?"

Father-in-law: "I have eight children, all of whom have jobs and are financially secure. But here, my eldest grandson and I are still living in this old mud house..."

After a pause, he continued, "I'm thinking of selling the three inner rooms plus the empty one, and renovating the four outer rooms. That way, I can live in a nice house in my old age!"

Old Guo: "Great news! I wholeheartedly support it. You, I've lived here for over two years now. You have four granddaughters, right? And only this one grandson. Can you really leave this old courtyard?"

Father-in-law: "You know, my big, chubby grandson is so adorable, it's just a little bit lacking..."

Old Guo: "What's wrong with it? Nothing's wrong with it! If things were to go down another eighteen years, it's uncertain whether you and I would even be alive! Don't overthink things."

I've never heard of any "force majeure" clause. How do you explain it? Can you even explain it?

The father-in-law nodded repeatedly: "That's why I'm telling you. When you go out for a stroll tomorrow, listen up, and if you see any kind people, give me a ride."

Old Guo: "No problem."

Sure enough, within a week, a doctor came to see the house. He liked it at first sight and was very satisfied. It was close to the road and quiet.

When the issue of access roads came up, my father-in-law agreed: "A three-meter-wide path will be built between the back of the front house and the front of the backyard."

Dr. Wei agreed: "That's great, it seems your grandfather had planned this all along."

Dr. Wei also came to the shop to meet with Zhiqiang and me. He told us that he bought the house because of the location. The dilapidated mud house wasn't anything special, so he planned to tear it down and build a new house as soon as he got it.

He runs a clinic inside, and we run a shop outside. We don't interfere with each other and we help each other out.

Soon after, the payment of 38,000 yuan for the house was handed over to the old man, and the agreement was signed and kept by both parties.

We're happy because we're about to move into a nice house. There's a new clinic nearby, which will definitely benefit our sales. As neighbors, a doctor is an excellent choice; you can't have one more person like that than someone you can't find.

Unexpected events can happen at any time.

Less than a week later, someone did something behind my back.

Su Zhiwei, Hei Xingan, and Su Zhijuan came to their father in a rage, demanding an explanation: "Who told you to sell the house? Who told you to sell the house inside? Who did you consult with before you sold it?"

"You'd better get the land back the way you sold it!"

The father-in-law looked bewildered: "I wanted to sell them myself. Didn't we agree that I would decide which of the three rooms inside? Who else could I consult?"

Getting it back might not be so easy. The agreement was signed, the money was cleared, and you think you can just ask for it back?

Dr. Wei said he has probably bought all the materials these past few days, and he said he is going to flip the lid.

The three of them said, "Regardless of that matter, you must get it back for me." Still angry, they left.

The father-in-law was dejected, struggling with an intense internal struggle: selling the house and then trying to get it back was a bad idea, so he shouldn't bring it back, but he couldn't withstand the attacks from his children.

We told my father-in-law, "Logically speaking, this isn't how things should be done. It's unreasonable and doesn't look good in front of others. Problems should be resolved within the family; breaking the contract is inappropriate."

Our suggestions were ignored.

The next day, Su Jifu, the manager of Jinhai City Power Company, came to his elder brother and said, "You can't sell this house because you have many children."

With the old man involved, the matter was basically settled. My father-in-law would definitely carry out his old brother's wishes, because he was his pillar of support.

Dr. Wei was making arrangements to build a house, and soon hired a horse-drawn carriage to deliver beams to the yard he had just bought.

My father-in-law happened to be waiting by the roadside.

Dr. Wei stepped forward: "Uncle, hello! I'm here to deliver the beams. This dish..."

Father-in-law: "Why send over the beams? Take them back!"

Dr. Wei chuckled, "This old man really knows how to joke."

Father-in-law: "Who's joking with you? I'm telling you to take it back. I'm not selling the house."

Dr. Wei: "Buying and selling a house is not a game. The money has been given to you, not a penny less, and we have a contract. You think you can just decide not to sell? I don't agree!"

Father-in-law: "Whether you agree or not, I won't sell it. The children won't allow it!"

Dr. Wei said, "I'll go ask them." He then walked towards the sales area.

Father-in-law: "Asking them is pointless."

Dr. Wei came to the store and said, "What's wrong with your place? I came to get the beams, but they wouldn't let me in, saying the house isn't for sale anymore. Is this how you do things? Just because the house is in your area doesn't mean you can rely on it. If I buy a car and drive it away, do you expect me to drive it back for you even if you don't sell it to me?"

One should act with conscience and keep one's word. You were the ones who said you were selling first, so I came to buy. I've invested a large sum of money and a lot of time, and it's already underway…”

Dr. Wei's barrage of questions made him think we were preventing the sale.

After he finished speaking, Zhiqiang and I explained, "It's not that we don't want it to be sold, it's that our other siblings don't want it to be sold. We don't have the final say in this family. It's useless for you to tell us this; you still have to talk to Grandpa."

Dr. Wei went out, talked with her father-in-law for a long time, and then left.

Two days later, Dr. Wei and his wife arrived and talked with my father-in-law and Su Zhijuan in the main room. I went to the inner room to get the wine, and as soon as I entered, Su Zhijuan scolded me sharply: "Go back to the store, you have no right to speak here." I ignored her and took a case of "Qinglaojiu" from the inner room back to the store.

A few days later, another tall, square-headed, fierce-looking man, nicknamed "Big Fool," came to our shop to "demand an explanation" for Dr. Wei. He was turned away by my father-in-law again.

After some time, the father-in-law returned 38,000 yuan to Dr. Wei, along with the fixed deposit interest. The father-in-law bought the beams that Dr. Wei had brought in, and Dr. Wei withdrew from the business.

After this incident, a rift developed between my father-in-law, his other children, and us.

We are unsure about the "retirement of the old man" issue.