Chapter 14

But Fu Shiting and Bai Gaohan have decent jobs and their salaries are not low. Even if they lose a lot of money, their families must have some. Otherwise, how would they live on?

Unlike their family, they really have nothing to eat now.

“Sister, you don’t know because you weren’t at my house. I don’t know where those damn thieves came from that day. They emptied our house overnight. They emptied everything from our bedroom, living room, and kitchen. They didn’t even leave us a grain of rice!”

“Aunt, our family is really out of money now. We have to wait for more than half a month until my father gets his salary. Aunt, please help us. I know you love me the most.”

“Xiaoting, you also know the situation of your brother-in-law’s family. My parents-in-law don’t even have enough money to support themselves. Every time I go home, they have to pay for it. I really have no other choice. Our parents are not here. Apart from you, I really don’t know who to turn to.”

“Wuwuwu…Aunt, if you don’t believe me, you can go to our house and take a look. All the furniture and everything in our house is gone. Our neighbors can testify to that.”

The mother and daughter sang the same tune, constantly complaining about their poverty. Fu Shiting looked at the time and didn’t want to beat around the bush with them, so she took out five dollars and handed it to Fu Xiuyun.

“Big sister, this is all I have now. I’ll lend it to you first.”

Only five bucks?

Ignoring their shocked looks, Fu Shiting babbled, “For Ruanruan’s marriage, our family’s savings are almost all gone. This five dollars is Ruanruan’s dowry, so just consider it as a loan to you.”

“But Ruanruan is getting married soon, and her dowry can’t be small. Big sister, when my brother-in-law gets his salary, remember to return the money to me.”

Fu Shiting stared at her elder sister and niece, her eyes full of earnestness. Occasionally she looked at the five dollars in her hand with a look of reluctance.

It’s just five dollars, is it worth mentioning?

How poor this family is! I’m still so worried about even five dollars.

Fu Xiujun looked unhappy, but still put the money into her pocket quickly.

“Sister, I won’t keep you here. I have to go to work soon.”

Fu Shiting reminded again: “Big sister, these five dollars are not a small amount. You should spend them sparingly. Before my Ruanruan gets married, you must remember to return them to me. They are all my daughter’s dowry!”

“I know, I know.”

Fu Xiujun responded impatiently, pulling Gu Zhenxi up and said, “Then we’ll leave first.”

The two of them went out quickly. When they walked downstairs, Fu Xiujun became angrier and angrier. She looked back at the door and spat, “Bah! It’s just five dollars. Why are you fussing about it? I won’t pay it back. What can you do to me?”

Gu Zhenxi also had a cold face and said with disdain: “That’s right, I didn’t know before that my aunt’s family was so poor. It seems that the generosity in the past was all pretended.”

“It’s really unlucky to have such poor relatives.”

“I didn’t realize it before, but today our house was robbed, and my aunt was so stingy and searched everywhere. It seems like she doesn’t consider us as relatives.”

The two walked further and further away, unaware that the people in the courtyard who had woken up early in the morning were also muttering when they saw them leaving:

“Who are these two people? They are not from our compound, right? Why are they out in their pajamas? They have no manners at all!”

“I don’t know who he is, but I don’t know him. He went out so slovenly so early in the morning. I even saw eye boogers! So disgusting!”

After they left, Fu Shiting sat on the sofa, calmed herself down, and continued cleaning the room.

At half past nine, Fu Shiting looked at the time and estimated that her daughter would soon wake up, so she heated up her breakfast.

Ten minutes later, Bai Ruanruan came out of the room rubbing her eyes.

“Ruanruan, go wash your face. Breakfast is on the table for you.”

Bai Ruanruan responded and went to the bathroom.

Fu Shiting started talking about what had just happened.

“Your aunt and your cousin just came. They came in their pajamas. I don’t know what they were thinking, but they were just playing a double act. They said their house was robbed last night and all their belongings were stolen. They emptied the house and there was not even a grain of rice left.”

“They have a lot of stuff at home, how could they lose everything in one night? And they said the police might not be able to find it. I think they are just pretending! How could a thief be so capable that he could move everything in one night? They were all so fast asleep that they didn’t notice it at all? Are they taking me for a fool?”

“They were probably just looking for an excuse to ask me for money. It was really annoying, so Mom said that our family was poor and we had to prepare a lot of dowry for you, so she gave them five dollars to perfunctorily send them away. Anyway, your cousin is getting married after you, and when they attend your wedding, they must give you gifts.”

“When your cousin gets married in the future, we can just deduct the five dollars and give it back to you.”

Fu Shiting was busy with her work while talking. Bai Runrun was sitting at the dining table eating and almost laughed out loud.

Fortunately, she was more careful yesterday and revealed a little about this matter to her mother. Otherwise, when her cousin and aunt came to borrow money today, her mother might have lent them a lot of money for the sake of her aunt.

