Volume 1, Chapter 19: If My Life Is Hard, Then No One Shall Have It Easy

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Gao Yuelin nodded as well. “Xiaoyuan is right. We’re not an unreasonable family. We fully understand that the authorities are facing difficulties and can’t return the house to us for the time being.

“But having said that, since the authorities have acknowledged that this house belongs to our family, we hope they can also understand the difficulties we’re facing. Sister Zhou, since you can speak on behalf of the authorities, could you please have a word with the Wei family and ask them to vacate the three rooms in the north wing?

“Those three rooms will be more than enough for our whole family.”

Zhou Yourong nearly shot straight through the roof. What kind of absurd idea was this? Wasn’t he simply asking her to offend people?

Qin Guohua spoke up. “Let’s do that. The Wei family has only four people, yet they’ve occupied three rooms. It really isn’t right. If they exchange rooms with the Yuemin family, they won’t have any grounds to complain.”

Zhou Yourong sighed, then rose to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go and talk to them. But if Old Wei refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”

“You must have a way. If you can’t persuade the Wei family, I won’t even need my uncle—I’ll shamelessly follow you around all night,” Gao Yuan said with a grin.

“You’re nothing but a shameless nuisance!” Aunt Zhou scolded with a laugh. Then she glared angrily at Aunt Li and Aunt Zheng. “Surely I don’t have to beg the two of you over and over again, do I? Get up and come along. Do you really think this is my business alone?”

Only then did Aunt Li and Aunt Zheng rise awkwardly, following Aunt Zhou out the door.

“Yuanzi, that was a good move. Instead of demanding that the authorities return the house immediately, you’re making a tactical shift first—from the south wing to the north wing. Once you’ve occupied the rooms, you’ll have the moral upper hand as well.”

Uncle Qin saw through everything and had already figured out exactly what Gao Yuan was planning.

Gao Yuan smiled. “I couldn’t hide my little scheme from you after all. You’re right. I’m forcing Aunt Zhou to find a way to get the house back for us.”

Gao Yuemin said, “Xiaoyuan, make your uncle a good cup of tea.”

Gao Yuan answered and hurried into the inner room to fetch the tea leaves.

In truth, it wasn’t anything special—just tea dust.

Its full name was “premium tea dust.”

Tea dust was the beverage most ordinary families in the capital drank most often in those days.

Taking the cup Gao Yuan handed him, Qin Guohua burst out laughing. “Yuemin, you’re judging people by their status and serving them accordingly.”

“Not at all. It’s just that several of the neighborhood ladies were here earlier, and we didn’t have enough tea left to serve everyone.”

“Mm. Every household is struggling these days.” Qin Guohua replied, then turned to Gao Yuan. “Young man, I hear you did well on the entrance exams. Have you decided which university you want to attend?”

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Gao Yuan smiled. “I’ll listen to my father.”

Gao Yuemin gazed at his son with satisfaction and smiled. “If you’re asking for my opinion, then it has to be Peking University.”

Gao Ya agreed with her father. “Don’t go to Tsinghua. It’s terribly dull.”

Gao Yuan walked over to his sister, took the clam oil from her hand, and gently rubbed it over the back of her hand. “Sis, why are you so prejudiced against Tsinghua?”

Gao Ya was enjoying her younger brother’s service. “It’s not exactly prejudice. I just feel that Tsinghua has a rather strong political atmosphere, whereas Peking University has a stronger academic atmosphere. You’re studying Chinese literature, and you don’t plan to go into politics, so Peking University would certainly suit you better.”

“How do you know I don’t plan to go into politics? Maybe I’ll suddenly get the urge after graduation and join the civil service.”

“Don’t argue!”

“All right.”

The natural tyranny of blood relations had prevailed.

Less than half an hour later, Zhou Yourong returned with her two assistants.

Wei Hongxia came with them as well.

She cast a resentful, indignant look around the room before fixing her eyes on Gao Yuemin.

