Chapter 77 aunt

Baker stopped the white convertible, took a look at the lovely home, and then leaned over the steering wheel, moaning.He didn't know which would go first—the house, the furniture, the car. Everything is mortgaged.He's not a magician and can't conjure up large sums of money that will soon be someone else's. Baker sensed someone outside the car and looked up to see his wife, Julie.She was dressed in a chic, dazzling dress and sandals, and her jet-black hair fell on either side of her beautiful face. When she saw Baker's listless look, her eyes dimmed.She asked softly, "Did you get the loan?"

"When I left the bank," said Baker displeased, "I couldn't even get a drink at Mike's on credit." "Too bad, Baker," said Julie coldly. "You can't drink afternoon wine!" "Julie, don't laugh at me, I just don't drink today." "Of course not, poor darling," said his wife sullenly.She crossed her arms. "But, what do you think we should do?" Baker took a deep breath and admitted, "I don't know." He looked at the house and the lawn, with a look of disappointment on his handsome face. "What we want is the noble life."

"On credit and with such a small income, you can't do it," said Julie, a realistic woman who only thinks of herself. "You should be bold enough to ask your boss for a raise!" Just thinking about it made Baker's legs go weak. "Impossible. My job is almost lost. I don't want to remind my boss that there are people like me." He looked around desperately. "We're never surrendering! We've got to figure something out, even if I have to... rob a bank or something." Julie laughed. "Really, Baker? Why do you have such a strange idea! Anyway, we just ran into a little trouble again."

"My God," Baker said, looking up at the sky. "We're at the end of our rope. What's the trouble?" "We had a visitor. She said it was your Aunt Jenny." "aunt?" "That's what she said." "Remember, I saw her when I was a child." Baker glanced at the house. "I vaguely remember that she was a beautiful girl who didn't care about other people's gossip, earned money to support us, and flew to New York to dance for us." "She ended up at our house," Julie said. "She came in a taxi about two hours ago. Said she had just flown in from the capital of Venezuela and said she was happy to find her only relative."

"The capital of Venezuela?" "yes dear." "Okay," Baker glanced at the house. "We keep her for dinner, overnight, and then let her walk." Aunt Jenny was a well-kept woman, with elegant manners and white hair, still in her former beauty. When they met in the living room, Aunt Jenny hugged Baker warmly, then stepped back and looked him up and down happily: "Baker, you have become so handsome, and you have such a lovely wife and a beautiful house, I am so happy for you. " "Nice to meet you, Aunt," Baker lied, remembering that she was only staying here for one night.

"Maybe you need to take a break," Julie said. "I'll cook." "No need to make any fuss, dear, just eat whatever you want." Julie ate a little of everything she served. "It's so delicious!" My aunt was full of praise. Baker raised an eyebrow suspiciously.Since the maid in their family left because of unpaid wages, Julie has been cooking, and she can't cook. Tonight's roast meat, potatoes, and asparagus, as usual, were all burnt. "General," said the aunt, wiping her lips gracefully with a napkin. "Will love the meal as much as he loves his roast beef, perhaps because he's English."

"General?" Baker raised his head, and he was fiddled with the dishes on the plate with the fork. "Of course you don't know," said the aunt, "that it was my late husband." For a moment her eyes twinkled flirtatiously. "He was the funniest, sweetest, most charming of all my husbands." Baker guessed that the general died not long ago. "I'm sorry for you, Auntie." "Thank you, but I'm much better off being here with you. The General and I always find it pleasant to be around young people, and not so much with those in the diplomatic and financial circles. The general and I could swim, ride horses, play golf, fly our planes, have parties with the pilot—the day the bomb killed him.” Julie sat up straight. “Bomb? Bomb, you say?”

"The local terrorists planted a bomb in the general's car," said the aunt, with vengeance burning in her eyes. "Those despicable and cowardly—" She took a breath, controlling her emotions. "I really don't want to talk about these depressing—" "It's all right, Aunt," Baker said. "What happened?" "The bomb," the aunt mused for a moment. "Blow up the general and Hull together." "Hull?" Baker asked. "Is it... your son?" The aunt came back to reality and looked at Baker with gentle eyes. "No, the General and I have no children, that's why I've come to you. I have no family other than you and Julie." She looked at them both with affection, and sighed. "But we're talking about Hull, he's the best driver."

