"Alright, alright, your affairs are none of my business. You have your mother-in-law to care for, and your husband to manage. I came today because I suddenly remembered something and rushed over to ask. Isn't it time to distribute dividends for the 100,000 yuan we saved last year? I'm just reminding you so you don't forget while you're busy. I was thinking, both sides need the money right now. Your father-in-law here needs money for medical treatment, and your brother here is buying a new house; the address has already been chosen. I think we should just bring back the dividends along with the cash this time! What do you think?"
Yaping and Lijuan exchanged glances, nodded, and said, "Okay! I'll have Yaping call his sister, and he'll take it out next month when the time comes."
Lijuan's mother left happily.
Yaping's mother, who had overheard something in the kitchen, was displeased. During the meal, she kept stuffing food into Lijuan's bowl, saying coldly, "Eat! Don't starve yourself just to be healthy or slim. You might be able to endure it, but the child can't. I thought all mothers cared about their children; as long as the child is healthy, what does it matter if they're a little chubby? I never imagined everyone thought differently. I just don't understand people these days."
Lijuan got angry, pushed away her rice bowl, and said, "I was just saying that to my mom, to comfort her. Who knew someone would have such long ears? The child not only has the surname Li, but he'll also be in my belly for 10 months. After he's born, I'll be the one taking care of him. Don't I want him to be healthy and strong? You saw me throwing up everything I ate. Why do you have to pick a fight in front of your son? Wouldn't it be better if everyone just lived more comfortably?" After saying that, she kicked the stool away and left.
Yaping's mother kept her head down, holding her rice bowl without saying a word. Yaping patted her mother's back and said, "Don't take it to heart, she doesn't understand anything." Tears fell into Yaping's mother's rice bowl drop by drop, and she just ate her rice in silence, refusing to eat any vegetables.
Lijuan urged Yaping to call Guanhua. On the phone, Guanhua hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
"What did your sister say?" "She just didn't understand! She said she'd check again next month and try to get it back." Yaping looked confused.
Lijuan became alert: "What do you mean? She still wants to keep saving and get interest? No way, my family is waiting to buy a house! The money isn't mine, I can't make that decision. Besides, your dad needs money for medical treatment, right? The baby is due soon, and we need to prepare for the delivery. If it's a C-section, it'll be tens of thousands more. Also, I need to hire a nanny for the baby. Your mom is busy enough taking care of your dad, she can't take care of me. Don't waste your breath on your sister, just insist on getting the money."
"Hire a nanny? Can't your mother take care of her?"
“Hey! Yaping! The child doesn’t have my family name. If you let the child take my surname, I’ll take him back and have my mom take care of me. My mom has her own granddaughter, and people want to look after their own children. Do you expect my mom to bring my brother’s child with her while I’m here for postpartum confinement? With that young girl around, how can I get any rest? My mom is getting old, and she can’t handle the daily commute! You really care about my mom.”
Yaping didn't speak for a while, then said, "The house is already messy enough, and now we have another nanny. It's not an insignificant expense. A nanny's food, drink, and wages cost almost a thousand a month!"
"Yaping, what you're saying doesn't suit my taste. Your father's medical bills are two thousand yuan a day for one injection, did I say anything? The child isn't just mine, isn't it yours too? Do you expect me to get out of bed during my postpartum period to cook for myself and change the baby's diapers? I've already thought it through. Take that money, take your sister's 50,000, 30,000 is your mother's, and 20,000 is ours. Keep the 20,000 to pay for the nanny and delivery fees; it should last for a few months. If your father doesn't spend that much, the rest will last quite a while. Your mother will be living with us anyway, so we can use her money first!"
"What do you mean? What do you mean my dad can't spend the money? Are you hoping he dies? Even if he dies, the money will still belong to my mom. It's for her to live comfortably in her old age, and no one can touch it!"
“Li Yaping, I won’t reason with you. You’re completely unreasonable. Do you think I want your dad to die? Does your dad need anyone to wish for him to die? Look at him now, everyone knows what he’s like. If I wanted him to die, would I have let you take him to the hospital and prolong his life? You’re so heartless! And that money! Your mother needs to support her, but doesn’t my mother? My mother borrowed 30,000 yuan from your family for medical treatment last time, and she hasn’t mentioned it, and nobody in your family has. Are you deliberately trying to renege on the debt? I haven’t even told your sister to take out her money to pay my mother back. Logically speaking, doesn’t her daughter have any responsibility to support her father? How much money has she contributed since your father got sick? Li Yaping, get as far away from me as possible. I can’t be bothered to get angry with you. Get your money back now, or I’m not done with you!” Lijuan pushed Yaping out of the bedroom, and as she turned around, her stomach accidentally got caught on the doorknob.
Li Yaping didn't tell Lijuan something. His sister said, "Your brother-in-law is also looking for the factory manager! He hasn't seen him for over a month. Now, people waiting at the factory gate for their money are practically breaking down the gate. I don't know what might happen. I'll keep a close eye on things and try to get the money back as soon as it's due."
For the past month, Lijuan had been driven crazy by her mother, who would call every few days to ask about the money. "You're driving me crazy! The money won't be withheld! If you're so worried, you should have just put it in the bank! Why give it away?! Don't worry! It'll be there! It's 100,000! It's not like it's a dollar or two." Lijuan couldn't help but yell at her mother on the phone, and she also tried to minimize the chances of meeting her mother in person.
"Yaping, hurry up and urge your sister to get the money back. I can't take my mom anymore. I get a headache every time the phone rings!"
A month later, Guanhua called, his voice trembling with tears: "Money! Money! The money's all gone!" The cries of anguish echoed on the other end of the line. Yaping's head spun; he couldn't process what Guanhua was saying for a long time, unable to concentrate. "You, you, what did you say? Say it again!"
