A Credit Card with an Enormous Limit

"My young friend, if you like it, then it's settled. But you have to tell me why, or I won't agree." Stunned, Wu Daorong asked Zhang Yang to explain.

"Bring me a magnifying glass," Zhang Yang told a clerk.

The clerk brought one over. Under the powerful lens, fine, even lines on the inner sides of the White Jade Hairpin's two wings formed a picture, accompanied by a poem.

"Without extraordinary craftsmanship, no one could have carved something like this. That's where its value lies—and it may be worth even more," Zhang Yang said confidently.

Wu Daorong looked embarrassed, then delighted. He had missed something, but he had also learned something new.

"My young friend, I can't believe I didn't notice it!"

Wu Daorong was relieved that his mistake had happened in his own shop. If he had made it during a recorded television program—or worse, a live broadcast—his reputation would have suffered badly.

Cheng Dongxue listened to Zhang Yang and Wu Daorong discuss the White Jade Hairpin. However exquisite it was, however remarkable its craftsmanship, that was not what mattered to her. What mattered was its price.

Five hundred thousand. Even at a forty-percent discount, it would cost three hundred thousand—a huge sum that Cheng Dongxue would have struggled to pay on the spot, let alone Zhang Yang.

"Mr. Wu, sorry for the trouble, but could you find a suitable presentation box for the White Jade Hairpin?" Zhang Yang held it, reluctant to put it down. Its story, though, could no longer be known.

"Of course. Xiao Zhang, find a good box and pack it for my young friend," Wu Daorong immediately called to the clerk.

From the look of things, Zhang Yang had bought the White Jade Hairpin. But how was he going to pay for it?

"Zhang Yang, why don't you think it over?" Cheng Dongxue was afraid he would embarrass himself again. Making a fool of himself at home was one thing—they were family. Why do it in front of strangers?

"Mr. Zhang, here you are." In front of Zhang Yang, the clerk, Xiao Zhang, placed the White Jade Hairpin in an old-fashioned sandalwood box, then slipped the box into a paper shopping bag.

Zhang Yang nodded and took the bag. With his other hand, he handed over a credit card. A credit card, not a debit card.

"Charge it."

Cheng Dongxue stared at him. "You know you have to pay a credit card bill, right?"

Given Zhang Yang's situation, how could he possibly pay it back?

"Wait. Where did you get a credit card with a three-hundred-thousand limit? No—a five-hundred-thousand limit?" Cheng Dongxue frowned, one question following another.

"Heh. That's pocket change."

"Quit bragging!" Cheng Dongxue didn't believe him. Zhang Yang was unemployed. How could he have a credit limit that high? Even her own credit card had a limit of only five or six hundred thousand.

"Mr. Zhang, your card. Please sign here." Xiao Zhang brought over the receipt.

Cheng Dongxue snatched it and looked. Five hundred thousand really had been charged. She could hardly believe Zhang Yang had a card with that kind of limit. And since the charge had gone through, the limit might be higher still.

Zhang Yang smiled, took the receipt, and signed it quickly with his own name.

"Mr. Wu, it's getting late. We should be going." Zhang Yang had bought his gift, and darkness had fallen. It was time to go home.

"My young friend, sorry for the trouble." Wu Daorong was still bothered by what he had missed on the White Jade Hairpin.

"Thank you, Mr. Wu, for letting me have something so fine at the original price." Zhang Yang nodded gratefully.

Neither side felt the deal had been entirely fair. But that hardly mattered. The hairpin had become a bond between them.

They walked out of Antique Pavilion.

"Zhang Yang, tell me the truth. How have you been hiding that much money from me?" Cheng Dongxue held his arm and demanded an answer. Then she realized that made no sense. It was a credit card, not cash; there was no hidden stash of money.

Zhang Yang gave a wry laugh and continued lying through his teeth. "I told you, didn't I? I went into business with the Lin Family and made money. Forget five hundred thousand—I could come up with five million."

"Keep bragging," Cheng Dongxue said, still unconvinced.

"Then how do you explain the five hundred thousand just now?" Zhang Yang asked.

Cheng Dongxue frowned. If what he said wasn't true, she couldn't explain it either. When the credit card bill came due, Zhang Yang wouldn't be worth five hundred thousand even if she sold him.

No matter what Zhang Yang said, Cheng Dongxue remained uneasy.

When they got home, everyone had gathered, but no one had cooked. They were all waiting for Zhang Yang to make dinner.

"You're never home, and you can't even get back in time to cook. Useless good-for-nothing." As usual, Zhang Yang came home to abuse.

"Mom, we went shopping. Zhang Yang has a surprise for you tomorrow." Cheng Dongxue had spent years trying to smooth things over, and she did so again now.

This time, though, she left them guessing.

"A gift?"

"When has he ever given anyone a decent birthday present? He'll probably make a fool of himself again tomorrow."

Yang Su frowned, but Cheng Hai had already spoken up and begun mocking Zhang Yang.

"Dad, you'll see tomorrow." Cheng Dongxue was excited. Her parents had always looked down on Zhang Yang. Perhaps a generous gift would change their minds.

"Tomorrow, then. I suppose we'll see someone make a spectacle of himself." Cheng Hai scoffed.

No woman could resist a gift, and Cheng Dongxue had called this one a surprise. Yang Su decided to wait rather than take another jab at Zhang Yang.

"What are you standing around for? Go make dinner." They were hungry, it was already dark, and Zhang Yang was still standing there.

At the sharp command, Zhang Yang shook his head, put his things in the bedroom, and went to the Kitchen.

Cheng Dongxue felt bad for him and went to help.

Lin Xiaofei had come home early that night and was staying for dinner. Seeing that the food wasn't ready, she went to the Kitchen to help rather than simply wait to eat.

Both women had an unusual relationship with Zhang Yang. Crowded together in the Kitchen, the three of them felt painfully awkward.

At dinner, Yang Su thought of the gifts she would receive tomorrow. She said nothing more and ate happily.

Cheng Hai drank alone.

That night, Zhang Yang slept in the bed as usual. Cheng Dongxue did not fall asleep right away. She studied the man beside her. He was her husband, yet she felt he had too many secrets she knew nothing about.

Whenever she questioned him, Zhang Yang had a plausible answer. It all sounded reasonable, but she could not reconcile those answers with the Zhang Yang who did nothing at home and never seemed to have a proper job.

Have I misunderstood him all this time? Cheng Dongxue kept staring at Zhang Yang.