As Xu Lei happily planned his future, his Older Uncle walked in from outside and asked with a broad smile, “Lei, what good thing happened to you? Why are you so happy?”
“Oh, uncle is here. Come in and have a seat!”
Xu Honglei warmly welcomed him, poured water, and brewed tea. Then he said with a smile, “It’s nothing special. I’ve graduated, after all. The hard days are finally over, so I can relax!”
“You can’t put it that way. These days, a High School Graduation won’t get you very far. You still need to Attend University. If that doesn’t work, go for Repeating a School Year for another year or two. Even attending a junior college would be good!” Older Uncle took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.
Xu Lei brushed him off. “I know Attend University is better than not attending, but you know my family’s circumstances. My father is gone, and there isn’t much money left at home.
Besides, I’m already eighteen and an adult. I’m old enough to support myself.”
Older Uncle moved closer to Xu Honglei and patted him gently on the shoulder. His voice carried deep emotion. “Lei, your father may be gone, but you still have us. We’re One Family.”
In his previous life, Xu Honglei felt deeply moved when Older Uncle said those words.
But after living through his previous life, he knew that his Older Uncle had ulterior motives.
Bad people usually appear in the guise of good people. Anyone with the words “villain” written across his face probably cannot get away with doing bad things.
Sure enough, Older Uncle coughed and continued with a broad smile, “If you get into University, our whole family will share in the honor. It will also bring glory to our ancestors, so you must not give up.
You don’t need to worry about matters at home. Go ahead and repeat the year without hesitation. Even if your aunt and I have to sell everything we own, we will raise you into a University student.”
“Oh, thank you, Uncle!” Xu Honglei replied absentmindedly, his tone noncommittal.
“Since we’re One Family, there’s no need to stand on ceremony, Lei. Older Uncle wants to discuss something with you. Your Older Cousin has started dating a girl.
The girl’s family has no special demands. They want a wedding home so the couple will have somewhere to live after getting married.
You know that your aunt, your Older Cousin, and I are crammed into two rooms. We’re practically packed in like sardines, so those rooms cannot serve as a Newlywed home.
I was thinking: why don’t you move in with us and let your Older Cousin and your Sister-in-law live in your two Old houses? That way, your aunt and I can take care of you more conveniently. We can Achieve both aims. What do you think?”
Xu Honglei smiled and deliberately asked, “Uncle, my Older Cousin and my Sister-in-law aren’t merely planning to move in, are they? You also want me to Transfer property ownership of the house to them, don’t you?”
Older Uncle froze. Then he said earnestly to Xu Honglei, “Lei, Older Uncle doesn’t want your house. The main issue is that your Older Cousin and your Sister-in-law will have children after they marry, and those children will need to attend school.
It isn’t only about the children attending school. Household registration, medical insurance, and social security are also involved. I can’t explain everything in a few words. Once you grow up, you’ll understand.”
How could Xu Honglei fail to understand? He knew all too well how important it was to own a house in Huhai City. Back then, he had suffered terribly because he did not have one.
Seeing the faintly amused expression on Xu Honglei’s face, Older Uncle continued in a serious tone, “Don’t worry. After you finish University and get a girlfriend, your aunt and I will pool our money to buy you a bigger, better house.
Older uncle guarantees it. If all else fails, I’ll have your older cousin transfer property ownership of the house back to you then.
Lei, you have to trust Older uncle. We’re one family, and one family should weather storms together and help each other out. Isn’t that right?”
Xu Honglei smiled again and said lightly, “Uncle, there’s no need to make things so complicated. Even biological brothers Settle accounts clearly. I’m afraid we might not be able to settle this confusing account later.
Besides, I’m already an adult and capable of supporting myself, so I won’t trouble you or my older cousin.”
In his previous life, Older uncle had said something similar. Xu Honglei had been deeply moved and agreed to his request without hesitation, Transferring property ownership of his house to his older cousin Xu Hongtao, allowing his older cousin to marry and have children successfully.
A few years later, Older Uncle’s Family had its two Old, Run-Down Apartments undergo Demolition and relocation. Combined with the money the Elderly Couple had saved over the years, the proceeds let the family exchange them for two Large Houses.
Twenty years later, these two houses alone were worth more than fifteen million.
However, after Xu Honglei graduated from University and began working, no woman was willing to marry him because he did not own a house. He eventually raised the issue with Older Uncle.
It was not that Xu Honglei envied the good life of older uncle's family. He had no choice—the harsh reality was right in front of him.
In a Big City like Huhai City, young people find it extremely difficult to solve their housing problems through their own efforts. Most people have to rely on six wallets to buy a house.
Besides, Xu Honglei had given up this house out of kindness. Even if he had eaten at Older Uncle’s home for two years, he could not have spent that much money, right?
In his previous life, Xu Honglei went to work as soon as the National College Entrance Examination ended. He used his earnings to buy many things for Older Uncle’s Family, so it was not as though he had eaten for free.
Would someone willing to give up his entire house really be stingy?
Two years later, when the house underwent Demolition and relocation, Xu Honglei had to move out of Older Uncle’s home.
But later, Older Uncle refused to honor the agreement. With an ugly expression, he claimed that Xu Honglei had cost him this much and that much money, and that he also had to charge Xu Honglei for the care he had provided over those two years. Besides, his Old, Run-Down Apartment had not been worth much in the first place.
Xu Honglei was utterly dumbfounded in his previous life.
It is worth noting that Older Uncle’s Family ran a Small Supermarket. Although they were stingy in daily life and lived in an Old House like Xu Honglei’s family, they were far more prosperous and had saved quite a lot of money.
Xu Honglei did not ask for anything else. Through Demolition and relocation, the Old, Run-Down Apartment his Adoptive Father had left him could at least have been exchanged for a two-bedroom apartment of more than seventy square meters.
You’re his uncle. If you refuse to help your own nephew, so be it—but why did you have to cheat your poor nephew as well?
Are you even human, damn it!
In his previous life, Xu Honglei had considered taking Older uncle to court. But apart from requiring a large sum in attorney’s fees, the lawyer had told him that he would most likely lose.
Even if he could receive some compensation, it would not be much more than the attorney’s fees.
Xu Honglei of his previous life could only swallow his grievance and accept the unfair loss.
But in this life, he would protect his wealth at all costs. Under no circumstances would he allow anyone to take advantage of him again.
“Lei, what are you talking about? Are you saying you no longer acknowledge me as your uncle?” Hearing his nephew say that they should settle accounts clearly, Older uncle deliberately stiffened his face at Xu Honglei.
Then he became kind and amiable again and said earnestly, “Lei, you’re still a student and don’t know how hard it is to earn money. If you don’t even have a Diploma, what will you do in the future?
You should attend school first. Repeat the year for another year or two, then go to university. It won’t be too late to look for work after graduating from university!”