The wind brushed gently across her face.
Shen Li finally realized something.
Wait—this “mud-legged” future fake husband—how did he even pay for everything? He was getting into character too fast.
Her legs felt heavy. Even the steamed buns were provided by her fake husband—probably just simple wheat buns. Gu Zhaoye came from a modest background; the money for these buns might have been several days’ worth of meals for him, not to mention the rickshaw fare. Shen Li felt a pang in her heart.
She decided to give him fifty yuan on the day they got the marriage certificate.
Back at the small villa, the sky was dimming slightly.
Shen Li’s stomach growled. She took out the meat porridge from her space, planning to eat it with the steamed buns Gu Zhaoye had brought.
She knew Zhong Shuhua and the others wouldn’t return so early—they were still out running around for tickets.
Unwrapping the wax paper, the two Western breads gleamed golden, looking incredibly delicious.
Where had this mud-legged man gotten such fancy bread?
Doubt lingered in her mind, but she began eating, mentally calculating how much to give Gu Zhaoye later.
So fragrant.
Just as she took the last bite, the front door opened. The Shen family returned.
Shen Mingtang sniffed the aroma, saw the wax paper with the Western restaurant logo in the dining room, and rushed over to check. Nothing. He looked at Shen Li. She elegantly took the last bite of bread and let out a satisfied belch.
“Mom, Dad, look! Shen Li is eating all by herself again—Western bread no less! We’ve been running around all day for her…”
“Shut up.”
With a look from Shen Liren, Zhong Shuhua rushed over and covered Shen Mingtang’s mouth.
The family had been running ragged trying to gather cloth and industrial tickets for Gu Xu.
“You ran around all day for me? For me, why?”
“Nothing… Mingtang was just joking,” Shen Liren warned, and Shen Mingtang realized he nearly let something slip. He made a muffled sound.
Zhong Shuhua relaxed when she saw her son back down.
The smell of meat in the dining room was strong. Zhong Shuhua inhaled deeply and said, “Li Li bought something delicious for us! We deserve to treat you as our own daughter. You always think of us.” She lightly patted Shen Mingtang. “See, what nonsense you’re saying? Didn’t your sister ever think about us? We are her only real family.”
Shen Li had always brought them treats before. Too bad they had been nothing but ungrateful brats.
Zhong Shuhua looked around and saw Shen Li extend her hand, palm up.
“12 yuan—for the two Western breads and the meat porridge.”
“You’re crazy! Asking me for money for your own food?” Shen Mingtang rolled his eyes.
Zhong Shuhua: “Li Li, what does this mean?”
“Tonight you’re not home. I was hungry, so of course I bought something to eat. I’ve already given you my wages and food money, so you need to reimburse me for dinner.”
All the items they had bought for Shen Li today cost them a lot in exchange fees. And now she wanted them to pay 12 yuan for dinner?
“Rice costs 0.15 yuan per jin, pork 0.7 per jin. Who eats 12 yuan in one meal?” Zhong Shuhua shook with anger.
“Oh, fine if you won’t. But then tell me—what exactly were you all doing outside until dark instead of cooking? I heard from the neighbor you went to exchange some tickets. What tickets?”
“I can help too! After all, Uncle and Aunt treat me like their own daughter,” Shen Li said sweetly, looking like a soft little bun, genuinely eager to help.
Zhong Shuhua had accidentally mentioned it to the neighbor earlier. Feeling Shen Liren’s wrath now, she dared not speak.
“Hurry up and give Li Li the money.”
Shen Liren despised this rural woman, Zhong Shuhua, for her lack of tact and narrow-mindedness.
Compared with the vast inheritance behind Shen Li, 12 yuan was nothing.
He absolutely could not let Shen Li know about their close ties with Gu Xu.
Reluctantly, Zhong Shuhua pulled out the money, counting each bill. It was all from her grocery money stash.
Shen Li snatched it all, stuffing it into her pocket without counting. “I knew Uncle and Aunt wouldn’t be the kind of people to greedily take their niece’s money.”
“By the way, Uncle, Aunt, I have something to tell you.”
“I’m planning to get married.”
Zhong Shuhua, who still had 20–30 yuan in her hand, forgot even to grab it back upon hearing this.
Shen Liren’s wrinkles softened with joy. “Gu Xu is a good boy. You chose well, Li Li.”
“When will you get the marriage certificate? Tomorrow is a good day—why not then?”
“Uncle will go with you. I’ll hold the household registration book myself. You’re careless, and I’m afraid you might lose it.”
Once the certificate was in hand, this girl would be worthless.
Shen Li tested him. Shen Liren was cautious—he would not let her touch the household registration book.
“That won’t do. I haven’t prepared everything yet.”
“The trip to the capital will be hard. Everything for food and lodging must be bought. I can only sleep on Hangzhou silk quilts. Don’t worry, Uncle. Once I save enough money for everything, I’ll get the certificate with Gu Xu.”
Shen Li demanded the best for food, clothing, and shelter. Once she had enough, the political purge would be imminent.
“You’re getting married. Uncle will give you some dowry—will 1,000 yuan be enough?”
“I appreciate your kindness, Uncle, but I’ll save my own money. I can’t take three or four thousand from you.”
Zhong Shuhua screamed, “Three or four thousand?”
Madness. That was a huge sum.
Shen Liren glared at her and calculated.
The inheritance in Shen Li’s name was already in his hands. He had arranged to move a batch to Hong Kong in a few days.
Three or four thousand? Compared to the money in the bank left by Shen Li’s parents, it was nothing.
Shen Liren gritted his teeth. “Fine, Uncle will give it to you.”
Shen Li happily took the 4,000 yuan from Shen Liren and returned to her room, leaving Shen Mingtang whining with hunger.
Zhong Shuhua distracted him with a meat bun, thinking, Today alone I spent 6,000 yuan on that damn girl. How can she spend so freely?
Some tickets they didn’t have and had to buy at high prices. The money spent today exceeded what they usually spent in a year.
“She’s going to get the certificate. Once she has it, the bank money will be ours. Then we’ll send her to the countryside—to the hardest place we can find.”
Shen Li didn’t hear their plotting. She had her own plans. Once Shen Liren knew she was getting married, he would start secretly moving assets to Hong Kong. She would use this opportunity to trace his escape route and reclaim her inheritance.
Suddenly, her chest ached.
Nighttime always made it worse.
Shen Li drank her spirit spring water. Feeling slightly better, she grew hungry again and went to the kitchen.
On the stairs, she ran into Shen Man, who deliberately raised her wrist. A watch gleamed there.
“Sis, what are you doing downstairs at this hour?”
The Meihua watch was exactly the one Shen Li had chosen earlier. Gu Zhaoye had paid for it, and Shen Man had begged to wear it for one night.
Shen Li still didn’t know about her relationship with Gu Zhaoye. After Shen Man wore it, she would let Shen Li have her second-hand one.