Chapter 78: Entangled Over Money Matters

Chen Xue came to invite her for a gathering, but as soon as she stepped in the door, she was scolded harshly by Zhou Xinyue, leaving her stunned. “Zhou Xinyue, what’s your problem?”

Now that she was married to Lu Zhixing, Zhou Xinyue didn’t bother to pretend anymore. “You know exactly what’s going on. That day at noon, didn’t you deliberately come late? If you’d arrived ahead of that woman, none of this would’ve happened. Now my reputation is ruined—are you happy now?”

Chen Xue found Zhou Xinyue completely unreasonable and responded with equal force: “What does your ruined reputation have to do with me? You and Lu Zhixing were never clean to begin with! And that sister-in-law of yours, Lu Xueting, is so demanding. It’s not like I could just drag people along. How could I have timed it so precisely?”

Zhou Xinyue scrutinized her for a moment before letting out a cold snort. “Fine. This matter ends here. Just don’t come to my house again.”

Chen Xue almost thought she misheard. After helping Zhou Xinyue so much, she was now being told not to come around?

“Zhou Xinyue, don’t forget what you promised me! Now that Lu Zhixing is vice president, he must promote Qingshan to department head!” she snapped, glaring at Zhou Xinyue, chest heaving. She didn’t even know how she had offended Lu Zhixing, but now all she could do was rely on Zhou Xinyue to speak on her behalf.

Zhou Xinyue’s expression changed quickly, replacing her coldness with a smile. “Sister Chen, I’m just worried Zhixing might find out, that’s all. Don’t worry, I remember your request.”

Only then did Chen Xue relax. She glanced at the empty room behind Zhou Xinyue and sneered, “Xinyue, it wasn’t easy for you to marry into the Lu family. Don’t be stupid like Xie Yunshu, being stingy about spending. Dr. Lu earns the highest salary and bonuses at our hospital, and the Lu family is wealthy. Just that sister of his gets dozens every month as pocket money. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

Zhou Xinyue frowned, forcing a smile. “I’m not someone who chases vanity. I married Zhixing because I genuinely love him.”

Tsk, who would believe that? With the Lu family’s conditions, if Zhou Xinyue hadn’t played some tricks, she’d never have gotten in. Now that Xie Yunshu was pushed out, she could finally enjoy life!

Enjoy life?

After Chen Xue left, Zhou Xinyue’s face turned gloomy. Lu Zhixing not only refused to give her his bankbook but wouldn’t even hand over his salary card. Was she supposed to support him on her 40 yuan monthly wage?

Thinking of this, she pulled her clothes tighter around her and looked at the boy sitting in the corner. “Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to kneel and bow at your grandma’s house! I want to see what face the Lu family has left, treating their newlywed grandson this way!”

Whether or not this child was Lu Zhixing’s, he was already registered in the Lu family household. If they refused to give him spending money, what was that about? Just like Chen Xue said—she didn’t marry into this family to suffer. If she was still going to live poorly, then what was the point of all the effort to land Lu Zhixing?

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In the 1980s, nightlife wasn’t rich. Few households owned TVs, and even those who did were mindful of electricity costs. Most families turned off the lights and went to bed by 8 PM.

Xie Yunshu lay on her small bed, reading line by line under a flashlight. She was studying architectural drawings: from structural diagrams to layout plans, budgets, and construction costs… After a while, she closed her eyes and curled her lips into a smile.

She was still so far from her dream. Who would ever let her build a house? It felt like an unattainable fantasy.

Yet after a brief rest, she turned over and earnestly resumed studying the blueprints. Turns out building a house wasn’t like stacking wooden blocks as she’d imagined as a child. There was so much to learn.

In the next partitioned space, her younger brother Xie Qiancheng was also reading. He silently recited English over and over. The radio his sister brought back helped him a lot. Before, English education had been all about reading and writing—no one actually spoke or heard real pronunciation. Now, he could finally practice along.

The siblings were engrossed in learning. Their mother, Li Fenlan, hadn’t gone to sleep either. In the dim light, she hummed a tune while knitting a sweater. The soft yellow yarn flew between her fingers. Her Yunshu was the prettiest girl in the whole apartment block, yet always wore dull, worn clothes.

At first, Yunshu wore her old hand-me-downs. Later, when her daughter grew taller, she passed down Xiancheng’s clothes. Her only new clothes were factory-issued uniforms or the crisp shirt Li Fenlan forced her to wear during blind dates.

The only bright outfit she ever owned was the red down jacket Li Fenlan secretly bought for her wedding, gritting her teeth and spending 40 yuan—the cheapest kind available.

People said she had married up by getting with Lu Zhixing, but what good life had she led? She didn’t gain weight, never got new clothes, and in the end lost her job, got divorced, and came back home.

Thinking about this, Li Fenlan’s eyes welled with tears again. She quickly wiped them and picked up the pace. She had secretly bought the yarn, afraid Yunshu would see and worry about the cost. She knew her daughter—if Yunshu planned to buy a coat, she’d budget for Xiancheng and Li Fenlan, but never for herself.

But she wanted her daughter to wear the prettiest clothes, to live beautifully.

Her Yunshu was still just a young girl.

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After a month of hard work, Xie Yunshu finally got to sleep in. She was awakened by the smell of rice porridge. When she opened her eyes and got dressed, she saw Xie Qiancheng by the stove, simmering porridge while the radio played quiet English lessons.

Seeing her up, he smiled, “Sis, did I wake you?”

“No, I was just hungry,” she stretched lazily and looked at the clock on the wall. Her eyes widened. “It’s past eight? I actually slept this long?”

She used to get up at six to sell lunch boxes—there’d be no time otherwise. Today, she’d slept in like never before.

Xie Qiancheng paused the radio and began frying eggs. “We’ve got nothing urgent today. You can afford to sleep in.”

“Where’s Mom?” Xie Yunshu brushed her teeth and washed up on the balcony. Her clean, delicate face looked even more striking in the sunlight.

“Mom finished breakfast and went to the supply store to see if there are any pastries left. New Year’s is coming, so we have to stock up.”

“I’m going out later too. I need to queue up for a down jacket. Woke up late today, not sure if I can still get one.” She was annoyed—she’d studied too late last night and hadn’t meant to sleep in so long.

With the New Year approaching, down jackets were hot commodities. People lined up at the department store early in the morning. She’d already planned to buy one each for Qiancheng and her mom. Imported ones didn’t require queuing, but they were far too expensive…

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In the Haicheng staff housing, Zhou Xinyue moved a few makeshift cabinets from her old place. The house now looked much shabbier than it did when Xie Yunshu had lived there.

She blocked Lu Zhixing at the door and bit her lip. “Zhixing, I know you’re upset, but we’re married now. We have to live together somehow, right? If you won’t even give me household money, then I’ll have no choice but to ask my parents.”

Lu Zhixing hadn’t expected Zhou Xinyue to say such a thing. He’d always thought of her as kind and gentle. But after getting the marriage certificate, she started clinging to him about money matters! Why had Yunshu never brought this up? Even the ten yuan he once gave her—only after giving money to Zhou Xinyue—did he realize he should give some to his wife too…