Chapter 73: Do You Think You

The person asking for a loan is humble the moment they first open their mouth to ask.

But once they’ve spoken, they become obstinate, dumping out a thousand excuses and ten thousand grievances all at once, clinging desperately until they secure the loan.

Only when it’s truly impossible to get the money do they finally grow disheartened, clutching their resentment as they sullenly give up.

The entire Han family came to his door, risking their face, and had already spoken of borrowing money—how could they possibly give up so easily?

Li Yue had merely thrown down a washbasin, like striking the first gong— the real show was yet to come.

“Oh my, it’s only been a year or two, and Xiao Ye has grown so tall, so handsome— you two are truly blessed, brother and sister...”

“Mm, I always said this kid would amount to something, look, I was right! He’s already a famous writer...”

An elderly couple began praising him first, trying to break the awkward silence.

But Li Ye refused to cooperate, just staring blankly at the washbasin lying in the courtyard.

It was enamel, with a large chunk of white porcelain chipped off, the gap glaringly obvious.

This was awkward.

The elderly couple were naturally Han Chunmei’s parents; seeing their praise of Li Ye fail, they glared fiercely at Han Chunmei.

Han Chunmei was in a terrible bind, turning her face away in silence; Li Kaijian, pitying his wife, sighed and said: “What are you standing there for? Don’t you know how to greet them?”

Li Ye glanced at him, then finally spoke.

“Grandpa. Grandma.”

Hearing him say “Grandpa” and “Grandma,” Han Chunmei was surprised— previously, Li Ye had never acknowledged her Han family relatives at all.

The original body’s stubborn nature had refused even to call them “Uncle” or “Auntie,” always leaving Han Chunmei humiliated; today, though his face was still sullen and resentful, it was already a huge concession.

Those two words made the elderly couple feel immensely satisfied; they hurriedly said: “Ah, ah, it’s freezing outside— come inside quickly!”

Li Ye followed everyone into the main room and sat on a small wooden stool.

There was no choice— there were too many “elders” today, and not enough chairs.

Even this, Li Ye had the honor of; the other younger generations weren’t even allowed inside.

Yet as he sat on the stool, his demeanor was anything but weak—he got straight to the point: “I was studying! Why did you suddenly call me back? What’s the emergency?”

“Ahem, here’s the thing—”

Li Zhongfa cleared his throat and said: “We called you back to ask— how much of your royalty money is left?”

“Huh?”

Li Ye was surprised; looking at Li Zhongfa’s repeatedly blinking old eyes, he finally understood his grandfather’s meaning.

Li Zhongfa still wanted to lend out some money—to maintain relations with the in-laws, or perhaps just to spare his daughter-in-law undue hardship.

Li Kaijian was over forty, married to a wife seven or eight years younger, and Li Zhongfa had watched his affectionate behavior— wasn’t spending a little money for his son’s sake understandable?

But seeing how urgently he was signaling Li Ye, clearly he didn’t want to lend too much—he hoped Li Ye would make up an excuse.

This was the peculiar sense of human relations among elders of this era: always leave a little room, so you can meet again later.

If this were the future... I’d leave nothing— I’d cut ties completely.

But while Li Zhongfa thought this way, Li Ye had never considered lending money at all; having heard Xiao Li Juan’s endless chatter on the way, he was even more determined not to.

“Why are you concerned about my money? I’ve said it before—I need it for something!”

Li Zhongfa was stunned— his grandson, since becoming sharp-witted, was as cunning as a monkey; he’d given so many signals, why didn’t he get it?

But before he could process it, Han Lao Han, seated on the chair, spoke up: “Hey, Xiao Ye, is this how you talk to your grandpa? No respect at all.”

Han Lao Nai pulled her husband’s sleeve and smiled: “Every kid who earns money for the first time clings to it like a treasure— just ask nicely, why bring up respect?”

As they spoke, both kept glaring at Han Chunmei; after all, they were elderly, knew how to save face, and wanted someone else to play the villain.

This turned Han Chunmei into a rat caught between two bellows— trapped on all sides.

Hadn’t Li Ye treated her and her two daughters well?

For the New Year, each of them got a full set of new clothes— undergarments, coats, shoes— the neighbors were green with envy when they visited her family.

He spent hundreds of yuan just on them for the holiday!

As a stepmother, what more could you want?

Have your own father and mother ever bought the children a single piece of clothing all these years?

Now you want me to ask Li Ye? How could I possibly?

“Ahem~ Chunmei, you’re a poor mother—I have to say a few words to you...”

Seeing his stubborn daughter wouldn’t act, Han Lao Han had no choice but to step forward himself.

He spoke with sincere simplicity: “Since you married into the Li family, you must fulfill your duty as a mother.

Xiao Ye stays at school all day— don’t you ever bring him home to care for him? I remember the Second Middle School isn’t far from here, right?”

“He’s so young, doesn’t understand how cruel the world is— what if he gets cheated?

Losing money is minor, but if he’s led astray, that’s disastrous— remember your Uncle Youcai? He took all his money to the provincial capital...”

Han Lao Han droned on and on, his simple face and earnest tone leaving no room for anyone to interrupt.

At first, Li Ye thought he was scolding his daughter, but as he listened, he realized something was off.

He wasn’t scolding his daughter—he was giving Li Ye a lesson in moral warning!

