Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 335

After closing the door and with the onlookers gone, Zhao Chunqin calmed down a bit, but her face was still grim. She looked at Zhao Tiesheng, the culprit, and scolded him, "Brother, do you know how much trouble you've caused me by coming to see me today? The neighbors are all my colleagues' family members. If people misunderstand what you've done, how am I supposed to go to work?"

Zhao Chunqin immediately began to blame him, and Zhao Tiesheng instinctively felt guilty. But when Zhao Da'e came over and tugged at Zhao Tiesheng's hand, Zhao Tiesheng was stunned. Zhao Da'e whispered to Zhao Tiesheng, "Dad didn't do anything wrong."

These words were like a wake-up call. Zhao Tiesheng finally realized that he hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he apologize?

Throughout the Zhao family, regardless of whether Zhao Tiesheng had done anything wrong, as long as he upset Zhao Chunqin, he was considered to be at fault, and Wang Guixiang would scold him as if he had committed some heinous crime.

But now Zhao Tiesheng has no need to apologize; in fact, he has many questions he wants to ask Zhao Chunqin.

Zhao Tiesheng stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Chunqin's hand, saying with mixed feelings, "Chunqin, tell me, were you at home all day today? If you were, why didn't you knock on the door when I came to find you at noon?"

Zhao Tiesheng arrived at noon, but no matter how much he knocked, the other person didn't knock. He could tell that someone was inside. At first, he didn't think of his sister. He believed that his sister wouldn't lock him out. Even if he did think of it, he only thought that Li Qingmin was home alone and didn't want to open the door for him. Even when he finally realized that someone was in the room, he didn't think it would be his sister. Instead, he wondered if Li Qingmin had betrayed her and found a lover.

But all of this felt like a slap in the face to Zhao Tiesheng. His eyes reddened, and he questioned Zhao Chunqin in bewilderment. Even though he knew the truth, he couldn't bear to get angry at Zhao Chunqin. He just wanted to ask her a reason.

Zhao Chunqin was already feeling guilty and didn't dare to look Zhao Tiesheng in the eye. She turned her head away and casually said, "I just woke up not long ago. I didn't hear you knocking, Second Brother. Maybe I was sleeping too soundly."

Zhao Tiesheng clenched his fists, stared intently at Zhao Chunqin, and couldn't help but shout, "You're lying! When I knocked on the door just now, I clearly heard voices inside, but no matter how much I knocked, no one answered. You weren't asleep then, were you?"

"Chunqin, I just want to ask you a question. Do you know what it feels like for me to wait outside for hours?" Zhao Tiesheng looked at Zhao Chunqin earnestly, trying to see if she felt any remorse on her face, but it was clear that she did not.

Questioned by Zhao Tiesheng, Zhao Chunqin, who had always been pampered since childhood, became somewhat annoyed. "I said I was asleep, that's all. I just didn't hear your knocking, Second Brother. Do you have to get angry at me? I haven't even said anything about you, Second Brother. You made such a commotion just now, talking about cheating and having a lover. If I don't go out and explain, what will people outside think of Qingmin? Do you know that what you're saying will affect Qingmin's future?"

Zhao Chunqin and Li Qingmin are civil servants, and since they work for the government, their reputation is very important. If their reputation is bad, it can easily affect their promotion.

Zhao Tiesheng stared silently at Zhao Chunqin, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his heart. His heart turned cold, his eyes turned red, and tears streamed down his face. He never expected that his beloved younger sister, whom he had cherished since childhood, would treat him this way.

Zhao Tiesheng wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. He knew he didn't have time to be so sentimental. He remembered that his main purpose in coming here was to ask Zhao Chunqin for money.

“Chunqin, let’s talk about serious matters. The 40,000 yuan you took from Mom was money I entrusted to her for safekeeping. She said you used it to start a business and made a lot of money. Now, Second Brother needs a lot of money to build a new house. When are you going to return the money? Even just a portion would be fine. Second Brother really needs this money right now.”

He needs this money to build a new house. Only after building a new house will Jinxiang calm down and return to the Zhao family to continue living with him.

The thought of repaying the money made Zhao Chunqin extremely annoyed, but she still patiently said, "Second Brother, I'm having some cash flow problems lately. Can I repay you later?"

She had no intention of returning the money to Zhao Tiesheng. Even if she had a sum of money in her hands, she was unwilling to return it. Zhao Tiesheng was just a rural man. What use would he have for this money? He would just use it to farm and that would be it. It would be better for her to keep the money and do some high-profit business to make a lot of money.

