Chapter 16: How to Divide Things Up

Compared to herself, it was clear that Chen Lie understood the ways of the current era much better. Su Qinghu just nodded along.

Sure, he sounded so knowledgeable and confident, but… did they really have enough money?

Zhao Liangyan had only brought over ration tickets, while Chen Lie had just handed over both cash and tickets. Compared to most people, it was quite a sum…

“How much money and how many tickets did you leave with Teacher Sun before?” Su Qinghu mentally calculated the money she currently had on hand and felt it might not be enough. She asked Chen Lie, “You gave us a hundred yuan at first, paid fifty-two yuan to compensate the neighbors, we spent ten ourselves, so there’s just over thirty left. Adding what you just gave me, is that enough to install running water?”

And then there’s the liquefied gas tank…

As Su Qinghu spoke, she suddenly stopped, distracted by how handsome and striking Chen Lie looked, completely forgetting about their real-life problems.

It was true she’d married a very good-looking man, but… wasn’t this man basically penniless at the moment?

Her mind automatically replayed what Da Dan and Er Dan had said before, and combined with the man’s honest explanations, Su Qinghu suddenly understood a harsh, tear-inducing reality…

She looked at Chen Lie’s handsome face and thought of how Da Dan and Er Dan had taken care of her in the hospital, silently swallowing back two bitter tears.

Having no money isn’t all bad. Being broke makes people reflect on themselves, pushes them to work hard and build something from nothing, and…

“I’ve already prepaid for the running water installation,” Chen Lie said.

His words made Su Qinghu breathe a sigh of relief. Great, that saves them another chunk of money!

Sensing what Su Qinghu was thinking, Chen Lie found it a little funny, but didn’t say anything.

He might be a bit broke right now, but supporting the family wouldn’t be a problem.

“I have another question for you,” Su Qinghu raised her hand slightly. “Do you have any debts yourself?”

She’d been careless—she’d only asked if his ex-wife had left any debts, but forgot to ask about him.

Chen Lie looked at her deeply, the pressure built from years of intense training and missions radiating off him, making Su Qinghu’s back go cold.

His voice was calm: “Whether I do or don’t, what would you think?”

At that moment, Da Dan and Er Dan had already sneaked back in. They quietly slipped into the yard, dropped off the food in the kitchen, and crawled to a hidden spot near the living room to eavesdrop.

They hadn’t wanted to go out in the first place and were curious about what the adults were discussing. But when Dad gave them that look, they knew there was no way out of it! So they hurried to finish their errand and rushed back. Finding a spot to eavesdrop, they were actually quite excited.

But when they heard this, both of them gasped. Oh no, if this pretty new mom didn’t answer this question well, they might be saying goodbye to a second mom soon…

For a moment, both boys scratched their heads, wanting to rush in and help Su Qinghu answer.

Show loyalty!

If you don’t know how to answer, just show loyalty!

At a time like this, showing loyalty can’t go wrong!

Su Qinghu slowed her speech, her already pleasant voice turning even softer. “If you do, then I’ll just be more careful with spending, and we’ll figure out a way together to pay it off as soon as possible. If you don’t, then all the better!”

Of course, if there really was debt, depending on how much, she’d have to adjust her work plans accordingly.

If there was a lot, she’d have to let down both him and Teacher Sun, who had helped her get her job, and immediately go into business!

In this era, the money you made from a regular job was nothing compared to what businesspeople could earn in a single day. For someone like her, who had just been assigned a job, her starting salary would definitely be the bare minimum. If she wanted more, she’d have to wait for bonuses.

All things considered, if she didn’t eat or drink for the next six months until the end of the year, she’d be lucky to save three or four hundred yuan…

How pitiful!

Did she really have to start struggling for a living again as soon as she arrived?

“Get in here!” Chen Lie shouted toward the outside. Once he was sure the two boys heard him, he turned his attention back to Su Qinghu and said gently, “Right now, we don’t have any debts. But we don’t have any savings either. For the foreseeable future, you’ll have to rely on just our two salaries.”

Hearing Chen Lie call them in, Da Dan and Er Dan scurried in and stood obediently against the wall like quails.

“If you want to know anything, just ask. Look at the two of you right now!” Chen Lie said to Su Qinghu, then turned and walked over to the boys.

He looked quite intimidating.

But as long as he didn’t go overboard, Su Qinghu had no intention of drawing his attention away. After all, she was still thinking about what had just happened—Chen Lie hadn’t actually answered how much money he’d left with Teacher Sun…

As Chen Lie walked over to the boys, Su Qinghu’s gaze followed him.

Sensing her intense stare, Chen Lie found it amusing. Was she worried he’d hit the kids?

Standing in front of them, Chen Lie asked, “Anything you want to know?”

Da Dan and Er Dan shook their heads in unison.

Chen Lie just looked at them in silence.

Unable to stand the pressure, the boys started to explain.

Da Dan said, “Mom used to spend a bit freely, but she never spent money on outsiders. From now on, if we can eat at home, we’ll eat at home. We won’t waste money, and we won’t get the family into debt!”

What a little oddball! He was already so skilled at making snide remarks!

Su Qinghu snorted with laughter. He’d just lumped her together with Chen Lie’s ex-wife, and at the same time, let someone know that they’d been spending money eating out instead of cooking at home…

Kid, not bad!

He’d wanted her to stay with Chen Lie all the time, but now that Chen Lie was here, he was saying one thing and doing another. Hypocrite!

Er Dan glanced at his brother and sighed, “Sigh!”

Most of the money the new mom had spent was actually on him and his brother—didn’t his brother know that?

Saying things like that… wasn’t he just making things hard for the new mom?

Da Dan was annoyed by his sigh, immediately pulling a long face and refusing to look at him.

Idiot!

Er Dan felt a bit lost. Seeing his brother ignore him, he quickly looked at Chen Lie, then at Su Qinghu.

Su Qinghu smiled at him, neither nodding nor shaking her head, her beautiful face full of the determination to watch the drama unfold.

Unfortunately, Chen Lie didn’t let her have her fun. He grabbed the boys and led them out of the living room.

Su Qinghu, of course, didn’t follow. Fathers disciplining their sons—she wouldn’t get involved.

Seeing that the three of them wouldn’t be coming back to the living room for a while, Su Qinghu started thinking about how to allocate the three beds in the house.

After they got their marriage certificate, Chen Lie had left right away, so there’d been no real contact between them. Naturally, Da Dan and Er Dan each had their own bed, while she took the only remaining bed in the master bedroom.

Now that Chen Lie was back, would he be sharing a bed with her, or with one of the kids?

She wasn’t worried either way. Sharing a bed with him wouldn’t be awkward—given how good-looking and well-built Chen Lie was, who could say who’d be taking advantage of whom…

In the shifting light and shadow, Su Qinghu, propping her chin and half-dozing, looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Just then, Chen Lie, having finished disciplining the boys, paused at the living room door."