Chapter 24: Business

Huo Yanshu's words served as a reminder to Ruan Tang. She had previously been focused solely on getting Huo Qingqing into a good school, overlooking this particular detail. In the original plot, this was the exact moment when Song Yu became unemployed due to being implicated in the affairs of the remnants of the old regime, which was what eventually led him to pursue scientific research.

Lost in thought, Ruan Tang looked up at the man, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised. "So, which school should we send Qingqing to?"

She needed to find a time to tell Captain Chen about this. He was a good policeman who served the people; she couldn't let those sordid matters ruin him.

Huo Yanshu pondered for a moment, his deep, expressive eyes filled with contemplation. He tapped his fingers on the table and replied, "I’ll go look into it tomorrow. You and the girl stay home and wait for news from Village Chief Ruan."

Ruan Tang thought about the rumors and the way Mother Huo had come over just moments ago to provoke her for no apparent reason. She couldn't help but feel that it was all connected to her. She voiced her thoughts to him.

Huo Yanshu was stunned for a moment. He looked at Ruan Tang with his handsome, clear eyes, a sudden realization dawning on him. His mother had never been fond of Ruan Tang, but usually, out of respect for him, she had never caused such a scene. What had just happened was indeed suspicious.

Huo Yanshu thought for a moment, then reached out to pat Ruan Tang's shoulder to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'll have someone in the village look into it."

Ye Yifan didn't know he was back yet. He would invite him to lunch and ask for his help.

With this plan in mind, Huo Yanshu told Ruan Tang he wouldn't be back for lunch. Ruan Tang nodded and watched him leave. Outside, Mother Huo had long since finished her tirade and departed. Ruan Tang watched Huo Yanshu leave, lost in thought about her next steps.

Huo Qingqing, listening to them discuss one thing after another, felt irritated and looked sullen. Ruan Tang noticed this, lowered her head, and quickly crouched down to hold the child's small hand, asking with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Huo Qingqing frowned and fidgeted with her fingers, saying sullenly, "Don't include me when you talk about business. I don't like listening to this."

She truly didn't like it; unless it was about paintings, jewelry, or perhaps Barbies, she wasn't interested.

Ruan Tang couldn't help but chuckle; it turned out the child was just impatient. Her expression softened. "Listening to the major affairs of the household occasionally can broaden your horizons. If you don't want to listen, you can tell us directly, but you must be polite."

Huo Qingqing realized her impatience had been rude. She wrinkled her nose, twisted her fingers, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Aunt Ruan."

Ruan Tang shook her head. "It's fine to be a little willful in front of us. We are family and will be patient with you, but others might not be."

Huo Qingqing looked thoughtful after hearing this. Ruan Tang realized there was still plenty of time, so she didn't continue. She stood up and took Huo Qingqing’s hand to walk aside. As soon as she sat down, a notification echoed in her ears:

[Please spend two thousand yuan within one hour; failure to do so will result in an unknown punishment.]

Ruan Tang: "..."

She was truly going to break down.

Resigned, she stood up and forced a bright smile onto her lips—pale and powerless—and turned to ask Huo Qingqing, "Do you want to go out and eat at a restaurant?"

Huo Qingqing paused and nodded silently. Aunt Ruan seemed to have hit her regular time for acting strange; she would just have to keep her company. Huo Qingqing’s large eyes were filled with sympathy.

Ruan Tang saw it, of course, but even though she was going crazy inside, she had to persevere. Spending the money was the most important thing. She didn't want the watch she had thrown away last time; she would buy a new one this time.

Ruan Tang borrowed a bicycle and headed toward town. Not long after arriving, she rushed to the same watch shop as before.

Huo Qingqing looked surprised. She watched Ruan Tang, who was deep in thought while selecting a watch, and her own gaze couldn't help but drift toward the display case.

"Does this one look good?" Ruan Tang asked, holding Huo Qingqing and pointing to a watch even higher-end than the one they had bought previously.

Huo Qingqing looked and her eyes lit up. "Yes!"

There were no professional standards—it was all about the feeling.

Ruan Tang nodded in total agreement. "Good!"

With a bold wave of her hand, she pointed and declared, "That's the one. Wrap it up for me!"

The shop assistant looked over and immediately recognized her—it was an old acquaintance. Ruan Tang was also surprised and greeted her with a smile, "It's you again. What a coincidence."

The sales clerk, Yu Meifeng, smiled as she wrapped it up for Ruan Tang. "Miss Ruan, what a coincidence indeed."

"Yes, yes, what a coincidence," Ruan Tang said, maintaining her composure and chatting away, though she was anything but calm inside. She thought to herself: This isn't a coincidence; it's the system forcing my hand.

After buying the watch and taking the receipt as usual, Ruan Tang nodded politely and headed off to the next place without a moment's delay.

After thinking for a moment, Ruan Tang looked down and asked Huo Qingqing, "Do you want to watch television?"

Huo Qingqing’s eyes lit up. "Yes!"

Ruan Tang smiled. "Good, then Auntie will buy you a color television."

Huo Yanshu's home didn't have a TV, but it did have plenty of literary works and novels. They usually relied on those for entertainment, and Ruan Tang had been feeling stifled. Now, she finally had the chance to buy a TV. She breathed a sigh of relief and, without a second thought, took Huo Qingqing to the Town Mayor's house.

Buying a TV at this time required a ration coupon. Given her relationship with the Town Mayor, she should be able to get one, right?

Familiar with the way, she arrived at the Mayor's house and knocked on the door with confidence. "Mayor Yang, Mayor Yang, are you home?"

Soon, Mayor Yang's voice came from inside: "Eh! Who is it?"

After the sound of footsteps, Mayor Yang opened the door. Seeing it was Ruan Tang, his heart skipped a beat, and his previously drooping eyes suddenly became sharp and alert.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Mayor Yang adjusted his glasses, stood up straight, and spoke in a booming voice.

Ruan Tang touched her nose and asked softly, "Mayor, do you still have any television ration coupons?"

Mayor Yang hadn't processed this yet and stared blankly at Ruan Tang. "What, what?"

Seeing this, Ruan Tang patiently repeated herself in a louder voice: "Television ration coupons. I want to buy a television."

Mayor Yang realized. "Oh, television coupons. I have some—"

He stopped, a look of distress crossing his face. "However..." He pointed inside the house and said helplessly, "I have a big client here, and he wants to buy land, but there's none left. Could you perhaps talk to him?"

Ruan Tang's eyes lit up. Someone wanted to buy land? That was perfect!

Having heard Mayor Yang out, she nodded immediately. "Fine, if I close this deal, will you give me that coupon?"

Mayor Yang beamed. "It's a deal!"

Ruan Tang felt a weight lift off her chest. She patted the Mayor on the shoulder and smiled boldly. "The Mayor is a man of his word."

She then pushed open the door and walked inside with a smile, her demeanor naturally imposing. She was just playing the part of a big shot—she had this in the bag!

Seeing this, Mayor Yang grew excited and quickly poured two cups of tea for them, acting quite sycophantic.

Ruan Tang sat down as casually as if she were at home and tilted her head to look at the man. "What's the offer?"

The man was young, wearing a black trench coat, a scarf, and a hat that wrapped him up tightly, revealing only a pair of blue eyes. He looked at the well-dressed woman with a trace of surprise and turned to look at the Mayor.

The Mayor nodded at him, smiling like a fool.