Chapter 77 Give Me the Money
Zheng Xiulan pursed her lips and looked away, clearly feeling guilty.
Li Banxia remembered that because the ginseng was young, Su Hongying had scolded her severely, saying that she, as a mother, was unwilling to give good things to her in-laws.
Later, Su Hongying let slip that Zheng Xiulan hadn't given the ginseng to her own mother at all, but had instead sold it for money.
"I'll charge you 80 yuan at market price. Add up all the odds and ends, and it'll be 580 yuan in total. I'll only charge you less, not more. If you think I've overcharged you, you can provide evidence to argue with me."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this.
A colleague couldn't help but complain, "Is this like marrying a daughter-in-law and expecting her family to support her?"
"That's quite a clever scheme," someone remarked.
Zheng Xiulan pursed her lips, her face expressionless, and looked in the direction of the sound. The two exchanged a glance and gave each other an awkward smile.
"If you don't object, I'll take that as your agreement. Pay up." Li Banxia held out her hand.
"mom?!"
When Su Hongying saw that her mother-in-law was angry, she wished she could cover Li Banxia's mouth and drag her out.
Zheng Xiulan grabbed the hem of her clothes and pulled hard. If it weren't for so many people watching, if it weren't for so many people watching!
She really wished...
Zheng Xiulan took a deep breath, her mouth full of bitterness, "I thought that as in-laws, we should help each other and work together to make a good life. I never expected that I was just being presumptuous!"
Everyone else who heard this felt embarrassed for her.
Is helping someone out the same as catching them and exploiting their resources?
Li Banxia nodded, "You've really been deluding yourself."
Colleagues and female workers who were watching the spectacle, "..."
Someone chuckled softly.
Seeing that this tactic wasn't working, Zheng Xiulan gritted her teeth and said, "The money wasn't all spent on the Zhang family. Your daughter was also useful. If you're going to calculate the accounts, you should deduct her share, right?"
Li Banxia looked at her calmly.
"Comrade Zheng, a woman marries a man for food and clothing. Why should your daughter-in-law be supported by her family?"
Everyone else frowned at Zheng Xiulan, not understanding why she would say such... nonsensical things.
Zheng Xiulan clenched her hands in anger, her nails digging painfully into her palms. She racked her brains, but still couldn't think of a way to smooth things over by not paying back the money.
"I don't have that much cash on hand right now, so if you want it, we'll have to wait until another day..."
Li Banxia smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Your family has four members earning money, and you make nearly a thousand yuan in just two months. You're telling me you can't come up with more than five hundred yuan?"
She turned to Zheng Xiulan's colleagues in the office and asked, "Do you believe it?"
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
They... don't really believe it.
Someone whispered, "Yeah, why didn't we think about this before? They earn a lot every month, so why do they keep complaining about being poor in front of us?"
"You shouldn't flaunt your wealth, but eating at your daughter-in-law's family home... tsk tsk..."
Zheng Xiulan lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze dark and unfathomable.
The woman who brought Li Banxia to the office suddenly raised her voice and offered a suggestion, "Comrade Zheng, it's okay if you don't have cash on hand. The factory can give you an advance, it's just a few months' salary..."
The room fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to Zheng Xiulan.
Zheng Xiulan, "..."
She raised her eyes and gave the woman a deep look, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. The woman, however, didn't care at all. They weren't even in the same job. Zheng Xiulan was an office worker; she couldn't make things difficult for her.
Zheng Xiulan felt a sting in her eyes from the indifference on her face.
She was unwilling, reluctant, and didn't want to agree.
But things have escalated to this point, and her reputation has already been affected. If she doesn't give the money to Li Banxia soon, her reputation will be ruined!
She has three sons who are still unmarried; what if they get implicated in this...?
Zheng Xiulan had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree to receive an advance on her salary.
"Let's go then."
Li Banxia walked out first, while Zheng Xiulan lingered for a while before coming out.
She hadn't taken two steps when hushed whispers began to emanate from the office: "She agreed, which means these things are true!"
"My goodness, 580? What does she think her eldest daughter-in-law's family is?"
"...The thought of working with this kind of person for so many years sends chills down my spine. It's terrifying..."
"Keep your voice down, they haven't gone far yet."
Zheng Xiulan clenched her fists, so angry her nose almost twisted.
Whether she admits it or not, she's already lost face and her reputation is ruined.
The group was about to follow us to the factory's finance office when Zheng Xiulan stopped them. "The work bell has already rung. Why aren't you at work? What are you following us for? Do you think I'm a funny story?"
A group of female workers are watching a woman.
The woman coughed lightly and waved her hand, "Alright, everyone disperse, go to work."
The group scattered in a panic.
Zheng Xiulan took Li Banxia and Su Hongying to the finance office to get an advance on their wages.
The accountant even asked her with a smile, "Is it for your second son's wedding?"
Zheng Xiulan shook her head, only saying that there were other urgent needs.
Seeing that she wasn't saying anything and her expression wasn't good, the accountant didn't press her for details and proceeded with the advance payment with some lingering doubt.
Five months' salary, no more, no less, exactly 580.
Li Banxia reached out to take the money, but Zheng Xiulan refused, saying, "I'll see you out and give it to you at the factory gate."
Li Banxia raised an eyebrow and stepped downstairs.
Su Hongying's face turned green as she followed behind Zheng Xiulan, desperately trying to explain.
"Mom, I really didn't know my mom was looking for you to cause trouble. She clearly told me at home that she wanted the car delivered so she could replace Brother Jiefang's car..."
Zheng Xiulan told her to shut up and quickened her pace to catch up with Li Banxia.
I asked her, "You made me look so badly, aren't you afraid I'll retaliate against your daughter? You didn't consider her at all! What kind of mother are you?"
"Just because I'm her mother, does that mean I should be leeched off and sucked dry by your whole family?"
Li Banxia glanced at her sideways, "Am I some kind of despicable person?"
Zheng Xiulan, "..."
She gritted her teeth, "Your daughter herself said you make money easily, why did you give so much back when you didn't want to? Don't you have any problems yourself?! Li Banxia, you're throwing mud at me, you'll regret it."
"You're welcome to come and laugh at me anytime."
Li Banxia stopped and looked at Zheng Xiulan.
Zheng Xiulan then realized that she had chased Li Banxia all the way to the factory gate.
Li Banxia reached out her hand, and Zheng Xiulan reluctantly handed over the money.
Just then, Zhang Lao Er arrived on his bicycle. He gave Zheng Xiulan a reproachful look, "Mom, I still have a big use for this bicycle. Talk to my sister-in-law again, I'll use it for another three months..."
He glanced to the side and saw Su Hongying. He paused for a moment, and his face darkened.
"Sister-in-law, didn't you say I could use your bicycle whenever I wanted? It's only been a few days and you're already urging me to go back? Your family is so stingy..."
Su Hongying felt her face burning with embarrassment and couldn't lift her head.
She was completely different from the arrogant person she was at her parents' home.
"Mom, I'm here."
Not far away, a bus pulled into the station. Su Laosan stretched and jumped off the bus. He looked up and saw Li Banxia, and waved with a grin.
Li Banxia responded and told Su Laosan to take the car from Zhang Lao'er.
Zhang Lao Er wouldn't let go, staring coldly at Su Hongying.
Su Hongying blushed with embarrassment and stomped her foot, yelling at Li Banxia, "Mom, are you trying to kill me?! How am I supposed to stay in my in-laws' house like this?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
