The next moment, Sheng Jinhe picked up a stick she had found and knocked on the ceramic basin.
“Come on, come on, neighbors! Everyone come out!”
“Just now she admitted herself that Lin Helian messed around, so my engagement to him is cancelled. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
The family compound had plenty of people not at work. Sheng Jinhe’s incident yesterday had already spread around, and many were watching her approach just now. Now, everyone came pouring out.
“I—I never said anything! What are you banging for? What are you all looking at? Go back, go back!”
Wu Fanglan shouted in panic.
“You just said that Yao Manman seduced your son. No matter how it happened, the result is that those two indeed got involved. Isn’t that an indirect admission? But that’s not the point. I have nothing to do with your son anymore. I’m here to get back what’s mine.”
“This is the list: food, drinks, daily necessities. They’re all gone by now, so just pay me in cash. Let’s say 500 yuan. I even rounded it up for you. If you don’t admit it, I can read it out loud and we can verify it publicly.”
“After all, a lot of times when I sent things to your Lin family, the neighbors saw it too.”
Sheng Jinhe moved a step closer, speaking in a voice loud enough for the two of them to hear.
“When the embarrassment comes, it’ll be your family’s reputation on the line. Who knows if you’ll still be able to work at the machinery factory later.”
Then she stepped back two paces.
“Aunt Wu, I just came back from the hospital. If you push me back in there, guess what my grandfather will do!”
Sheng Jinhe pressed her hand to her head, pretending she was about to faint.
Wu Fanglan snorted in anger.
“I really was blind before, thinking you were a well-behaved girl. Who knew you were so scheming! Our Lin family was right not to marry you. It’s only 500 yuan; fine, I’ll give it!”
“Oh, thank you for sparing me from marriage. Even with my scheming, I can’t compare to you. Otherwise, would I be here asking for my money? I wouldn’t have let you get away with even a single cent.”
Sheng Jinhe smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Wu Fanglan’s face turned ashen. She turned to fetch the money from home, and immediately other neighbors surrounded Sheng Jinhe.
“Jinhe, where have you come back from?”
“Auntie, I just got back from the hospital. After what happened yesterday, I had a high fever that wouldn’t go down. My grandfather got scared and rushed me to the hospital. I’ve had a close brush with death and fully realized things now.”
Sheng Jinhe replied obediently.
“Hmph, I’ve long seen that family isn’t good. I even told you before, but you didn’t appreciate it.”
A plump aunt snorted.
Sheng Jinhe immediately recalled—yes, that did happen.
“Auntie, I was foolish before. The stuff would never come back, but now I’m here asking for money. Too bad about those meat tickets, sugar tickets, and cloth tickets.”
Actually, she had already included them in the money.
She just hadn’t realized how extravagant the original owner had been—spending so much just on the engagement with the Lin family. If they had married, the entire Sheng family fortune would have gone there.
“Too bad what? Tickets can be converted to money!”
“Ask their family for it!”
Another aunt said.
“Exactly! You’re so easy to convince, girl.”
The plump aunt stepped forward, knocking on the door.
“Wu Lanfang, don’t bully this child! Her mother was a martyr! We can’t stand by and watch you treat her this way. Quickly compensate her for those tickets too!”
“Give it back, or we’ll report you to the Women’s Federation!”
Inside, Wu Fanglan clutched the money, heart sinking, and rushed out.
She couldn’t go to the Women’s Federation. Besides, she was clearly in the wrong; a few days of education there would ruin her face.
“She’s already counted the tickets in the money. What do you think she is?”
“Sheng Jinhe, right?”
Wu Fanglan questioned like a fighting rooster.
“Ah, so Aunt Wu remembers everything!”
Sheng Jinhe sneered.
“It was your son’s fault. What’s wrong with giving a little extra as compensation?”
“Go get the tickets quickly!”
“Otherwise, we’ll report your son for having an affair. He’s still in the hospital, right? Hasn’t registered marriage with that Yao girl yet!”
Someone in the crowd added this.
“No, they won’t register today. Today’s definitely the day for the marriage certificate, not an affair.”
Wu Fanglan hadn’t forgotten, actually. The Yao family came early this morning, but she hadn’t agreed yet. She was waiting for Sheng Jinhe and didn’t expect this attitude. This matter couldn’t be delayed.
If they really reported it, it wouldn’t be about money anymore. The family would be in chaos, and her beloved youngest son—destined for wealth—absolutely could not be affected.
“I’ll give it, I’ll give it!”
She had no choice but to go back and get the tickets.
After sending people off, she planned to immediately take the two to register the marriage. Even if her son divorced later, at least this step had to be completed.
That Yao Manman was absolutely unacceptable; Sheng Jinhe, at least, had good family background, was good-looking, and easy to persuade. But Yao Manman had nothing; the Lin family would never accept her as a daughter-in-law.
Sheng Jinhe didn’t expect this pleasant surprise. Reporting the affair wouldn’t have enough evidence anyway. If matters were that easy to resolve, she might as well give each of them a peanut and bury it in her space.
Sigh. Used to straightforward methods, indirect tactics really limited her. But at least here, she couldn’t break the law. She was already restraining herself from using crude methods.
“Here!”
“Give me the list, you all witnessed it. Then we’re square.”
“Don’t come begging at our doorstep in the future.”
Wu Fanglan came out again, holding the money and tickets, grudgingly handing them to Sheng Jinhe.
Sheng Jinhe almost wanted to hit her.
She couldn’t do it openly—it would be unreasonable—so she had to go for the sneaky approach.
“Thanks today, aunties! You are truly the wise and good-hearted people of the neighborhood.”
“I’ll head home now. This afternoon, I’ll treat your kids to some candy.”
Sheng Jinhe had a photographic memory and had already matched each child to their parents.
“Oh, our Jinhe is so sensible!”
“Yes, she must have been misled by bad people before!”
“You just came back from the hospital; hurry home and rest!”
…
As Sheng Jinhe left the crowd, she held an ice cube in her hand, precisely hitting Wu Fanglan’s knee. With an “ouch,” Wu Fanglan, caught off guard, fell on the threshold, half her face on the ground, blood spilling from her mouth.
“Oh my, what happened to Aunt Wu?”
“Is she okay?”
Sheng Jinhe feigned concern.
“You’re just kind-hearted, girl. Must have done bad things before, now even walking you trip and fall. Go home! Don’t worry, she won’t die.”
“Alright, then, I’m heading home, Auntie. Thanks again for everything before.”
Sheng Jinhe smiled brightly, clearly in a good mood.
“Thanks for what? You’re still a child! Your mother passed early, your grandfather raising you isn’t easy. If you don’t understand something, come find me.”
Sheng Jinhe suddenly remembered—the plump aunt worked at the Women’s Federation.
“Got it, Auntie, I’m going home now!”
With the money and tickets in hand, Sheng Jinhe returned triumphantly.