The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 4: Severing Ties

Chapter 4: Severing Ties

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiaoyan shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: Ten thousand yuan?! Xu Xiangsi, you really have some nerve! Do you think money grows on trees?

Xu Jingjing once again put on that pitiful act, speaking softly as she persuaded: Sister, isn’t ten thousand yuan a bit too much? Besides, as a young woman, carrying so much cash with you isn’t safe. What if… what if someone targets you along the way? What would you do then?

Xu Xiangsi burst out laughing as if she had heard the most ridiculous joke.

Targeted by whom? By who exactly? She looked amusedly at Xu Jingjing’s feigned worried expression. There are only four of us in this room. If you don’t go around spreading the news, who would know I’m carrying this much money?

Here, her tone shifted abruptly, her eyes turning cold: Unless… you’re planning to deliberately leak the information so I get robbed, or even… killed?

Xu Jingjing’s face flushed then paled at these words, completely speechless and unable to utter a single syllable.

Xu Xiangsi snorted coldly and turned her gaze to Xu Rongchang and Lin Jiaoyan.

What? You all think ten thousand yuan is too much? Can’t bear to part with it? She raised an eyebrow. Do you think my fiancé Song Shengze isn’t worth that price? Or do you think your precious daughter Xu Jingjing isn’t worthy of marrying such a promising young talent from Hong Kong?

This remark struck right at Xu Rongchang and Lin Jiaoyan’s sore spots! Weren’t they precisely counting on Xu Jingjing marrying into wealth and becoming a rich wife?

Xu Rongchang’s aged face turned green then white, thoroughly choked by her words.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and said in a low voice: This matter… we need to discuss it.

Fine. Xu Xiangsi replied straightforwardly. However, I don’t have much time. You’d better decide quickly.

Oh, and one more thing, she added as if suddenly remembering something, after you’ve reached a decision, you might as well sign a certificate severing our relationship.

What?! Upon hearing this, the anger Xu Rongchang had just suppressed flared up instantly, his eyes bulging like copper bells!

You want to sever our father-daughter relationship?! He could hardly believe his ears. This rebellious daughter was becoming more and more lawless!

Xu Xiangsi looked completely justified: Why not? I’m going to a remote rural area to join my grandfather who’s been sent down for re-education. And you? You’re going to Hong Kong in glory to live as upper-class people.

She paused, looking meaningfully at Xu Rongchang, Your move to Hong Kong requires strict approval procedures. If the authorities learn that I, this ‘Capitalist’ descendant, am still connected to you… do you think your Hong Kong application will be approved smoothly?

These words poured like a bucket of ice water over Xu Rongchang from head to toe.

This cold splash instantly extinguished Xu Rongchang’s fury.

He sobered up completely, even breaking out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

Yes! The damned girl was right! Their move to Hong Kong wasn’t through illegal means—it required organizational review! If the organization learned they still maintained ties with a relative of poor class background, especially one who was a Capitalist’s daughter going to join her exiled grandfather, their application would definitely be rejected!

This damned girl, every word she spoke hit the mark, practically gripping his lifeline!

Xu Rongchang could no longer afford to be angry, nor could he cling to that pitiful shred of father-daughter affection. He immediately turned to fetch paper and pen: I’ll write it! I’ll write it right now!

To smoothly go to Hong Kong, he’d do anything—not just sever ties!

But Xu Xiangsi was in no hurry. She reached out and gently pressed down on the paper he was about to write on.

No rush, she said leisurely. The severance proof can be written slowly. First, give me that ten thousand yuan and the coupons.

Xu Rongchang froze mid-action, looking up at Xu Xiangsi, his teeth grinding audibly.

How he hated this! This little beast refused to suffer the slightest loss!

But what could he do? He had to endure!

He squeezed out the words through clenched teeth: Fine! Considering how ‘reasonable’ you’re being today, I’ll give it to you!

Xu Xiangsi sneered, her eyes filled with contempt.

I’ve always been reasonable. After all, my mother and I were raised in wealth by my grandfather since childhood. Our vision and mindset are far beyond what you money-grubbing, short-sighted people can comprehend.

The phrase short-sighted directly insulted all three of them: Xu Rongchang, Lin Jiaoyan, and Xu Jingjing.

At these words, the faces of Xu Rongchang, Lin Jiaoyan, and Xu Jingjing instantly darkened, as black as the bottom of a pot.

Yet they couldn’t retort, forced to swallow their anger.

Xu Rongchang, livid and barely suppressing the urge to vomit blood, turned and went into the inner room.

After a long while, he returned with a bulging kraft paper envelope and an aged tin biscuit box.

He slammed the envelope and box onto the table in front of Xu Xiangsi and snapped, Here’s ten thousand yuan in cash, and all the family’s Food stamps, Cloth coupons, and Industrial coupons. Count them!

Lin Jiaoyan watched from the side, her eyes aching from the sight of stacks of crisp new Big Unity bills, but her heart ached even more.

Her heart was nearly breaking! That was ten thousand yuan! And those coupons—in these times, they were as good as hard currency!

She couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She shot Xu Xiangsi a fierce glare, let out a heavy hmph!, turned, and stormed back to her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang!—out of sight, out of mind, she fumed in silence!

Seeing this, Xu Jingjing quickly scurried after her, gently knocking on Lin Jiaoyan’s door and softly coaxing, Mom, don’t be angry. Sister… she’s just confused for now.

She pushed the door open, leaned close to Lin Jiaoyan, and lowered her voice, tinged with smugness and anticipation.

Mom, think about it. Once I marry Mr. Song and become the young mistress of the Song family in Hong Kong, won’t we have everything we want? What does this bit of money and coupons matter then? I’ll earn it back for you twice over!

Lin Jiaoyan sat on the edge of the bed, her chest heaving with rage. Clearly, Xu Jingjing’s empty promises hadn’t fully soothed her.

But that’s still money! Cold, hard cash! And those coupons—they could trade for plenty of good stuff on the black market too! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, gritting her teeth as she cursed, That damned girl is just as vile as her mother!

The thought of all that money and coupons going so cheaply to Xu Xiangsi made her feel as if a knife were twisting in her heart.

But remembering that Xu Jingjing would take her place and marry Song Shengze, she barely managed to suppress her fury.