Chapter 16: One Hundred Yuan, Buy It or Not

Jiang Siyuan had originally intended to watch a good show, thinking that Lu Chen would get angry and then verbally abuse or mistreat Jiang Hanyan, just as Diao Dekai had done to her in her past life.

However, Lu Chen's expressionless indifference made Jiang Siyuan's heart grow a bit cold. Why wasn't this man reacting at all?

*Clang!*

With an easy one-handed press from Lu Chen, a perfect coal briquette was squeezed out onto the ground. He didn't even spare a glance at Jiang Siyuan, treating her as if she were thin air.

Jiang Siyuan's nails dug into her palms, yet her smile grew even more gentle as she spoke in soft, delicate tones, "Hanyan, I'm relieved to see you and Lu Chen living well. I'll mention it to Tang Xuehai later so he can go to school with peace of mind as well."

Jiang Hanyan gave her a half-smile, mocking her, "What do you mean by bringing up Tang Xuehai and Diao Dekai time and time again? Who told me to be so beautiful? The number of men who like me is countless. How can roses stop the butterflies and bees that swarm toward them? Unlike foxtail grass—no matter how thick-skinned it is when it lunges forward, no bees are willing to pollinate it!"

*Thud.*

As Lu Chen was pressing the mold, his hand slipped, and the squeezed coal briquette became misshapen. He shot a deep look at Jiang Hanyan, shoveled the deformed briquette back into the coal pile, and started over.

Jiang Siyuan was so angry her teeth nearly shattered. *Bitch!*

To actually mock her as foxtail grass—just you wait!

One day, she would make this bitch wish she were dead!

"Hanyan, you really know how to joke. I was just worried that my brother-in-law might have other thoughts, so I went out of my way to remind you. Since you don't want to hear it, I won't mention it again." Jiang Siyuan forced a smile.

"What 'other thoughts' could he have? A man only has face if his wife is beautiful. Lu Chen, am I right?"

Jiang Hanyan looked toward Lu Chen, her voice loud enough that he couldn't ignore her. He had no choice but to lift his head and reply with a single, cool word: "Right!"

He still had to eat the food this woman cooked tonight.

Jiang Hanyan was very satisfied. She gave a triumphant huff toward the grim-faced Jiang Siyuan, intentionally provoking her: "You heard that, right? But it's normal that you don't understand. After all, you've never been beautiful; your level of refinement hasn't reached my tier!"

*Clink.*

Lu Chen's hand slipped again, and the squeezed coal briquette was even uglier. He glanced at the gloating Jiang Hanyan and decisively shoveled the ugly briquette away.

He had never seen a woman more thick-skinned than her.

Jiang Siyuan was so angry she nearly vomited blood. If it weren't for the fact that she hadn't gotten her hands on the bracelet yet, she would have left immediately.

"Hanyan, you were always prettier than me."

Jiang Siyuan found herself a way out of the tension. She even found a stool to sit on, let out a soft sigh, and said, "I went to a fortune teller yesterday, and the master said I would attract petty people this year. Sigh, I was scared to death."

Jiang Hanyan munched on melon seeds with a rhythmic *crack-crack*, not responding.

Jiang Siyuan gritted her teeth and pushed through the act. "The fortune teller gave me an idea, saying that peach pits can ward off evil, and the older the better. I can't find suitable peach pits for the time being. Hanyan, could you let me have that string of yours? You've never liked it anyway. Can I buy it from you?"

"You want to buy this?"

Jiang Hanyan lifted her hand, and the bracelet slid down her slender, white wrist. Jiang Siyuan nervously clenched her hands and nodded, "Yes, I'll pay for it."

"How much are you offering?"

Jiang Hanyan casually munched on melon seeds, spitting a pile of shells onto the ground.

"Ten yuan."

Jiang Siyuan pulled ten yuan out of her bag. Thinking Jiang Hanyan had agreed to sell, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest in excitement.

"Ten yuan? Are you treating me like a beggar? This is a Jiang family heirloom. Go, go, go!" Jiang Hanyan impatiently shooed her away.

"You're the one who said this thing wasn't worth anything. Peach pit bracelets outside only cost one yuan a string."

