Chen Li’s question was also Wen Ying’s.
What kind of shock had Old Wen given Chen Ru to drive a refined woman like her to this point?
“Auntie, no time to explain, I need to back up my mom first.”
Wen Ying opened the car door and rushed over.
In the evening neighborhood, many residents were out for a post-dinner stroll to aid digestion. Chen Ru blocking Wen Hongyan and Shu Lu at the entrance, demanding repayment, made even the thick-skinned feel uneasy.
The neighborhood residents didn’t know the details of Wen Hongyan’s family, seeing her decked in gold and silver, with a man chauffeuring her around, and a pretty, bright daughter, they didn’t dare underestimate her despite her poor demeanor, most urban residents, tracing back three generations, might have been farmers, ordinary people who wouldn’t casually scorn neighbors unless they had glaring flaws, like an overbearing nouveau riche attitude or a reputation for borrowing without repaying, making it hard for residents to respect such newcomers.
Wen Hongyan was startled when Chen Ru suddenly appeared.
About to curse, she noticed the crowd at the entrance and, mindful of her new “boss’s wife” status, swallowed her words.
Had Second Sister-in-Law lost her mind?
Or was their family so broke they needed to chase debts to buy rice, it was just some money, yet she’d come to Rongcheng to demand it!
Wen Hongyan patted her chest, “Second Sister-in-Law, does Second Brother know you’re here collecting debts?”
Her husband had called, and with Wen Dongrong so concerned about face, he might have waived the money lent to the Shu family, there’d been no word for days, reinforcing Wen Hongyan’s suspicions, if push came to shove, she could offset the debt with the gold bracelet Chen Ru took.
Thinking of the gold bracelet, Wen Hongyan felt a pang, it cost a full six thousand yuan!
If she couldn’t get it back, Shu Guobing had made it clear he wouldn’t agree to her buying another.
Wen Hongyan hadn’t calculated exactly how much she’d taken from Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong, but she always took advantage without suffering losses, even without tallying, she knew she owed more than six thousand, otherwise, with her temper, she’d have long made a scene demanding Chen Ru return the bracelet, making it known to all relatives and friends, shaming Chen Ru.
Hearing Wen Hongyan’s challenge, Chen Ru sneered, “Are you saying I should bring your Second Brother to collect the debt?”
Wen Hongyan’s eyes darted, so Second Brother might not know?
“Second Sister-in-Law, you took a gold bracelet from me before, brand new, cost over ten thousand, how about you keep it, no need to return it—”
“Hah!”
Chen Ru spat at her fiercely, “How much is gold per gram, think you’re the only one who knows? I had your bracelet weighed at a gold shop, 26 grams, just over six thousand, and you claim it’s over ten thousand!”
Wen Hongyan stepped back.
It was over, Second Sister-in-Law had truly gone mad.
Weighing the bracelet at a gold shop, how could that be something she’d do, wait, had Chen Ru gone to verify its authenticity?
Chen Ru had twice shattered Wen Hongyan’s understanding today, giving her a headache.
Once Chen Ru abandoned propriety, Wen Hongyan, less quick-witted, could only stammer that she hadn’t tallied the amount when faced with Chen Ru’s debt demands.
At this point, Wen Ying approached, laughing upon hearing Wen Hongyan’s excuse.
That excuse might delay others, but against her mom, Chen Ru, Wen Hongyan was bound to falter.
Wen Ying’s confidence came from personal experience.
In her past life, to force Wen Ying back from Modu, Chen Ru had recounted her upbringing costs.
When Wen Ying was four, for a kindergarten June 1st performance, a new dress and shoes cost a certain amount, over twenty years later, Chen Ru still remembered, not because her memory rivaled a computer, but because she had a habit of bookkeeping!
To put it kindly, it was a professional habit, less kindly, an occupational disease.
Thanks to Chen Ru’s meticulous budgeting and bookkeeping, without her planning, the Wen family couldn’t have afforded a down payment for a Rongcheng house in 2004, though Chen Ru’s income was substantial locally, and Wen Dongrong’s salary and benefits were good, their earnings also supported Wen family relatives settling in the city, far less relaxed than dual-income peers.
Seeing Wen Ying approach, Shu Lu instantly tensed.
Three encounters with Wen Ying, and Shu Lu never came out on top.
Now with Wen Ying here, who knew what harsh words she’d say at this busy neighborhood entrance!
Shu Lu loved their new home.
The Shu family’s rented neighborhood, arranged by Little Cai, had a great environment, not far from school or the Qingshiqiao seafood market, most residents were retired workers, hosting calligraphy and dance classes, even regular chess tournaments, a cultured community, Shu Lu didn’t want to move, besides, with Chen Ru and Wen Ying tracking them down, moving might be futile, this mother-daughter duo would keep hounding them!
Suppressing her dislike for Wen Ying, Shu Lu called her cousin and said to Chen Ru, “Auntie, why don’t we talk inside, it’s your and Cousin’s first visit, you can note our current address.”
Talk inside?
No way!
Behind closed doors, Wen Hongyan’s shamelessness would know no bounds, and the debt issue would drag on indefinitely.
Chen Ru countered Shu Lu, “At the entrance, your mom can’t recall how much she owes, but inside she will? No need for that trouble, she may not remember, but I do!”
With that, Chen Ru pulled papers from her bag and began reading at the entrance, “September 1996, lent the Shu family 300 yuan for Shu Lu’s elementary school registration fees, October 1996, lent 200 yuan for rent, November 1996…”
Wen Hongyan’s eyes widened.
Shu Lu was stunned.
Other debts, Shu Lu didn’t recall clearly, but September 1996, the 300 yuan for school, she remembered, it was when she’d just moved to the city, Wen Hongyan and Shu Guobing spent their wages somehow, and Chen Ru, her second aunt, personally took her to register and paid the fees.
A debt unpaid for eight years?
Shu Lu couldn’t help but blush.
Soon, her embarrassment turned to mortification, she’d genuinely been grateful to Second Uncle and Aunt, not realizing Second Aunt only appeared kind, secretly recording every cent spent on her!
Several residents out for a walk listened with relish, abandoning their stroll to watch the drama.
Wen Hongyan trembled with anger, Shu Lu’s tears streamed down, “Auntie, stop reading, my mom will definitely repay… Mom, say something!”
Today it was at the neighborhood entrance.
If the debt wasn’t settled, would they read it at her school next?
With school starting soon, the thought of Wen Ying exposing her at school with the ledger made Shu Lu’s tears fall like worthless beads, unstoppable.
Just days ago, Shu Lu saw Shu Guobing make a call, certain Wen Ying would be disciplined by Wen Dongrong, maybe even Chen Ru, but today, Second Uncle Wen Dongrong hadn’t shown any patriarchal authority!
