Spoiled By the Young Master After Reborn In the 80s
Chapter 662: Six hundred and sixty, no money given

Chapter 662: Six hundred and sixty, no money given

Luo Shu was about to close the courtyard gate when she saw Qi Hui and the other two walking towards her, so she stopped the motion of closing the gate.

Seeing Luo Shu, Qi Hui and the others quickened their pace and came up to her.

"You’re back!" They had come over this time to check out the newly moved-in Squadron Leader Shen’s family. It was said that they too had some clout, though naturally not as much as Lu Hanmo’s.

"Just got back. Why don’t you three sisters-in-law come in and sit for a bit?" Luo Shu said with a smile.

"No need, we’re here to see Squadron Leader Shen’s family. You’re really fortunate, I haven’t seen any other man in the Guard District who spoils his wife like your Old Lu does, taking you out to have fun every few days. It really makes people envious!"

"Isn’t that the truth! Old Li and I have been married for so many years, and he has never once taken me out to have fun."

"Old Xu is the same with me. Where did you guys go to have fun this time?"

"I just went back home; my second sister-in-law gave birth to a child, so I went to see her," said Luo Shu. She felt very lucky. Even though she had traveled to this era, she wasn’t bound by its rules and regulations. And she was with the man she loved.

"Did your second sister-in-law have a boy or a girl?" Qi Hui inquired. Many families favored sons over daughters, and presumably, Luo Shu’s family was no different. A girl from the same village had married and given birth to five daughters in a row, and her mother-in-law’s family despised her for it. The worst part was, after giving birth to a daughter, her mother-in-law wouldn’t even take care of her.

To have a son, her village sister, already in her forties, was still not giving up, and it was said she was pregnant again. Moreover, the mother-in-law had let the word out that if she didn’t give birth to a boy, she could pack her bags and leave. It’s tragic to think about it; women get married hoping for a better life, only to end up being used as birthing tools.

These past two years, things had tightened up. Her village sister had to hide everywhere to give birth to the child; otherwise, if caught, she could be forcibly taken to the hospital for an induced abortion. If she ended up having a son in the future, even though she couldn’t avoid the fines, at least she would be able to hold her head high in her husband’s family.

"A boy, twins." Thinking of the two adorable little ones, Luo Shu couldn’t help but lift her face in a smile.

"Your second sister-in-law is a blessed person," praised Qi Hui.

"Indeed, nowadays, so many are going to great lengths just to have a son," Fang Jingmei nodded in agreement. If a woman married and didn’t have a son, not to mention in her husband’s family, even in the village she would be talked about, with people making snide comments.

"Be careful with it, that cost me a pretty penny," came Guo Moli’s voice from the neighboring courtyard, but before she could finish speaking, a loud "Bang!" was heard.

"What’s the matter with you?! I told you to be careful, and you still bump it, are you doing this on purpose? Look what you’ve done, I’m telling you, I’m not going to pay you a penny for this job," she scolded.

"Let’s go check it out," Wu Yuan said, and she walked towards the neighboring courtyard.

Luo Shu had no interest in such matters and was about to head back inside.

Qi Hui grabbed her and said, "Let’s just go have a look, it’ll only take a moment."

With no choice, Luo Shu reluctantly followed.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Guo Moli angrily pointing at two workers carrying a five-drawer cabinet, berating them.

"What’s happened here?" Wu Yuan asked. As the Company Commander’s wife, her status was among the highest in the Guard’s Members Courtyard, second only to the Regimental Commander’s Wife.

"Look what they’ve done to my five-drawer cabinet, the paint has even chipped off," complained Guo Moli, pointing to a spot where a patch of paint had come off the cabinet. She wasn’t aware of the identities of Wu Yuan and the others, so naturally, she didn’t speak too sharply. Otherwise, it might cause trouble for her husband.

"Big sister, that’s such a small area, you wouldn’t even notice it if you weren’t looking closely. If it bothers you, I can find some paint and touch it up," one of the workers said. He knew they were at fault.

"Touch it up? You say it as if it’s simple. Will it be the same as before? There’s no room for negotiation on this matter; I’m not paying for the move," Guo Moli declared, staring down the workers with an uncompromising attitude.

"Big sister, it’s tough for us to make a living too, please don’t be so hard on us," pleaded the other worker. They worked to the bone, earning only a dollar a day. With a whole family to feed, children to send to school, and already tight finances, losing this money would make life even harder. A dollar could buy three pounds of flour, enough for their family to eat for three or four days.

"Either you compensate for the five-drawer cabinet or forget about getting paid for this job," Guo Moli said, unrelenting.

Qi Hui couldn’t stand by anymore and spoke up, "Old Shen’s family, sister-in-law, let me talk to you for a moment. Just let bygones be bygones, it’s tough for them as well!" In her view, the chip in the paint was barely noticeable and on the side of the cabinet, not worth making a fuss.

"Sister-in-law, it’s not that I don’t want to give you face. I have a bad habit; I can’t stand the slightest imperfection, or I feel uncomfortable all over. And I’ve just reminded them to be careful, but still, they bumped it. Isn’t this deliberate?" Guo Moli didn’t care who Qi Hui was, she was the one in the right. By not paying for the job, she could save five dollars. Her family’s money didn’t come from the wind, of course she was going to save wherever possible.

Qi Hui was at a loss for words. Guo Moli’s argument made sense, giving her no grounds for rebuttal.

"Big sister, I’ve worked as a lacquerer before, I guarantee I can fix the cabinet so you won’t see a single mark," the worker insisted.

"I’ve stated my terms," Guo Moli said without a hint of negotiation in her expression.

The two workers exchanged a glance, then sighed helplessly and, with heads bowed, began to walk towards the outside of the courtyard. Everything had gone smoothly with moving the furniture before, so how could this last piece have ended up causing trouble?

Guo Moli’s brows rose in triumph, saving herself five dollars. The reason the two workers had bumped the cabinet was actually that she had sneakily tripped one of them.

As for the five-drawer cabinet, she thought to leave it there until Old Shen came back to move it in.

"It looks like rain today," Luo Shu commented, then turned and walked out of Guo Moli’s courtyard. From the triumphant expression on Guo Moli’s face, Luo Shu knew that the bumping of the cabinet was no accident.