The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife 09

 Chapter 9: Xiao Cheng Must Be Sick

The old hen clucked a few times, pecking at the leaves in the backyard. Apart from the chicken coop, there was a small plot of land in the backyard, not very large but lush green with vegetables like bok choy, lettuce, and sweet wheat greens. A circle of white radishes surrounded them, each plump and robust, peeking out half of their bodies from the soil, creating a verdant and vibrant garden. Xiao Cheng, often absent from home, never paid attention to the backyard. Cultivating vegetables and raising chickens were all achievements of Xiao Wei. Bai Lu admired and felt melancholic. She took some eggs, picked vegetable hearts, and cleaned them. Placing them in a small bamboo sieve, she drained the water. After practicing military boxing in the yard to exercise, she leisurely left the house. "Sweeping waves, surging tides, the endless river never rests, washing away all worldly matters..." The radio in Li Shuixian's store played "The Bund" from Shanghai. She sang along, and even the stray dogs on the roadside howled, annoyed by the cacophony. Ruining a classic song of the era to such an extent was an unparalleled feat. Bai Lu, risking her ears to the polluted sound, entered the store and knocked on the cash register. Li Shuixian turned around, singing in a small tune, laughing with her eyes almost closed. "LuLu is here." Before scraping the money, she pointed to the new record player, showing off and introducing, "This thing is called a record player. You've probably never seen it. It's a new treasure. Our family is the only one in the whole town to have it. My husband just brought it back from the city yesterday, and it cost over eight hundred yuan!" "Look, this is called the antenna. I heard it can tune in to different channels to listen to programs. It's quite fresh!" Li Shuixian started explaining and demonstrating eagerly. "Moreover, this record player can also sing. Look, you put a tape in here, and it can immediately play music. It's very easy to learn. I learned to sing in just two tries. Didn't you hear how well I sang just now? It's no different from the original singer, right?" Without waiting for Bai Lu to answer, Li Shuixian sang a section on the spot, howling with the power to shake mountains and rivers, causing the stray dogs to flee. Not satisfied, she even began to wildly swing her fat limbs along with the singing. Bai Lu watched her go crazy in silence. When Li Shuixian looked at her, Bai Lu cooperatively revealed a surprised, shocked, and admiring expression. Li Shuixian's vanity was greatly satisfied. After showing off, she wiped her sweat with a small handkerchief and asked, "How much money did Xiao Cheng give you last night?" "A thousand yuan." Bai Lu extended a finger, looking clueless, just like before. "A thousand yuan! So much!" Li Shuixian's eyes gleamed, staring straight into Bai Lu's pocket. "Where did you put the money? Give it to me quickly. I'll buy you a better ticket, sleeper class, not only can you sit, but you can also sleep, and it has a separate compartment!" Bai Lu honestly shook her head. "He's going back again." "Why did he give it and then want it back? What's going on?" Li Shuixian half believed and half doubted, looking anxious. Bai Lu was also anxious, pulling at the hem of her clothes and said, "He said I gave the money to my younger brother, so he won't give me money anymore." "Why would he say that? You didn't give it, right? Didn't you explain?" Li Shuixian frowned. "I explained." Bai Lu looked aggrieved. "I even took out that hundred yuan. Xiao Cheng took the money back, didn't believe me, and said that if I didn't give it to my brother, why do I only have a hundred yuan left? He asked what I bought with the rest." "I couldn't explain..." Seeing a thousand yuan going down the drain, Li Shuixian felt the pain in every inch of her fat. "Xiao Cheng is sick! You've been living here for more than two months, no need to buy groceries and stuff. How long can you survive with over five hundred yuan? Buying a few sets of clothes on the street will use it up." After a round of scolding, Li Shuixian, gritting her teeth, looked at Bai Lu. "What do we do now?" "The money is not enough for the train ticket." Bai Lu's face was full of sadness, despair, and sorrow, her eyes reddened with urgency. "I, I don't know..." She couldn't directly say it; that would be too obvious. Even mentioning the money, hinting at her to bring it up, no matter how she circled around, there was only one solution in the end. And this solution could only be brought up by Li Shuixian. If she brought it up, Li Shuixian would definitely be vigilant and not believe her. Bai Lu stood stiffly on the side, fingers picking at the counter, looking at Li Shuixian with hopeful eyes. After thinking it over, Li Shuixian stared at her again, trying to speak, "Is Xiao Cheng implying that as long as you can prove you didn't give the money to your brother, he'll continue to give money to your family?" Bai Lu bit her lip, shook her head in confusion, "I don't know. That's what he said. Anyway, no matter how much money he gives, you'll give it to your brother. It's better not to give it." "In the future, whatever we need, he'll buy it." With Xiao Cheng's wild connections, he knew people from all walks of life. He definitely wouldn't buy things from Li Shuixian's store. Li Shuixian had seen it herself. Xiao Cheng was familiar with the boss of the rice processing factory. In the future, rice might come directly from there, and she wouldn't earn a penny. Not to mention that thousand yuan. "If Xiao Cheng really said that to you?" Li Shuixian still had doubts, but her suspicion wasn't on Bai Lu, the naive fool, but on Xiao Cheng, the cunning and ruthless bully. Bai Lu, with a face unblushing, heart unstirred, and breath unchanging, earnestly nodded, "Yes." "I've seen my brother come to find me a few times, but Xiao Cheng always thought I gave the money to my brother." Li Shuixian squinted her eyes. A thousand yuan was a must, and she had thought of a way. However, it was a bit risky, and she was still considering. On the street diagonally opposite, there was a bicycle shop. A group of imposing men inside held a collection notice from the supplier, demanding payment from the owner. "Isn't that Sister-in-law over there?" the man with a cigarette in his mouth said, nodding towards the street. The man at the side looked and put out the cigarette in the ashtray on the counter, pressing it down with his slender and fair fingertips. He lightly touched the corner of his lips and spoke casually, "Hmm." The others immediately fell silent. They had been too nosy. Sister-in-law's relationship with Cheng wasn't good, and it wasn't their place to interfere. Sister-in-law was so foolish and naive. Going to a shady shop to buy things would surely have her money swindled away. The store owner, very attentively, brewed tea for Xiao Cheng, not daring to ask too much or even hasten his departure. "Who's left?" Xiao Cheng asked. Luo Shiliu knew what he was asking and replied, "Mr. Li, the owner of the sand and gravel yard at the city pier. He went out of town for business a few days ago and should be back in the next couple of days." The final deal. Xiao Cheng picked up the tea in front of him and took a sip. "Why did the boss's wife give money to Sister-in-law? What's the situation?" Wang Hao, throwing a cigarette butt outside, looked surprised.  

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