Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 314

Even Zhao Tingxu said to Zhang Cuilan with some dissatisfaction, "Cuilan, don't say things carelessly. Your mother isn't so confused as to give your money to outsiders without any proof. I'm angry because of what you said."

Wang Guixiang's refusal to return the money was more or less at her own behest, and Zhao Tingxu would naturally protect Zhang Cuilan to some extent.

Seeing that Wang Guixiang was trying to deny it, Zhang Cuilan stopped hiding her feelings and told her everything. "Dad, I'll be frank. My second sister-in-law and I asked Mom for the money because we wanted it back. You don't know, but when I came home earlier, it was evening and you weren't home. I heard a stranger's voice in Mom's room. They were vaguely saying something about how they only had this much money. I guessed that Mom had given all our money to that stranger!"

Upon hearing this, everyone except Cheng Jinxiang and Zhao Dage, who already knew, was shocked. Even Zhao Tiegang looked shocked, as Zhang Cuilan had just blurted it out. He tugged at Wang Guixiang's clothes and whispered, "What are you doing? Why did you just say that?"

The key point is that Zhang Cuilan didn't consult her before speaking out; she just made the decision on her own, which made Zhao Tiegang very uncomfortable.

Zhang Cuilan looked down on Zhao Tiegang's appearance. She shook off Zhao Tiegang's hand and said bluntly, "If I don't tell you, how are we going to get back the money we left with Mom!"

Zhao Tiesheng looked completely shocked. He knew nothing about this matter. Compared to what Zhang Cuilan said, he did not believe it at all. If it were true, would the tens of thousands of yuan he had left with his mother also be gone?

Thinking of this, Zhao Tiesheng subconsciously denied the conclusion. He would rather believe that his mother did not want to take out the money than believe that his mother had given the money to outsiders and therefore did not want to return it to him.

Thinking of this, Zhao Tiesheng angrily said to Zhang Cuilan, "Zhang Cuilan, what are you saying? If you can't get the money, are you trying to slander Mom by saying she gave all the money to outsiders?"

Even Wang Guixiang was trembling with anger. She slammed her hand on the table, pointed at Zhang Cuilan, and cursed, "Zhang Cuilan, how could you say such a thing to me? I have worked so hard for this family, and you actually slander me by accusing me of giving all my money to outsiders!"

Zhao Tingxu also said to Zhang Cuilan with a serious expression, "Third son's wife, explain yourself clearly. What do you mean by saying you saw your mother give money to an outsider? Who is that outsider?"

It concerned his dignity, Zhao Tingxu, so he couldn't ignore it.

Seeing so many people talking about her, Zhang Cuilan glanced at Cheng Jinxiang, who was sitting below watching the show, and almost died of anger. She finally understood why Cheng Jinxiang didn't stand up and speak first. The one who speaks first is the one who gets questioned and targeted. They agreed to join forces to settle accounts with Wang Guixiang, but Cheng Jinxiang sat comfortably to the side, letting her take the lead first.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Cuilan slowly explained, "That night, when I got home, I vaguely saw someone go into Mom's room. It was evening, and I couldn't see the person's face clearly, but I could hear them talking. They were vaguely talking about money. I heard Mom say that was all the money she had left, and then I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't look any further. When I got home, something just didn't feel right. I guessed that Mom must have given the money to an outsider, otherwise, why would she refuse to give me the money no matter what I did?"

Zhang Cuilan spoke with great conviction. She dared not say that she had heard it from Zhao Da'e, because hearing it from a child was too unconvincing. It was better to say that she had seen it with her own eyes.

Wang Guixiang felt a jolt of realization and immediately understood that Zhang Cuilan must have seen her lending money to Zhao Chunqin that day, but she just hadn't seen the other woman's face clearly. Wang Guixiang wanted to explain, but she couldn't say it. If she told others that she had lent money to her younger daughter, they would definitely make a scene. This was not an option, so Wang Guixiang chose to be stubborn.

"You're lying! The money is perfectly safe with me. I didn't lend it to any outsiders!" Wang Guixiang retorted.

Cheng Jinxiang glanced at Wang Guixiang and said slowly, "Since Mom didn't lend the money to outsiders, why doesn't she return it to us? This time I don't want the money. Mom, just take the money out and let us see if it's still there, so we can have peace of mind."

