The highest level of lying is using the truth to lie, achieving an ulterior motive.
The saying that people grow crafty with age was made for an Uncle like him.
Everything he said was true, so people who did not understand the ways of the world were easy for him to deceive.
However, Xu Honglei had lived through an entire lifetime and would never let his Uncle deceive him again.
In his previous life, Xu Honglei foolishly asked his Uncle for the house. The kind and benevolent Uncle immediately changed his tune and went around badmouthing Xu Honglei in front of the old Neighborhood Residents.
He said that their One Family had cared for this Nephew for many years, yet the Nephew had no regard for family affection and had become obsessed with money. He even told others maliciously that Xu Honglei was a child they had picked up and was naturally cold-hearted, refusing to regard the Xu Family as his own.
These rumors left Xu Honglei, who had never been good with words in his previous life, like someone swallowing bitter herbs in silence: he suffered but could not speak of it.
Spreading rumors takes only one mouth, but disproving them can run your legs off.
Besides, Xu Honglei needed to work to support himself, while his Uncle ran a small Business and had plenty of time to gossip about household affairs in front of the old Neighborhood Residents.
Xu Honglei later failed to find a girlfriend and became an older man who had no Wife and Remained a Bachelor. He lived a lonely life, and his poor reputation was one of the reasons.
Thinking of this, Xu Honglei curled his lips. He could not be bothered to argue with him any longer, so he said bluntly, “Uncle, you do not need to waste your breath. Let us speak frankly!”
“Leaving aside whether I can get into University, even if I Attend University, tuition, miscellaneous fees, living expenses, and everything else would total only a little over ten thousand yuan a year.
“Over four years, that would be at most a little over fifty thousand yuan. Adding the cost of repeating a school year, you would have spent at most sixty or seventy thousand yuan.
“Sixty or seventy thousand yuan is a considerable sum, but compared with these two rooms of mine, it amounts to nothing.”
These straightforward words left his Uncle embarrassed.
He cleared his throat and said with an awkward smile, “Lei, we are One Family. There is no need to Settle accounts so precisely. Besides, did I not say earlier that I would buy you another house in the future?”
“Uncle, I think we should Settle accounts properly. Otherwise, when we argue over these matters later, no one will be able to explain them clearly!” Xu Honglei pressed on in a calm but serious tone:
“These two Old Houses my father left me may be run-down, but their total floor area is nearly fifty square meters. Property Prices in this area are above 5,000 yuan per square meter, so the houses are worth at least 250,000 yuan in total.
“That does not include Demolition and relocation. Under the current relocation policy, each square meter can be exchanged for roughly 1.5 square meters. In other words, these two houses could be exchanged for a roughly seventy-five-square-meter two-bedroom apartment worth nearly Four Hundred Thousand yuan.
“Uncle, you want to exchange a house of mine worth nearly Four Hundred Thousand yuan for a mere few tens of thousands of yuan in university expenses. Does that not trouble your conscience?
“Besides, it is still uncertain whether I can get into university. If I do not attend university, then you will not spend much money at all!”
“Lei, how can you talk like that? Am I, your Uncle, that kind of person?” His Uncle seemed exposed and grew angry with embarrassment.
He had thought this Nephew knew nothing about the ways of the world. By exploiting family affection and deceiving him, he would most likely get what he wanted.
But he had never imagined that this Nephew understood the matter of the house so clearly and would take such a firm stance.
Xu Honglei smiled and said in a flat tone, “Uncle, I do not know whether you are that kind of person, but I do know that wealth can move the human heart.
“Besides, owning my own house would give me a home of my own. No matter how kind you are to me, living in your house would still mean relying on someone else’s roof.
“Is there not a saying that a golden nest or silver nest is no better than one’s own humble nest? People are always most comfortable in a nest that belongs to them.”
His Uncle’s expression became kind and amiable again. He said earnestly, “Lei, when all is said and done, you are still a child. Without an adult to watch over you, your future will be difficult.
“I have heard people say that you have been spending money lavishly lately. You even bought an Air Conditioner. It is expensive and uses a lot of electricity. A fan would be perfectly adequate.
“Even wealthy people live as though they were poor. Who goes about life the way you do?”
Xu Honglei curled his lips and said impatiently, “Uncle, worry more about your own son. My affairs do not require your concern. Worrying too much can shorten your life!”
His Uncle, still unwilling to give up, continued, “Lei, no matter what, Hongtao is your older brother. Can you bear to watch his marriage fall through and let him Remain a Bachelor for the rest of his life?”
“Uncle, Hongtao is your son, not mine. Whether he gets married is something you should be worrying about, is it not? How did the responsibility end up on my shoulders? Do you not think that is ridiculous?”
Seeing that his Nephew refused outright, his Uncle begged with a mournful expression, “Lei, if nothing else works, I will make the decision and add a little more.
“Name your price. We are One Family, so we can discuss everything. It is better to tear down ten temples than ruin one marriage. We cannot let your older brother’s marriage fall through, can we?”
Xu Honglei shook his head and said bluntly, “Uncle, stop wasting your time here. Even if I sell this house, I will sell it at the Market Rate. You cannot afford that price.”
Rare anger appeared on his Uncle’s face as he said harshly, “Lei, since you insist on putting it that way, I will make things clear to you as well!
“You are not even a member of the Xu Family. You are a wild child we picked up. Your father’s house is the property of the Xu Family.
“The Xu Family raised you to this age. You should know how to be grateful. Not only are you ungrateful to the Xu Family, you even want to scheme for our xu family’s property.
“If you have even the slightest bit of conscience, you should return the Xu Family’s house to the Xu Family. Then go out and struggle on your own, relying on your own hands and efforts to obtain what you want. That is what a real man does!”
Seeing that his Uncle had finally revealed his true thoughts, Xu Honglei gave a cold laugh and said in a flat tone, “Uncle, my father adopted me properly through the Welfare Institute. I ate my father’s food and spent my father’s money.
“From a legal standpoint, I am the first-priority heir and possess legitimate inheritance rights.
“From the standpoint of family affection, whenever there is a festival, I sweep my father’s grave when it should be swept, pay respects when they should be paid, and prepare all the necessary offerings. I believe that even my father’s spirit in heaven would be comforted by that.”
“Fine, fine, fine! Since you put it that way, I will no longer concern myself with your affairs. When you have nothing to eat later, do not come begging at our door!”
Having tried every tactic, his Uncle had no choice but to leave after throwing out one final threat.
Xu Honglei called after him, “Uncle, take care! I will not see you off!”