connect() return value

The downloadfile() function below connects a finished() reply my function writefile(). I want to have the downloadfile() return an int if it completes correctly, including the writefile(). But I don't know how to have the writefile() return an int to my downloadfile() or the function calling my download file, but I don't know how to put that int into a variable, since it is called through a connect() function and not explicitly within a function. How can I get the return from the writefile() to be part either the downloadfile() or the function that calls the downloadfile().

Here is the code:

Code:

int MainWindow::downloadfile(std::string address, std::string filename){
    /*takes address from the lineedit, puts it in url, sends request and connects
      Puts the address in class variable address, then links signal readyread
      writetofile, then writefile takes class variable
    */
    filenamehold = filename.c_str();
    QString tempurl = address.c_str();
    QUrl url(tempurl);
    reply = manager.get(QNetworkRequest(url));
    connect(reply, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(writefile()));
    ui->label_5->setText("Downloading...");
}
 
//function to write into the file after the finished slot is called
int MainWindow::writefile(){
    //opens the file and checks to see that it is open, then writes
    //info into the file and sets label to done.
    file = new QFile(filenamehold);
    if (file->open(QIODevice::WriteOnly)){
        file->write(reply->readAll());    
        ui->label_5->setText("Complete!");
        return 1;
    }
 
    //checks for errors and display's if they exist
    if (reply->error()){
        ui->label_5->setText(reply->errorString());
    }
 
    return 0;
    file->close();
    reply->deleteLater();
}