Chapter 73 Do you think you are Zhuge Liang?

A person who borrows money is humble at the moment he opens his mouth to borrow money.

But once he opened his mouth, he was persistent, spewing out all sorts of reasons and grievances, pestering me to get the money.

They will not be able to borrow money until they are at their wits' end and become discouraged and give up with hatred in their heart.

The Han family, young and old, came to the door and risked their reputation. They had already talked about borrowing money, so how could they give up easily?

Li Yue just threw a washbasin, which was considered as the opening gong, and the real show was yet to come.

"Oh, it's only been a year or two since we last met, Xiaoye has grown so tall and handsome, big brother and big sister, you are so lucky"

"Eng, I've always said this kid has great potential, and look, I was right! He's already a great writer."

An elderly couple first started praising others in an attempt to break the awkwardness around them.

But Li Ye refused to cooperate and just stared blankly at the washbasin that had fallen in the yard.

It's enameled, and a large piece of white porcelain has fallen off, and the gap is very obvious.

This is embarrassing.

The old couple were naturally Han Chunmei's parents. Seeing that they failed to praise Li Ye, they glared at Han Chunmei fiercely.

Han Chunmei was in a very difficult situation. She turned her head and said nothing. Li Kaijian, who felt sorry for his wife, said helplessly, "What are you doing standing there like an idiot? Don't you know how to call for help?"

Li Ye glanced at him and finally called for help.

"Grandpa, grandma."

Han Chunmei was a little surprised when she heard the words "grandfather" and "grandmother". In the past, Li Ye treated their relatives in the Han family as if they were not relatives.

The original owner was so stubborn that she refused to call the old couple "uncle" or "auntie", which always made Han Chunmei very embarrassed. Although she was still unhappy and dissatisfied today, she was already giving them face.

The old couple was very happy to hear the words "grandpa and grandma". They hurriedly said, "Hey, don't stand outside in the cold winter. Come inside!"

Li Ye followed the crowd into the main house and sat down on a small bench.

There’s no way. There are a lot of “elders” at home today and there are not enough chairs.

Even so, Li Ye is honored, and other juniors are not qualified to enter the house.

However, Li Ye was sitting on the bench, but his momentum was not weak at all. He asked directly: "I was studying! Why did you suddenly call me back? What's the urgent matter?"

"Well, that's what happened."

Li Zhongfa coughed lightly and said, "I called you back because I wanted to ask you how much money you have left from your manuscript fee."

"Um?"

Li Ye was a little surprised. Looking at Li Zhongfa's old eyes that kept blinking, he finally understood what the grandfather meant.

Li Zhongfa actually still wanted to lend some money to maintain the relationship between his relatives, or in other words, to prevent his daughter-in-law from being too embarrassed.

Li Kaijian is over 40 years old and married a wife who is seven or eight years younger than him. Li Zhongfa saw how he dotes on her. So, isn't it all for the sake of his son that he spends a little money?

But seeing how anxiously he gave Li Ye his eyes, it was obvious that he didn't want to lend out too much and hoped that Li Ye could make up a lie.

This is the unique view on human relations held by the elderly of this era, they always leave a way out for things so that they can meet again in the future.

If I have any urgent need in the future, I must cut off all ties with you.

But although Li Zhongfa thought so, Li Ye had never thought of borrowing money. After listening to Li Juan's chattering along the way, he was even less likely to lend it.

"Why are you thinking about my money? I told you before that I need it!"

Li Zhongfa was stunned. Ever since his grandson got wise, he has been as smart as a monkey. How come he doesn't understand even after being prompted by someone?

But before he could figure out what was going on, the old man Han, who was sitting on the chair, spoke up: "Hey, Xiaoye, you usually talk to your grandfather like this, so disrespectful."

Old Mrs. Han pulled her old man and said with a smile, "Whose child wouldn't hold on to the money he made for the first time like it was a treasure? Why don't you just ask him nicely? Why are you making such a fuss?"

While the two were talking, they were both glaring at Han Chunmei. After all, they were older people who knew how to save face and hoped that someone else would be the bad guy.

This has forced Han Chunmei into a state of being trapped in a box, neither a human being nor a human being.

Isn’t Li Ye treating the three of them well?

During the Chinese New Year, the mother and her two children each wore a new set of clothes, including a complete set of tops, coats, and shoes. When they returned to her parents' home, they were the envy of all the neighbors.

I spent several hundred dollars on my three children during the Chinese New Year!

I am a stepmother, what else do you want?

Dear grandparents, have you bought new clothes for your children in these years?

Now, how can I have the nerve to speak to Li Ye?

"Hey, Chunmei! You are not qualified to be a mother. I have to say something to you."

Seeing that his daughter was not obedient, Old Man Han had to take action himself.

He said honestly: "Since you have married into the Li family, you must fulfill your responsibilities as a mother.

Xiao Ye lives and eats at the school all day, why don't you bring him back to take care of him? I remember No. 2 Middle School is not far from here, right?"

"The child is so young and doesn't understand the wickedness of human nature. What if he gets cheated?

"It's a small matter to cheat people out of money, but it's a big matter to cheat people into going astray. Do you still remember your uncle Youcai? He took the money and went to the provincial capital."

Old man Han talked a lot. His honest face and sincere tone moved others so much that they couldn't get a word in.

At first, Li Ye thought he was scolding a girl, but as he listened, he felt something was not right.

She was not scolding the girl, she was clearly giving Li Ye a "warning" lesson!

That uncle Youcai, when Minguo was in power, took all the family fortune to the provincial capital, and not only did he squander it all, he also became addicted to the five vices. He was a typical example of a "prodigal son."

