Chapter 533 - 514: Who Scammed Whom? (Part 2)

"Sixty."

Gu’er acted as if she couldn’t care less about the money.

"Sixty-five."

The heavyset woman kept pace.

"Seventy."

Gu’er was now determined to outbid her.

"Seventy-five."

The heavyset woman raised the price again. Her plan was to stop bidding after Gu’er’s next offer. She’d be satisfied making Gu’er spend eighty on a twenty-yuan outfit. Just thinking about Gu’er’s angry face brought her a sense of smug satisfaction.

"Sis, let’s just forget it. This outfit isn’t worth that much. Let’s go buy something else."

Sui’er tugged on Gu’er’s sleeve.

"It’s the principle of the matter now! No way. I’ve set my sights on this outfit, and I’d buy it even if it were two hundred."

Gu’er spoke as if in a fit of pique, a look of absolute determination on her face. She then turned to the heavyset woman and said, "Ninety."

’This Gu’er is such a sucker, just has money to burn,’ the heavyset woman thought with a wave of glee. ’Didn’t she say she’d buy it even for two hundred? Fine, then I’ll make you spend two hundred on a twenty-yuan outfit. That’ll teach you.’

"I’ll bid one hundred."

The heavyset woman shouted out the thought that had just crossed her mind.

A flash of anger crossed Gu’er’s eyes, but she suppressed it. She turned to the shopkeeper and said, "She’s just shouting ’one hundred’ for the sake of it. You should ask her if she even has the money. If she doesn’t, what’s she doing shouting in here and holding up your business?"

Gu’er’s words snapped the shopkeeper back to her senses. ’That’s right, what if this woman doesn’t have the money? Isn’t she just causing trouble?’ She looked at the heavyset woman with suspicion in her eyes.

"Who says I don’t have money? I do. Don’t try to blame me just because you’re too cheap to bid higher. You think everyone’s like you?"

As she spoke, the heavyset woman reached into her clothes, rummaged around in several spots, and scraped together a hundred yuan. She waved it smugly at Gu’er.

"Fine. The outfit’s yours, then. I don’t want it anymore. You can take it home and enjoy looking at it."

Gu’er gave a cold smile. ’I knew it all along. This woman just wanted to make me spend more money.’

The heavyset woman was stunned. ’A moment ago, Gu’er was acting like she had to have this outfit no matter the cost. How could she suddenly not want it anymore?’

"Alright, sold to you, ma’am."

The shopkeeper didn’t care who she sold it to. This was a huge profit! One hundred yuan! She’d have to sell several other items to make that much. ’I really hit the jackpot today,’ she thought.

"Hey, what are you doing? Is this a robbery? I took another look, and this outfit isn’t even that great. How is it worth a hundred yuan? Look, there are loose threads everywhere. And I can’t even wear it. I don’t want it anymore."

How could the heavyset woman possibly spend a hundred yuan on an outfit? Her goal was to make Gu’er overspend. Now that Gu’er had backed out, she was backing out too.

The shopkeeper’s expression turned sour.

"See? I told you she was just causing trouble. She was never going to spend a hundred yuan on it. Ma’am, she can’t afford it. Sell it to me."

Gu’er said to the shopkeeper.

"Alright, miss, I’ll sell the outfit to you. Some people, honestly... can’t afford something but still have to put on a front. Just a broke loser."

The shopkeeper was angry too. She had thought she’d made a killing, but she never expected the heavyset woman to back out completely.

"Who are you calling a broke loser? You’re the broke loser! Your whole family is full of broke losers! How dare you talk to me like that! Who says I can’t afford it? I’ll buy it right now just to show you!"

The heavyset woman instantly flew into a rage. She was always the one looking down on others; when had it become their turn to look down on her? She had to win back her pride.

"If you can afford it, then pay up."

The shopkeeper retorted, not to be outdone.

Gu’er and Sui’er stood to the side, enjoying the show.

The heavyset woman wanted to save face, but a hundred yuan... she couldn’t bear to part with it. ’I could buy so many things with a hundred yuan. If I really spend that much on this outfit, my husband will kill me when I get home. He’s already unhappy with me. If I give him this excuse, the whole New Year will probably be ruined.’

’But if I don’t buy it...’ Seeing Gu’er holding the money, she felt a surge of hatred. ’Why does this woman get to be both beautiful and rich? No, even if I get yelled at, I have to win this. She seems to really like this outfit. I can’t let her have her way.’

The heavyset woman gritted her teeth, wrestling with her thoughts.

"Ma’am, are you going to sell it or not? We’re in a hurry," Sui’er urged. "My sister really likes this outfit, and it looks great on her. If you’re selling, we’ll pay right now. If not, just say so. Don’t waste our time."

Sui’er’s urging was like adding fuel to the fire.

"I’m selling, I’m selling! Of course I’m selling, miss."

The shopkeeper hastily put on an apologetic smile.

"I’ll buy it."

In a panic, the heavyset woman shoved the money in her hand toward the shopkeeper, saying, "This outfit isn’t worth this much. Can you make it a little cheaper? Fifty? No, thirty... how about twenty-five?"

’She really didn’t want to spend a hundred yuan.’

"If you’re not buying, then hand it over. This young lady is waiting."

The shopkeeper looked impatient and reached out to snatch the outfit. The heavyset woman glanced at Gu’er, saw her holding the money and ready to pay at any moment, and thrust all the bills in her hand at the shopkeeper.