Chapter 262: Bai Wei is in Danger

"Mom, if you want to go to the provincial capital, I can't stop you," Bai Wei said, "but you must remember to consider your own interests more."

Her uncle was a typical bloodsucker, and her mother had always been drained by him without even realizing it.

Bai Wei had reminded her many times, but her mother always used the "family" excuse to justify it.

Bai Wei couldn't control her mother, so she could only offer reminders through subtle hints.

As for how much Li Hong could actually take in, she couldn't control that either.

The sky was growing late, and there were no more vehicles from the village to the town. Plus, Li Hong still had some items at the Farm, so she didn't plan to return to town today and stayed behind to pack things up.

Bai Wei had Chen Ming cook a few simple dishes so they could have dinner together with her mother.

In truth, she and her mother rarely spent time together.

When she was little, her mother worked outside the village, and Bai Wei remained in the village as a left-behind child.

It was her grandmother who raised her.

After starting school, Bai Wei lived at school for long periods and rarely came back.

She and her mother were together less and apart more; sometimes they wouldn't even be together during holidays.

"Dinner's ready!"

Chen Ming carried a steaming plate of stir-fried tomato and eggs to the table.

Several dishes were already set on the table, all vegetables picked from the fields.

Stir-fried eggplant, mushrooms with sliced meat, and an additional dish of stir-fried tomato and eggs.

The sky grew darker, and the three of them sat at the table, chatting while they ate.

Li Hong took a couple of bites of food and brought up the affairs of the Bai Family again.

"... Your uncle and aunt were badly injured from their fall, stayed in the hospital for quite a while, and were even taken into detention by the police for a good while."

Bai Wei didn't even look up. "Mom, it was because they came to the Farm to steal things that they were detained."

"I'm not blaming you." Li Hong tapped the edge of her bowl with her chopsticks and sighed heavily. "Now the Bai Family is in trouble too, and your grandmother is worried sick."

Bai Wei looked up and corrected her.

"First, Bai Laotaitai is not my grandmother; we severed ties long ago. Don't call them my family in the future."

"Second, the Bai Family's trouble has nothing to do with me."

Li Hong chided her, "You're still holding a grudge because I asked you to return to the Bai Family? Mom has reflected on it now and won't ask you to return to the Bai Family to acknowledge your ancestors again."

At this moment, Chen Ming, who was eating, raised his head. "Auntie, what happened to the Bai Family?"

"Sigh, it's all because of their precious son, Bai Cai." Li Hong sighed. "A few days ago, a group of debt collectors showed up, and that's when it came out that Bai Cai had been gambling. He even borrowed a huge sum of money."

"When the Bai Family checked, they were shocked. Bai Cai actually owed over ten million in debt, and half of it was online loans with terrifyingly high interest."

"The Bai Family's son took all this money and lost it gambling. Not only did he gamble, but he also used the borrowed money to act like a big spender, tipping female streamers online—he'd drop thousands or tens of thousands at a time..."

Bai Wei said "Oh." "Living frugally in reality, but acting like a big spender online, huh?"

There are many people now who are clearly so poor they have to eat instant noodles, yet they love to tip heavily online, as if money isn't money.

Li Hong sighed, "With Bai Cai acting like this, the debt collectors have come to the door, demanding the Bai Family pay up."

Bai Wei calmly took a bite of food, inwardly sneering.

She had long seen that Bai Cai was a lazy good-for-nothing who had been gambling all along.

She just hadn't expected him to owe such a massive debt.

Now that the creditors were at the door, even if the Bai Family sold off all the savings they had accumulated over the years, it wouldn't be enough to pay off the debt.

Chen Ming immediately became alert. "Auntie, you can't let Sister Bai give them money... The B-Bai Family are bad people; they came to the Farm to steal th-things!"

Seeing Chen Ming protecting her, Bai Wei couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth in her heart.

Although Chen Ming had a mental disability and was usually silly, he knew who treated him well.

Unlike that group of ingrates in the Bai Family who only knew how to bully their own kin.

"Xiao Ming, it wasn't in vain that Sister treats you well! I'll buy you a Golden Arches family bucket tomorrow."

Upon hearing he could eat Fried Chicken legs, Chen Ming immediately grinned and laughed foolishly.

"Sister is the best!"

Li Hong looked at Bai Wei. "Don't worry, I won't ask you for money. The Bai Family owes over ten million; who could fill that hole?"

Bai Wei lowered her head to eat; regardless, she wouldn't give her money to anyone.

Just as they were talking, the lights suddenly went out, and the room plunged into total darkness.

"The power's out?" Li Hong was stunned. "I'll go get a candle."

Bai Wei turned on her phone's flashlight and saw a message in the village WeChat group saying that the power would be out in this area today because of construction at the site opposite, requiring circuit maintenance, and power wouldn't return until tomorrow.

"Xiao Ming, the power is out today, go back and sleep early."

"By the way, tell the security guards at the gate to be careful since it's so dark all around."

The security guard on duty at the Farm today was a new hire.

Li Guohai and the others were on their day off today.

Chen Ming nodded quickly. "Got it, Sister."

Since the power was out anyway, and she didn't want to keep listening to Li Hong nag, she gave instructions to Chen Ming and then picked up a candle to head into her room.

Bai Wei lived in the west room, and the south room opposite was empty, so she let Li Hong stay there tonight.

Back in her room, Bai Wei immediately closed the door and sent a note to Xiao Moting.

"Didn't get enough to eat."

During dinner today, Li Hong kept nagging, which made her feel agitated and lose her appetite.

Now back in her room, Bai Wei went to find Xiao Moting for a feeding.

Immediately, Xiao Moting replied to the message.

"Understood, I'll have it sent over immediately."

Before long, a fragrant roasted lamb leg was delivered.

The freshly roasted lamb leg had a crispy, fragrant skin and didn't smell gamey at all.

"So fragrant!"

Bai Wei immediately cheered up, tore off some lamb meat, and began eating it with her Cola.

Originally, she had intended to send some lamb to her mother to taste, but then she thought better of it; her mother might start asking all sorts of questions, so she gave up on the idea.

If she couldn't finish it, she would just save it for tomorrow.

Bai Wei looked out the window while eating the lamb leg.

Unlike the city, the countryside was pitch black all around once night fell.

The construction site across the way had also stopped work, and there wasn't a single light.

Coupled with the power outage, the surroundings were even darker, so dark that one couldn't see their own fingers, and it was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of the wind and the chirping of insects and birds drifting over from time to time.

Yanjing.

A luxurious villa in the southern district of the city.

Zhou Yuchuan, wearing a black bathrobe, walked out of the bathroom while drying his hair.

His complexion was much better than before.

Ever since Bai Wei had sent him a mountain ginseng and he had brewed it into medicine and taken it, he had indeed felt much more energetic.

His family had urged him to return for a check-up, so Zhou Yuchuan had taken the time to return to Yanjing to visit the hospital and check on the recent state of his health.

On the table sat a drink with ice added.

Zhou Yuchuan walked over to the table, picked up the glass and took a sip, and was about to open his computer to handle some business.

But just at this moment, his whole body suddenly stiffened.

A chilling, hair-raising sensation, like a venomous snake, crawled rapidly up from his tailbone.

Goosebumps broke out all over his skin.

This familiar feeling came from his Precognition!

Zhou Yuchuan froze, not moving an inch.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Bai Wei is in danger!

Coming back to his senses, Zhou Yuchuan grabbed his phone as fast as he could and called Bai Wei.

"Ding-ding..."

The phone rang.

But there was no answer on the other end.

Zhou Yuchuan furrowed his brows, a rare sense of anxiety rising in his heart.