Of course, Guan Hui E had inquired about the cigarette factory’s situation.

The courtyard belonged to Zhou Cheng, but Guan Hui E didn’t know this, thinking Kang Wei had helped arrange it.

Kang Wei only collected a symbolic rent, which Guan Hui E paid from her salary. Her inquiry about factory housing wasn’t about saving this small amount of rent, but out of consideration for the Shi family.

Wei Juan Hong and Shi Ping were placed at the cigarette factory precisely because of their good benefits!

The factory had just built a new dormitory building, and there were housing allocation quotas available – Guan Hui E had checked. Given the Shi family’s situation, they should be eligible for a two-room apartment.

However, in Guan Hui E’s opinion, two one-room apartments would be more suitable.

This was exactly what she explained to Shi Da Niang:

“Sister, think about it – two adjacent one-room apartments would be more convenient when the children grow up, and they could look after each other.”

It wasn’t that Guan Hui E had impure thoughts, but the Shi family’s situation was unique. What if Shi Ping found a wife in the future? Even if he didn’t, he couldn’t live in the same apartment with his widowed sister-in-law!

Though mentally challenged, he was physically a young man, and they needed to avoid gossip.

Shi Da Niang was too moved to speak, her eyes brimming with tears.

This was genuine concern for the Shi family, considering their position and understanding their needs!

Xia Xiao Lan agreed with Guan Hui E’s reasoning – cramming five people into a two-room apartment wasn’t as good as splitting them into two smaller units. When housing reform came, the Shi family could secure property rights in their homes. Whether one-room or two-room apartments, having their property in Beijing would give the family security when they needed money in the future.

This security wouldn’t come from others but would be earned by the Shi family themselves. They could spend the money confidently and live in their homes with dignity!

“Aunt Guan, two two-room apartments would be ideal – who wouldn’t want more space? The Shi family’s situation is special, shouldn’t the cigarette factory make some accommodations? If two two-room apartments aren’t possible, then maybe one two-room and one one-room. Grandmother Shi, my family knows people in home renovation – even a one-room apartment can be converted into two rooms.”

The two-room apartment could house Wei Juan Hong, the children, and their grandmother, while the one-room apartment would be for Shi Ping.

In the future, when the children grow up, the boy could move next door to live with Shi Ping if he needed his own room.

As soon as Xia Xiao Lan finished speaking, Shi Da Niang waved her hands repeatedly:

“No, we can’t break the factory’s rules! We absolutely cannot!”

Converting a two-room apartment into two one-room units might be acceptable to the factory.

But requesting an additional one-room apartment on top of a two-room unit would violate housing allocation rules – wouldn’t that force the Zhou family to ask for favors?

This went against Shi Da Niang’s principles – she already felt uncomfortable living in a house rented with Zhou family money, so how could she let them owe favors to others?

Guan Hui E was considering Xia Xiao Lan’s suggestion.

Requesting a two-room apartment aligned with housing allocation policies.

Two two-room apartments would make the Shi family stand out too much at the factory, potentially creating resentment among coworkers and making daily interactions uncomfortable. But an additional one-room apartment wouldn’t cause such strong reactions – after all, how could a brother-in-law live with his widowed sister-in-law? Though Shi Ping wasn’t clever, he was still a formal factory employee. Even if single, why shouldn’t he be allocated a one-room apartment?

Just as Guan Hui E was about to explain the housing allocation policy to Shi Da Niang, Wei Juan Hong pushed open the door, her face flushed:

“Mother, didn’t we say we wouldn’t move for now? Why are you talking about housing allocation again, and even called Sister Guan and Xiao Lan here?”

Southwestern people didn’t use “Auntie,” instead calling older female relatives “Jie Jie.”

No one knew when Wei Juan Hong had returned, but she had heard most of the conversation.

Shi Da Niang’s face showed discomfort:

“Juan Hong, why are you back? You should be at work today.”