Wang Guixiang was speechless for a moment. All the money was with her youngest daughter; how could she possibly have it all?

"I don't want to take it. What if you ask me for the money back after I take it out?"

Zhao Tiesheng felt uncomfortable. He said, "Mom, Jinxiang didn't ask you for money this time. She just wanted to see if the money was still there. That's what I wanted too. Just take the money out and let us see if it's still there. Besides, this money was originally earned by my husband and me and put with you, planning to use it to build a new house in the future. Mom, do you not want to return the money? Or... did you really give this money to an outsider?"

Zhao Tiegang said directly, "Second brother, how can you say that about Mom? Mom kindly helped you keep the money safe, and you still question her good intentions. Here's what we'll do, Mom, take out the few thousand yuan that Cuilan and I left with you to prove that the money is with you. Taking out tens of thousands of yuan is too inconvenient; it's much easier to take out the few thousand yuan I left."

Zhao Tiegang's plan was to get his mother to take out his few thousand yuan to prove that he hadn't lent the money to outsiders. Then he would have a reason to ask his mother for the money back. Even if his mother had given the money to outsiders, he didn't want to believe that his mother would give all her money to outsiders at once. She should at least have a few thousand yuan on her.

Seeing this, Zhang Cuilan was so happy she almost gave Zhao Tiegang a thumbs-up and praised him. Her husband had finally shown some cleverness.

In the past, Zhao Tiegang would have been a useless person, a completely useless person.

But the imagination is beautiful, but the reality is cruel.

Wang Guixiang was caught in a dilemma. She was furious because everyone was pressuring her to hand over the money. She wanted to hand over the money, but the problem was that she really couldn't. All the money had been given to her youngest daughter, so where could she get it from?

Wang Guixiang was on the verge of tears, feeling that whatever she said would only be a pretext. She simply turned her gaze to Zhao Tingxu and choked out, "Old man, you be the judge! What kind of nonsense is this? I've worked so hard for this family, and now my son and daughter-in-law are all pressuring me to hand over the money. It is indeed their money, but I promised to keep it safe for them until they build a new house. The reason I haven't handed it over yet is because it's too early. My second son can live in the storeroom, but he insists on building a new house because of his wife, going against his mother. My third son already has a room, and Yongbo is only five years old. The three of them can sleep in one room; there's no need to build a new house at all. That's why I haven't lent them the money!"

After much thought, Wang Guixiang came up with this plan, hoping to deceive the people present and stop them from pursuing the matter of her not lending money.

Cheng Jinxiang frowned, unsure of what to say. If she asked Wang Guixiang to produce a few thousand yuan, she might actually be able to, but Zhang Cuilan's family might take it back. The tens of thousands of yuan she had entrusted to Wang Guixiang might just disappear without a trace. It was really annoying.

Zhao Da'e knew that Wang Guixiang didn't have a single penny, so she chose to play dumb to cause Wang Guixiang some trouble. Zhao Da'e looked at Zhao Tingxu with a curious expression and said, "Grandpa, does the 'outsider' that Third Aunt is talking about mean 'lover'?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingxu's face darkened, and he immediately said sternly, "What nonsense are you spouting, child? Do you even know what a lover is?"

Zhao Da'e seemed to be frightened by Zhao Tingxu. She rushed into Cheng Jinxiang's arms, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Of course I know what a lover means. I heard from the old ladies at the village entrance that a lover means a mistress."

Seeing Zhao Tingxu's face turn as black as ink from anger at Zhao Da'e, Cheng Jinxiang shielded Zhao Da'e behind her and said directly, "Dad, children say the darndest things, so you don't need to take it to heart. She didn't mean it."

Zhao Tingxu said irritably, "Who knows if she did it unintentionally, or if she was taught this by her mother? If outsiders find out, they might misunderstand and spread rumors. Where would I, an old man, put my face then!"

Wang Guixiang also reacted strongly, pointing her finger at Zhao Dage and yelling, "Don't make false accusations! I, Wang Guixiang, am completely innocent. How could I possibly have a lover!"

