FIMA Ch110: Borrowing Money

Xie Jinyu.

“Xie Jinyu…” Xie Jinyu’s eyes widened.

Xie Yiyang slowly turned his head and raised his eyebrows, “Hehe, it’s you again. What a coincidence!”

Xie Jinyu’s sullen gaze swept over them, “What’s so coincidental? I come here every day. It’s strange that you, a country bumpkin, are at the department store. Does your husband’s salary cover your expenses? Oh, wait, it’s a workday. Are you two here because he got fired from the Agricultural Repair Factory?”

Xie Yiyang smiled at him, “I didn’t know you cared so much about our lives. How convenient. Why don’t you buy some things and visit me at the courtyard next to the Soda Factory?”

Xie Jinyu frowned, “What… what do you mean?”

Xie Yiyang’s eyes sparkled mischievously, “Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to let you know that my husband made a significant contribution at the Agricultural Repair Factory. He’s been promoted, and we were allocated a dormitory next to the Xie family’s courtyard. We moved in today. If you care so much about me, we can visit each other often…”

“…”

Xie Jinyu’s mouth fell open, almost throwing up his breakfast.

How… how is that possible?

This country bumpkin actually got a dormitory in the neighboring courtyard?

His father, an accountant, had worked at the Soda Factory for seven or eight years before getting a dormitory.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Xie Yiyang adorably rolled his eyes and huffed, “Who has the time to talk nonsense with you?”

“Impossible, I don’t believe it.” Xie Jinyu shook his head vigorously.

He refused to believe that Xie Yiyang could ever climb back into the city.

At that moment, he saw the tall, indifferent man standing next to Xie Yiyang suddenly take his hand and say coldly, “Who is this? Is it worth wasting time on him? Today is our first day in the new dormitory. We have a lot to buy.”

Xie Yiyang blinked, immediately hugging Gu Siyuan’s arm and pouting, “Oh right, husband, we should hurry up and shop. Your leave from the Agricultural Repair Factory was hard to get. They can’t be without you for even a day, urging you to get back and teach the comrades.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Wife, you really know how to take advantage of the situation.

But this little vanity of his, Gu Siyuan was willing to indulge.

He nodded and gently pinched Xie Yiyang’s cheek, “Alright, let’s go then?”

Xie Yiyang laughed and followed Gu Siyuan towards the shopping area.

Watching their backs, Xie Jinyu’s expression grew increasingly sour.

Since childhood, Xie Yiyang had always been better looking, so even though he was fiery-tempered and prone to hitting and cursing, people always followed him around.

But ever since Xie Yiyang went to the countryside, he thought their fates were clear. Xie Yiyang would become a peasant, weather-beaten and rough, turning into a crude farmer.

Yet now, why did he look even more spirited and attractive? His skin was still fair and tender, his eyes still lively, showing no signs of hardship?

This is too unfair.

Xie Yiyang is just a fatherless and motherless bastard, how can he compare to me, or even live better than me?

…

Xie Yiyang, however, completely ignored what was behind him and threw himself fully towards the counter in front of him.

There were all kinds of daily necessities, including towels, soap, water bottles, and so on.

“Is this good-looking?” Xie Yiyang pointed to a red thermos bottle with big flowers on the shelf, excitedly turning back to ask Gu Siyuan.

“…” Gu Siyuan pondered for a while and nodded, “It looks good.”

Hmm, it’s because of the era, not because my wife’s aesthetic is inherently tacky.

“Hehe… I knew it.” Xie Yiyang nodded and said to the salesperson, “Comrade, we’ll take that one. Oh, by the way, can I ask…?”

The salesperson took down the thermos bottle and also gave him directions.

“Okay, let’s go, head to the next place!”

Xie Yiyang energetically pulled Gu Siyuan along.

Then, Gu Siyuan watched as his tacky wife bought two water-red towels for elderly women, colorful plates and bowls, and was quite smug about it…

“Looks good, right? See how festive they are!”

Gu Siyuan nodded and said coldly, “Yes, it looks good. This color, someone who doesn’t know might think we are about to get married!”

