Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire

Chapter 141: Chapter 133 Not Playing the Sucker (3)

After Lu Jiajie returned home, he pondered carefully and, when Ma Lili got off work, he said to her, “Invite all the creditors to our house tomorrow.”

Ma Lili thought he had finally seen reason and was willing to repay the money. She was overjoyed and even cooked some nice dishes. That night, she was very proactive lying beside him, but Lu Jiajie, preoccupied with worries, pushed her away.

Although his attitude made Ma Lili uncomfortable, the thought of the debts being cleared soon cheered her up, and she fell asleep quickly. Lu Jiajie, on the other hand, had a mind full of chaos and took a long time to fall asleep.

The next day as soon as she started work, Ma Lili told the people who had lent her money to come over to her house after work, saying that Lu Jiajie would repay them then.

Her colleague, Zheng Panlan, who had also lent Ma Lili two hundred yuan, asked in confusion, “If your husband wants to repay the money, he could just give it to us directly. Why does he want us to go to your house?”

Ma Lili replied, “I don’t know either. Panlan, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to make the trip. I’ll treat you to a meal after I get my paycheck next month.”

Zheng Panlan always felt that things were not so simple, but she also wanted to get her money back as soon as possible. She had lent the money readily knowing that Lu Jiajie had made a fortune in Yangcheng City and wasn’t worried about getting repaid. But she hadn’t expected Ma Lili to borrow the money for her nephew to buy a house, and Lu Jiajie refused to acknowledge the debt. Had she known, she wouldn’t have lent the money.

It turned out that Zheng Panlan’s premonition was correct. When the seven creditors had all arrived, Lu Jiajie declared that he wouldn’t repay this debt.

Ma Lili was about to explode with anger and said, “Lu Jiajie, what do you mean by this? If you don’t want to repay the money, why did you ask me to call them all here?”

The lenders were also very angry, feeling that Lu Jiajie was playing them.

After waiting for the seven of them to quiet down, Lu Jiajie said, “Lili’s current monthly salary is one hundred and six. From now on, I’ll take care of all our family’s expenses, and her salary will be used to repay your debts. One hundred a month, and the debt of one thousand five will be cleared in fifteen months.”

The old lady who had come earlier said, “That won’t do, I need to see the money now. Lu Jiajie, you clearly have money, why won’t you pay our debts?”

Lu Jiajie replied, “The money wasn’t borrowed by me and wasn’t used in our household, but to buy a house for her nephew. Even if it’s discussed to the ends of the earth, it’s not my debt to repay.”

The old lady argued, “But the money was borrowed for your wife; you should repay it.”

Lu Jiajie stood his ground and said, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t repay it; all you need to do is wait patiently. The same applies in the future; if the loan is not mine, I simply won’t acknowledge it.”

Pointing to a bag on the ground, Lu Jiajie continued, “Making you come all this way is regrettable, and here is some local produce I brought. Everyone take a share home to enjoy!”

The old lady squatted down and opened a bag, initially expecting cheap items, but was surprised to find dried goods like shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, kelp, and beyond that, three bright red large apples and a bag of tangerines. This bag of items would cost at least ten yuan.

The seven people were initially very angry, but the contents of the bag dissipated much of their anger. Zheng Panlan asked, “Lili, when do you plan to repay our money?”

Ma Lili’s lips were almost bleeding from biting them, but with Lu Jiajie standing silently beside her, she clenched her fists and said under the pressure of everyone’s urging, “In the future, I will repay you fifteen yuan each month until it is all paid off.”

Having received a response, the people prepared to leave with their goods.

Lu Jiajie said, “I also hope you will tell your friends and family when you get home, that I won’t acknowledge her debts. If I need money, I will borrow it myself.”

With this incident, who would dare lend money to Ma Lili anymore?

Ma Lili was a proud person. She forced a smile and saw the guests out. But as soon as the door closed, she charged at Lu Jiajie, hitting and cursing him, “You jerk, how can I face anyone after this? Lu Jiajie, you are good for nothing. When you had nothing, I never despised you. Now that you’ve made a little money, this is how you treat me.”

Lu Jiajie pushed her away and said with a cold face, “If you keep making a scene like this, there’s no need to keep this marriage going.”

Ma Lili froze, saying incredulously, “What did you say, Lu Jiajie? Say it again.”

Lu Jiajie said coldly, “Keep this up and we’ll get a divorce. Anyway, your heart is with your family, not with me and the children. After the divorce, you can go back and wholeheartedly take care of your parents and Yan Jixiang.”

He didn’t really want a divorce. With two young children and his need to make money, who would take care of them after a divorce? He couldn’t completely trust anyone else. Of course, seven years of relationship couldn’t be just thrown away. He said this only to scare Ma Lili into stopping.

But Ma Lili thought Lu Jiajie really wanted a divorce and, like a madwoman, rushed to claw at him, “Did you find some fox spirit outside? The money Lu Jiaxin gave you behind my back, did you spend it all on that fox spirit? Who is that fox spirit, tell me.”

Lu Jiajie pushed her to the ground, “You really are unreasonable.”

Fortunately, he anticipated that Ma Lili might make a scene again, so he hadn’t brought the children back with him, or else what would have happened if the children had seen this?

Ma Lili didn’t expect him to push her, and she fell to the ground, injuring her hand. This time she was truly heartbroken, “Lu Jiajie, your conscience must have been eaten by dogs, I didn’t dislike you for being poor in the beginning. Now that you’ve made some money, you’re out looking for women.”

Lu Jiajie was almost infuriated to death, but he knew Ma Lili’s temper too well. Not explaining would only lead to more chaos, and it could potentially involve Jiaxin and his elder brother. So, restraining his anger, he said, “Don’t talk nonsense here. I’m worn to death every day in Yangcheng City, and when I return to my hometown, I spend all day with the children. Where would I find time for a woman?”

Of the five of them, only Sha Xiangyang couldn’t stand the loneliness and found himself a woman, but since he was single, there was nothing to criticize. As for the other bachelor, Ah Le, he was simply broke, with all his salary and bonuses in Ah Le’s mother’s hands.

Ma Lili ignored her pain and stared at him, asking, “Are you telling the truth, you didn’t find another woman outside?”

Lu Jiajie didn’t want to face her anymore and turned to leave.

Hearing Xiao Qiu’s exclamation, Lu Jiaxin walked out. Seeing the scratches on Lu Jiajie’s face, she didn’t concern herself with the wounds but asked, “Is everything settled?”

Lu Jiajie nodded and explained the process, “From now on, the living expenses for her and the fees for hiring help will come from me, and she will use her salary to pay off the debts.”

This arrangement had a hidden danger, though. That was Ma Lili might skimp on food, and while he was away from home, she might dismiss the hired help to save on the wages. However, she didn’t voice a reminder, believing that only after suffering a loss would Ma Lili learn and be more considerate in the future.

Lu Jiajie asked cautiously, “Jiaxin, do you think my handling of this is alright?”

Lu Jiaxin didn’t give her own assessment, “The ancients said it well: first cultivate oneself, then put one’s family in order, and then pacify the world. If you want to make something of yourself in the future, you have to settle your family affairs first. Otherwise, with so many people holding you back, you won’t be able to achieve anything.”

She had initially thought Lu Jiajie would soften and repay the debt, but she didn’t expect he could hold his ground. This handling was the best. If he had really repaid the money, it would have been an endless headache.