Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

"Yes, yes, he went there first thing this morning." Liu Fang nodded quickly. "He said he had to talk to Qian Cheng about this in person, and once they agreed, he would take him directly to the police station."

Sun Xinghua was skeptical and stood at the door without moving.

She glanced inside a few times; the living room was empty and quiet.

"When will he be back?"

Liu Fang shook her head: "I can't say for sure, it depends on how the talks go."

"Why don't you go back first, Sister Xinghua? I'll have Gao Fei tell you when I get news."

Sun Xinghua hesitated for a moment, thinking that perhaps he really had gone to take care of something.

She was about to turn around and leave when she suddenly heard a shout from inside the house.

"Dad! What are you doing here?!"

It was a child's voice, Qian Gaofei's youngest son.

Sun Xinghua suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Liu Fang's expression changed instantly.

There was a rustling sound and hushed voices coming from inside the house.

Sun Xinghua's mind raced, and she immediately realized that Qian Gaofei was at home! He hadn't gone out at all!

A fire suddenly ignited within her.

"Qian Gaofei!" She pushed aside Liu Fang, who was blocking the doorway, and rushed into the house.

Liu Fang tried to stop her, but there was no way to stop her.

Sun Xinghua rushed into the main room, looked around, but didn't see anyone.

She walked further in, pushed open the bedroom door, and immediately saw Qian Gaofei hiding behind the door, bent over, with a look of panic on his face.

Qian Gaofei didn't expect her to rush in; it was too late to hide.

"What are you hiding from?!" Sun Xinghua rushed up to him, her voice booming loud enough to lift the roof off the house. "Qian Gaofei! Explain yourself! Why are you hiding from me?!"

Qian Gaofei straightened up, forcing a smile, but it looked more like a grimace: "Xinghua, Xinghua, listen to me, I'm just... I was just about to go out..."

"Bullshit!" Sun Xinghua interrupted him. "Your wife said you left early this morning, and your youngest son gave it all away with just one sentence! You've been hiding from your old mother, haven't you failed in your mission?!"

Qian Gaofei opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

When Sun Xinghua saw his expression, her heart sank completely.

She grabbed Qian Gaofei by the collar, her eyes bulging like saucers: "Qian Gaofei! I gave you the money, I even beat him up, and you said you could get it done! And now? Where's Qian Cheng? Where's the letter of understanding?!"

Qian Gaofei was gripped so tightly he could hardly breathe, his face flushed red: "Xinghua, Xinghua, let go first, let's talk this out..."

"Shut up!" Sun Xinghua wouldn't let go. "You have to explain yourself clearly today! Did you manage to get Qian Cheng's matter settled or not?"

Liu Fang was pacing anxiously nearby, wanting to go up and pull him away but not daring to, and could only anxiously say: "Sister Xinghua, let's talk this out, don't hit me."

Sun Xinghua turned around and glared at her: "Shut up! This is none of your business!"

She turned back and stared at Qian Gaofei: "Speak!"

Qian Gaofei knew he couldn't hide it anymore, so he hung his head and said in a voice barely audible, "No, it didn't work out."

Sun Xinghua felt a buzzing in her head and blood rushing to her head.

"Didn't it work?" she repeated, her voice lower but even more frightening. "Qian Gaofei, say it again."

Qian Gaofei didn't dare to look at her, his head hanging even lower: "I didn't expect that Qian Cheng brat to be so stubborn. No matter what I say, he won't listen... I offered to give him money, but he refused. I offered to use my connections to help him, but he didn't believe me. I really have no other choice."

Sun Xinghua loosened his collar and took a step back.

She stood there, her chest heaving, her eyes fixed on Qian Gaofei, making him feel uneasy.

After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice icy cold: "Fine, it didn't work out, right? Then I'll refund your money."

Qian Gaofei paused for a moment, then looked up.

"Refund?" he repeated.

"Yes, refund the money." Sun Xinghua held out her hand. "Refund every penny of the money I gave you."

Also, as we agreed before, if it didn't work out, you'd give me five yuan back. Bring it all together.

Qian Gaofei's expression changed repeatedly.

A refund? What will he use to refund it?

He had already spent that money. He bought new clothes for his wife, himself, and their two children, paid their tuition, and spent most of the rest.

If you ask him to produce it all at once, how could he possibly produce it?

Liu Fang, who was listening nearby, also changed her expression.

She knew that the thirty yuan Sun Xinghua had given her had already been spent, and now that Sun Xinghua wanted to return it, where could she get it?

Seeing that he remained silent, Sun Xinghua's anger flared even more.

"Qian Gaofei, don't play dumb with me!" She took a step forward. "Where's my money? Where did it go?"

Qian Gaofei took a step back, his face covered in sweat.

"Xinghua, listen to me..." he stammered, "That money, that money... I... I can't come up with it right now..."

"Can't produce it?" Sun Xinghua's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Where's the money? Did you spend it all?"

Qian Gaofei didn't dare look at her and could only nod.

Sun Xinghua felt a surge of fire rush to the top of her head.

She looked around and saw a broom nearby. She grabbed it and swung it at Qian Gaofei.

"I'll teach you to not have it! I'll teach you to spend my money!"

Qian Gaofei yelled and ran away, covering his head. Sun Xinghua chased after him, slapping his back and shoulders repeatedly with a broom.

"Xinghua! Xinghua, calm down!" Qian Gaofei shouted as he ran.

"Calm down my ass! If you don't pay me today, I'm not done with you!"

Liu Fang was so anxious standing by that she stamped her feet, wanting to pull them apart but not daring to, and could only shout, "Stop hitting them! Stop hitting them! What if something serious happens!"

Sun Xinghua ignored her and chased Qian Gaofei all over the house.

The youngest son hid in the corner, crying loudly in fear.

Qian Gaofei ran a few laps, but he couldn't run anymore. He sat down on the ground, covered his head, and let Sun Xinghua hit him.

Sun Xinghua hit the broom a few times, then got tired and leaned on it, panting heavily.

"Qian Gaofei!" Sun Xinghua stood with her hands on her hips, panting heavily. "You have to give me an explanation today! Where's the money? Where did it go? How are you going to pay me back?"

Qian Gaofei held his head and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally raised his head, his face covered in sweat and grime, looking extremely disheveled.

"Give me some time, and I'll pay you back slowly."

"Pay it back slowly?" Sun Xinghua sneered. "How will you pay it back? You only earn so little money a month, barely enough to support your own family. How will you pay me back?"

Qian Gaofei opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Seeing his pathetic state, Sun Xinghua's anger subsided somewhat.

She had saved up those thirty yuan penny by penny, hoping to buy forgiveness and get her husband and her five brothers out of the family sooner, but now it was all for nothing.

She threw the broom on the ground and turned to walk out.

Reaching the door, she stopped and said without turning around, "Qian Gaofei, you remember this: you either pay me back this thirty yuan before New Year's Eve, or you go and persuade Qian Cheng to release my husband and brother before the New Year. Otherwise, your whole family won't have a good New Year. Just you wait and see!"

After saying that, she opened the door and went out.

The room was a complete mess.