Chapter 56: Borrowing Money

Sihe Academy

Cao Cao Weiguo helped Lou Xiao'e take the dead-drunk Xu Xu Damao home.

This guy didn't have much of a tolerance for alcohol, but he had a big craving for it; cup after cup, no amount of persuasion could stop him.

"Cao Weiguo!"

Just as Cao Cao Weiguo returned from the Xu house, Grandma Du from the west courtyard arrived at the door with her five-year-old grandson.

"Grandma Du, why didn't you come in when you got to the door? Come inside quickly."

"Hello, Grandma Du. Is this your child? He's so cute."

Cao Cao Weiguo politely invited Grandma Du into the room.

Song Song Yulan looked affectionately at the sturdy little boy.

The little boy stared fixedly at the sumptuous food on the table, clutching his grandmother's hand, swallowing hard.

Cao Cao Weiguo noticed the little boy's situation and said with a smile, "Grandma Du, this is Xiao Fei, right? He's growing so fast."

Although he didn't interact much with the courtyard, Cao Cao Weiguo wasn't deaf to the world outside his window.

He had some understanding of the residents in the courtyard.

Everyone would greet each other when they met.

Grandma Du felt a sudden sense of relief seeing Cao Cao Weiguo's enthusiasm.

Hearing Cao Cao Weiguo's question, she hurriedly said to the child, "Xiao Fei, hurry and call him Uncle."

The little boy politely called out "Uncle," and Cao Cao Weiguo said with a gentle smile, "Xiao Fei, haven't you had lunch yet? How about eating at Uncle's place?"

Grandma Du also saw the food on the table and couldn't help but swallow hard.

Aside from attending Cao Cao Weiguo's wedding banquet, even during the New Year, their family had never eaten such a sumptuous meal.

Grandma Du said in a low voice, "Thank you, Cao Weiguo, we've already eaten."

Cao Cao Weiguo said with a smile, "Even if you've eaten, have a little more. Let Xiao Fei taste if my cooking is good."

Song Song Yulan said with a smile, "That's right, Grandma Du. You and Xiao Fei sit down and eat something."

Hearing both of them speak, Grandma Du finally led her grandson to sit down nervously.

Song Song Yulan brought over chopsticks, and Cao Cao Weiguo picked up a piece of stewed meat for Xiao Fei. ===== CHAPTER 100 =====

Looking at the meat in the bowl, Xiao Fei looked at his grandmother with longing.

Grandma Du said with a heavy heart, "Uncle picked it for you, so eat it. But you must thank Uncle."

Xiao Fei looked happily at Cao Cao Weiguo: "Thank you, Uncle."

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed, "Xiao Fei is very polite. Eat up."

Xiao Fei happily began to eat in big mouthfuls; in his memory, he had never eaten such delicious meat.

"Slow down, there's more here."

Seeing Xiao Fei's way of eating, Cao Cao Weiguo picked up another chopstick of vegetables for him.

Grandma Du was an adult after all; even though she was hungry and craving food, she only ate a little bit of vegetables.

"Cao Weiguo, I came here this time because I have something to ask of you."

Reluctantly putting down her chopsticks, Grandma Du said to Cao Cao Weiguo with embarrassment.

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "Grandma Du, what's this about asking? Just tell me what you need."

Grandma Du said in a low voice, "Cao Weiguo, could you lend my family fifty Brother Yuan? I will write an IOU, and my family will definitely pay it back."

She had already borrowed from everyone in the Sihe Academy, but no one would lend to her.

Although they were all neighbors and got along well, no one had it easy these days, and everyone was trying to stretch every penny.

Having no other choice, she came to find Cao Cao Weiguo with the attitude of just trying her luck.

After Grandma Du finished speaking, she looked at Cao Cao Weiguo, then at Song Song Yulan.

She said with little confidence, "If you don't have any spare money, it doesn't matter."

Cao Cao Weiguo asked, "Grandma Du, can you tell me what you need the money for?"

Fifty Brother Yuan was not a small amount.

Many workers didn't even earn fifty Brother Yuan a month.

Grandma Du's eyes immediately turned red: "Jin Peng got into an argument with someone outside and impulsively injured them. If we don't pay the medical expenses, they're going to report it to the authorities."

Lu Jinpeng was Grandma Du's son, the only seedling of the Lu family, five years older than Cao Cao Weiguo.

Due to family background issues, Lu Jinpeng had never had a formal job and could only carry heavy loads at the flour mill, doing bitter and tiring temporary work.

Cao Cao Weiguo asked, "Is the injury serious?"

Fighting and brawling in this era were not small matters; once reported, it meant detention at best, and prison at worst.

Most importantly, having a criminal record meant facing discrimination everywhere.

Grandma Du shook her head hurriedly: "Not serious, just a swollen face, no other injuries."

Cao Cao Weiguo knew Lu Jinpeng; although they didn't interact much, he had heard of him.

This person had an introverted and dull personality, was filial and hardworking, and supported the whole family by carrying heavy loads; his reputation in the courtyard was quite good.

Cao Cao Weiguo looked at Song Song Yulan: "Wife, bring over fifty Brother Yuan."

"Mm!"

Song Song Yulan was unwilling, but since the head of the household had spoken, she wouldn't oppose him in front of an outsider.

Grandma Du stood up and bowed gratefully: "Thank you, Cao Weiguo, thank you, Cao Weiguo."

