On the weekend, it was only Li Chencan and his sister Li Yingsnow at home. Li Chaoyong and Yang Yifang had taken advantage of the weekend to go out and do part-time jobs. Their son's improved academic performance had lifted their spirits, but the burden on their shoulders had become even heavier.
Li Chencan had already finished writing the second part of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty," but he hadn't yet handed it over to Shi Chuanfeng. He only needed to give him the first part for now.
The second part would require a separate price negotiation.
Shi Chuanfeng said that "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" had already entered the process and could be published directly after the college entrance exam.
There were only twenty days left until the exam, and Li Chencan wasn't too worried. With his brain that was twice as smart and his photographic memory, and being a liberal arts student, he naturally didn't need to worry about the exam.
"Bro, I'll make pickled vegetable and meat stir-fry for you later," Li Yingsnow called out from the kitchen to Li Chencan.
"Pickled vegetable and meat stir-fry..." Li Chencan had a bad feeling. "That's not right, I remember the meat has already started to smell."
The family's refrigerator had been taken away by debt collectors, so many fresh vegetables couldn't be preserved and had to be eaten quickly.
They had bought a bit more meat, and in the weather of early May, it had started to smell.
"It's fine, I can wash it."
Li Chencan was speechless... He needed to prepare to tell them about the 16,000 yuan he had earned, so they could at least buy a refrigerator to ease his parents' burden.
After eating, Li Chencan went to wash the dishes. Suddenly, he heard the doorbell. Li Yingsnow, wearing pink slippers, hopped over to look through the peephole... But as soon as she saw who was outside, her face turned pale, her body trembled slightly, and her right hand, gripping the doorknob, couldn't move.
Even her big eyes slowly filled with tears, like a frightened little rabbit.
"Open the door! I know you're home, please," a voice came from outside, tinged with sobs. Despite the good soundproofing, the voice still reached Li Yingsnow and Li Chencan's ears intermittently.
Tears silently streamed down her face, and Li Yingsnow leaned against the door, unsure what to do.
The door was knocked on again and again.
The person outside sounded increasingly desperate.
Li Chencan frowned, took off his rubber gloves, and walked over to look at the panicked Li Yingsnow. His heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
Through the peephole, Li Chencan saw the person outside and guessed their identity. However, seeing his sister, who was as delicate as a kitten, made his heart melt. He hugged Li Yingsnow and gently patted her back. "It's okay, it's okay, I'll handle it."
The knocking grew louder, and Li Yingsnow clung to Li Chencan's back, her delicate face already tear-streaked.
Although they had faced waves of debt collectors, Li Yingsnow had never adapted to such situations.
Li Chencan opened the door. If he didn't, they would keep lingering and making noise, affecting the neighbors and the people inside.
Outside stood a man in tattered clothes. Although he had knocked loudly, he had an honest face. He was a farmer.
Despite the empire's strength covering many areas, its population was too large, and the agricultural population issue wasn't as thoroughly resolved as in America.
Li Chencan searched his memory and knew this man was Liu Anfu, a relative of the Li family. When Li Chaoyong's business failed, Liu Anfu had lent the family 80,000 yuan in national currency.
He was probably here to collect the debt today.
Liu Anfu pushed open the door and saw the tall Li Chencan and his slightly panicked sister, with tears still on her face. His heart softened, but he had to give an account to his family... His wife had kidney disease, and a large portion of their savings had gone to the Li family. They were already not well-off, so today Liu Anfu had to get some money from here...
"Where are your parents?" Liu Anfu glanced inside, somewhat disappointed. "Not at home?"
"They're not here," Li Chencan patted Li Yingsnow's back. "Yingsnow, go back to your room." Liu Anfu seemed to want to stop her but didn't. Li Yingsnow stubbornly shook her head; she didn't want her brother to be alone.
"No... I want to stay here."
"Okay, don't cry." Li Chencan affectionately ruffled her hair and said, "Uncle, come in and sit down. We can talk slowly. My parents will be back."
Liu Anfu looked at Li Chencan with surprise. The young man had a unique calmness that made him seem extraordinary.
"Xiaocan... I'm really sorry to bother you," Liu Anfu sat down, frowning and sighing. "But... I really have no other choice. Your aunt has kidney disease, and I..."
He choked up as he spoke.
Li Yingsnow also stopped panicking. Hearing this, her small brows furrowed. Liu Anfu's words touched her heart. It was wrong not to repay a debt, but now that his family was in such a situation... Her heart softened, but what could she do?
"Forget it, Xiaocan, don't look for them. I'll go back and think of another way," Liu Anfu patted his thigh and gritted his teeth. "I know it's not easy for you."
Li Chencan knew Liu Anfu was telling the truth. He was an honest farmer, and coming to collect the debt had taken a lot of courage.
"Yingsnow, stay here. I'll go out with Uncle for a bit," Li Chencan told Li Yingsnow and then led Liu Anfu out.
Liu Anfu was a bit surprised. "Xiaocan, you don't have to see me off, I can go by myself..."
Li Chencan smiled. "Uncle, I'm not seeing you off. I'm paying you back. My parents have already told me. Although we can't pay you back in full right now, we can give you 10,000 yuan to help with the emergency and give us some time. We'll pay back the rest as soon as possible."
"What?" Liu Anfu was shocked. Seeing that Li Chencan wasn't joking, a warm current suddenly surged in his heart...
It turned out they had prepared for this.
"Okay, okay... thank you," he didn't know what else to say.
"We should be the ones thanking you."
...
When they returned home, Li Chencan sighed. The money was never enough. 10,000 yuan out of 16,000 was gone in a blink... But since they were spending money, he might as well buy a refrigerator. Otherwise, the problem would be serious.