"Saozi, let me tell you, that day after I went back, I talked with Xiao Dung, and the next day we went to see Dad again and told him about it. My dad actually didn’t say a word. He tacitly agreed. Dad even said that grandma didn’t know her things were stolen yesterday. That day, Xiao Dung and I guarded in front of grandma’s house all day. It was hard looking for the right time when no one was home, and the two of us sneaked into the house again, deliberately moved grandma’s box to a conspicuous place, took out all the money inside, and put it in my cousin’s room. You know what, the money I put in my cousin’s room that day is already gone. Xiao Dung said he often saw my cousin steal grandma’s money, so if this is blamed on him, grandma won’t suspect anything."
"That’s good, you weren’t discovered, right?" Lin Wan was really sweating for them, daring to go back. "You too, why leave them any money? Just take it all back directly."
Hu Lijuan shook her head. "We didn’t put all grandma’s money in my cousin’s room, we secretly kept some money ourselves, enough to rent a place." Xiao Dung was right, grandma enslaved Dad and Mom all these years, taking a bit of money is already very kind. "A hundred? You really are a child, do you know how much money your grandma has in total?"
"I... I didn’t count, it looks like a lot."
"You guys are still too young, if it were me, get all the money back to your grandma."
"All back?" Taking this hundred, she and Hu Dong were excited for days.
"Don’t let your grandma or Uncle Hu’s family find out about this, or you’ll be in trouble." Lin Wan wasn’t a saint, this money was supposed to be taken, just the method wasn’t right, but bad people always get their comeuppance.
"My dad said yesterday when he went back to get clothes, my grandma found out her stuff was lost. When he went back, grandma was yelling at my cousin, telling him to give back the money and residence permit. But my cousin said he didn’t have it and just gave my grandma a hundred yuan." Hu Lijuan said as she pictured the scene, and she laughed.
"Uncle Hu went back openly to get clothes, and your grandma didn’t suspect?"
"Dad didn’t say anything at first, but when he heard grandma say the residence permit and rental agreement were gone, he pretended to be angry. He said the tenant was thinking of moving out these days, and wanted the previous agreement. Now it’s lost, the tenant not only wants the remaining three months’ rent but also demands compensation. Tenant issues can be solved with money, but losing the residence permit means the unit will take back the house. Not only will they take the house back, but there’s a five hundred yuan fine. When grandma and uncle heard about paying compensation, they immediately didn’t want to. They started protesting, wanting to argue with them. Dad said if grandma wants him unemployed, then go on. Grandma is most afraid of Dad being out of work, without work there’s no money for her. Finally, Dad said if they couldn’t find it, they’d have to compensate for three months of rent, and also the tenant wants those three months back. That would be six months, which is nearly a hundred yuan, Grandma didn’t want to pay, and Uncle and Aunt didn’t want to either. Grandma forced my cousin to hand over the things. My cousin couldn’t hand them over, no one at home believed anything he said. As a result, he got beaten up by Uncle again. In the end, there wasn’t any. Dad said he would borrow money to pay but if the unit wanted to deal with the lost permit, he had no money. At that time, grandma must pay, otherwise, whoever lost it should pay. If they don’t pay, the unit will definitely punish him. Losing his job means he won’t bring a cent back home. Dad said he was angry at home then, and it scared grandma. After so many years, Dad always followed her orders, hardly ever being angry. Now suddenly so ferocious, even Uncle was astonished. Dad also said from today they’ll be considered separate from the family. From now on he’ll give grandma five yuan living expenses a month. During festivals, grandma won’t lack food. After saying this, he slammed the door and left home. In the afternoon, Dad didn’t let us go back home, he found a couple of burly guys and took out Mom’s dowry, clothes, and quilts." Hu Lijuan concluded with a relieved smile, "Dad really was tough for once, a bit disappointing I didn’t see it. No matter what, we’ve moved out."
Lin Wan patted her shoulder, glad the situation had a happy ending. "It’s good it’s resolved, no matter what, it’s good your grandma doesn’t suspect you. Is there anything still missing in your new home?" Since mother-in-law moved out, she should send some things over.