Zhao Chunqin had anticipated that Zhao Tiesheng would come to collect money, but she didn't expect him to come so soon.

She first gave a mock sigh, then said, "Second brother, don't worry, I won't fail to pay you back the money I borrowed. It's just a matter of time. Besides, I have a high-paying job, and with the year-end bonus, my annual salary is at least five thousand yuan. Are you worried that I won't be able to pay you back?"

If Zhao Chunqin wants to repay the money, she can do so within a few years, but the key question is whether Zhao Chunqin wants to or not.

Cheng Jinxiang objected, "That sounds nice of you. You say you'll pay back the money, but tell us when you'll pay us back next time so we can come and ask you for it."

Upon hearing that it was Cheng Jinxiang speaking, Zhao Chunqin's face darkened. What was Cheng Jinxiang doing meddling? Zhao Chunqin complained to Zhao Tiesheng, "Second brother, look at second sister-in-law. You haven't said anything, why is she interrupting? It's obvious that she doesn't trust me."

When Zhao Chunqin was at the Zhao family home and disliked Cheng Jinxiang, she said this to Zhao Tiesheng, asking him to help her fight back. She knew that Zhao Tiesheng was a bit of a chauvinist, and as long as she said this, Zhao Tiesheng would definitely help her fight back against Cheng Jinxiang.

But now Zhao Chunqin has miscalculated. Zhao Tiesheng directly speaks up for Cheng Jinxiang, "Zhao Chunqin, Jinxiang is right. Give me a time. When are you going to pay me back? I won't hold it against you for playing tricks on me and deceiving me. I just want to know when you're going to pay me back. Forty thousand yuan. This money is very important to me."

Zhao Chunqin was stunned. She never expected things to not go as she had imagined. In the past, when she said she would repay the money later, Zhao Tiesheng would hesitate and then go back to think about asking her for the money later. She would just drag it out until the money was naturally forgotten.

But she didn't expect Zhao Tiesheng to be so assertive today, wanting her to repay the money herself.

Zhao Chunqin rolled her eyes and realized that she might have hurt Zhao Tiesheng too much today, which was why he was going against her like this.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chunqin began to wipe away her tears and play the victim, "Second brother, if I had money, I would definitely pay you back. But spring is coming soon, and my son will be starting school soon. I need to pay for his schooling, and there are also living expenses for the whole family. I also need some money for food. I really don't have any extra money to give you now. If you want to wait, you'll have to wait until I sell the goods I have. Only after I sell them will I have money to pay you back. I'm your own sister, how can you be afraid that I can't pay you back? But I can't say for sure when I'll be able to pay you back. Maybe I can sell the goods and get the money tomorrow, or maybe it will be a week later. But I won't make you wait too long. Just wait until spring. I'll pay you back as much money as I earn after spring. I will definitely not shortchange you by a single penny."

Zhao Chunqin started her usual empty promises again, saying she might have money tomorrow, or she might have money a week from now, but she never gave Zhao Tiesheng a specific deadline. As for repaying the money, she never even considered it.

Zhao Tiesheng hesitated for a moment. He could ask Zhao Chunqin for the money later. The new house would be built after spring. As long as he got the money before spring, there would be no problem.

Cheng Jinxiang noticed Zhao Tiesheng's hesitation and stepped forward to grab his arm, denying it, "I won't agree. What if you refuse again when spring comes? Besides, it's just empty talk without any sincerity."

Cheng Jinxiang vowed that she would not leave if she did not get any benefits today. She was not the same Cheng Jinxiang as before, and would not be so easily fooled.

Seeing Cheng Jinxiang interfere again, Zhao Chunqin lost her temper. "Second sister-in-law, what exactly do you want? I borrowed money from my second brother. If I had money, would I not pay it back? Do you have to be so aggressive?"

Cheng Jinxiang couldn't help but sneer, "Do you still consider Tiesheng your second brother? When he came to see you at noon, did you open the door for him?"

When the topic of what happened at noon came up, Zhao Tiesheng's face turned grim. Cheng Jinxiang's repeated mentions were like knives stabbing Zhao Tiesheng in the heart.

Zhao Chunqin blushed with anger. Of course, she wouldn't admit that she did it on purpose. "I've already explained that I was asleep. That's why I didn't hear my second brother knocking. I've explained it so many times. How much more do you want me to explain?"

Zhao Chunqin felt that Cheng Jinxiang was being too unreasonable. Normally, she would have already gotten rid of Zhao Tiesheng.

