Inside were twenty yuan.
A member of the village supply and marketing co-op earned a monthly salary of twenty-five yuan, but that was just the amount in a single red envelope from Mr. Quincy.
It spoke volumes about their family's circumstances.
'Just what was wrong with Ian Quincy that they were forced to choose a daughter-in-law so far beneath their station?'
'Sigh.'
'Better not to think about it.'
'Might as well enjoy the good life one day at a time.'
Upon returning home on foot, Lucas Lee glanced behind her. "Ian didn't come back with you? And what about what I told you to ask him yesterday? Did you do it?"
Cecilia Adler grew impatient the moment Lucas Lee opened his mouth. Holding back her temper, she replied, "I did. He said he was assigned to a geological survey team, but he doesn't plan on going. He's going to hit the books and try to get into college."
Lucas Lee was displeased. He put on the airs of an elder to lecture her. "Giving up a perfectly good job to test for college? What happens if he fails? The next time I see him, I'll have to give him a piece of my mind."
Cecilia said, "His own father hasn't said a word. What makes you think it's your place?"
Lucas Lee: "..."
Just then, Vivian Lee came out of her room. She looked at Cecilia, who appeared perfectly normal and unharmed, and couldn't understand it. 'How did she escape a beating from Ian Quincy? Is he just playing cat and mouse with her?'
'That must be it!'
'And another thing—the college exams.'
'In my past life, he had only started studying for the exams after bouncing between several jobs.'
'He gave it his all, but still ended up failing by two points.'
'And he blamed me for distracting him from his studies.'
'It was a classic case of someone who can't take a dump blaming gravity.'
Cecilia's gaze swept over and she shot Vivian Lee a death glare.
Seeing this, Lucas Lee scolded her, "Cecilia! What did Vivian do to you? Why are you glaring at her like that?"
"Why don't you ask her?" Cecilia said before turning and going straight into her room.
Vivian Lee bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes as if she were about to burst into tears. The sight made Lucas Lee's heart ache for her, but it also filled him with anger. He pounded on the door. "Cecilia Lee!"
"It's Adler."
Lucas Lee staggered back in anger. "Don't think I can't discipline you just because you're married to Ian now! Get out here and apologize to your sister!"
Cecilia opened the door, bag in hand, and shoved Lucas Lee aside. "You don't even ask what happened, so how do you know it's my fault? Oh, and by the way, there's something you should know. Your precious daughter has been making eyes at a guy called Second Brother Flynn over by her maternal grandmother's house." With that, she took off running.
Lucas Lee didn't know who Second Brother Flynn was, but he had heard May Sutton mention "Flynn the hooligan" many times.
A good-for-nothing, always up to some petty crime.
He instantly connected the two names. His gaze swung to Vivian Lee, seeking confirmation. "This Second Brother Flynn that Cecilia mentioned... is he Flynn the hooligan?"
Vivian Lee's face went pale.
'How did Cecilia know?'
She immediately denied it. "She's slandering me."
Lucas Lee was about to go interrogate Cecilia further.
But Cecilia was already gone.
He cursed, "That damned girl! Does she really think she can do whatever she wants just because she married into the Quillan family? Fine! If she's got the guts, then she shouldn't come crying to me for backup when she gets bullied!"
Vivian Lee had been waiting for just that. A faint smirk touched the corner of her lips.
She couldn't wait to see Cecilia get beaten, with nowhere to turn and no one to help her.
"..."
......
Cecilia ran to the black market, carrying the bag of paper-cuts. She found a spot near the center and set up her stall on the ground.
Her paper-cuts were intricate and festive.
She had barely laid them out when someone came over for a look.
"Is this the 'Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness' design? How much?"
It was Cecilia's first time setting up a stall, so she was afraid to ask for too much. "Yes, ma'am. Two fen for a pair."
"That expensive?"
Cecilia explained, "This one takes more time to make. The 'Magpie on a Plum Branch' design is cheaper, only one fen a pair. You could buy that one instead."
The customer picked one up to examine it, then took out her money and bought two pairs.