The second layer contained various jewelry boxes and similar items. This time, she took all of them away.
Because some of the things inside had been sent back by her grandfather.
Including those red envelopes—quite a few of them had also been mailed back from overseas by her grandfather every year.
Although Grandpa Xu still held a grudge over the fact that Xie Feng had reported him back then, almost preventing him from escaping successfully,
he still truly cared about the only bloodline his daughter had left behind.
Unfortunately, that love had been stolen by someone else who took over the nest.
Since these were things her grandfather had given her, she would naturally take them away.
There were also some gifts he had mailed back.
For example, watches, a Walkman, tape recorders, and so on.
Over the years, the reason Xie Huaishu had always managed to stay at the forefront of fashion—admired by everyone—was all thanks to the overseas gifts sent by Grandpa Xu.
Just watches alone—there were almost enough to collect every type.
If not for the fact that some items couldn’t pass through customs, there would probably have been even more.
Xie Huaishu must have left in too much of a hurry back then, because many things hadn’t been packed away in time.
Now she stored them all into her space one by one.
The things her grandfather had given her—she took them with a clear conscience.
At that moment, she faintly heard movement next door.
She quickly hung the copper lock back, shut the wardrobe, strode out of the room, closed the door, and in one step moved to the doorway of the neighboring room.
Her actions were smooth and efficient, completed in one fluid motion.
Liu Xiuhe slowly opened the door while clutching the money, but the person standing outside startled her. Her face darkened, and she shrieked angrily,
“What do you want?!”
Xu Sangluo calmly crossed her arms and stepped back a few paces.
Impatiently, she said, “You took too long.”
Liu Xiuhe nearly choked on her anger.
In the end, she could only grit her teeth fiercely. The stack of gray-blue ten-yuan and hundred-yuan bills in her hand was almost crumpled from how tightly she was gripping it.
Xu Sangluo reached out to take the money.
Liu Xiuhe instinctively pulled her hand back.
Xu Sangluo raised an eyebrow.
With a dark expression, Liu Xiuhe said, “How do I know you’ll keep your promise?”
Xu Sangluo withdrew her hand. “Oh. Then forget it.”
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Liu Xiuhe: “…” She was furious!
“Wait!”
Xu Sangluo turned her head.
Liu Xiuhe raised her hand and slammed the money against her.
Immediately, the bills scattered all over the floor.
With a gloomy face, Liu Xiuhe said, “Count it yourself.”
Xu Sangluo looked at the money scattered everywhere. After two seconds of silence, she lifted her brows slightly, her eyes curving with a smile.
“That won’t do. What if you say I secretly hid some? It’s more practical if we both handle it. One bill at a time.”
She extended her hand, palm facing up.
Liu Xiuhe: “…” Aaaah!
In the end, Liu Xiuhe had no choice but to squat down and pick up all the money herself. Then, one bill at a time, she counted them while angrily slapping them into Xu Sangluo’s hand.
After confirming it was 5,000 yuan, Xu Sangluo curved her lips and lightly waved the thick stack of cash.
“If you’d done that from the start, it would’ve been fine. So then, goodbye… oh wait, not goodbye—we won’t meet again. I’ll keep my promise, and I hope you keep yours too. Otherwise, I don’t know what I might end up doing. After all, even a rabbit will bite when it’s pushed into a corner.”
“Get the hell out of here!” Liu Xiuhe was almost having a heart attack from anger.
Xu Sangluo was in a good mood now and didn’t bother arguing with her. Smiling cheerfully, she turned and left.
As soon as she stepped out the door, she heard the thunderous slam of it closing behind her.
She shrugged and slowly walked downstairs.
When she reached the corner, she looked around. After confirming no one was nearby, she took out a vintage cowhide suitcase.
This suitcase had been bought in her previous life when she was transporting goods in her early years. Later, she couldn’t bear to throw it away and had kept it in her space. Now it was finally useful.
Inside the suitcase, she had packed quite a few useful things, such as medicine.
Anyway, she could just blame everything on the Xie family.
As for the promise she made to Liu Xiuhe…
She smiled and softly hummed a tune as she walked downstairs.
She was someone who valued keeping her word.
She just didn’t know whether Liu Xiuhe would do the same.
No one understood that woman better than she did.
This matter would definitely not end here.
Not to mention, what that family owed her and her mother was far more than just these things.
From now on, she would reclaim everything bit by bit.
Downstairs, Qin Zhiyi was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, resting.
He had a strong build—tall and broad—and was still wearing the clothes of a brick-moving laborer that he hadn’t had time to change out of.
His entire presence looked out of place in this setting.
Although most people had already gone to work at this hour, many family members were still wandering around outside. When they saw him, they couldn’t help but show a hint of curiosity.
Some even hesitated, wondering if they should go to the gatekeeper to ask about him.
After being stared at so many times, Qin Zhiyi simply closed his eyes to avoid seeing it.
Just then, Xu Sangluo came briskly out of the stairwell carrying a suitcase.
At first glance, she only saw the bicycle. When she turned her head, she noticed Qin Zhiyi leaning against the wall.
Hearing the movement, Qin Zhiyi opened his eyes. When he saw it was her, he walked over.
His gaze first swept over the suitcase in her hand, and a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes.
Xu Sangluo was in an excellent mood right now. She waved at him.
“All set. Let’s go.”
Qin Zhiyi paused. “Go? Go where?”
Today’s Xu Sangluo was especially hard for him to understand.
Judging by her expression, it didn’t seem like anything unpleasant had happened.
Xu Sangluo, however, completely failed to pick up on what he was thinking.
She placed the suitcase on the bamboo basket and tilted her head.
“Let’s take a stroll first. It’s rare for us to come out here anyway, so we might as well buy a few things before heading back. It’s still early, so we should make it back before dinner.”
After saying that, she seemed to think of something and looked at Qin Zhiyi again, asking somewhat embarrassedly,
“Of course, if you’re in a hurry to go back, we can come again another time.”
Anyway, everything she needed was already inside the suitcase. Later on, if she needed to put in or take out anything, she could use the suitcase as a cover.
Qin Zhiyi frowned slightly, looking at her and then toward the stairwell.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the occasional glances and whispers coming from people nearby.
He pressed his lips together. “Get on first.”
He swung his leg over the bicycle.
Xu Sangluo nodded and sat on the back with practiced ease, grabbing onto his clothes.
As the bicycle rode away, the murmurs among the onlookers gradually grew louder.
For Xu Sangluo, returning here again felt like something that happened decades later.
But for the residents of the neighborhood, she had only been gone for a little over a month.
The last time the mother and daughter had a huge argument. Liu Xiuhe’s harsh accusations calling her immoral had already spread around.
No one really knew what had happened. Everyone simply assumed Xu Sangluo had failed the college entrance exam, couldn’t handle the blow, and completely fell into ruin—running off with some wild man.
Some people had seen Qin Zhiyi before.
But back then he had been wearing a clean, sharp military uniform and looked quite impressive—completely different from how he looked now.
So no one recognized him. They just thought Xu Sangluo had switched to another man again.
But how did each one end up worse than the last?
Clearly they were raised in the same family—how could the difference be so great?
One got into the best university and had a boundless future.
The other willingly fell into disgrace, with no hope for the rest of her life.
Xu Sangluo had no idea that the moment she left, so many people were gossiping about her behind her back.
Even if she did know, she wouldn’t care.
In her previous life, she had struggled through life alone. There was nothing she hadn’t experienced.
From all that, she had realized one truth:
As long as you stand high enough, every slander will eventually turn into praise.