说完，王桂香觉得不解气，到处张望想拿什么东西把赵大鹅给揍一顿，程锦湘直接开口打断了王桂香接下来的动作，“妈，小孩子家家的哪里懂那么多，再说了，你这要是真没有什么情人，那你就把我和铁生放在你那边的几万块钱拿出来给大家伙看看还在不在。”

Zhao Tingxu's face darkened. He had heard Wang Guixiang say that she had given tens of thousands of yuan to her youngest daughter, Zhao Chunqin, to buy a house. He estimated that she didn't have the tens of thousands of yuan that her second son's family had, and even if she were asked to give it, she probably wouldn't be able to. However, she should have at least 10,000 yuan. So Zhao Tingxu said, "Just take out the money and let us see. You don't need to give too much, just 10,000 yuan will do. Let these unfilial descendants see whether you have given money to outsiders!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Guixiang was so anxious that she almost cried. Where was she going to get 10,000 yuan?

Her youngest daughter borrowed money from her, taking almost all of it. She only had 10,000 yuan left at home, which she had originally planned to use to build a new house for her youngest son. However, Cheng Jinxiang almost had a difficult childbirth in the hospital a few months ago, and that ungrateful Zhao Dage called Zhao Tingming over again, making her pay the 7,000 yuan for the hospitalization. She only had a few thousand yuan left, not even enough to pay back Tie Gang. Now this old man was asking her for another 10,000 yuan. Wang Guixiang was truly at her wit's end. Wasn't this just putting her in a difficult position?

Wang Guixiang secretly gave Zhao Tingming a meaningful look. She remembered telling the old man before that she had given most of her money to Chunqin. Was the old man out of his mind, actually following them and telling her to take out the money?

Cheng Jinxiang immediately realized that something was wrong. Wang Guixiang hadn't said anything, but kept looking at Zhao Tingxu and blinking.

She asked, "Mom, are you feeling unwell? Why are you blinking so much? Is there sand in your eye?"

Cheng Jinxiang's words only made Wang Guixiang feel more guilty. Wang Guixiang's voice became unsteady as she said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How am I guilty?"

Zhao Tingxu immediately understood that Wang Guixiang was guilty when he saw her like this. His face darkened instantly. Guilty about what? Did she really cheat on him?

The thought of this possibility made Zhao Tingxu restless. He immediately shouted at Wang Guixiang, "Go inside right now and get your savings book. Let me see how much money is left!"

Wang Guixiang felt wronged and said, "Old man, come out here, I want to talk to you alone."

Cheng Jinxiang interjected, "Mom, what can't be said here face to face? Can't you come up with the money? Tie Gang and I put over 40,000 yuan with you, and now you can't even come up with 10,000 yuan? Did you really give the money to an outsider? Or did you do something sneaky that you don't want us to know?"

For a moment, Zhao Tiegang looked at Zhao Tingxu with pitiful eyes. He suddenly felt that his father was being harassed by a green meadow.

He never expected that his mother, at such an advanced age, would seek a second spring outside.

Zhao Tiesheng said anxiously, "Mom, which lover did you give this money to? You haven't been scammed, have you? Tell me the person's name, and I'll go get it back right now!"

Zhao Tiesheng already suspected that Wang Guixiang had found a lover outside and had given all his money to that lover. For a moment, Zhao Tiesheng was shocked and angry, but more than that, he was anxious. He had to get his money back as soon as possible! If he waited any longer, the money might be spent, and then how would he get it back?

Zhao Tingxu's face was as black as ink. He directly ordered Wang Guixiang, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go to your room to get the money back! Or have you really been cheating on me?!"

Wang Guixiang was on the verge of tears. "Old man, I didn't! We've been together for so many years, don't you know me? Didn't I tell you? I've already..." lent the money to Chunqin. But Wang Guixiang couldn't bring herself to say the last sentence. If she did, the house would be in complete chaos.

But Zhao Tingxu clearly didn't understand Wang Guixiang's meaning. He only knew that Zhao Tiesheng had brought over 40,000 yuan, and Zhao Tiegang had brought several thousand yuan, which added up to 50,000 yuan. There was also the dowry money for the second daughter, and the eldest son would also give him some money as a filial gift. All of this added up to 60,000 to 70,000 yuan. Although the youngest daughter had come to borrow money, she wouldn't take all the money in the house, would she? She should be able to come up with at least 10,000 yuan.

Wang Guixiang remained sitting there anxiously. She could only whisper gently in Zhao Tingxu's ear, "Old man, have you forgotten? Chunqin came to our house to borrow money, and I really can't come up with that money..."

But in Zhao Tingxu's mind, these words had clearly taken a different turn and become Wang Guixiang's excuse.