A century of poverty

Chapter 123 Gambling?

Now that Zhiqiang can sell goods from home, I ride my bicycle to the "wholesale street" to pick up the goods. I felt embarrassed to go into two stores because I had been owing money for several orders, and my limited funds had all been used to pay for small orders.

When I got home, I said to Zhiqiang, "You should ask your older sister. Grandpa hasn't been around for that long. The accounts should be settled, including the debts he incurred for buying and selling things."

The amount of money given as a gift was quite substantial, and we've put it all in the account.

Zhiqiang: "You're so honest. The money you give as a gift is for whoever it's given to. I saw that they all pocketed it themselves and didn't put it in the account. Before our mother passed away, the money that the eldest sister received was enough to buy a refrigerator."

I said I wasn't thinking about whether it looked good to have the names of those who gave gifts on the ledger. Once it's in the ledger, it's ours, and we can't escape it!

Zhiqiang: "That's why I say you're so honest. I'll call my older sister and talk to her about it."

She dialed Su Zhichun's landline: "Hey! Sis, it's me. I wanted to ask if all the debts I owed have been settled since Dad passed away; and about the inheritance, shouldn't it be divided up by now?"

"I'm a bit strapped for cash, you know that. My hospital bills were huge. I also need nutrition, and I've had to buy a lot of supplies on credit."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhichun exclaimed, "And you're still talking about that! Su Guangxi won't go with his dad, he's dropped out of school, and spends all his time hanging out with a bunch of petty thugs on the street. My legs tremble when I hear the police sirens, I'm already overwhelmed with my own problems, how could I possibly have time to meddle in that mess!"

Zhiqiang: "Didn't you two remarry?"

Su Zhichun: "Who said we remarried?"

Zhiqiang: "Didn't you say that? Even without Su Lei, the old man is still in charge here?"

Su Zhichun: "Don't mention that to me."

Beep beep, beep beep. After a busy signal, Su Zhichun hung up the phone.

Calling my eldest sister, Su Zhijuan, didn't yield a friendly response. This made us anxious and somewhat frustrated. I regretted putting the gift money in the account; I should have insisted on cash when picking up the goods, then they wouldn't have controlled me. Now it's too late; the money is already in their hands. I don't dare press them too hard, because pushing them too far will only cause more trouble.

The only option is to negotiate with the wholesaler to pay for the goods on credit.

Fortunately, Zhiqiang's body is recovering, and looking back a month later, he is much better.

Three months later, he looked no different from a healthy person.

The doctor told me that I shouldn't do any strenuous work for two years. But running this small shop doesn't require much strenuous work; riding a bicycle to the market to buy goods doesn't count as strenuous work.

As his health gradually improved, he had a further idea in mind. When he was purchasing goods, he talked with the owner of "Chuangyi Department Store Wholesale" about wanting to expand his small shop, turn the counter into an open shelf, and sell in large quantities with a wide variety of products.

Zhang Chuangyi, the owner of Chuangyi, said: "Sure, this kind of 'supermarket' is the trend. If you don't change the closed counter, you will be eliminated in the future. I support you."

Zhiqiang: "It's just that we don't have the funds right now, and we haven't paid back what we owe you. We need to buy more goods on credit to expand."

Zhang Chuangyi readily agreed, "Oh dear! That little bit of money is nothing, no rush to pay. Just ask if you need money, and feel free to buy on credit. We'll pay you back however much we have!"

Zhiqiang felt more confident. Zhang Chuangyi was one of the first major business owners in Jinhai City since the reform and opening up. He had accumulated substantial capital and extensive connections over the years. He was an outstanding representative of individual business owners, a people's congress representative, and a leader in his industry. He had received numerous commendations from the municipal and district bureaus of industry and commerce and individual business associations.

This person is tall and robust, with a calm and composed personality. It's feasible to gain his encouragement.

Then came the Qingming Festival, and the Su family leadership "decided" to bury the old man's ashes, which had been stored there, in the old woman's grave.

They had hired a small excavator in advance, and soon they opened the old lady's grave and put the old man's ashes inside. Because they started early and got everything done, it wasn't even noon yet.

Everyone went to the reserved private room at the restaurant and had dinner. Zhiqiang thought that this time he would definitely talk about the bill and the inheritance.

She turned to her three older sisters and sister-in-law sitting together and asked, "Can we settle the accounts today? It's been so long. I want to turn this into a supermarket. I haven't paid back the money I borrowed for medical treatment. I need the money."

The sisters' expressions changed drastically. Su Zhichun yelled, "Money! Money! Money! All you ever think about is this little bit of money! Can't you live without it?"

Zhiqiang: "Even if you don't want it, you can lend me some money. I urgently need the money! I have no other income. Don't you have any sympathy for my situation? My father didn't come, and he wrecked my house for days, and I didn't say a word. There are so many accounts, the money for wedding gifts in the village, all of which I gave out, and it's all in the accounts. The money you gave to your work unit and friends all went into your own pockets. What's wrong with me mentioning it?"

Give me back the money I owe you and the gifts we received that day, I don't care.

"At least I suffered such a great calamity, and it was for the sake of all of us."

Su Zhijuan replied, "I asked you to get the wine. I didn't expect this to happen. It's not my fault."

Hei Xingan said viciously, "Why didn't he stab you to death!"

Zhiqiang: "Is this what a sister-in-law should say?"

My life isn't meant to end, your hatred for me is useless!

