Space-Time Traveler in the 1970s: The Sassy Military Wife Becomes a Rich Woman
Space-Time Traveler in the 1970s: The Sassy Military Wife Becomes a Rich Woman Chapter 5

Chapter 5: In the Wrong

Old Man Liu’s face was grave. He knew his family was in the wrong.

In front of the entire village, the Wen family was known for their ruthlessness. Even the village head didn’t dare to interfere, fearing the matter wouldn’t be easily resolved.

“Dafu, I know you’re a good child, I…”

“I’m not a good child, don’t try to guilt-trip me. My daughter almost lost her life,” Wen Dafu immediately and resolutely refused, waving his hand.

Old Man Liu choked, intending to appeal to his emotions, but since the other party wasn’t taking the bait, he couldn’t continue.

Fine, fine. This was a family matter, they could only swallow their pride.

Heh, if the villagers knew this, they’d probably spit him to death for being shameless.

“Go get twenty yuan, for Wen Wan’s medical expenses,” Old Man Liu said.

The Liu family members surrounding him were like cold water dropped into hot oil, exploding in a cacophony.

“No way, whose medical expenses are that expensive?” Old Mrs. Liu disagreed, furious.

Twenty yuan was enough to buy two hundred kilograms of corn, enough for her yearly rations.

“Sister Cui, you see my niece already knows she’s wrong, and Little Wan is fine. Let’s just forget about it,” Li Xiaohua, Old Man Liu’s eldest daughter-in-law, said with a forced smile to Cui Yulan.

She didn’t want to pay. The family wasn’t divided yet, so why should they use the family funds to clean up Liu Xiaoling’s mess?

“Bah!” Cui Yulan retorted without hesitation, “Should I throw your son into the river and then apologize?” It was like a weasel trying to steal a swan’s egg – wishful thinking.

“We can’t give that much! It’ll take us forever to earn back twenty yuan!” Old Mrs. Liu whispered to Old Man Liu.

Old Man Liu waved his hand, his face grim. He roared at the reluctant Liu family members:

“Is my word no longer law? Are you all going to rebel?”

He wasn’t dead yet! Forget twenty yuan, even if it took two hundred, everyone would have to listen to him.

Old Mrs. Liu reluctantly turned around, her chest aching as she glared at Liu Xiaoling and her mother, who were cowering to the side.

Good-for-nothing woman! Just wait until she gets her hands on her.

“Auntie Liu, wait a minute, twenty yuan isn’t enough,” Wen Dafu called out.

Seeing everyone’s eyes turn to him, his expression remained unchanged as he clearly stated:

“Twenty yuan is for my daughter’s medical expenses. We also need to account for nutrition, emotional distress, and lost wages.”

Wen Dafu: Do you think you can just brush me off with twenty yuan?

The Liu family: Actually, we’d be happy to accept twenty yuan.

The Liu family, from young to old, had faces as black as ink. Wen Dafu was too shameless.

“Yes, our Little Wan was pushed into the river and inhaled water, she needs proper care. And my daughter was so scared last night she couldn’t sleep, her complexion has worsened,” Cui Yulan said confidently.

“Wen Dafu, how much do you want?” Old Man Liu suppressed his anger, each word forced out.

Wen Dafu shrugged, spreading his hands helplessly: “Uncle Liu, you make it sound like I’m trying to swindle you.”

The Liu family glared angrily at Wen Dafu: That’s exactly what you’re doing!

“Dafu, this isn’t right. We’re neighbors, you can’t take advantage of this,” Liu Baogen, Liu Qingliang’s lackey, said sarcastically.

Wen Dafu coldly retorted, “Did I tell Liu Xiaoling to push my daughter? Did I tell Ding Guihua to throw dirty water on my daughter?”

“Alright,” Liu Qingliang said with a conciliatory tone, “Dafu, I know you cherish your daughter.”

Wen Dafu proudly puffed out his chest: “Of course.” His daughter was his heart and soul.

Liu Qingliang hesitated, then continued: “How about this, the Liu family will pay forty yuan, including what you mentioned…” He’d never heard of some of these extra charges before.

“Nutritional expenses, emotional distress, and lost wages…” Liu Baogen, the lackey, chimed in.

“Yes, all those fees included, a total of forty yuan,” Liu Qingliang added.

Hearing forty yuan, Old Man Liu gasped, almost falling to the ground. Luckily, Liu Sanmu caught him.

He wanted to object, but seeing the warning and impatience in Liu Qingliang’s eyes, he swallowed his words and silently nodded.

Wen Dafu secretly glanced at Wen Wan, asking with his eyes: Daughter, is this okay?

Wen Wan blinked repeatedly, signaling her agreement. She realized forty yuan was the Liu family’s limit; any more, and they might refuse, even risking their reputation.

“Village head, then forty yuan it is,” Wen Dafu said with a strained smile.

The onlookers: “Wen Dafu’s face is really thick.”

Upon hearing the answer, Old Mrs. Liu, without waiting for Old Man Liu’s instructions, dashed into the room, fearing Wen Dafu would ask for more money.

Within a minute or two, Old Mrs. Liu came out with a wad of money of different denominations.

The Liu family’s faces were grim, their eyes fixated on the money, wishing they could snatch it and stuff it into their pockets.

Seeing Old Mrs. Liu hesitating, Cui Yulan stepped forward, reaching out to grab the money, but she couldn’t get a good grip.

“Auntie Liu, be careful, you’ll tear the money. We don’t want torn money.”

Old Mrs. Liu’s heart ached. Seeing Cui Yulan’s insincere smile, she was even more frightened, immediately releasing her grip, afraid that if she was a second slower, something else would happen.

The onlookers’ eyes were on Cui Yulan’s hand, filled with envy and jealousy.

“Ahem…” Wen Dafu coughed twice, then cleared his throat. “Village head, Uncle Liu, let’s just forget about this for now. Keep your children away from my family in the future.”

He turned and left with his family, swaggering away.

Seeing the end of the drama, the onlookers also dispersed, chattering about the Liu family as they went.

Liu Qingliang sighed, frowning. “Brother Fu, choose your wife wisely, your family…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Liu Sanmu was hardworking, but his wife was a troublemaker.

The courtyard was quiet after everyone left.

“Alright,” Old Man Liu bent down to pick up a broken piece of wood, “Let’s clean up. We have to go to work later.”

Li Xiaohua, Old Man Liu’s eldest daughter-in-law, gritted her teeth, “We only earn a few cents a day working, killing ourselves. My Guiming won’t be able to get married this year.”

They had planned to marry off their eldest son this year, having already chosen a girl, waiting for the matchmaker to propose after the busy farming season.

Now that forty yuan was gone, how much money did they have left?

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