Su Banxia said, “No need, thank you very much.”

Jiang Guo’an was left speechless. He sat back down at the table, stiffened his neck, and said, “I’m sorry about what happened this morning. It was my fault. But I didn’t do it on purpose. I was lost in thought and didn’t notice the pothole on the road, which is why I bumped your head.”

Upon hearing this, the noodles Su Banxia had picked up with her chopsticks slipped back into the bowl.

He actually apologized on his own initiative.

At least he could tell right from wrong.

Still, he was just a prideful fool.

Su Banxia was surprised, but to be honest, the original host had caused him plenty of trouble too. Now that the two were about to divorce, she didn’t want to create any more drama before the split. They should part on good terms, and she would try not to cause him any more trouble.

Su Banxia said, “It’s fine, I’m not dead.”

Jiang Guo’an watched Su Banxia slowly eating her noodles, feeling even more puzzled.

This wasn’t her.

She used to devour her food, but now she was chewing slowly and deliberately, almost elegantly.

Realizing his thoughts were wandering, Jiang Guo’an feared he might soften toward her and quickly stopped himself from thinking further.

Jiang Guo’an took ten yuan from his bag and handed it to Su Banxia. “Don’t leave the compound these next few days. If those debt collectors beat you up again, you’ll be the one suffering. Take this money. If you want to eat something, go to the cafeteria. Try not to leave the compound.”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

This time, it was Su Banxia’s turn to cough.

What the heck?

So he thought she’d been beaten up by debt collectors?

Well, thank you very much.

Still, at a time like this, he could still bring home ten yuan. His character couldn’t be all that bad.

Su Banxia pushed the money back. “Keep your money. I have my own.”

Jiang Guo’an…

Have money?

Yeah, right.

If she had money, why was she beaten black and blue?

At a time like this, could she just not boast?

Why couldn’t she just live a steady, honest life?

If she didn’t gamble and didn’t squander everything, he’d be more than willing to come back.

But alas, she just wasn’t the type to live a stable life.

Jiang Guo’an angrily stood up and said, “Suit yourself.”

He left the medicinal powder for her wound and the ten-yuan bill on the table, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Su Banxia watched his tall, receding figure, feeling a strange emotion.

She’d keep the money for him for now.

After finishing a bowl of noodles, she was only half-full but didn’t cook another bowl.

With her bulky figure weighing around 170 or 180 pounds, she looked broad-shouldered and thick-waisted even to herself.

Her face was pretty, though. If she lost some weight, she might not be stunningly beautiful, but she’d definitely be easier on the eyes.

In her previous life, nothing could stand in Little Su’s way. In this life, opportunities to make money were everywhere, and no one could stop her from getting rich.

Su Banxia was still feeling dizzy. After eating, she lay down and took a nap.

Around three or four in the afternoon, she was awakened by the laughter and chatter of a group of women downstairs.

Su Banxia lazily yawned and walked out to the balcony. Down below were the women she owed money to. She grabbed a pen and a notebook and went downstairs to repay them.

When these women saw her, those stitching shoe soles stopped and packed up their needles and thread to leave. The ones knitting put down their wool and acted as if they hadn’t seen her, all rising to their feet in unison.

Su Banxia quickly stepped forward and called out to them.

“Wait up, sisters. I need to talk to you.”

Their steps didn’t falter; staying even a second longer felt like a crime.

What if this woman tried to borrow money again? Either her mom was dying or her dad was dying. If they softened their hearts, not only would they fail to recover the money they’d already lent her, but they might also get swayed by her tearful pleas and end up giving her more money. What would they do then?

Su Banxia let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Aiya, I was going to pay you back. Do you still want your money or not?”

Upon hearing this, the women immediately turned back.

The first to rush over was Zhang Xiaolan, the wife of Battalion Commander Li Jianguo. She was known for being gossipy but had a warm heart.

Still holding a needle in her hand, she asked mysteriously, “Really? Is it true?”

Su Banxia smiled. “Of course it is. Sister Zhang, I owe you twenty yuan, right? I’ve written it down in my notebook. Would you like to check?”

Zhang Xiaolan was illiterate and had no idea what was written in Su Banxia’s notebook. She said, “Oh, you know I can’t read. But I remember clearly—it’s twenty yuan.”

Su Banxia chuckled, pulled out two ten-yuan bills from her bag, and then added another two-yuan bill.

“Sister, I really needed the money earlier, which is why I couldn’t pay you back on time. I hope you’re not upset. Consider these extra two yuan as a treat for your child. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Zhang Xiaolan was stunned.

Good heavens, had Su Banxia won some money?

She was even giving extra.

Zhang Xiaolan hurriedly took her twenty yuan and tried to return the two-yuan bill. “No, no, I’ll just take back what’s mine. I can’t accept these two extra yuan.”

She felt uneasy taking extra money.

There was a saying: if you take someone’s money, you’ll feel indebted; if you eat someone’s food, you’ll be at a loss for words.

What if this woman came asking to borrow money again? It would be even more troublesome.

Su Banxia said, “Sister Zhang, this money is a token of my gratitude. Everyone who lent me money will get the same. Please, take it with ease.”

Zhang Xiaolan hesitated for a moment before finally accepting the two yuan.

Two yuan—what could two yuan buy?

Two yuan could buy eight pounds of rice.

Zhang Xiaolan smiled. “Alright then, I’ll take it. Banxia, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but Battalion Commander Jiang is a good man. You should try to quit gambling and focus on building a good life with him. These days, finding a man as good as Battalion Commander Jiang is rare. You need to learn to cherish him.”

Su Banxia grinned and said, “Thank you, sister. Now, as for the rest of you, let me pay you back as well.”

Noticing that Su Banxia didn’t mention Battalion Commander Jiang, Zhang Xiaolan felt a bit awkward. She stood by and watched as Su Banxia repaid everyone.

Those who had lent ten yuan received an extra yuan in return. Everyone felt somewhat embarrassed to take the extra money but eventually accepted it after some polite reluctance.

Soon, news of Su Banxia repaying her debts with interest spread throughout the entire compound.

By the afternoon, Su Banxia had paid back all the money she owed.

Suddenly, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

It was true: being debt-free really made one feel lighter.

As she walked upstairs, Su Banxia hummed a cheerful tune.

Once inside, she took out the remaining money and counted it—250 yuan left.

Looking at the number, Su Banxia clicked her tongue.

What a numbskull.

She put the money away and poured herself a glass of water.

…

On the training ground.

During break time, several men had heard about Su Banxia being beaten until her head was bloodied.

Everyone in the compound had seen her return at noon.

The men gathered around and began offering Jiang Guo’an advice.

Jiang Guo’an was such a pitiful man. He had returned home only to come back with such a woman.

Just when everyone was happy for him, little did they know that this was the beginning of Jiang Guo’an’s wretched life.