Sister-in-law Luo exploded immediately upon hearing this: “Luo Chuxia! Are you intentionally trying to cause trouble? Who used your money? Don’t just throw dirt and blame on us!”

Chu Xia ignored her and looked at Wang Yulan instead. “Mom, what do you have to say?”

“Chuxia, you know our family’s situation. Are you trying to make things difficult for your father and me?” Wang Yulan said, glancing helplessly at Luo Dafu.

Luo Dafu, unable to resist seeing Wang Yulan in such a state, would always support her no matter if she was right or wrong whenever she showed this expression.

“Luo Chuxia, what nonsense are you talking about!” Luo Dafu glared with his bull-like eyes, full of anger.

He looked more like he was confronting an enemy rather than his daughter.

Chu Xia knew that Luo Dafu was violent.

His large hands could knock someone down in one swing, as he had done to the original Chu Xia.

Chu Xia glanced at her shrinking elder brother, who was pretending not to exist, then at the furious Sister-in-law Luo and the feigned weakness of Wang Yulan.

In her heart, Chu Xia sneered but showed a sorrowful expression on her face.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and soon her face was streaked with tears.

Holding Cen Huai’an, she appeared much more vulnerable than Wang Yulan. “Dad, Mom, please have pity on me and An’an. Dad, look at us—we’re starving! Mom, don’t make me give dowry money for my brother. I really can’t afford it anymore. Every month, you’ve borrowed the money Cen Zhengnian sent, and you haven’t repaid a single cent. I’ve paid for my elder brother and sister-in-law’s children, my niece and nephew’s schooling, and even for my younger sister’s schooling. Now you want me to pay for my brother’s wedding expenses too? Mom and Dad, are you trying to force me to death? If so, I’ll take An’an and jump off a building. We won’t live anymore!”

Chu Xia’s voice wasn’t too high or too low. In the corridor-style building, there were no secrets if someone wanted to listen.

Wang Yulan panicked instantly.

Fearing that Chu Xia might run to the corridor and cry, she quickly said, “Chuxia, let’s talk this over calmly. Family matters shouldn’t be aired outside.”

Chu Xia was merely putting on a show to threaten them.

She knew that recently there were housing allocations at the factory.

Her elder brother and sister-in-law were counting on this batch of allocations.

If Chu Xia caused a scene, the Luo family’s reputation would be ruined, and the house would be lost.

Luo Dafu frowned after hearing this and looked at Wang Yulan. “Did you really borrow money from Chuxia?”

Wang Yulan’s eyes showed irritation.

This fool, doesn’t he see where the family’s belongings came from? Truly clueless.

“Yes, I borrowed a bit.”

“Not just a bit, Mom. I’ve calculated that since I got married, you’ve been taking money from me every month. It started with ten yuan, then twenty, and in the past two years, it’s been worse. Not a single cent of the allowance Cen Zhengnian sent has been left for me. Sometimes my salary is even deducted by ten or twenty yuan.”

Chu Xia continued, “I roughly calculated it, and the money you’ve taken from me adds up to at least five thousand yuan.”

“Huh!”

The Luo family’s breathing became heavy.

Five thousand yuan—something they couldn’t even imagine.

Their mother (mother-in-law) had five thousand yuan!

Luo Dafu’s first reaction was disbelief. “Five thousand yuan is impossible! Your mother is timid, she wouldn’t dare borrow that much.”

“Impossible? Mom, I have the remittance slips for every allowance Cen Zhengnian sent. The first time, you said my younger sister needed to go to school, and the family had no money. Later, I had to cover for my sister-in-law’s childbirth, find work for my brother, and pay for my niece’s schooling. Every month, not a single one missed. Mom, am I right? Five thousand is just about right.”

The door to the inner room was suddenly slammed open.

Luo Xiaomei, with her face flushed with anger, came out: “Second sister, Dad and Mom paid for my schooling, not you!”

