My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 250: Yan Fugui and Jia Zhangshi haggling over the price

While Zhang Lei and his group were eating, Jia Zhangshi was at the home of her third uncle, Yan Fugui, haggling over prices with him. Looking at Yan Fugui, Jia Zhangshi said, "Yan Fugui, just send one person from your family to help out, and they can come and check on things from time to time. What kind of big job could there be?"

Yan Fugui looked displeased: "Jia Zhangshi, this job you're talking about will take up one of our family's hands. We're running to your house every day to look at the job, and I'm asking you for two yuan a month. You're still trying to bargain with me?"

Madam Jia retorted stubbornly, "No, what's the use of just watching? My son can't move, you'll have to help take care of him."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fugui became even more displeased: "Jia Zhangshi, if you say that, then it's not something that can be solved with just two yuan. It'll cost at least ten yuan a month."

Upon hearing the price of 10 yuan, Jia Zhangshi immediately jumped up and shouted, "Yan Fugui, are you robbing me?"

As the two were arguing, the third aunt came over and chimed in, "Mrs. Jia, you need to think this through. Your son, Jia Dongxu, is immobile and you really want someone to take good care of him. Ten yuan a month—go ask around the neighborhood. Who's willing to do this? Besides us, can you find another family?"

Jia Zhangshi frowned and bargained, "No, 10 yuan is too much, 5 yuan at most."

"No, 9 yuan." Yan Fugui insisted.

"Six pieces at most," Jia Zhangshi conceded.

Yan Fugui thought for a moment: "Eight yuan."

Jia Zhangshi's face flushed with anger: "No, 6.5 yuan at most."

Seeing that Jia Zhangshi was still dawdling, the third aunt also chimed in: "No, Jia Zhangshi, it's only 8 yuan. If it's less, you can go find someone else."

Seeing the couple's resolute attitude, Jia Zhangshi was in a dilemma. Her salary was still uncertain, and it would be painful to give up 8 yuan all at once. After thinking for a long time, she gritted her teeth and changed her mind: "Fine, I'll just give you two yuan. Your family can keep an eye on my son from time to time. If anything happens, just ask someone in the yard to lend a hand."

These words instantly filled Yan Fugui's eyes with disappointment. He had originally hoped to haggle and get seven yuan, which would be enough to supplement his family's living expenses for a month. He hadn't expected Jia Zhangshi to cut the price down to this amount. Despite his disappointment, he still relented: "Alright, alright, two yuan it is. Anyway, I only check on Jia Dongxu from time to time to see if he's alright."

The more Jia Zhangshi thought about it, the more she felt she had lost out. She was annoyed that she hadn't tried to negotiate down from two dollars, but since she had already said it, she couldn't take it back.

After Jia Zhangshi left, the third aunt looked at Yan Fugui with some worry: "Old Yan, is it really necessary for our family to take on a job that only pays two yuan? Besides, given the Jia family's personality, what if they try to renege on their promise and refuse to pay?"

Yan Fugui said confidently, "Don't worry, he wouldn't dare. Right now, besides Jia Zhangshi, who's always throwing tantrums, the Jia family has no one else to rely on. Yi Zhonghai is still in prison; who would help them? If she dares not to pay, I'll call a full meeting with Liu Haizhong and Zhang Lei, and see if she dares not to!"

After hearing Yan Fugui's words, the third aunt nodded: "Alright then."

Yan Fugui then looked at her and said, "Wife, this job is yours."

The three women were stunned: "What? You want me to handle this? I do all the housework, big and small, by myself, and you want me to do this too?"

Yan Fugui looked helpless and pleaded softly, "Wife, you're the only one who's home every day. The kids are either in school or doing odd jobs. How about this, I'll give you one yuan and fifty cents instead of these two yuan."

These words made the third auntie relent, and she nodded, saying, "Alright then."

Yan Fugui quickly pressed his advantage: "Wife, just think of it as exercise. Go to the Central Court. It's not far. Just go and take a look. I don't mean you have to keep an eye on Jia Dongxu all the time."

Hearing this, the third aunt felt a little relieved and replied, "I understand."

Meanwhile, Jia Zhangshi returned to the Jia family home and told Jia Dongxu about the agreement she had reached with Yan Fugui. Jia Dongxu nodded: "Mom, I understand. I'll call if anything happens."

Madam Jia touched her son's hand and instructed him, "Son, if you feel unwell anywhere, when the Yan family comes over, just ask them to lend a hand. After all, they took our family's money."

Jia Dongxu nodded, looking at Jia Zhangshi with a tone full of guilt: "Mom, I'm the one who's dragging this family down."

Madam Jia quickly waved her hand and advised, "Dongxu, don't think such things. As long as your mother is here, I will never let you suffer any injustice."

Soon it was time for the steel mill workers to get off work. Ye Shuqi pushed open the door and immediately saw that there was someone else in the room. He asked in confusion, "Honey, who is this?"

Zhang Lei quickly pulled Lou Xiao'e over and introduced her to Ye Shuqi. After listening, Ye Shuqi and Ye Shuhua exchanged a glance, smiled mysteriously, and joked, "You're amazing, sir! We were planning to each introduce one to you, but you ended up bringing one home yourself."

Hearing Ye Shuqi's teasing, Zhang Lei reached out and tugged at her, feigning anger, "Fine, now you know how to joke with me, huh?"

Ding Qiunan and Lou Xiao'e, watching Ye Shuqi, Ye Shuhua, and Zhang Lei joking and laughing, were filled with envy. They say three women make a drama, but now with five women in the house, it was incredibly lively and chattering; the melon seeds Zhang Lei had bought were in high demand.

Before long, Lou Xiao'e had become friends with everyone. Ye Shuqi and Ye Shuhua, in particular, were overjoyed to learn that Lou Xiao'e had brought them gifts. Although they didn't know much about jade pendants, they could tell from the exquisite craftsmanship of the pendants Lou Xiao'e had brought out that they must be expensive items.

Ding Qiunan, watching Zhang Lei smugly standing to the side, couldn't help but find it amusing. Just a few days ago, she had come to Beijing alone, and now, in the blink of an eye, she had completely integrated into this lively family.

Seeing Ding Qiunan's expression, Lou Xiao'e mistakenly thought she was disappointed because she hadn't received the gift, so she quickly said, "Ding Qiunan, if you want this gift, I'll give you one when you get pregnant."

Upon hearing this, Ding Qiunan's face flushed red, and she stammered, "Lou Xiao'e, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Seeing Ding Qiunan blush, Lou Xiao'e teased her deliberately, "Oh, you're shy already? I just heard from Shuhua that someone sang loudly last night, and you could hear it clearly even through the room."

These words made Ding Qiunan both ashamed and angry. She immediately got up and chased Lou Xiao'e all over the house. Zhang Lei watched the three of them playing around and did not stop them. He just felt that the five beautiful girls in his family were all very lovely and the atmosphere was lively and heartwarming.