"The money's gone. The factory manager ran away, went abroad, the factory's been shut down, and police cars are parked at the gate. Waaah... Aww..." Guan Hua's sobs grew louder and louder, from initial restraint to unbridled rage. "Tell me, what are we going to do?!"
Yaping's hand holding the phone was numb; he didn't even remember to put it back.
"Is that your sister's call? What did she say? When will the money be transferred? It's such a large sum of money, you should just tell her to deduct the transfer fee from our side." Lijuan, with her already uncomfortable pregnant belly, leaned closer.
"Lijuan, Lijuan," Yaping covered the receiver with his hand to prevent Guanhua's sobs from getting through, "The money won't be back for now. Don't worry, listen to me, sit down first." Yaping quickly hung up the phone. He saw that Lijuan's eyes were wide open, her expression blank, completely out of it.
"What did you say? Say it again." Lijuan grabbed Yaping's collar forcefully.
“Lijuan, let go, or I’ll be gone too. The money’s gone, my brother-in-law’s factory manager ran away, and the factory’s closed down. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would turn out like this.” Yaping was prepared for a storm to break out. He wasn’t worried about being struck by lightning, but he was afraid that Lijuan would lose her grip and fall, so he held onto Lijuan tightly with one arm.
Lijuan sat quietly for at least half an hour without saying a word. Yaping was sweating profusely. No matter what Yaping said, Lijuan just kept looking down at her feet. "Lijuan, listen to me, the money will definitely come back. We've made money in our lives, what's this! Please don't do anything rash, Lijuan? Lijuan!"
Suddenly, Lijuan stood up, smiled, and quietly walked out of the room, through the corridor, and into her parents-in-law's room.
Yaping's mother was wiping Yaping's father's body, while Lijuan stood silently to the side.
Suddenly, Lijuan said with a smile, "Mom, Dad, Guanhua lost 200,000 yuan. Not a single penny is left." Her voice was light and airy.
Yaping tried to cover his mouth, but couldn't. Yaping's mother froze as if she'd been electrocuted, staring blankly at Lijuan. Yaping's father, who had been groaning loudly, suddenly fell silent, his mouth agape.
"What?" Yaping's mother murmured.
“The money’s gone. We don’t have a single penny left. Heh.” Lijuan pushed Yaping’s hand away, then went back to her room and closed the door.
The whole family was unusually quiet, without making a sound.
After a long time, Yaping's father started groaning loudly again, and Yaping's mother sat down on the ground, unable to get up.
"Mom! Mom! Don't be so upset, it's just a little money! Your son will earn more in the future, don't worry, Mom, Mom!" Yaping vigorously patted his mother's back.
Yaping's mother suddenly looked much older, her eyes empty and lifeless. After a long while, the old lady spoke: "Go and check on Lijuan quickly, I'm afraid something has happened to her. Go!"
Yaping tried to open the lock but couldn't. He searched everywhere for a spare key and finally opened the bedroom door. He saw Lijuan leaning against the headboard, tears streaming down her face, a sweet smile on her lips—a strange sight.
"Lijuan, say something! Speak up! It's just 100,000 yuan! Don't scare the child, say something!"
After a long silence, Lijuan let out a soft, long sigh and said quietly, "Yaping, do you believe in karma? I think the life we've lived this past year is karma from a previous life. I really want to die. Maybe death would be better than this. What do you think? Do you want to come with me?"
“Lijuan, don’t talk nonsense. Money is just an external thing. As long as you’re alive, you have everything. If you’re gone, you have nothing. You still have a child. You have to think positively, okay?” Yaping hugged Lijuan tightly.
Lijuan's phone rang beside her pillow. Lijuan glanced at the number, smiled, and handed the phone to Yaping: "I'm tired, you go talk to her!" The phone displayed Lijuan's home number. Yaping held the phone, sweat beading on his forehead, unsure whether to pick it up or drop it, as if it were a freshly baked sweet potato.
The phone kept ringing.
Lijuan resolutely picked up the phone, put it to her ear, and said as fast as she could, "The money's gone. Take my life if you want. Call me again, and I'll kill myself!" She hung up. A long silence followed. A moment later, the phone rang again, urgently. Lijuan buried her head in the pillow in despair.
Lijuan's mother rushed over, her face beaming as she entered. "I heard the money wasn't returned. What happened?" Yaping stood awkwardly, unsure what to say. Yaping's mother stood silently beside him.
“My brother-in-law, the factory manager, had an accident and can’t get it back right now. We’re trying to figure out a solution.”
“Yaping, I’ve thought it over. I don’t want the interest anymore. Just have your sister return the principal to us. Your mother comes from a poor background, and it’s hard for her to save money. This money is the compensation for the demolition of Lijuan’s brother’s old house. You needed it urgently at the time, so I didn’t tell her brother. Now they need the money, and I can’t give it to them. I have no way to explain it to them. Please do me a favor and return it to me! I’ll give you the principal.”
"Mom, it's not that we want to keep the interest and not pay it back, it's just that our own money is tied up in it, and we've run out of it." Yaping spread his hands.
Tears streamed down Lijuan's mother's face, a stark contrast to her usual assertive demeanor. "Aren't you trying to ruin me? You promised me everything would be alright, that's why I gave it to you. Didn't you say the factory manager was your brother-in-law's relative? Didn't you say the investment was just for your benefit? How can it just disappear like this? I don't believe it. I know your father needs money for medical treatment, and I already gave you 30,000 yuan, didn't I? You can't be so heartless, making me pay for everything!" Lijuan's mother began to sob, her plump figure suddenly appearing half her former size.
"Mom! It's not that we need the money, our own money was in there, it's all gone! Don't be sad, the police are chasing us, they'll get it back when they catch us."