Volume One, Chapter Six: How Could My Eldest Brother Possibly Be Short of Money?

Tian Xiaoxia accompanied Shen Ruzhi halfway, holding her hand tightly, words on the tip of her tongue, “Zhizhi, I…”

“Xia, I know you’re upset, but for my sake, bear with it a little longer. In three days, you must follow the plan I gave you.”

“Alright, don’t worry!”

When Shen Ruzhi returned home, her family had already eaten. Now that they were certain she would be sent to the countryside, they didn’t even bother putting on a show of concern anymore.

Shen Ruzhi knew none of them were asleep. She walked into the kitchen, picked up a bowl, and smashed it to the floor. The sharp crackle of shattering porcelain echoed through the house, bringing Wang Cuilian and the others swiftly downstairs.

“What are you doing? What are you doing, Shen Ruzhi—it’s you! What on earth are you doing?”

Shen Zhongguo pushed his glasses up his nose. “It’s the middle of the night, what’s all this noise?”

Wang Cuilian stepped forward for a closer look. “Oh heavens, you wretched girl, my bowls—these were all bought from abroad! You little spendthrift, what do you think you’re doing?”

Shen Ruzhi glanced down, replying with righteous confidence, “Dad, Mom, I was hungry. You didn’t leave me any dinner, so I had to cook some noodles myself and accidentally broke some bowls.”

“You!” Wang Cuilian was left speechless, glaring at Shen Ruzhi with malice.

Shen Jinlin came downstairs just then, saw the shattered porcelain, and reproached her, “Look what you’ve done! Do you have any idea how much those dishes cost? And what are you doing in the kitchen at this hour?”

Shen Ruzhi turned to him and retorted, “Big brother, what else would I be doing in the kitchen? Obviously looking for something to eat. I’m hungry.”

Shen Jinlin’s tone faltered, and he coughed twice. “If you’re hungry, just tell Mom.”

Shen Ruzhi replied, “Big brother, I just didn’t want to trouble Mom. I wanted to be considerate.”

How had Shen Jinlin never realized this girl had such a sharp tongue? He waved his hand impatiently. “Alright, alright. If you’re hungry, just eat something simple, stop making a fuss. I need to get some sleep.”

He yawned as he spoke.

Shen Ruzhi walked over and tugged his arm. “Big brother, I want to go eat at a restaurant. I heard Maxim’s Western Restaurant is open late. They have steak. I’ve never had steak before, big brother, will you take me?”

Shen Jinlin froze, completely unprepared for her to ask him to take her out.

He was about to refuse when Shen Ruzhi cut him off, “Big brother, you know I’m about to go to the countryside in my cousin’s place, right? You care about me the most, so you’ll definitely take me, won’t you?”

Shen Jinlin had no choice but to agree. He took Shen Ruzhi to the restaurant, where she took the menu and ordered the most expensive steak—thirty yuan.

At his workplace, Shen Jinlin earned sixty-eight yuan a month. Normally, he only splurged on a thirty-yuan steak when he was courting a girlfriend.

This Western restaurant was outrageously expensive, and with the new policies being strictly enforced in recent years, some of their money couldn’t even be spent openly.

Shen Ruzhi cleared her throat and said loudly, “Big brother, why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you’re reluctant to treat me to a thirty-yuan steak?”

The diners around them all turned to look, and Shen Jinlin’s face burned with embarrassment. “Of course I’ll treat you. Order whatever else you want.”

Shen Ruzhi smiled radiantly. “Alright, then I won’t be shy. Besides the steak, I’ll have the Primavera Pasta, Braised Beef in a Jar, and the Orange Butter Crêpes.”

“Alright.”

With the ten percent service charge, the waiter’s face nearly blossomed with joy, while Shen Jinlin’s expression turned ashen and he fell silent.

Shen Ruzhi looked up and asked, “Big brother, you’ve never taken me out to eat before. Am I ordering too much this time?”

Hearing this, what could Shen Jinlin say? He was prideful to a fault. He forced a stiff smile. “Zhizhi, it’s not too much. You’re my sister—anything you want, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Big brother, you’re so good to me.”

“Heh.” Shen Jinlin gave a dry laugh, but watching her eat heartily, he found he couldn’t muster a real smile.

She ordered a grand meal and even instructed the waiter to bring her brother the same dishes.

Shen Jinlin had originally planned to order just a salad and fill up on noodles at home.

“Big brother, eat up. Each dish is just a few bites, but the taste is alright. Try it.”

In truth, after her first bite, Shen Ruzhi found the food mediocre—at best, it had a unique texture. The flavors didn’t compare to the state-run restaurants where the dishes were truly fragrant. Here, everything was exorbitantly priced. If she were paying, she’d never come, but tonight someone else was footing the bill.

Shen Jinlin usually loved bringing girls here on dates, spending twenty or thirty yuan a time, which was equivalent to half a month’s wages for most people.

Now, faced with a table full of dishes, he felt only pain, each bite tasteless as wax.

When it was time to pay and he heard the total—one hundred fifty-eight yuan—Shen Jinlin nearly fainted on the spot.

The waiter, seeing his reaction, assumed he’d brought a pretty girl to show off but now balked at the price. He had a dark complexion, obviously an ordinary man, while the girl beside him was fair and delicate—a daughter of wealth. The waiter had seen plenty of young men like him, hoping to land a rich girl by treating her to a lavish meal.

“So, are you paying or not? There are other customers waiting. If you can’t afford it, why come here?”

Before Shen Jinlin could respond, Shen Ruzhi said proudly, “Who are you calling poor? My big brother works at the Agricultural Science Research Institute across the street. His monthly bonuses alone are over a hundred yuan. How could he not afford a mere one hundred fifty-eight yuan? Isn’t that right, big brother?”

Upon hearing that this swarthy man worked at the Agricultural Science Research Institute, the crowd looked on with envy.

Shen Jinlin was filled with pride from the attention. He put on a cool air, pulled out his money, and said, “Settle the bill.”

“This man’s really got money—didn’t even blink at one hundred fifty-eight. With a monthly salary over a hundred, he must be a department head. I wonder if he’s married?”

“He must be. His salary is twice mine—definitely a senior official.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Listening to their praise, Shen Jinlin was bursting with pride. He handed over four fifty-yuan notes and still needed to add forty-two.

Shen Ruzhi seized the opportunity. “Big brother, I’d like to buy a radio later. Can you give me some money?”

At a time like this, for the sake of his reputation, Shen Jinlin absolutely couldn’t refuse. With so many people watching, if he didn’t give her the money, wouldn’t he look stingy?

“Is eight yuan enough? I have eight more here—take it all. Here’s fifty—if it’s not enough, let me know when we get home.”

“Thank you, big brother. You really are the best.”