"Right, we saw the clothes you sent home for us, Xue'er. You're really doing well these days! Ya Ping said each one costs at least tens of thousands!"
Hao Ruizhi's eyes were filled with envy.
She glanced at her son and future daughter-in-law.
Relying on these two to buy her good clothes would be a long shot in this lifetime.
Xia Xue was stunned.
Two hundred thousand?
When had she ever lent out two hundred thousand?
Xia Xue's first instinct was to turn to Lin Fan.
But Lin Fan was standing on the roof at that moment, and she was afraid her shout would startle him and he would fall.
She could only suppress her anger for the time being, lowering her head in silence.
Xia Yuejin was bewildered.
What did his niece mean?
Could it be that Xia Xiangqian had lied?
That shouldn't be the case!
Xia Yuejin knew his brother Xia Xiangqian's personality well; once he had half a pint of liquor, he definitely couldn't keep a secret.
Xia Xue frowned, her eyebrows knitted, and asked in a low voice, "Uncle, my dad lent you a full two hundred thousand?"
Her heart ached!
That was two hundred thousand!
Building the house hadn't even cost three hundred thousand, and this money would have been more than enough for renovations.
"Yes, cousin, you didn't know?" Xia Yuejin was a bit confused.
Hao Ruizhi also found it strange. Wasn't it said that her niece and Lin Fan were running the medical hall together and making a fortune? When they heard they wanted to borrow money, they didn't hesitate to take out US dollars and gold bars, asking Xia Xiangqian and his wife to choose?
Why did her niece seem so uninformed?
"I... I know..." Xia Xue gave a helpless smile, almost saying "I just found out."
"Uncle, as you can see, our family is also in a difficult situation."
Xia Xue gestured to the objects around them. "This medical hall should have been renovated long ago, but my dad asked, and I really couldn't refuse, so I took out the money. Actually, we were also waiting for this money."
Xia Yuejin's brow furrowed deeply upon hearing this.
This was clearly an attempt to collect a debt!
If he had known, he wouldn't have come.
Chasing after money that was just lent out, where was the logic in that?
"Cousin, don't worry. Jian She and his wife are young, and we old folks can still work. Our whole family will work hard, and we'll be able to repay you in a few years," Xia Yuejin said confidently.
"Mm." Xia Xue was noncommittal.
She thought to herself, although he was her uncle, the money in her family wasn't blown in by the wind. What needed to be repaid must be repaid.
She would call later and ask if Uncle had written an IOU.
If not, it must be added!
Wu Yaping opened her mouth to say something, but Xia Jian She quickly put a hand on her shoulder.
The two quickly exchanged glances for a moment.
Finally, under Wu Yaping's insistence, Xia Jian She reluctantly spoke, "Cousin, we came today for another matter we wanted to discuss with you."
Xia Jian She's face was filled with embarrassment, which immediately put Xia Xue on high alert.
If it weren't for maintaining appearances, she wouldn't even want to listen. It certainly wouldn't be anything good.
Seeing her fiancé stammering and unable to speak, Wu Yaping became anxious.
"It's like this," Wu Yaping took over the conversation. "Jian She and I want to start a small business. Your family runs a medical hall, so you know that business makes money faster. If we both work, how long will it take to repay this two hundred thousand?"
Xia Xue was astonished. "You mean, you want to borrow money again, right?"
She struggled to hold back her anger.
Lin Fan had been using his keen hearing to monitor the situation in the house.
Hearing the conversation inside, he felt not only anger but also deep regret.
If he had known this family was like this, he wouldn't have lent them the money!
Not listening to his sister-in-law's words, and now suffering the consequences!
How could this family be so thick-skinned?
They borrowed money to buy a house, and now they were coming to borrow money to start a business. They really treated everyone like a fool.
Lin Fan sat on the roof, his gaze coldly fixed on Xia Yuejin's family.
"Sister Xue'er, I always act with certainty, and Jian She knows this. I worked in a beauty salon for six or seven years. I'm very clear about dealing with people, as well as the techniques and knowledge of beauty. Now I want to open a shop, but I'm just not well-off."
Wu Yaping took a deep breath and continued, "You should know how profitable the beauty industry is. Once my shop is open, I estimate I can repay the principal and interest within a year or two."
Xia Jian She chimed in, "Cousin, Ya Ping and I have known each other for several years. She has indeed been working in the beauty industry, and her ability and skill are absolutely no problem."
"Uncle, my dad just gave you two hundred thousand, right?" Xia Xue's voice trembled with anger.
"Ah, yes." Xia Yuejin lowered his head in shame.
They hadn't intended to borrow more money, but after Wu Yaping incited them, and coupled with Xia Xiangqian's boasting, he had almost portrayed Lin Fan as the richest man in the country.
With such a wealthy relative, what was a million or so yuan?
Wu Yaping was a bit displeased. "Are you distrusting your own relatives, or are you not trusting my ability?"
Xia Xue's delicate brows furrowed. She hadn't gotten angry yet, so why was this elder sister getting angry?
"I don't distrust you, it's just that our family really has no money, not a single cent." Xia Xue's tone was serious, and her face was stern.
"Impossible!" Wu Yaping suddenly waved her hand. "Your dad said it himself, Lin Fan has a whole box of gold bars and a large box of US dollars!"
"What?" Xia Xue was shocked, and her body trembled violently.
Lin Fan's mouth twitched, and he jumped down from the roof.
He knew this hurdle couldn't be avoided.
"Xiao Fan, come in," Xia Xue beckoned him.
Lin Fan walked into the room dejectedly.
"Xiao Fan, do you have a whole box of gold bars?" Xia Xue questioned.
"Where would I get that? Don't joke," Lin Fan immediately denied.
"Do you have a large box of US dollars?" Xia Xue questioned again.
Lin Fan shook his head repeatedly. "I've never even been to Yunqing City in my life, let alone gone abroad. How would I know what US dollars look like?"
After speaking, he scratched the back of his head and gave his sister-in-law an apologetic smile.
Xia Xue didn't have time to delve deeper for the moment and turned around, saying, "You've all heard it. I don't know what my dad said when he was drunk, but our family really doesn't have that much money."
Wu Yaping was half-believing. "We won't borrow much, just another hundred thousand. Jian She and I will think of other ways to raise the money for opening the shop."
She sighed and added, "Otherwise, if we just rely on working, when will we be able to repay the debt? Jian She and I won't be able to have children; we can't afford to raise them."
Upon hearing this, Xia Yuejin's family of three became anxious.
They only had one son, so they absolutely couldn't let the family line end!
Xia Yuejin looked troubled, his tone almost pleading. "Cousin, can you see if you can think of a way? I'm begging you, Uncle."
"Our family really has no money," Xia Xue said resolutely.