The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 12 Private Money

"It's so serious." Sha Zhu touched his head: "I have to buy her more delicious food in the near future."

"Also, don't you notice that your sister's clothes are so old, and she doesn't even have a hairband? Little girls just like to look pretty, and you are not a good enough brother to be like her."

"I'm just a rough guy, how can I understand these things?"

"You don't understand. Ask Auntie One, Auntie Two, Auntie Three." Liu Hua sighed, "How much pocket money do you give your sister every month?"

"five yuan."

"This is not living expenses. I mean pocket money. A girl of this age likes snacks and beautiful things. Besides, she needs to buy a notebook, a pen, an eraser, etc. for school, so she needs money."

Sha Zhu waved his hands: "Why do you need to do all that fancy stuff?"

"You don't even cherish your own sister today, and you don't treat her well, so how can you cherish your wife?" Liu Hua shook his head: "It's hard to believe, it's not convincing at all."

"Oh, then I'll give her a raise in living expenses tomorrow?"

"Eight or ten yuan is enough. Don't tell me you can't afford an extra three or five yuan a month."

Sha Zhu shook his head: "That's impossible."

"Let's talk about the women you went on blind dates with. Why didn't they want to date? The matchmaker picked them based on your conditions, but your conditions were not good and theirs were so good. It's like asking you to pick a girl from the countryside who is ugly and uneducated, and who turns out to be a shrew in the end. Would you be willing?"

"Of course I don't want to."

Liu Hua patted Sha Zhu's shoulder and said, "If the conditions are not equal, the one with better conditions will naturally be unwilling. This is human nature."

"Then what do you think I should do?"

"First, lower your standards." Liu Hua said with a smile, "It's fine if you want someone pretty, but don't be the top one. Anyone with pretty features and good looks is fine. Even the sister Qin you've been thinking about is not a top beauty."

"Sister Qin is very beautiful." Sha Zhu said unconsciously: "No, who is thinking about her so much."

"No need to deny it, everyone in the compound knows about it, even your sister Qin knows it very well." Liu Hua said unhappily, "Otherwise why does she always borrow a few dollars from you? It's because she knows you have a crush on her, and she has a hold on you. She has never paid back the money she borrowed, right?"

"I didn't borrow much. It's only about 30 or 40 yuan in total."

"Nonsense, she has to be brave enough to borrow more." Liu Hua said contemptuously: "Her husband is still here. If she dares to borrow so much money from outside, her husband will beat him to death. The Jia family does not give him pocket money. The money he borrowed from you is his own private money."

"Oh, that's what I thought. I don't see her spending any money normally, and she always borrows money from me."

"If this woman doesn't have some private money, she must feel very insecure."

Liu Hua was very moved that women in those days had to hide their private money. But she didn't expect that thirty or forty years later, this custom would be reversed, with women in charge of the family's finances and men starting to hide their private money.

Sha Zhu nodded: "When I get married, I will give all the money to my wife to manage, so that she will feel very safe."

"It's no use making up your mind to me. You have to find a wife first." Liu Hua said happily: "Also, do you know why girls are always unwilling to marry you?"

"Didn't you just say that? My conditions are not as good as others."

Liu Hua nodded: "It's a good thing to remember, but there may be one or two blind people. Why don't people want to be nice to you?" "Why?"

"Look at how sloppy you are." Liu Hua shook his head: "Don't say you are a woman. I am a man and I feel disgusted when I see you."

Liu Hua pointed at the Jia family and said, "No matter how many problems Jia Dongxu has, he is well-dressed when he goes out and comes in. His clothes are neat and tidy, and his head and feet are clean. Look at your neck, there is a layer of grease, your hair is messy, and your clothes are dirty. Not to mention women, everyone, even dogs, will despise you because you smell too bad."

"Is it as serious as you say?"

Liu Hua laughed angrily: "If it doesn't work, wait for your sister to come back. No, your sister is at home today. Go back and ask your sister now, from a woman's perspective, is your image pleasing?"

Sha Zhu said unconvincedly: "Ask if you want, I just don't believe it. I'm not likable then. My skills and character are beyond reproach."

Liu Hua smiled and said, "I'll go with you."

"Why are you coming with me?"

"I'll listen to what your sister says about you, and then I can have a good laugh at you."

Sha Zhu pushed open his sister's door. He Yushui was at home on vacation and was reading a novel with great interest. He was disturbed by the sound of the door being pushed open and looked over with a frown.

"Brother, what are you doing? Why are you in such a hurry? Just push the door and come in?"

Liu Hua nodded: "Your brother is so rude. You should at least knock on the door of this girl's room and ask. What if your sister is changing clothes in there?"

Sha Zhu scratched his head: "I forgot."

"You didn't forget, you just never have this habit." He Yushui said unceremoniously: "When you go to someone's house, you just push the door and walk in like you're walking through a city gate. You have no manners at all."

Sha Zhu said perfunctorily: "I will remember it next time. Yu Shui, let me ask you a question."

He Yushui asked somewhat disappointedly: "What's the problem?"

"What do you think of me, your brother?" Sha Zhu used his hands to show his whole body from top to bottom: "Do you think I am annoying or likable?"

"Why did you suddenly think of asking this question?"

Liu Hua explained: "Yushui, just answer honestly. This is about your brother's lifelong event. How do girls feel when they see him in this state?"

He Yushui had a look of disdain on her face: "You are so sloppy, how can girls feel when they see you? They will just disdain you."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Sha Zhu said unhappily, "I've been on so many blind dates, but the girls didn't want to date me, and it's all because you didn't want to tell me the reason."

"Come on, brother, you were so demanding before. The girl is so good, even if you dress neatly, she won't agree to it." He Yushui waved his hand: "I'll just do it and save myself the trouble."

Sha Zhu said angrily: "It's your fault too. You didn't even help me wash my clothes, so how could I wash them?"

"You don't take care of yourself. Can you find a second set of clothes for the winter?" He Yushui said dissatisfiedly: "Also, don't you know how to wash your own clothes? Doesn't Brother Huazi wash his own clothes?"

(End of this chapter)