Xie Yiyang glared at him, “What do you mean?”

Gu Siyuan calmly said, “Praising your taste, stylish!”

Xie Yiyang pouted, huffed, and said, “Do you think I’m a fool? I tell you, I’m angry, the kind that can’t be coaxed.”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him, leisurely saying, “When we just passed the state-run restaurant, it seemed like they wrote that they had roast duck for lunch today. I wonder if we can still make it if we go buy it now!”

“We can make it, we can make it!”

Xie Yiyang swallowed his saliva, grabbed Gu Siyuan, and said seriously, “Let’s hurry and buy everything, then go to the state-run restaurant. We have to eat well today because we’re moving.”

“Hmm…” Gu Siyuan deliberately dragged out his voice, responding very leisurely.

Such a fool.

After a while, when the two of them left the department store, they basically had no free space on their bodies, all covered with things.

Usually the one who loves to act cute the most, Xie Yiyang, was now full of energy, tightly hugging a bunch of things, following closely behind Gu Siyuan, darting left and right, and successfully getting the limited supply of roast duck at the state-run restaurant.

Qingshui County wasn’t big, and the distance between the department store, the state-run restaurant, and the dormitory of the agricultural repair factory was not far. The two of them, carrying a bunch of things, walked back to the dormitory yard in about twenty minutes.

Xie Jinyu hid in a corner, watching the two of them really walk into the yard, even seeing them use a key to open a door on the second floor, and only then did he finally confirm, unwillingly leaving, and entering the gate of the neighboring yard.

Inside dormitory 205.

Gu Siyuan went to the bathroom to wash his hands, and when he came out, he saw that Xie Yiyang was still in the same position as when they left, sitting on the sofa, happily fiddling with the pile of things.

He walked over and sat down, casually saying, “Rejuvenating, playing with toys?”

Xie Yiyang looked up and glared at him, “Rejuvenating, am I very old now?”

Gu Siyuan: “Anyway, not young.”

Xie Yiyang got angry again.

The things originally held in his arms were all pushed away, and the whole person pounced on Gu Siyuan, humming, “Comrade Gu Siyuan, this is your second mistake today. Are you disgusted with me? Is this what the ancients meant by ‘love fades before beauty withers’?”

“…” Gu Siyuan pinched his puffed cheek, “Teacher Xie misuses words, it will corrupt the students.”

Xie Yiyang opened his mouth, gently biting his fingertip, looking straight at him, “I really can’t imagine, Comrade Gu, you’re already so bad now, how can you get even worse?”

Gu Siyuan lowered his head slightly, whispered a few words in his ear.

Xie Yiyang jumped off him abruptly, his watery eyes glaring hard at Gu Siyuan, but the whole person was like a poor little shrimp, blushing from the roots of his ears to his bare feet.

Gu Siyuan raised his eyes slightly, peering at him, chuckling a few times.

His wife is such a tease yet a coward.

Hearing this laughter, Xie Yiyang’s face turned even redder.

He quickly found something to distract himself, deliberately scolding Gu Siyuan, “Still sitting there, lazybones, we just moved today, shouldn’t the house be tidied up? Just piling up the things we bought like this?”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Tsk, shifting the blame!

Wasn’t it just like a fool, sitting on the sofa not moving?

Of course, he couldn’t say this out loud.

His wife is now angry out of embarrassment, if he said it, it might turn into a thunderous rage.

Gu Siyuan leisurely stood up, picked up the coal stove they just bought and went to the corridor.

In this era, there were no induction cookers, and gas had not been promoted. Living in the city, cooking and boiling water was done with coal stoves.

Just a few briquettes and the stove could burn for a day.

He squatted on the ground, using a few pieces of waste paper and some dry leaves he picked up to start the fire.

When the fire really started, he used tongs to put a briquette in.

They had also bought an aluminum pot at the department store earlier. Gu Siyuan first boiled a pot of water in the aluminum pot and poured it out, then started to cook.

It was June, the hottest weather, and in the narrow corridor facing the stove.

