When Chen Lifei heard her words, her eyes lit up: "I'll go up the mountain and tell Uncle Hu Si and the others in a moment."
...
Chen Baozhu and Liu Xiaobao originally thought that luck would allow them to win back all the money they lost. However, their ideals were grand, but reality delivered a harsh blow.
After playing for an entire night, both were completely blinded by their losses.
"Who can lend me some money? I'll definitely return it if I win." Chen Baozhu's beard was disheveled, and heavy sleep crusts clung to his eyes.
"Forget it. We've been playing with you all night. We're exhausted and need to go home and sleep." One of them roughly gathered the pile of money in front of him, stuffed it into his pocket, and got up to leave.
Anyone who won money would be a fool to lend them more.
Chen Baozhu and Liu Xiaobao had become notorious throughout the villages. No one knew when the money they lent out would be repaid. The money they had won today was enough to celebrate a prosperous new year.
Seeing the other person leave, another also got up.
Chen Baozhu grew anxious: "Damn it, you win and leave. Who the hell will play with you again in the future?"
"We've all played with you for a night. Let's wait until you get some money first," the other replied, then swaggered away.
"Brother Zhu, we have to repay Zhu Lao Liu's money today, we..." Liu Xiaobao said, irritably grabbing his messy, bird's-nest-like hair.
"No money, only life. Will he dare to kill us?"
Chen Baozhu said nonchalantly. The two then swaggered home to catch up on sleep.
"Where have you been for the past two days? Your wife also went back to her parents' home for several days. Go pick her up today."
Chen Mancang, seeing him finally return, reprimanded him with a stern face.
"I haven't slept well for the past two days. I'm going back to sleep first. We'll talk about everything after I wake up." Chen Baozhu impatiently dropped a sentence and headed into the room.
Chen Mancang was so angry he slammed the table: "You scoundrel, what kind of attitude is that?"
"There's no rush to pick her up. If the child is tired, let him sleep. It's the same if you pick her up after he wakes up."
Seeing her eldest grandson being lectured, Old Mrs. Chen quickly defended him: "Besides, Xiao Ying is also wrong. No matter what, Baozhu is her man, and they have a child. Running back to her parents' home all the time, what is she, a celestial fairy? I think it's just a spoiled bad habit. It's right not to pick her up. Does she think she can live at her parents' home forever? Let's see who becomes the laughingstock in the end. Don't beg us to pick her up then."
"Mom, look at his behavior. He's over thirty, useless at everything, and he's gambled away all the land. He's been gambling for five years. After cleaning up his mess, he acts like nothing happened. The whole family has to starve with him!"
"Baozhu was just temporarily bewitched. His nature isn't bad. If you talk to him properly, he'll definitely change." Her grandson, whom she had doted on since childhood, was even displeasing to her when her son spoke ill of him.
Zhang Chunhua also advised, "Husband, forget it. Baozhu is in a bad mood now, and he won't listen to anything you say. Talk to him properly after he wakes up."
"If he listened properly, he wouldn't be acting like this." Chen Mancang got up impatiently and turned to walk towards the door.
Seeing this, Zhang Chunhua quickly asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going out for some fresh air," Chen Mancang replied without looking back and left.
Chen Baozhu didn't know how long he slept. He vaguely heard shouting outside, and the sound of a child crying. Annoyed, he turned over. Suddenly, he felt lighter as the quilt covering him was abruptly thrown aside.
Immediately, Chen Mancang's almost roaring voice filled his ears: "Beast, tell me, what have you been doing outside again?"
Chen Baozhu blinked in confusion before sitting up, saying indifferently, "Just playing cards. What's wrong?"
"Playing cards? The creditors are at the door! Get out immediately!" Chen Mancang said through gritted teeth.
Outside, Zhu Lao Liu sat at the table with four or five men, holding the IOU signed and thumb-printed by Chen Baozhu.
"No money? This house looks alright, barely habitable. Six hundred yuan in total. If you can't repay it, hand over the house as collateral."
"You talk nonsense! If anyone dares to touch this house, this old woman will fight them to the death!" Old Mrs. Chen immediately jumped up and cursed.
Zhu Lao Liu said with a stern face, "Old lady, stop being unreasonable. Your grandson explicitly stated this in black and white, and if you can't repay it, hand over the house as collateral. We are not unreasonable people. If you really don't want to repay, you can break his arm, and this matter will be settled today."
Chen Baozhu came out and heard this, almost wetting himself.
Old Mrs. Chen and Zhang Chunhua were also startled.
"We absolutely cannot break his arm. Baozhu is young. What will he do if he becomes disabled? Why don't you give us a few more days? We will definitely repay the money owed." Old Mrs. Chen immediately changed her tune and pleaded.
Her words as an old woman didn't count. Zhu Lao Liu turned to Chen Mancang: "What do you say? Do you acknowledge this debt or not?"
Chen Mancang's face was flushed with anger, and he remained silent for a long time.
"Dad, Dad, I was wrong. It was just a momentary lapse of judgment. You must save me!" Seeing them approaching him, Chen Baozhu panicked and grabbed Chen Mancang's arm, begging.
"You guys go back first. I'll gather the money and send it to you in the next couple of days."
"Alright, I'm reassured with your word. I won't charge interest for the delay. But don't try any tricks. You can ask around about who I, Zhu Lao Liu, am. Everyone in the ten miles around knows. If you don't repay, you won't have a peaceful life."
Zhu Lao Liu left with his men, still needing to go to Liu Xiaobao's house.
The monk might run, but the temple wouldn't. He wasn't in a hurry.
"You scoundrel!" Only when he saw the people leave did Chen Mancang angrily raise his hand and slap Chen Baozhu across the face.
"Husband!" Seeing her son's rapidly reddening cheek, Zhang Chunhua felt both angry and heartbroken.
"Dad, my second uncle's family has money. Only they can save me now. It's only six hundred yuan, which is nothing to them. Go and talk to him. I'm his only nephew in our Chen family. He'll definitely lend it to us."
As if grabbing a lifeline, Chen Baozhu's eyes blazed with intense light.
Hearing his words, Zhang Chunhua's mind stirred: "Yes, yes. Our family has no money, but Lishu has money. She has a shop in town. And Liyuan works in a big factory in the provincial capital, earning a good few dozen a month. If that's not enough, selling a couple of pigs from the mountain can also raise six hundred."
Chen Mancang's tense expression relaxed slightly. He glanced at Old Mrs. Chen and deliberately said, "Last time this beast gambled away the land, my second brother didn't say anything. This time it's six hundred yuan. Do you really think my face is that influential?"
Chen Baozhu rushed to Old Mrs. Chen's side and pleaded, "Grandma, go and talk to Second Uncle. He listens to you the most. You can't watch your eldest grandson have an arm broken, can you?"