Cao Cao Weiguo hurriedly supported Grandma Du: "Grandma Du, I know Brother Jinpeng is a good person, and your family are all honest people. If you encounter difficulties, I'll help if I can."

Song Song Yulan obediently took out five ten-Brother Yuan notes from the room.

She wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't, handing the money to Cao Cao Weiguo with reluctance.

Cao Cao Weiguo stuffed the money into Grandma Du's hand: "Grandma Du, take the money."

Grandma Du clutched the money gratefully: "Thank you, Cao Weiguo, I'll write you an IOU right now."

She really hadn't expected that the one to help her family in this courtyard would be Cao Cao Weiguo.

Cao Cao Weiguo didn't put on airs or decline; he took out paper and a pen from the drawer.

The Lu family used to be large landowners, and Grandma Du had once been a young lady of a wealthy family.

She wrote the IOU meticulously, the handwriting clear and elegant.

Cao Cao Weiguo put away the IOU, and Grandma Du hurriedly took her grandson and said goodbye.

"How could you just lend out so much money?"

Once Grandma Du was far away, Song Song Yulan couldn't help but speak up.

That was fifty Brother Yuan!

In the countryside, a strong laborer couldn't save that much money even after working hard for a year.

Cao Cao Weiguo held his wife's hand: "Wife, the Lu family is having a hard time because of their background, but Lu Jinpeng is a good person, filial and honest. This money won't be lost."

The Lu family relied entirely on Lu Jinpeng to support them.

If something happened to him, the Lu family would be finished.

Song Song Yulan hummed unhappily: "Hmph, I hope you haven't misjudged the person. That's fifty Brother Yuan; you're too reckless."

Lu Household

Grandma Du handed the money to her daughter-in-law and hurried to the flour mill.

At the flour mill, she handed the money to the victim, and the victim, having received the money, kept their promise and went to the security department.

In front of the section chief, they signed a reconciliation agreement, and Lu Jinpeng was released by the security department.

"Mom, where did our family get the money?"

Walking out of the flour mill, Lu Jinpeng asked with a face full of shame.

Grandma Du said earnestly: "This money was borrowed from Cao Cao Weiguo. You must remember this favor; even if you have to work yourself to death, you must pay him back."

"Cao Cao Weiguo!"

Lu Jinpeng felt both surprised and grateful, nodding heavily: "Mom, I won't forget it."

He was a few years older than Cao Cao Weiguo, and the two had almost no interaction.

In the past, he had never paid attention to Cao Cao Weiguo.

Yet, when he was in trouble, it was Cao Cao Weiguo who helped him.

Regardless of the reason, he kept this kindness in his heart.

After returning to the Sihe Academy, Lu Jinpeng went to the Cao house with a red face to thank him.

Lu Jinpeng bowed sincerely: "Cao Weiguo, thank you for your helping hand. I will definitely keep this kindness in my heart."

Cao Cao Weiguo hurriedly helped Lu Jinpeng up: "Brother Lu, you're being too formal. We're all brothers in the same courtyard; helping each other is only right."

Lu Jinpeng said: "Cao Weiguo, if it weren't for your help, my life might have been over. I will always remember this favor, and I will pay you back as soon as possible."

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "Brother Lu, take care of your family first. I'm not starving or freezing, and I'm not in a hurry for the money. Pay it back whenever you're better off."

The two were talking in the courtyard, and the courtyard became lively.

Grandma Du had been borrowing money all over the courtyard before finally going to Cao Cao Weiguo.

This made all the neighbors shake their heads secretly, thinking Grandma Du was frantic and confused.

Cao Cao Weiguo was famous in the courtyard for being aloof and stingy.

It was only recently that Cao Cao Weiguo had been doing well.

That was why he had more interaction with Xu Xu Damao in the courtyard.

Seeing Grandma Du going in and out of the Cao house, people were watching for a joke.

Who would have thought that by the afternoon, Grandma Du would return with Lu Jinpeng.

Then, after asking around, they learned that Grandma Du had borrowed fifty Brother Yuan from Cao Cao Weiguo.

This left everyone dumbfounded, feeling a burning sensation on their faces.

Lending fifty Brother Yuan in one go!

If anyone called Cao Cao Weiguo an "iron rooster" (stingy person) again, there would be no iron roosters left in the world.

Most people looked at Cao Cao Weiguo with new respect.

Others started harboring crooked thoughts, wondering about going to the Cao house to "beg for autumn wind" (ask for handouts).

Others cursed viciously in secret.

Jia Jia Zhangshi was sewing shoe soles vigorously: "Cao Cao Weiguo, that black-hearted beast, helping a landlord's family but not mine. His heart is rotten with pus; sooner or later he'll meet with disaster, have no children, and end up without a successor..."

Qin Qin Huairu said with annoyance: "Mom, keep your voice down, don't let people outside hear you."

Jia Jia Zhangshi said sharply: "Let them hear! Am I afraid of that short-lived, childless little beast?"

Qin Qin Huairu frowned: "He's not what he used to be. If you curse him like this and someone hears, if we really need to borrow money from him in the future, will he still lend it? Aren't you offending him to death?"

Jia Jia Zhangshi said viciously: "Hmph, offend him then. I, an old woman, would rather die than borrow money from him. I just hope he meets with bad luck."

The First Master, who had walked to the door, shook his head helplessly, sighed, and turned away. ===== CHAPTER 101 =====