Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Both families erupted in outrage.

"You, how could you be so vicious? You want to harm my son for no reason. It was Xu Xiaojuan who pushed you into the water, not my son. Besides, didn't you say you didn't fall in? And now you want three hundred? Why should we pay that?" Tian Xiaolan could no longer contain her anger.

"It was your daughter-in-law who tried to push Xiuxiu into the water, and it was your daughter who came up with the idea. Now you're saying we're vicious? Three hundred is indeed too little; let's make it five hundred."

Wang Qinghe pulled his wife closer, feeling the hostile glares from everyone around him.

"She didn't die, did she? She's fine, yet she wants to cause trouble for everyone? Five hundred dollars—does her life really warrant that much?" Tian Xiaolan was completely overwhelmed, thinking about her daughter suffering, her son’s job possibly being affected, and her daughter-in-law being taken away.

And now these two people wanted five hundred dollars from her family!

She felt like confronting Bai Xiuxiu head-on.

"Father-in-law, you decide on this matter." Zhou Laotou saw his wife getting so agitated and quickly passed the responsibility to Wang Shoucheng.

Wang Shoucheng felt a headache coming on.

Why was he always the one making decisions? Can't these people decide for themselves?

What could he do?

There was no money in the household. Forget five hundred dollars; even two hundred was too much!

But if they didn't pay, Zhou Jiaojiao wouldn't come back, and the eldest son's wife might ruin the jobs of the second and fifth sons. That would be the end of their family!

They had to agree to any amount now!

Since everyone was leaving the decision to him, he would take charge.

The money lost by the Wang family would eventually be earned back by Zhou Jiaojiao.

Zhou Jiaojiao had been helping the family earn quite a bit of money lately.

Once the eldest couple moved out, the remaining family members would be all close-knit, and whatever they earned would stay within the family!

Wang Shoucheng decided to trust in the good luck of the fifth son's wife.

"Fine! We'll give you the money, but you can't pursue this further. When Jiaojiao comes back, you mustn't mention this again." Wang Shoucheng made his demand.

Bai Xiuxiu immediately rejected his proposal: "Hold on, I haven't finished yet. If you want me to drop this entirely, there's an additional price."

"What else do you want?" Zhao Guifen was stunned by the demands.

How much more could there be?

Bai Xiuxiu threw a ledger in front of them, detailing all the work Wang Qinghe had done for the family since childhood, the total expenses incurred by the family, and the benefits he brought to the household.

"Let's settle this account. Over the years, how much have you unfairly taken from my husband?

We've calculated it to be three thousand five hundred dollars.

We'll round it down.

This three thousand five, plus three hundred for the division of property, plus five hundred each from both families as compensation, totals four thousand eight hundred dollars.

If you agree, we can talk reasonably.

If not, I'll stick to my previous statement.

I won't let you have peace."

Bai Xiuxiu's ledger left the Wang family dumbfounded.

"You... He's our son!" Wang Shoucheng's hands shook as he held the ledger.

Wang Qinghe scrutinized him, his tone still unreadable: "Am I really your son? If so, why don't I look like either of you? Where were you when I was born?

I think it's necessary..."

"Enough! What are you trying to say? Your mother risked her life to give birth to you. How can you say such hurtful things?" Wang Shoucheng panicked.

He should have strangled him at birth!

"So, why don't I look like either of you?" Bai Xiuxiu pressed on, seeing Wang Shoucheng's panic.

"Both of you shut up! Isn't it just about dividing the property? Fine, divide it! Consider us without a son in the Wang family." Wang Shoucheng dared not continue the conversation.

"Dad, are you crazy? Where will we get four thousand eight? Oh, wait, where will we get four thousand three?" Wang Qingfu was equally shocked. Such a large sum was beyond his means, even if he worked in the factory until he died.

"Dad, I won't agree to this. With so much money, we might as well stop the second brother and Old Fifth from working. Old Fifth can find another wife. I refuse." Wang Laosan also voiced his opposition.

Four thousand three? He had never seen so much money in his life!

How much did their family earn in a year?

"Dad, I agree with Third Brother!" Wang Laosi hurriedly refused, fearing it might be too late.

They were merely anxious, while the Zhou family was utterly shocked. The Wangs seemed to lack common sense.

If they could calculate such a large sum, the Wang couple must have received that much money. But why wasn't it reflected in their accounts?

Wang Shoucheng was already worried, and his sons' agitated reactions only added to his distress.

These unlucky things, why doesn't anyone understand him?

Of course, he doesn't have that money.

But Zhou Jiaojiao can earn money for the family in the future. He's heard that those who do business in the black market can make this much in one or two years.

Not to mention that Zhou Jiaojiao might even find ginseng.

And Old Second and Old Fifth's jobs—that's what brings prestige to this family!

Hundreds of yuan a year! And these jobs can be passed down to their sons in the future.

That's the real benefit!

If Zhou Jiaojiao doesn't come back, and if the eldest and his wife cause trouble a few more times, even if they were originally right, the factory won't be able to trust them anymore.

Wang Shoucheng had calculated all this in his mind and knew there was no room for compromise.

If anything, it's all because of Old Fifth's wife causing trouble!

In the future, the family could use this matter to control Old Fifth's wife.

Wang Shoucheng quickly found the best outcome for the Wang family in this situation.

"Four thousand three hundred it is, but we don't have that much money right now. How about ten years to pay it off?" Wang Shoucheng had a flash of inspiration and thought this was the best solution.

"The money on the ledger must be repaid within two years. No matter what methods you use, you must repay it within two years." Wang Qinghe forcefully pulled the ledger back.

Xiuxiu had said on the way back that they definitely didn't have that much money, so they should repay it within two years.

It cannot exceed two years.

Although he didn't know why, as long as Xiuxiu said it, he would follow through.

Bai Xiuxiu figured that in two years, the situation would be different.

Money must be in her own hands to feel secure.

This ledger is evidence of what they owe her and Wang Qinghe.

"As for the compensation money and the money from the division of the family, we want it now." Bai Xiuxiu continued with her husband's demands.

"No way, where would we get so much money!" Zhao Guifen refused; she and the old man didn't have eight hundred yuan now.

"Aren't there funds at home? Or did you use the money elsewhere?" Bai Xiuxiu looked at the elderly couple, exposing what they were trying to hide.