He had saved up twenty himself, which made eighty in total. With this calculation, he was almost able to pay back the money he borrowed. Additionally, another classmate, Gu, had already agreed to help him with tutoring after school started.
Deng Juan stomped her feet in anger, looking at Ji Shuyuan, who seemed to have planned this all along, she couldn’t help but scold him, "You’re capable now, aren’t you? You’ve made it, haven’t you? Who provides your living expenses? Who pays for your meals? Who buys your clothes?"
"Your mom hasn’t even used a cent of your money, but you? You still borrowed money for your grandfather’s medical treatment." Deng Juan deeply felt that raising this son was a waste.
"Mom, you’re perfectly healthy, you aren’t sick, Grandfather is ill and needs money, I’m just doing my part," Ji Shuyuan quietly responded.
He had grown up under his grandfather’s care since he was a child, and he felt worse than anyone when his grandfather was sick.
His response made Deng Juan so angry she didn’t even want to speak to him. While walking home, she stopped several times, pointing at Ji Shuyuan and said, "Ji Shuyuan, let me tell you, our family has already contributed three hundred for your grandfather’s illness. You don’t need to give any more money, just pay back what you borrowed."
"I won’t," Ji Shuyuan stubbornly said, "I want to do my part for Grandfather."
Deng Juan kept silent all the way home since the street was not a suitable place to speak. As soon as they entered the room, Deng Juan started searching.
"Mom, the missing money isn’t just one or two dollars, it’s two thousand. You know Aunt’s financial situation; it was hard for her to provide one thousand, and they still have to borrow another thousand. Why can’t I contribute?"
Ji Shuyuan was trying to persuade, having already securely kept the money on himself, making it impossible for Deng Juan to find.
"I think your aunt has struck rich; she has money now. You don’t need to worry about this anymore. If you want to contribute, don’t ask me for your living expenses anymore," Deng Juan said coldly, her chest heaving violently. The family had struggled to save some money after having borrowed for the eldest son’s wedding a few years ago. They had only just managed to scrape together three hundred for the old man’s treatment, and now, Ji Shuyuan was borrowing more money.
Just thinking about the bit of secret savings gone, not to mention the debt, made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
The room instantly fell silent.
Ji Shuyuan didn’t speak anymore; he just took a set of clothes from the room and turned to leave.
"Go on, leave, and don’t come back if you dare!"
Deng Juan watched his stubborn silhouette, yelling at his back in anger.
However, her words only made Ji Shuyuan pause for a moment. In the next second, Ji Shuyuan strode away, disappearing from her sight.
Deng Juan’s rage was ineffectual; she held a teacup, intending to drink some water, yet, gripping the teacup, she felt an urge to smash it.
The teacup was set down heavily on the table.
"Juanjuan, are you home? Hurry and get some money. I just spoke with your second uncle, and we will send the money to the hospital soon." Ji Shan had just phoned his brother Ji Lin and had run to Ji Feng’s house, returning drenched in sweat.
Ji Shan drank a big gulp of water and, looking at Deng Juan who was sitting on the couch, belatedly realized her mood was upset. He sternly said, "Juanjuan, we had already agreed about Dad’s medical expenses."
"Did I say I wouldn’t give?" Deng Juan diverted her anger from her son towards Ji Shan, her eyes wide as she said, "Your son is really succeeding, isn’t he? He silently borrowed one hundred and fifty yuan—that’s one hundred fifty, not one yuan fifty!"