RYEY – Chapter 2 Debt Collection (Part 1)

“Hey, rascal, with the way you look, who would ever agree to meet you for a secret tryst?”

One villager, long fed up with the rascal’s shamelessness, couldn’t help but mock him.

“What do you mean ‘the way I look’? I’m one meter seventy-five, dashing and handsome. Other than being a bit poorer than you, in what way are you better than me?”

Under the moonlight, everyone looked at the rascal’s starry eyes and sharp brows. For a moment, they were struck silent. In terms of looks, he was indeed the most attractive young man in the village. Unfortunately, that hooliganish air of his really ruined it.

“You really didn’t see Cheng Qiao?” The village head asked sternly.

“Nope. She said she had a date with a gentleman, so I waited here. Oh, I get it—don’t tell me it’s you who wanted to meet me?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! How could I possibly want to meet you? You know your own family’s conditions. How could I ever take a liking to you?”

Xu Laidi hurriedly denied it. She knew exactly what kind of person this rascal was—penniless, shameless, utterly unreliable. Marrying him would be the end of her life.

“If even you don’t like me, then how could Cheng Qiao? Don’t tell me you think you’re prettier than her? Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

The rascal squinted at Xu Laidi with disdain, spat out the grass stem in his mouth, and sneered.

The villagers glanced at Xu Laidi. Her flat nose and wide mouth, compared with Cheng Qiao’s fair and delicate face, bright eyes and gleaming teeth—there was simply no comparison. They couldn’t help but nod; the rascal was right this time.

Xu Laidi’s eyes turned red with fury. She was just about to retort when a sweet voice came from behind: “Were you all looking for me?”

“Cheng Qiao! Did that rascal bully you? Don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you.”

Hearing Cheng Qiao’s voice, Xu Laidi rushed over, loudly calling out.

The moment Cheng Qiao saw Xu Laidi, hatred surged in her eyes. She quickly closed them, took a deep breath, and buried the hatred deep inside.

“Cheng Qiao, what’s going on? Where did you go? Why are you so late not returning to the educated youth dormitory?”

The village head’s worry vanished the instant he saw her safe, only to be replaced with anger. Ever since this girl arrived, trouble had multiplied in the village.

Her delicate looks were one thing, but she was foolishly naïve. Everyone—from the educated youths to the village wives—took advantage of her. Eventually, she didn’t even have enough food for herself. And when someone tried to warn her, she actually talked back, completely ungrateful.

“Village head, today Sister Laidi pushed me down and made me sprain my ankle. She said she’d make it up to me and gave me a cup of brown sugar water.

Then she said her hairpin was lost in the cornfield and asked me to help her look for it. But just as I walked over there, I unknowingly fell asleep. It was your voice that woke me up.”

Cheng Qiao pointed to a ditch not far from the cornfield. Everyone turned to her. Sure enough, her clothes and face were smeared with mud. Her drowsy, tear-brimmed eyes made her look utterly pitiful.

Xu Laidi’s face turned pale. This fool—when did she become so sharp? Just a few words and she had pushed Xu Laidi into disgrace.

The village head gave Xu Laidi a meaningful glance, then looked at Cheng Qiao’s innocent, crystal-clear eyes. He wanted to say something but finally sighed, waved his hand, and told everyone to disperse.

The villagers fell silent, but the way they looked at Xu Laidi had changed. The other educated youths even stepped back. If their guess was right, then Xu Laidi was a thoroughly wicked woman.

Everyone knew she and Cheng Qiao were the closest of friends. But while Cheng Qiao treated her sincerely, Xu Laidi treated Cheng Qiao like a fool to be deceived.

Xu Laidi gnashed her teeth, aware of the villagers’ and educated youths’ shifting gazes. Yet she had no defense—everything Cheng Qiao said was true.

“Sister Laidi, come help me up, my ankle is sprained. I can’t walk.”

Cheng Qiao looked at Xu Laidi pitifully, holding out her hand.

The crowd gasped. Could Cheng Qiao truly be such a fool? After being set up like that, she still dared to lean on Xu Laidi?

The rascal’s eyes flickered, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. This Cheng Qiao—he was going to have her. Tomorrow he’d go hunting in the mountains, earn money, and have his mother prepare the betrothal gifts to marry her in style.

Xu Laidi’s lips curved in a proud smile. Glancing around, she reached out her hand. Cheng Qiao quickly grabbed her arm with both hands, her ten fingernails digging hard into Xu Laidi’s flesh.

“Hiss—!”

Xu Laidi cried out in pain and flung her hand away. Cheng Qiao fell to the ground, tears welling up as she choked out:

“Sister Laidi, you’ve already made me fall twice today. Is it because I wouldn’t lend you money? But I really don’t have any left—you’ve already borrowed two hundred yuan from me.”

“What! Two hundred yuan?!”

Aunt Wang, infamous for never letting a bargain slip by, exclaimed. She had taken plenty of little advantages from Cheng Qiao, but at most a few cents. Hearing “two hundred yuan,” her voice trembled with shock.

The educated youths looked at Xu Laidi even more darkly. Cheng Qiao was always generous, helping whenever someone was in need. But if she herself had no money, how could she continue helping?

“That’s right, Aunt Wang. Sister Laidi said her family member was sick, so she borrowed two hundred yuan from me and mailed it back home. The shirt and pants she’s wearing, even that watch on her wrist, are all things I lent her.”

Aunt Wang was furious. She stormed over, yanked Cheng Qiao up, and jabbed her finger at Cheng Qiao’s forehead, scolding her harshly in a string of local dialect.

The older educated youths understood her perfectly—she was calling Cheng Qiao a hopeless fool, blind to Xu Laidi’s obvious schemes, yet still lending her so many valuable things.

Cheng Qiao understood too, but she only widened her bewildered eyes, timidly looking at Aunt Wang, not knowing what she had done wrong, while her forehead throbbed from the poking.

The village head could stand no more. He shouted sternly: “Wang Duocai, are you dead or what, just standing there watching your wife bully a young girl?”

“Village head, how can you say that? I’m not bullying her, I’m just… what was that fancy phrase again?”

“Angry at her failure to live up to expectations.” The rascal supplied.

“Yes, yes, that’s it! I’m just worried about her.”

“Aunt Wang, since you’re so concerned, why don’t you help Cheng Qiao get her money back? And her clothes and watch too. Otherwise, stop making a fuss here—just admit you’re upset you couldn’t trick her out of anything.”

The rascal pulled another stalk of grass, chewing it lazily as he spoke.