Chapter 088: Offering All I Can

This story is entirely a work of fiction.

“Four hundred thousand,” said Dujuan, raising four fingers.

“I thought it was some astronomical number, at least several million or more. You scared me to death. Thank goodness—there’s still hope,” her childhood friend said with relief.

“Hope? For me, that is an astronomical sum. It’s a fortune. And you still say it’s fine, while I’m at my wit’s end—I’ve even thought of jumping off a building to end it all.” Dujuan felt her friend simply couldn’t understand her pain.

“So, how much are you short?” Her friend looked at her with deep concern.

“Can you really help me?” For a moment, Dujuan glimpsed hope.

“Of course I’ll help you! We’re best friends. You and your husband love each other so much—how could I stand by and do nothing?” Her friend laughed.

“And you still have the mood to joke at a time like this while I’m at the end of my rope.” Despite herself, Dujuan managed a tearful smile.

“As for me, I live alone. If I have money, I spend it. If not, I don’t. It doesn’t matter. One person well fed, the whole family is full. I’m not as well off as you, but I do have some money. Anything that money can solve isn’t a real problem!” Her friend waved it off.

“Well off? How am I well off? No house, no car—if I had those, I wouldn’t be here disgracing myself in front of you.”

“Aren’t you well off? You have a husband, a handsome son, and a happy family. Isn’t that wealth?” her friend retorted.

“Happiness? You can’t imagine my suffering. Especially now, at this critical moment—I can’t count how many tears I’ve shed, and you’re still talking about a happy family. I think you’re the one who’s happy—just like you said, one person well fed, no one else to worry about. I envy you so much! Yet you’re here laughing at me? You’re heartless! With a husband like mine, it would be better not to have one at all. I wish I could just throw him away.”

“Hey, don’t throw him away! If you don’t want him, give him to me. Here’s the deal: I’ll pay, you hand over your husband.” Her friend burst out laughing, “I’ll finally be off the singles’ list! Tonight let me take his place, alright? Don’t regret it later.” She kept up her teasing.

“The moment you transfer the money, it’s a deal—cash for goods.” Dujuan smiled—a smile she hadn’t managed for a week.

“I’ve already paid off my apartment, but I still have a bit of spare cash. Give me your bank card number. I’ll lend you all the more than a hundred thousand I have. Pay me back whenever you can, but don’t rush,” her friend cautioned.

“Thank you so much. Without your help, I really wouldn’t know what to do.” Dujuan wrote down her bank account number for her friend.

Her friend replied quickly, “There’s no need for formality between us.”

After adding up what she had at home and the amount her friend lent her, there was still a shortfall of over a hundred thousand. But there was no time to dwell on it—Dujuan decided to ask her family for the rest.

With her friend’s support, half the burden was lifted from Dujuan’s shoulders. Instead of returning home, she went straight to her parents’ house.

Her parents, noticing she hadn’t visited in some time, immediately fussed over her when she walked in. “How is Xiyu’s studying going?”

“Xiyu is working hard—he’s made great progress. He used to be at the bottom of his class, but now, through his efforts, he ranks among the top. His English has especially improved; he’s one of the best in the class and can speak fluent English,” Dujuan told her parents.

“That’s really something! Looks like Xiyu inherited your genes. Wonderful, wonderful!” her mother praised.

“But what’s the use?” Dujuan sighed deeply.

Her mother, knowing her well, sensed something amiss in her sigh and expression—a sign her daughter was in real distress.

“Is something troubling you, Juanzi?” her mother asked with concern.

“You always see right through me. Yes, I’ve run into trouble—something really thorny. If I had any choice, I wouldn’t tell you.”

“What can’t you say to me? We’re mother and daughter, aren’t we?” her mother pressed.

“Chizhao Ming got caught up in some gambling and racked up a huge debt. The collectors even came to his workplace, demanding the full sum by the end of the month. I’ve calculated—I have nearly a hundred thousand in savings, and my best friend lent me everything she has. Altogether, I have two hundred eighty thousand, but I’m still eighty thousand short.” Dujuan laid out the situation.

“How could he be so foolish? How could something like this happen to Chizhao Ming? He must be out of his mind, making such a stupid mistake,” her mother said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Dujuan’s father, smoking on the balcony, hadn’t paid attention to their conversation, though he sensed the two women were discussing something secretive and thought it best not to intrude.

“Don’t mention this to Dad yet. Wait until I’ve left, then talk it over with him, see if he can help us get through this,” Dujuan advised.

