World. 2 Chapter 4
“So it’s settled then. Bring your girlfriend over to our place for National Day. There isn’t much time left, so I’d better hurry up and tidy the house and buy some things girls like. I can’t let you down when the time comes.” Although Lin Yanan said this, she knew full well that Yan Xue wouldn’t like the place at all, nor would she like the things they had prepared, but they still had to put on a show.
Although Zhang Dachun had sprained his ankle, it was only a mild sprain. As long as he avoided heavy work during his recovery, there was no real danger. After getting the situation straight and helping out at home for two days, Zhang Mingxuan returned to school.
“Xiao Xue, come over to my place during the National Day holiday. I’ve already talked it over with my parents.” Upon returning to school, Zhang Mingxuan first bought two cups of the milk tea Yan Xue liked before heading to her dorm to find her. Given the original host’s personality, Zhang Mingxuan would normally have brought Yan Xue some special treats or snacks on his return, but Lin Yanan’s arrival had caused him to completely overlook the matter. Neither Zhang Mingxuan nor Zhang Dachun had thought of it either, so this time Zhang Mingxuan returned to school empty-handed, having brought nothing with him.
“Sure, since you’ve already talked it over with your family, let’s go back together.” After hearing Zhang Mingxuan’s words, Yan Xue agreed readily. She hadn’t had any new romantic prospects lately, and she was short on cash. Visiting Zhang Mingxuan’s home wouldn’t cost her a dime—it seemed like a good deal to her.
“Mingxuan, this milk tea you bought tastes so good.” This shop’s milk tea was known for being made with real ingredients and no additives; even the cheapest cup cost twenty-five yuan. If she’d been buying it herself, Yan Xue definitely wouldn’t have been able to bring herself to spend that much. But ever since she’d complimented the milk tea here, Zhang Mingxuan had been buying it for her all the time. Free stuff—it was a real treat!
“It’s good. I’ll buy you some again next time. Let’s go grab a bite to eat. What do you feel like?” Seeing Yan Xue’s eyes crinkle with happiness over a single cup of milk tea, Zhang Mingxuan couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s go to that new hot pot place. I have a coupon for 12% off—it’s about to expire, so we’d better use it before it goes to waste.” Since Zhang Mingxuan brought it up himself, Yan Xue wasn’t about to pass up this chance to try something new.
“Alright, you’re the boss.” Zhang Mingxuan rarely turned down Yan Xue’s requests like this.
After the hot pot meal, even with Yan Xue’s coupon, the two of them spent nearly 500 yuan—a significant sum for college students. While Yan Xue was basking in the fact that she had something new to brag about today, Zhang Mingxuan was already thinking about taking on more gigs from the part-time job group.
While Zhang Mingxuan continued typing away on his computer, his roommates were privately grumbling in the dorm—here we go again. Of course, their complaints weren’t directed at Zhang Mingxuan, but at Yan Xue. Every time he went out with her, he’d have to start working to make up for it afterward. As for why, everyone knew exactly why.
Before they knew it, the Mid-Autumn Festival had arrived. Thanks to Lin Yanan’s intervention, this year’s gifts were much more modest than in the past—though the cuts were limited to the presents for Zhang Dabao and Zhang Dali’s families. As the eldest son, it was only natural for Zhang Dachun to send Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to his parents, but why should he have to send them to his younger siblings as well? According to family hierarchy, it should have been them sending gifts to him. Given the unpleasant incident from last time, Zhang Dachun didn’t dare make any demands of Lin Yanan.
“Is this all you brought back? Why is there so much less?” Seeing that Zhang Dachun and Lin Yanan hadn’t returned home with the usual array of bags and packages, Zhang’s mother was displeased. With so little to go around, what would be left for her if it were divided up?
“These are all for you. Dachun sprained his ankle and couldn’t carry that much.” Seeing Zhang’s mother fixated only on what the two were holding, Lin Yanan couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly. Couldn’t she see her own son was having trouble walking? Yet here she was, completely oblivious.
“Oh, is that so? Is Dachun’s foot okay? And you, his father—what are you just standing there for? Hurry up and take these things!” As long as her own interests weren’t threatened, Mrs. Zhang was quite the actress.
Once inside, Lin Yanan realized that both the Zhang Dabao and Zhang Dali families had already arrived. As soon as she entered, Zhang Dabao’s son, Zhang Yang, took the gifts from her hands with a smile and thoughtfully brought her a cup of tea. This made Lin Yanan feel both flattered and a bit overwhelmed.
“Sister-in-law, I just heard you say you only brought holiday gifts for Mom and Dad this time. Is that true?” Before Lin Yanan could even take a sip of the tea in her hand, Zhang Dali confronted her directly.
“Yes, why?” Lin Yanan glanced at Zhang Dali, who was slumped on the sofa cracking sunflower seeds, and replied casually.
“What about ours?” Hearing Lin Yanan actually dare to say that, Zhang Dali jumped up from the sofa in an instant, causing the sofa to wobble twice. This was the first time the two had spoken since Zhang Dali had asked Lin Yanan for a business loan and been turned down. And the very first thing she asked for was a gift. Of course, Lin Yanan hadn’t expected anything different from her.
“If I’m not mistaken, Dachun is the eldest brother. If anyone should be giving gifts, it should be you sending them to my family. I usually don’t say anything, but this time, my son Dachun sprained his ankle and not a single one of you called to check on him. Now you’re asking me for a holiday gift? All I can say is that even though it’s still daytime, daydreaming won’t get you anywhere.” Lin Yanan didn’t give her a second glance. Since they’d already had a falling-out over the loan, there was no point in trying to mend things now.
“Sister-in-law, what you’re saying is outrageous. If our family hadn’t given you all that land back then, would you even be able to run a supermarket now or live the good life you have? You and Big Brother owe us—you have to pay us back!
Besides, you run your own supermarket—you have everything. Now not only do you refuse to support us, but you’re trying to fleece us poor folks. You really have no good intentions…” Seeing Lin Yanan’s unyielding attitude, Zhang Dali was so furious that the fat on her belly jiggled with every word; by the time she finished speaking, her face was flushed red. Standing nearby, Zhang Dali’s husband, He Bin, saw that she was being too uncompromising and nudged her several times, but to no avail—Zhang Dali was already beyond control.
“Since you’ve brought up what happened back then, let’s have a good, long chat about it today…” Hearing that Zhang Dali actually dared to bring up the past, Lin Yanan instantly flew into a rage. Just because life was good now didn’t mean it had been that way from the start. If it hadn’t been for Zhang Dabao’s wedding, how could Zhang Dachun have been pressured by the family to back down and go to that godforsaken place?
Not only that, but Zhang Dali, eager to save up for her own dowry, took advantage of the situation. She claimed she owned land in that area but didn’t want to go there, so she’d transfer it to her older brother—of course, not for free. The original owner and Zhang Dachun were honest souls; they couldn’t resist Zhang Dali’s tantrums and threats of suicide, so they were forced to pay for those “lands of hers.” If it hadn’t been for the original owner’s family stepping in to lend them 20,000 yuan, they wouldn’t even have been able to make ends meet. Now that Zhang Dali had the audacity to shamelessly bring up the past, Lin Yanan was so furious she wanted to make her right hand have an “intimate contact” with Zhang Dali’s face.