PFC Chapter 355
Chapter 355
Chai Zhiyong nodded in satisfaction; it was good that the documents had been issued.
"So your plan is for me to finish decorating the shop first, and then come and build the house for you, right?"
Zhao Dage nodded and replied, "I hope the shop renovation can be completed within 10 days. I'm going to sell clothes. The electrical wiring and plumbing don't need to be redone, but the lights, the paint on the walls, and the floor need to be redone. At least it should be eye-catching. As for the materials, I think you might know someone reliable. I'd like to ask you to recommend someone so I can have someone I know buy the materials."
Zhao Dage didn't plan to handle the material purchase herself. She was small, and the shop owner might think she was easy to fool and then sell to her at a higher price. Besides, she had little experience in bargaining and was easily taken advantage of. It was better to leave this to the experienced Cai Xiaofeng.
Chai Zhiyong thought it was no big deal. "I've been in the shop decoration business for over 10 years, and I know which bosses are reliable and which are not. I'll introduce someone to you later. As for building the house, do you have any specific requirements? Maybe I can come over to your place in a few days when I have some free time and explain the planning and layout of the house to you."
To prevent Zhao Da'e from not understanding, Chai Zhiyong added, "For example, how many rooms to build, where to build the kitchen, the size of the heated kang, and many other details we can discuss later."
Zhao Dage nodded, clearly very satisfied. With Chai Zhiyong taking on more responsibility, she could relax a bit.
"Let's put it this way for now. When can your shop be renovated? Then you can come to my place to do the shop renovation."
Chai Zhiyong replied, "Soon, the renovation will definitely be completed within two days. The day after tomorrow, I will bring my brothers to your shop to renovate. If all the materials are purchased, it will be done in less than 10 days, no, 7 days. Then we can seamlessly continue with the house construction project."
After a brief chat, Chai Zhiyong and Zhao Dage agreed that they would first come to her house two days later to discuss the layout and planning of the house, and then go to the shop for renovations three days later. During this time, Cai Xiaofeng would prepare the renovation materials.
With the workers' issue resolved, Zhao Da'e breathed a sigh of relief; at least the construction process had taken another step forward.
Chai Zhiyong needed to go back for dinner and chat with his wife about the work ahead, so he left without lingering.
Zhao Da'e was in a great mood. Not only had he settled his aunt's debt, but he had also resolved the shop renovation issue. The next thing he needed to do was go to Jinzhou to buy clothes.
This will be quite troublesome. I'm unfamiliar with the area, and being young, I'm easily looked down upon. It's hard to say whether I can even source the clothes. I'll just take it one step at a time and deal with any problems that arise.
Meanwhile, Zhao Chunqin had returned to the Zhao family home. The troubles of the past few days had left her physically and mentally exhausted. In particular, she was furious that Zhao Dage's family had only managed to get 9000 yuan and a large amount of tea from her. This time, she returned to the Zhao family home to seek help from Wang Guixiang and Zhao Tingxu. It would be best if they could get the money back from Zhao Tiesheng. After all, it was her parents' money, so what did it have to do with her? She would also have a reason to answer when her superiors asked.
When she arrived at her doorstep, Zhao Chunqin pinched her thigh, and the pain brought tears to her eyes, making them red.
Hearing someone enter the courtyard, Wang Guixiang curiously looked out the window and saw her daughter walking towards her, wiping away tears as she cried. Wang Guixiang's heart broke at the sight.
"My Chunqin, what's wrong with you? Who bullied you? Why are you crying? Who the hell dares to bully my daughter, Wang Guixiang's daughter?"
As soon as Zhao Chunqin saw Wang Guixiang, she threw herself into her arms and cried out, "Mom, it's all because of my second brother's family that I was bullied! I was doing fine at work yesterday when their whole family came to my workplace and made trouble, saying they wouldn't leave until they returned the money. This caused a huge uproar, and I almost lost my job. My second brother's family took all my nine thousand yuan and a bunch of tea leaves. Waaaaah, I don't want to live anymore, Mom!"
Zhao Chunqin cried loudly, clearly having suffered a great injustice.
Zhao Chunqin's eyes widened upon hearing this, her anger rising. "What! Your second brother actually dared to treat you like this! You're his little sister, he treats you like an enemy! What's wrong with his little sister borrowing some money when she's in trouble? It's not like he won't pay it back. And he even went to your workplace to cause trouble. Your second brother must have bewitched that woman Cheng Jinxiang, otherwise he wouldn't have acted like this before."
