Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 65 Not giving up until they've taken everything.

Just as Zhang Changyao finished speaking about Yang Wuni, he heard Zhao Xiulan standing outside the door borrowing money.

"Zhang Changyao, I told you those two guys had no good intentions, but you wouldn't believe me."

What should we do now? Why don't you take this bowl of dumpling soup back to her?

I didn't eat a single bite, so I don't owe them any favors.

Yang Wuni cautiously peeked at Zhao Xiulan through the crack in the window.

"Wu Ni, we also got a share of the seeds Dad bought, so you should give him some money."

They know we have money, so don't give them a single penny.

If they don't bring it for you, you're the one who suffers.

Zhang Changyao tugged at the back of Yang Wuni's clothes and whispered something in her ear.

"Zhang Changyao, if you keep spoiling them like this, one day they'll take advantage of us completely."

Helpless, Yang Wuni took out ten yuan from her small floral cloth bag on the kang (a heated brick bed) and handed it to Zhang Changyao.

He kicked Zhang Changyao in the butt with considerable force.

Zhang Changyao lost his balance and fell against the wall.

He supported himself with both hands, neither daring to be angry nor daring to speak.

"Changyao, your father has returned from borrowing a donkey cart and is waiting outside the gate."

If you're not going to lend it to us, just give us a straight answer so we can borrow from someone else.

Seeing that there was no movement inside the house, Zhao Xiulan urged them again.

"Aunt Xiulan, here's ten yuan, please take it."

"You and Dad should go early and come back early, and walk carefully on the road."

Zhang Changyao pushed open the door and handed the money to Zhao Xiulan.

"Changyao, I'll tell your dad that you and Wuni are a hundred times better than my Pengsheng and Zheng Meizhi."

Those two greedy debt collectors, I couldn't spend a single penny of their money.

"When Aunt Xiulan has money in the future, she'll buy you all delicious food."

When Zhao Xiulan took the money from Zhang Changyao, she grabbed his hand and stroked it for a while.

The way they were so close, it looked even closer than to a mother.

Zhang Changyao withdrew his hand without speaking to Zhao Xiulan.

A feeling of disgust welled up inside him, stuck in his throat and making him feel choked up.

Zhao Xiulan got into the donkey cart that Zhang Kaiju had borrowed, and the two of them went to town laughing and joking.

Zhang Changyao didn't go inside; he leaned against the gatepost, fuming.

He knew Yang Wuni was right; Zhao Xiulan and her father were determined to squeeze every last penny out of him.

"Changyao, is your wife home?" Zhang Changyao asked, momentarily stunned.

Guan Shuyun, who had just returned from town, came over and asked him.

"Sister, my donkey is kicking up its heels in the house."

When you go in, walk carefully so you don't get kicked.

I just got kicked, and my butt still hurts.

Zhang Changyao glanced at the window of the small house and said to Guan Shuyun with a smile.

"Zhang Changyao, I just ran into my fifth uncle. They said Wu Ni was up all night."

She already has a problem, why are you all making her angry?

Guan Shuyun lifted her leg and slapped Zhang Changyao on the buttocks.

It didn't take much force, but it still made him cry out in pain.

Guan Shuyun entered the room and saw that Yang Wuni had covered herself completely with the blanket, not even a single hair was showing.

"Wu Ni, look what good stuff I brought you!"

Guan Shuyun lifted the blanket slightly and tucked the hair tie she had bought for Yang Wuni inside to show her.

"Sister, tell me how much my dad and that Zhao Xiulan bully people."

As long as you have a little money, they'll swarm you like mosquitoes to blood.

"I won't stop until I've emptied your pockets of every last penny."

Yang Wuni recognized Guan Shuyun's voice, so she got up, pouted, and told her about her grievances.

"Wu Ni, you're not in good health, so don't get angry with my fifth uncle."

You know what kind of person that woman is.

Any man who comes into her life will be manipulated and ruined by her.

Be more careful in the future, and don't tell others how much money your family has.

People nowadays are so easily angered and can't stand seeing others do well.

Don't even mention my fifth uncle, even my mother is the same way; she can't stand to see me doing well.

Guan Shuyun had just been trying to comfort Yang Wuni, but when it came to herself, she was also very angry.

"Sis, I heard from Zhang Changyao that you've been on several dates."

"Isn't there anyone I like? Even the worst among them are better looking than Hu Xiaoneng, right?"

Yang Wuni could tell that Guan Shuyun harbored resentment towards Zhang Shuhua.

"Wu Ni, the matchmakers say that you should measure the oxen to determine the car and the woman to determine the husband."

Someone like me can only date poor bachelors around my age who have no one to give me anything.

Finally, there was someone from a well-off family, but he was a cripple.

I don't want to be poor as soon as I get married, nor do I want to live with a cripple every day.

My mother said I have a strong will but my fate is not in sync with me, and that I should know when to quit while I'm ahead.

Tell me that if I can't find a few more suitable women, you'll send me to a nunnery.

As Guan Shuyun spoke, her fingers made a "click-clack" sound as she picked at the mat on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Sis, if you think no one is as good as Hu Xiaohao, then you can tell my aunt!"

"As long as the grudges between Hu Xiao's mother and my aunt are cleared up, I reckon this matter can be settled."

Yang Wuni was very open about what she was saying, and told her about how Hu Xiao's mother had been bullied by Guan Shuyun's father.

Then she was told why Zhang Shuhua hated Hu Xiao's mother.

"Wu Ni, my mother is so unreasonable. How can you blame Hu Xiao's mother for this?"

I'm going home right now to confront her and ask her questions.

Why should Hu Xiao and I be involved in something that happened to the older generation?

My father was a fool, and my mother was just like him; neither of them were good people.

Guan Shuyun angrily pounded the kang (a heated brick bed) with her fists, gritting her teeth as she went to settle accounts with Zhang Shuhua.

"Sis, I think you should go find Hu Xiao first and tell him about this."

If he doesn't mind that your father bullied his mother back then, then you can come back and confront my aunt.

"If Hu Xiao doesn't agree to be with you, it wouldn't be worth it if you and my aunt had a falling out."

Yang Wuni, speaking from an outsider's perspective, articulated her points clearly and logically.

"Wu Ni, I... I should go directly to Hu Xiao? That... that wouldn't be a good idea, would it?"

Guan Shuyun, who had been jumping up and down just moments before, now slumped down.

He poked a hole in the patterned kang mat and continued to dig out the yellow soil inside.

"Sis, check if Zhang Changyao is in the yard."

If he's not in the yard, you and I will go look for Hu Xiao.

Yang Wuni took a nap and ate something, and her health improved a lot.

She also has a tendency to meddle in other people's affairs.

He offered to help Guan Shuyun find Hu Xiao and act as a matchmaker for them.

"Changyao isn't home."

Guan Shuyun had forgotten about Yang Wuni's health issues because she was preoccupied with her own affairs.

He pushed open the door and looked around, but didn't see Zhang Changyao, so he turned back and told Yang Wuni.

Yang Wuni got dressed, combed her hair, and followed Guan Shuyun to find Hu Xiao.

Hu Xiao's house was located on the edge of Beitunzi. Yang Wuni had been there once before, so she knew the way well and arrived at his doorstep.

Guan Shuyun did not come with Yang Wuni; she waited in the grove outside the village.

"Girl, buying a basket?"

In the courtyard, Hu Xiao's mother squatted at the door, plucking leaves from the willow branches.

"Auntie, is your son home? I need to talk to him about something."