Chapter 86: Ten-Thousandaire

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Ten-Thousandaire

So, Song Yao had a plan: she would add a clever twist to the old styles, making them dignified and timeless, yet unique.

She had already worked out the details on her way home. The moment she was back in her room, she grabbed a pen and hunched over the table, sketching out the design.

This past year, Shen Songyao had completely given up the fight. She kept her distance from Yao Yuzhen, no longer arguing with her about who was right or wrong.

She focused on only two things.

Making money like her life depended on it, and, while she was at it, getting married as her father wished.

She’d figured it out. Reasoning was useless; you needed cold, hard cash in your pocket to stand tall.

Her business grew bigger and bigger. She sold fabric scraps, enamel basins, hand-woven bamboo baskets...

Every venture was a success.

Before long, she made the list of "ten-thousand-yuan households"!

’That title has such a nice ring to it!’ She felt an incredible sense of satisfaction.

But today, that satisfaction was gone.

Someone from the department store had flipped her stall over and pointed a finger in her face.

"You can’t set up here!"

"If you stay here any longer, I’m calling security to haul you away!"

Shen Songyao had immediately bowed and scraped.

"Oh, yes, of course! I’ll clear out right now!"

The moment their back was turned, she nimbly set up her stall again.

And the result?

The next day, she had just crouched down to spread out her oilcloth when two security guards appeared, standing side-by-side before her stall.

Dejected, Shen Songyao had no choice but to sling her cloth bundle over her shoulder and head for home.

Her anger still simmering, she stood in the grass by the side of the road as a car honked, demanding she get out of the way.

She craned her neck, planted her hands on her hips, and roared.

"HONK HONK HONK? Honk at your ancestors!"

"You think you own the road? Is there a time limit for me to stand here?"

"You got the guts to hit me? Come on! Just try it!"

Li Hanchen, who was slowly backing the car closer, heard that voice and his hand jerked.

He glanced in the rearview mirror, expecting to see some kid hopping around on the roadside.

But instead, he saw Shen Songyao.

It was her, but her face was completely different.

Before, she’d been so thin she was unrecognizable, her face ashen, her hair dry and yellowed, her eyes dull.

And now?

Her skin was fair and radiant, her hair a glossy black. She looked luminous and striking.

It was just that temper of hers...

’Seems like it’s gotten even more explosive than before?’

After finishing her rant, Shen Songyao came to her senses. She squinted and saw a military green jeep with a crisp, straight frame. Her mind went blank.

’Oh, crap. It’s the army.’

’Can’t say anything about the driver’s character, but their discipline is bound to be impeccable.’

’No one in the military would block a civilian and lay on the horn for kicks.’

’He either wanted to offer me a ride or had something to say.’

’But that tirade I just unleashed...’

’Sigh, how embarrassing.’

’Is it too late to lie down and fake heatstroke?’

The driver was already getting out of the car.

’Too late.’

An idea struck her. She bowed with her hands clasped and raised her voice.

"The esteemed officer has arrived! What a fortunate day!"

Li Hanchen, walking around the front of the car: "..."

"Shen Songyao,"

His voice was flat.

"Regarding your nephew, the answer is no. It doesn’t matter what you call me."

Shen Songyao looked up and called out in a clear, bright voice.

"Husband?"

Li Hanchen was rendered speechless.

"If you... if you call me that... you can have the allowance I just got for this trip. And the money I saved from last time, too!"

Shen Songyao stared at the handsome man before her and closed the distance in a few quick steps.

"Husband, did you just get off the train?"

"Husband, why is your face so hot? Did you get too much sun?"

"Husband..."

Li Hanchen looked up, forcing himself to speak in a low, steady voice.

"This assignment does come with a bonus, but Shen Songyao, your brother and sister-in-law are in their thirties. They’re able-bodied; they can earn their own living."

"You need to leave yourself a safety net!"

"If you..."

Before he could finish, Shen Songyao threw her arms around his waist, cutting him off with a grin.

"What are you muttering about? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, you know? Husband, did you miss me?"

With her arms around him, Li Hanchen immediately stiffened like a board.

He looked down at the top of her head buried in his chest, gears turning furiously in his mind as he did a quick calculation.

