With no more excuses left, Liang Haifeng had no choice but to obediently write the IOU.
Yu Yao stood beside him supervising, occasionally reminding him where he wrote incorrectly and ordering him to rewrite it.
Liang Haifeng was extremely impatient, but with so many eyes watching, it was hard for him to play any word games.
He couldn’t understand what had gotten into Yu Yao—she had become so sharp, calculating, and merciless.
What was worse, Liang Hui was standing right beside her, repeatedly saying that Yu Yao’s money was his money.
Liang Laosi was notoriously shrewd. Liang Haifeng knew better than anyone that he was not easy to fool.
The other two young men, Dongzi and Liangzi, were from the same village. If anything happened, they would definitely go back and spread it everywhere.
Thinking of this, Liang Haifeng—who always cared deeply about his reputation—became even more irritated.
After several corrections under Yu Yao’s supervision, he rewrote the IOU multiple times before finally producing one she was satisfied with.
Yu Yao took it and read it aloud:
“…the repayment deadline is no later than the day Liang Haifeng gets married. Otherwise, it will be settled with the household furniture and appliances used for the wedding.”
“Stop talking! I’ll definitely pay you back before the wedding!” Liang Haifeng tore up the discarded drafts and stormed out.
As he passed Liang Hui, he said bitterly, “Liang Laosi, you’ll regret marrying this woman sooner or later!”
Liang Hui let out a light scoff and ignored him.
He only said to the shopkeeper, “Pack up all the pastries. I’m taking them all.”
The shopkeeper immediately smiled brightly. “Alright! Please wait a moment!”
The four of them left the pastry shop.
Liang Hui took Yu Yao, Dongzi, and Liangzi to a beef noodle shop next door.
After eating their fill, they finally returned to Xiao Hai’s house.
Aunt Fang brought out the things they had bought and helped hang them on the bicycle handlebars.
She said cheerfully, “I told you—young wives just go out for a stroll, they always come back!”
Liang Hui’s lips curved slightly.
Seeing that dusk was falling, he left some pastries for Aunt Fang as thanks, then rode the bicycle back toward the village with Yu Yao.
Dongzi and Liangzi rode a single “28-inch big-bar” bicycle together.
They alternated between riding ahead, falling behind, and riding alongside Liang Hui.
Even on rough mountain roads, it didn’t stop their laughter and chatter.
The two were full of energy, with endless strength and an equally endless appetite for gossip.
Liang Hui didn’t talk much, but he wasn’t annoyed by their noise either. Most of the time, he just smiled silently and let them be.
Yu Yao watched the two energetic troublemakers and couldn’t help asking, “Weren’t you two at home fixing a bed? Why are you in town again?”
Dongzi grinned, showing a row of bright white teeth.
“The bed just needed some wooden reinforcement. It was done quickly.”
Liangzi blinked mischievously. “Sister-in-law, you didn’t think we were rebuilding a whole iron bed, did you?”
Sitting behind on the bicycle, Dongzi patted his chest. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. The bed is as solid as iron now. If it breaks tonight, I’ll take the blame!”
Yu Yao instantly blushed and turned her head away.
These two!
Liang Hui scolded them, “Your sister-in-law is shy. Stop making nonsense jokes.”
The two immediately quieted down and dared not tease her further.
Yu Yao suddenly remembered a saying from the future: a man’s friends treat you the way he treats you.
If Liang Hui didn’t look down on her, neither did the people around him.
She pressed her lips together slightly.
It seemed her alliance with Liang Hui could continue to develop.
After two and a half hours of mountain travel, the three finally returned to Tiger Pit Village around nine in the evening.
Liang Haifeng, riding more slowly, had also just arrived home.
He was currently in the main hall questioning his parents, trying to find out how Yu Yao had gotten together with Liang Hui and how they had suddenly married.
At that moment, Dongzi and Liangzi returned to the Liang house, unloading sacks of grain and various bags from the bicycles.
Liang Hui told Yu Yao to sort things out, then got on his bicycle and left with Dongzi and Liangzi.
Yu Yao didn’t know what he had gone to do.
After he left, she closed the west room door and bolted it from the inside.
Now only she was left in the house. Liang Haifeng had just returned and was likely complaining to his parents about her. It was safer to be cautious.
She began organizing the supplies. There was quite a lot.
Ten jin of white flour, ten jin of rice, five jin of millet, five jin of corn flour—enough for daily meals.
After all, summer was hot, and storing too much grain could lead to insects or mold.
There was also a large ham, a bag of beef jerky, and a small jar of pickled vegetables—all easy to store foods.
She also sorted the fabrics and toiletries Liang Hui had bought, organizing everything neatly.
Finally, she placed the two differently colored toothbrushes into two enamel cups and smiled slightly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, a violent pounding on the door erupted.
Yu Yao wasn’t surprised at all. She didn’t even look up. “Liang Hui isn’t home!”
A furious voice came from outside: “Yu Yao! Did you force our third son to write that IOU?!”
“He borrowed my money—of course he has to write an IOU,” Yu Yao sneered. She knew this person had come back to complain.
“Bullshit!” Zhao Chunhua screamed so loudly her voice cracked. “Do you have no shame? You gave him those things and money willingly, and now you want them back?!”
She slammed the door harder.
The old wooden door was already fragile, and it creaked under the force.
Yu Yao walked over and picked up an old shoulder pole.
“Don’t you dare mess around! Liang Hui will be back soon!”
If she dared break in, she would swing the pole—she didn’t care who it was.
“Bah! Relying on a man now, huh? You little tramp! Just wait—I’ll make Liang Hui divorce you!” Zhao Chunhua continued smashing the door.
She really had strength; the bolt inside nearly gave way.
Yu Yao pressed her body against the door while gripping the pole.
“Of course I rely on my man for support! If you’re so capable, go make Liang Hui divorce me! He won’t!”
Zhao Chunhua screamed even more insults—“fox spirit,” “home wrecker,” and more.
Yu Yao held her ground until Liang Hui returned.
“Aunt, if you have something to say, come at me. Don’t bully her while she’s alone.”
Zhao Chunhua was so angry she could barely speak. “You… you two teamed up to bully Haifeng and forced him to write that IOU!”
“Bring him out. Let’s ask him face-to-face whether he actually borrowed money from Yu Yao,” Liang Hui said calmly.
He didn’t argue further. He simply went into the main hall and dragged Liang Haifeng out.
“Liang Laosi, let go of me!” Liang Haifeng, gentle and scholarly in appearance, was no match for Liang Hui in a fight.
His face turned red with anger and frustration—like a scholar meeting a soldier, unable to reason at all.
“We’re civilized people in a new society. Can’t we talk properly? You rely on brute strength and act recklessly—why don’t you just go become a bandit and rule a mountain instead!”
Liang Hui released him, smiling faintly.
“Oh? So the third brother is a civilized man?”
“Then tell me—should a debt be repaid or not?”