CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79: THE CLASS TROUBLEMAKER

The team leader nodded again, "That’s feasible too, but the house rental needs a written agreement. We don’t want any confusion later. Never mind, I’ll handle it for you. Once it’s ready, I’ll ask Qingxiang to call you back for the seal."

"Okay, okay... thank you for the trouble, team leader." Lin Yi grinned from ear to ear.

Lin Zhi, face sagging, said sarcastically, "Looks like big brother has decided not to acknowledge his two nephews. Well, there’s nothing left for us to say. In the future, don’t come to us if anything happens."

Leaving those harsh words behind, Lin Zhi dragged the reluctant Li Lian away.

Once they were gone, the team leader gave Lin Yi a helpless look, "Why are you bickering with them? If you really rent out the house, where will Lin Ying stay when she brings the whole family back for the New Year?"

Chen Wenjun chuckled, "They can stay at my place. My house has seven rooms, and I’m trying to renovate both floors this year, so there’s plenty of space."

The team leader finally took a serious look at Chen Wenjun, handing him a cigarette, "Qingxiang keeps saying you bought an island to build a house. If I get a chance to visit Nanxi, I’ll come to see your place."

"Sure! You’re welcome anytime. When you get near the river, just shout a few times, and I’ll come pick you up. Or, if I don’t respond, you can call a boat from the port; it’s very close."

Seeing Chen Wenjun being so open and enthusiastic, the team leader’s worries dissipated.

After chatting with them for a while, he left.

Over here, Lin Yi and Chen Wenjun loaded the things onto the borrowed pushcart and left Shanglin Village.

Back home, Lin Zhi and Li Lian angrily cursed Lin Yi.

When Lin Jianqiang returned from doing odd jobs and found out Lin Yi had rented out the house, he hurriedly said, "I’ll go ask how much uncle’s house rents for. We’re relatives. If it’s going to be rented out, it should be to us first."

Li Lian immediately got angry, "Are you stupid? Your uncle doesn’t have children, so the house and land should belong to you brothers anyway. Why pay to live in your own house? You must not go!"

Lin Jianqiang pursed his lips tightly and said expressionlessly, "If I don’t go, what about the new house for my wedding?"

The couple immediately fell silent.

Lin Zhi, very upset, started scolding impatiently, "It’s hard enough for us to save money for your bride. Can’t you solve your own problems? Why depend on us for everything?"

Disappointed, Lin Jianqiang turned and walked out of the house to find the team leader and talked about renting the house.

The team leader seemed shocked, "Your parents have come around?"

He found it especially strange that Lin Zhi and Li Lian were willing to spend this money. Could the sun be rising in the west?

Lin Jianqiang rubbed his hands awkwardly, "They said there’s no other way, so I’ll rent it myself. Um... how much is uncle’s house rental?"

The team leader sighed inwardly, unable to hold back a mutter, "Jianqiang, let uncle tell you something you won’t like. Your uncle is actually very easygoing; it’s your parents who acted poorly. People don’t lack children either, but they keep thinking about your uncle’s house and land. Who can stand it?

If your parents hadn’t gone too far, your uncle might have lent the house to you for free, but to crush your parents’ thoughts, the rent must be charged.

I originally thought to set the rent at three and a half a month, but if you’re renting, let it be three. Thirty-six a year, does that work for you?"

Lin Yi’s house was essentially two rooms and a living room, enough for a couple, and even with kids, it could be squeezed for ten years. Thirty-six a year is quite reasonable.

Lin Jianqiang nodded immediately, "Uncle, I’ll rent this house, but I can’t pay the full rent at once. Can I give you part of it first?"

The team leader agreed.

Lin Jianqiang went home and told Lin Zhi and Li Lian about it.

Li Lian got so angry she cursed Lin Yi again and scolded Lin Jianqiang for spending recklessly.

As soon as she finished scolding her elder son, she saw her younger son coming home late and, with anger rising, started scolding the younger one too.

Lin Jianguo didn’t like what he heard, gulped down his meal, and went out to find friends to play with, almost infuriating Li Lian beyond reason.

The chaos in Lin Zhi’s house had become a village joke, and Lin Qingxiang would talk about it when he went to work in Nanyu every day.

Lin Yi found out that Lin Jianqiang was willing to pay thirty-six a year to rent his house and couldn’t help but sigh, "Jianqiang is more sensible than his parents."

Lin Qingxiang laughed mockingly, "What difference does that make? Lin Zhi and his wife couldn’t get their hands on your house and only agreed to leave it alone. Jianqiang needs to marry a wife, so he must sort things out himself. I say your big nephew is also heartless and selfish.

He knew about your injury before but never visited even once. Only when it’s about his own matters did he come running; he’s even been secretly saving money, or he wouldn’t be able to pay this rent."

Lin Yi thought about it and realized it was true, feeling rather disheartened.

As they talked, they finished laying all the floor tiles on the second floor.

At this time, Chen Wenjun bought the first batch of latex paint.

Lin Qingxiang knew how to do the painting work, so he took care of the first layer, with Chen Wenjun and Lin Yi learning from him.

Once the first coat was finished, they tackled the remaining two coats themselves.

They were busy until National Day, and finally, the second floor was completely renovated.

There was some leftover latex paint, so with the money Chen Wenjun saved during this time, they could get the staircase done together.

So Zhang Yongquan and his apprentice were invited over again to renovate the staircase.

He suggested to Chen Wenjun to use marble for the stair steps. The price of marble was not much higher than tiles. More importantly, it’s harder to break. The walls could be tiled, which is durable and not much more expensive than paint.

Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin discussed and found they were a bit short on money, but for long-term convenience, they decided to go into debt to renovate the stairs.

After Lin Yi found out, he worried about them, working even harder on the fields.

The two kids, in anticipation and wanting to help the adults, went to the stream daily to collect snails. Along the way, they met classmates from Anshan Community.

Seeing Chen Ruiyu and Chen Xinyue picking snails, several kids threw stones into the water, splashing them.

Lin Qin saw this and immediately became stern, shouting angrily, "What are you doing? Bullying my kids, huh?"

The mischievous kids were startled by Lin Qin, made faces, and ran away.

Lin Qin went to her children, "Who are they?"

Chen Xinyue replied obediently, "He’s called An Yijie, in the same class as us, really mean, always making fun of brother in class, saying we’re boat people, and teasing that we couldn’t go to school during the typhoon because our boat would have overturned."

As Lin Qin listened, her anger grew, "They bullied you, and you didn’t tell the teacher?"

The two kids exchanged glances, silently lowering their heads.

Lin Qin’s heart tightened, and once back, she shared the situation with Chen Wenjun and Lin Yi.

Lin Yi also worried, "When they start school after National Day, I’ll bring it up with the teacher when I take them there."

Lin Qin had no other choice but to nod in agreement.

As National Day passed, the staircase renovation was complete. The marble steps and white-painted solid wood handrails made it look like a classy little villa.