Chapter 21

Li Jianguo chuckled and said, “Xiao Chan, this Comrade Han here says he has something to discuss with you.”

Han Jinzhu quickly placed the things he had brought on the table. Li Yuechan took a glance—whoa, two bottles of Maotai and two cartons of Da Qianmen cigarettes.

Li Jianguo’s eyes instantly widened at the sight. Li Yuechan rolled her eyes, glanced at her cheap old man, then turned to Han Jinzhu and said, “Uncle Han, I don’t think I have anything to say to you.”

“Comrade Xiao Li, I’m here to apologize on behalf of my son. I promise I’ll discipline him properly this time.”

As he spoke, Han Jinzhu took out a thick envelope from his pocket. “Here’s 1,000 yuan. If you’re willing to write a letter of forgiveness, consider this our compensation.”

Li Jianguo stared at the hefty envelope, his eyes glazed over. 1,000 yuan—that was two years’ worth of his salary!

This situation suddenly didn’t seem so complicated anymore. He chuckled and said, “Oh, come on, you don’t have to be so polite. If there’s something to discuss, let’s sit down and talk properly.”

Han Jinzhu chuckled along. “Comrade Li, my son has been such a headache for me. Look, he’s still young and made a mistake. Just give him another chance.”

Li Jianguo nodded in agreement. “Exactly! Kids these days are like that. Unlike our time, when we could barely get enough to eat—where would we even find the time to cause trouble?”

“So, about that letter of forgiveness…”

“Oh, no problem. Xiao Chan can write one for you in a bit.”

Han Jinzhu beamed at Li Yuechan. “Comrade Xiao Li, this letter of forgiveness…”

Li Yuechan sneered. “You think 1,000 yuan is enough to buy a letter of forgiveness for an attempted murder? What are you thinking?”

Li Jianguo panicked.

“Xiao Chan, watch your words!”

“Dad, do you even know what’s going on? His son arranged for people to murder me—that’s why he got arrested by the police. Do you think my life is only worth 1,000 yuan?” As she spoke, Li Yuechan shot a cold glance at the man in front of her.

Li Jianguo had assumed it was just a simple fight. How did this turn into attempted murder?

Han Jinzhu quickly said, “Murder? What murder? It was just kids messing around. Brother Jianguo, have a heart—just let her write the letter.”

Saying this, he pushed the envelope with 1,000 yuan into Li Jianguo’s hands.

Feeling the weight of the envelope, Li Jianguo smiled and said to Li Yuechan, “Xiao Chan, it’s best to be forgiving whenever possible. Besides, you’re perfectly fine now. Just write the letter for Brother Han, alright?”

Li Yuechan frowned, looking at the man in front of her. Was this really her father? Just a moment ago, it was “Comrade Han,” and now, after a mere 1,000 yuan, it had turned into “Brother Han.”

“You want me to write a letter of forgiveness for someone who tried to murder me?”

Li Jianguo’s face darkened. “But you’re still alive and well! What murder? Kids just don’t know any better.”

Li Yuechan sneered. “Fine. If you want me to write it, bring me 1,500 yuan!”

Li Jianguo gasped. This kid was really bold!

He turned to Han Jinzhu with a troubled look. Han Jinzhu furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and said, “Alright. Take the 1,000 yuan first. I’ll bring the remaining 500 later.”

Li Yuechan raised her chin. “Alright, go get it. Once you bring the money, I’ll give you the letter.”

Han Jinzhu left after saying his goodbyes.

Li Yuechan watched as her father clutched the envelope tightly. She stretched out her fair, delicate hand and said, “Dad~”

Li Jianguo smiled. “Yuechan, that’s a lot of money. It’s safer if I hold onto it for you.”

Li Yuechan rolled her eyes. “No way! This is my life-saving money. Of course, I’ll keep it myself!”

Li Jianguo looked at her outstretched hand, then glanced at Su Lizhen, who stood off to the side. With a reluctant sigh, he finally handed over the envelope.

He smiled and said, “Alright, Xiao Chan, keep it safe. That’s a lot of money—don’t lose it.”

Li Jianguo chuckled and said, “Xiao Chan, this Comrade Han here says he has something to discuss with you.”

Han Jinzhu quickly placed the items he brought on the table. When Li Yuechan glanced over—whoa, two bottles of Maotai and two cartons of Daqianmen cigarettes.

Li Jianguo’s eyes instantly widened in surprise. Li Yuechan rolled her eyes, first glancing at her cheap old man and then turning to Han Jinzhu, saying, “Uncle Han, I don’t think I have anything to discuss with you.”

“Comrade Xiao Li, I’m here to apologize on behalf of my son. I promise to educate him properly this time.”

As he spoke, Han Jinzhu pulled out a thick envelope from his pocket. “Here’s 1,000 yuan. If you could write a letter of forgiveness, this will serve as our apology.”

Li Jianguo stared at the thick envelope, his eyes fixed. 1,000 yuan—that was two years of his salary!

This matter suddenly seemed quite simple. He grinned and said, “Oh, come now, there’s no need to be so formal. Let’s sit down and have a good chat.”

Han Jinzhu chuckled along. “Comrade Li, I swear, my son has given me endless headaches.

You see, he’s still young and made a mistake. Just give him another chance.”

Li Jianguo nodded in agreement. “Exactly! Kids these days are just like that. Back in our time, we could barely get enough to eat—where would we even find the time to cause trouble?”

“So, about that letter of forgiveness…”

“Oh, don’t worry! We’ll have Xiao Chan write it up for you in a bit.”

