Chapter 1945

Su Xiaoqing was already waiting downstairs; seeing him come down, she quickly stepped forward to meet him. Zhang Zhiqiang looked at her in confusion: "Auntie Su, is there something you need from me?"

Su Xiaoqing smiled and shook her head: "Xiao Zhang, I indeed have something I want to discuss with you today."

"Oh, then please go ahead first."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and walked toward the staircase. Zhang Zhiqiang followed behind her.

Arriving on the second floor, Su Xiaoqing pointed to the living room sofa: "Xiao Zhang, let's sit down and talk."

"Alright, Auntie Su."

Su Xiaoqing sat on the sofa, and Zhang Zhiqiang sat on the other side. He took out his cigarette pack, handed a cigarette to Su Xiaoqing, then took out a matchbox, struck a match, and lit it for her.

However, Su Xiaoqing took the cigarette but did not smoke it; instead, she pushed it back into his hand and said with a smile: "Xiao Zhang, the reason Auntie came this time is mainly to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

Su Xiaoqing sighed: "Sigh, actually it's about an old matter from years ago. This matter involves your father. He once owed usury loans."

"Paying back debts is only right and proper," Zhang Zhiqiang said. "Auntie Su, do you want me to pay off his debt for him?"

Su Xiaoqing nodded. "Yes. To be honest with you, our family has been in very difficult circumstances these past years. This time, the pressure to repay his debt became too intense, so we were forced to demand he pay it back."

Zhang Zhiqiang thought for a moment and said: "Auntie Su, since you have brought this up, there must be difficulties. Just say it, how much money do you need?"

Su Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Five million."

Zhang Zhiqiang was startled: "Five million? Auntie Su, that's far too much, isn't it? What kind of work does your son do?"

Su Xiaoqing explained: "Xiao Zhang, my son used to be a designer too. But after graduation, he didn't continue his studies. Our family was poor, and it was hard for him to find work. So we forced him to sell the house to get startup funds. He really couldn't stand it anymore, so he agreed to borrow five million yuan from the usury lenders. But those people didn't trust him, forcing us into a corner, so we had no choice but to come to you."

Zhang Zhiqiang frowned: "Usury is an illegal and criminal activity; it's truly baffling that it has been able to run rampant in this country for so long."

Su Xiaoqing said: "Yes! Xiao Zhang, your father owed usury loans for so many years. Although he didn't get the death penalty, he was sentenced to eight years, and now he has four years of his sentence remaining. We truly have no other way. So we had to swallow our pride and come to you for help. Please do not find it troublesome. I know it is difficult for you to come up with five million at once. We can pay three million as a deposit first, and repay the rest to you after the four-year waiting period. This is our only option; we will definitely make up the full amount."

Zhang Zhiqiang pondered for a long while and said: "Auntie Su, I'm afraid I cannot repay this money for the time being. Our company just suffered a massive blow; the financial crisis is severe. Even guaranteeing employee wages and living expenses is a problem. I simply have no way to raise so much money right now. Could you perhaps wait a bit? Once our company gets through this difficult period, or we find a better project, I will consider repaying this money."

Su Xiaoqing made a bitter face, shook her head, and said: "Xiao Zhang, you are underestimating us too much! Since we dared to come to you, we are not afraid of you defaulting on the debt!"

Zhang Zhiqiang still politely refused her.

Su Xiaoqing sighed and said: "Alright, it seems we have no fate to be friends. Anyway, thank you for your help."

After seeing Su Xiaoqing off, Zhang Zhiqiang sat on the sofa in a daze. Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped his forehead. He was truly confused. There was clearly a more suitable candidate; why take the risk of borrowing from usury lenders?

Zhang Zhiqiang picked up his phone and dialed his wife Yang Mei's number.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered. Yang Mei asked anxiously: "Where are you? The child is sick and hospitalized. I'm at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Can you come back earlier?"

"Alright, wait for me at the hospital for a moment." Zhang Zhiqiang hung up the phone and hurriedly rushed to the hospital.

Arriving at the bedside, he saw Yang Mei leaning over the bed, weeping.