Among all these relatives, the one she trusted the most was Mei Yinan, so she handed the bankbook to Mei Yinan without hesitation.
Mei Yinan was surprised by Mei Mengzhen's action, but thinking about it more closely, there wasn't much to be surprised about. If she gave it to someone else, they might not even end up with the bankbook.
It was fine when Mei Yinan hadn't mentioned the bankbook, but after opening it, she almost wanted to tear it up right then and there.
"Three thousand two hundred seventy-five yuan and sixty-four cents, down to the last penny, all these years, two people with jobs, and this is all the money they've saved," Mei Yinan was so furious she couldn't sit still, wishing she could dig those irresponsible parents out of their graves, give them a beating, and toss them back.
But once that number was out, everyone frowned, no way, is it really just that little?
The eldest uncle, Mei Yongan, took the bankbook and flipped through it, his brows furrowing even deeper.
The bankbook was passed from person to person, and after everyone had seen it, none of them could believe that the family had only managed to save a little more than three thousand yuan over all these years—not even worthy of being called savings.
"What else? Is this the only bankbook in the house?" Aunt Mei Yifan asked, clearly annoyed, her tone hard as if Mei Mengzhen were hiding other accounts.
"Just this one. The only bank near us is the Postal Bank."
The closest thing around is just one postal bank, and anything farther out isn't convenient. Not only their family, but all the households here are pretty much the same, so when she said that, everyone didn't really doubt her.
But now Mei Yinan felt even more upset, saying with frustration, "With so little money, you still want to live with your brother? Do you have any sense at all?"
Seeing the two kids with only this much money, was the house they just got about to slip away? Both siblings already agreed; if they signed the agreement first, that'd be much better.
The relatives were obviously getting impatient, and in their hearts, they blamed Mei Yinan—why bring up the bankbook right now? What are we supposed to do? But if anyone dared to say not to take the house, Mei Yifan would be the first to object, "Big sister, what does it matter if she knows or not? Anyway, we already agreed on the house, didn't we?"
Uncle Mei Yongfu quickly nodded, "Exactly, they're not worried about living with so little money, why are you?"
Mei Mengzhen knew exactly how much her parents had—same as last time, the money got split in half, half went to the uncle's family who took her brother, half went to the aunt's family who took her. That's how the money got divided.
This sort of money was nothing to any of them—they wouldn't force the kids to that extent—but they absolutely wouldn't compromise on the house.
Mei Mengzhen seized the chance to ask, "What about my parents' old apartment? Before they moved here, where did they live? Why not sell that old place for money?"
As soon as Mei Mengzhen said that, everyone understood what she was after, but her scheme was a little late. Mei Yinan explained, "Your parents' apartment was sold ages ago, and it's normal you don't know since you weren't close with them. Your mom lost a lot on mahjong, and your dad... well, he spent everything early on."
Mei Yinan glanced at the transactions in the bankbook and could tell just how much money those useless parents had spent each month—not just their salaries, even the lump sum that came in when their dad died got burned through in no time.
Mei Mengzhen pretended to be confused, looking at all the relatives, as if she didn't know what to do.
At this moment, the relatives all avoided her gaze.
Mei Yinan asked, "You still want to live with your brother? With this little money, even if you scrimp and save, it'll last maybe half a year. And after that? Zhenzhen, just listen to Auntie, come to our house, okay?"
"No! No! I already said I don't want the house, I don't want to go to your place!" Mei Mengchen burst out as soon as he heard that he'd have to go to someone else's house, and he started yelling right there and then. He didn't want to go and wouldn't, no matter what, and why couldn't anyone understand that?
But to the relatives, it didn't sound that way—you don't want to go, good, they don't want to take care of you either. It was hard enough raising their own kids, why should they go raise someone else's? If you don't want to come, that's just fine—they didn't want to take you anyway.
Thinking again, isn't Big Sis supposed to be kind-hearted? Since you're so good-hearted, you deal with it—let's see how you fix this.
With everyone thinking this way, their eyes all turned to Mei Yinan, but wherever the kids ended up, the relocation money absolutely couldn't be messed with.
Mei Yinan was willing enough, but honestly the family's situation didn't allow it—she already had two college kids to support, and raising four at once? Who could afford that? "You guys, you guys..."
Mei Mengzhen hugged her brother, who was squeezing into her arms, and said to everyone, "I still want to live with my brother. If the money lasts half a year, then half a year. Worst case, I'll work during the holidays. Oh, and my mom had some jewelry—I can sell that, too. We won't starve, anyway."
Everyone knew roughly how much jewelry her mom had. The other moms' jewelry, no one would fight her for that—afraid that staying on this topic would cause more drama. Eldest uncle Mei Yongan quickly said, "Alright, as long as you know what you're doing."
Mei Mengzhen immediately echoed, "Yes, I know what I'm doing."
Know what you're doing? You have no fucking clue, Mei Yinan was furious, but she understood the kids' desire not to be taken in by relatives, although she couldn't just let them fend for themselves. Mei Yinan backed down a little, "Alright, since you're both insisting on staying here, we definitely won't charge rent." Mei Yinan glanced at all her siblings and cousins; seeing no objections, she continued, "We'll also cover your utilities and living expenses."
Aunt Mei Yifan seemed unhappy and wanted to argue, but Mei Yinan cut her off, "What's the cost of utilities and living expenses, anyway?"
"If it's so cheap, then let the kids pay for it themselves," Mei Yifan muttered quietly.
Mei Yinan was not only mad at seeing her siblings, but hearing them talk made her even angrier: "Shut your mouth. You're all the same."
Before anyone could say more, Mei Yinan continued, "Utilities aren't much. As for living expenses, living expenses are free. Zhenzhen is about to enter her last year of high school—just one more year. As relatives, it's our duty to take care of these two kids. Even if it wasn't Yongfu (Mei Mengzhen's father) who died, if it was any of you, we'd do the same for your kids."
"Don't get mad—I'm not cursing anyone. Let's put ourselves in each other's shoes—we've been siblings for decades, and Zhenzhen is almost grown up; we won't be helping for much longer, so why make things so harsh? I won't say much, these three thousand and something yuan..." At this point, Mei Yinan paused before continuing, "Let's leave these three thousand for Zhenzhen to save, and each family chips in 200 yuan a month for the siblings' living expenses."