C14 Borrow Money(part II)

Mr. Xue's nephew, Xue Xiaogui, hadn't completely squandered his uncle's estate. Rumor had it that he once possessed a Ming Dynasty painting of a noblewoman, which he sold to a Japanese collector in the late '90s. The sale netted him a substantial sum, enabling him to build several houses in the village, purchase a car, and take a wife, quickly establishing himself as a locally renowned wealthy man.

However, Ann Jue always looked down on those who sold their ancestral treasures to foreigners, particularly the Japanese. Xue Xiaogui's actions had crossed a line for her. She was determined to reclaim Mr. Xue's legacy for herself, even if it meant spending a considerable amount of money, and she wouldn't leave Xue Xiaogui with a single cent.

After a night of contemplation, Ann Jue made a decision that took both Ansett and Zhou Qian by surprise the following day.

"What? Jue, did you just say you plan to borrow money from your uncle?" Ansett asked incredulously, reaching out to feel her forehead. "You're not running a fever, are you?"

Ann Jue pursed her lips and shot him a look. "Dad, I mean it!"

"But your uncle is like a Pixiu, always taking in and never giving out. How could he possibly lend you money?" Ansett expressed his concern and disapproval.

Ann Jue was undeterred, her smile confident. "I have my ways. Just wait for the good news, Dad!"

Ann Jue's confidence in borrowing money from her uncle wasn't unfounded.

Her uncle, Ann Fen, was the baby of the family and had always been doted on the most. Old Madam Ann's ancestors were landlords, and though the family no longer owned farmland, she was an educated woman capable of earning her own living. Her status as a literate woman had earned her considerable respect back in the day. After the family's decline, Old Madam Ann secured a teaching position at a school. She spent many years educating others and building a vast network of connections. In the area, she was a well-known figure. However, she had a difficult temperament. Widowed early, she grew to be somewhat eccentric, domineering, and unsociable, often indulging in gossip, which many found off-putting.

Despite the family's financial dynamics, Old Madam Ann was undoubtedly the wealthiest. Her substantial pension, coupled with the generous gifts from students during holidays, allowed her to occasionally subsidize her youngest son, Ann Fen, who consequently lived the most comfortably.

Ann Jue's father, on the other hand, suffered greatly due to Old Madam Ann's influence. Even after marrying Zhou Qian, there was no noticeable improvement in how Old Madam Ann treated them. The silver lining was that she no longer meddled or gossiped about them as much, granting them some peace.

Ann Fen, however, was far from being a man of integrity. Shortly after his marriage, he began an affair. Ann Jue had been aware of his infidelity for quite some time. About a year earlier, while on her way to a writing competition, she happened to see Ann Fen intimately strolling with a stylishly dressed woman. They were hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, exchanging flirtatious glances—hardly the picture of innocence.

Young as she was, Ann Jue had a clear understanding of such matters, having heard Old Madam Ann discuss people's shortcomings extensively. She kept silent at the time, concerned about the implications for her father. But now, in need of money, she remembered the incident.

If her uncle refused to lend her the money, it would be an opportunity to confront her aunt about her temperament.

"Uncle, Uncle, are you home?" She strategically chose midday for her visit, knowing Ann Fen usually came home for lunch. If he didn't, his feisty wife wouldn't hesitate to call his workplace.

"Hey, there you are! Oh, it's Jue. What brings you here? Let me guess, you've come to see the twins, haven't you?" Ann Fen greeted her with a warm smile and opened the door.

There's truth to the saying that joyous occasions lift the spirits. Ann Fen, having recently been blessed with twin sons, reveled in the admiration he received from others. At home, the presence of his siblings only added to his pride and sense of prestige.

"Yep, I've come to check on the two little darlings!" Ann Jue spoke with a modern flair that set her apart from her peers of the nineties. Ann Fen, pleased by her words, welcomed her inside and affectionately prepared an apple for her.

Ann Jue pulled out a calligraphy scroll and presented it to her uncle, saying, "Uncle, I've written this for the two future scientists. They have such promising faces and are clearly blessed. I'm certain they'll achieve great things!"

Ann Fen's heart swelled with joy upon hearing her words. He eagerly examined the scroll and exclaimed, "Soaring to great heights! Excellent, excellent, excellent. On behalf of the two little rascals, I thank you, dear sister! Our Jue is truly intelligent—her scholarship and eloquence are a cut above the rest!"