The reason for his downfall was that his father died at a young age, and his mother was soft-hearted and let him take charge of the family finances.

What this means is that although Li Ye earned his royalties, it is incomprehensible that they are in Li Ye's hands.

Li Ye looked carefully at the honest old farmer who was spitting everywhere, as if he saw the cunning of a person who had experienced the vicissitudes of life in his eyes.

Logically speaking, it was inappropriate and extremely offensive for a member of the Han family to say such things in front of the Li family.

But Old Man Han still said it.

People in the 1980s attached great importance to family ties, and if they said such things in such occasions, it would be a sign of a fallout.

The subtext of the old man Han is: [Are you trying to fool me with a child? Do you really think I'm stupid?]

Li Zhongfa's expression changed, and Grandma Li's expression also looked unhappy.

The in-laws came to visit for the first time and they were already doing so many tricks, using Li Ye as a scapegoat. If this got out, it would seem unkind.

Even though Han Chunmei is a second wife, the more such couples are, the more concerns parents have.

The father of the Han family was very cunning. He was sure that the Li family valued face, and since it was the first time that his relative-in-law came to visit them in a formal manner, they would definitely give him face.

But Li Ye did not have such concerns. After forty years, he had seen many relatives turning against each other because of money. Some relatives were worse off than not having them.

"Grandpa, what you said is not auspicious!"

Li Ye said unhappily: "Hearing what you said just now, I really look a bit like that Uncle Youcai.

But he took the money to go to the provincial capital, and I took the money to go to college. Oh, that's not right! There are no Five Poisons in the capital now, right?"

Everyone's eyes suddenly became strange, especially Grandma Li's. Her eyes were as sharp as knives, stabbing at Old Man Han and Han Chunmei.

[How dare you, old man, curse my grandson? Just wait for me, I will not be satisfied unless I punish your daughter seven or eight times. ]

Old Man Han looked at Li Ye in surprise, and began to quickly figure out the answer in his mind.

[Did this kid do it unintentionally? Or did he do it on purpose? An 18 or 19-year-old kid can't be that powerful, right?]

Old Man Han reacted quickly and immediately changed the topic.

"Don't be angry, Xiaoye. I may be blunt, but I don't mean any harm. But it's not safe for a kid like you to have so much money in your hands!"

Pointing at Han Chunmei, he said, "If you don't believe me, just look at this. The adults and children are all wearing coats and leather shoes. They cost hundreds of dollars at once. No amount of money can stop them from spending like this!"

Li Ye almost laughed out of anger.

[I spent money on your daughter and granddaughter, and you still despise me? ]

"You are right, old man. From now on, I will not spend money on others. I will keep it all for myself."

“.”

After Li Ye finished speaking, Old Man Han was stunned, and Grandma Li kept coughing, almost unable to hide her smile.

The uncle and aunt who came with Old Man Han were also dumbfounded, and one was trying to hold back his laughter.

"Ahem~"

"Xiao Ye, your grandpa's house is not spacious enough, and he wants to build a new house for your uncle. The money he has is not enough. How much do you have? Can you help him to get a few hundred?"

Li Zhongfa finally decided not to watch the show anymore. At his age, he still hopes for a harmonious family. If he really breaks up with the old man of the Han family, Han Chunmei will have a hard time both inside and outside the family.

No matter how worthless the Han family is, it is still Han Chunmei's mother's home. Back then, the Bi family drove Han Chunmei and her three daughters out, and she had no choice but to return to the Han family to have a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Therefore, it is difficult to force Han Chunmei to break off all ties with the Han family.

It's not like the family is short of money, so just lend him a few hundred dollars. At worst, I can use my own salary to pay the grandson back later.

This is also Li Zhongfa’s principle. His grandson’s money belongs to his grandson. If the money he lends out is not returned, he, as a grandfather, must make up for it.

However, the specific amount of money to be lent out is up to Li Ye, after all, all the spare money in the family is earned by this eldest grandson.

But Li Ye's answer was beyond Li Zhongfa's expectation: "I still have two thousand in my hand."

Li Zhongfa almost slapped his thigh in anger.

[Grandson, why are you so blind? I gave you so many looks in vain.]

Li Zhong had just reminded Li Ye to help collect a few hundred yuan.

If Li Ye said that he still had a thousand yuan left, then he could leave some for the child and lend out five or six hundred yuan, which would be enough to give face. Now...

Li Yecai didn't care about Li Zhongfa's expression. He asked Old Man Han directly, "How much does it cost to build a house for Grandpa?"

Old Man Han said immediately: "The wood and adobe in the house are all ready-made. The cement bricks and tiles will cost 1,500 yuan. If it is all bricks and tiles, it will cost 2,000 yuan."

In Qingshui County, building a house doesn't cost much. Two thousand yuan in 1982 was enough to build a very grand large tiled house.

(The author has a house in his hometown, which was built around that time. My grandfather said it cost more than a thousand yuan.)

Li Ye nodded and said, "How much do you want to borrow?"

Old Han was surprised and said, "Didn't I tell you? Two thousand! Xiaoye, don't be afraid that I won't pay you back. My house is there. If you don't pay me back, you can use my house to pay off the debt.

I tell you, this money should be spent in the right place, buying a house or land is the right way, if you keep the money in your hands, you won’t even notice it if you spend a little bit of it.”

"So you don't have a penny?"

Li Ye stood up directly from the stool, wishing he could kick the old bitch to death.

You built a new house without a penny, and you even borrowed money based on Li Ye's royalties. Do you think you are Zhuge Liang?

You have planned everything and are playing with others to their heart's content?

I spit!

Thanks to book friend 20211029110351113 for the reward, thank you brother!

(End of this chapter)