Chapter 18: Borrowing Money, Tickets, and a Watch  

Su Ruanruan changed into an old set of clothes, put on her shoes, and was just about to head outside when she heard a knock at the door.  

She wondered if Fu Wenjing had returned, but before she could move, Liu Xiue’s voice came from outside.  

“Seventh’s Wife, why is the door locked? You’re awake, aren’t you? Open up, your eldest sister-in-law has something to discuss with you.”  

Hearing Liu Xiue’s words, Su Ruanruan instinctively furrowed her brows.  

Liu Xiue was not the type to get up early without a reason.  

For her to come knocking on her own accord, it was definitely not just for idle chatter.  

Although Su Ruanruan knew that Liu Xiue’s visit was unlikely to be simple, she couldn’t refuse to open the door.  

As soon as she pulled back the latch and opened the door just a crack, Liu Xiue’s hands reached through the gap, pushing the door open as she stepped inside.  

“Seventh’s Wife, I have to say, we’re all family—why are you locking the door in broad daylight?”  

Su Ruanruan gave a polite yet distant smile. “Listen to what you’re saying, Sister-in-law. What if I were changing clothes inside? If someone barged in accidentally, wouldn’t that be a problem?”  

This was her bedroom—whether she locked the door or not was her own decision. It wasn’t Liu Xiue’s place to interfere.  

Liu Xiue let out a dry laugh. “I wasn’t thinking that far. Now that you mention it, you do have a point.”  

Even as she spoke, she didn’t stop moving, quickly making her way to the edge of the bed. She sat down directly on the kang, raised her hand, and patted the small table. “Seventh’s Wife, come sit. Why are you still standing there in a daze?”  

She spoke as if this house belonged to her.  

Su Ruanruan disliked Liu Xiue’s way of acting like the host in someone else’s home.  

She slowly walked toward the bed. “What brings you here, Sister-in-law?”  

“There’s actually something I wanted to discuss.” Liu Xiue grinned brightly. “You see, your eldest nephew is about to meet a potential match. He should look presentable for the occasion. I’ve already prepared fabric and had new clothes made for him. But… he’s still missing a watch.”  

“Seventh’s Wife, do you think you or Seventh could lend him a watch? He’s a young man, and wearing a watch would make him look more refined and dignified. It would also bring him more face. If this marriage arrangement works out, it will be thanks to the both of you.”  

Su Ruanruan neither agreed nor refused directly. Instead, she asked: “Wearing a watch will guarantee a successful proposal?”  

If it were that simple, wouldn’t things be too easy?

Liu Xiue waved her hand dismissively. “Of course, it’s not that simple! There’s another thing I need to discuss with you. Can you talk to Seventh and ask him to lend me two hundred yuan? I know he brought back a bicycle ticket when he returned. Since you two don’t need it, why not just give it to me? I’ll buy a bicycle for your eldest nephew, and when he wears the watch and rides the bicycle to meet the girl, the marriage will be guaranteed.”  

She spoke as if it were the easiest thing in the world.  

A watch, a bicycle ticket, two hundred yuan—such valuable things, yet in Liu Xiue’s mouth, they seemed as effortless to obtain as picking a cucumber from the field.  

Su Ruanruan had always known that Liu Xiue was thick-skinned, but at this moment, she realized she had still underestimated her.  

This level of shamelessness was probably thicker than the cornerstones of the Great Wall!  

Su Ruanruan remained silent, which made Liu Xiue anxious.  

“Seventh’s Wife, I’ve said so much, but you haven’t given me a clear answer. What do you mean by staying quiet?”  

Su Ruanruan smiled faintly and countered: “Sister-in-law, you’re asking to borrow a watch, a bicycle ticket, and money—did you discuss this with Father and Mother?”  

The moment she said this, she saw the smile on Liu Xiue’s face vanish instantly.  

It took Liu Xiue a long time to regain her composure before she forced a stiff smile and spoke in an unnatural tone. “These are matters between us sisters-in-law and brothers; we can handle them ourselves. Father and Mother are getting old, so it’s best not to trouble them with such things.”  

