I'm back in 1990

Chapter 1157: All the problems boil down to housing.

The two women, aunt and sister-in-law, faced off in the kitchen, the water from the tap still flowing.

"Sister-in-law, there's no use telling me this. The house is only so big, what can I do? Am I supposed to sleep on the street?"

Cao Yuedi's voice was somewhat sarcastic: "You joined the army back then because there wasn't enough room at home. Now that you're back, you should hurry up and find a job and live in the company dormitory. It's not good to just stay at home and do nothing."

Wu Jiabao threw down the rag in her hand and raised her voice: "Even if I go to the dormitory in the future, will the housing problem be solved? A family of eight is still a family of eight. What's the use of arguing with me?"

The argument between the two disturbed Wu's mother, who poked her head out from upstairs: "Why are you arguing again? Jia Bao just got back yesterday, Yue Di, can't you give in a little?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuedi felt wronged, though it was unclear whether she was genuinely aggrieved or not. Ignoring her mother-in-law, she continued speaking to Wu Jiabao, "You have to be reasonable. When your brother married me, your family promised to resolve the housing issue. How many years has it been? Your brother and I are still crammed into that small room. After putting in a bed, there's no room for anything else. Hanghang is eleven years old now and doesn't even have his own room. Now you're back and taking up Hanghang's bed. What will Hanghang do? Are you expecting him to share a room with his great-grandparents? You know how smelly that is; do you think he can stand it?"

Wu Jiabao raised an eyebrow: "Watch your mouth. What do you mean by 'taste'? Those are my grandparents."

But Cao Yuedi still insisted, "Am I wrong? Go ask Hanghang if he wants to sleep with his great-grandparents."

Wu Jiabao sneered: "Then why don't you ask your family to vacate a room for your son? Didn't you say that your family has a house near the South Station?"

These words struck Cao Yuedi's sore spot precisely. Her family's house had absolutely nothing to do with her. All these years, she had felt stifled and mistreated in this house simply because she didn't have her own place. Now, her sister-in-law was using this to rub salt into her wounds.

Cao Yuedi, who already felt wronged, couldn't hold back any longer and tears started streaming down her face.

"Wu Jiabao, do you and your family have any conscience?" Her sobs were loud.

"I've been married into your Wu family for twelve years, and I even gave birth to your grandson. I have to stand in the supermarket for eight hours every day, and when I get home, I still have to do laundry, cook, and take care of your whole family. And what do you do? You just pack your bags and go join the army. You haven't been back for two years, and now that you're back, you're complaining that I'm being nosy. You think you're so great just because you're in the army? After you're discharged, you're still just an unemployed young man!"

"Who are you calling an unemployed youth?" Wu Jiabao was also angry, her face very unpleasant.

"I'm talking about you. You're the one who joined the army because you couldn't find a job after graduating from junior college, aren't you? You think I don't know?"

"Alright! Stop arguing!"

A man's voice came from the stairwell. It was Wu Jiabao's brother, Wu Jiafu. He was standing at the kitchen door, his hair disheveled, his face showing annoyance and exhaustion. He worked as a security guard in a shopping mall in Xujiahui, working the morning and afternoon shifts today. He was sleeping in bed when he was woken up by his wife and sister arguing, which made him very angry.

"Can you guys just shut up for a second? I work a 12-hour shift, and all I get this time to sleep is for this little bit of rest. And all you do is make a racket! Aren't you tired of this?"

"1990 I'm Back": Explosive word-of-mouth and rave reviews!

When Cao Yuedi saw the man arrive, she cried even harder: "Listen to what your sister is saying! She said I..."

Wu Jiafu had actually heard everything. He went over and tugged at his wife's sleeve, saying, "Alright, alright!"

He then coaxed and dragged his wife upstairs.

At this moment, Wu Jiabao's eyes also reddened, but she didn't shed tears. Instead, she turned around and continued washing the dishes, doing so carefully and meticulously.

Wu's mother also came to the kitchen at some point. She looked at her daughter, didn't say anything, sighed, and went upstairs.

Back in her room, she muttered to her husband, Wu Dunguang, "They keep saying they're going to relocate, but nothing's happening. I wonder when the demolition will actually take place?"

Wu Dunguang shook his head: "I've inquired. Even if there's relocation, it won't be a complete demolition and reconstruction. Besides, if it's a demolition and reconstruction, we'd have to pay extra to get a bigger house. Where would we get that much money? I've calculated it, it'd cost over a million!"

Upon hearing this, Wu's mother became even more worried.

"If all else fails, we can settle in Songjiang! At least we can get two apartments."

Wu Dunguang glanced at her: "Please help me out, there's absolutely no news right now, you think you can just go whenever you want?"

"Sigh!" Mrs. Wu sighed heavily. Yes, the demolition issue is all talk and no action. The relocation has been talked about for four or five years, but there's still no progress.

Just as Wu Jiabao had set the bowls and chopsticks down, her phone rang.

"Xin Yuan!"

Have you eaten yet?

Wu Jiabao didn't understand Huo Xinyuan's meaning, but she still subconsciously replied, "I've already eaten."

"Then hurry up and get ready. I'll pick you up at the entrance of your alley in a bit. My mom wants to take the two of us out for a walk."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jiabao felt it was inappropriate and politely declined, saying, "Please thank Auntie for me. I won't go; I have some things to take care of at home."

Unexpectedly, Huo Xinyuan insisted, "What could possibly happen to your family? Big matters are none of your business, and small matters are none of your concern. Stop talking nonsense and hurry up. See you at the alley entrance in ten minutes."

After saying that, Huo Xinyuan hung up the phone, not giving Wu Jiabao a chance to refuse.

Wu Jiabao thought about it for a while and finally went upstairs to change her coat. The down jacket was one she bought before she joined the army. She had originally planned to go shopping in the next few days to buy a new down jacket, because girls should look beautiful after all.

Although I don't have a job yet, at least I still have my demobilization pay.

The military gave him 9,000, and he received additional payments from the local government, including 50,000 from Shanghai. He also received over 20,000 each year, totaling 51,000 over two years. In other words, Wu Jiabao could receive a total of 110,000 in retirement pay.

However, he has only received the 9,000 yuan from the military so far, and he will not receive the local retirement allowance until next month.

But if it's just for buying clothes, nine thousand should be enough.

She made up her mind that she would buy herself a new dress while she was shopping in the afternoon.

"Dad, Mom, I'm going out for a bit. My comrade is looking for me, and I'm going to go for a walk with her." After changing her clothes, Wu Jiabao said goodbye to her parents before leaving the house.

December in Shanghai is already quite cold, but it's much better than the Jiaodong Peninsula when I was in the army. If I hadn't served there for two years, Wu Jiabao would never have seen such heavy snow. The blizzards on the Jiaodong Peninsula are notorious.