Ch 104: Injustice For Him

Zhuang Lingyun stayed with her. A short while later, Xiao Wenxing returned, asking Xiao Yao and Zhuang Lingyun to go out for dinner. He had gone out to buy takeaway food.

Xiao Yao didn’t have much of an appetite, but she hadn’t eaten anything and was a little hungry. Most importantly, Zhuang Lingyun; he didn’t know if he had eaten lunch, and he had been busy attending to her. His stomach had been injured some time ago, and he couldn’t go hungry.

After leaving the room with Zhuang Lingyun, they found that only Third Uncle and Third Aunt were left in the living room, their heads drooping, their faces full of worry. Those strong men had left at some point.

Xiao Yao glanced around. Zhuang Lingyun suddenly said, “They haven’t left.”

“How do you know?”

Zhuang Lingyun nodded towards the shoe cabinet by the door. Xiao Yao understood, and glanced at the tightly closed master bedroom door. These people were squatting in their house, having pushed the owners into the living room.

Xiao Wenxing bought seven or eight dishes, as well as rice and steamed buns. He set them on the table and invited Xiao Jianbo and his wife to eat.

Five people sat at the table. Xiao Jianbo poured himself a full cup of Baijiu and asked Zhuang Lingyun if he wanted some. Before Zhuang Lingyun could answer, Xiao Yao quickly said, “His stomach isn’t good; he can’t drink strong alcohol. Third Uncle, you drink it yourself.”

Xiao Wenxing coldly glanced at Zhuang Lingyun. Zhuang Lingyun also looked at him, a sneer playing on his lips.

This brief eye contact went unnoticed by the others.

Xiao Jianbo didn’t press the matter. He sighed, put the Baijiu pot down by his feet, and said to Xiao Yao and Zhuang Lingyun, “I apologize for the inconvenience. Yaoyao, please don’t mind. After this is over, Third Uncle will treat you both to a big meal. The local Big Plate Chicken is very special.”

Xiao Yao shook her head. “Third Uncle, I’m here to see Grandmother; I’m not picky. You and Third Aunt should eat too. You both look much thinner than last time.”

Third Aunt also sighed. “With such an unfilial son, how could we not lose weight? It’s good that he hasn’t killed us. If only Jiang Yu were half as sensible as Wenxing, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Xiao Wenxing was scooping rice into his mouth with a rice bowl. When he heard this, his movements paused, but he quickly continued to eat as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t eaten for days and nights.

Xiao Jianbo smiled wryly with a worried face. “He wasn’t raised by us, but he is our son. It’s fate that we didn’t raise him. Now that this has happened, we, as his parents, can’t just stand by. Even if we have to grit our teeth, we have to shoulder this burden. It’s unavoidable.”

Since the topic was brought up, Xiao Yao directly asked, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, what exactly happened? You’re not calling the police? Are you going to be blocked in your home every day, unable to do anything?”

Xiao Jianbo shook his head and sighed as he recounted the events.

It turned out that Jiang Yu had partnered with others to do private lending in Xinjiang. In the early years, the business was good, and the income was considerable. Then, he and his partners planned to expand their business, and he took two million yuan from home. However, somehow, they became involved in an illegal lottery, gambling. How many times did he win?

He gambled big, losing everything twice.

Originally, Xiao Jianbo didn’t know about the illegal lottery. He thought Jiang Yu had lost his business and didn’t blame him; instead, he encouraged him. He later gave him money several times, totaling more than 500,000 yuan, allowing the dejected Jiang Yu to maintain his life.

Filling this bottomless pit, he still felt guilty about his long-lost son. He would have given more than two million yuan.

Until one time, he learned that Jiang Yu had used the family’s blood and sweat money to gamble. Xiao Jianbo was furious and had a big argument with Jiang Yu, and their father-son relationship cracked.

Later, Jiang Yu stopped asking the family for money. A year ago, Jiang Yu somehow made a comeback, his business booming. He lived in a mansion, changed luxury cars every few days, and personally apologized, returning the money he owed Xiao Jianbo.

The family thought their son would finally succeed, but more than a month ago, the group of people in the inner room suddenly came to their door, asking about Jiang Yu’s whereabouts.

Xiao Jianbo didn’t know what had happened and searched for Jiang Yu everywhere, but he couldn’t find him.

One day, Jiang Yu suddenly returned and asked for two million yuan, saying he needed to lay low.

After Xiao Jianbo repeatedly questioned him, Jiang Yu said that he and his partner had pooled money for lending. The business was booming with high profits, but his partner suddenly absconded with more than ten million yuan.

Others came to him for the money, and he had no choice but to lay low.

Xiao Jianbo eventually gave him the money. After that, he never saw his son again. The old couple still thought Jiang Yu was innocent, but through their inquiries and investigations, Xiao Jianbo suddenly discovered that there was no partner at all!

Jiang Yu had squandered the more than ten million yuan himself. The frequently changing luxury cars, the mansion, the women he supported—his seemingly affluent life came from this.

Now, creditors are constantly at their door, saying that Jiang Yu must either return the money or they will call the police, as the fraud charges would send him to prison for life.

Xiao Jianbo almost turned gray overnight. After much thought, he and his wife decided to sell everything they owned, even if it meant selling blood or kidneys, to fill the hole and prevent Jiang Yu from going to the police station.

However, their entire assets were less than five million yuan. The old couple had no choice but to ask Xiao Wenxing for help.

Xiao Wenxing, considering their years of raising him, had no choice but to use all his assets, less than one million yuan; rounding up, it would only cover half.

This house now belongs to Xiao Wenxing. The family of four has been crowded here for a few days, but the creditors are afraid they will run away and follow them, determined to stay until the full amount is repaid.

After hearing this, Xiao Yao felt a sense of injustice and couldn’t help but ask, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, you love your son, that’s true. But have you ever thought about Xiao Wenxing? Jiang Yu caused this trouble himself, yet Xiao Wenxing has to bear the burden of repayment. He’s not even married, and now he’s burdened with debt along with you. How will he live the rest of his life? Even if there is gratitude for raising him, it is only towards you, not Jiang Yu.”

As soon as Xiao Yao said this, everyone at the table was stunned.

Zhuang Lingyun raised his eyebrows, looking at her. Although he thought Jiang Yu was entirely at fault and Xiao Jianbo’s couple were too biased, he didn’t expect Xiao Yao to speak up for Xiao Wenxing, and so frankly.

Xiao Wenxing was shocked, with rice grains clinging to his lips. He looked at Xiao Yao blankly. He accepted his fate; even though it was unfair, he had received twenty-odd years of paternal and maternal love and upbringing from Xiao Jianbo and his wife, so he had accepted his life.

But he didn’t expect Xiao Yao to speak up for him. Suddenly, his eyes felt hot. Xiao Wenxing lowered his head, looking at the rice in his bowl, his voice choked.

Xiao Jianbo and his wife looked at each other and fell silent.

“It’s all our fault. Wenxing is not responsible, but unfortunately, he grew up in our family and was dragged down…”

“Wenxing, Mom is sorry.”

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