So, better not accept their help.
Even though he was in a bind now.
He couldn’t even empathize with his past self—how had he agreed to something so absurd?
Tao Zhi buried his face in the blanket, suppressing his fluttering heart, and sighed silently.
Once composed, he propped his head up again.
“It’s fine, Brother Fu.” Tao Zhi mustered energy. “I’ll figure it out myself.”
“Today’s just a fluke. It won’t happen again.”
After all, loans had repayment timelines.
They weren’t due yet.
Second Aunt was an exception.
In the future, he and Tao Tao could just block relatives on Moments.
“Whatever you want.” Fu Si Heng didn’t push, just said, “Tell me anytime if you need it.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tao Zhi nodded at the phone. “Got it. Thanks, Brother Fu.”
–
The next day.
In Tao Zhi’s hometown, the custom was to start New Year’s visits at six in the morning, hitting every house until around ten.
Tao Zhi and Tao Tao went together, while their parents stayed home.
When they returned, two more guests were there.
Third Uncle and Third Aunt.
Tao Zhi saw them sitting in the living room with unfriendly expressions and felt his eyelid twitch.
Tao Tao did too. She called out “Dad,” and Tao Father, seeing them back, immediately shooed them upstairs to rest and forbade them from listening.
They went up, but the house wasn’t soundproof.
The siblings soon heard one-sided arguing. Tao Zhi was a bit dazed, while Tao Tao quietly slipped downstairs.
Half an hour later, she returned and spilled the gossip to Tao Zhi.
“Second Aunt blabbed. During visits, she said we repaid the money.”
“She told Third Aunt you paid so readily, must’ve made big money outside. Said university students are amazing—you haven’t even graduated and earned this much.”
“Dad and Mom said no, that you’re just a student saving from part-time jobs.”
“Third Uncle doesn’t buy it. He cursed Dad, saying if we have money, pay them first.”
“We owe them the most and longest—three years. Can’t push them back just because it’s more. Pay what you can.”
“They need money too, want to buy a house.”
“Dad and Mom didn’t know how to respond.” Tao Tao sat in the upstairs living room, propping her face with her hands and sighing heavily. “Second Aunt’s so annoying, blabbing and causing trouble.”
“Maybe she slipped up.” Tao Zhi said quietly after a moment. “Forgot to remind her yesterday.”
“So, Third Uncle wants Mom and Dad to pay up?” Tao Zhi asked.
“No idea.” Tao Tao scratched her face. “He’s just making a fuss downstairs. You heard it too.”
“Who’d believe a university student earns over 200,000 in a semester?” Tao Tao pouted unhappily, muttering softly.
“It’s fine, Bro.” Tao Tao comforted Tao Zhi. “They’ll leave after fussing.”
Everyone knew this, so parents sent them upstairs to avoid arguments.
Tao Zhi’s parents were honest folk. They felt grateful for the uncles’ help when money was needed before and believed enduring it was right—debtors had to bow their heads.
They understood and had dealt with it before.
But Tao Zhi couldn’t help imagining his parents’ awkwardness now.
Head down, scolded, explaining, but ignored.
Even at Grandpa and Grandma’s later, over dinner, it’d be rehashed.
And it would turn to Mom somehow.
If Mom hadn’t gotten sick, this wouldn’t happen. Might as well divorce.
But who controls illness?
Dad could only stay silent, smoking while they shooed them from the table.
If Third Uncle was in a bad mood and drunk, he’d curse Dad in front of all the relatives: pay up quick, or marry off the daughter for bride price. No need for school— one university student was enough.
Age didn’t matter; take the money and reserve her. Could marry at 16, hold the banquet first.
Men’s drunken words at the table weren’t serious, especially since Tao Tao was only in sixth grade last year.
But that midnight, Tao Tao sneaked into his room, knelt by his bed, and asked, “Brother, Dad wouldn’t do that, right? I’m still little.”
“Of course not, but I can’t sleep.”
Knowing he wouldn’t still brought unease.
Tao Zhi glanced sideways at his sister.
Tao Tao was picking at her nails, lost in thought.
The voices downstairs weren’t clear, but hearing his name occasionally made Tao Tao’s lashes tremble. She remembered last year’s eavesdropped words.
Tao Zhi patted his sister’s head and looked down at the phone in his palm.
On impulse, he opened the chat with Fu Zheng.
The expired transfers—enough combined to lift their family out of hardship.
Tao Zhi truly wavered, wild thoughts uncontrollably surging.
He wasn’t without options.
…
When Tao Zhi called, Fu Si Heng was at Wei Yu’s house, accompanying his mother.
S City’s weather had been good those days; the snow was melting.
The two elders chatted over tea in the courtyard, while Fu Si Heng sat on Wei Yu’s sofa, listening to his little boyfriend stammer out his request.
Lend money, 200,000, would repay.
Fu Si Heng agreed. After hanging up, he received Tao Zhi’s bank card info.
Fu Si Heng transferred the money. Wei Yu saw and frowned deeply. “What are you doing? Isn’t he your brother’s guy? And you’re sending him money?”
“Mm.”
Wei Yu: “?”
Hey, bro, what are you ‘mm’-ing? Did you forget something?
No way.
It’s just like that?
Around New Year’s, he’d sensed something off, but Fu Si Heng had seemed rational then, strategizing confidently.
So he’d enjoyed the show.
Now?
This is all wrong!
A young university student asking for 200,000—shouldn’t you wonder if Fu Zheng put him up to it?
Wei Yu tried to remind him. “Forgot he approached you with an agenda?”
“I remember.” Fu Si Heng found Wei Yu noisy.
“But you don’t get it—he has his reasons.”
Wei Yu: “?”
Do you hear yourself?
