Chapter 10 Signing the Agreement

"You all should stop opposing. The child needs to live with you, and the monthly expenses will definitely exceed two hundred yuan. To be blunt, Chenchen is the head of the household on the property deed, and if he doesn't want to give us anything, we won't get a penny. If the siblings take the money and run off, where would you find them? Now they are willing to give it to you. You know the value of the house in your heart, and how much money you can get,"

"You give two hundred a month, at most for a year. How much can you really give? Zhenzhen will be taking her college entrance exams next year. If she gets in, she'll work her way through college; if not, she'll work outside and won't need our money anymore. Think about it yourself."

They definitely had to think it over, but two hundred a month seemed excessive, as if they didn't have families to support themselves. "Eldest sister, what you mean is that we don't have to take care of Zhenzhen, but what about Chenchen? He's only three years old. Later, when Zhenzhen goes to school or to work, you can't expect her to take Chenchen with her. What about him?"

Chenchen was so young; it would be many years before he grew up. Even if they wanted to rid themselves of this burden, they would have to wait until Mei Mengzhen graduated from college. And that would cost a significant amount of money. Besides, after graduating, Mengzhen would need to work, and she certainly couldn't bring her little brother to her job.

They had indeed considered the time until Mei Mengzhen's college graduation, but Mengzhen didn't want to leave her brother at their home for so long. However, it wasn't the right time to say this, as it would only make things even more complicated.

"Over at my place, I've thought it through. I'll take care of the child, picking him up and dropping him off at the kindergarten since it's on my way. Once Zhenzhen is off to college, Chenchen can come live with me, and I'll look after him."

A year later her own two kids would have graduated from college, and by then, taking care of just one child wouldn't be so stressful.

Mengzhen was truly grateful to Mei Yinan, from the bottom of her heart. If there were any other way, she wouldn't want to burden Yinan this much.

Though she felt guilty, since Yinan had offered, it naturally solved the problem.

Yinan's words were persuasive. With the children's living arrangements settled, two hundred yuan a month still seemed like a lot to everyone. In Xincheng, which was called a city but really was just a small county near a bigger one, they lived and worked here, with all sorts of benefits, but wages were truly not high. A single salary was just over a thousand yuan a month. True, they had dual-income households, but expenses were also high, and that two hundred yuan seemed to be money that would go out but never come back. Why not spend it on their own children instead?

Seeing that they were unwilling to agree, which meant they wouldn't get their hands on the demolition compensation, the youngest aunt Mei Yifan clenched her teeth and painfully said, "One hundred, one hundred yuan a month at most. Any more is definitely out of the question."

Mei Yinan was a little angry. They were still bargaining over such a small amount. Yinan was about to curse out loud, but Yifan spoke first, "Eldest sister, let me do the math for you. There are five of us siblings. Two hundred each makes a thousand yuan. If we're paying for the utilities, they wouldn't need a thousand yuan for their living expenses. Five hundred a month is definitely enough in our small city."

Yifan's calculations were agreed upon by the siblings. Two hundred wasn't impossible to provide, but less would naturally be better. A hundred could still get them by if they budgeted a bit.

Mengzhen, watching the bargaining unfold, interjected with a timely reminder, "How about this? You give me two hundred a month in one lump sum. Consider it a loan to me, and I'll write a promissory note for each family. When the demolition money comes in, I'll pay you back all at once. What do you think?"

"Pay back with the demolition money?" Uncle Mei Yongfu asked puzzledly.

Everyone was stunned. What did that mean?

In her heart, Mengzhen found these people somewhat ridiculous. It wasn't like there were no children left after their parents died. How could they just exclude their home from the demolition compensation? Clearly, if she didn't bring it up, they would act as if she and her brother didn't exist.

"Right, if the demolition compensation is to be split among the siblings, and since my dad's name isn't extinct, then our family should definitely get a share too, right?"

Mei Yinan, who had been angry just now, cooled down a bit. Yes, the fourth brother's family should also get a share. With that money coming in, Mengzhen wouldn't have to take out loans to study, and there would be enough to raise her brother, albeit they would have to live a tougher life, but it wouldn't be penniless.

Yinan was pleased, seeing that Mengzhen was clever, but then she looked at her younger siblings with disdain, "You guys wouldn't be thinking of pocketing our brother's share, would you?"

A few of them looked guilty, because that was indeed what they had been thinking. They assumed that no one would mention this point and that once the contract was signed, there would be no going back. They didn't expect this child to be so astute.

Uncle Mei Yongfu feigned anger, "Eldest sister, we're not that heartless. Just because the fourth brother is gone doesn't mean his share isn't for his children." Now that there was money, there was no need for them to provide living expenses, "Since that's the case, of course we would lend the money to the child. We'll give it to you in a lump sum and write a promissory note."

Mei Yongfu was uneasy. He felt that if the agreement wasn't signed now, even more changes could occur.

But Mei Yifan still felt somewhat reluctant, hoping for a turn of events, "Big brother."

Mei Yongan's expression became stern, "Enough, let's settle this matter like this. Write the housing agreement clearly. The demolition compensation will be divided into six parts among the six siblings. You handle your share, but the living expenses will be lent to you. Everything must be clearly written on the promissory note."

"Okay, I'll get some paper and a pen."

Regardless of what everyone was thinking, once this agreement was signed, nothing could be changed anymore.

Mengzhen got paper and pen, outlined the agreement terms, and made sure to indicate that there was no rent, and utilities were to be paid separately. As for borrowing living expenses, Mengzhen cleverly omitted that part. She truly didn't believe these people would lend her money.

Once the front part of the agreement was clearly articulated, it was time to specify the distribution of the demolition compensation.

The demolition money was divided into six parts, and the names and ID card numbers of the six people were clearly written. Everyone signed and left their fingerprints.

After this procedure was finished, and the agreement was completed and kept with Mengzhen, no one was really happy, but they also didn't want it to be with anyone else. Mengzhen wasn't content with that either.

In the end, they compromised, and the agreement was left in the care of Eldest Aunt Mei Yinan. After all, she had been the authoritative figure in the family from childhood.

With the issue of the house decided, the weight in everyone's heart shifted.

But now that the house issue was resolved, why borrow money? Moreover, no time had been specified for the borrowing.

Aunt Mei Yifan smiled meaningfully and then said, "Eldest sister, since the agreement has been signed, we'll be leaving now."

"Leave? Where are you going? What about the money?"

Mei Yifan replied, "Eldest sister, our family is so poor, where would we have money to lend to her? If not for our poverty, who would be eyeing this property? Borrow money? We really don't have any."

Uncle Mei Yongfu also echoed Yifan's words, "Yes, eldest sister, I have two children to raise, and life is even harder. I don't have any spare money."

Mei Yinan then turned to the eldest uncle and second aunt, "What about you two? If brother and sister are in dire straits, are you two also hard up? Why not just skip the division of the house altogether? I'll tear up the agreement right now, and this money will go directly to these two children instead."