The matter initially settled upon becomes fraught with complications once finance enters the fray. Arriving late, they know nothing of the prior context and stubbornly refuse to budge on hearing the prices:
"What kind of bamboo costs five yuan a pound! And this bamboo shoot, 18 yuan a pound... How can I show my face if I make a report like this?"
"It's like we're under scrutiny three times a day for cooking the books!"
"It's not that I'm stingy, but these things, they shouldn't be priced like this!"
Qiao Yu is getting anxious beside them: "Stop arguing, alright? Rongrong is still crying, the kids are hungry..."
Yet no one listens to her because the boss is also furious, hands on hips: "You're blaming me for thinking the budget is too high, for wanting to buy something so expensive? Rongrong just won't eat; he's picky. What can you do?"
