Chapter 2: Asking Her for Money

Xu Jinyan paused for a moment, then left, carrying a heavy, oppressive air with him.

But even after dinner was ready, Xu Jinyan still hadn’t returned.

Xia Xiaoyu didn’t wait for him anymore and ate by herself. She was done foolishly waiting for Xu Jinyan to come home.

After a short while, however, Xu Chunhua brought over a bowl of tea, her eyes glinting with pride. “Sister-in-law, since you didn’t come over for tea, I’m bringing you a bowl. Brother Jinyan is enjoying himself at our place, chatting and having dinner. You wouldn’t understand those topics anyway, so it’s just as well you eat by yourself.”

If this had been the Xia Xiaoyu of her previous life, these words would have filled her with inferiority, every inch of her pride ground down.

But now, Xia Xiaoyu felt nothing for Xu Jinyan. She only replied coolly, “You certainly seem to understand quite a lot.”

Xu Chunhua, seeing Xia Xiaoyu’s lack of anger, found it dull and left.

Xu Jinyan didn’t come home until after dark.

Xia Xiaoyu was just about to take her clothes and go shower when she saw him return. She glanced at him but pretended not to see.

Xu Jinyan stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed tighter than ever.

Ever since coming home, he found Xia Xiaoyu’s expression odd no matter how he looked at her.

But that wasn’t important—what mattered was money.

He had received his admission notice; next month, he would be leaving for university in the capital. He had discussed it with his family that evening, and all he got was that there was no money.

His parents said he’d have to find a way himself.

He looked around the room. The only places to hide anything were the chest of drawers and the bed.

When Xia Xiaoyu went into the bathroom, he first checked her pillow, finding nothing but a talisman for peace.

There was nothing under the bed, either.

Xu Jinyan walked over to the chest of drawers and opened it, revealing only clothes.

Where would Xia Xiaoyu keep money?

His gaze dropped to her clothes.

Could she have hidden it here?

His hand slowly reached for Xia Xiaoyu’s clothing.

“What are you doing?” Xia Xiaoyu had just changed and entered the room, her sharp gaze tinged with a hint of panic as she quietly watched the man standing by the chest of drawers.

Her heart began to race for no reason.

She didn’t want Xu Jinyan to see her university admission letter, as it would make leaving much more complicated.

Fortunately, Xu Jinyan turned around, but a scholar’s pride kept him from lowering his head.

He changed his excuse. “Getting some clothes for a shower. Is there a problem?”

Xia Xiaoyu pulled a slight smile. “You’ve already taken all your clothes with you. There aren’t any left in the drawers, are there?”

The top drawer was empty.

Her mother-in-law had said that men were the sky; even their clothes should be placed above women’s.

Xu Jinyan awkwardly scratched his nose. “I forgot.”

He closed the drawer, walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, his voice low. “There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

Xia Xiaoyu took a seat across from him, looking at him calmly.

Xu Jinyan could barely contain his delight as he announced, “I’ve been admitted to university.”

Xia Xiaoyu’s lips curled faintly. “That’s wonderful!”

“Yes. Now that I’ve gotten into university, our life will only get better and better. University graduates are highly valued these days. When I finish, I’ll be assigned a good job.”

But then his brow furrowed again. “But I need travel expenses and living costs for university. When we got married, my family gave you two hundred yuan. Can you hand over the money?”

He reached out and held Xia Xiaoyu’s hand. “This is for our family’s future. You’ll support me, won’t you?”

Suppressing her disgust, Xia Xiaoyu didn’t pull her hand away. She even replied gently, “I know. You getting into university is a great thing for our family. But you know you’ve been gone so long—the money is already spent.”

Xu Jinyan’s face instantly changed. “What? Two hundred yuan? It’s only been a few months!”

Xia Xiaoyu asked, “You’ve been gone six months, and you took a hundred yuan with you when you left. Did you forget?”

Her tone was light as she continued, “Is that hundred yuan still with you?”

Xu Jinyan was stunned.

He had already spent the hundred and twenty yuan he had, and even owed twenty yuan more.

He’d come back this time, intending to take whatever money Xia Xiaoyu had left.

Judging by his reaction, Xia Xiaoyu knew he hadn’t a cent.

In her previous life, she had managed the household, pinching every penny, always thinking he worked hard outside and that every bit saved was a bit earned.

In the end, Xu Jinyan had handed all the money to his other family.

Now, in hindsight, it was truly pathetic.

She chose silence.

Xu Jinyan looked at her for a couple of seconds and asked, “Is there really no money left at home?”

Xia Xiaoyu had no intention of handing over the money now.

She shook her head, her face serious. “There’s none left. You left on our wedding day. There’s no one earning money at home. What can we do?”

Last year, after failing the college entrance exam, Xu Jinyan was determined to succeed this year. So, wedding day or not, the moment he heard there was a ride to catch, he left immediately.

“I’ll think of something. You go to bed.”

Unable to get any money from Xia Xiaoyu, Xu Jinyan could only try to figure out another way.

Watching him leave, Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes turned cold.

This man really never changes.

As she pondered how to get divorced as soon as possible, Xu Anxin ran over. “Sister-in-law, my dad needs to use the toilet. You need to help him.”

Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes were cold, and she didn’t bother to be polite. “Your brother is back. Ask him.”

Previously, for the sake of taking the exam in peace, she had endured everything.

Now, as for her cleaning up after others—never again.

The dutiful son was back!

Xu Anxin’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that?”

Xia Xiaoyu replied unhurriedly, “I took care of your dad for your brother while he was away. Now that he’s back, he should fulfill his filial duty, shouldn’t he? If word gets out, people will ask what all his education was for.”

She narrowed her eyes at Xu Anxin.

Unable to argue, Xu Anxin could only leave, cursing Xia Xiaoyu as she went, saying she wasn’t a proper daughter-in-law.

Xia Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes.

This hadn’t happened in her previous life, but knowing Ma Suyue’s temper, it wouldn’t take long for things to explode.

She counted silently in her heart, guessing Ma Suyue would show up before she even reached a hundred.

Sure enough, she hadn’t reached a hundred.

Ma Suyue stormed in.

Wearing a cold expression, she jabbed her finger into Xia Xiaoyu’s face. “Xia Xiaoyu, who gave you the nerve? You married into the Xu family, so you must serve your father-in-law and care for your mother-in-law. How dare you refuse to tend to Jinyan’s father?”

She was fierce and spitting with rage as she seized Xia Xiaoyu’s hand, threatening, “Come with me now to the village council to settle this!”