“I have the final say.”
Those four words landed heavily.
No dust rose—
But they left Lu Xiangbei’s dark face shifting between red and pale.
The boy clenched his teeth.
A hard knot bulged in his cheek—that was the physical reaction of suppressed fury.
Why?
What did this woman think this place was?
“In your dreams!”
Lu Xiangbei growled from deep in his throat.
His body was taut like a fully drawn bow.
As if he might lunge and tear her apart at any moment.
Behind the door, Lu Xiangnan trembled.
His small, yellowed hands gripped the doorframe tightly.
The youngest, Lu Xiangdong, didn’t move.
Those deep, pitch-black eyes stared at Su Ci—
Like a predator sizing up prey.
Su Ci didn’t spare the three little wolves an extra glance.
She didn’t even bother putting her sunglasses back on.
She lifted her foot—
Carefully avoiding the dirt on the ground—
And walked straight into the main room.
The moment she entered—
A mix of mold and stale sweat hit her nose, overpowering even her expensive perfume.
The room was dim.
Half the wall plaster had peeled off, exposing uneven mud bricks.
The only furniture was a broken table propped up with two red bricks.
This was the regimental commander’s home?
Su Ci frowned slightly.
Her gaze swept the room and locked onto the left-side bedroom.
The only south-facing room with an intact window.
She didn’t hesitate.
She walked straight toward it.
“Don’t go in!”
Lu Xiangbei shot forward like a territorial beast.
He spread his arms, blocking the doorway.
“That’s my brother’s room!”
His voice cracked, rough and hoarse.
“A woman like you isn’t qualified to enter my brother’s room!”
That room—
Was sacred.
The last shred of dignity in this house.
Su Ci stopped.
Her gaze slowly lowered—
Landing on his dirt-covered hands.
Then on his greasy, worn military jacket.
She smiled.
But the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Your brother’s room?”
She stepped closer.
Her fragrance instantly overwhelmed his sweat.
“Now—it’s mine.”
Before the words finished—
Her body shifted.
Lu Xiangbei only saw a blur.
A gust slipped past under his arm.
When he turned—
That delicate woman was already standing by the bed.
“You—!”
His eyes turned red with rage as he spun to grab her.
But—
He froze.
Su Ci raised two fingers.
What kind of hands were those?
White as peeled scallions, nails neatly trimmed.
Now—
They pinched the corner of the old army-green bedsheet.
As if holding contaminated trash.
With a flick of her wrist—
Whoosh—
The bedding Lu Xiangbei never even dared touch—
Along with the stiff mattress—
Flew through the air.
Thud.
It landed squarely in the muddy yard outside.
Splattering dirty water.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Lu Xiangnan covered his mouth.
Lu Xiangbei’s head buzzed.
Blood rushed to his skull.
She… threw it?
She threw his brother’s bedding like garbage?
“Damn woman! I’ll kill you!”
His reason snapped.
Lu Xiangbei charged like a cannonball.
His fist cut through the air—
Aimed straight at Su Ci’s face.
Su Ci didn’t dodge.
She simply dropped the large canvas bag she’d been holding onto the bare bed.
Thump.
Then—
The zipper slid open with a sharp sound.
Lu Xiangbei’s fist stopped mid-air.
Not because he didn’t want to strike—
But because he was stunned.
Su Ci stood with her back to them, blocking most of the view.
Her hands moved quickly inside the bag.
Like magic—
She pulled out a fluffy white quilt.
Real cotton.
Blindingly white.
Decorated with delicate floral patterns.
It looked so soft you’d want to bury your face in it.
Then—
A pair of pillows.
Not those heavy buckwheat ones—
But soft ones that bounced back when pressed.
And then—
A white lace mosquito net.
Su Ci worked efficiently.
In just a few moments, the bed was made.
The once dark, smelly wooden bed—
Had transformed into a soft nest filled with the scent of lavender.
The contrast—
Was like placing a princess bed inside a pigsty.
Lu Xiangbei’s fist was still raised.
But his momentum… drained.
It was too clean.
So clean that his dirty hands didn’t dare move forward.
Lu Xiangnan peeked from behind the doorframe, eyes glued to the pillow.
His throat moved unconsciously.
Su Ci finished the last corner of the bed.
Then turned.
A small spray bottle appeared in her hand.
Spritz—
A fine mist filled the air.
The fresh scent of lemon instantly overpowered the mold.
Only then did she look at the boy still holding his fist up.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What? Want to give me a massage?”
Lu Xiangbei’s face turned dark red.
His fist trembled—
But he couldn’t bring it down.
The fragrance filling the room—
Made him feel like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.
That feeling was worse than being beaten.
“Take your dirty money and get out!”
After holding it in, he finally spat out those harsh words.
“Dirty money?”
Su Ci chuckled.
She walked to the broken table.
Reached into her “treasure chest” bag again.
This time—
She pulled out something thin between two fingers.
A crisp banknote.
Ten yuan.
The image of the steelworker on it still clear in the dim light.
In an era where one cent could buy two candies—
This was a huge sum.
More than Lu Xiangbei might earn in a month risking himself in the black market.
Su Ci slapped it onto the table.
Smack.
“Go.”
She leaned lazily against the bed, tapping the table with her finger—
Like commanding a servant.
“Wash your filthy hands.”
“Go to the supply store and buy two new brooms. Bring back a bucket of clean water.”
“Pull the weeds in the yard.”
Lu Xiangbei’s breathing quickened.
His gaze stuck to the money.
His throat bobbed.
With this money—
His younger brother’s medicine… his sister’s shoes…
Su Ci watched the struggle in his eyes.
A faint smile curled her lips.
Her voice softened, casual and effortless—
The tone of someone from a big city.
“The rest of the money…”
“Is yours.”
“Whether you earn it—that’s up to you.”
Then she ignored him completely.
She took off her coat, revealing a fitted silk blouse.
And lay down on the soft bed.
With a satisfied sigh:
“Ah… now this bed is finally usable.”
At the doorway—
Lu Xiangbei’s hand trembled.
Between the money—
And his pride—
He struggled for only three seconds.
Then—
He rushed forward.
Grabbed the money as if afraid it might disappear.
Clutched it tight.
And ran.
He even stumbled at the door.
“I’ll go buy the brooms!”
His voice echoed in the yard.
All his earlier fierceness gone.
Su Ci lay with her eyes closed, her smile deepening.
See?
There’s nothing a ten-yuan note can’t solve.
If there is—
Then use two.