Baker and Julie glanced at each other. Julie asked casually, "I figured a driver like that must be expensive?" "Expensive?" Auntie said blankly, shrugging. "I think so. The General has millions. We never bothered about petty expenses. Of course, I have to set up a trust fund to look after Hull's parents. That's all I can do." Baker's interest gradually increased. "That's remarkable. By the way, did you know the general in Venezuela?" "No, I met the general in Rivera a few years ago, when I was just divorced." Her eyes became dreamy.

"He's the one I've been waiting for. He's full of energy, handsome, and gentle. He's a perfect gentleman and a perfect lover..." Baker endured for a while, and then asked, "Was he in the army at that time?" "Army?" Auntie smiled disdainfully. "His title is purely honorary. My husband's interest was in oil, and he took oil from the Middle East, bought it in South America, and ended up in Venezuela — that terrible bomb." Julie can't wait to please her guests. "Auntie, would you like some dessert, coffee, or a small glass of brandy after dinner—" Auntie smiled happily. "Have some French brandy," she paused. "Of course, you can drink what you have."

A lot happened that week at the Bakers' house: my aunt moved into the east bedroom, which was the roomiest and most light-filled.Baker sold his golf equipment for brandy.He and Julie walked softly in the morning, because my aunt had said she liked to go to bed in the morning. After dinner one evening, Baker asked Julie to talk about money, in order to gain favor from her aunt. "I'm glad you brought up the subject," said the aunt. Baker was delighted that his aunt had taken the bait. "I've talked to local lawyers and agents," she told them. "You'll probably like to know that I've transferred a large sum of money from a Swiss bank and made a will to leave most of it to my dear relatives." She held out her hand and took theirs. "Why... Aunt... I don't want to..." Baker was too happy to speak. Aunt clapped his hand. "Okay, okay, I see, I went too far." She pushed back the chair. "Julie, I'm going to drink in the study. American TV is very interesting, especially those weird commercials." As she spoke, she walked towards the study majestically. Julie glared at Baker viciously, and whispered, "You fool, you threw away the money you got!" Baker moaned, "I'm sorry." "You should apologize, I have been answering calls from those creditors all afternoon." Baker moved uneasily. "I was wondering how much money does the old fool have?" "Given what I've heard," Julie said. "About five million." "Five—" Baker grabbed the corner of the table and stood there. "Send the brandy, we can't keep five million waiting!" That night, Baker dreamed that large stacks of banknotes were moldy in the warehouse, and he woke up feeling weak. Thirty minutes later, when he arrived at the company, the reception lady stopped him. "You'd better go to your boss," she said. "He came to ask you." Baker asked, "Did he say he didn't say anything?" "It doesn't seem to be a good thing." Baker reluctantly walked to the boss's office. The boss's secretary let him in immediately, and the boss sat behind his desk, watching Baker. "Good morning, Baker!" "good morning!" The boss smiled and said, "You're fired, slacker." Baker sat down weakly. "You don't have to sit down," said the boss very politely. "You have nothing to do with the company anymore, you are trespassing illegally now." "But—" "Needless to say, Baker, go to the cashier to get your severance pay." Baker clenched his hands limply into fists. "You should at least explain it to me." The boss said: "Should? If there is anything to do, I should file a lawsuit to recover your salary. As for the reasons for firing you, there are many reasons. You are a person who only takes money and does not work. You are sloppy at work and just want to Take the money. In a word, you are a despicable fellow, and I have long wanted to relieve you. What happened to Henry yesterday made me make up my mind." "I called Mr. Henry—" "Once, Baker, just one call, and then you're off to the country club. If I don't call afterward, we lose that client." The boss looked down at the documents and ignored Baker again. Baker trudged home and collapsed on a chair in the living room. Julie heard his voice and walked in.He turned to look at her: "I'm unemployed." She pursed her lips. "Oh my God, you made it!" He grabbed the arm of the chair and warned, "Julie, don't make fun of me!" Carefully relaxing his hands, he took a breath. "I figured it out on the way home. Where's my aunt?" "In the