“Do you not know where Mom’s money came from? Really eating from the bowl and cursing it after putting it down. But don’t worry, Xiaomei, when you get married, Mom will treat you the same way.”

---

Luo Xiaomei pointed at Chuxia and couldn’t say a word, so she turned around and ran into the house, crying loudly.

Wang Yulan’s face grew increasingly pale as she clutched her head and said through her tears, “Chuxia, are you trying to drive me to death? Lao Luo, Lao Luo, my head hurts.”

“Unfilial daughter, be quiet!” Luo Dafu, seeing that his wife was upset because of their daughter, was even angrier.

He thought Chuxia was truly ungrateful!

They had raised her, provided for her, and even sent her to school.

Why shouldn’t they spend a little money on her?

She had no gratitude at all!

Luo Dafu’s older son quickly ran over, while his sister-in-law just looked at her son, pursing her lips.

Chuxia knew Wang Yulan was just putting on an act.

She said directly, “Mom, if you really want everyone to know about this, I can call people over to mediate. But I remember the factory is allocating houses soon. Big Brother and Sister-in-law would surely want one. Little Brother might not be happy at the tractor factory, after all, it’s a job bought with my money. I’d feel uneasy not checking on him. And what about Little Sister? I wonder if her classmates know she’s using my money and still speaks ill of me?”

Wang Yulan’s headache seemed to disappear instantly, and her tears were genuine as she said, “Don’t go. If you want money, I’ll give it to you.”

Luo Dafu was so angry he wanted to hit Chuxia, but Wang Yulan held him back.

Chuxia coldly looked at him and said, “Dad, do you also want the whole factory to know about this? It would be quite a reputation if the married daughter emptied the family’s savings to support her whole maternal family.”

“Unfilial daughter! Why didn’t I strangle you when you were born!”

Luo Dafu’s older son finally spoke up, pointing at Chuxia, “Are you trying to kill Mom and Dad? Chuxia, how did you turn out like this?”

Chuxia looked innocent and said, “Aren’t you the ones pushing me to this?”

She then turned to Wang Yulan, pretending to be considerate, “Mom, there’s five thousand. I only need three thousand. The rest I’ll consider as my filial piety to you and Dad.”

“Three thousand?!” The sister-in-law screamed, “Chuxia, why don’t you just rob us? Mom, I’ll give up my share of the house!”

Wang Yulan’s face darkened, but she still knew the stakes.

She quickly stopped her daughter-in-law from speaking further, saying, “Don’t talk. Chuxia, we definitely can’t come up with three thousand. We only have five hundred right now.”

She sighed, “This is actually your brother’s wedding money.”

Chuxia pointed at the items in the house and smiled, “If there’s no money, then it’s easy to deal with. This television, refrigerator, sewing machine, and sofa—let my brother and little brother move them to my place, and I’ll agree to the five hundred.”

“You’re dreaming!” The sister-in-law was the first to protest, “Chuxia! Why should you get everything? The sewing machine was my dowry! You, a married woman, want to come back and empty your family’s home? Have you lost your conscience?”

Chuxia ignored her and looked at Wang Yulan, “Mom, what do you say?”

Wang Yulan knew Chuxia was threatening her.

Not dividing the house was one thing, but if Chuxia caused trouble at the factory…

Originally, her eldest son was a temporary worker and might not get a permanent position this year.

If Chuxia caused trouble, he might lose his job altogether.

Gritting her teeth and holding back her anger, Wang Yulan said, “Fine. The sofa was bought with your dad’s money, and the sewing machine was brought by your sister-in-law. We can’t give those to you. But the television and refrigerator can go, and I’ll give you the five hundred.”

Wang Yulan took out the money from the house and handed it to Chuxia, her heart bleeding.

“Luo Chuxia, if you dare take this, then from now on, Luo Dafu won’t have you as his daughter!”

Chuxia quickly stuffed the money into her pocket, her tone cheerful, “Alright.”