By the time two dishes were cooked, Gu Siyuan was like he had been fished out of the water.

Xie Yiyang had finished organizing the things in the house, poked his head out, and at a glance saw his husband covered in sweat, his face flushed from the heat.

The heart that was still angry just now turned into pity, quickly getting a towel and a basin of water.

Gu Siyuan reached out and touched his cheek, “Thank you, Teacher Xie.”

Xie Yiyang snorted lightly, “Is classmate Gu a stutterer?”

“Or is Teacher Xie just too good at teasing!” Gu Siyuan retorted.

At this hour, there were many men in the courtyard shirtless.

Gu Siyuan didn’t care much, directly took off his shirt, dipped a towel in water to wipe his face first, then started wiping his upper body.

With the movement of his raised arms, the sturdy and muscular muscles on his shoulders and arms slightly flexed.

Xie Yiyang stood behind like this, squinting and fascinated.

Gu Siyuan, always sharp, finished wiping his upper body once, threw the towel into the basin, then turned to look at his wife, saying lightly, “Do I look good?”

Xie Yiyang pursed his lips, reluctantly saying, “Ahem, it’s… alright!”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyebrow, pulled him into his arms with one hand, and with the other hand, touched his soft belly and arms, seriously saying, “Indeed not as delicate and tender as Teacher Xie.”

“…” Xie Yiyang exploded with anger.

How come his husband never gives in verbally!

He secretly curled his lips: So what if I’m not delicate and tender? You dead tease, don’t you like it this way? When you touch and kiss me under the covers at night, you don’t seem to mind at all? Dog of a man.

Pah! How can he be so shameless now, he has been thoroughly corrupted by Gu Siyuan!

Xie Yiyang opened his mouth and angrily left a neat row of small bite marks on Gu Siyuan’s exposed shoulder.

Gu Siyuan glanced at him helplessly.

The next moment, he exerted a little force with his arm, directly lifted him up and carried him on his shoulder.

“Ah…” With the sudden weightlessness, Xie Yiyang couldn’t help but scream, “Gu Siyuan, what do you want to do to me? Are you trying to defy heaven and earth?”

Gu Siyuan patted his buttocks, “Yes, seems quite exciting, fattened up, time to butcher.”

“…” Xie Yiyang.

Here, Gu Siyuan and Xie Yiyang were flirting and teasing each other.

However, in the neighboring courtyard of the Xie family, things were not so harmonious.

Mother Xie had just returned from work, and upon hearing the news from Xie Jinyu, she was stunned for a while.

“Are you saying Xie Yiyang moved to the neighboring agricultural repair factory’s courtyard?” She put down her keys, frowned while tying her apron, and asked, “Didn’t you meet him a couple of months ago and say his spouse had just entered the agricultural repair factory? How come he’s already assigned to the dormitory, the dormitories at the agricultural repair factory are tighter than those at the soda factory, right?”

Xie Jinyu curled her lips unwillingly, “According to what Xie Yiyang said, it seems his husband did something commendable and got promoted at the agricultural repair factory.”

“Promoted so quickly, he must be capable!” Mother Xie said with a serious expression.

Xie Jinyu shrugged, reluctantly saying, “He’s just lucky.”

Mother Xie nodded, then affectionately pointed at Xie Jinyu’s nose with her finger, “He has abilities, he went to the countryside and still managed to find such an outstanding partner? If only you had half his qualities, your father and I would be satisfied.”

“Mom!” Xie Jinyu called out in protest, holding her mother’s hand and acting cute, “Mom, why are you still siding with him?”

When he talked about this matter, it wasn’t to hear praise for Xie Yiyang and then have himself scolded.

Mother Xie looked at her own son’s charming appearance and couldn’t help but lightly laugh. She raised her hand to pat his head and said gently, “Alright, my good boy, don’t mind Xie Yiyang. How can he compare to you? Your grandfather is a member of the Revolutionary Committee, and Zexin also works in the government. That guy surnamed Gu is just a small worker, he’s not even worth comparing to. Just get along well with Zexin.”