Hei Xingan: "I think you're hopeless. You won't get a single penny. The Su family doesn't have any for you!"

Zhiqiang: "A curse that brings ten years of prosperity! No one's as vicious as you!"

Hei Xingan: "I'm vicious! Your family name is Zhang! The Su family doesn't have anyone like you!"

Zhiqiang: "You have no right to say that!"

Su Zhiwei, who had been watching from the sidelines, came over and said, "Do I even have the right to say that?! The person at your door hasn't been surnamed Su for a long time; it's been surnamed Zhang!"

At this moment, their two daughters stood proudly behind their father.

Zhiqiang glared at them angrily: "You've gone too far!"

As he spoke, he swung the stool and smashed it onto the table.

His third brother and second sister quickly stepped forward to pull him away: "Fourth brother, fourth brother, calm down. You've all had a few drinks today. Don't listen to their nonsense."

I stepped forward and helped Zhiqiang up: "Let's go back! They're scum of the Su family!"

I suddenly realized. Changing the child's name was unnecessary. These people had already regarded us as outsiders and attacked us.

Although my Zhang family has experienced poverty, it is not because our ancestors and parents did not work hard, but because we were despised and oppressed because of our simplicity and kindness.

The Family Planning Regulations clearly state that "daughters can also carry on the family line." According to the current regulations, my family is indeed considered a Zhang family.

It doesn't matter whether we belong to the Su family or the Zhang family, as long as we abide by the law, are diligent and kind, and strive to improve ourselves.

Thanks to the Party's good policies, we are working together to achieve prosperity and a moderately prosperous society. Education is gradually becoming more equal, and through hard work, we will surely have a better life. Those who are fraudulent and malicious will eventually be eliminated by the mainstream of society.

Despite this conflict, we still couldn't get the money back.

Back home, Zhiqiang said, "We can't wait any longer. We need to find a way to open the supermarket as soon as possible so they can see it."

With Zhang Chuangyi's support.

Xinmei Wholesale also provided us with goods on credit and even acted as a guarantor to get supermarket shelves for us on credit.

"Qiangjiu Supermarket" has opened, and business is much better than before.

This spurred Zhao Liuxi and Liu Cai to expand their "business scope," recruiting "big players" to play mahjong. They started offering "bottom-up" games, "red-out" games, and "serving" games, and once they got going, they couldn't stop. Strangers from outside the area would often come to "play."

Aunt Li from Daodong Hutong, after watching her grandson go to school, came into my supermarket and bought a bag of soybean paste. Then she leaned against the door frame, looked outside, turned her head and said to me, "Back when you were closed, Old Zhao's family was overjoyed, saying you were out of business and they were the only ones left."

"Now that they see your house has turned into a supermarket, they've really gone all out. They've gone so far as to not even let onlookers in."

I said, "Let him say whatever he wants. You all keep your eyes peeled and see who falls apart first."

"Pah!" Aunt Li spat. "Everyone's laughing at me! The third son's not home, and the old man's never leaving this corner, day or night!"

Just then, a police siren suddenly went off, and a police car pulled up in front of their shop.

We went outside to watch, and several policemen came down and went straight to his shop. After a short while, they brought out several strangers and Zhao San, got into the police car, and sped away.

Xiao Jiu'er's father, Yi Wan, also came out of the Zhao family: "Now Zhao San is going to get a 'stick,' and he's got a big one on him."

Aunt Li asked him, "What happened to his family?"

10,000 replied, "What's wrong? Didn't you see?"

Aunt Li asked again, "Why did you arrest Zhao San? Was he involved too?"

10,000: "That old lady doesn't know anything! Try playing around with her and see if she gets caught!"

Aunt Li: "That's utter nonsense! We don't do that kind of thing, we're not into that kind of thing!"

The next day, Zhao Liuxi's eldest son, Zhao Changhong, and daughter-in-law, Yang Min, brought Zhao San back with the fine.

As soon as she got home, she heard a commotion and a lot of noise. Liu Cai ran out of the front door crying and went to her aunt's house in Daodong.

Then, with a loud crash, a large pane of glass shattered on the floor.

Then the shop door was closed and the curtains were drawn.

A few days later, Zhao Liuxi was seen strolling along the roadside, leaning on his cane.

Upon seeing this, Wan exclaimed, "Holy crap! What happened to your legs?"

Zhao Liuxi shamelessly said, "Those three bastards hit Liu Cai, bumped into the glass, and cut my leg."

Ten Thousand: "Then why didn't you cripple him? Why didn't you close the shop? You must have been cheated on!"

About two weeks later, Liu Cai came into my supermarket and squatted down to pick up eggs from the scale as soon as she entered.

After weighing the eggs, I asked, "Wasn't selling eggs quite profitable? Why did you close down?"

Liu Cai: "Don't even mention it! You and your husband's eldest sister-in-law have completely taken advantage of me!"

I asked, "What did they tease you about?"

Liu Cai: "They said that if we started, you would fail. But that year, nothing happened, and you still quit."

Me: "You believe him just because he says so? Your father-in-law is such a capable man!"

Liu Cai: "You're something else! You were playing with Su Lei on the sofa, and Su Lei got away with it."

Me: "Stop talking, Su Lei isn't that person."

Liu Cai: "Not that person? What our old lady said could be false, right? Otherwise, why would she stop making sofas when it's so profitable? None of us brothers have jobs?"

"I have to go back and cook now, the third brother is coming home today."