restaurant, eating grapefruit and drinking white wine." The aunt looked a little strange, she was wearing a brightly colored gown.As she poured milk into her coffee, she looked up and said, "Hey, good morning, Baker is on leave?" "No. I'm unemployed." The concern in aunt's eyes disappeared. "Looking at the way you walked in, I thought something great had happened." "This matter is very serious to me and Julie." "However, you have to keep an eye on this matter. Every day, there are those who are unemployed and those who find a job. As the general used to say before his death, they are willing to be cattle and are not afraid of lack of land. This door is closed, and that door is open. If the general was here, he'd tell you to use this as an opportunity to get a better job." Baker couldn't take it anymore, he hated this nonsense. "Are you going to prevaricate us with these empty words?" My aunt was about to stand up, but stopped again.She looked at him, her eyes were cold, and she said calmly: "You know, I have already suspected that I am very annoying to live here, and you let me live for a purpose." Julie touched Baker with her elbow, and said with a sweet smile, "Auntie, what do you think we are planning?" "Take my money," said the aunt bluntly. "Maybe I shouldn't come. Would I be welcome if I came in rags?" "You're very welcome," said Julie affectionately. "Take my word for it, we do love you—the one who loves you." "Yes," Baker said. "I'm in a bad mood, that's all." The aunt looked at him and then at her. "I should save an unlimited fund for you to use freely in case of accident or illness. Baker is my only relative. When I die one day, you can get everything from me. But at present, your little difficulty , you have to figure it out for yourself, Baker, it's better for you that way." The Bakers froze, watching their aunt go away and disappear. "We'll never get it," Julie whispered disdainfully, "unless she dies." "She knew she had us under control," Baker said. "She made us her slaves," Jolie added. "Slaves will also resist, fight for their legal rights—" Baker sneaked a glance at Julie, and he was shocked by the sternness on her face. He realized that Julie was more active than him, and she had been thinking about her aunt's death for a long time. "She's had enough," Jolie said. "That wouldn't be much loss." Baker struggled to utter three words: "How?" "She is going to take a bath now. We testify to each other. No one can refute our words. My aunt slipped and fell in the bathroom. Baker, prepare to mourn your aunt who passed away." Julie said. Julie hurried across the dining room to the bathroom. Baker stood there stunned, feeling more and more nervous. He heard the door opening, talking, a low cry, struggling and touching, and then crying. Baker closed his eyes tightly and covered his ears with his hands. Then, a person appeared in the aisle. It was my aunt, smoothing out the blue silk dress she had just put on. She looked at Baker grimly and contemptuously. "My dear boy, I've put up with the boredom of this house, nothing but stupid TV shows. I've had enough of your wife's nasty food and your stupid conversations, and I accept it all," she said. His eyes dimmed for a moment. "Because after the general died, I suddenly felt lonely and heavy. I have traveled to various continents and made friends with kings. I deigned to come here in the hope that someone would treat me sincerely." She walked quickly to the front door. Baker finally came to his senses. "Auntie, we didn't—" "I know exactly what you're saying, but you'll never inherit five million," she opened the front door. "By the way, Julie's offense is pretty stupid. You know, it can attract A man like the general must be a wonderful woman, who can ride a strong horse, shoot a gun, play golf, enjoy bullfighting. One cannot be completely safe from foreign dangers in the world—long ago, the general Teach me to wrestle, I have never used it, and I just use it today-before, those niggers dared not mess with me..." Baker followed her aunt to the door, watching her walk to the side of the road coldly, looking for a taxi car.He knew he would never see her again. Baker turned around in disappointment and walked towards the bathroom. Julie was lying on the ground, pale, pained and surprised. Baker stared at her right arm with nausea.The bone under the elbow was broken, and he could see the jagged tip of the bone almost poking out from under the skin. Julie squirmed, moaned, screamed. "Oh, shut up," Baker snapped, "now we're going to have to throw the severance pay on the medical bills."