Xie Jinyu pouted unhappily, “I just dislike Xie Yiyang. He’s just someone picked up, yet his temperament is so strange. Why should he be compared to me? How can he even turn things around?”

Mother Xie naturally understood her son’s thoughts.

Because she had the same thoughts. Xie Yiyang, this person of unknown origin, how can he be better than her own children in looks and learning? Who does he think he is?

She narrowed her eyes, pulled Xie Jinyu into her arms, and gently comforted him, “Good boy, no matter how well Xie Yiyang is doing, he’s still not surnamed Xie. Your father and I have raised him for over ten years. If we say something, would he dare not listen?”

Xie Jinyu immediately looked up, wide-eyed, “Mom, are you saying…”

Mother Xie sneered coldly, with disdain in her voice, “After all, he’s not our own flesh and blood. Who knows whose temperament he takes after. Since he’s back in the county and lives so close, yet he doesn’t even bother to visit us, he’s really rude and uncultured.”

Xie Jinyu immediately smiled, squinting his eyes. Since he was young, he enjoyed nothing more than seeing his mother scold Xie Yiyang in this tone.

…

In celebration of their move, today Gu Siyuan had prepared quite a feast.

In addition to the roast duck he had bought earlier, there was also braised pork, steamed eggs, stir-fried cabbage, and seasonal loofah soup, a complete spread.

Xie Yiyang smelled the delicious food and happily squinted his eyes.

In the next moment, he pounced on Gu Siyuan, “Husband, I love you so much!”

Gu Siyuan mercilessly pinched his wife’s cheek and said indifferently, “Your love has such dramatic ups and downs.”

Just a moment ago, wasn’t he scolding him for undermining his ancestors?

Not foolish, not deaf, not acting as a good householder.

Xie Yiyang decided to pretend not to hear.

With food in front of him, it was time to seize the opportunity to eat heartily.

However, before the two could pick up their chopsticks, there was a commotion outside.

Xie Yiyang furrowed his beautiful brows and stood up.

Gu Siyuan turned his head and asked, “Is that your adoptive mother’s voice outside?”

This time, Xie Yiyang was displeased, but it turned into curiosity, “Husband, how did you know?”

Gu Siyuan casually said, “If it wasn’t someone familiar, why would your emotions change so much?”

Xie Yiyang pouted.

Gu Siyuan squinted his eyes and said, “Bring over your lunch box.”

“Ah…” Xie Yiyang was a little puzzled but obediently handed it over.

Outside in the corridor, Mother Xie was talking to people around her.

Of course, talking wasn’t the real purpose; eye medicine was.

“Oh dear, my eldest son insisted on marrying to the countryside in those days. I really had no way out. Today I heard he’s returned to the county again, so I came looking for him eagerly,” she sighed.

Next to her, people were regretting.

Originally thought that the small Gu Xie couple were reliable, unexpectedly they were being filial by casting off their parents and moving to the countryside. This was really not reliable and not filial.

Just then, the door of Room 205 opened.

Xie Yiyang appeared in front of everyone with a lunch box in his hands, followed by Gu Siyuan, who closed the door behind him.

“Oh, Xie is out?” someone kindly asked.

When Xie Yiyang looked up, he immediately spotted two familiar figures standing beside several neighbors.

Mother Xie was about to say something.

But the next moment, Xie Yiyang rushed over and hugged her, almost tripping her.

However, before Mother Xie could steady herself…

Xie Yiyang suddenly teared up, holding her arms and sobbing, “Mom, did you come to find me? I thought you didn’t want me anymore. After you sent me to aunt’s house in the countryside, she told me that because I’m not your biological child, you were afraid I would compete with Jinyu for the family inheritance. You wanted to leave the family positions to Jinyu and even arranged for Jinyu to marry Director Chen’s son, fearing gossip. Is that why you sent me to the countryside, Mom? Is it true?”

“…” Mother Xie was speechless, mouth agape.

She couldn’t understand how she hadn’t said a word, yet Xie Yiyang managed to spill everything out in one go?

People around watching were also surprised. Could it be… Could it be like this?

