He Yun was stunned for a long mont before she suddenly asked her mother, "Second Sister-in-law is here with the three kids? Then where’s Second Brother?"
Mrs. He snorted. "Your precious Second Brother went and got together with that woman, Gu Yuwei. He insisted on divorcing your Second Sister-in-law and abandoned this family. So he moved out to be with her."
He Yun’s mouth fell open in surprise. "Xiao Gu?"
"Yes, that’s her. This is my fault too. How could I have been so blind back then? I didn’t see she had ill intentions and even let a wolf into the house. Who knows when she seduced your Second Brother, but now that woman is pregnant too." Mrs. He was still full of regret as she spoke of it.
’Her eyes darted. So, that ans Gu Yuwei is my new Second Sister-in-law now. She’s so rich, and I’m her sister-in-law... If she gave a little money—’
The more He Yun thought about it, the more excited she beca, as if the money were already in her hands.
She said to Mrs. He eagerly, "Mom, I’m going over to Second Brother’s place. I’ll be right back."
And with that, she ran off.
He Ze’s new house was easy to find; He Yun learned the location just by asking around.
Gu Yuwei was just sitting down to rest. The New Year was almost here, and cleaning the house for the past two days had completely exhausted her.
Hearing a knock on the door, Gu Yuwei nudged He Ze beside her with her foot.
"Soone’s here. Get the door."
He Ze went and opened the door to find He Yun.
"Little Sister, what are you doing here?"
"Second Brother, I ca back to see you two. Where’s Second Sister-in-law?" He Yun said, craning her neck to look into the courtyard.
He Ze stepped aside. "She’s inside. Co on in."
"Alright." The mont He Yun entered the courtyard, she started looking around. Seeing how simple and crude it was, she pursed her lips in disdain.
Once inside, her eyes scanned the room. Spotting Gu Yuwei, He Yun walked over with a smile.
"Second Sister-in-law! I ca to see you two. How co you didn’t tell you and Second Brother got married? I would have co to congratulate you! Oh, and look at your belly! How many months along are you?"
Gu Yuwei stroked her belly and said softly, "A little over four months. He Yun, please have a seat."
In truth, Gu Yuwei felt a little awkward seeing He Yun. Back when she had stayed as a guest at the He Family’s ho, the two of them had even shared a room. Now, she had no idea what to say to her.
He Ze ca inside and asked He Yun, "Why are you back at this ti of year? Where’s your husband?"
The mont they asked, He Yun started wiping tears from her eyes.
Seeing her act this way, He Ze frowned and asked urgently, "What on earth is wrong?"
He Yun repeated the sa story she had told Mr. and Mrs. He. Then she added, "I’m at the end of my rope. It was only when Mom and Dad told about the family’s situation that I learned you and Xiao Gu got married. I really think you two are a match made in heaven. How could a shrew like Gao Cuiyun ever have been worthy of you, Second Brother?"
He Ze gave an awkward laugh at her words and didn’t reply.
He Yun genuinely disliked Gao Cuiyun. They had often argued before He Yun got married. Afterward, whenever He Yun ca ho to get so grain, Gao Cuiyun would nag her endlessly. They eventually had a huge fight over it. Her husband, Jian Country, found the situation embarrassing and forbade her from taking grain from her family’s ho anymore. Because of that incident, her mother-in-law also gave her an earful for quite so ti.
"I’m not just spouting nonsense, Second Brother. Xiao Gu is beautiful and rich, and on top of that, she’s a cultured person from the city. Only soone like her is worthy of you."
He Ze quite enjoyed He Yun’s flattery. He smiled and said, "Since you’re here, why don’t you stay for lunch?"
He Yun fell silent for a mont before saying sheepishly to He Ze, "I’ll skip lunch, Second Brother. To be honest, I’m here for another reason. I was hoping... could you lend so money? My entire family has no inco right now, and things are incredibly difficult. Little Sister is at her wit’s end. We’re about to run out of rice to put in the pot. I know your worker’s salary isn’t bad, and with your sister-in-law’s family supplenting it, you must have more than enough."
He Ze glanced at Gu Yuwei, whose expression flickered.
He Ze scratched the back of his head.
"Little Sister, you don’t understand. From the little money I make, I have to give them 15 yuan every month. There’s not much left over. Besides, as you can see, your Second Sister-in-law is due in a few months. There will be a lot of expenses then."
He Yun nodded. "I know, but Second Sister-in-law’s family is so rich. I rember she used to get packages every month and was never short on cash. I’m just in a really tight spot, Little Sister is. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth to ask."
He Ze shot Gu Yuwei a troubled glance. Gu Yuwei glared back at him, her aning unmistakable.
But He Ze couldn’t bring himself to refuse her directly. He sighed, dug into his pocket, and pulled out the last five yuan he had for the month, handing it to He Yun.
"Take this five yuan. It’s a small gesture from your brother. It’s really all I have."
He Yun actually took the five yuan, but then she looked at He Ze in disbelief. "Second Brother, just this? What’s this going to do? I know perfectly well how you two are living. This is the first ti I’ve ever asked you for anything, and you’re trying to get rid of with this pittance?"
He Ze was speechless. ’I really don’t have any more money!’
Gu Yuwei silently gritted her teeth. It pained her to even see that five-yuan note in He Yun’s hand. They had just decided last night to use that money to buy five pounds of at from the packing plant for the New Year.
Seeing He Yun staring at him with such a pitiful expression, He Ze braced himself and said to Gu Yuwei, "Go get another ten yuan for Little Sister."
Gu Yuwei didn’t move, just glared furiously at He Ze.
He Ze’s brow furrowed, and he said with annoyance, "Go get it."
No matter how unhappy she was, Gu Yuwei still went and got the ten yuan.
He Yun took it, but she was still not satisfied.
"This isn’t enough for the New Year, not with a whole family to feed."
A glint appeared in Gu Yuwei’s eyes. She said to He Yun, "We really don’t have any more to give. But your Third Brother definitely does. I’d bet no one in the entire village is richer than his family right now. They even bought a television in the first half of the year. A TV isn’t cheap—that’s got to be over two hundred yuan, right?"
He Yun looked at Gu Yuwei in astonishnt. "My Third Brother’s family bought a TV?"
Gu Yuwei nodded. "That’s right. Just ask around and you’ll find out. They certainly aren’t hurting for money. I once saw your Third Sister-in-law wearing a ladies’ watch on her wrist, and that brand isn’t cheap. Plus, your Third Brother’s daughter is wearing new clothes every other day. The fabric, the style... I’ve seen clothes like that even in Beijing City. So, you tell : does it sound like they have money or not?"
He Yun hesitated for a mont, then said to He Ze, "Well then, Second Brother, I’m going to head over to Third Brother’s place. I’m sure he’ll be more generous than you."
The corner of He Ze’s mouth twitched, but he still forced a smile and saw He Yun out.
After He Yun left, Gu Yuwei turned to He Ze, her face clouded with displeasure. "Look at you, playing the big shot. Fifteen yuan! Add that to the money you send them, and your entire month’s salary is gone. We’re already pinching every penny, and you’re busy subsidizing others. Do you think that’s right?"
He Ze sighed. "She’s my little sister. I couldn’t just refuse her outright. Besides, it’s just this once, and it’s a loan. She’ll pay it back when she has the money."
"Hmph. Pay it back? You can keep waiting!" From He Yun’s entitled attitude, Gu Yuwei knew that money was as good as gone.
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