Chapter 186: If the money isn't paid back in three months, this house becomes Lin Shengli's

Lou Xiao'e thought for a moment, then said:

"Shengli, I think Xu Damao comes with ill intent; you'd better warn him a bit."

Lin Shengli nodded and said:

"I've been on guard against him already."

"It's fine, ah, he can't stir up any big waves."

"Director Li still gives me a bit of face now."

"As long as Director Li says a word, Xu Damao will have to be dismissed."

"But I also don't want to go see Director Li over this matter."

"Let's observe; as long as Xu Damao isn't too excessive, I'll just tolerate it."

"If I really can't bear it, I definitely won't put up with it—rest assured, ah, I have plenty of ways to deal with Xu Damao."

"Even without relying on Director Li, it's fine."

Lou Xiao'e: "Mm, I believe you."

Liu Haizhong's home.

Liu Haizhong and Second Aunt sat facing each other, while Liu Guangfu sat to the side.

Just now Liu Haizhong told everyone what had happened today, and everyone's mood was very heavy.

Not long after.

Liu Guangtian walked in carrying two bottles of wine.

He glanced at Liu Haizhong, snorted, put the two bottles on the table, and sat down.

Liu Haizhong was in a bad mood, so he sent Liu Guangtian to buy wine.

Liu Guangtian glanced at Liu Haizhong and complained:

"You, how am I supposed to talk about you?"

"You can't outplay Xu Damao."

"At best you're just a worker."

Having said that, Liu Guangtian looked at Second Aunt and continued:

"Mom, you say, just from internal films, how many has Xu Damao watched?"

Second Aunt let out a long sigh and said:

"Baldy, your dad's in a bad mood, so just say a couple less sentences, ah."

Liu Guangtian said with an unhappy face:

"I should say two less sentences?"

"Can I say less?"

"If my dad runs into trouble, then my thing with Hai Tang is basically over, right?"

Upon hearing that, Liu Haizhong flew into a rage and flung the palm-leaf fan in his hand onto the table.

Then.

He glared at Liu Guangtian.

Liu Guangtian: "Alright, you also stop glaring, ah."

Saying that, he picked up the two bottles of wine, stood up, and then said:

"Fine, I'll keep this wine for myself to drink, ah."

"You, you aren't glaring, are you?"

"Then I won't let you drink it."

Liu Guangtian said while walking out.

Liu Haizhong stared at his back with a gloomy face.

Just then, Liu Guangfu's voice suddenly came from afar.

"I'm done for too."

Liu Haizhong shouted angrily: "Get lost!"

Liu Guangfu stood up and said:

"If you want me to get lost, then get lost—anyway you only like to play rough with us."

After saying that, he also left.

Furious, Liu Haizhong grabbed the enamel water basin nearby and smashed it onto the ground...

Six months later.

Qin Huairu's home.

After Bang Geng finished a bowl of congee, he asked:

"Mom, are there any steamed buns left?"

"I'm not full."

Qin Huairu gave Bang Geng a sideways glance and said unhappily:

"Gone, and you're the one who ate the most."

"Just make do with what you have."

"Soon it'll get dark; just hurry up and go to bed."

Xiao Dang pouted and said:

"Mom, I'm not full either."

Jia Zhangshi let out a long sigh and said:

"You half‑grown brat, eat your dead father."

"It's normal that your brother didn't eat his fill."

"You're a young lady, why are you eating so much?"

"Getting fat is really ugly."

Xiao Dang snorted coldly and said:

"What? I'm the thinnest in our class."

"The teacher always says I'm malnourished; I'm just skin and bones."

Qin Huairu: "It'll be fine after a few days."

Lin Shengli went back to his hometown; if Lin Shengli were there, her family certainly wouldn't be in such difficulty.

Jia Zhangshi furrowed his brows and asked:

"Why will it be fine after a few days?"

Qin Huairu said irritably, "Please don't ask so many questions."

Having said that, she stood up and walked out.

The New Year is approaching, and Lin Shengli still doesn't know whether he'll return before the holiday.

If, by chance, he doesn't come back, how will they spend the New Year?

Her family hasn't had a single cent for a long time.

She looked around here and finally fixed her gaze on Shuzhu Jia.

Shazhu had recently mortgaged his house to Lin Shengli for a hundred coins.

Now she has no way out either.

She can only turn to Shazhu for a loan first.

When she arrived at Shuzhu Jia, she glanced at Shazhu and, for a moment, didn't know what to say.

"What's wrong? Are you out of money again?"

Shazhu looked at Qin Huairu and asked.

Qin Huairu nodded and said:

"Shazhu, I know you're also in difficulty."

"But I'm at a dead end; since the 20th I haven't had a single cent."

Shazhu: "Alas, I'm truly in difficulty now."

"No salary; I'm just surviving by borrowing money."

"A while ago I even borrowed a hundred coins from Lin Shengli."

"That kid, so ruthless—he only agreed to lend me after I mortgaged my house."

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh, shook her head, and said nothing.

Who can be blamed for this?

Isn't it all your fault?

If you didn't always oppose Lin Shengli, would Lin Shengli treat you like this?

Lin Shengli is actually very generous.

Qin Huairu thought for a moment and asked:

"Shazhu, can you lend me ten coins?"

Shazhu furrowed his brows and said:

"But I… I don't even dare to use the money I borrowed from Lin Shengli."

"Three months—if after three months I can't repay the hundred coins to Lin Shengli, the house will be his."

"Then I will have no home."

Qin Huairu: "But there are still three months left, aren't there?"

Shazhu: "The problem is I won't have a salary for those three months either."

Qin Huairu: "I have one."

"Shazhu, I'm borrowing from you; I'll pay you back as soon as I get next month's salary."

Shazhu thought for a moment, shook his head, and said:

"It's not that I don't want to lend you; I really have no money."

Shazhu was terrified.

How many times has Qin Huairu said this? Every time she borrows money she says she'll repay after next month's salary, but she never does.

Does he still dare to trust Qin Huairu?

Qin Huairu glared at Shazhu and said unhappily:

"No, why are you suddenly out of money?"

"You just said the hundred coins you borrowed from Lin Shengli haven't been used much."

"Our family truly can't even lift a pot now; please help us out, okay?"

Shazhu: "Didn't I already say? This money, I will have to repay Lin Shengli later."

"Can't spend it recklessly; if I waste it and have no money to repay, I'll have no home."

Qin Huairu: "Shazhu, is lending me money just reckless?"

Shazhu: "No, no, no, that's not what I mean."

Qin Huairu: "Just tell me whether you'll lend or not."

"Stop talking so much nonsense."

Shazhu thought for a moment, sighed deeply, and said:

Alright, I'll lend you ten dollars, but you must pay me back when you get your salary next month, okay?

Qin Huairu said impatiently:

Alright, hurry up and give it to me, stop dawdling.

Shazhu shook his head, took ten dollars from his pants pocket and put it on the table in front of Qin Huairu, then said:

Qin Jie, this is truly lifesaving money.

You must pay me back when you get your salary next month.

Otherwise I won't be able to repay the money, and I'll lose this house.