Was Xiao Xie so pitiful?

Just then, Xie Yiyang shook Mother Xie again and continued to cry pitifully, “Mom, why aren’t you saying anything? Could it be that what aunt said is true? Is this really how you both think, Mom? I don’t believe it.”

“Although from childhood, you only scolded and beat me alone, only made me do household chores, every time I got first place in exams, you still thought I was not as smart as Jinyu, thought I wasn’t as good looking as Jinyu. But I know, it’s all for my own good, to prevent me from being arrogant, hoping I’ll become a down-to-earth person, right, Mom? I’m sure you didn’t mean it…”

“Cough…” People around couldn’t help but cough lightly.

This Xiao Xie, who looked quite lively, turned out to be so naïve and innocent.

Even when his adoptive mother was so obvious, he still thought it was for his own good?

Mother Xie listened to the commotion and finally came back to her senses.

For more than ten years, she had been used to seeing Xie Yiyang’s fierce and stubborn appearance, but she had never expected that he would also be able to act pitiful and pathetic

She quickly put on a sad expression and said, “Yangyang, why would you think like that? Of course, Mom cares about you just as much as Jinyu. What your aunt said was just nonsense to tease you. When you went to the countryside back then, Mom was really heartbroken. Now that you’re back, why don’t you think about coming home to visit…”

Xie Yiyang lifted his gaze, wiped away the tears he had just pretended to shed, and held up the lunch box in his hand, saying, “Mom, really? You really still think about me? That’s great! I was just about to visit you and Dad. This is the meal I just made, I was going to bring it over!”

Mother Xie almost rolled her eyes. Who would be interested in your few dishes?

However, in front of so many people, she spoke very kindly, “As long as you’re back home, your dad and I are satisfied. Why bring food? We just hope you can stay at home for a few more days…”

Saying this, Mother Xie even emotionally wiped her eyes.

“Stay at home? That’s great!” Xie Yiyang excitedly grabbed her sleeve.

“Uh, of course,” Mother Xie nodded, but for some reason, she felt a little uneasy.

Sure enough, the next moment, Xie Yiyang, with tears in his eyes, hesitated and said, “Mom, you don’t know. After you sent me to the countryside, aunt forced me to marry someone. Now I’ve moved here with him.”

“But, he’s only been working for two months. Just buying a stove and a thermos bottle already took up most of his salary. I really miss you both, so I used the rest of his money and savings to buy some meat and vegetables, wanting to make food to bring over to you both. So, there’s no savings left at home now. I was planning to borrow money from you and Dad to get through this period, but if I can just stay at home directly, that would be even better.”

“Ah!” Mother Xie’s expression immediately changed, “What did you say? You want to borrow money from me and then come back to the Xie family to eat and drink for free?”

Xie Yiyang seemed startled, took a few steps back, and pitifully looked at her, “Mom, didn’t you say you wanted me to come home to stay? Besides, isn’t Jinyu also living at home now?”

“Jinyu and you…” halfway through, Mother Xie seemed to realize they were outside, and immediately closed her mouth.

“Haha…”

This time, the onlookers couldn’t help but laugh.

This really was, if you’re going to pretend, then go all the way. What was this supposed to be?

The crowd dispersed.

Xie Yiyang stood in the corridor, silently watching Mother Xie hurriedly leave downstairs, satisfied with a smirk.

Then, turning around abruptly, he jumped on Gu Siyuan, grinning, “Husband, you’re right. The best way to reveal someone’s true colors is to borrow money.”

Money really is a good thing…

Gu Siyuan nodded, “And thanks to Teacher Xie for the inspiration!”

Xie Yiyang dangerously narrowed his eyes, “Classmate Gu Siyuan, what do you mean?”

Gu Siyuan held onto him, turned around, and walked back to the room, calmly responding, “Nothing much. Just that Teacher Xie is very practical as a person, often inadvertently revealing his true nature when it comes to money.”

“…” Xie Yiyang.

He had been silent for too long and was mistaken by Gu Siyuan for a sick cat.