Pretty and charming, dressed in the 90s, she's good at everything from making money to causing

Zhao Lijuan was in no mood to respond to the greetings; all she could think about was her son.

"Big brother, big brother, don't be angry. That girl is in the English Department of Beiliao University. Even if she can move, she can't possibly skip school. Big brother, please... I beg you, please don't hurt my son. I... I'll kneel down for you..."

Zhao Lijuan really knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to the people in front of her, muttering repeatedly, "Don't touch my son."

The older brother, who had been acting all high and mighty in the hallway, heard the commotion outside and quickly came out with a frown.

"What are you doing?" the older brother hissed. "Can I get you a loudspeaker?"

This is something that can't be done in the open to begin with. If we keep arguing like this, we'll probably attract the police.

"Brother, brother! I beg you, brother! Please don't harm my son!"

Zhao Lijuan doesn't care about losing face now. She hasn't handed over the money or the person. The three-day deadline has passed, and her son's life is still in their hands!

She regrets it now—not that she didn't stop her son when he first went to the card table, but that she didn't just rob him of the four thousand yuan and run away today.

As she was regretting her decision, Zhao Lijuan suddenly remembered: "Big brother! Go to Beiliao University! That girl has to go to school, there's no way she can escape! She definitely has to go to class on Monday!"

The eldest brother frowned silently.

In reality, he doesn't have much power; he only has these people under his command. Otherwise, he wouldn't need to personally handle something like snatching someone today.

His team's main "job" was to scout out easy targets who had just started playing cards. After playing a few games together and getting to know each other, the three of them would team up and empty the opponent's pockets in an afternoon.

Then it's time to test acting skills. Someone has to pull the fat sheep away from continuing, someone else has to stir things up, and finally, the big brother makes a dazzling appearance and generously lends money.

There's a trick to it. You have to lend a hundred or two each time, making people feel that they can pay it back when they get their salary next month, or that they can win big and make it all back. You can't just ask for two or three thousand, or you'll scare them away.

This process repeats several times, and the two or three thousand yuan will circulate in the fat sheep's hands before returning to his pocket, along with a stack of IOUs.

Compared to that, debt collection is much simpler—it's just a natural performance!

They were originally hoodlums, so they were good at this kind of thing.

He knew three days ago that this family wouldn't be able to pay him back much money, and he was holding them captive so they would search their relatives' homes as well.

But the woman didn't bring any money; instead, she offered to pay off her debt with a female college student...

Having a female college student as a mistress sounds prestigious; don't all big bosses keep a college student as a secretary?

You can do business without capital anytime, but college graduates are hard to find.

He pondered for a long time and said, "Okay, come with me to Beiliao University on Monday. If we still can't find him... I'll make sure you can't even find where your son is buried."

Zhao Lijuan froze as she kowtowed, then let out a long sigh and collapsed to the ground.

……

The next day was Sunday.

Zheng Miaoying and Lin Ting went to buy a sewing machine, and then went to the Wu'ai Market to buy various kinds of thread, zippers and buttons. After buying the items, she deposited all the remaining money into the bank.

Watching the stack of money turn into a thin string of numbers on the bankbook, Zheng Miaoying pouted and whispered, "No wonder my mom said she doesn't feel at ease if she can't see the money. I'm panicking too... Listen to this, does he really intend to give me this money?"

"Really, really," Lin Ting casually coaxed her, "Let's go, Auntie is still waiting at home."

"Ok!"

Originally, Zheng Miaoying didn't want to buy a sewing machine so soon. She knew her own mother well; once the sewing machine was brought home, her mother wouldn't care whether her leg was still in a cast or not, she would definitely start working.

She wanted her mother to rest for a while longer.

But what happened yesterday made her even more anxious, and she felt that she would feel more at ease if she bought the things first.

Sure enough, as soon as the sewing machine was moved back to the courtyard, Aunt Zheng got to work.

She didn't have any business on the first day, but she and Feng Yue checked all the incoming goods. She fixed up any loose buttons or missing stitches.

This is no small project. Aunt Zheng worked from dawn till dusk, but she still hadn't finished a third of it.

Actually, many clothes nowadays have some minor flaws. Shop owners will check them after receiving the goods and clean them up before the customers buy them.

Street vendors don't have this step, so even if they get their goods from the same place, there will be differences in quality.

Lin Ting didn't know about this at first; Aunt Zheng didn't tell her. She only saw it when she was helping Zheng Miaoying move her luggage home.

“Aunt Zheng, what is this…” Lin Ting stared at the clothes in the room for a moment, then smiled, “Sister Yue, remember to keep a record of the bill, I’ll settle the bill for you later.”

"What are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass me?" Before Feng Yue could nod, Aunt Zheng frowned. "It's just a little work, it doesn't take much effort, I'll do it for you as a favor."

Aunt Zheng's worldview is very simple. She feels that Lin Ting has been kind to her and her son, so they must repay him.

Lin Ting seems to lack nothing, so she does these small tasks.

Lin Ting was both amused and exasperated: "Auntie, you're in business too, how can you keep doing business for me for free? If you keep doing this, how can I bring you clothes in the future? Besides, these threads, buttons, and zippers also have costs, don't they?"

When it comes to business, it's always best to have prices clearly marked. If you rely on personal connections everywhere, even the strongest relationships can't withstand such strain.

Aunt Zheng thought for a while and said, "Then give me the cost price."

Lin Ting: "..."

"No, Auntie, time is also..."

"What's the value of time? I have plenty of time right now."

"..."

After a heated debate, Lin couldn't persuade Aunt Zheng to accept the money. Aunt Zheng explained that she had done the job herself, essentially paying out of her own pocket, and accepting the money would be blatant robbery.

Lin Ting was impressed by her logic and had to explain again and again: this time it's okay, but from now on the price must be clearly stated.

Aunt Zheng gave a vague and perfunctory answer, clearly indicating that she planned to do the same thing next time.

Lin Ting and Zheng Miaoying discussed and made a list, specifying the prices of all the services Aunt Zheng could provide.

"Yingzi, make another copy, write down the address, and post it on the school bulletin board tomorrow." Lin heard this and packed her things to leave.

“Okay,” Zheng Miaoying put down her pen and stood up with her, “I’ll take you back.”

"I brought you here, and you bring me back, and then I bring you back... What is this? A round trip marathon?"

Lin Ting waved and left.

She strolled back to the girls' dormitory and ran into an older man downstairs.

"Miss, wait a minute." The uncle called out to Lin Ting, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Could you help me get some books from dormitory 234? My daughter's name is Su Yu, and she's also in your class. She said she left her homework at school."

Lin Ting: "...?"

It seems you lack even the most basic understanding of your daughter.

She definitely didn't leave her homework at school.

It hasn't even been written yet.