Li Dalan poured Chen Lin a glass of water, carefully looked him over, and spoke to him.
Jiang Shuya patted Shuting and told her to go to the room to talk, explaining her idea: "I want to make a website for our family's vineyard, take some photos, and upload them online. What do you think? Is this feasible?"
Jiang Shuting thought her sister had something inconvenient to say in front of Chen Lin, but she was surprised to hear this. "Sister, you have a very quick mind! This is what I do, why not? Have you thought of a name yet?"
Send me the photo later and I'll make one for you.
Jiang Shuya didn't expect her younger sister to agree so readily, so she told her about the next plan. Regarding the demolition and relocation, she said that building a house would cost about 100,000 yuan, but she didn't have that much money on hand right now.
Shuting said she hadn't been working long and couldn't afford to help financially, but she could borrow from her mother, who should have some. Shuya sighed.
"If she's so easy to talk to, did you spend a single penny of her money during your four years of university? Once the money's in her hands, it's unlikely you'll get it back."
Shuting said dismissively, "Think of a solution. How about I give you an idea?"
Shuting made a face, peeked out and saw Li Dalan on the phone. She walked up to Chen Lin and said something to him. Chen Lin nodded and went outside.
Jiang Shuya asked curiously what this meant. Shuting said that there were a lot of cardboard boxes being collected today, so she asked him to help load them onto the truck.
Jiang Shuya's eyes widened: "You really are making the most of talent! Making someone do chores on their first visit!" Shuting tilted her head: "We agreed beforehand that either they'd cook or do chores."
With a "snap," Li Dalan's flip phone ended its call amidst laughter.
With a beaming smile, Li Dalan said to herself, "My second daughter is really capable. This boy seems upright and well-mannered, and his mental fortitude is also excellent. His character is definitely beyond reproach. His parents are truly good at raising him."
"Mom, you've already judged someone based on just one look. Such high praise isn't like you," Shuya said with a smile as she walked over to Li Dalan, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her. Li Dalan took a sip of water and became serious.
"All your years of experience as a mother have been wasted. I can tell whether someone is reliable or not just by looking at them. I've said it before: I don't want anyone who eats, drinks, gambles, or whores, no matter how rich or poor they are. And I definitely don't want anyone who doesn't care about my daughter."
I think the boy is nice; honest and thrifty. He just said he'd stay home and eat something simple, instead of wasting money at a restaurant… See… how shrewd he is!
Shuting asked him to do the work without saying a word.
Li Dalan reached out and touched Shuting's cheek, her words filled with satisfaction, joy, and relief, her eyes brimming with smiles.
Then he sighed again:
"Although you're not as beautiful as your sister, I'm naturally relieved that you've met someone who treats you wholeheartedly."
With eyes full of reluctance, he turned to look at Shuya:
"Although I asked for 60,000 yuan in betrothal gifts from your family, it was also a test of your in-laws' sincerity. If I couldn't afford it, it would make them give up on me."
"I never expected that this family was putting on a show of wealth. They could only support one child for a lifetime and couldn't afford this amount of money. They even had a lot of debt. When we went to inspect their house, the front yard was empty."
The neighbors on both sides have built houses and put up walls around their yards. The family you found is truly poor and destitute. The parents are healthy and not old, and the house is close to the city center. How come they are living such a bad life?
The two houses were built more than ten years ago. Later, after inquiring, I learned that the couple had been addicted to gambling and were lazy when they were young. What kind of outstanding children could such a family raise?
I didn't like that kid at first sight. I didn't care about my Xiaoya. Being good-looking doesn't put food on the table. But your sister seems to be bewitched and insists on being with him.
"From now on... you'll suffer a lot." This... truly... hit the nail on the head. Jiang Shuya knew at this moment that Li Dalan's prediction for the days to come was indeed correct.
Jiang Shuya never took her mother's complaints to heart.
Seeing the tears welling up in Li Dalan's eyes, Shuting gently comforted her:
"Mom, you don't need to worry so much. My sister has her own plans for the path she has chosen. Not all marriages in the world can be perfect. Everyone has to pay one price or another for their choices. Life is already difficult enough. The best thing to do now is to seize the moment and make the most of the days ahead."
"We still need your help, don't we?" Li Dalan looked at Jiang Shuting, then at Jiang Shuya, puzzled, feeling that there was something more to her words.
Before Jiang Shuting could even speak...
Jiang Shuya said it aloud:
"Mom, you know that Jiangdao will be demolished soon. I plan to build a separate house, but I don't have much money. Could you lend me the 60,000 yuan dowry and the money I put with you before I got married?"
I plan to build a simple two-story brick house of 400 square meters, ensuring it is sturdy for at least two years. There is no need for decoration; I will simply use the area allocated to my household registration for demolition compensation.
Jiang Shuya thought that she should have earned at least 30,000 to 40,000 yuan before getting married. After all, she had saved up her dowry money for the wedding, and Li Dalan had given her 600 yuan. In the last month before the wedding, she received 1,700 yuan in salary, but Li Dalan took it all. That way, she could raise 100,000 yuan to build a house.
However, Li Dalan suddenly seemed like a different person, shaking her head repeatedly:
"Back then, it was agreed that the bride price money would be used for your younger brother's wedding. As for your previous salary, you were a member of the Jiang family before the wedding, so naturally you couldn't take the money with you."
Jiang Shuya had anticipated that Li Dalan would say that, as she knew her mother's temperament quite well; money was more important than life.
He praised Shuting for being smart and capable, but she really didn't give him a single penny during his four years of university. The swaddle blanket he bought for his own child's one-month celebration was the cheapest kind. Later, his mother-in-law washed it and the color faded, staining other clothes as well. He got a lot of complaints. He was really stingy.
"Mom, did you hear me? My sister borrowed it, and she'll pay you back as soon as she gets the compensation money. Don't you trust her? Don't you trust me? I'll vouch for you, what do you think?" Shuting said gently with a smile.
"What if it's not demolished in ten years? Does that mean they won't pay it back? What will you do when your brother needs money for his wedding? Do you expect them to pay it back?"
Li Dalan angrily picked up the room key, pushed the two sisters aside, locked the door herself, and walked out, muttering to herself with an impatient expression.
Shuya gestured to Shuting, and the two sisters pulled Li Dalan's arms from either side.
Jiang Shuya said, unwilling to give up:
“I won’t lend you this money for nothing. You won’t lose out. I can write an IOU to make a promise that I will pay it back before Shuhuai graduates from university.”
Jiang Shuhuai is a sophomore now, with two years left until graduation. And this is just a projected timeframe; my baby will be weaned in a few months, and then I'll be able to earn money. I won't keep you waiting too long. If you're still worried, I can sell one of the houses I get from the demolition compensation to my younger brother at the demolition price.”
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