My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

His cousin's wife was an absolute stunner; her figure was absolutely amazing. He couldn't help but want to look at her a few more times.

I was distracted while eating this meal.

Half an hour later, the food was served. A plate of braised pig's head, a plate of braised chicken feet, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup—simple yet fragrant.

Qiu Tong picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of pig's head meat, put it in her mouth, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm, not bad." She looked at Su Ming with admiration in her eyes. "Your cooking skills are excellent; you'll definitely be popular with women in the future."

Su Ming blushed, remained silent, and lowered his head to eat his rice.

The two ate their meal in silence. As Su Ming ate, he pondered how to ask to borrow money.

Qiu Tong seemed to see right through him. She put down her chopsticks, looked at him, and asked, "Is there something you want to ask me?"

Su Ming looked up and met her gaze. Those eyes seemed to see right through him, leaving him nowhere to hide.

He gritted his teeth and decided not to hesitate any longer.

"Sister-in-law..." he said, "I want to borrow ten thousand yuan from you."

Qiu Tong paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Lend me money?" She raised an eyebrow. "Lending money is no problem. But you have to tell me what you're going to do with it."

Su Ming hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth: "I want to open an arcade. I'm partnering with a friend, and we've already found a storefront, we just need 10,000 yuan."

Qiu Tong's smile slowly disappeared.

She stared at Su Ming for a few seconds, then put down her chopsticks and her expression turned serious.

"Arcade?" Her voice turned cold. "You mean, one of those arcades with slot machines?"

"Hmm!" Su Ming nodded.

Qiu Tong's face darkened further. She hardened her expression and said, enunciating each word clearly, "I disagree."

Su Ming was stunned.

Qiu Tong continued, "Do you know what that is? That's gambling! If you get caught, you'll be detained! Do you think those arcade owners can really make money peacefully? The day the police investigate and catch them red-handed, you'll be waiting to go to jail!"

Su Ming opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but didn't know what to say.

Qiu Tong stood up, walked up to him, looked down at him, and spoke with a tone of heartache and helplessness.

"Su Ming, it's not that your aunt doesn't want to lend you the money." Her voice softened, carrying a hint of earnestness. "Your aunt genuinely doesn't want you to do anything illegal. You're still young, you have plenty of opportunities. Take it slow, don't go astray."

Su Ming lowered his head and remained silent.

He knew his cousin-in-law meant well. But that 285,000 yuan hole was suffocating him. Take it slow? He didn't have time to take it slow.

Qiu Tong sighed as she looked at him, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay, stop thinking about it," she said softly. "Your cousin won't just watch you work like this forever. If there's a chance, I'll help you find another way. But this arcade is absolutely out of the question."

Su Ming looked up at her and nodded: "I understand, sister-in-law."

"That's more like it!" Qiu Tong smiled, turned around and sat back down at the table, picking up her chopsticks to continue eating.

Su Ming also picked up his chopsticks, but the food tasted bland.

After dinner, Su Ming cleared the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them. Qiu Tong sat on the sofa, looking at something on her phone.

While washing the dishes, Su Ming was making plans in his mind.

My cousin's wife is out of options. Who can I borrow from?

Lin Shumei? No way. Asking for money right after we've just gotten to know each other would be too beneath me. Besides, that woman is cunning. What if she thinks I'm after her money? How will we get along then? I wouldn't get a single penny, and she might even make things difficult for me!

Bao Yazhong? He's already paid the deposit, and he has to pay the rest himself; he can't possibly lend me any more. Even if he were willing to lend it, it would be difficult to split the money equally later.

Tian Jing? Her father is sick, and she's already borrowed money herself. Where would she get the money to lend to me?

Who else can we turn to?

He suddenly remembered someone.

Yang Tian.

Yes, Yang Tian.

Her brother cheated her out of 285,000 yuan, so lending her 10,000 yuan isn't unreasonable, is it?

The idea, once it popped into his head, grew like wildfire. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made—that bastard Yang Jing had cheated him out of so much, it was only right that he lend his sister ten thousand yuan to tide him over!

Just then, my phone rang.

He wiped his hands, took out his phone, and saw that it was Yang Tian calling. It was like his wish had come true; this was a godsend!

Su Ming quickly answered the phone.

"Hey, Su Ming!" Yang Tian's clear voice came from the other end of the phone, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Su Ming glanced outside into the kitchen; his cousin-in-law was sitting on the sofa. He lowered his voice and said, "I've eaten."

Yang Tian's tone carried a hint of disappointment: "Oh... never mind then. I was planning to treat you to dinner."

Su Ming hesitated for a moment, then said, "However, I can go eat something else with you."

Yang Tian's tone instantly brightened: "Really? That's great! I'll come pick you up now!"

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ming dried his hands and walked out of the kitchen.

Qiu Tong looked up at him: "Are you going out?"

Su Ming nodded: "Yes, Yang Tian asked me to have dinner with her."

Qiu Tong paused for a moment, then smiled. There was a complex emotion in that smile, but it seemed perfectly normal on the surface.

She stood up, walked to the balcony, and looked down. Then she turned back to the living room and patted Su Ming on the shoulder.

"You've got good taste, kid," she said with a smile. "This girl is worth loving. Cherish her and try to win her over as soon as possible."

Su Ming looked at her, remained silent for a few seconds, and then nodded.

Qiu Tong thought he was still angry about the loan, so she patted him on the back and said earnestly, "It's not that your sister-in-law doesn't want to lend you the money, it's that she genuinely doesn't want you to do something illegal. Do you understand?"

Su Ming nodded: "I understand, I know, cousin-in-law."

Qiu Tong smiled, a smile that contained both relief and heartache.

"Take your time!" she said. "Your sister-in-law won't watch you work forever."

"Okay! I'll be going now." Su Ming felt a warmth in his heart, nodded, and turned to leave.

Downstairs, Yang Tian was already waiting by the roadside on her motorcycle. Seeing him come down, she smiled brightly and patted the back seat.

"Get on the bus!"

Su Ming climbed onto the back seat, and Yang Tian glanced back at him before suddenly saying, "You ride."

She jumped off the bike and handed the handlebars to Su Ming.

Su Ming paused for a moment, took the handlebars, and climbed onto the front seat. Yang Tian sat behind him, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, pressed her face against his back, and hugged him so tightly that it was as if she was afraid he would fly away.

Su Ming felt the soft body behind him and smelled the faint fragrance in her hair, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

He twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle sped into the night.

The two went to that Sichuan-style restaurant again. They got the same window seat and the same few dishes—boiled fish, spicy blood curd, and sliced ​​beef and tripe in chili sauce.

Yang Tian poured him a beer and then got one for herself. They clinked glasses and took a sip.

The lights were soft, the aroma of food filled the air, and everything felt as warm and romantic as ever.

But Su Ming had something on his mind.

He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

"Yang Tian...I..." he said, "I want to borrow some money from you."