Wang Qiqi was utterly thrilled at the prospect of the drama unfolding today; she had picked out her outfit early. “What a wonderful day this is,” she murmured, gazing at the bright sunshine outside. Without even checking the almanac, Wang Qiqi knew this day was destined for fortune, a truly auspicious day.

Han Tao rolled over, watching Wang Qiqi standing by the closet, holding up clothes and muttering to herself. He propped himself up on one elbow. “What are you doing, talking to your reflection?” The dress was nice, certainly, but did she really need to look quite so conspiratorially delighted? “We know there’s a good show coming, but nobody else does. Don’t overdo it, or we’ll end up being the main act instead of the audience.”

“We’re going specifically to watch the show,” Wang Qiqi pouted. “Relax, I’ll maintain appearances. Besides, if we look too pleased, I’m worried your uncles will just turn their guns on us instead.”

“Exactly. We need to be low-key, low-key, and then even lower-key. We’ll just pretend we know nothing about it. And frankly, I’m sure many relatives around us already know about their money troubles.” Han Tao figured that given Xue Hong’s temperament, she wouldn’t resort to asking family unless she had absolutely exhausted every outside option.

Wang Qiqi could only shake her head, thinking what a mess they were in. On her son’s big wedding day, needing money for the arrangements and finding no one willing to lend it—it spoke volumes about how poorly certain people had conducted themselves. “I’m half-tempted not to wear new clothes at all, so they don’t mistake us for rich folk and try to bleed us dry.”

“Why wouldn't you wear them? Just because we dress well, are we suddenly fair game to be extorted? If we have no money, how can we lend any?” Han Tao thought that they should deliberately dress well for the wedding, precisely to upset Xue Hong, though they still needed to keep up the polite façade. “Besides, if we look shabby, those relatives will definitely say we’re doing poorly—why else would we show up to such an important occasion looking like this? And Qiqi, this is your first time participating in Han family affairs; many eyes will be on you.”

Han Tao knew several relatives would inevitably compare Qiqi with Ding Meina, Han Jun’s wife. Hmph. Her family might have money, but did they have Qiqi’s qualities? Furthermore, in Han Tao’s estimation, a girl barely twenty years old, who had gotten tangled up and pregnant with a listless boy, couldn't possibly be sharp. Despite her young age, she supposedly worked at her father’s company, supposedly preparing to inherit it. In reality, to put it bluntly, she hadn't applied herself in school, and now the only place that would hire her was the old man’s firm. Only simple-minded people like Xue Hong would value such a daughter-in-law.

Seeing Han Tao’s firm insistence on dressing well, Wang Qiqi relented. After all, judging by the previous night’s display of raw, potent energy, she knew provoking the man again wouldn't stop him from unleashing his fire. “Fine, then I’ll bring out the LV bag I bought this year.” Although this bag was very expensive domestically, Wang Qiqi had managed to snag it on sale during a trip to the US. It was quite lovely, so she bought it as a statement piece for herself.

Watching his wife finally seeing reason, Han Tao scrambled out of bed and walked behind her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “That’s right, we should flaunt it a bit. My relatives are absolute social climbers. The better your standing, the more they’ll suck up to you, even if you ignore them completely; their attitude won’t change.” Han Tao felt his relatives were the epitome of worshipping wealth and scorning poverty. In his memory, every relative had always praised Han Jun as smart and promising, yet now Han Jun was nothing more than a loafer. “Honestly, I think it’s a blessing in disguise that Han Jun’s old girlfriend left him. Maybe she can find a decent man now.”

Wang Qiqi wasn't very familiar with Han Jun’s ex-girlfriend. “You think leaving Han Jun was good for her, but perhaps your grandmother and the others think it was good that your younger brother left that girl. But your uncle’s side is going to lose money over this, right?”

“If they don’t lose money, they aren’t human. I heard that girl had an abortion twice,” Han Tao was truly baffled by Han Jun’s thinking. Knowing how bad abortions were for women, how could he not have considered that? He was brainless. Of course, the girl was also brainless. Compared to them, his own wife was different. Without protection, his wife would absolutely never sleep with him. It wasn’t that they couldn't afford a child, but both were busy with studies; such an accident was impossible. Could it really be true, as Qiqi suggested, that the lower one’s standards for questioning, the more desperate they were for children, and the younger they were when they gave birth?

Luo Hongjuan stepped out of her workplace and saw her son waving at her from inside a taxi. She quickly walked over. “You look sharp! By the way, did you two hear who Xue Hong went to borrow money from yesterday?” Luo Hongjuan said conspiratorially as soon as she settled into the cab. She didn't use titles; she just said the name. Yesterday, everyone had essentially stripped away all pretenses.

