Chapter 6: Li Guojun Reports: My Father Is Hiding Private Money!

"Because he deserved it!"
A father has every right to discipline his son, doesn't he?
Now, Ma Yulian was acting like a mother hen protecting her chick, showing such tenderness toward her eldest—why help Chen Dazhu deceive her about her own job?
Seeing Ma Yulian, Li Guojun felt as if he had found his pillar of support. He immediately pointed at Li Junsheng and began to complain to Ma Yulian.
"Mom, where have you been? You don't even know, Dad is hiding money from you! Not only does he stash cash behind your back, but your granddaughter hasn't even paid her piano tuition yet, and Dad just handed over two hundred yuan—all of it—to the second son!"
He said nothing about Xiaowei's pneumonia or that the money was desperately needed to save a life.
Ma Yulian was stunned, instinctively thinking this couldn't possibly be true!
How dare he hide so much money behind her back?
Someone, unable to bear the situation, explained things to Ma Yulian, sparing her from only hearing Li Guojun's side of the story.
"Sister-in-law, your grandson Xiaowei has pneumonia and needs to be hospitalized urgently. That's why Brother Li gave money to the second couple."
"Yes, Xiaowei is burning up and unconscious. He is your grandson, after all. Two hundred yuan—let it go."
"Guohua and your second daughter-in-law both promised they'd pay it back!"
Ma Yulian was still puzzled—how could Li Junsheng possibly hide any spare money?
She had never expected him to use the money Chen Dazhu had given him!
Li Junsheng was certainly bold, lending so much to Guohua at once. How would she make up that two hundred for Chen Dazhu later?
From now on, Li Junsheng would no longer have his state factory job and wouldn't have such money!
Besides, how could Li Junsheng dare spend her and Chen Dazhu's money?
Ma Yulian's rage flared instantly.
She stepped forward, seized Li Junsheng by the collar, and demanded, "Li Junsheng, why didn't you discuss such a big matter with me? How could you make such a decision on your own? You think you can just decide everything yourself?"
"Go find your second son right now and get that money back. If you don't, don't even think about setting foot in this house today!"
There was no way Li Junsheng would reclaim the money; it was for his grandson's survival.
He snorted coldly in his heart, then pushed Ma Yulian aside with an indifferent face.
"I earned that money myself. Why shouldn't I have the final say?"
As soon as he spoke, Ma Yulian bared her teeth like an angry cat, fierce and menacing.
"What do you mean, your money? I've always managed the household. Get the money back and hand it to me for safekeeping. If not for me, we'd all be left in the cold."
Ma Yulian had been worrying about having no good excuse to retrieve the thousand yuan from Li Junsheng.

Now, this was the perfect opportunity.
Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua quickly chimed in, "That's right, Dad, you don't know how to manage money. You're not fit to hold onto it."
Li Junsheng glared at Li Guojun, his face still burning from the slap, and he dared not say another word.
He wasn't sure why, but Li Junsheng suddenly seemed harder to deal with.
Li Junsheng had expected Ma Yulian to turn hostile, so he deliberately leaned close and whispered, "If you want me to get the money back and hand it all to you, that's possible, but as for the factory, I'm not getting involved anymore."
He showed Ma Yulian his empty hands—there was no proof of transferring his job.
Ma Yulian paused, her eyes darting quickly.
From what Li Junsheng implied, the factory certificate for transferring his job hadn't been settled yet today?
That wouldn't do; the job transfer had to be handled personally by Li Junsheng.
Even as his wife, she couldn't issue that certificate for him.
At that moment, Li Guojun suddenly asked, "Dad, what are you whispering to Mom about? What do you mean, you won't get involved anymore? How much hidden money do you have, Dad?"
Li Guojun's gaze flickered between Li Junsheng and Ma Yulian, feeling his parents were keeping secrets from him.
When Li Guojun asked, Ma Yulian's expression changed slightly. She quickly cut off Li Junsheng, saying, "You're overthinking! How much money could he possibly hide?"
Li Junsheng saw her cover up for him and sneered inwardly.
Ma Yulian was afraid her eldest would discover she'd made the decision to have Li Junsheng transfer the mechanical factory job to Chen Zhiyuan.
Otherwise, with his temperament, he'd blow up at her.
Right now, Ma Yulian could only swallow her anger.
She couldn't keep arguing with Li Junsheng; nothing was settled yet, and her eldest son couldn't find out about this, or things would get messy.
At least, she had to wait until the job transfer certificate was in hand before she could act.
That two hundred yuan wasn't going anywhere.
"Fine, I won't fuss about the two hundred you gave the second son. I'm only looking out for this family. Just make sure you remind your second son to pay it back soon!"
Ma Yulian forced a smile, patting Li Junsheng's back as if to soothe him.
Li Junsheng sidestepped, giving her a sardonic smile.
He hadn't expected her to endure so much for the sake of Chen Dazhu and his son.
Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom Ma Yulian's sudden gentleness toward Li Junsheng.

What on earth was happening?
How could she let this go so easily?
Why had both their attitudes changed so drastically?
Li Guojun couldn't stand seeing so much money given to his younger brother, so he kept complaining to Ma Yulian.
"Mom, how can you just let this slide? Dad hid money behind your back—that's a matter of principle. And even if the second son’s boy needs hospital care, it can't cost two hundred yuan!"
Wang Xiuhua quickly agreed, "Exactly, Mother-in-law, Dad is clearly favoring the second son. You can't just ignore it!"
Ma Yulian understood perfectly what her daughter-in-law meant—she wanted another two hundred yuan from Li Junsheng.
The money Li Junsheng had given the second son already pained Ma Yulian; she certainly wouldn't help Li Guojun and his wife demand more from Li Junsheng.
She rarely, but very firmly, snapped impatiently at Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua, "Enough, you two, stop talking! Daniu doesn't have to learn piano. She's just a girl; it's enough she goes to school."
Ma Yulian thought her eldest son was simply wasting money.
A girl didn't need so much education, and besides, Daniu’s grades weren't even good.
Hearing his mother scold him, Li Guojun was shocked and dumbfounded.
He couldn't believe it; among all the children, his mother had always favored him. Whenever he asked for anything, she would give it to him.
Now, she was rebuking him!
"Mom, what's gotten into you today? You never used to be like this. If Daniu succeeds in life, won't she be a good granddaughter to you?"
Li Guojun was greatly aggrieved—not only had his father slapped him, but now even his mother was cold toward him.
He truly didn't understand what he’d done wrong!
Ma Yulian, feeling guilty, dared not meet Li Guojun’s eyes, but his words delighted her inwardly.
If her children and grandchildren succeeded, surely they would honor her.
But now was not the time to take his side; she must fulfill her promise to Old Chen first.
Ma Yulian believed she knew her eldest son well; once this was smoothed over and she gave him some money, he’d be happy again.
"What do you mean, what's wrong with me? Stop bothering me right now—I have important things to do!"