NOVPUB
Chapter 331: Chapter 321 Proactively Asking to Borrow Money
Qiu Shuping was naturally bossy, so after she was put off by others like that, she didn’t dare to continue pressing the issue and could only go back to devise a plan with Old Li.
What could Old Li do? If he had any solutions, would he bother following his wife to trouble their son?
While they were at a complete loss, someone came specifically to solve their problems.
Wang Guifen had long heard that Li Hongjun’s parents from the Second Regiment, Third Company had come, and they were here to ask for money from Li Hongjun and his spouse. As it happened, one was out on a mission and the other had gone back to their hometown, so neither was around. Li Hongjun’s mother, not sure where she got the confidence, actually wanted the military to pay her son’s salary in advance. Because of this, she had already gone to the military leaders several times.
In fact, the outcome was already clear. The military wasn’t owned by the Li Family alone; it’s not as if they could do whatever they wanted. It was the state that made the calls.
Today, the word was that the leaders had already given a clear reply to Li Hongjun’s mother: this matter just wasn’t going to happen.
Wang Guifen was chatting with someone at the entrance of her home when she heard about it, and her eyes rolled with ill intent. Without continuing the conversation, she turned around, went back home for a bit, then headed towards Li Hongjun’s place.
"What? What did you say?" Qiu Shuping asked, surprised, her mouth gaping open.
"Hehehe, ’Auntie’, you don’t need to thank me. I have a good relationship with your Shen Yunfang, and since you’re in urgent need, of course, I should lend a hand where I can. After all, when Li Hongjun and Shen Yunfang come back, they can’t just not repay," Wang Guifen said, covering her mouth and giggling as if possessed by an old gossip.
Qiu Shuping’s mind was somewhat muddled. She couldn’t figure out why this person would take the initiative to come to her home to offer a loan. However, she clearly heard the last thing the person said. Right, she could just borrow some money from her son’s comrades. After all, whether she was asking her son for money or an advance on his salary, the goal was the same. Since none of those sources of money had worked out, why hadn’t she thought of borrowing some first? After all, her son would pay it back once he returned, and this way, everyone would be happy.
Old Li wasn’t as thoughtless as Qiu Shuping; he eyed Wang Guifen, suspecting there was a hidden agenda behind her actions.
Wang Guifen felt uncomfortable under Old Li’s gaze, silently cursing him in her heart, though she said with a laugh, "’Auntie’, I was just saying. If you can manage on your own, I won’t interfere. Hmph, it’s not like doing business with somebody who’s eager to buy."
Qiu Shuping finally realized what was happening and quickly grabbed Wang Guifen, who was about to leave, "Oh dear, ’sister’, what are you saying? We can’t thank you enough, please don’t go, let’s chat some more."
Being called ’sister’ by her made Wang Guifen’s face turn green. Could this person even speak properly? She herself was thirty, well, a tad more than that, and here was this old woman with a face full of wrinkles, yet she dared to call her ’sister’. How could she say that with a straight face?
"Hehe, ’Auntie’, don’t be so polite, just call me Guifen." Wang Guifen was so annoyed by Qiu Shuping that she thought it was better to let her address her by name than to feel irritated.
Qiu Shuping didn’t realize she had offended her at all. She truly called her ’sister’ out of sincerity, even though she had given birth to five children, with the eldest being thirty. However, she was only in her fifties, having been born in the countryside, and even without working outside, she had not been spared from the tolls of wind and sun, her skin on her face and hands naturally not as delicate as city folks who hardly saw sunlight.
Furthermore, Wang Guifen wasn’t a city-born local either; she only got accustomed to city life in the past two years after following the military. Previously, she had toiled in the soil, so despite being over thirty, her face was etched with the trials of a hard life.
Both felt they were being looked down upon by the other, and thus, the misunderstanding arose.
"Okay, Guifen, I really have to thank you. I didn’t expect our second child to make a few good friends." Qiu Shuping’s original intention was to compliment Wang Guifen’s kindness, but as soon as she expressed it, the meaning was distorted. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
"Hehe, Auntie, don’t say that. Commander Li is a competent man, and Yunfang is a tough cookie in our community too." She had heard that this daughter-in-law brought a cage full of quails when she arrived, which were easier to raise than chickens or ducks and laid eggs quickly. She could lay eggs, and Guifen had long wanted to ask for a few to raise, but without any real acquaintance, she had always been too embarrassed to ask outright. Now, she saw her chance.
Although the remark praised the junior couple, Qiu Shuping didn’t like hearing it, and she simply ignored it, going straight to the point: "Younger sister, we’re looking to borrow two hundred yuan, when could you lend it to us?"
Old Li couldn’t stand it anymore; his wife was truly money-eyed, not considering why others would go to such lengths to offer a loan, "What nonsense are you talking about? Hongjun’s not even home, from where are you borrowing this money? We’re not borrowing any."
Qiu Shuping hadn’t expected Old Li to contradict her at this moment, glaring at him she yelled, "Not borrowing money? Don’t you have the travel expenses then? How are you going to see Hongqi? Hongqi is still waiting for us to visit."
Old Li’s stubborn temper flared up too, his eyes widening in return, "I said no means no, we can’t borrow this money."
Wang Guifen looked from one to the other and finally coughed and said, "Ah, I see I’m just looking for trouble. Forget it, I was just saying; our money wasn’t blown in by the wind. Since you, Uncle and Auntie, can figure things out yourselves, I won’t interfere. You’re busy, I’ll take my leave."
Qiu Shuping watched as the person really left; her husband was still glaring, she knew this stubborn old man’s temper had kicked in, and from experience, it was best to humor him a bit and then repeat her request several times later; maybe then his "bull-head" would change his mind. But now the situation was different. If they missed this opportunity, where would she find the money? So Qiu Shuping weighed her options and decided it was better to speak privately with Wang Guifen, without letting the old man know. So she cursed, "You old thing, if we can’t go to see Hongqi, wait and see if I let this go," and then followed behind Wang Guifen out the door.
"Ah, younger sister, don’t go yet, let’s chat some more," Qiu Shuping called out to Wang Guifen quickly as she exited the door.
Wang Guifen’s mouth twitched, but in the end, she turned back to look at Qiu Shuping with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, "Auntie, do you need something else? Just call me Guifen."
"Guifen, Guifen, don’t be mad at your uncle, he’s just stubborn; let’s just talk, don’t mind him," Qiu Shuping noticed that Guifen was not pleased and felt a pang of worry that the loan might fall through.
"Hmph, okay, I’m doing this only out of respect for Commander Li and his wife; otherwise, I wouldn’t take on such matters," Wang Guifen lifted her chin haughtily.
"Hehe, Guifen, when do you think you could lend me two hundred yuan? My youngest son is at university in the south, and he wrote asking us to visit him. His father and I are quite anxious..." Qiu Shuping rubbed her hands together as she looked at Wang Guifen.
