Since it was a rare occasion for Shu Hui and Deng Fangping to get together, they decided to go shopping and visit the farmers' market to buy things they would need for the Chinese New Year.
The two were of similar age and had common topics. Every day when they went out shopping, they would come back with bags and bags of things. Having someone to accompany them always made them feel good. Seeing Shu Hui happy every day, Chu Yu also thought it would be great if her second uncle's family could come to Beijing.
She and Chu Xiang and Chu Chu had to go to school, so Shu Hui usually had no one to keep her company. With Deng Fangping around, Shu Hui could at least have someone to talk to and wouldn't be bored.
Deng Aiguo shared the same sentiment: "After you left, your aunt was always frowning. She said it was better when my younger sister was here. Although the work was tiring, there were people to chat and laugh with, and it wasn't so hard to bear."
"Yes, sometimes my mom wants to go shopping with someone to buy a pair of pants, but there's no one to go with her. I can go with her, but she feels that her taste is different from ours as young people. I've gone shopping with her a few times, but she hasn't bought anything, always complaining that it's too expensive. My aunt understands her best; she buys so much as soon as she goes out."
Shu Aiguo laughed: "You don't understand. They like to go to wholesale markets and buy cheap and affordable clothes. You always take them to high-end shopping malls, of course they don't like it."
Shu Hui brought the things in, smiling broadly, and said:
"We found a wholesale market where things were very cheap. We bought a steamer, an iron pot, a steamer basket, a pair of trousers, and two pairs of leather shoes for only 10 yuan."
Chu Yu felt that this courtyard house had never been so full of life before.
The house was bustling with activity. Chu Yu wondered what was going on with Dai Donglin, who was far away in the port city. She had called him, but the second phase of the project was just opening for sale, and Dai Donglin couldn't make it home for the New Year. Chu Yu was thinking of sending some holiday gifts to Dai's parents.
Shu Aiguo knew that Dai Donglin was good to Chu Yu, and he also agreed that Chu Yu should be more attentive. He prepared bird's nest and sea cucumber for Chu Yu, and also brought some dried goods from his hometown. Chu Yu also brought two down jackets for Zhou Yun and Dai Xueyi.
Zhou Yun hadn't seen her for a long time. She was a leader at her workplace, and in the past, she would always keep a respectful distance from Chu Yu. But this time, she was visibly much more enthusiastic.
"Xiao Zhou, you're here? I was just talking to your Uncle Dai yesterday about how long it's been since I've seen you."
Chu Yu put down the gift and said with a smile:
"Uncle Dai, Aunt Zhou, Dai Donglin isn't coming back for the New Year this year. I was worried it wouldn't be lively for you, so I came to visit. Will my aunt's family be celebrating the New Year with you this year?"
"They came here; it's kind of you to keep us in mind."
Dai Xueyi flipped through the newspaper, his attitude towards her quite friendly. "Xiao Zhou is here? If you're not going back to your hometown for the New Year this year, why don't you come and spend it with us?"
"Yes, there aren't many people in our family this year, so it's not very lively," Zhou Yun said with a smile.
Chu Yu smiled and explained, "Thank you for your kindness, Uncle and Aunt. My aunt's family came to Beijing this year, and we agreed to spend the New Year together."
Chu Yu was well-mannered and spoke with neither arrogance nor servility. Zhou Yun had always liked her, thinking that the girl was magnanimous and beautiful. Most beautiful girls, like Xu Yinyun, had a certain pride.
Chu Yu was different. If others didn't bully her, she was always gentle and non-aggressive. But if others bullied her, she wouldn't back down an inch. Zhou Yun felt that only someone with this kind of personality could be a good daughter-in-law for the Dai family.
As they were talking, the door opened, and Zhou Yun saw Xu Tong standing outside looking haggard.
"Zhou Yun, let me go inside and take shelter."
Zhou Yun glanced at the Xu family's door, then opened it and let her in.
Xu Tong was surprised to see Chu Yu there, and felt a little awkward.
When Chu Yu came last time, Xu Tong went to great lengths to persuade her to join the mutual aid association. At that time, Zhou Yun was tempted and thought about investing all the tens of thousands of yuan she had in it.
Who knew that after Chu Yu arrived, she said that the mutual aid society was a scam, a Ponzi scheme.
Xu Tong's tone was not very good, and Zhou Yun, being protective of her, ignored Xu Tong. Over the past few months, Xu Tong had visited many times, but Zhou Yun had not given in.
Xu Tong was also unhappy and told the other ladies in the compound that Zhou Yun was useless and treated her country daughter-in-law like a treasure.
She listens to everything her country daughter-in-law says.
They also said that Dai Donglin was blind, looking down on this and that, and in the end he chose someone from the countryside.
Zhou Yun was naturally unhappy to hear this, and had a fight with Xu Tong, whereupon she was mocked by Xu Tong.
But the day before yesterday, Xu Tong suddenly fell ill.
Guess what? It turns out the mutual aid society went bankrupt, and the owner ran away with the money.
Xu Tong's 150,000 yuan investment, along with more than 200,000 yuan from her relatives and friends, all went down the drain.
It's worth noting that Xu Tong used her position to recruit quite a few people.
There were about ten ladies in the compound, who invested a total of seven or eight hundred thousand yuan.
Xu Tong promised that he would definitely get his principal back with interest before the Chinese New Year.
Who knew that instead of seeing any interest, all the principal would vanish! Xu Tong's investment of over a million yuan was completely gone!
Those people wouldn't give in, and they all gathered at Xu Tong's door, shouting that Xu Tong should return the money.
Xu Tong wiped away her tears and cried:
"When they're making money, they call me 'Sister Xu' all the time, but when the money's gone, they act like this. When they make money, no one shares with me. Oh, and when they lose money, they make me pay for it! Why should I pay for it?!"
The two hadn't spoken for months, but Zhou Yun wasn't one to kick someone when they were down. Xu Tong, who always loved beauty and was extremely competitive, came over without even wearing shoes, which showed that she had been pushed to the limit.
Zhou Yun sighed and said, "Back then, my Chu Yu advised you, but you wouldn't listen. If you had listened to her and taken the money back, you could have not only kept the cost but also earned 20,000 in interest."
Xu Tong sobbed, “That’s why people are greedy. When you earn 20,000 in interest, you feel that the money is nothing. You want to earn 50,000 or 100,000. You think that no one is investing in such a good project, and that everyone else is a fool. Only I am clear-headed.”
Chu Yu was surprised that Xu Tong had managed to bring in over a million yuan all by herself.
No wonder mutual aid societies have grown so quickly.
Xu Tong was a little embarrassed, "If Auntie had believed you, things wouldn't be like this today."
Chu Yu held a grudge. When Xu Tong offended her with her words, she didn't hold back and immediately retorted. Xu Tong had been swindled out of a lot of money by the mutual aid society, so she got her comeuppance.
Since she took the initiative to make peace, she won't pursue the matter relentlessly.
Besides, Xu Tong is Dai's neighbor and Zhou Yun's close friend. They see each other all the time, so they have to maintain a good relationship.
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