Wei Juan Hong kept her head down – if she hadn’t returned midway, she wouldn’t have encountered Guan Hui E and Xia Xiao Lan.

They claimed to care for the Shi family, but now they couldn’t bear it anymore – how long had they paid rent before growing unwilling to continue?

Was Shi Kai’s life worth less than some rent?

Wei Juan Hong avoided the question, “Mother, why is there a car blocking our doorway?”

Shi Da Niang was confused, while Xia Xiao Lan sighed internally at how much Wei Juan Hong had changed since their first meeting.

“Sister Wei, that’s my car, I’ll move it shortly.”

Though Wei Juan Hong had guessed as much, hearing it confirmed by Xia Xiao Lan still surprised her – the car was exceptionally beautiful: “Xiao Lan, aren’t you still in university…”

“Yes, the car is my mother’s. I just borrowed it today.”

Xia Xiao Lan didn’t try to hide anything, speaking directly without concealment in front of Wei Juan Hong.

Xia Xiao Lan wanted to understand Wei Juan Hong’s thoughts. She had long known that Shi Kai sacrificed himself to save Zhou Cheng, and even if Wei Juan Hong couldn’t accept it emotionally, Xia Xiao Lan could understand.

She respected Wei Juan Hong’s straightforwardness in dismissing Zhou Cheng’s compensation and sneering at the Zhou family’s help.

Whether happy or unhappy, it was better to speak directly – even saying outright that Zhou Cheng owed the Shi family would be better than this ambiguous attitude!

To think Xia Xiao Lan’s family could casually buy a car.

Wei Juan Hong’s feelings were incredibly complex at that moment.

Guan Hui E sensed something was wrong, “Little Wei, I don’t consider you an outsider. Regarding the housing matter, what are your thoughts? I’d like to hear your opinion.”

Shi Da Niang anxiously tried to intervene, but Wei Juan Hong held her mother-in-law’s hand:

“Mother, since Sister Guan is here today, let’s be clear. Sister Guan, we’re quite comfortable living here – the courtyard is as spacious as our countryside home. I know you’re paying the rent. How much is it per month? I can pay you, and we’ll continue living here, alright?”

Shi Da Niang thought her daughter-in-law had lost her mind.

The rent for such a courtyard was several dozen yuan per month. Though the cigarette factory’s pay was good, Wei Juan Hong’s monthly earnings, all told, were just over a hundred yuan.

Using half her wages for rent – Shi Da Niang wouldn’t agree!

She understood her daughter-in-law’s intentions and trembled with anger.

Sure enough, when Guan Hui E heard Wei Juan Hong’s words, she didn’t even furrow her brow, “The factory housing is a benefit that you and Shi Ping are entitled to. If you don’t live there, the cigarette factory won’t leave the apartments empty – you’d be wasting your housing allocation. But if you prefer to live here, you can stay as long as you like. Don’t worry about the rent…”

As expected, Guan Hui E had no intention of letting Wei Juan Hong pay rent.

Shi Da Niang suddenly slapped away her daughter-in-law’s hand:

“Juan Hong, you’ve disappointed me deeply. You’re taking advantage, bringing shame to the Shi family and Shi Kai – you’re making it so Shi Kai can’t rest in peace!”

Wei Juan Hong wasn’t particularly deep or calculating. These matters had been bottled up in her heart for too long, and she couldn’t hold back anymore.

In an instant, her eyes filled with tears, her voice full of accusation: “…Mother, how do you know that Shi Kai…”

Wei Juan Hong broke down sobbing.

She wanted to say that Shi Kai didn’t have to die.

Guan Hui E’s eyes also reddened, and Xia Xiao Lan felt the pain as well.

“Sister, Little Wei is right, this is what we should do-“

Shi Da Niang grabbed Guan Hui E’s hand:

“You think I don’t know? I’ve known all along… Sister, that was Shi Kai’s fate. He sacrificed himself for the country. The state provided compensation and arranged jobs for Juan Hong and Shi Ping. The country has treated the Shi family right – no one owes us anything!”