Her mother nodded in agreement.

After Dujuan left, her mother called her father over. “Dujuan was home today and told me something happened with Chizhao Ming. Apparently, he—”

Before she could finish, her husband interrupted, “What did he do? Is there another woman? That explains it. Just the other day, I saw a young woman sitting in the passenger seat of Chizhao Ming’s car. I didn’t get a chance to mention it to Dujuan—what’s going on?”

“It’s not that. Why do you always jump to women? Can’t you think of anything else?” his wife shot back.

“But women are a big deal! I thought I should have told Dujuan sooner, warned her to be on her guard. Really, I should have given her a heads-up,” he insisted.

“I told you it’s not that! You’re always making wild guesses. That day at the gate, you only saw a young woman in the front, but Chizhao Ming’s boss was in the back seat. He’d already told me about it—they were colleagues. After parking at the gate and talking with you, you saw only the woman in front and missed the man in the back. They’re coworkers,” she explained.

“Oh, so it’s not about a woman. Then what is it?” he asked.

His wife explained everything. When he found out, Dujuan’s father was furious.

Back home, Dujuan tallied up all the money she had. No matter how she calculated, there still wasn’t enough. Her brows drew together, a deep furrow forming between them.

When Chizhao Ming returned home and saw her so distraught, his heart ached. He tried to offer comfort, but Dujuan pushed his hand away.

Seeing her still gloomy, he didn’t dare say much. “Mingyue has agreed to cover fifty thousand. She wants to hand it over in person, not through me. Don’t forget to include that in your calculations.”

Dujuan said nothing. She didn’t want to speak; even one more word with Chizhao Ming made her uncomfortable. She ignored him entirely.

The money was still not enough. Wu Zhengzhe had no choice but to sell his beloved Harley motorcycle and handed the proceeds directly to Chizhao Ming.

Chizhao Ming, moved beyond words, stood beside Wu Zhengzhe like a wounded child.

Wu Zhengzhe clapped his shoulder. “When you go home, don’t say anything you shouldn’t to Dujuan. Just do as she says, pay back every cent, and don’t ever get yourself into trouble like this again.”

Far away in Xiaohe, Chizhao Ming’s parents, realizing their son had come all the way home desperate for money and left empty-handed, were filled with regret and anxiety, unable to eat or sleep.

His father took the family’s grain to the market and sold it at the depot. With some help from Minghe and Mingri, they finally scraped together twenty thousand yuan in cash.

Bringing some local specialties from the countryside, they rushed to Dahe to deliver the money to Chizhao Ming.

With heartfelt earnestness, his father said, “I’m old now, and this is all I can do for you. Recognize your mistakes and turn back before it’s too late. I only attended private school for a few years, but even I understand this much. You, with your higher education, should know better.” He looked at his son.

Chizhao Ming was speechless, tears streaming down his face.

His father patted his shoulder. “I’m going home now. I need to catch the first long-distance bus.”

Chizhao Ming, holding the money, had nothing to say as he saw his father off at the station.

When the repayment deadline arrived, Mingyue went with Chizhao Ming to settle the debt.

The debt collectors led them to the roof of a small villa, where a round table and four chairs awaited. Chizhao Ming and Mingyue sat down first.

Mingyue, who had never seen such collectors before, was unnerved by the sight of the two tattooed men, their domineering stride making her uneasy. “How did you get mixed up with people like this, big brother? What kind of crowd are you in with? I can’t believe it!” she whispered to Chizhao Ming.

One of the collectors stood at the railing, watching the people below.

The other soon joined them at the table; the four sat, one on each side.

“So, Director Chi, you should have resolved most of the issue by now, right?” one collector said menacingly.

“We’re here to settle things, aren’t we? Why the attitude?” Chizhao Ming hadn’t expected them to be so unfriendly.

The collector slammed a water glass down in the center of the table, a display of temper and intimidation.

Seeing this, Mingyue’s face grew pale; she was clearly intimidated.

But Chizhao Ming did not back down. “A debt must be repaid—this is a basic principle. But your behavior isn’t making this any easier.”

“Not easy? You’re the debtor, and you’re uncomfortable? Look at this glass—right now it’s empty, but you need to fill it before we can drink. Isn’t that how it works? We’re not here to cause trouble, but you need to show sincerity and settle your debt. That’s the only way forward.” The collector’s voice rose.

(To be continued...)