Chapter 340

Chapter 340

After Bai Xiuxiu knocked on the door, nearly a minute passed with no response from inside.

The cold wind howling outside made Grandma Yang’s heart even colder.

"Grandma Yang, is your younger son’s family not at home?" Bai Xiuxiu asked, puzzled.

"They are at home. They’re all here today. My younger son and his family took the day off from the factory to properly clean up the house for my granddaughter-in-law’s brother. They said it was too shabby before."

As Grandma Yang spoke, she became even more saddened.

"Grandma Yang, we had already discussed this. I told you about the two possibilities. You need to stand by me and be prepared for either outcome. If you listen to them halfway through, you might not even have a chance to seek help afterward. And... they won’t be afraid of you anymore."

Bai Xiuxiu was deeply concerned about Grandma Yang, who doted excessively on her younger son.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be hesitant in this situation.

It was truly difficult.

Expecting the family that wanted to drive the old lady out to suddenly change their minds was like hoping for a pie to fall from the sky.

Grandma Yang nodded in agreement, wiping her eyes. "Little girl, don’t worry. I won’t make things hard for you."

Bai Xiuxiu knocked on the door again: "Is someone home? We're from the community office, and we need to speak with you about a few things."

Bai Xiuxiu knocked several times, and just as she was about to continue, the door finally opened.

A man in his late forties, nearly fifty, yanked the door open, clearly annoyed. He had a buzz cut, a square jaw, thick eyebrows, small eyes, and a downturned mouth that made him look perpetually unhappy.

"What is it now? You keep knocking!" he snapped.

When he saw Grandma Yang with Bai Xiuxiu and Wang Qiong, his frustration only grew. "Why are you causing trouble again? Haven't I already told you? No matter who you go to, our family's matters are settled this way.

It's not that I'm not filial to you, but our living conditions are really tough right now.

If you had passed away sooner, like other elderly women do, we wouldn't have these problems now.

My grandson is getting married, and I can't just let the newlyweds have nowhere to live.

If I don't meet her demands, she won't agree to marry my son.

Do you want your grandson to end up alone because of this?

We're doing the best we can, Mom. Please don't make this harder than it already is."

The man's face remained tense, and his tone was filled with frustration.

Grandma Yang's voice faltered, her eyes brimming with tears. "Xiao Dong, that's not what I meant..."

"Uncle Yang, I'm Xiao Bai from the community office, and this is my colleague, Xiao Wang. Grandma Yang has already reached out to us for help. Can we please go inside to discuss this?" (Pause) "It's better if we talk inside rather than having this conversation out here where everyone can see."

After all, the house has belonged to Grandma Yang ever since her husband passed away.

"You're only here temporarily. If you don't want to let Grandma Yang stay in the house, then we'll have to renegotiate this matter."

Bai Xiuxiu's attitude was very polite, and her voice was low enough that the onlookers couldn't quite hear.

Uncle Yang's expression was becoming increasingly ugly.

His gaze towards his mother had become dangerous.

The old lady didn't dare to look at her younger son.

In the end, he still let Bai Xiuxiu and the others enter the house. As soon as they stepped in, a hurried voice came from inside: "Child's father, quickly help move this stuff to the small room.

This is something our son and daughter-in-law can't handle."

She turned around and saw her mother-in-law entering with two women. Her face immediately darkened. "Yang Xiaodong! What’s going on? There’s no room in the house, and we already agreed that the old lady would stay outside.

What are you doing?

Who are you going to make space for?

Hasn't our house just calmed down recently?"

Uncle Yang looked miserable. "Shut up! Comrades, please have a seat. You can't just listen to my mother about the affairs of this house. Although this house belongs to my mother, we all have the right to inherit my father's belongings."

"That's true, but the owner of this house is currently Grandma Yang. As for splitting up the family assets, Grandma Yang doesn't have only you as a child."

Bai Xiuxiu pointed to the water cup and said, "Can someone get Grandma Yang a glass of water? In that shed outside, even in summer, it’s so cold that people would freeze solid."

"Honey, quickly go get Mom some water," Uncle Yang called to his wife.

Uncle Yang's wife, Wang Lihua, glanced at her mother-in-law and then at her husband. After thinking for a moment, she hurried off to do as she was told.

These two visitors were different from the previous mediators.

These two actually wanted to evict them—it was crazy!

"Mom, why did you take our family matters to the neighborhood committee? Do you want to humiliate us completely? If you're not thinking about us, at least think about your grandson.

And your eldest son?"

Uncle Yang angrily asked the old lady.

The old lady’s heart sank, and she wanted to explain.

But Bai Xiuxiu still didn't let her speak. "Uncle Yang, before Grandma Yang considers you, she has to consider whether she can survive. You want to freeze your mother to death for the sake of your son's wife's brother.

And you still expect her to consider you?

That’s not fair."

"Can you let us discuss this privately? I'm talking to my mother," Uncle Yang, having been rebutted a few times by Bai Xiuxiu, lost his polite tone.

"Grandma Yang has already handed this matter over to me. What I say is her will," Bai Xiuxiu responded bluntly.

Uncle Yang couldn’t believe how heartless his mother could be.

The elderly woman didn't look at him but nodded.

"See? Are you ready to listen to me now, Uncle Yang?" Bai Xiuxiu continued to ask him politely.

"What are you trying to do? Are you trying to ruin our lives? Are you trying to force us to die?" Yang Xiaodong was ready to throw a tantrum.

"Uncle Yang, don't say that. We're just trying to help the neighbor get her house back so she won't freeze to death outside. If you have any complaints, why don't you tell us what they are?

We can help resolve your issues right away."

Bai Xiuxiu's attitude remained firm.

"You! All of you, get out! We don't want any mediation."

"Fine, then we’ll have to report this as an illegal occupation of Grandma Yang’s house. Grandma Yang, let me accompany you." Bai Xiuxiu started to help her out.

"No! We can't report it. When did I ever take over her house?" Yang Xiaodong realized that this young comrade wasn't listening to him at all; she only listened to her own reasoning!

"It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Your whole family is living in Grandma Yang's house, while she is living in a cramped, unheated shack. Now Grandma Yang is wronged and has come to us to help mediate.

And you’re refusing to even talk about it.

Uncle Yang, you’ve already said your piece—now you’re asking me?"