CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: ADDING A STORY TO THE HOUSE

Who would have thought that Lin Ying’s family, who had a falling-out with the Xu family, was so wealthy and willing to support their married daughter financially and otherwise.

Back then, she was only jealous for a while and didn’t care much. But now, knowing that Lin Ying’s family wanted to transfer Xu Jian and Xu Kang to the city’s school, she couldn’t remain calm anymore.

Xu Dapeng snorted, "If you don’t want our child to be overshadowed, you can also look for a solution from your family! What’s the use of telling me!"

Wang Fengying was displeased, "How can you say that! It’s your child you’re not paying attention to, yet you expect my family to help? Have you no shame?"

Xu Dapeng didn’t reply at all.

Feeling frustrated, Wang Fengying went back to the old house to complain to Wang Ximei, "Mom, you see, the second son can manage to send Ah Jian and Ah Kang to study in the city, but hasn’t thought of helping his own nephew. Our Ah Jie is his eldest nephew, your eldest grandson!"

At the mention of Xu Dahai, Wang Ximei got angry, "Don’t mention that ungrateful person to me! How I use my own money is none of his business! He constantly says I’m biased and misled me to divide the family. Now that he is living well, he doesn’t even think of the mother who raised him through hard times, let alone a nephew?"

Wang Fengying’s expression darkened immediately, "Mom! Ah Jie is your most beloved eldest grandson. The conditions in our village are poor, and the township school is just average. I also want Ah Jie to study in the city."

Rather than beating around the bush, it’s better to be direct with intentions, to avoid others dodging the issue.

Without thinking, Wang Ximei shook her head, "You two need to figure it out yourselves. I’ve already built a house for you both and helped the eldest son get married. You need to strive for your own child. I don’t have the capability anymore."

Unwilling to give up, Wang Fengying bit her lip, "Mom, can’t you just step in and say something?"

"Say what?" Wang Ximei glared at Wang Fengying angrily, "I’ve already had a falling-out with your father-in-law. What am I supposed to say? Ask them to help get Ah Jie to study in the city? Do you think they would do me that favor, or do you think they’d think your second brother is foolish? Stop making those delusional calculations!"

She was indeed partial to her eldest son, but she wasn’t foolish enough to completely offend her second son. Especially now that Xu Dahai was doing better and better; there might be times in the future when she’d need him to provide financially. How could she continue to quarrel with Xu Dahai?

Wang Fengying was so scolded that her face turned a mix of green and white, and at that moment, it was as if she didn’t recognize her mother-in-law anymore.

After returning from the old house, she began to argue with Xu Dapeng, complaining about how difficult things were for her, repeatedly talking about their son’s future, implying that Xu Dapeng should go buy a house in the city.

Both husband and wife were employed, making them quite respectable in the village. But using their savings to buy a house in the city was still too much of a stretch. Moreover, they still had to work in the township, and with no connections in the city, it was unrealistic for their child to study there.

Unable to persuade Wang Fengying, Xu Dapeng had no choice but to go to his in-laws and tell them about the situation, asking them to step in and manage Wang Fengying.

The Wang family was sensible enough to understand the situation and came to Xu Family Village to give Wang Fengying a scolding, which finally calmed her down.

However, the matter had already spread throughout the village, and both Xu Dahai and Lin Ying knew about it, but no one bothered to respond.

There were only two or three days left until the school term began.

Lin Ying’s family hurriedly packed their two sons’ luggage to go to the city.

Lin Yi drove an electric tricycle, which still wasn’t enough. In the end, Lin Ying carried Xu Xinyi into the vehicle, along with their luggage.

Xu Dahai and his two sons walked on foot.

The group arrived in Nanyu.

Lin Ying excitedly said to Lin Qin, "I’m planning to renovate the house in the city. We could either tear it down and rebuild or just refurbish it. That way, when we come to the city to see the children, we can stay there without always troubling you."

Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun had already helped them a lot, so Lin Ying couldn’t feel entitled to continuously enjoy the care from her sister and brother-in-law.

Seeing that she had plans, Lin Qin didn’t persuade further and just said, "That sounds good. You can take your time to renovate the house there. Anyway, Ah Jian and Ah Kang staying here can keep company with Ping’an and Yaya, and it’s convenient for dad to pick them up.

Besides, Wenjun plans to add another layer and a half to the house we’re staying in. He said that by summer, the second floor won’t be so hot anymore. If it becomes three and a half floors, the top floor will have a large platform, so during the summer, if you don’t want to sleep inside, you can set up straw mats on the platform.

After this extension, it could add at least five or six rooms. Even if Ah Kang and Ah Jian each have their own room, there will be enough space."

Lin Ying, upon hearing this, nodded immediately in agreement, "Adding the extension will indeed make it cooler. Our house also has two floors, but in summer, everyone preferred sleeping upstairs rather than in the main hall on the first floor. I hadn’t thought of this before, you really enlightened me.

But can your foundation support such a tall structure?"

Lin Qin took her over to look, "The entire foundation, both above and below ground, can support a building of five or six floors, plus we’re using rocks, so it’s no problem!"

While the sisters chatted, Xu Dahai was discussing their plans for renovating the house with Chen Wenjun and Lin Yi.

Chen Wenjun immediately introduced Zhang Yongquan to him and added, "The construction team will arrive tomorrow; it should take about a month to get the rough structure up, and then over a month more for finishing. After that, they can work on your house."

"No problem," Xu Dahai agreed readily.

He was eager to get the house renovated because, firstly, he didn’t want to constantly impose on the Chen family and second, he was concerned that Chen Wenjun’s house might not have enough rooms, affecting Yaya and Ping’an. If Chen Wenjun added another layer and a half to his house, these issues would resolve themselves.

After finishing discussing the house, Xu Dahai inquired with Chen Wenjun and Lin Yi about the situation with the Zhu family.

"Have they asked about the child afterward?"

Lin Yi and Chen Wenjun shook their heads in unison.

Lin Yi sighed lightly and shook his head, "Let’s not bother with them. You take good care of this child. As long as we don’t say anything, they won’t know. Even if they find out you have another daughter in the future, they’ll just think you had an unplanned birth."

Xu Dahai felt relieved.

Since Xu Jian and Xu Kang were going to stay in Nanyu long-term, Lin Yi prepared another guest room on the first floor and put the luggage of the two grandchildren inside.

When the four children met, they were wild with excitement and immediately ran off to the gym, ignoring everything else.

Xu Dahai and his wife were used to this. By the afternoon, they asked Lin Yi to take them to the station to catch the bus.

The next day, Lin Qingxiang brought a crew of builders and laborers over, and at the same time, Chen Wenjun’s ordered cement, sand, stone, steel bars, and red bricks also arrived.

Lin Yi supervised the work, and the entire Nanyu was bustling with activity.

When Lin Qingxiang had a moment, he asked Lin Yi about Lin Qin, "Why isn’t Ah Qin at home?"

"The daycare starts on the eighth day, so she sent the younger ones to class and went to self-study. Why, do you need her for something?" Lin Yi was puzzled, observing the furtive and hesitant Lin Qingxiang.