Although the amount of money was not a lot, based on past experience, my aunt’s family were so shameless that they would never voluntarily pay it back. Even if they asked for it, they would be rejected for various reasons.

Fu Shiting sighed, staring at a certain place, seeming a little helpless.

Bai Ruanruan smiled and said nonchalantly, “Five dollars is really not a small amount. If you go to the market every day to buy vegetables and cook, a day’s meals will only cost a few cents. My uncle’s lunch and dinner are still provided by the factory. If you save a little more, five dollars can last for a month! It’s enough for my aunt’s family to eat for many days, and it’s definitely not a problem to last until my uncle gets paid.”

Salaries are paid on the 10th of every month, and there are still twelve days until the next payday. Five dollars is enough to get me through.

Of course, the premise is that the house has not been emptied.

Fu Shiting didn’t believe that all the Gu family’s belongings were looted, but she knew clearly who was the culprit, Bai Ruanruan.

When she left, the Gu family really only had the bed left, and everything had to be bought again.

Other things can be delayed, but daily necessities cannot be delayed.

I just don’t know if the Gu family has a passbook. If they have one, they can survive by living frugally. If they don’t have one, they will probably have to borrow money from everywhere.

Bai Runrun thought to herself that after a few days, when the Gu family’s conditions improved, she could go steal some things again.

Otherwise, how could she justify Gu Zhenxi’s scheme against her?

Fu Shiting calculated again in her mind and made sure there was no problem, then she felt relieved.

At this time, she was still able to lend money to Fu Xiuyun only because they were biological sisters. Otherwise, based on what Gu Zhenyi did to her daughter, Fu Shiting would have kicked him out long ago.

Fu Shiting stopped thinking about these things. She finished her housework, looked at the time, and went to work.

Not long after Bai Ruanruan finished her meal, the phone in the living room rang.

It was an unfamiliar number. Bai Ruanruan took a look and picked up the phone: “Hello.”

“Hello, is this Ruanruan? I’m Zhou Hongyu.”

This was Zhou Hongyu’s first call to the Bai family. His voice was low and steady: “Are you busy recently?”

“It’s okay, not too busy.” Bai Ruanruan was a little surprised.

“When are you and your family free? Our two families can come out and sit together. After all, we are getting married and many things are still undecided.”

Marriage is a matter between two families. From big things like the future house to live in and dowry to small things like how to arrange the banquet on the wedding day, all need to be discussed carefully.

They just decided to get married two days ago. According to the normal process, they should do it step by step, but Bai Runrun can’t wait now, so everything has to be accelerated.

After Zhou Hongyu returned home the day before yesterday afternoon, he went straight to register his marriage and told his mother about it that evening.

When Qi Lianxiang heard that her son was going to marry the girl he had a blind date with last time, she agreed without much hesitation.

It’s rare that her son meets someone he likes, and they were introduced by a friend. She knows him/her well and they get married early. Maybe she can also have grandchildren sooner.

Zhou Hongyu did not say what he had done for the marriage report in the past two days. He just said lightly: “The marriage report has been submitted. I found a few acquaintances and it will be processed soon. It should be approved by next week at the latest.”

If it can be passed next week, doesn’t that mean we can get married right away?

Bai Ruanruan’s eyes lit up.

Zhou Hongyu added: “After the marriage report is approved, we will go and get the marriage certificate.”

“Okay.” Bai Ruanruan quickly agreed.

The last time they met in a restaurant was a blind date. Now they are both getting married, so the two families must sit together and talk about marriage and such. And her father has not met Zhou Hongyu yet.

Bai Ruanruan calculated the time and said, “Let’s wait a few more days. Next week when my mother is on vacation, our two families will go out for dinner and we can talk while we eat.”

Zhou Hongyu knew what Bai Ruanruan’s parents did, so he said, “Okay.”

“Then it’s settled. Next week, when your report is approved, tell me and we’ll go get the marriage certificate first.”

“good.”

Listening to the girl’s arrangement, Zhou Hongyu couldn’t help but ask, “When are you free? Although our marriage is a bit hasty, we still have to take the necessary steps. Before getting married, we still have to have a normal date.”

“I haven’t been busy these few days yet, and I just happen to have nothing to do. If you are free, we can go out for a walk and get to know each other better.”

Zhou Hongyu’s voice was neither fast nor slow, and it fell into Bairuanruan’s ears, making her feel inexplicably itchy.

She moved the phone away from her ear, thought about what Zhou Hongyu said, and felt that there was some truth to it.

Anyway, she stays at home every day and has nothing to do, so it’s not bad for her to keep in touch with her future husband.

After all, even though they had agreed not to become real husband and wife until they had feelings for each other, they still had to live together.

After all, he is my future roommate, so I have to get to know him better.