He had always known that Jiang Shiyue liked him, but so what? A rich young lady like Jiang Shiyue was fine to play around with, but not someone to marry and bring home.
What he wanted was a virtuous wife and good mother like Lin Wan'er, who could grace the living room and handle the kitchen, not a pampered young lady like Jiang Shiyue, whose ten fingers had never touched spring water.
But Jiang Shiyue had always been utterly devoted to him. Even if she was angry with him, all he had to do was coax her a little, and she would still give him money and Coupons.
Hearing this, Jiang Shiyue pouted. "You only know how to coax me."
Liang Zeyuan made a swearing gesture. "I'm really not coaxing you. If I am, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."
Jiang Shiyue rolled her eyes inwardly. This man really dared to say anything for money, unafraid that it might actually come true.
Seeing that Jiang Shiyue still looked unhappy, Liang Zeyuan chuckled lightly. "Or are you saying you have no confidence in yourself?"
Jiang Shiyue shot Liang Zeyuan a glare, which only made him more delighted. "Shiyue, you are a rich young lady. And she, Lin Wan'er, is just a country bumpkin. Anyone would know how to choose!"
Ha, if she didn't know the ending of the book, she might have actually believed Liang Zeyuan's nonsense.
Suppressing her disgust, Jiang Shiyue put on an innocent and naive expression. "Then you better not lie to me!"
"Don't worry, I will never lie to you."
Seeing that Jiang Shiyue had been placated, Liang Zeyuan finally got down to business. "Shiyue, ah, I'm almost out of Rice Coupons. Do you have any extra?"
A smirk touched the corner of Jiang Shiyue's lips, then she pouted. "I do, but I've lent you so many before, and you've never mentioned paying me back. I don't dare to lend you any more now."
Although the original owner had indeed given Liang Zeyuan a lot of money and Coupons, Liang Zeyuan had asked to "borrow" them every time. He just never paid them back, leading people who didn't know the truth to think the original owner had given them to him willingly.
Liang Zeyuan probably hadn't expected Jiang Shiyue to say such a thing. He froze, momentarily unsure of what to do.
It was Jiang Shiyue who spoke up first. "But it's not impossible if you want to borrow them. You just have to write me an IOU."
Liang Zeyuan had thought she was going to ask him to do something difficult. It was just an IOU. He could just refuse to acknowledge it later. Anyway, Jiang Shiyue's family was rich; she wouldn't fuss over it with him.
With this in mind, Liang Zeyuan immediately agreed. "Fine, I'll write you an IOU."
Looking at the large and small bags in Jiang Shiyue's hands, he said, "But why don't we go inside first?"
Jiang Shiyue raised an eyebrow at his words, then placed the things in her hands under the eaves and followed Liang Zeyuan into the room.
Liang Zeyuan was about to scribble something casually, but Jiang Shiyue spoke up: "Just write: Liang Zeyuan owes Jiang Shiyue ten five-chi Cloth Coupons, ten Oil Coupons, ten Grain Coupons, ten Rice Coupons, eight Sugar Coupons, two Meat Coupons, one Shanghai Watch Coupon, one Bicycle Coupon, and five hundred yuan in cash."
Liang Zeyuan pressed his lips together. "Does it need to be so detailed?"
Jiang Shiyue waved her hand nonchalantly. "If you don't write it, I won't lend you anything from now on."
Liang Zeyuan's heart sank. He had no idea what had gotten into Jiang Shiyue today.
But he figured she must have listened to those gossips and was still angry with him.
It was just writing an IOU. Once Jiang Shiyue gave him the Rice Coupons, he would just tear the IOU up.
With that thought, Liang Zeyuan obediently wrote down what Jiang Shiyue had just dictated, adding the date and signing his name at the end.
Handing the completed IOU to Jiang Shiyue, Liang Zeyuan looked at her as if seeking praise. "Shiyue, are you satisfied now?"
Jiang Shiyue nodded in satisfaction. The next moment, right in front of Liang Zeyuan, she stuffed the IOU into her shirt.
Having read the novel, she knew what kind of person Liang Zeyuan was, so she also knew why he had willingly written this IOU.
It was simply because he thought he could destroy the IOU after getting the Rice Coupons.
But she wouldn't give him that chance.
Jiang Shiyue's eyes curved into crescents. "Liang Zhiqing, I'm quite satisfied."
A jolt went through Liang Zeyuan's heart. "Shiyue, didn't you used to call me Brother Zeyuan? Why are you calling me Liang Zhiqing now?"
Jiang Shiyue blinked innocently. "Well, I'm married now. It's not appropriate to call you Brother Zeyuan anymore. My husband will get jealous."
After speaking, she waved at Liang Zeyuan. "By the way, I can't talk to you anymore. I have to go back and cook for my husband, or he won't have the energy to work this afternoon."
She turned and walked out of the room, taking a deep breath. Only then did she feel like she had come back to life.
She didn't know if it was because of her inherent disgust for Liang Zeyuan, or because he had sweated so much while working, but his body reeked of sweat, and the smell was terribly unpleasant.
Liang Zeyuan chased after her. "Shiyue, what did you mean by that? And didn't you say you'd give me your Coupons if I wrote the IOU? Where are the Rice Coupons?"
At this moment, Liang Zeyuan had lost all his earlier composure. His face was now filled with anxiety and anger, feeling like he had been played.
He had boasted to Lin Changsheng that he could get the Rice Coupons.
If he couldn't produce the Rice Coupons, what would Lin Changsheng think of him?
He had been here for several months, so he naturally knew Lin Changsheng's temperament.
What if he was assigned dirty and tiring work because of this?
Jiang Shiyue looked innocent. "Comrade Liang, I never said that. Don't you go accusing me wrongly!"
After speaking, she sidestepped a few paces to maintain a certain distance from Liang Zeyuan. "Also, I really have to go back and cook for my husband. I don't have time to listen to your nonsense here."
Liang Zeyuan said in a placating tone, "Good Shiyue, I won't stop you, but give me the Coupons first. I'll definitely pay you back."
Jiang Shiyue couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Only you would believe that when you say it."
If he was really going to pay her back, he would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?
To put it bluntly, he was just trying to get something for nothing.
Now that she had the IOU, Jiang Shiyue couldn't be bothered to play along with Liang Zeyuan anymore. She really couldn't stand the smell of sweat on him. "If you keep blocking my way, I'm going to call for help. It'll be the perfect opportunity to let your dear sister Wan'er see how you pester a married woman."
Hearing this, Liang Zeyuan's face turned pale. He looked at Jiang Shiyue in disbelief. "Shiyue, how could you do this to me? Don't you like me?"
"That was before. Now I only like my Gu Yian."
She wasn't the original owner, who would pass up a great man like Gu Yian to like a "phoenix man" like Liang Zeyuan.
Liang Zeyuan and Lin Wan'er should be locked together, preferably for the rest of their lives.