Chapter 628: I

Late autumn is the most comfortable season of the four in the southern coastal city of Shengang.

The night grew dark, the balcony window was open, and the evening breeze blew gently, accompanied by the chirping of autumn cicadas. From downstairs, the voices of the residents in the complex drifted up from time to time; this old residential complex had more of a "human touch" than high-end residential areas.

Shen Yingying delivered a glass of milk to her son's room and only sat down on the sofa after coming out.

Shen Ci looked at her aunt. Although she looked fine, the fatigue between her brows was very obvious.

"Auntie, the results for your tumor aren't out yet?"

Shen Yingying nodded: "That's right, it'll be next week. It's also Guangrong's fault; he was in such a rush to tell you before things were settled, making you go through all this trouble for nothing."

"How can this be trouble for nothing? Guangrong did the right thing. If he hadn't said anything, would you have taken the initiative to tell me?" Shen Ci's tone held some resentment: "We moved to Longcheng, but aren't we still family? If you hide this kind of thing, my mom will be angry when she finds out."

However, hearing that the results weren't out yet, Shen Ci felt a slight sense of relief in her heart.

But she had already made up her mind: regardless of what the final result of her aunt's tumor was, she would definitely take her to Longcheng for treatment.

At this time, the clock was already pointing to nine in the evening, so Shen Ci couldn't help but ask: "Where's my uncle?"

"He went out to handle some business and should be back soon," Shen Yingying replied with an unnatural expression, and even tried to change the subject, looking at Shen Ci with concern: "Are you all doing well in Longcheng?"

This question was awkward, because her mother and aunt chatted via video every day, so her aunt knew very well how they were doing.

Shen Ci was used to observing expressions and could tell at a glance that her aunt was intentionally dodging something.

"Auntie, did something happen at home?"

Shen Yingying's expression stalled, and she shook her head: "Nothing, what could happen to us..."

Her aunt's personality had always been straightforward, and this awkward appearance was full of loopholes. Shen Ci shifted her butt to sit closer, and said calmly and unhurriedly: "I'm not stupid. Do you really think I can't tell?"

Shen Yingying looked up at her. Before she could speak, the sound of a key turning in the door lock came from the house.

He Bin returned at just the right time. Shen Yingying used this as an excuse to stand up: "Your uncle is back."

The door opened. Before He Bin had even entered, he was cursing: "Damn those profiteers, I don't know which door they ran out of today. We blocked them for a whole day and in the end, we didn't even catch a glimpse of them. If they don't show their faces tomorrow, we'll discuss rushing in."

Hearing this, Shen Yingying hurriedly patted him. He Bin, who was changing his shoes, looked up and saw his wife giving him a look.

He Bin turned his head following his wife's gaze and couldn't help but be stunned: "Eh? Aci!"

"Uncle."

Shen Ci called out, but she had heard every word of her uncle's rant just now.

"What's going on?" She asked, looking directly at her uncle.

He Bin looked at his wife, feeling at a loss, not knowing whether he should say it or not.

Seeing that it couldn't be hidden, Shen Yingying could only look at Aci and say: "It's not a big deal, Aci, you don't need to worry."

Shen Ci's face sank, and a fire flared up in her heart: "Auntie, Uncle, are you not treating me as family anymore?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, child?" Shen Yingying said anxiously: "Your uncle and I have always treated you like our own daughter since you were little."

"Then what are you doing hiding things now?" Shen Ci looked at the two of them and asked: "Do you have to make me find someone to investigate and take a detour?"

"Auntie didn't mean that." Seeing that Shen Ci was a bit angry, Shen Yingying finally softened and gave in: "Auntie will tell you. Sit down first, let's talk slowly, okay?"

Shen Ci nodded and went back to the sofa to sit down.

Shen Yingying sat next to her, while He Bin sat in the seat opposite.

Shen Ci stared straight at her aunt, waiting for her to speak.

Shen Yingying sighed softly and said: "A new residential complex on Liuhe Street opened for sale in the middle of the year. The street-front shops at the intersection were very popular, and your uncle and I had been eyeing them since the beginning of the year."

"In order to buy this shop, we took out a loan from the bank at the developer's suggestion, thinking about moving the roast meat shop there. It's not far from here, and the old customers in the neighborhood could get there by walking two blocks, so business would definitely not be a worry."

Shen Ci nodded as she listened. There was nothing wrong with this so far; her aunt and uncle's plans were normal.

"And then?"

He Bin hurriedly took over the conversation and continued: "Then, when we were handed over the property in the second half of the year, we were informed by the bank and the court that the shop had already been mortgaged by the developer before we took out the loan and paid the money."

"The developer owes money and won't pay it back, so the mortgaged property was seized by the court waiting for auction. And it wasn't just us; that whole row of street-front shops and many owners who bought residential units in the complex were also cheated."

"Now we owe the bank a loan, the property is still seized by the court, and this black-hearted developer is hiding and won't see anyone. It's been so long and there hasn't even been an explanation."

Shen Ci's brows furrowed tightly as she listened.

Shen Yingying pursed her lips and looked at He Bin with heartache: "Your uncle leaves early and returns late, squatting downstairs at the developer's office every day with the people in the rights-protection group, just wanting a solution. We don't want the shop anymore, but we're carrying this loan too unjustly."

"How much money did you borrow?" Shen Ci asked.

The two looked at each other. Since things had reached this point, Shen Yingying simply didn't hide it anymore: "The shop isn't big, we borrowed a total of less than 200."

With Shengang's housing prices, plus the location of her aunt's house, a shop area of 200-plus would probably be at most about 60 square meters.

"Your aunt didn't think about anything else. This roast meat shop has been open for so many years, and the business and income are stable, but the shop isn't our own after all," He Bin explained to Shen Ci: "It just so happened that we encountered such a suitable place, with a good location and price, so your aunt and I thought about buying it, at least it would be our own shop."

"Aci, don't tell your mom, don't let her worry," Shen Yingying held Shen Ci's hand and instructed.

Shen Ci shook her head helplessly: "How long can you hide it? Auntie, Uncle, this matter is very troublesome. The developer's priority is definitely to deal with the bank and the court. How would they have time to care about you victims? Squabbling with them might take who knows how long. Auntie is sick now, if you spend all your energy on this kind of thing, how will you live your life?"

How could He Bin not know this truth?

"I know, but with so much money put in, we haven't gained anything and are still carrying a loan of over 200. You tell me, how can we just let this go?"

"It's not letting it go," Shen Ci gripped her aunt's hand: "I'll handle it!" ===== CHAPTER 629 =====