Chapter 33: Going to Repay the Debt

Mei Yueqin blinked: "You're holding a grudge against Dad?"

Wu An shook his head: "No, I don't blame Dad for kicking me out of the house."

You see, Dad just said he was cutting ties with me, then turned around and told me to come home; outsiders would think what of Dad, they'd definitely say his words are bullshit behind his back.

You and Brother bring me food and drink every day; I bet the village will start gossiping.

I don't want outsiders to keep poking Dad, or you and Brother's backbone, because of me.

When one day I achieve something and everyone knows I've turned over a new leaf, coming home then won't be too late.

Mei Yueqin looked surprised, then smiled with relief: "Thinking like that shows you've really grown up."

Okay.

I'll listen to you.

I'll tidy up your room nice and clean, so you can sleep comfortably whenever you come back.

Wu An nodded: "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Then he continued to bow his head and shovel rice.

Mei Yueqin saw him wolfing down his food, was also very pleased, and hurriedly said: "Eat slowly, eat slowly."

As long as you like eating, that's fine.

Wu An nodded, still shoveling big mouthfuls of rice, eating it clean, then simply rinsed it and handed it to Mei Yueqin; noticing Mei Yueqin's hand had some cracks, he frowned and asked: "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with your hand?"

Mei Yueqin smiled: "Nothing much, maybe from touching water all day."

It's fine, it doesn't hurt.

Watching Mei Yueqin walk away, Wu An didn't say anything.

Living by the sea, year-round wind and sun make people rough; not to mention hands, even faces lack any concept of care; over time, everyone's hands and feet develop some joint rheumatism or similar ailments, making them look like they're in their fifties or sixties, though their actual age might only be thirty or forty.

He happened to be going to town soon, so he'd stop by the pharmacy to ask, buy some hand ointment to send to his sister-in-law.

After a while, A Qing arrived, also bringing a bag of ice pops.

Wait a moment, I'll get the money.

Wu An lifted the mat; a bedful of red banknotes was especially conspicuous—fishing and gathering seafood, these two days he really hadn't made little money, loose change and whole sums, now the bed holds a total of thirteen thousand seven hundred fifty yuan!

Enough to pay off the high-interest loan!

Wu An let out a long sigh; the stone weighing on his heart could soon be moved aside and tossed away.

He gathered the money into a thick stack.

Grasped in his hand, it still felt substantial.

These days, this money could buy quite a bit of gold.

Wait a moment.

Gold!

Right.

He remembered that in his previous life gold had risen to over six hundred per gram; now it's 2012, gold should be only two or three hundred per gram.

Now is the time to buy and stock up; it's absolutely a sure profit, no loss.

And there's the house!

If you have money, it's definitely more worthwhile than keeping it in the bank.

Outside the curtain, A Qing asked: "Brother, are you done? The ice pops are about to melt."

Wu An came to his senses and replied: "All right, all right."

The money earned these two days is not small, but after paying off the high-interest loan, there probably won't be much left.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help cursing himself as an idiot.

Back when he borrowed the high-interest loan, he didn't even check the interest rate; he just heard they could lend him ten thousand yuan, so he didn't care about anything else and signed the IOU without even looking.

He didn't expect much conscience from those who give high-interest loans.

Even if the high-interest loan's interest rate is outrageous, the original term was one year with monthly repayments; he's paying it all off in less than a month, so the interest shouldn't be much.

Wu An wryly smiled to himself; who let him make the mistake—what could he do but endure it?

No matter what.

At least now there's a chance to correct the mistake; he no longer dares to hope for too much.

Leaving the house and closing the door, the two of them headed straight for town.

No transportation, so they had to go on foot; luckily they had ice pops, they walked and ate while chatting, and it was actually okay.

On the road they met neighbor Lao Meng, who cheerfully greeted: "Hey, Erzi, A Qing, what are you two up to?"

A Qing, quick-talked: "Going to town to have fun, buy some stuff."

Wu An returned the greeting, saying: "I'm not the one who recently borrowed a high-interest loan, intending to pay it back."

Lao Meng glared: "Where did you get the money?"

The whole village says you made money gathering seafood; can you really make that much?

Wu An smiled: "Just good luck."

Uncle Meng, if you get a chance, say a few good words about me to my dad.

Saying that, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and stuffed it into Lao Meng's hand.

Lao Meng had basically watched him grow up since childhood; though not a relative, their relationship was good, and he always looked out for him; the last time Wu An's father flew into a rage and wanted to beat him to death, it was Lao Meng who protected him, so he only got hit with two sticks.

Lao Meng and Wu Yingwei often drank together; this man talks more when drunk, so he proactively said these things to Lao Meng; if Lao Meng helped speak a few good words, it wouldn't make the father calm down, but at least hearing it would make him feel a bit better.

Lao Meng looked at the cigarette in his hand, laughing so hard his mouth couldn't close: "Okay, not bad, you're making progress."

No need for you to say it; I'll also add a few words—your dad knowing will definitely be pleased.

Take this cigarette back with you.

Wu An smiled and said, "I quit."

"I remember you liked smoking cigarettes."

"Let's stop chatting; we need to hurry on the road, if we don't hurry, by the time we get back it'll probably be dark."

Lao Meng turned his head and looked.

Wu An has changed, not so restless, looking much steadier.

He lowered his head to look at the cigarette in his hand, surprised and murmuring, "This really is the prodigal son returning?"

Since Wu An this brat went bad, every time I saw him, I greeted him warmly and even took his cigarettes and lighter; now he actually proactively gives me cigarettes—it's like the sun rising in the west.

He hurried home, waiting for Wu Yingwei to return so he could properly tell him about this.

In the village, there are no secrets.

Not long after, the whole village was discussing how Wu An and A Qing had reformed, diligently going out to sea twice a day, luck was good, they made good money selling seafood, and sensibly sent seafood home.

Many villagers were half-believing, half-doubting.

Has that rascal truly reformed?

……

It was past three in the afternoon, the sun had already slanted west, yet it was still strong, bathing everything in a blinding white, making even squinting eyes feel uncomfortable.

Wu An quickly found a small shop, bought two bottles of Scream, each took one, drank them all in one go, burped, and only then felt alive.

A Qing wiped the sweat from his face: "Brother, which way should we go?"

From the east end of town all the way to the west end, the two arrived in front of a three-story small building; Wu An said: "A Qing, go wait for me at the opposite shop."

"If I don't come out within ten minutes, call the police."

A Qing's face changed: "Brother, you're not going to repay a debt, how could there still be danger?"

Wu An smiled and said: "Better safe than sorry."

"All right."

"If nothing unexpected happens, there won't be any unexpected incidents."

After saying that, he patted A Qing's shoulder, greeted the tattooed man sitting on the lounge chair by the gate, the iron door opened, and he followed the tattooed man upstairs.