Zhao Chunqin cried uncontrollably, “Mom, you have to stand up for me! I can’t let this bullying happen to me for nothing! My second brother’s family even threatened me. They said if I ask for the money back, they’ll come to my workplace and cause trouble, and they’ll make sure I lose my job.”
Wang Guixiang gritted her teeth and said, "Chunqin, go back first. Don't get involved in this matter. Since he took your money, I'll get it back. Then I'll say that I took the money and it has nothing to do with you. I'll take responsibility for anything that happens."
Zhao Chunqin wiped away her tears. Seeing that she had achieved her goal, she felt a sense of relief, but it was still far from enough. "Mom, where's Dad? Let's go find Dad. He'll definitely stand up for me if he finds out."
Upon hearing this, Wang Guixiang said, "Your dad has gone to the tavern again and won't be back for a while. But don't worry, Chunqin, your dad and I are on your side. Your second brother went to work in the fields today and isn't home. We'll go to his room and check if he has your 9000 yuan. He's becoming more and more of a beast. He actually dares to take his own sister's money. How can he have the nerve to do that!"
Upon hearing that Wang Guixiang was going to search Zhao Tiesheng's room for money, Zhao Chunqin's eyes lit up, and her face lit up with joy. But it was only for a moment. She still had to pretend in front of Wang Guixiang. Zhao Chunqin hesitated for a moment and said, "But Mom, what if my second brother comes over and scolds us if we do this?"
Wang Guixiang snorted coldly, "Hmph, he dares? If I find the money and he dares to ask for it back, I'll go out and accuse him of stealing his old mother's money, give him a reputation for being unfilial, and have your father whip your second brother severely, so that your second brother can see for himself who his closest relatives are, and who the outsiders are."
Without dawdling, Wang Guixiang led Zhao Chunqin to Zhao Tiesheng's room. Upon opening the door, they saw a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed), a large red quilt on the kang, a wardrobe, a table, shoes, and other items.
“Your second brother came back yesterday, and he probably hasn’t had time to put the money away yet. Let’s look carefully; maybe we can find it.”
After saying that, Wang Guixiang started to turn over the quilt, making a mess of the neatly arranged quilt.
When Zhao Chunqin saw Wang Guixiang start searching, she also started searching. In order to get revenge on her second brother, she even deliberately threw the pillow on the ground and stomped on it a few times, as if only in this way could she vent her anger.
If it's not on the bed, go through the closet. Take all the clothes out of the closet and put them on the bed; maybe the money is hidden there.
A dozen minutes later, Wang Guixiang searched the cabinets but still couldn't find the money, not even in the drawers.
Half an hour later, Wang Guixiang had searched every nook and cranny of the small room and only found a dozen or so yuan. But this was hardly enough, and Zhao Chunqin was extremely disgusted with it.
Wang Guixiang sat on the edge of the bed, saying in disbelief, "Where's the money? Where did the money go? It shouldn't be like this. Your second brother came back yesterday. The money should have been in his room. Such a large sum of money, could he have been carrying it with him?"
Zhao Chunqin suddenly realized something, stood up, and shouted anxiously, "I know, Mom! It must have been my second brother who gave the money to my second sister-in-law!"
If the money isn't with the Zhao family, then it must be with Cheng Jinxiang.
Wang Guixiang was so angry she almost vomited blood. How could her son be so useless? He didn't keep the money for himself and instead entrusted it to a woman. He was truly hopeless.
"Don't worry, my dear daughter. This time, Mom will stand up for you. When your second brother comes back tonight, I'll force him to return the money to you. No, I should make him hand over the money. Otherwise, he can't stay at home anymore. He should be kicked out and live outside!"
Wang Guixiang was still very confident. After all, Zhao Tiesheng had always listened to her since childhood. He had just talked back a bit more lately, but he still did whatever she said.
Zhao Chunqin held Wang Guixiang's hand tightly and choked up, "Mom, you must help me get the money back, otherwise your grandson will not have money to go to school, and your daughter will be laughed at in her husband's family."
Wang Guixiang patted Zhao Chunqin's hand and gave her a reassuring look, "Chunqin, don't worry, leave this to me. If all else fails, we still have your dad."
