Chapter 7

Jian Li intervened abruptly. Jian Feng, though no fool, naturally realized that his daughter’s behavior was intentional.

Liu Xiangdong, trying to stoke the fire for a firm promise, said, “Feng-ge, let’s settle it then. Xiao Qin’s job—please look after it…”

Before he could finish, Jian Li squeezed herself between them, pushing Jian Feng a few steps away.

“Uncle Dongzi, I just overheard something outside,” Jian Li said, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Didn’t the factory encourage everyone to buy insurance a few years ago? The factory even subsidized 30 yuan per person. They said if anyone died of illness, the family would get a big payout. Didn’t Grandma Liu have one of those policies too?”

At these words, a flicker of guilt flashed in Liu Xiangdong’s small eyes.

Of course, he knew about that insurance. Back then, the factory had great benefits. Permanent employees had their insurance fully paid by the factory, covering accidental death with a payout of 10,000 yuan. Temporary workers had to split the cost, with a lower payout of 5,000 to 6,000 yuan.

There was also life insurance for older workers—regardless of employment status, each person got a 30-yuan subsidy, and if they died from illness, the family would receive 3,000 yuan.

Three thousand yuan was almost a year’s salary for a permanent worker.

With the factory now struggling, that amount was enough to sustain a family for a year and a half.

Liu Xiangdong forced a chuckle. “Where did you hear that, Xiao Li?”

He wanted to deny it outright, but Jian Feng’s expression had already changed.

After all, when Liu Xiangdong cried poverty back then, he habitually borrowed money from Jian Feng. Jian Feng knew very well that the insurance had been bought.

“Well… it’s not much, probably just a few hundred yuan. Besides, if you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have forgotten about it. Who knows if they’ll even pay out now that your grandma’s gone.”

Liu Xiangdong wouldn’t dare admit the truth.

If he did, the families he borrowed from would demand repayment. And he had never planned on paying it back.

His mother had built good relationships in the factory, creating debts of gratitude over the years. Now was the perfect time to collect on those favors. If he didn’t act now, once she was buried and forgotten, those benefits would be wasted.

He didn’t care how others gossiped behind his back. To him, factory workers were fools, pampered like pigs by the state-owned enterprise. They had no idea how tough life was outside.

All this talk of mutual help and close-knit communities made him scoff.

Outside the factory, money ruled. Giving up money for face? Ridiculous!

In Liu Xiangdong’s mind, you couldn’t earn a penny without trickery. Someone like Jian Feng, always taking on extra work, would be crying when the factory shut down.

Determined to deny having any money, Liu Xiangdong hadn’t expected Jian Li to be so relentless.

After all, she was young, and youth had its privileges.

She could be as “naive” as she wanted.

After all, her mother wouldn’t kill her for it.

“Uncle Dongzi, that won’t do!” Jian Li exclaimed. “I’ll go talk to Uncle Wang and Aunt Xu outside. The factory promised us that insurance, and if they won’t pay, Uncle Wang will definitely step in. Don’t be afraid!”

She clenched her fists with righteous resolve. “My parents paid over 200 yuan! My mom even borrowed from my aunt to get me covered. If they won’t pay out, then what’s the point of paying?”

Her tone dripped with indignation. “Uncle, I know you feel awkward about it, but I’ll handle it! We’ll get everyone together and demand that the insurance company honor the agreement!”

Liu Xiangdong: !!!

“No need!”

Wang and Xu were a husband-and-wife team running factory logistics—one as the accountant, the other as department head. If they found out, every lie Liu Xiangdong had told would come to light.

Barely keeping his composure, he forced a grin. “Xiao Li, you’re still young. You don’t understand how complicated these things are. We can’t embarrass the leadership. Right, Feng-ge?”

“Feng-ge, explain it to her. This insurance thing was Wang’s idea. Asking questions now would put him in an awkward spot.”

He hoped Jian Feng would help him back out gracefully.

But Jian Feng kept his head down, silent.

Jian Li, stubborn as ever, said, “Uncle, don’t worry. You invited a lot of people—we can go together. Even Uncle Wang wouldn’t cheat everyone. I’m going now!”

She slipped free of Liu Xiangdong’s grasp and made for the door.

Panicked, Liu Xiangdong shouted after her, his words garbled. “No need!”

Jian Li darted to the doorway, then turned back.

Liu Xiangdong’s heart rose and fell with her every move.

“Uncle, why are you like this? I’m only trying to help,” Jian Li said, feigning hurt. “Your family’s been struggling. You’ve been borrowing money to get by. My family alone has lent you six… no, seven hundred yuan! If there’s insurance money, you wouldn’t have to bother my dad about finding a job for Aunt Zhang. You could even buy school uniforms for Da Jun and Xiao Jun. Why won’t you let me help?”

Grinding his teeth, Liu Xiangdong muttered, “Now that I think about it, there should be a payout. I heard someone at Factory No. 2 got theirs recently. I’ll go to the insurance company tomorrow.”