Luo Dafu was so enraged he wanted to hit someone, but Wang Yulan desperately held him back.

She now had a weakness in Chuxia’s hands and dared not upset her.

Seeing Wang Yulan’s face, Chuxia knew she had reached her limit.

She smiled at her and said, “Mom, remember to have my brother and little brother move the television and refrigerator to my place today.”

Then she turned, smiling broadly, and left with Cen Huai’an.

As the door was opened, a young man, dripping with sweat, stood at the entrance, chatting cheerfully with the neighbors.

Seeing Chu Xia, his face lit up with surprise. “Second sister, what a coincidence! I just bought some watermelon. You’re in for a treat.”

Luo Chuming’s smile seemed genuinely happy to see his sister.

However, Chu Xia knew he was the most like their mother, Wang Yulan.

Sweet-talking and flattering on the surface, he was cunning and ungrateful underneath, always scheming to take advantage of his siblings.

Wang Yulan played the victim to get what she wanted, while Luo Chuming made you feel good about giving him things, only to remember your kindness and take advantage of it further.

The original Chu Xia had been the one most deceived by him.

Chu Xia’s smile faded instantly, and her expression turned cold. “I don’t want any.”

She pushed him aside, grabbed Cen Huai’an, and walked away without giving him another glance.

This younger brother was the one the original Chu Xia loved the most, even more than her own son.

Chu Xia had used her own money to buy him a job.

Whenever something was missing, he would come to her, but when Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an were starving, he acted as if he didn’t see it.

Even though he had a job, he never once visited Chu Xia, let alone bought anything to show his gratitude.

This family had no one normal, including Chu Xia and the elder sister who had married out.

Luo Chuming watched his sister leave, frowning.

The second sister used to be pleased and helpless whenever he offered her watermelon, but today she seemed off.

He entered the house with a smile on his face. “Dad, Mom, what’s up with Second Sister? I bought watermelon and invited her to eat, but she refused.”

Luo Dafu’s face darkened. “Don’t mention that ungrateful wretch!”

Sister-in-law Luo snorted angrily. “She’s worthless! A heartless thing, she’ll get her comeuppance sooner or later!”

Then she went on to tell them about Chu Xia coming to ask for money.

Wang Yulan rushed over to hug Luo Chuming, crying, “I’m sorry, dear. I made your second sister take the dowry money.”

Luo Chuming almost pushed Wang Yulan away, suppressing his irritation. “Mom, what should I do? Without the dowry, Xiulian won’t marry!”

---

After leaving the textile factory’s family quarters, Chu Xia’s mood improved.

She pulled out a large wad of money and waved it in front of Cen Huai’an, smiling with satisfaction.

“Did you see that? I managed to get the money, didn’t I?”

Cen Huai’an hadn’t said a word while at his grandmother’s house.

When Luo Dafu had tried to hit Chu Xia, he had felt a surge of anger and wanted to rush at him.

However, Chu Xia had pulled him to the door, so Luo Dafu hadn’t struck her.

Even so, Cen Huai’an felt uncomfortable in that place.

He didn’t like anyone there and couldn’t control his bad mood when he saw his grandmother’s face.

His mood remained poor until he saw Chu Xia with the money, her eyebrows raised in a satisfied smile.

All his dark thoughts vanished instantly.

Cen Huai’an nodded in acknowledgment.

Chu Xia, not caring much about his reaction, put the money away and said, “I was going to give you a share of this.”

Cen Huai’an’s eyes lit up as he stared at her bag with hopeful eyes.

“But you’re too young, so I’ll give you two pennies instead. That should be enough for some candy.”

Cen Huai’an: …

He knew his mother wouldn’t be generous with him.

She never cared for him before, and she was still as stingy.

“Soft drinks! Delicious orange-flavored soda!”

“Popsicles! White sugar popsicles!”

The calls from vendors at the entrance of the family quarters caught Cen Huai’an’s attention.

He licked his lips and said, “Mom, I want to buy a bottle of soda.”