Chapter 122: Asking for the Moon
Grandma Li smiled and shook her head, taking a few steps to close the courtyard door, blocking the prying eyes of the neighbors outside.
“Auntie Li, your brother and sister-in-law were wrong about many things, but they were right about one thing—if you’ve worked, you should get paid,” Xu Youyou said.
Grandma Li was about to refuse again. In her view, being able to take care of the little ones was already rewarding enough.
Auntie Liu also chimed in to persuade her, “If not for others, at least think of yourself. You should save up some money for your future.”
Grandma Li shook her head. “Once a person is gone, nothing matters anymore. I can’t even control what happens while I’m alive, let alone after death. Let it be.”
Her carefree attitude earned Xu Youyou’s admiration, but the more she refused, the more determined Xu Youyou was to insist.
“Auntie Li, I’m not some ruthless capitalist who exploits workers. If I don’t pay you, wouldn’t that make me a heartless boss? Besides, once you get paid, you can spend the money however you like. I won’t stop you. Maybe you could even help more stray cats and dogs. Wouldn’t that be great?”
Hearing this, Grandma Li’s expression softened. Thinking of the adorable little creatures she cared for, her resistance wavered.
Xu Youyou had already prepared a labor contract and, not wanting to drag things out, urged Grandma Li to sign it on the spot.
“Auntie Li, I’ve hired a moving company. They’ll be here in about two hours to help with your move. If you have anything to pack, everyone is here to help,” Xu Youyou offered.
Grandma Li quickly waved her hands. “Miss Xu, I really don’t know how to thank you. You’ve thought of everything! But as for packing, I can do it myself. You should sit and rest.”
Though her house was full of stuff, most of it was junk she didn’t plan to take. She made a phone call, and within ten minutes, a young man arrived on an electric tricycle, efficiently packing up and hauling away the recyclables.
Xu Youyou glanced at the pile—after all that, it was only worth about a hundred yuan.
With the moving truck yet to arrive and nothing left for her to help with, Xu Youyou sat leisurely in Grandma Li’s courtyard. A big, chubby orange cat suddenly jumped into her lap.
Xu Youyou looked around. Guai Guai was off running around the alley with Auntie Liu, and with no jealous dog in sight, she finally reached out to scratch the fluffy chin of the fat orange cat. Its fur was sleek and well-kept, soft to the touch.
“Miss Xu, Fu Yatou really likes you,” Grandma Li said with a smile.
“Fu Yatou? That name suits her—chubby and adorable. She’s a pretty girl,” Xu Youyou said playfully.
Grandma Li nodded. “Fu Yatou always brings people good luck when she jumps into their arms. Last night, she wouldn’t leave my lap, and today, I landed a good job with food and shelter provided!”
Xu Youyou raised an eyebrow, just about to ask if that was really true.
Suddenly, a system prompt appeared in front of her.
[Treasure-hunting mission activated. Host, please proceed to the target location immediately.]
Xu Youyou rubbed Fu Yatou’s head vigorously. “So you really are a little lucky charm!”
Fu Yatou gave her a disgruntled look, jumped down, and trotted off to nap elsewhere.
Xu Youyou casually told Grandma Li she was stepping out and then walked toward the alley. The bodyguards, who had been helping with cleaning, immediately put down their tools and followed her.
“Just two of you come with me. The rest stay and help,” she instructed.
Xu Youyou assumed she would need to drive, but she hadn’t even left the alley when the system’s guidance led her to the destination.
In the middle of the alley, a house stood with its door wide open. Inside, an intense argument was taking place.
“Money! I want money! Old man, I know you’re hiding some. Where is it?” a young man’s voice demanded.
A frail, elderly voice pleaded, “I really have no money left! You’ve drained my savings dry! I’m begging you, please stop. Turn back while you still can.”
Xu Youyou recognized the old man’s voice—it was the same man who had lied in court against Grandma Li. But now, his tone was desperate, a stark contrast to his previous arrogance.
Neighbors gathered outside, whispering among themselves.
“Old Liu is really pitiful. Late in life, he got himself a son—a debt collector in disguise! Didn’t he just get out of that place? And now he’s back at it?”
“I heard once you get hooked on that stuff, you can never quit. It’s better for Old Liu to keep his money for himself instead of handing it over.”
“But Old Liu isn’t a good man himself. Just this morning, he lied in court against Sister Li because of some petty grudge over trash. Now he’s suffering his own karma.”
Xu Youyou listened carefully as loud crashing noises continued from inside.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang.
“You old liar! Still saying you have no money? Then what’s this? A whole bag of silver dollars—hoarding it for yourself, huh?”
“You can’t take that! That’s the last of our family’s savings. I’m begging you!” the old man wailed.
His son responded with a brutal kick. “Shut up, old man!”
Moments later, the young man stormed out of the house, carrying a small cloth bag the size of a palm.
Xu Youyou’s eyes sharpened as she took a quick glance.
The young man’s face was sunken, his eyes hollow, his frame emaciated to the point of looking skeletal.
Although the Ye sisters were also thin, they still had the aura of the living. This man, however, had none—he looked more like a walking corpse.
Seeing the crowd outside, Liu Xiaobao glared viciously. “Move aside.”
The crowd immediately parted, wanting nothing to do with him.
Liu Xiaobao didn’t care about their reactions and was about to leave when a clear, confident female voice rang out.
“The silver dollars in your hand—are you selling them?”
Liu Xiaobao turned back and scanned Xu Youyou from head to toe. “Yeah.”
“What kind of silver dollars? Let me see first,” Xu Youyou said.
Liu Xiaobao opened the cloth bag, revealing several Yuan Shikai silver dollars.
“Seven in total. You want them all?” he asked.
Xu Youyou quickly glanced at them but couldn’t immediately spot anything special.
Liu Xiaobao, however, grinned greedily and named his price. “Five thousand yuan per coin.”
The crowd gasped.
“That’s way too expensive! Aren’t they only worth about a thousand each?” someone whispered.
Liu Xiaobao shot the person a death glare, instantly silencing them.
Xu Youyou, however, merely smiled.
“Alright, I’ll take them all.”
