A sense of superiority welled up in Wu Li's heart.
Remembering her purpose,
she gritted her teeth and stepped forward.
She forced a fake smile at Li Chuchu and said, "Chuchu, your father still needs to live in the house at home, so we can only give you the money instead."
After saying that, she stuffed a bank passbook into Li Chuchu's hand and patted it casually.
"After your father went back last time, he kept thinking about you asking for the house. He broke his leg when going downstairs. I'm a bit late in bringing the money. Don't be angry, okay?"
She was counting on Li Chuchu not opening the passbook in front of so many people. As long as she left, this matter would be buried. How much money was given would be up to her to decide later.
Seeing her expression, Li Chuchu knew she must have some evil intentions.
She opened the passbook and saw:
Exactly 4,000 yuan.
She had inquired about the price of this house before. It was estimated to be around 7,000 to 8,000 yuan. Now it was half less.
So this was where they were trying to scheme against her.
They waited until the last day to bring the money. They really had no good intentions.
Wu Li didn't expect that after she said that, Li Chuchu would actually open the passbook in front of so many people. She was immediately flustered.
She quickly pressed down Li Chuchu's hand and changed the subject:
"Chuchu, when are you going back to visit your father? Your father has been missing you a lot recently. After all, you are your father's only daughter. He loves you the most."
Using the same old trick again, trying to fool people with such a low - level method.
She didn't know how she could bear to say such things without feeling nauseous.
Li Chuchu curled her lips slightly. "I do plan to go back. I'll go back and ask my father if our house is really only worth 4,000 yuan."
Her eyes turned cold, making Wu Li shiver.
Wu Li opened her mouth, and the prepared speech just slipped out: "Our house is an old one. It's not worth much. And all the available money in the family has been given to you. There's no money for Li Chuan's tuition yet."
She had made it sound so pitiful. If Li Chuchu still asked for more money, it would be unreasonable. She didn't believe that Li Chuchu would be so extreme in front of so many neighbors.
Didn't she care about her reputation?
Unexpectedly, Li Chuchu stuffed the passbook back into her hand and said simply:
"Okay then. Since there's no money at home, I'll take the house."
"Tell my father. Go and transfer the property rights to me tomorrow. I don't want the money. I only want the house my mother left for me."
She emphasized those words very strongly. The on - lookers, who had some life experience, immediately understood what was going on.
Aunt Wang walked beside Li Chuchu and sneered.
"I knew it. A step - mother wouldn't be so kind. It turns out she occupied this little girl's house and embezzled her money."
"She's really heartless. Was that her brother last time? The whole family is black - hearted."
Everyone in the compound knew about the incident when Wu Gui blocked Li Chuchu in the alley last time. They knew what kind of people this step - mother's family was.
Now the taunts came one after another.
Wu Li's heart sank.
Hearing the whispers behind her, her body stiffened, and the smile on her face became even more forced.
Li Chuchu looked at her with a half - smile.
"You can go. Please tell my father for me that I don't want the money. I only want the house. Transfer the house to my name tomorrow. Of course, the factory director is very concerned about our family's affairs. If he asks, I'll have to tell the truth."
She spoke slowly, and every word hit Wu Li's sore spot.
Wu Li was so scared that her legs almost gave way. If it weren't for the doorframe beside her, she would have fallen to the ground.
She forced a smile that was uglier than crying: "Chuchu, what are you talking about? This is our family matter. Why do we need to trouble the factory director? It's not good for outsiders to know about it."
Li Chuchu said with a fake smile: "This house was allocated to my mother by the factory director. Of course, the factory director has the right to know where the house goes. Aunt Wu, what are you worried about?"
What was Wu Li worried about?
Before going out, Li Jianmin gave her 7,000 yuan. If this matter got to the factory director tomorrow, she couldn't cover it up.
Moreover, it would be even more difficult if Li Chuchu wanted the house.
Now 7,000 yuan might not even be enough to buy such a house. Compared with money, the house was of course more important. The price of the house was rising every year. It might be worth even more next year.
She wanted to be smart and embezzle 3,000 yuan.
Unexpectedly, Li Chuchu came up with a decisive move and got the better of her.
The flesh on Wu Li's face twitched. She was so angry that she gritted her teeth secretly. She wished she could tear Li Chuchu apart on the spot, but she still forced a flattering smile on her face: "Look at what you're saying. The money is all ready. I was just confused just now. I forgot that I deposited the money in two passbooks. These two are for you."
Li Chuchu opened the two passbooks. Together, there were 7,000 yuan.
She smiled and accepted it.
Although the house was valuable, the location was a bit poor.
Now the housing price was supported by the steel factory. Once the steel factory closed down in the future, the housing price wouldn't rise as fast as in other districts.
Moreover, this was the house where Li Jianmin and Wu Li had lived. She didn't want it.
It was better to use the money to buy other shops.
Wu Li took a few deep breaths. Since things had come to this, there was no need for her to hide anything.
"Chuchu, didn't you say before that you would sign the letter of understanding if we gave you the house? Let's go and sign it now."
The money was gone, but her brother was still in the police station.
Li Chuchu nodded. "Sure. But you came late today. There are so many guests at my home. I'll go next time when I'm free."
"I still have to continue eating. See you out."
After saying that, she turned around and walked away gracefully.
Wu Li stared at her with wide eyes. "Hey, you're going back on your word!"
She stepped forward and tried to grab Li Chuchu's elbow. She was not willing to let Li Chuchu go so easily!
Uncle Li was enjoying watching the show so much that he choked on a chicken bone.
"Pfft."
The chicken bone hit Wu Li, leaving a greasy mark on her expensive silk dress.
Uncle Li squinted his eyes and took a closer look at her. "Oops, sorry. My eyes are dim. I thought there was a dog blocking my way."
Wu Li was extremely angry with these people. She roared like a crazy woman: "Are you blind? There's no dog here!"
She thought these people were doing it on purpose!
Sure enough,
they were just a bunch of hooligans from the slums!
Uncle Li called out towards the courtyard gate as if there was something: "Come on, Dahuang, come here!"
A big yellow dog ran out from under the tree, barked a few times, and then ran to bury its head in chewing the chicken bone Uncle Li had thrown.
"Good dog, come!"
Seeing that Uncle Li was about to throw another chicken bone at her, Wu Li quickly took a step back. She was really scared.
This dress couldn't be hand - washed.
Wu Li was extremely angry. She couldn't fight them and couldn't scold them either. She glared at them fiercely.
Finally, she turned around and stomped away angrily in her leather shoes.