Jian Li: “Really? Uncle, you better not overestimate yourself. What if you can’t get it back? How about letting my dad go with you? That way, if anyone bullies you, my dad can help.”

Liu Xiangdong was so angry that his vision went black.

She had pushed him step by step with her words. If he still didn’t realize Jian Li was here for the 600 yuan, he’d be a fool.

This girl had been cornering him with every sentence just to get that money!

“No need!”

Liu Xiangdong glared coldly at Jian Feng, feeling utterly disheartened.

He never expected that the first one to come asking for money would be Jian Feng.

What kind of “good brother” and “always-there childhood friend” was this?

All lies!

Liu Xiangdong felt he had been blind, never seeing that Jian Feng was even more ruthless than himself.

Asking for money right at his mother’s memorial service—what kind of person does that?

“I’ll go get the gift money list now and pay your 600 back. But you’ll have to give me a receipt so we can call it even.”

Liu Xiangdong’s words were sharp, barely stopping short of outright scolding.

Jian Li clenched her dad’s hand, about to retort, but she felt Jian Feng give her a small tug.

Jian Feng remained calm: “Sure, I’ll wait here.”

Liu Xiangdong stormed out, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls.

Jian Li felt worried about her dad and glanced at him cautiously.

Jian Feng patted her shoulder. “Go on outside.”

Jian Li refused. “I need to wait to get the money.”

She wasn’t about to walk away empty-handed after already offending someone.

Jian Feng reassured her, “I’ll handle it, down to the last cent. You go on ahead.”

Only after seeing her dad’s serious expression did Jian Li reluctantly leave, turning back every few steps.

She didn’t go far, though, hiding near a flower bed and snacking on peanuts from a nearby table while keeping watch on the room.

Liu Xiangdong returned soon, counting the money before stepping back inside. He stayed less than ten minutes before both men emerged, one after the other.

Liu Xiangdong looked furious and shot Jian Li a cold glare.

Jian Feng, on the other hand, remained composed.

Even after all this, he offered a few parting words, half as a reminder and half to clear the air.

“Let’s go.”

Jian Feng took his daughter to gather his wife, ready to head home.

Different paths lead to different ends.

Wang Mengmei: “Weren’t you planning to stay overnight and see the burial through in the morning?”

Jian Feng shook his head. “No need. We’ll just wake up early and burn some paper by the roadside for her tomorrow.”

The three of them walked home in silence.

Once home, Jian Feng handed over exactly 638 yuan to his daughter.

“The money Liu Xiangdong borrowed.”

Wang Mengmei’s eyes widened in surprise. “He gave it back to you?”

She was genuinely astonished. She had long thought that getting the money back would be difficult. She had planned to wait for the right moment—perhaps when Jian Li needed college tuition or when the family had urgent expenses—before daring to ask.

And even then, she had resigned herself to being the “bad guy” since men were always generous when lending money but never brave enough to ask for its return.

She never imagined the money would come back so easily.

Jian Feng: “Count it. I checked it once, but make sure it’s correct.”

Her skepticism vanished as soon as she touched the cash. Overjoyed, Wang Mengmei counted it three times—it was all there.

“Wonderful! I’ll send Jian Li to Wangjiazhuang this week and use the money to pay back my eldest sister.”

Jian Li was holding her breath—not because she was worried her dad would rat her out but because she feared her mom had some big punishment stored up for her.

Jian Feng gave his daughter a conspiratorial wink, signaling that he wouldn’t mention a word to her mom.

Jian Li: …That works. Mrs. Wang didn’t hit, but her scolding was fierce.

Feeling great about the money, Wang Mengmei eagerly asked how he managed to get it.

Jian Feng kept it vague, saying he’d heard there was an insurance payout after the elder’s death, so he asked Liu Xiangdong, and Liu paid up.

Wang Mengmei shot to her feet: “I knew it! That miser! If you hadn’t asked, he probably planned to pretend he had no money forever!”

Three thousand yuan! They didn’t even have that much in savings. Every penny they earned was spent, and sometimes they even borrowed from her family.

Liu Xiangdong and his wife had probably collected over a thousand in gift money today, plus the insurance payout. Sitting on thousands of yuan, and they wouldn’t think of repaying their debt?

She ranted for ages, finally concluding with:

“Don’t bother with them anymore!”

Jian Feng was silent for a moment, then quietly agreed, “Okay.”

With the debt settled, Jian Li slept soundly that night.

The next morning, Wang Mengmei knocked on her door.

“Get up! We’re going to the hospital to get your prescription.”

Still groggy, Jian Li shot out of bed at the mention of the hospital.

She was tired of taking medication. Maybe she could convince the doctor to stop it altogether—200 yuan a month for medicine was a hefty expense.

Isn’t it just losing weight?

Can’t she do it herself?