Chapter 40: Unable to Recoup the Cost
The man's face instantly darkened: "Ha, a bunch of greens sprinkled with salt, and Sanmao can't even break even? You little brat, do you really think we don't know the market? Just wait, when the black market is wiped out, I'll see you have nowhere to cry!"
With that, he snorted coldly and led his men away.
"What is this thing, so arrogant!" Liu Xiangyang couldn't help but curse.
An old man next to him curled his lip and said, "I don't know where he came from. He also tried to bargain down the price to buy Lao Liu's stuff, but he was scolded and ran away."
"I think he's planning to set up his own black market and cause trouble!" someone whispered.
"I think so. It's best to avoid contact with him. We've been here for so long and haven't been afraid. I heard he's got someone protecting him! Nothing can happen to him!"
...
In the afternoon, the flow of people increased again, and the fifty jars of pickled vegetables were quickly sold out.
On the way home, Liu Zhixia suggested, "Big brother, let's go buy some meat! We've paid off our debts, we should treat ourselves well!"
Liu Xiangyang grinned: "Okay! I'll do as you say, I'll pay for it!"
He paused, then suddenly asked, "Little sister, you actually paid for the debt repayment last time, didn't you?"
Liu Zhixia was taken aback.
"Brother, what are you saying?"
"I know exactly how much money my second son sent; it's impossible for five yuan to suddenly appear. Did you sell something?"
Seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, Liu Zhixia had no choice but to admit, "I did sell some mountain products, but I was afraid my sister-in-law would think too much, so I put the blame on my second brother."
Liu Xiangyang's face flushed with anger, and after a long while, he managed to stammer out, "Your sister-in-law... really..."
“Brother,” Liu Zhixia interrupted him, “Sister-in-law didn’t hold back when we beat up Wang Laizi last time. Our family is united, at least when it comes to external matters.”
Liu Zhixia understood what her brother meant.
However, in this era, divorce was tantamount to sentencing a woman to death, and Shen Hongmei's crime did not warrant such a sentence.
Moreover, whether in this life or the previous life, Shen Hongmei was always the first to rush to the front when she was bullied by the Lu family.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangyang sighed deeply, his anger dissipating, leaving only heavy self-reproach.
“Mother is right to scold me. I’m such a failure as the eldest brother. I’ve done nothing for the family and have only caused so much trouble.” He looked at his younger sister with heartache in his eyes. “Little sister, I’m sorry you had to suffer like this. I’ll definitely talk to her properly later and tell her to behave herself.”
He seemed to have made up his mind, his tone becoming resolute: "I'll pay for the meat today, it's settled! Let's go home!"
"Okay!" Liu Zhixia smiled.
The two bought meat and had just stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative when Lu Huaiyuan stopped them.
"Zhi Xia!" His eyes burned with anticipation, as if he were waiting for something.
Liu Zhixia didn't even glance at him, and simply walked around him: "Lu Huaiyuan, don't bother me, we have nothing to do with each other anymore."
"How can it be nothing? Are all these years of our relationship fake?" Lu Huaiyuan chased after him, unwilling to give up.
"Feelings?" Liu Zhixia almost vomited from disgust. "We only had a marriage agreement, not feelings! Don't try to make yourself look good!"
Liu Xiangyang shielded his sister behind him and pointed at Lu Huaiyuan's nose: "Stay away from my sister! If it weren't for Captain Lu, I would have beaten you up already!"
Lu Huaiyuan, however, seemed not to understand human speech. He walked past him and continued shouting at Liu Zhixia, his tone filled with a condescending sense of superiority:
"Liu Zhixia, stop pretending! My dad has already found me an accounting job, and I'll be promoted to secretary in less than two years! It's better for you to be with me than to marry one of those peasants! Let's remarry, and I promise I'll never look for Gu Mansheng again. It'll just be the two of us!"
"Lu Huaiyuan, what did you say!"
A shrill female voice rang out, and Gu Mansheng stood not far away, disheveled and filled with despair.
“Xiaoman…” Lu Huaiyuan’s face turned pale instantly.
But when he saw Liu Zhixia walk away without looking back, he became even more flustered and shouted at her back, "Zhixia, don't be jealous! What I just said was the truth! Calm down, we'll talk about it later!"
This action was simply adding fuel to the fire.
Gu Mansheng rushed up to him, her eyes red and swollen: "Lu Huaiyuan, what do you mean by this!"
A stench assaulted his nostrils, and Lu Huaiyuan instinctively covered his nose, taking a few steps back in disgust: "Xiaoman, you... why do you smell so bad!"
These words were like a knife, piercing Gu Mansheng's heart. Pointing to the manure bucket not far away, she broke down and said, "It's all thanks to Liu Zhixia! I'll have to carry manure for the brigade for free for a month!"
"That's what you said without thinking," Lu Huaiyuan said, covering his nose and awkwardly disclaiming any responsibility.
Gu Mansheng's eyes welled up with tears: "What exactly did you mean just now?"
Lu Huaiyuan's eyes darted around, and he stammered, "No... isn't this the plan we agreed on before?"
"A plan?" Gu Mansheng gave a mocking smile. "It looks more like a fake act turning into a real one to me. Your father wants to kick me out of the brigade now. You wouldn't actually want to get together with Liu Zhixia, would you?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Lu Huaiyuan was enraged, his secret exposed. "I've done all this for you! But you, you insisted on getting involved with Wang Laizi and have an ambiguous relationship with him!"
"Ambiguous?" Gu Mansheng was struck dumb. "It's one thing for others to slander me, but even you think the same of me? Lu Huaiyuan, I've given you my body! You want to shirk responsibility?"
"Keep your voice down!" Lu Huaiyuan's face turned pale. He covered her mouth and dragged her to the corner in a panic. "Grandma, I'm about to become the brigade's accountant! If this gets out, my future will be ruined!"
Gu Mansheng shook off his hand and sneered, "Why don't you find me smelly now?"
Lu Huaiyuan shifted his gaze elsewhere.
She forcefully turned his face towards her, her eyes fierce: "Lu Huaiyuan, let me tell you, if I'm not having a good time, you won't be either!"
Lu Huaiyuan's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out instantly. He felt that Gu Mansheng in front of him was a complete stranger.
He quickly softened his tone: "Xiaoman, why would I lie to you! I promised my dad I'd be the accountant so I could get you out of the cowshed as soon as possible!"
"real?"
I swear!
Seeing Lu Huaiyuan's guilty look, Gu Mansheng didn't want to bother to find out whether it was true or false.
She cried out, "You have to think of something! Your father wants to send me to an even more remote mountain valley; I'll be tortured to death!"
Lu Huaiyuan was startled: "Okay, I'll go back and talk to my father. But you absolutely mustn't touch Liu Zhixia again! If you make another mistake, no one can protect you!"
Gu Mansheng was startled and nodded sadly, "Okay, I understand. I'll wait for you!"
Seeing that she had reverted to her obedient and gentle demeanor, Lu Huaiyuan finally remembered the crucial question: "What exactly is going on between you and Wang Laizi?"
Gu Mansheng's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes: "That night, Wang Laizi came to the cowshed to bully me... I had no choice but to let him deal with Liu Zhixia, saying that I would get back together with him after it was done."
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