Hearing these words, Jiang Guo’an still couldn’t set his mind at ease.

When he returned home at noon, she looked unwell.

Could something really be wrong?

He didn’t want her to stir up any more trouble before the divorce.

In the afternoon, after leaving the training ground, Jiang Guo’an went to the cafeteria for a meal and ran into Li Jianguo, who was getting food.

Li Jianguo glanced around mysteriously and said kindly, “Old Jiang, did your wife go gambling again?

You’d better go back and check. This afternoon, she repaid all the money she owed everyone—ten yuan per person, plus an extra yuan in interest.”

Li Jianguo had just come from home, and this news was told to him by his wife.

Jiang Guo’an replied, “That’s impossible.”

He had just seen her at noon—where would she get that kind of money?

Paying off all that debt at once would require over three hundred yuan, and she even generously added interest.

Li Jianguo didn’t believe it either, but it wasn’t just his wife who had mentioned it.

“It’s not just my wife who knows about this. Many women in the compound have heard about it. In the short time I went back to get my lunchbox, I heard several people talking about it.

You should hurry back and see for yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guo’an lost his appetite. He turned around and stormed off toward the compound.

As he passed under the trees in the compound, some families had already finished preparing dinner and were chasing their children around with bowls and chopsticks, trying to feed them.

Someone spotted Jiang Guo’an and greeted him cheerfully.

“Commander Jiang, you’re back?”

Jiang Guo’an was in a hurry but managed to force a smile and nod before striding toward the building where Su Banxia lived.

The person called out from behind, “Commander Jiang, you don’t need to repay the money your wife owed us. She’s already paid everyone back, and she even gave us extra interest.

We misunderstood your wife before.”

Jiang Guo’an paused mid-step, glanced at the speaker, and then continued striding toward the building.

After paying off all her debts, Su Banxia thought about frying two eggs to celebrate, but there was nothing in the kitchen.

It seemed she would have to find a way to buy some food stamps or other essentials from others in the compound later.

Since she still had to live in the compound for a while before finding a new place, she needed to make do.

The thought of celebrating vanished when she caught sight of her plump figure in the mirror. After a moment’s consideration, she took a deep breath and boiled a bowl of cabbage with a pinch of salt for a simple meal.

She had just placed the boiled cabbage on the table and hadn’t touched it yet when there was another knock at the door.

Su Banxia took a deep breath. She had already adapted to this kind of life in just one day.

Since all the debts were paid off, who could it be at the door?

Could it be Jiang Guo’an again?

Su Banxia opened the door and, sure enough, it was him.

Frowning, she asked, “Why are you here again?”

Jiang Guo’an noticed she was holding the door handle, clearly not planning to let him in. Seeing her guarded expression, he wondered if she was hiding someone inside.

She had suddenly repaid hundreds of yuan in debt—she must have used some underhanded method.

Where did the money come from so quickly? Had she done something shameful?

Fuming, he pushed the door open, brushed past Su Banxia, and strode inside to check. But when he saw the bowl of boiled vegetables on the table, he instantly felt he had overthought it.

Just a moment ago, he had seen disdain in Su Banxia’s eyes.

In the past, she had always clung to him eagerly.

He couldn’t believe that, overnight, she was suddenly eager to leave.

What had gone wrong?

Su Banxia looked puzzled. Seeing his eyes scanning the entire room, she instantly understood what he meant and snapped angrily, “Jiang Guo’an, what do you think you’re doing?”

Jiang Guo’an snapped back to reality and turned to look at Su Banxia, who was glaring at him fiercely.

She had gotten angry before, but she had never stared at him with such fury. In the past, when she was upset, she would clam up like a sealed gourd—no amount of reasoning, gentle or harsh, could get through to her.

Jiang Guo’an’s mind was a mess. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different about her, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to ask where you got the money to repay everyone.”

“None of your business. It has nothing to do with you, anyway. Don’t worry—it wasn’t stolen or taken by force. The money was obtained honestly and legitimately.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of sarcasm flickered at the corner of Jiang Guo’an’s mouth. “Don’t tell me you won it gambling again?”

Su Banxia knew she shouldn’t have gambled, but she had been penniless and buried in debt. Was she supposed to just let people publicly shame her and chase her down? This had been a desperate move—a final gamble using her wits and courage.

Feeling a bit guilty because he had hit a nerve, Su Banxia didn’t want to answer his question.

What did it matter, since they were getting divorced anyway?

“This has nothing to do with you. We’ve already agreed to divorce, so stop meddling in my affairs. Don’t worry—I won’t hold you back.”

She claimed she wouldn’t be a burden, but who knew how she had really gotten that money?

“Fine. You said it yourself. You’d better not cause any trouble for me.”

After Jiang Guo’an spoke, Su Banxia expected him to leave. Instead, he stayed and even sat down at the table.

If he wasn’t leaving, how was she supposed to eat?

Su Banxia sat at the table, ignoring him. He was undeniably handsome, but his temper was unbearably volatile.

She could understand why he was angry, but that didn’t give him the right to suspect she was hiding someone in her room.

She had been starving earlier, but now her anger had killed her appetite. She took a few bites of the boiled cabbage and set down her chopsticks.

Seeing her eat nothing but plain boiled cabbage, Jiang Guo’an felt a pang of guilt. Given her gambling addiction, the house was probably already out of food.

With that thought, he pulled out his grain ration booklet from his pocket and pushed it toward her.

“I haven’t collected this month’s rations yet. Find some time to gather a few people and go to the supply and marketing cooperative in the city to stock up.

A divorce is one thing, but until the papers are finalized, you’re still my wife, and it’s my responsibility to provide for you.”

He hadn’t given her the booklet earlier because he was afraid she might gamble it away too. But now, things were different—they would be divorced in a month anyway. If she didn’t return the booklet after the divorce, he could always apply for a replacement.

Su Banxia glanced at the grain ration booklet. It was her first time seeing one of these. But with the country’s reform and opening-up policies, these booklets wouldn’t be in use much longer.

She had money now and could buy what she needed with cash and ration coupons.

Seeing that his tone had softened, Su Banxia responded more politely.

“Thank you, but I don’t need the booklet. If you have any grain coupons, you can give me some of those.”

“There are some inside the booklet. Check for yourself. I’m leaving now.”

Hearing her say “thank you” again irritated Jiang Guo’an. It really seemed like she had changed.

There was no point in pressing her further. He might as well let her be.

After all, ever since he had met Su Banxia, trouble had become a regular occurrence. What was one more month of bad luck?

With that thought, Jiang Guo’an stood up and left without looking back.

Su Banxia picked up the grain ration booklet and opened it. To her surprise, it contained stamps, cloth coupons, sugar coupons, and more.

This man actually had a conscience. He was good-looking and had an impressive physique.

It was just a shame she had no interest in men.

Men would only slow down CEO Su’s money-making speed.