Chapter 62: Chapter 63 Borrowing Money
Translator: 549690339
Isn’t it quite normal for children to be lost in thought? It’s pitiful to see a kid like her. She’s so young yet she’s forced to cram knowledge into her mind every day, like a force-fed duckling.
“What’s the matter with you today?”
Chen Zhong tapped the table with the ruler in his hand. “Not writing properly, not reading properly, are you trying to annoy me to death?”
“Grandpa…” Tang Yuxin suddenly put down her pen and hid her hands behind her back.
“Could Grandpa lend me some money?”
“Borrow money?” Chen Zhong’s face instantly sank. How could such a small child know about money? Kids her age should be carefree and only concerned with eating and playing, not knowing about money or that it can be used to buy things.
Did an adult teach her about money?
Chen Zhong was wealthy. His entire Li Tang village was backed by mountains. Besides, he didn’t need to make a living from his medical practices. At the very least, he had no shortage of food. Even without money, the villagers had access to vegetables, meat, and eggs. Moreover, his patients were not only from Li Tang village, but also from nearby villages. He was one of the few good doctors in the area.
His money came from selling the herbs he gathered. Even though he lived in the village, he travelled monthly to sell herbs. If he was lucky, he could find valuable herbs like ginseng and lingzhi. The prices for these were high, so regardless, Chen Zhong did have money.
Tang Yuxin knew Chen Zhong had misunderstood. She hastily reached out her tiny paw to tug at his clothing.
Considering how honest and straightforward her father was, there was no way he would teach her to ask for money like this.
“Grandpa, do you have money?” She blinked her watery eyes that looked like they could start watering any moment.
“Second Uncle and Dad want to plant vegetables, but they don’t have money for seeds. They said they can’t plant vegetables then. If they had money for seeds, they could plant vegetables and use the money to buy Xinxin new clothes.”
Hearing this, Chen Zhong’s expression softened, much better than before.
“They told you this?” Chen Zhong squatted down to ask Tang Yuxin. He knew children her age wouldn’t lie. He was especially confident in Tang Yuxin, who was too mature for her age, and too understanding. He believed in his judgment, and in his apprentice.
“No,” Tang Yuxin shook her head. “They were talking about it at dinner.”
“Grandpa…” She tugged at Chen Zhong’s sleeve again, “Could you lend Xinxin the money? Xinxin will pay you back when she saves up her New Year’s money.”
“With that little New Year’s money of yours,” Chen Zhong patted Tang Yuxin’s head, “you only get a few bucks a year. How long is it going to take you to pay me back?”
“Then Xinxin will go with Grandpa to pick herbs and sell them for money.” She looked genuinely troubled. Given her small stature, if she had to go up the mountain to collect herbs, she would end up looking like a little coal ball. With her complexion, she would tan easily and then turn pale in winter. She’s her dad’s adorable little princess, his thermal jacket. If she tanned for a year and turned into a little charcoal, her dad might break down in tears.
“Alright, that’s settled.”
Chen Zhong stood up and went out. After a while, he came back with a roll of bills, inserted them into Tang Yuxin’s tiny pocket, and said, “Take this home to your dad. Remember our deal: when you’re older, you’ll go up the mountain with Grandpa to gather herbs and pay me back.”