CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244: SECOND AUNT COMES TO DEMAND MONEY

"Grandma Liu, why is there so much more here?"

This is already two hundred and forty.

"I thought it’d be hard to buy this stuff, so I asked for a bit more. You’ve put in the effort, just take it."

Su Xiaoxiao counted out two hundred, stuffing the remaining money into Grandma Liu’s hand: "Grandma, I’m giving you two hundred for this sewing machine. Originally, I intended for you to say two hundred and twenty, just to let you earn a little for running errands."

Grandma Liu’s family was ordinary in terms of finances, but every time Su Xiaoxiao visited her as a child, she would always give her something to eat.

Back then, no one in the family was well-off, and even their own children couldn’t eat enough, let alone giving anything to others.

She had remembered this kindness ever since.

Su Xiaoxiao thought to help as much as she could.

"How could this be? I’ve troubled you twice already."

Grandma Liu hastily tried to return the money.

Just as the two were pushing the money back and forth, Liu Cuilan entered and saw them jostling. She immediately placed the forty yuan on the table into Grandma Liu’s hand: "Aunt Liu, consider it a token of the child’s gratitude—just take it; otherwise, you’ll be treating us as outsiders."

Since Liu Cuilan had spoken, Grandma Liu couldn’t refuse anymore, and she accepted the money, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Having Xiaoxiao help and still earning so much money, what kind of situation is this?"

"Aunt Liu, we are all family, don’t treat it as anything other than close family."

"Alright, I’ll shamelessly accept it then."

Grandma Liu secured the money and got up to leave.

Su Xiaoxiao quickly followed to see her off. Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Zhang Guifang walking towards them.

Upon seeing her, Grandma Liu couldn’t help but mutter, "Your second aunt has a belly full of schemes; she’s probably not here for anything good. Xiaoxiao, do you want me to stay and be with you two?"

After all, they were family, and there were some matters that Su Xiaoxiao and her mother couldn’t openly lay out with Zhang Guifang, but as an outsider, Grandma Liu had no such reservations.

"Thank you, Grandma, it’s okay. You should hurry home; it’s hard to walk on the road once it gets dark."

"Alright, if anything happens, have your fourth and fifth siblings come to fetch me."

Grandma Liu then ambled home slowly.

She had bound feet, which made walking slow to begin with; taking a couple of steps, she’d worriedly turn back to look, which slowed her further.

Seeing her walk off, Su Xiaoxiao turned to go inside.

Just then, Zhang Guifang’s voice sounded from behind: "You rotten girl, can’t you see your second aunt? But you’re all warm-hearted towards some unrelated old lady."

Su Xiaoxiao pretended not to hear and went straight in, shutting the courtyard gate with a bang.

Zhang Guifang was infuriated; this rotten girl was becoming more defiant. After all, they were actually real relatives.

And she had just shut her out.

Grumpily, she swung the door open and barged in, sitting directly at the table.

"You rotten girl, when a elder comes over, how come you lack the decency to pour me a glass of water?"

Su Xiaoxiao replied blandly: "Elder? Did you get kicked by a mule? We aren’t related anymore, where do you get that elder status?"

She didn’t even bother calling her second aunt this time.

Su Pan, peeking from the inside of the room, saw Zhang Guifang sitting in the main room and quickly retreated back inside.

Liu Cuilan slammed an enamel cup filled with water onto the table, and Zhang Guifang thought it was for her. Immediately reaching to take it.

But seeing Su Xiaoxiao quickly lift it first, she said to Liu Cuilan: "Mom, I’ll add some sugar to it for you, to refresh."

Saying this, she turned and went to add sugar.

Coldly snorting to herself, Zhang Guifang thought she was perceptive, realizing the sugar was for her.

At this moment, Liu Cuilan lifted a brow and glanced at her: "What business do you have?"

"Sis-in-law, we are all one family. About Pan’s matters, I can let it go, but my daughter inexplicably becomes part of your family, you should at least show something, right?"

Saying this, she stretched out a hand: "How about you give me five hundred yuan and I won’t mind Pan’s matters anymore, okay?"

Liu Cuilan furrowed her brows; Zhang Guifang really had the nerve to say so. Wasn’t it clearly selling her daughter?

Before she could speak, Su Pan burst out from the room.

Clenching her fists, she gathered courage and spoke: "Mom, I’ll give you the five hundred myself. I’m working now, earning twenty yuan a month. I can pay this over three years, but you need to sign a break-up letter, and promise not to interfere in my matters anymore."

Zhang Guifang hadn’t expected Liu Cuilan to give Su Pan such a high paycheck. She immediately had ulterior motives.

Twenty a month, would be two hundred and forty a year; she was only asking for five hundred—too cheap.

Instantly shooting a glare over: "You rotten girl, what did you say? It’s natural for you to give me the money you earn, trying to sever ties? Not a chance."

"If you don’t agree, then don’t even think about getting a single penny!"

Su Pan thought about her recent experiences, for once standing up to Zhang Guifang.

Su Xiaoxiao came out holding the enamel cup and, hearing the words, gave her an approving look and silently gave her a thumbs-up.

"Alright then, you ungrateful wretch, I raised you from nothing, and now that you’ve become capable, you want to sever ties with me? Not a chance! Your life is given by me; you ought to listen to me, and the money should be mine too."

Saying this, she righteously reached out to Liu Cuilan: "Sis-in-law, Pan has been working for over a month already, right? Isn’t it time to calculate her wages?"

Su Pan couldn’t believe Zhang Guifang was so shameless, biting her lip, gathering courage: "Mom, it’s my salary, I can’t give it to you; I can pay the five hundred in installments..."

Seeing her dare to talk back, Zhang Guifang was so furious that her forehead veins throbbed, immediately taking off her shoe and swinging it at Su Pan’s face: "Alright then, you rotten girl, a few days without a beating and you forget your surname?"

This time, Su Pan didn’t allow herself to be beaten like before. Instead, she reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Only then did she realize the once weak and timid girl had somehow grown to be almost as tall as her.

"You...you rotten girl, defiant!"

Su Pan held onto her wrist tightly: "Mom, if you agree, I’ll pay in installments; if you disagree, you force me to death and I won’t give a single cent."

"You rotten girl, I’m your mom!"

Zhang Guifang was so furious her lips trembled, shocked that Su Pan dared talk to her this way.

"You were born by me, so you should adhere to my every word! If I tell you to die, you must accept it."

With eyes welled up, Su Pan bit down on her lower lip.

"Second Aunt, the Qing dynasty fell ages ago, why do you still think so feudal?"

Zhang Guifang ignored her, gripping Su Pan: "Rotten girl, either give me the money today or come back with me to get married!"

Unexpectedly, before her words were out, a loud slap landed on her face.