Feng Likai looked at his parents and said, "Prepare some money for Chu Xiao, consider it compensation for her suffering over the years."
"Nonsense, why should we give her money? What kind of person is she?" Ma Cuixiang cursed angrily.
Let alone ten thousand, this dead girl isn't even worth one hundred yuan!
Feng Chuxiao's hands itched again, and she slapped Ma Cuixiang's face twice more, making her already swollen face even more so.
"You're not a person! You're a thing, what cesspool did you crawl out of, you old hag?"
She couldn't give these people time and opportunity to scheme against her, so she took out the letter of introduction and household registration transfer certificate from her pocket again, waved them in front of Feng Peng, and snorted, "I don't believe I, a proper young girl, can't get married. I'll go find someone on the main street myself."
When Feng Chuxiao actually pushed the door open and left, Feng Peng became anxious. This dead girl had money, so staying in a guesthouse for a few days wouldn't be a problem, but Xiao Ya couldn't wait.
So even though he wished he could grab a stick and break Feng Chuxiao's legs, he had to back down.
He was afraid that if he injured Feng Chuxiao, who was as fragile as a gust of wind, she wouldn't be able to go to the countryside, which would be a loss.
"Likai, hurry and chase your sister back!"
Only then did Feng Likai get up and lead the frail Feng Chuxiao back.
Feng Peng, fearing Ma Cuixiang would ruin things, pulled her back into the house to plot again.
Even though Ma Cuixiang knew Feng Chuxiao was there to go to the countryside in Xiao Ya's place, she still didn't take her seriously and remained unconvinced, feeling that bringing her back was already a great favor.
She hadn't expected that they would end up being controlled by Feng Chuxiao and that she herself would be hit. That's why she hated her so much, saying the most malicious things she could think of.
For now, she would endure it for Xiao Ya's sake, but she would get revenge on that little tramp sooner or later!
"Even if we give her money, two hundred yuan at most is enough. Ten thousand? She really doesn't know her place. Does she even know how much ten thousand is? Does she think she's worthy?" Ma Cuixiang's eyes were filled with contempt.
Feng Peng, however, remained silent, contemplating a counter-strategy in his mind. He didn't think two hundred yuan would be enough to appease Feng Chuxiao. That girl spoke logically and clearly; far from being stupid, he wouldn't believe she hadn't been to school.
"Give me the money and the passbook," Feng Peng said.
"You want the passbook too? What are you trying to do?" Ma Cuixiang asked warily. "You're not actually planning to give her that much money, are you?"
"Bring the money and the passbook over, I know what I'm doing," Feng Peng said again.
Ma Cuixiang still had to obey her husband and finally brought out the money and passbook: over a thousand yuan in cash and a passbook with twenty thousand.
He walked to the living room, sat down, took out five hundred yuan, and gave it to Feng Chuxiao. "This money is what I've saved over the years. Take it and keep it safe; this is a large sum of money."
Feng Chuxiao didn't stand on ceremony and pulled the five hundred yuan towards her.
Seeing this, Feng Peng thought: She's never seen the world before. I should have known better than to waste so much time talking. "Um, give me the letter of introduction."
Feng Chuxiao smiled, first innocently, then slowly turning into a mocking smile. Old hag, she really was dreaming!
"This five hundred yuan is just the interest. If I don't see ten thousand yuan before tonight, you won't see me tomorrow."
After speaking, she took Feng Likai's briefcase, took everything out and placed it on the table, then put the five hundred yuan inside, and walked out of the living room.
Her movements were swift. By the time Feng Peng got up to stop her, Feng Chuxiao was already at the main door.
Feng Likai looked at his father, who had returned, and said coldly, "Don't you dote on Feng Liya the most? For Feng Liya, what is money?"
He paused, then continued, "I hope you will meet Chuxiao's demands. Otherwise, I will tell her your true purpose for bringing her back. Tell me, won't she immediately find someone to marry?"
"You... Feng Likai, what's wrong with you? Why are you always siding with that dead girl? Xiao Ya is the sister you've lived with for 17 years. What are you thinking?" Feng Peng yelled at his eldest son.
Feng Likai calmly replied, "It's not that I'm always siding with her, but you've gone too far. You abandoned her for 17 years; isn't compensation deserved? Besides, you didn't genuinely want her back; you did it for your precious daughter, Feng Liya. So, this is what you owe her, and it's the price you have to pay for making her go to the countryside!"
"..."
Feng Peng, unable to retort from his son's words, his face trembling, thought: How could he have such disobedient children! Xiao Ya was so much better. It was all thanks to Xiao Ya, the lucky star, that he had been successful all these years. As soon as this broom star returned, the family fell into chaos. She couldn't stay in the house for even a day.
"Then how will she take so much money away?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Since she wants it, she'll find a way to handle it," Feng Likai said, though he himself didn't know how Chuxiao planned to manage it.
"Alright, alright. You'll come with me to get the money, but you have to make sure she honestly goes to the countryside."
Feng Likai nodded. "I'll persuade her. Don't worry, she doesn't want to stay here."
Father and son left with the bag. The largest denomination was ten yuan, so ten thousand yuan was indeed a lot. It was necessary to get a larger bag.
Ma Cuixiang and Feng Liya, who were at home, had overheard their conversation. They were grinding their teeth in anger. After their hatred, they started hatching wicked schemes, wondering how they could keep the money for themselves.
✦✦✦
After leaving the Feng family, Feng Chuxiao didn't wander around. She planned to buy herself a couple of outfits first. After some inquiries, she finally found the nearby Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
She didn't go to the Department Store because she was afraid of being kicked out before even entering, and then people would question where she got the money if she showed up in rags. So, she decided to check the Supply and Marketing Cooperative first, hoping everything would go smoothly and she wouldn't encounter any snobbish people who looked down on others and cause trouble.
After buying clothes, she would then go to the Department Store to buy some clothes that didn't require coupons.
The Supply and Marketing Cooperative was quite lively. As soon as she walked in, she attracted the attention of many people, as they rarely encountered such a disheveled young girl.
Some people speculated she was a poor relative from some family, thinking it would be better to find her some old clothes to change into than to come out looking like a mess and embarrassing them.
Some people showed contemptuous looks and moved further away, covering their noses, as if afraid of catching the air of poverty from Feng Chuxiao.
Someone with nothing better to do asked Feng Chuxiao, "Little comrade, what are you here for?"
Feng Chuxiao flashed the money and coupons in her hand and replied loudly, "To buy clothes and shoes for myself."
"Oh, you really have money!" said an auntie.
"With her appearance, how could she have money? Isn't it stolen?" said a woman with permed hair.
Feng Chuxiao rolled her eyes. She was afraid of this, yet she still encountered such people.
"I hope you'll shut your stinking mouth. If you dare to make baseless accusations and speak nonsense again, I'll drag you to the Public Security Bureau!"
Just as the woman was about to speak again, she was pulled by the person next to her. "Alright, don't stir up trouble. Arguing with someone like her lowers your status."
✦✦✦