The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 18: I'm Going to Make That Wretched Creature Pay Today!

Chapter 18: I’m Going to Make That Wretched Creature Pay Today!

But upon second thought, weren’t they now legitimate husband and wife?

And judging by the situation, this marital relationship would likely last for at least several years.

In front of others, they had to put on a convincing act, including using appropriate forms of address.

She cleared her throat, nodded with exaggerated seriousness, and mimicking his tone, responded earnestly: “Don’t worry, I’ll try to be more considerate of you too from now on, Comrade Battalion Commander Long.”

Long Peiye was amused by how quickly she had accepted this form of address and even seriously returned the gesture. The smile in his eyes deepened, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly despite himself.

He chuckled softly and shook his head.

This Xu Xiangsi was far more interesting and perceptive than he had anticipated.

Actually, after meeting Xu Xiangsi, he had privately inquired about her specific circumstances.

He knew that due to her privileged family background, she had been spoiled since childhood, which inevitably made her somewhat willful and even a bit capricious.

He had mentally prepared himself for a long period of adjustment with a difficult, pampered young lady.

Unexpectedly, the real Xu Xiangsi was much easier to get along with than the rumors suggested.

Though because of her upbringing, she indeed lacked political sensitivity in certain areas and sometimes spoke without filter.

But she wasn’t stubborn—in fact, she was willing to learn and change.

This alone had already surprised Long Peiye.

True to her word, Xu Xiangsi turned and went back to her room.

Moments later, she emerged holding a crisp one-yuan bill and directly handed it to Long Peiye.

“Here, your promised reward,” she said, tilting her chin up with a hint of smug pride in her eyes.

Long Peiye looked at the new banknote, then at her expression that seemed to say “I’ve got money, this is your tip,” and found himself both amused and exasperated.

He reached out and took the money without declining.

Then, he turned and retrieved a faded tin cookie box from an inconspicuous low cabinet in the corner of the living room.

With a click, he opened the box to reveal another one-yuan bill lying inside alone, its corners slightly crumpled.

It was the same bill she had “tipped” him on the boat last time.

He carefully smoothed out the new bill and neatly placed it beside the other one before closing the lid and returning the tin box to its place.

His movements were so meticulous, one would think he was handling rare treasures rather than two yuan.

Meanwhile, far away in Shanghai, at the Xu residence.

Xu Jingjing affectionately linked arms with Lin Jiaoyan, while Xu Rongchang followed behind them with a beaming smile, hands clasped behind his back.

The three of them had finally returned home, weary from their long journey from the countryside.

This time, they had already made plans to immediately leave for Hong Kong and not return.

“Ah, we’re finally back! The countryside was nice, but there’s no place like home…” Xu Jingjing said cheerfully as she took out her keys to unlock the door.

Lin Jiaoyan rolled her eyes: “Exactly. I wonder if Xu Xiangsi was scared staying home alone these days, or if she struggled to adjust…”

Xu Rongchang snorted coldly: “With us gone, she’s probably turned the house upside down! Spoiled as she is, she doesn’t know how to do any housework…”

Creeak—

The heavy carved wooden door swung open.

The next second, the three people standing at the doorway froze simultaneously as if struck by a paralysis spell, rigidly rooted to the spot.

The house… was empty?

The once lavish living room, formerly filled with rosewood furniture, adorned with celebrity calligraphy and paintings, and decorated with antique ornaments, now stood completely bare. Only four stark walls remained, with even the cobwebs in the corners clearly visible.

A thin layer of dust covered the floor, emitting a stale, musty odor as if no one had tended to the place for ages.

“Is… is this our home?” Xu Jingjing’s voice rose to a shrill pitch, thick with disbelief and a hint of terror.

Lin Jiaoyan was utterly bewildered. She rubbed her eyes vigorously, wondering if exhaustion from the journey had caused her to hallucinate.

“Did we get the wrong house? Impossible! The house number is correct—this is definitely our home!” she muttered to herself, then looked up to carefully examine the familiar doorframe.

No mistake, this was it! Absolutely no error!

Xu Rongchang’s face instantly turned ashen, like the sky before a storm. With a furious roar, he was the first to charge inside.

“Where are the things?! Where did all our belongings go?!” His bellow echoed through the empty room, sounding particularly jarring and eerie.

Like madmen, the three of them dashed back and forth multiple times through the suddenly barren house, now emptier than an unfinished roughcast unit.

Upstairs and downstairs—the bedrooms, study, dining room, storage rooms…

Every space that could hold items was completely vacant!

Not to mention the priceless rosewood furniture, antique paintings, gold, silver, and valuables—even a single pot, bowl, or chopstick from the kitchen had been left behind!

All their possessions, including Lin Jiaoyan’s secret stash of private savings and heirloom gold and silver jewelry hidden under the bed, had vanished without a trace!

“Gone! Everything’s gone! My jewelry! My money!” Xu Jingjing’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the cold concrete floor. Pointing at the empty space where the dressing table once stood, she broke into hysterical sobs.

Lin Jiaoyan could no longer hold herself together. She leaned weakly against the icy wall, her face as pale as paper, lips trembling too much to form words.

“Damned thieves! Which heartless robbers did this?! They’ve cleaned out our entire home!” After catching her breath, she let out a piercing shriek.

Xu Rongchang trembled with rage, veins bulging at his temples, his throbbing forehead seeming on the verge of explosion. He slammed a fist violently against the bare wall, producing a dull thud as plaster crumbled and fell.

“Where is Xu Xiangsi?! That wretched girl! Where is she?!” he growled through gritted teeth, his bloodshot eyes blazing like a trapped beast.

Still reeling from shock and despair, Lin Jiaoyan’s eyes suddenly flickered with a glimmer of hope upon hearing Xu Xiangsi’s name. Clutching the wall, she shakily straightened up and fixed her gaze on Xu Rongchang, her voice tinged with a barely concealed satisfaction and certainty: “Rongchang, do you think… do you think it’s possible that… that Xu Xiangsi was the one who… who took everything away?”

The moment Lin Jiaoyan finished speaking, Xu Jingjing seized the opportunity to vent her anguish. With a loud wail, she cried even more heart-wrenchingly: “Dad! How could Sister do this?! She’s gone too far!”

She collapsed onto the cold cement floor, pounding the ground with her fists, her voice filled with anguish: “She’s trying to drive our whole family to ruin! Wuwu…”

A flicker of venom flashed in Lin Jiaoyan’s eyes as she glared fiercely at the empty surroundings, her voice hissing through clenched teeth.

“Who else could it be but that little bitch! It must be her!”

“Rongchang! We can’t just let this go!” She turned to Xu Rongchang, her tone urgent. “She stole from the family and is probably hiding in some godforsaken corner now! How are we supposed to find her ourselves? We must report this to the public security bureau immediately! Let them arrest her and make her cough up everything she took!”

Xu Rongchang was already fuming with rage, and Lin Jiaoyan’s incitement made his anger boil over.

“Right! Report to the public security bureau!” His eyes bloodshot, veins bulging at his temples, he snarled, “I’ll make that wretched creature pay today!”