Su Ruanruan shook her head in disagreement. “Sister-in-law, that’s not how it works. Father and Mother are the heads of the household. What you’re asking for adds up to six or seven hundred yuan. That’s a big deal. If we don’t inform them, and they find out later, won’t they be upset?”  

“Tsk!” Liu Xiue waved her hand impatiently. “Then we just won’t tell them!”  

Su Ruanruan had only been speculating before, but after hearing Liu Xiue’s response, she was now certain—this wasn’t borrowing at all.  

Liu Xiue clearly wanted to take advantage without giving anything in return.

If she really agreed to lend those things, they would be like meat buns thrown to a dog—gone forever, never to return.  

“Seventh’s Wife, why aren’t you speaking again? You’re still so young, yet you do things so hesitantly. Are you lending them or not? Just give me a straightforward answer!”  

Su Ruanruan flashed Liu Xiue a bright smile. Just as Liu Xiue began to smile along with her, she spoke in the sweetest, softest voice—yet her words were utterly ruthless.  

“No.”  

Liu Xiue was still smiling when she heard those words. Her expression froze instantly. “What did you say? You’re not lending them? Why not?”  

Su Ruanruan raised an amused eyebrow. “Listen to yourself, Sister-in-law. You want to borrow, but I don’t want to lend. Why should there be a reason?”  

“Why don’t you want to lend?” Liu Xiue pressed on relentlessly. “Are you afraid we won’t be able to pay it back?”  

“Yes.” Su Ruanruan nodded without hesitation. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to pay it back.”  

Liu Xiue was so stunned that she stood there, completely dumbfounded. She had never expected Su Ruanruan to be so blunt.  

When she finally snapped back to reality, she pointed a trembling finger at Su Ruanruan. “You… you… how could you say that? What makes you think we can’t pay it back?”  

Since Liu Xiue had asked, Su Ruanruan decided to do the math for her. She began counting on her fingers, her tone calm and unhurried.  

“Sister-in-law, your household has three able-bodied workers. If you all work the entire year, by the end of it, you can get about seventy to eighty yuan. But half of that has to go to the communal fund, which means at most, you’re left with forty yuan.”  

“In one year, that’s forty yuan. In ten years, that’s four hundred yuan.”  

“And that’s assuming not a single cent is spent on anything. But if you buy things throughout the year, you’d be lucky to save twenty yuan. That means it would take twenty years to save four hundred yuan. If I lend you the money and tickets today, Sister-in-law, are you planning to pay me back in twenty years?”  

Liu Xiue shot to her feet, her face turning dark with anger. Her hand trembled as she pointed at Su Ruanruan, wanting to say something.  

Yet, after a long moment, no words came out.  

She wanted to argue, but she had nothing to refute. Because deep down, she knew—Su Ruanruan’s calculations were absolutely correct.

But Liu Xiue quickly regained her composure.  

Although she had repeatedly said she was borrowing, she had never actually planned to return anything!  

Realizing this, she spoke again. “Seventh’s Wife, you can’t calculate it that way. If your eldest nephew successfully marries, our family will have another worker! She’ll have a monthly salary. And if your eldest nephew becomes a government official in the future, he’ll also have a steady income. Don’t you think so?”  

Su Ruanruan looked at Liu Xiue in surprise. “The new bride hasn’t even entered the house yet, and Sister-in-law is already planning to put her in debt? If she finds out, do you think she’ll still agree to marry? You told me that she’s a high school graduate, right? That means she’s an educated person, with modern thinking.  

How about I go talk to her? If she truly likes Da Wa, maybe she won’t ask for anything and will still be willing to marry him.  Things like bicycles and watches are superficial. What matters most is that they can live a good life together. Don’t you think so, Sister-in-law? Since I’m free right now, why don’t I go have a chat with her?”  

As she spoke, Su Ruanruan stood up, pretending to head outside.  

Liu Xiue immediately stepped in front of her, her tone turning harsh. “Who told you to go?! I never realized before how wicked your heart is! If you ruin Da Wa’s marriage, what good does that do you?”  

“You and Seventh have two watches, a bicycle ticket, and money. These things mean nothing to you, yet you’d rather let them collect dust than help Da Wa. How can you be so heartless? If you refuse to help Da Wa today, then don’t expect us to help you in the future when you need something!”