Han Tao shook his head. “Would anyone have lent her money overnight? If they were willing, they would have done it earlier.”

“Old Lu. He used to be involved with the triads, and I hear he’s running a loan shark operation now.” Luo Hongjuan was shocked that Xue Hong had the nerve to approach someone from the underworld for a loan. She knew that kind of money was easy to borrow but hard to repay, with crippling interest, and you couldn't just refuse to pay it back.

Borrowing from loan sharks? Han Tao’s mouth dropped open. Although he had never dealt with such people, he knew they weren't easy to handle—vultures who wouldn’t spit out the bones. How could Xue Hong have the guts? “Mom, how did you find out?” This happened last night; how did Mom know so quickly? Han Tao doubted Xue Hong would have the time or inclination to tell his mother, given how busy she was supposed to be today.

“Old Lu was your father’s classmate back in the day; they were quite close. But he went away during those years when your father’s health was failing. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out this way for your dad, sigh.” Luo Hongjuan admitted she had met Old Lu privately a few times, but given his profession, she hadn’t kept in touch. This morning, Old Lu had sought her out, saying he needed to collect some debts soon and was determined to teach Xue Hong a harsh lesson this time. That’s how Luo Hongjuan found out.

This was the first Han Tao knew that the uncle who occasionally sent holiday provisions during the New Year was involved in the underworld. Although he didn’t look like he was involved in legitimate business, because he had always been kind to Han Tao and his mother, sending things over, Han Tao had always considered Uncle Lu a good man. He couldn't believe it. “Mom, it only gets harder to operate in that circle, and Uncle Lu is getting old.” Nowadays, many people who didn't study hard and failed in school ended up as thugs, and those people would do anything for money, never caring about loyalty or honor. Uncle Lu was old; how could he compete with them?

Hearing that Xue Hong had actually taken out a high-interest loan, Wang Qiqi started calculating. Based on the look on Xue Hong’s face when she left yesterday, Wang Qiqi worried that the loan shark might show up at Luo Hongjuan’s house. Those people were vicious; what if they terrified Luo Hongjuan? It wasn't impossible. But the fact that Xue Hong went to Han Tao’s father’s friend—and it seemed this acquaintance held no good feelings toward her—made Wang Qiqi suspect this loan might mark the beginning of Xue Hong’s miserable downfall. They were masters of compounding debt; they would do anything if the money wasn't repaid. How could Han Jun’s in-laws possibly agree to pay it back? She prayed the Han family’s old house wouldn't be lost. She dearly looked forward to the day Old Madam Han would be so furious with her once-favored daughter-in-law that she’d spit blood.

“Don’t worry, your Uncle Lu said he’s getting out of the business by the end of the year; he plans to retire and move abroad.” Luo Hongjuan hadn't stopped advising Old Lu. He was old; his son was doing well in Australia; why endure hardship here in the country? Besides, several of his subordinates were starting to think for themselves. Why cling on? Now Luo Hongjuan finally understood why Old Lu always claimed it wasn't time to retire—he was waiting for Xue Hong. “Son, remember those who helped us, your mother and I, okay?”

Han Tao, of course, understood the need for gratitude, but the issue was, “Uncle Lu, I honestly don’t know how to repay him, and he…” Han Tao thought that if the man insisted on taking revenge on Xue Hong, he probably didn't want Xue Hong to know about their connection. If that were the case, why would he reveal the debt so casually?

Luo Hongjuan knew the answer. “Just smile at Uncle Lu if you run into him on the street. When he’s finished settling things here, we’ll treat him to a good meal. We won’t have many chances to meet again.” Luo Hongjuan knew that without Old Lu’s quiet support, she and her son might not have made it this far. Just because Old Lu didn't mention some things didn't mean Luo Hongjuan was ignorant of them.

Han Tao grunted and stared straight ahead. “What a pity. I was expecting a good show today, but it seems there won’t be one.” While sleeping, Han Tao had dreamed of wedding guests pointing and whispering about Han Ximing and his wife, shaming them thoroughly. But the thought that Xue Hong might soon become the person Old Madam Han accuses of selling off ancestral property made him feel satisfied. That was one of the main justifications the old lady planned to use to reclaim the house anyway.

“If there’s no show, then there’s no show; we’ll just eat quietly. We’ll have plenty of shows later.” Wang Qiqi thought it was best if the old lady didn't end up kneeling at their feet, forcing them to decide whether or not to lend the money. Now that Xue Hong had ostensibly solved her money problem, they would simply pretend they knew nothing. (To be continued)