Li Qingmin stood up from the ground, rubbing his aching back. He felt that Zhao Tiesheng had really hit hard. He struggled to his feet and asked Cheng Jinxiang, "So what do you want? I'm telling you, I don't have any money. Either wait until spring to ask for it, or we'll have Mom come over and settle this."

The mere mention of Wang Guixiang made Zhao Tiesheng flinch, a sense of fear creeping in. Cheng Jinxiang, seeing Zhao Tiesheng's silence, angrily pinched the flesh of his arm hard. "You won't say anything, you just make me do all the talking, while you stand by like nothing happened, making me play the bad guy?"

Cheng Jinxiang's eyes hardened, and she whispered in Zhao Tiesheng's ear, "If you don't help me today and get this 40,000 yuan back, then we'll get a divorce and we can't live together anymore."

Zhao Tiesheng's cowardice made Cheng Jinxiang have no desire to continue the relationship.

Upon hearing Cheng Jinxiang mention divorce, Zhao Tiesheng panicked. He was worried that not only would he not get any money, but he would also lose his wife.

Zhao Tiesheng immediately softened his tone and said to Cheng Jinxiang, "Jinxiang, what are you saying? I will always stand by your side."

Cheng Jinxiang felt a little better after hearing this, and then looked at Zhao Chunqin and glanced at the gold bracelet on her wrist.

She still remembered that Zhao Chunqin's bracelet was genuine and cost her about five hundred yuan. It was money Zhao Chunqin had saved up for two months after starting work to buy it. At that time, Zhao Chunqin even went back to the Zhao family to show it off, saying how easy her job was and how dazzling her gold bracelet was.

At that time, Cheng Jinxiang also wanted to spend some money to buy herself a gold jewelry belt. After all, gold is valuable, and if she needed money in the future, she could sell it for a higher price than she bought it. However, Zhao Tiesheng's first reaction was to refuse, saying that women have to do housework and what if they accidentally lose the gold? In the end, Zhao Tiesheng bought her a gold ring instead. Cheng Jinxiang remembers all of this very clearly.

"Otherwise, you can let me keep your gold bracelet for you. You can come back with the money in the spring and I'll return the bracelet to you then. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll break your promise and keep delaying returning the money in the spring. Besides, didn't you say you didn't have any money? You still have the gold bracelet, right? And this gold bracelet is worth about five hundred yuan. You can use the gold bracelet as collateral. Don't worry, I don't really want your gold bracelet. I'll return the money to you after you've paid it back, okay?"

Cheng Jinxiang looked at the gold bracelet on Zhao Chunqin's wrist. She had long coveted Zhao Chunqin's gold bracelet. If Zhao Chunqin was willing to give her the gold bracelet today, she would stop making a fuss. If not, she would definitely make a fuss. She wouldn't get her money back if she didn't act like a villain.

Zhao Chunqin was stunned for a moment, then realized that Cheng Jinxiang had her eye on her gold bracelet. She immediately clutched the bracelet tightly and took a few steps back, afraid that Cheng Jinxiang would snatch it from her at any moment.

"Cheng Jinxiang, you wish! This gold bracelet cost me two months' salary. You're dreaming. I'm not giving it to you. You think you're worthy of wearing this gold bracelet? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at if you wear it out?"

In Zhao Chunqin's eyes, Cheng Jinxiang had become somewhat overweight because she had just given birth, and her face was tanned dark yellow from years of labor, with thick calluses on her fingers. It would be extremely unattractive for someone like her to wear a gold bracelet.

Cheng Jinxiang's face darkened. Zhao Da'e tugged at Cheng Jinxiang's hand and said angrily, "Mom, when I have money in the future, I'll buy you a big and heavy gold bracelet!"

Zhao Da'e couldn't bear to see Cheng Jinxiang suffer. Cheng Jinxiang held Zhao Da'e's hand, and looking at the silent Zhao Tiesheng, her heart grew colder. A cold smile appeared on her lips. Sure enough, the only person she could truly rely on was her daughter. As for a partner? It would be better if she had none at all.

Turning her gaze back to Zhao Chunqin, Cheng Jinxiang said, "You're unwilling to pay back some of the money, and you're unwilling to leave the gold bracelet with me. How can you expect my husband and I to believe you'll repay the debt? Otherwise, let everyone eavesdropping outside judge for themselves how Zhao Chunqin manages to owe money and refuse to pay it back?"