That Uncle Youcai, during the Cultural Revolution, had taken all his family’s wealth to the provincial capital, lost it all, and fallen into the five poisons— the classic example of a wastrel.

His downfall? Too young when his father died, and his mother, soft-hearted, let him manage the family finances.

The implication: Li Ye’s royalties were earned by him, but for him to hold onto them was inexplicable.

Li Ye studied the earnest old farmer, spitting as he spoke, and saw in his eyes a shrewdness forged by years of experience.

Logically, for the Han family to say such things in the Li home was inappropriate— deeply offensive.

Yet Han Lao Han said them anyway.

People in the 1980s valued kinship deeply; to say something like this in such a setting was a prelude to a rupture.

Han Lao Han’s subtext was: [You’re trying to fool me with this child? Do you really think I’m stupid?]

Li Zhongfa’s face changed; Li Jia Nai’s expression darkened too.

The in-laws’ first official visit, and already so many scheming tricks— using Li Ye, a child, as a pawn— if word got out, it would look terribly unbecoming.

Even though Han Chunmei was a second wife, the more such a marriage was a late union, the more cautious parents became.

Han Lao Han was cunning—he was certain the Li family valued face, and since this was the first proper visit, they’d surely give him face.

But Li Ye had no such concerns; in forty years’ time, he’d seen too many families torn apart by money— some relatives were better off nonexistent.

“Grandpa, that’s... not a very auspicious thing to say.”

Li Ye frowned: “From what you just said, I do sound a bit like that Uncle Youcai—

But he took his money to the provincial capital; I’m taking mine to university... Wait, isn’t there no more ‘five poisons’ in Beijing now?”

Everyone’s expressions shifted instantly—especially Li Jia Nai, whose gaze sharpened like knives, slicing between Han Lao Han and Han Chunmei.

[You old bastard dares to curse my grandson? Just wait—I’ll beat your daughter seven times over before I’m done.]

Han Lao Han stared at Li Ye in surprise, rapidly calculating his intent.

[Is this kid being sincere? Or is he deliberately provoking? Eighteen or nineteen—can he really be this sharp?]

Han Lao Han reacted quickly, shifting his target.

“Xiao Ye, don’t be angry—I’m blunt, but I mean no harm... Still, having so much money in the hands of a child is just too risky!”

He pointed at Han Chunmei: “Look at them— all coats and leather shoes, spending hundreds at once— how much money could possibly last?”

Li Ye nearly laughed out loud.

[I’m spending my own money on your daughter and granddaughter, and you’re complaining?]

“You’re absolutely right, Grandpa—I won’t spend money on anyone else anymore. I’ll keep it all for myself.”

“........”

After Li Ye spoke, Han Lao Han froze; Li Jia Nai coughed repeatedly, barely hiding her smile.

The uncles and aunts who’d come with Han Lao Han were equally stunned, one dumbfounded, the other barely holding back laughter.

“Ahem~”

“Xiao Ye, your grandpa’s house is too cramped—we need to build a new house for your uncle, and we’re short on cash. How much do you have left? Can you help us raise a few hundred?”

Li Zhongfa finally decided to stop watching the drama; at his age, he still hoped for family harmony—if he broke with Han Lao Han, Han Chunmei would suffer on both sides.

Even if the Han family was terrible, they were still Han Chunmei’s birth family; when the Bi family had driven her and her daughters out, she had nowhere else to go but back to the Hans.

So to demand she sever ties with them was unreasonable.

The family wasn’t short of money—lending a few hundred was fine; he could always make up the difference from his own salary later.

This was Li Zhongfa’s principle: his grandson’s money belonged to his grandson—if it was lent and never returned, he, as grandfather, would repay it himself.

But how much to lend still depended on Li Ye’s decision—after all, the household’s spare cash was all earned by this eldest grandson.

But Li Ye’s answer surprised Li Zhongfa: “I still have two thousand.”

Li Zhongfa nearly slapped his thigh in frustration.

[Grandson, how can you be so clueless? I gave you so many signals!]

Li Zhongfa had just told him to help raise a few hundred—

If Li Ye had said he had a thousand left, he could’ve kept some for himself and lent five or six hundred— enough to save face. Now look...

Li Ye ignored Li Zhongfa’s signals and asked Han Lao Han directly: “Grandpa, how much will it cost to build your house?”

Han Lao Han replied immediately: “We already have the timber and sun-dried bricks—we’ll need fifteen hundred for labor, cement, and tiles; if it’s all brick and tile, it’ll be two thousand.”

In Qingshui County, building costs weren’t high—two thousand yuan in 1982 was enough to build a grand tiled house.

(My hometown has a house built around then—my grandfather said it cost just over a thousand.)

Li Ye nodded: “So how much do you want to borrow?”

Old Han exclaimed, “Didn’t I say two thousand? Little Ye, don’t worry I won’t default—I’ve got a house standing there; if I don’t pay you, take the house as collateral.”

I’m telling you, this money must go to the right place—buying land and property is the real way. Keep cash in your hand, spend it bit by bit, and you won’t even notice it vanishing...”

“So you’ve got zero of your own?”

Li Ye shot up from his stool, wanting nothing more than to kick this old bastard to death.

You’ve got no money at all, yet you’re building a new house—and you’re holding back my manuscript fees to borrow from me? Do you think you’re Zhuge Liang?

Planning every move perfectly, manipulating others like pawns on your palm?

Pfft!