After receiving a definite promise, Zhao Chunqin felt relieved. She didn't want to stay there for long. The roads in the countryside were difficult to walk on, and they were all muddy, which made her new shoes dirty. It was more comfortable to stay in the city. Zhao Chunqin made an excuse to leave first.
When Zhao Tiegang and Zhang Cuilan returned together, Zhao Tiegang immediately noticed that his second brother's room had been ransacked. He was shocked at first, then looked up and exclaimed to Wang Guixiang in surprise, "Mom, was the house robbed?"
Wang Guixiang glared at Zhao Tiegang, "Don't talk nonsense. I ransacked your second brother's room. I just wanted to see if the money your second brother took from your little sister was still in the room."
Then, Wang Guixiang started talking about Zhao Chunqin and grumbled for a while.
Zhao Tiegang finally understood what had happened, but Zhang Cuilan exploded, "Mom, what did you say?! Second brother actually got the money back, including nine thousand yuan and a huge handful of tea leaves! How could my little sister do this? She has money but didn't pay back our money first; instead, she paid back Second brother's money first. This is not fair!"
Zhang Cuilan was concerned about this: Zhao Chunqin had also taken four or five thousand yuan from her own family, so why didn't she return her own family's money, but instead returned her second brother's money first!
Wang Guixiang was very unhappy after hearing this. "No matter what, Chunqin is your little sister. Now that she is in trouble, instead of thinking about how to help her, you are thinking about how to get the money back from her. Is this how you treat your family?"
Zhang Cuilan's lips twitched. "Who cares about her? I just want my money back." She had heard before that her second brother and his family were going to cause trouble at her younger sister's workplace to get the money back, but she thought they wouldn't be able to get it back. But they were proven wrong.
Zhang Cuilan was filled with regret. If she had known, she would have gone with them; perhaps she could have gotten the money back.
Even though Zhang Cuilan spoke in a low voice, Wang Guixiang still heard her. She was so angry that she trembled all over, but considering that Zhang Cuilan had given birth to a big, fat grandson for the Zhao family, she decided not to hold a grudge against Zhang Cuilan.
Instead, she turned around and said, "If I get the money back from your second brother, I will pay back the money my little sister owes you, and you are not allowed to complain again."
Wang Guixiang first made a promise, then she had to win over her youngest son to her side.
Sure enough, Zhang Cuilan's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said excitedly, "Mom, is this true? If we get the money back from Second Brother's side, then you have to pay back our money for Little Sister. No more, no less, 5000 yuan, just right."
Originally, she had 5000 yuan, but she was a few hundred yuan short. However, Zhang Cuilan felt that she should ask for as much as possible, since no one would complain about having too little money.
Wang Guixiang was a little disgusted by her younger daughter-in-law's money-grubbing attitude, but she still promised, "Okay, if I get the money, I'll give you the 5000 yuan."
Zhao Tiegang felt this was inappropriate, and he hesitated before saying, "Cuilan, Mom, this is money that my second brother got back from my little sister himself. Isn't it wrong for us to take it away?"
Zhang Cuilan was displeased upon hearing this and shoved Zhao Tiegang, saying, "Look at what you're saying! We're helping our little sister get her money back, not robbing our second brother."
Zhao Tiegang subconsciously said, "But it's clearly my younger sister who owes my second brother money. Isn't it only right that my second brother take the money back?"
Wang Guixiang frowned, clearly displeased. "But your second brother shouldn't have gone to your little sister's workplace to cause trouble. Your little sister is already struggling financially, and now you're asking her for money. If she takes this 9000 yuan, what will happen if she can't afford to eat or your nephew can't afford to go to school? Your little sister will pay it back when she has the money, but definitely not now."
Zhao Tiegang disagreed, saying, "It shouldn't be like that. My sister and brother-in-law are both civil servants. Their housing and meals are provided by their work units. They shouldn't be homeless or unable to afford food. How much does it cost to send a child to school? At most, it's only 1000 yuan. There's no need to take all 9000 yuan back."
Zhao Tiegang ruthlessly undermined Wang Guixiang, completely oblivious to his elderly mother's increasingly dark expression.
Zhang Cuilan pinched Zhao Tiegang's mouth hard. She was furious. Didn't he know what he should and shouldn't say?
My mother-in-law promised to return the money to her family, but my husband is ungrateful and undermines his mother. What if we can't get the money back?