Chapter 45

“No, but I can earn back this kettle within a month!”

Liu Yu’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

Liu Dagang cast her a disdainful look. “You? A little girl?”

Liu Dagang had never liked his granddaughter, Liu Yu, for one reason—girls were a financial burden. Raising a daughter wasn’t as good as raising millet, and having a daughter wasn’t as valuable as having a son.

Of course, his favorite youngest son, in his eyes, was just a debt collector! Only obedient, hard-working boys who could earn full work points were worthy of Liu Dagang’s approval.

“In a month, I’ll earn back the kettle for you and even give you ten extra yuan! We’ll call it even.” Liu Yu raised the corner of her mouth with a smile. “If I can’t do it, then you can send me to prison!”

Liu Dagang fell silent as he weighed sending his granddaughter to prison against the ten yuan and the kettle. After thinking it over, he decided the kettle and the ten yuan were more important!

Finally, he spoke up. “Remember your words. Within a month, you’ll return my kettle and ten yuan, and we’ll call it even.”

As soon as he said that, Liu Yu let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that Liu Dagang was easier to deal with than Chen Shi, as long as money was involved. “It’s a deal!”

Liu Dagang still sneered. “If you can’t get it together in a month, I’ll definitely send you to prison! No one can save you, not even the king of heaven!” With that, Liu Dagang walked into the room with his hands behind his back.

For the time being, the issue was resolved, but Nie Xiaocui was worried—where was she going to find ten yuan? Where would she get the money to buy the kettle?

Liu Jianmin was also concerned. If they couldn’t come up with the money, what would they do?

Liu Yu wasn’t too worried. Ten yuan wasn’t much; she could sell more grain next time. So, she laughed cheerfully, as if she had no care in the world. “I went to the county today and bought some Jiangmi sticks! The ones with red bean paste, sweet and sticky, they’re really delicious. And I got some peach crisps sprinkled with sugar! Oh, and most importantly, I managed to buy some pork! Tomorrow, let’s pick some chili peppers and stir-fry pork slices!”

Liu Yu tried to ease her family’s worries with talk of food, but unfortunately, it didn’t work too well.

Liu Ye rubbed his head. “Sis! Where are we going to get that much money? Grandpa really—it’s just a kettle, why make such a big fuss over it?”

Liu Yu began to laugh it off. “Don’t worry, where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ve got this handled.”

Liu Ye was confused. He looked at his sister and realized he couldn’t quite figure her out. The old Liu Yu had only cared about eating and sleeping, but now, she seemed different.

She was sensible, understood right from wrong, had shed her spoiled nature, and constantly stood up to protect the main household… Wait, it seemed like her face wasn’t as round as before!

Liu Ye was surprised. “Sis… you look like you’ve lost some weight?”

“Ah!”

Liu Yu touched her face. It still had some softness, and she couldn’t feel her bones, but after so many days in this body, she had almost gotten used to her own plumpness. So she couldn’t believe it. “Really? Little brother, don’t trick me!”

Nie Xiaocui leaned in to take a look at her daughter, examining her from top to bottom. She even pinched Liu Yu’s waist, then thoughtfully said, “It seems like there’s a bit less flesh. You should go to the team office to get weighed with the big scale sometime.”

As a mother, how could Nie Xiaocui not know if her own daughter had lost weight?

Since Nie Xiaocui said she had lost weight, then it must be true! Liu Yu immediately felt lighter and happier, thinking to herself, “Thank Buddha, at least my hard work on losing weight is paying off!”