As the Tang Family’s former daughter-in-law, Su Li had a decent understanding of their financial situation.
By the standards of the era, they were doing quite well, on their way to a comfortable life. However, coming up with four thousand yuan all at once was impossible.
They couldn’t produce that sum now, and they couldn’t have done it in the past either.
They couldn’t afford it even when they were at their most prosperous, let alone now, after having spent so much money because of Mrs. Tang.
Su Li’s feelings toward Tang Yuanxiao were incredibly complicated. Over time, her initial resentment had faded, but it was replaced by an indescribable complexity.
Tang Yuanxiao had saved her life, a debt of gratitude she couldn’t ignore. Now that he was in trouble, she wanted to help him in secret.
She was afraid Tang Yuanxiao would refuse her help, and she especially didn’t want anyone else, particularly Mrs. Tang, to know. So, she decided to lend a hand covertly.
Knowing Tang Yuanxiao’s personality, he would never accept charity. So, she included an account number, telling him to pay it back into the account when he had the money.
She thought she had been discreet, but somehow, Tang Yuanxiao had guessed it was her.
Su Li was mortified.
Of course, Wu Sheng had just experienced the same embarrassment.
Wu Sheng’s thinking was similar to Su Li’s.
As mentioned before, he was also grateful to Tang Yuanxiao. Besides, they were comrades-in-arms; it was only right to help if he could.
Su Li hadn’t told him about her plan, and he had kept his from her, secretly helping Tang Yuanxiao on his own.
He figured he would lend Tang Yuanxiao the money first, and Tang Yuanxiao could just pay it back later when his situation improved.
But no sooner had they sent the money than Tang Yuanxiao showed up at their door to thank them.
He was absolutely certain they were the ones who sent it.
Afraid Tang Yuanxiao would refuse her help, Su Li pushed past her embarrassment and tried to play dumb. "Er... I don’t know what you’re talking about..."
Just as the awkwardness became unbearable, Little Tang Mo got out of school.
As if she’d been granted a lifeline, Su Li immediately rushed to the school gate to wait for Little Tang Mo.
Tang Yuanxiao watched Su Li’s retreating back and didn’t say anything more.
His gaze was filled with utter complexity.
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t stubbornly insist on returning the money to save face, nor did he demand to pay it back on the spot. He also didn’t just repay one of them, or half to each.
He didn’t rush to repay either of them, deciding instead to wait until he had gathered all the funds to pay them back.
He didn’t tell anyone about these two sums of money, and he certainly didn’t mention it to Mrs. Tang.
He continued to borrow money, making sure Mrs. Tang saw him doing it. He told her who he borrowed from and exactly how much.
Finally, he managed to scrape together the four thousand yuan.
Mrs. Tang watched with her own eyes as the four thousand yuan was handed over to Qin Shanshan, feeling nothing but disbelief and despair.
The thought of the enormous debt he now carried was enough to make Mrs. Tang rise from her grave, let alone while she was still alive.
She finally understood what it meant to be a burden on one’s children.
Because of her, she had saddled Tang Yuanxiao with a massive debt, and she had no idea how many years it would take him to repay it.
And not only could she not earn money to help pay it off, but she was also a constant drain on his finances. Whether it was hiring a caregiver or staying in a nursing home, the costs were considerable.
Mrs. Tang was on the verge of a breakdown.
She didn’t know how things had ended up like this.
She could understand Su Li being so heartless, but this was Qin Shanshan.
’Qin Shanshan! The girl I watched grow up, the person I used to like so much... how could she turn out like this?’
Mrs. Tang’s despair and helplessness were beyond words.
Ignoring what Mrs. Tang was thinking, Tang Yuanxiao gave the money to Qin Shanshan, settled the matter, then packed his mother’s belongings, took her to a nursing home, and completed the admission procedures.
And just like that, Mrs. Tang was admitted to the nursing home.
After getting her settled, Tang Yuanxiao wasted no words. "I’m going back to school. They’ll contact me if anything happens. I’ll come see you when I have time."
After everything that had happened, Tang Yuanxiao no longer felt any hope or disappointment toward his mother. All that remained was the filial duty to provide for her.
Beyond that, there was nothing else.
Mrs. Tang clutched the ten yuan Tang Yuanxiao had given her, staring at his retreating back, completely stunned.
’It’s like... it’s like I’ve lost my son.’
Although Tang Yuanxiao was still right there, a voice in her heart told her otherwise.
She had already lost her son.
Mrs. Tang wanted to cry, but she found she had no tears left.
She didn’t know why things had turned out this way. She had meant well, but in the end, everything had come to this.
’The Tang Family... our family’s good life... it seems like because of me... it’s all been ruined.’
Their family wasn’t broken and scattered, but it felt no different.
"How did it come to this? Why did it happen?"
Mrs. Tang mumbled, but could find no answer.
When she thought back to her days in Xinghua Village two years ago, it felt like a dream.
Back then, Su Li was still her daughter-in-law, and Tang Yuanxiao was still her filial son. The Tang Family lived in the only tiled-roof house in the village and was one of the most well-off families around.
Was there any woman in the village who didn’t envy her?
They envied her for her filial son, for her family’s wealth, for her well-behaved grandson... They were green with envy.
Only two years had passed, but looking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago.
She had been so happy and comfortable back then. It would have been enough to just keep living like that. Why had it come to this?
’Even though Little Tang Mo wasn’t my biological grandson, I raised him. He was so lovely, so filial, so sensible, and he brought me so much joy. How could I have lost my mind and done such a thing later on...?’
’Why?’
Mrs. Tang asked herself but could find no answer.
She didn’t know why it happened, she didn’t know why it had come to this... but slowly, it had.
Everything was gone. She had been to prison, her body was paralyzed, and she couldn’t do anything.
Her son was completely estranged from her, the money was gone, and now they were deeply in debt.
’Nothing... there is nothing left... Because of me, everything is gone...’
Mrs. Tang had never truly reflected on her past actions. Now that she did, she was horrified. She regretted it, but there was no medicine for regret in this world.
Mrs. Tang didn’t even know how the day had passed or how she had fallen asleep.
She fell asleep and dreamed.
She dreamed she was back in Xinghua Village, in the tiled-roof house that made her so proud, doing needlework and chatting with everyone.
She dreamed of everyone complimenting her, of Little Tang Mo clinging to his grandma, of Su Li making delicious food until they were all stuffed...
Mrs. Tang woke up smiling, but upon waking, she realized it was all a dream.
Those days were gone, never to return.
She smelled the familiar stench of urine and feces and knew she had been incontinent again.
Tears streamed down Mrs. Tang’s face.
They were tears of contrition and tears of regret. But now, even if she cried herself blind, she was powerless to change anything.
Meanwhile, Qin Shanshan got her four thousand yuan and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Su Dan watched Qin Shanshan’s antics. Seeing how she could conjure up four thousand yuan with so little effort, he was once again in complete awe of her, thinking she was unbelievably capable.
Because of this four thousand yuan, Su Dan treasured Qin Shanshan even more.
Even Miao Fenghua toned it down a bit.
Miao Fenghua had been there for three days. She originally disliked Qin Shanshan, but for the sake of the pregnancy and her future grandchild, and because Su Dan liked her, she had no choice but to hold her nose and accept it.
This bad impression improved significantly after seeing Qin Shanshan secure four thousand yuan in one go.
With the money in hand, Qin Shanshan felt a rush of vindication. She finally agreed to go back to their hometown with Miao Fenghua and Su Dan.