Chapter 37: Don't Let It Crash in Your Hands

Two fools. Do they really think moving out is that easy? Every bit of food and drink costs money. With just the pittance the son-in-law earns, the couple will starve sooner or later.

She was still hoping that since her daughter had her son-in-law "locked down," she could at least squeeze out some money to help with the household expenses. If the two of them moved out to live alone, she wouldn't even be able to look after herself, and she might even end up having to go back to her daughter's house to leech off them.

A married daughter is like spilled water; she couldn't let these two idiots become her burden.

"It's a hot day, have some water to cool your tempers. Young people have big tempers; they'll be fine after a little while. Are you really going to make your elders angry? Besides, housing is so tight right now. There are crowds queuing at the Housing Bureau every day, and private rentals are incredibly expensive. With your meager salary, you won't even be able to cover the expenses for two people."

Zhang Jianshe: "..."

Why was Mom being so stubborn and heartless? Was it just because she was relying on him to depend on the family? If his wife had a job and they had two salaries, would he have to walk on eggshells around others?

"Mom, stop trying to persuade them. If that old woman doesn't agree to give me the job, Third Brother and I will never return to that house again. Let's see who gets desperate in the end!" Zhao Meijuan spoke through gritted teeth, her voice full of resentment. She didn't believe for a second that the old woman truly wouldn't care about her own son.

"Shut up, you brat! Jianshe hasn't said anything, what business is it of yours?" Liu Hehua wished she could sew her daughter's mouth shut. She had always known her daughter was stupid, but she hadn't expected her to be so tactless.

"Jianshe, this girl is just worried about you. But there are no overnight grudges between mother and son; after a burst of anger, they'll still come home to eat and sleep."

"Mom, we aren't going back. We're going to look for a house right now." Zhang Jianshe picked up his water cup, drained it in one gulp, and stood up to walk out. Zhao Meijuan hurried after him out of the courtyard.

Liu Hehua chased after them, watching the two walk further and further away. She slapped her thigh and rushed toward the fertilizer factory to lock the door. She had to notify her husband immediately so he could come up with a plan.

It was an hour later when she finally saw Zhao Mancang.

Zhao Mancang brushed the dust off his clothes. "What kind of trouble are you stirring up now? I was working. Can't anything wait until I get off work?"

Liu Hehua glanced at the security guard and pulled him into a corner. "That brat Meijuan is instigating her husband to pick a fight with his in-laws. The two of them want to move out; they've already packed their bags."

She knew her daughter's character all too well, so she didn't blame Zhang Jianshe at all.

Zhao Mancang froze, then his face darkened. "With just that twenty-one yuan Zhang Jianshe makes, what are they going to do, eat the wind?"

"That's exactly the point! I talked until my lips were dry, but they wouldn't listen. They've already gone to look for a house." Liu Hehua stomped her feet in anger. "Those two idiots are looking for trouble. I just hope they don't end up making a mess that we have to clean up, or we'll be at a massive loss."

Zhao Mancang narrowed his eyes and snorted. "They won't learn until they hit a wall... Go back and lead them to apologize to the in-laws. Then this will be over. But no matter what, we absolutely cannot let those two fools drag the Zhao family down with them."

"What if the in-laws want our daughter to divorce Jianshe?" She didn't dare make such a major decision without her husband.

"A married daughter is like spilled water. Divorce? Not a chance."

"If things have escalated to this, they must have really angered that old woman. Our families already have a history; what if she takes it personally?" Liu Hehua felt guilty just thinking about the blood on Li Xiangqin's head on the day of the wedding.

Zhao Mancang pondered for a moment. "Meijuan meeting Zhang Jianshe was pure luck—like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. If she gets divorced, it'll be hard for her to marry again. Don't forget, with her health, whether she can even bear children is a question. If she divorces, is her maiden family going to support her?"

Liu Hehua shook her head. The family only had a little land; there was no room for her to live there.

"Hurry back. Buy two pounds of apples and have them apologize to the mother-in-law to give her a way out. Would the in-laws really turn their own son away?" Regardless, she couldn't let her daughter be "returned."

Following his instructions, Liu Hehua rushed back, but unfortunately, timing is everything. By the time she returned, the two had already rented a place.

Zhang Jianshe and Zhao Meijuan had gone to the Housing Bureau, but even after buying cigarettes for the staff, they couldn't find a suitable place. Just as they were returning to the community in dejection, they were suddenly stopped by an old woman asking if they were looking to rent.

The two followed the woman to a courtyard. It was a twenty-square-meter room with a shared kitchen and toilet, and the rent was five yuan.

"Are you robbing us? The Housing Bureau only charges two and a half!" Zhao Meijuan shouted sharply.

The old woman didn't care at all. She turned to Zhang Jianshe. "No matter how cheap the Housing Bureau is, if there are no rooms, it's useless. If it weren't for my son being in the military and unable to return for three years, it would be a waste to leave it empty. Even if you wanted to rent from them, there wouldn't be any available."

"That's still too expensive," Zhao Meijuan said defiantly.

"If you really want to rent, I'll give you a discount. Four and a half."

"Two and a half, and we'll take it." Zhao Meijuan held up her fingers, only to receive a roll of the eyes from the old woman.

"In your dreams."

Zhang Jianshe looked at the room, then turned to the old woman. "Auntie, we sincerely want to rent this, but we're young and our wages are low. How about three yuan?"

The old woman looked at him, then at Zhao Meijuan, and curled her lip. "I don't think you two will stay long anyway. Four yuan is the lowest. Take it or leave it."

"On what grounds? You're charging double the Housing Bureau..."

Before Zhao Meijuan could finish, Zhang Jianshe grabbed her hand to interrupt her. "Auntie, we really don't have that much money. How about three and a half? If that works, we'll rent it."

Housing Bureau units were scarce; any vacancy was snapped up immediately. It was never his turn. Private rentals were expensive, and there weren't many available.

The old woman squinted and remained silent for a moment. "Fine, seeing as you two are such a tragic couple, I'll do a good deed and agree. But let me be clear: you have to pay three months' rent upfront."

"Deal."

Zhang Jianshe nodded and pulled a handful of change from his pocket. After counting it, it wasn't even three yuan. His face flushed red as he looked at Zhao Meijuan. "Wife, how much do you have on you?"

When he got his salary last month, he had handed it all over to his wife without keeping a cent. This small amount was just some overtime pay he had received mid-month.

"How could I have any money?" Zhao Meijuan covered her pockets, her expression sour.

Zhang Jianshe was stunned. "I gave you my whole salary."

"Visiting relatives, eating out, buying cosmetics... with your tiny salary, it's never enough!" Zhao Meijuan pouted, looking deeply aggrieved.

Zhang Jianshe snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and turned to the old woman. "Auntie, I'm taking this place. I'll go borrow money from a friend right now and come straight back."

"Go ahead. It's just one room anyway; I won't hold it for you if someone else comes to rent it."

Zhang Jianshe told Zhao Meijuan to wait, then hopped on his bicycle, pedaling so hard he practically wanted to spark fire from the wheels. He went to find his second brother, planning to borrow twenty yuan for an emergency.

Zhang Jianmin stared at him with wide eyes. "What? You fell out with Mom?"