Han Jinzhu beamed at Li Yuechan. “Comrade Xiao Li, about that letter—”

Li Yuechan let out a cold laugh. “You think 1,000 yuan is enough to buy my life with a forgiveness letter? What are you even thinking?”

Li Jianguo panicked. “Xiao Chan, mind your words!”

“Dad, do you even know what happened? His son hired people to murder me, and that’s why he got arrested by the Public Security Bureau.

You think my life is only worth 1,000 yuan?” As she spoke, Li Yuechan shot a glance at the man in front of her.

Li Jianguo had assumed it was just a fight—how did it turn into attempted murder?

Han Jinzhu hurriedly explained, “Murder? No, no, just some kids fooling around! Brother Jianguo, be a good man and let the kid write a forgiveness letter.”

As he spoke, he tried to stuff the envelope with 1,000 yuan into Li Jianguo’s hands.

Feeling the weight of the envelope, Li Jianguo chuckled and turned to his daughter.

“Xiao Chan, sometimes it’s best to let things go. Besides, you’re standing here safe and sound—why not just write the letter for Brother Han?”

Li Yuechan frowned, looking at the man in front of her. Was this really her father? Just a moment ago, he was calling him Comrade Han, and now he was suddenly “Brother Han” over a mere 1,000 yuan.

“You want me to write a forgiveness letter for someone who tried to murder me?”

Li Jianguo’s face darkened. “You’re alive and well, aren’t you? What murder? Kids just don’t know better!”

Li Yuechan sneered. “Fine, I’ll write the letter—but for 1,500 yuan!”

Li Jianguo inhaled sharply. This girl really dared to ask for it!

He turned to Han Jinzhu with an awkward expression. Han Jinzhu frowned, thought for a moment, and finally said, “Alright, take this 1,000 yuan first. I’ll bring the remaining 500 later.”

Li Yuechan raised her chin slightly. “Alright, go get it then. When you bring the money, I’ll hand over the letter.”

After bidding farewell, Han Jinzhu left.

Watching her father clutching the envelope tightly, Li Yuechan reached out her fair, delicate hand. “Dad~”

Li Jianguo chuckled. “Yuechan, that’s a lot of money. It’s not safe for you to keep it—why don’t I hold onto it for you?”

Li Yuechan rolled her eyes. “How could it not be safe? This is my life-buying money. Of course, I’ll keep it myself!”

Li Jianguo looked at his daughter’s outstretched hand, then at Su Lizhen, who was standing off to the side. Reluctantly, he handed over the envelope to Li Yuechan.

Then, forcing a smile, he said, “Xiao Chan, keep it safe. That’s a lot of money—don’t lose it.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Li Yuechan replied, taking the envelope and leaving.

Watching his daughter go, Li Jianguo couldn’t help but grumble to Su Lizhen, “Lizhen, don’t you think it’s unsafe for a young girl like Xiao Chan to carry so much money?”

Su Lizhen scoffed, “That’s her life-buying money, and you actually wanted to hold onto it for her?”

Li Jianguo quickly waved his hands. “No, no, it’s just that there’s a position opening up at the factory. I was thinking of bringing a gift to the director’s house.

I can’t just stay in the workshop forever. If I can get into the office, wouldn’t that be much better?”

Su Lizhen looked at the man in front of her and thought back to the honest country boy he had once been. Who would have thought that after more than ten years, he would become like this?

After a moment, she said, “When the time comes, there will be an assessment for the factory office. If you perform well, you’ll definitely have a chance!

As for visiting the director, our family hasn’t asked you for money in over a decade. You should have some savings by now.”

Li Jianguo grimaced. “Whatever little money I saved was all taken by my mother!

My older brother’s son is getting married, my second brother is still a temporary worker, and my mother keeps saying she needs to save up to get him a permanent job.

My younger sister isn’t doing well at her in-laws’ place either, and my mother always wants to help her out.”

Su Lizhen sighed. “For the past 18 years, our family hasn’t spent a cent of yours. Back then, when we arranged your job, we spent a fortune.

Now there really isn’t any spare money left. And as for Xiao Chan’s money—that’s her dowry savings. Don’t even think about touching it!”

With that, Su Lizhen turned and walked into the house.

Li Jianguo narrowed his eyes as he watched her back. She was already 40, yet she still had such a fine figure. It was enough to make a man itch with desire.

Eighteen years. He had endured for 18 years, and this woman still treated him like an outsider.

Looks like if he didn’t take her, she would never truly see him as her own man.

With that thought, he strode confidently into the bedroom.

But the moment he stepped inside, he was dumbfounded.

A curtain had been drawn down from the ceiling, splitting the entire room in half.

He reached out to touch it. He had no idea what kind of material it was, but when rolled up, it was light as air, and when lowered, it was as sturdy as a wall.

A capitalist’s daughter was truly different—she had all sorts of strange things.

Back then, he shouldn’t have agreed to marry her so easily. With her status, she was lucky to have married him.

Even after getting married, she still acted like a noble lady. He was getting sick of it—things were much better on the other side!

A while later, there was a knock at the door.

Li Jianguo couldn’t be bothered to answer. It had nothing to do with him, anyway.

Then, he heard his “cheap daughter” run to open the door, exchange a few words, and then close it again.

Thinking about how that 1,500 yuan had slipped away, Li Jianguo huffed and flopped onto the bed.

Staring at the “wall” in the middle of the bed, he thought about Su Lizhen’s beautiful face.

His hands instinctively reached out to touch the cold curtain, and soon after, he drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, in another room, Li Yuechan locked her door and entered her secret space.

She checked her personal stash—wow, over eight thousand yuan!

In an era where the average salary was only a few dozen yuan, this was a small fortune.