’Is the money I secretly saved up enough to give her all of it?’

’Might as well just give it all to her,’ he thought.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, a thin layer of sweat slicked his palm.

"Well? Are you going to answer?"

When she didn’t get a response, Shen Songyao shook his arm.

"I’ve privately saved a total of one thousand seven hundred twenty-three yuan and sixty cents. That’s what’s left from my last few deployments after we paid for the wedding."

"For this trip, I estimate I’ll get another fifteen hundred!"

Li Hanchen couldn’t hold out any longer and blurted it all out in one go.

He regretted it the moment he said it.

’If I really give her all of it, what will she have to fall back on?’

He didn’t trust that whole Song Family.

He was even more afraid that if she knew about the money, she would just give it all away to them.

But Shen Songyao just waved a hand at him.

"Wrong! I asked if you... missed... me."

She tilted her face up, her nose nearly brushing his chin, her eyes wide and bright.

Li Hanchen sighed.

"I’m not lying, that’s really all I have left."

As he spoke, he caught sight of two people walking out of the barracks gate.

"Let’s—let’s go home first! I’ll give it all to you at home!"

He actually wanted to hold her a little longer.

Shen Songyao let go and shot him a look.

"All of it?"

Li Hanchen sighed and nodded emphatically.

"Yeah!"

"Then let’s go!"

Her voice instantly brightened.

"Yeah!"

Li Hanchen agreed, turning to pick up the old cloth bundle she had tossed on the ground.

Shen Songyao grinned.

"Husband, you’re so considerate!"

She stood on her tiptoes and straightened his crooked military cap.

His hand holding the bundle tensed, and the bag hit the car door with a CLANG.

To hide his flustered reaction, he looked down at the bundle in his hand.

"Did you go to the city... to buy something?"

Shen Songyao had already hopped into the passenger seat. She waited for him to get settled before turning to speak.

"I wasn’t buying, I was selling!"

"Selling things?"

Li Hanchen raised an eyebrow.

"Short on cash?"

The question slipped out.

In his mind, there was a ninety-percent chance she’d gone to the city because she was out of money.

He’d left her fifty yuan before he left, but he knew that as soon as she had any spare cash, she’d turn right around and give it to the Song Family.

Those people never had any qualms about taking it.

As the car started, Shen Songyao shook her head.

"Nope, wrong! I’m rolling in it now!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at the man in the driver’s seat.

’Good heavens, was this face sculpted by God himself?’

’His brow was high and well-defined, his nose long and straight, his jawline clean and sharp...’

’Absolutely flawless!’

’The original owner of this body ignored this living saint next to her and instead stuck to her family like glue, pouring money into their pockets.’

’Did she have her head slammed in a door three times or something?’

Li Hanchen sensed her staring. He glanced over and pointed to the corner of her mouth.

"Hungry?"

Shen Songyao quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

"Yeah! I’m starving!"

Without another word, Li Hanchen stepped on the gas, and the car pulled up smoothly in front of the mess hall.

Shen Songyao’s eyes widened slightly.

"Why are we here?"

Her face fell, and she shrank back in her seat.

’Didn’t he say we’d go home and he’d do whatever I said?’

’So what’s this supposed to be?’

Seeing her spirits deflate, Li Hanchen quickly tried to salvage the situation.

"Let’s get something in your stomach first! Once you’ve eaten, we’ll go home. Me, the house, the money—it’s all yours to manage!"

Shen Songyao burst out laughing with a "PFFT."

"Got it!"

Her mischievous hand shot out and slapped Li Hanchen’s lower abdomen.

"Gotta have a full stomach to get to work!"

The tips of Li Hanchen’s ears flushed bright red.

Shen Songyao bolted into the mess hall, making a beeline for the service window like she owned the place.

She glanced back and winked at him.

"What do you want?"

Li Hanchen waved his hand dismissively.

"You choose. Get a little of everything you like."

She didn’t hesitate for a second. Pointing, she rattled off four dishes.

"Sweet and sour ribs, braised pork belly, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and seaweed egg drop soup!"

Li Hanchen was just pulling out his meal tickets when Shen Songyao produced a few small bills of her own, clamping a hand over his wrist.