“Uncle Gao, was exchanging rooms your idea?”

Seeing how angry she was, Gao Yuemin took responsibility without hesitation. “That’s right. It was my idea. Do you have a problem with it?”

“There are four families living in this courtyard. Why do you insist on exchanging rooms with my family? Do you think we’re easy to bully?” Wei Hongxia demanded furiously, her eyes wide with rage.

Gao Yuemin was just about to retort when Gao Yuan pressed him back down.

“Why? Good question. Because the north wing is bright and comfortable,” Gao Yuan said.

“Because this house originally belonged to our family,” Gao Ya added.

“Hongxia, don’t say that our family is bullying you. And don’t forget that your family was assigned this house by the authorities. Even if that was how you came here, Director Zhou now has the authority to represent the authorities and arrange new housing for your family.

“What? Are you planning to defy the authorities’ decision?” Zhang Xuemei delivered the finishing blow with even greater force.

“You… You’re bullying people beyond all reason!” Wei Hongxia shouted, stamping her foot.

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“That’s not how it is,” Gao Yuan said bluntly. “Your family has already benefited enormously by being allowed to live here. You should learn to be content… Forget it. I’m not going to waste my breath arguing with you. Since the neighborhood officials are all here, I’ll ask you one thing: Are you exchanging rooms or not?”

“What will you do if I refuse? Do you intend to hit me?”

“There’s no point in acting like a thug. Your family can refuse to vacate the rooms, and I wouldn’t dare do anything to you. But if my family can’t live in peace, then no one else should expect to live comfortably either.”

Gao Yuan was no saint, especially when his family’s interests were involved. He would not yield an inch.

“Gao Yuan! Go ahead and try!” Wei Hongxia shouted. Then she sprang toward him and thrust out her sharp fingernails, clawing at his face.

Gao Ya reacted instantly. She did not even stand up. She simply kicked out, striking Wei Hongxia directly in the shin.

I wouldn’t lay a finger on my own brother. How dare you bare your claws at him? If I don’t teach you a lesson, who will?

The kick made Wei Hongxia cry out in pain. Clutching her leg, she began hopping around.

“That’s enough!” Aunt Zhou shouted angrily when she saw that things had turned physical. “Have you people forgotten the law? You dare start fighting right in front of the neighborhood officials? Aren’t you afraid of being hauled off to the police station?”

“I don’t like what you’re saying, Aunt Zhou.” Zhang Xuemei’s face was as cold as frost, and her voice was icy. “What do you mean, we’re not afraid of being taken to the station? Everyone in the house saw what happened. Who started it?

“My son was about to have his face clawed open. If Ya hadn’t intervened as his sister, and his face had been scratched, would you have taken responsibility?

“Even if this goes to the police station, we’re in the right.

“At most, it was self-defense!”

Gao Yuemin was furious as well. He lowered his voice and said to Gao Yuelin, “Third Brother, let’s not trouble Director Zhou anymore. Go over there and bring Station Chief Qiu from the police station here to uphold justice for your niece and nephew.

“I refuse to believe there’s nowhere in this world where right and wrong can be made clear!”

Gao Yuelin nodded, sprang to his feet, and strode toward the door.

Seeing that the situation had escalated and that the entire Gao family was now thoroughly enraged, Aunt Zhou hurriedly blocked Gao Yuelin.

“Wait, wait! Yuelin, don’t rush to the police station. I’ll handle this. I promise I’ll give your family a satisfactory explanation.”

Gao Yuelin gave her a cold stare. “Fine. I’ll stay right here and see how you intend to give our whole family a satisfactory explanation.”

Zhou Yourong glared at Wei Hongxia and shouted harshly, “Go back and pack your things. Move out immediately. If you refuse to carry out the authorities’ decision, I’ll go to your factory tomorrow and report the matter to your supervisor! Think carefully before you decide what to do!”

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