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Cui Hongyan grudgingly went back to her room, fetched a stack of cash and cloth coupons, and handed them over to Qin Xiaoran. She hated her to death inside, but on her face, she still had to pretend to smile.
“Xiaoran ah…”
Qin Xiaoran completely ignored her, lowering her head and carefully counting the money.
“One hundred and eighty-six yuan, and eight cloth coupons.”
She looked up. “That’s only enough to buy one dress.”
At this time, buying clothes required cloth coupons. A simple shirt needed four to five coupons, while a thicker coat might need twenty to thirty. Eight coupons could only buy one dress.
One hundred and eighty-six yuan was actually a lot—it could feed a frugal family for a year. But in the Wang family, that was just the cost of one of Wang Xiaoyi’s dresses.
This wasn’t money earned by Wang Wenbin and Cui Hongyan. They were squandering the Qin family’s wealth.
Of course Cui Hongyan knew the amount wasn’t much, but she didn’t want to give more. Besides, there were only so many coupons left at home. To go out and trade coupons just for Qin Xiaoran was too troublesome and humiliating—she absolutely wouldn’t do it.
Clothes? As long as she bought one or two, enough for Wang Wenbin to accept, that was fine. What, was she supposed to fill a whole wardrobe for Qin Xiaoran? Dream on!
Wang Xiaoyi chimed in: “Do you even know how much this is? And you’re still complaining it’s too little? Out in the countryside, this could buy so many things!”
“I know,” Qin Xiaoran said coolly.
She had spent five years in the poorest mountain villages and knew exactly how much things cost there. That only made her understand even more just how extravagant Cui Hongyan and her daughter’s lifestyle was.
She didn’t want to waste words with them. Since she finally had this perfect chance to openly bleed them dry, she had to take full advantage of it.
Since Cui Hongyan was unwilling to give more, fine. She could go to Wang Wenbin’s workplace and ask him directly.
Thinking this, she left straight away.
Cui Hongyan and Wang Xiaoyi were furious—how dare Qin Xiaoran ignore them! But anger was one thing; they didn’t dare call her back, afraid she’d ask for even more.
“She believed it, right?”
“Probably. She’s never seen so much money and coupons before. That girl’s like a debt collector reborn, makes me so mad!”
“Mom, are we really going to let her keep oppressing us like this? If she dares treat us this way now, what’ll happen once she marries into the Huo family? Will we even have a place left in this house?”
“Stop shouting. I’m already thinking of a plan. Don’t worry—you’re my own daughter, I’ll look out for you. As for the Huo family matter, I’ll find a way.”
Wang Xiaoyi stomped her foot, then turned and stormed out.
—-
Following her memory, Qin Xiaoran made inquiries until she arrived at the government office where Wang Wenbin worked. Ordinary people couldn’t enter, but once she gave her name, someone eventually led her inside.
“Xiaoran, why are you here?”
Wang Wenbin froze for a moment when he saw her, then quickly put on his fake fatherly smile.
This was the second time Qin Xiaoran had seen him smile at her since her grandfather’s death. The first time had been yesterday.
She didn’t want to see his fake face. She went straight to the point.
“Dad, yesterday you said you’d buy me new clothes. I asked Stepmother for money, but she said there was no money at home. She only gave me eight cloth coupons and a hundred yuan—barely enough for one outfit.”
Wang Wenbin’s face stiffened instantly. He immediately understood what was going on.
He knew exactly how Cui Hongyan usually treated Qin Xiaoran, but out of “marital affection,” he always turned a blind eye. He had assumed she knew her limits. He hadn’t expected that even after he had spoken, she still wouldn’t take it seriously.
Did she not realize how important Qin Xiaoran’s marriage into the Beijing Huo family was for the Wangs?
Women—long hair, short sight, no big-picture thinking.
That’s what he thought. Outwardly, a trace of contempt flickered across his face. But seeing Qin Xiaoran again, his mood lifted.
He hadn’t expected this daughter he’d always ignored to have such good fortune. Looking closely, she wasn’t bad-looking either. Surely the Huo family would like her. Men, after all…
Qin Xiaoran endured his appraising gaze—as though she were merchandise—until someone else suddenly appeared.
“Well, well, Director Wang, and this young lady is…?”
Wang Wenbin snapped out of it. Seeing it was a colleague, he casually introduced:
“This is my daughter, Xiaoran. Xiaoran, this is your Uncle Li.”
Qin Xiaoran politely greeted him. “Hello, Uncle Li.”
The man was middle-aged, with a beer belly and thinning hair, looking a bit older than Wang Wenbin, though judging from the title “Uncle,” he was probably of lower rank.
He looked Qin Xiaoran up and down in surprise, then his expression turned lecherous.
“This isn’t Xiaoyi. Is she your goddaughter? Heh heh…”
Wang Wenbin immediately knew what he was thinking, and his face darkened.
“Director Li, watch your words. This is my biological daughter—and she’s already engaged.”
Director Li had been about to ask where Wang Wenbin had found such a pretty “goddaughter,” but hadn’t expected him to turn hostile. Normally, when drinking together, Wang Wenbin was always easygoing. Suddenly being snubbed like this left him embarrassed and annoyed.
Hmph! What’s so great about him anyway? Just because he knows how to flatter and bribe leaders, he thinks he’s hot stuff!
Still, he forced a smile.
“My mistake, my mistake—I didn’t recognize her. Ahem, so what brings Xiaoran here today? Is there something I can help with?”
Wang Wenbin had wanted to dismiss him, but then thought again. He hadn’t brought much money to work, and certainly no coupons. Director Li, however, was known to trade in tickets and coupons.
So Wang Wenbin softened his tone. “Xiaoran is engaged now and wants to buy a few new clothes. But at home we don’t have enough money or coupons…”
Old foxes understood each other well. With just that hint, Director Li knew exactly what he was asking.
“Hehe, Xiaoran’s so pretty, of course she should have more nice clothes. Short on money and coupons? Uncle Li can help with that. Come along, Xiaoran, I’ll get them for you.”
Qin Xiaoran glanced at Wang Wenbin, who nodded.
“Go with your Uncle Li. I’ll repay him afterward.”
Since he said so, Qin Xiaoran followed Director Li.
At his office, Director Li grinned at her.
“So, Xiaoran, how much money and how many coupons do you need?”
This little girl was stunning—far prettier than that Xiaoyi Wang Wenbin often brought around. She hardly looked like she was his daughter. Too bad she was already engaged, otherwise…
Expressionless, Qin Xiaoran said, “Five hundred yuan and fifty coupons.”
“Cough, cough, cough—!”
Director Li almost choked to death on his own saliva.
“How much??”
“Five hundred yuan and fifty coupons.”
Anyway, Wang Wenbin was the one who’d repay him. She might as well ask for more. And besides, it wasn’t even excessive. Cui Hongyan and Wang Xiaoyi spent that much on clothes in a single month.
“…Fine. I’ll get it.”
Director Li gritted his teeth. He’d recover it from Wang Wenbin later anyway.
Qin Xiaoran calmly counted the money and coupons he handed over, then turned and left without another word.
Director Li, who had wanted to chat more and maybe learn a few things: …