Su Xiaoxiao forced a smile as she looked at them.
"Well... Third Sister, class is about to start."
The two of them shrank their necks, actually feeling that their usually gentle third sister's eyes were scarier than when their real mom got mad.
Liu Cuilan usually appeared delicate and weak, but at home, once she got angry, she was like a tigress.
It seemed the third sister had inherited their mom's formidable temper.
"Today, unless you clarify where the tuition went, you're not going anywhere."
Su Jianwu gulped dryly, "Fourth Brother, you say something."
Su Jianwen: "Sister, listen to me, the thing is..."
Under Su Xiaoxiao's intimidating presence, the two spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
It turned out that Sun Jianmin, a classmate of theirs, had a cousin who was reselling television tickets. Each ticket cost fifty yuan, and it could sell for double that on the black market.
His cousin didn't have enough money, so Sun Jianmin roped in a few classmates to chip in.
The two brothers didn't have any money, so they decided to use their tuition fee.
They pooled their three-yuan tuition fee and gave it to Sun Jianmin to invest.
Sun Jianmin's cousin promised that he would return double their money.
It was supposedly just a flip away, turning three into six yuan.
Only a fool wouldn't jump at such a chance.
But who knew, after waiting for more than a month, Sun Jianmin still hadn't returned the money, and lately, he had even been taking sick leave and not attending classes.
Su Xiaoxiao was furious: "I see you two think too much for your ugly looks, relying on the wind for brains. If it were such easy money, would he need your meager pennies?"
The two brothers immediately looked dejected: "Third Sister, what do you think we should do? If Mom finds out, she'll surely beat us to death."
Liu Cuilan might seem weak outside, but once at home, her beatings are heartless and ruthless.
"What else can we do? Come on, we're going to his house to get the money."
Su Xiaoxiao said exasperatedly, "After school tonight, I'm going with you two."
"Can we at least eat some meat before we go?"
Su Jianwu suggested.
"You've got the nerve to eat meat? If you don't get the money back tonight, you'll be eating bamboo shoots fried with meaty words."
Su Jianwu looked hopeful: "Third Sister, is bamboo shoots fried with meat tasty?"
Su Xiaoxiao: "..." How could she have such dense brothers?
Pressing her temples, she said, "Get to class."
The two brothers quickly scampered off.
After seeing the kids off, Su Xiaoxiao strolled back, contemplating how to retrieve the money that evening.
As she passed the street near the supply and marketing cooperative, a military-green jeep sped past her, kicking up yellow dust that covered her from head to toe, making Su Xiaoxiao want to curse out loud.
"How are you driving? Are you blind?"
She couldn't help but curse, barely finishing her sentence when the jeep suddenly came to a halt, startling her.
The car door opened, and out hopped a tall man in military uniform.
With the light behind him, Su Xiaoxiao couldn't quite see his face and instinctively stepped back.
Was he going to come down and beat her for her curse?
While she was lost in thought, the man stopped in front of her, and a familiar deep voice sounded in her ear, "Mr. Zhang, this is for you."
Su Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned before realizing that this was the man called Zhou Cheng whom she had met at the supply cooperative.
Remembering the previous misunderstanding, she quickly tried to explain, "Mr. Zhou, hello, I think there might be a misunderstanding, I actually don't..."
Before she could finish, the jeep in front blared its horn loudly.
Zhou Cheng shoved an oil paper package into her arms, quickly turned around, and got back into the car.
Su Xiaoxiao was overwhelmed. Why did he always leave in such a rush, never giving her a chance to clear up the misunderstanding?
The last time it was white rabbit candy she hadn't returned, now what would she owe him?
She unwrapped the layers of oil paper to find pieces of neatly arranged braised beef inside.
Su Xiaoxiao's mouth started watering; since coming here, she hadn't seen even a sliver of meat.
Now, looking at the half-pound of braised beef in her hand, her saliva flowed uncontrollably.
Damn, why did this man always use food to sway her willpower?
In the car, Zhou Cheng sneezed, and Xiao Wang immediately teased, "Captain, as soon as you left, the missus started missing you. You guys have such a good relationship."
"Stop talking nonsense, we haven't even made any progress yet."
Zhou Cheng said, but his ears turned slightly red.
With the oil paper package in hand, Su Xiaoxiao headed home, surrounded by the enticing scent of braised beef, almost driving her crazy with desire.
Just as she reached the door, she saw Wang Chunhua carrying a basket.
Wang Chunhua saw her too and snorted, "Where've you been? I waited ages, and no one was home."
Su Xiaoxiao couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her. With this grandmother who favoured boys over girls and only cared about money, she didn't even want to waste her breath.
She walked past her as if she didn't see her.
"You dead girl, are you blind? Can't you see me?"
Wang Chunhua grabbed her arm, noticing the oil paper package in her hand, and sniffed the air, "What's that tasty thing you're holding?"
Su Xiaoxiao shook off her hand, "None of your damn business."
"You dead girl, how dare you talk to me like that? You're rebelling."
Wang Chunhua was so angry her eyebrows nearly stood up, reaching out to pinch Su Xiaoxiao's arm, but unexpected, Su Xiaoxiao grabbed her wrist and slapped her, leaving Wang Chunhua dumbfounded.
To think this dead girl who was timid since childhood didn't even dare talk loudly to her.
When did she become brave enough to fight back?
Su Xiaoxiao looked at her coldly, "Get lost!"
Wang Chunhua was startled by her gaze, nearly falling to the ground. Did this dead girl get possessed?
Before she could react, Su Xiaoxiao had already gone inside, slamming the courtyard door behind her.
Left outside with no regard, Wang Chunhua was even more sure that something was wrong with Su Xiaoxiao.
She needed to find someone to take a look and get rid of whatever evil spirit was on Su Xiaoxiao.
Unaware that Wang Chunhua was planning to find an expert to deal with her, Su Xiaoxiao was happily shopping at the mall.
Now with the kerosene lamp's leftover payment, she could buy most of the things in the mall.
Thinking about the family's clothes full of patches upon patches, Su Xiaoxiao waved her hand, deciding to buy clothes.
But the mall's game products were all complete sets, clearly not the style of clothing from this era.
Just as she was fretting, she suddenly spotted a message in the world chat: "Selling pristine period drama outfits, 10 male sets, 5 female sets, special offer at 35 yuan each."
Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up immediately, quickly adding the person for negotiation, buying four male sets and two female sets, bargaining the price down to 25 each, almost making the seller cry with her haggling.
Happily viewing the clothes in her inventory, Su Xiaoxiao soon became distressed again.
Someone as broke as her, pulling out so many outfits all of the sudden, would surely raise suspicions. How could she bring them out reasonably?
While she was contemplating, the courtyard door creaked open.
Her big brother, Su Wenbing, entered with a face full of joy, his loud voice ringing out even before he got inside, "Third Sister, see what good stuff I brought you."
Seeing it was her big brother, Su Xiaoxiao excitedly ran out.
Su Wenbing handed her a package, excitedly saying, "Open it quickly, I got you some new clothes. Do you like them?"
New clothes?
Su Xiaoxiao eagerly unwrapped the package, then her face turned green.