Jiang Siyuan suppressed her fury. The old Jiang Hanyan used to say the bracelet was worthless, but now she was opening her mouth wide like a lion! How hateful!

"Then go buy a one-yuan one outside!"

Jiang Hanyan rolled her eyes and let out a scoff.

"How much do you want for it?" Jiang Siyuan asked, enduring her anger.

Jiang Hanyan tilted her head, looking at her suspiciously. "Why are you so insistent on this bracelet? Is someone offering a huge price to buy it?"

"Of course not. I'm just a bit unsettled because of what the fortune teller said. I'll feel more at ease wearing a string. It's just a peach pit bracelet; what could it possibly be worth!"

Jiang Siyuan was startled. She shifted her gaze elsewhere, not daring to meet Jiang Hanyan's eyes, fearing this idiot would notice something was wrong.

"That's not necessarily true. Grandma said this is a Jiang family heirloom; maybe it really is a great treasure. On TV, people bought old antiques for one yuan and sold them for tens of thousands. Just leave, I'm not selling it." Jiang Hanyan deliberately teased her, playing with the woman's expectations.

Jiang Siyuan's emotions were being jerked up and down by her words. Her patience was nearly exhausted, but she didn't dare lose her temper. She could only offer a conciliatory smile and sweet words: "Think about it—if it were really a great treasure, why would Grandma give it to you? She would have given it to Jiang Tianbao or Jiang Dabao long ago."

Jiang Dabao was the biological older brother of Jiang Tianbao and Jiang Siyuan. He was 23 years old. Unlike the selfish and tyrannical Jiang Tianbao, Jiang Dabao was honest, kind, and extremely simple-minded. He was tongue-tied and wasn't well-liked at home; his studies weren't good either, so he went to Shanghai to work after graduating high school.

Jiang Hanyan tilted her head and thought for a moment, muttering to herself, "True, good things wouldn't fall to me."

"Exactly. How about I add another ten yuan?"

Jiang Siyuan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Jiang Hanyan was willing to sell, it was fine.

"One hundred yuan. Cash on delivery."

Jiang Hanyan held up one finger. Jiang Siyuan definitely had a hundred yuan on her. This woman had a sweet tongue and knew how to coax people; she often coaxed Jiang Dabao into sending her money, so her pocket money was never lacking. The original owner of this body had also frequently been coaxed by her into giving her money several times.

Jiang Siyuan's expression changed, and she said unhappily, "For a hundred yuan, I could buy gold with a little extra. Hanyan, isn't it a bit much to fleece your own sister?"

"Then go buy a gold bracelet. I didn't ask you to buy it!"

Jiang Hanyan rolled her eyes grandly, crossed her legs, and munched on a melon seed, spitting the shell onto the floor. The bracelet on her wrist shook up and down with the movement, gripping Jiang Siyuan's heart.

Jiang Siyuan gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and agreed, "Fine, one hundred yuan!"

Jiang Siyuan pulled a hundred-yuan bill from her bag, feeling very reluctant. This hundred yuan was what Jiang Dabao had bought her review materials with before he went to work in Shanghai; now, she had to use it for the bracelet.

*Once I have the Spiritual Qi Space, I will have countless hundreds of yuan.* As Jiang Siyuan thought this, her reluctance vanished, but her hatred for Jiang Hanyan grew even deeper.

Jiang Hanyan snatched the banknote, slid the bracelet off her wrist, and tossed it to her. "Here."

As the bracelet landed in her hand, the sensation of its reality sent a surge of wild joy through Jiang Siyuan's heart. She wished she could drop blood to bind it to the space right this instant. Having achieved her goal, she was in no mood for pleasantries with Jiang Hanyan and hurriedly took her leave.

"I'm relieved you're okay. Hanyan, when you have time, you should go home and visit your eldest aunt. She's quite worried about you."

"I'm not keeping dinner for you. Get out and close the door behind you."

Jiang Hanyan didn't even look up, busy with her melon seeds, as she stuffed the hundred-yuan bill into her jeans pocket.

"I'm leaving, bye-bye!"

Jiang Siyuan wasn't angry; she was in a very good mood. However, after putting on the bracelet, she noticed something was off. The bracelet seemed much cleaner; she remembered the old one being a bit dirty.

(End of Chapter)