After leaving the factory area, Xie Yucheng rode his bicycle to another location.
He stood outside the courtyard gate, finishing an entire cigarette before slowly approaching.
The man inside heard the noise and came out. Recognizing Xie Yucheng, his eyes instantly darkened, muscles twitching, his expression turning grim.
“Brother Cheng, you… what brings you here?”
He showed no intention of inviting Xie Yucheng inside.
Xie Yucheng stood in the yard, his expression stern, voice low. “Had some business nearby, thought I’d stop by to see you.”
Yuan Li stepped forward, looking troubled. “Brother Cheng, I… I don’t have the money to repay you right now.”
Xie Yucheng got straight to the point, his tone cold. “Yuan Li, it’s been two years. Do you know what lending you twenty thousand meant to me two years ago? You said your wife was sick—I didn’t hesitate to give you the money because I considered you a brother. How have you repaid me? Your wife recovered, your family moved into a new house, bought a television, yet you claim to have no money to repay me. Is that it?”
Yuan Li was distantly related to Xie Yucheng’s maternal family, and they had grown up playing together. When it was a matter of life and death, Yuan Li had knelt before him to borrow money, and Xie Yucheng only thought of helping him through the emergency.
Who could have expected he would delay until now? Over two years had passed, and he showed no intention of repaying the debt.
“It’s not like that, Brother Cheng. This house and furniture were supported by my father-in-law. I truly have no money right now. If I had any, I would definitely repay you.”
“Yuan Li, to be frank, I need to buy a car now and I’m short on funds. This is when I need the money. I’m not asking you to repay everything at once—just return whatever amount you can manage now.”
The woman inside came out holding a child. Seeing it was Xie Yucheng coming to collect the debt, her smile instantly froze on her face.
Her lips turned downward, face tense as she walked over.
“Brother Cheng, we have no money right now, not a single cent. Don’t pressure us.”
Xie Yucheng almost laughed in frustration. These people—they acted like beggars when borrowing money, but turned into lords when it was time to repay.
Having exhausted all goodwill, he delivered his final ultimatum to Yuan Li: “Repay everything by the end of the year. If you can’t clear the debt, don’t expect to keep your job at the unit.”
After Xie Yucheng left, Yuan Li’s wife spat toward his retreating back. “Who does he think he is? Owes him a couple of bucks and acts all high and mighty. What’s he so proud about?”
Yuan Li irritably ran his hand through his hair. “Brother Cheng is really unreasonable. I already said we don’t have money temporarily, yet he still forces us to repay.”
His wife shot him a disdainful look: “You borrowed the money yourself—figure out how to handle it yourself.”
Frowning, he dejectedly rubbed his face and sheepishly followed his wife into the house.
After the hen A Li, gifted by her brother, died, Wen Shiqing took on the responsibility of caring for its offspring. The little chick became her final hope.
She named it San San, containing three wishes: 1. Xie Yucheng loves her. 2. Marry Xie Yucheng. 3. Xie Yucheng’s happiness.
“San San, this time, I will protect you well.” Her delicate hand gently stroked the chick’s soft feathers.
Inside the house, Yang Ying carefully outlined her red lips before a mirror. She touched the hair at her temples, corners of her mouth curving upward, quite satisfied with the beautiful face reflected back.
“Are you going out?” Xie Guoli, reading a newspaper nearby, suddenly looked up at her.
Yang Ying cleared her throat lightly. “Grocery shopping.”
“You dress up so nicely just to buy groceries?”
The woman snorted softly: “Who says you can’t dress like this to buy groceries?”
Xie Guoli couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. He had always known Yang Ying was vain about her appearance, a trait that had earned him considerable face over the years.
“Buy some of Yucheng’s favorite snacks to keep on hand. He’s been in the city lately but might come home anytime.”
Yucheng, Yucheng—it was always about his precious son. Yet he never seemed concerned about Shi Qing’s future marriage prospects.
Yang Ying’s brows furrowed slightly as she pursed her lips, then turned to Xie Guoli with a gentle smile. “I know. I would’ve remembered even if you hadn’t mentioned it.”
After tidying up, Yang Ying slung her small purse over her shoulder. As her willowy waist swayed into the courtyard, she paused and called to her daughter squatting near the chicken coop: “Nannan, sweetheart, Mom’s going out. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
“Mom, I don’t really want anything.” Wen Shiqing was focused on refilling San San’s water and food.
“It’s too sunny out here. Go inside soon so you don’t get tanned.”
“Alright.”
When the weather cleared completely, Xie Yucheng returned home to fetch some clean clothes.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard, San San came waddling toward his feet. He frowned and gently nudged the chick away with his foot.
San San stumbled, its plump body rolling once on the ground before scrambling back to his feet.
Wherever he walked, it followed in tiny hurried steps, even pecking at his trouser legs with its pointed beak.
A faint glimmer flashed in Xie Yucheng’s dark, gleaming eyes. “Tch,” he muttered under his breath, “Annoying, just like someone.”
He crouched down, grabbed the chick by its neck with his large hand, tossed it into the coop, and swiftly shut the door.
Eight years ago, Xie Guoli had brought a strange woman into their home. Behind her trailed a little girl about ten years old. Furious that his father had moved on so quickly after his mother’s death, Xie Yucheng saw the woman as a usurper stealing his mother’s place.
He was fifteen then, trapped in the turbulent throes of adolescence. After his mother passed, he grew more despondent and unruly—neglecting his studies and spending his days roaming with a gang of friends.
During their first meeting, his fierce glare sent Wen Shiqing hiding behind Yang Ying too terrified to show her face, only daring to steal timid glances at him.
With a gentle expression, Xie Guoli pulled the girl forward by her small hand: “Shi Qing, this is your brother.”
Her grape-like eyes blinked as she whispered, “Brother.” Her mouth was tiny, her voice soft and gentle, like the little sparrows Xie Yucheng used to shoot down from trees with his slingshot.
Xie Yucheng glared viciously at his father, feeling not only that everything his mother had cherished was being taken by another woman, but that his sole place in his father’s heart was slipping away too.
With a menacing glare, he suddenly shoved Wen Shiqing and ran off. She fell to the ground, crying loudly.
This incident made Yang Ying dislike him from the very beginning.
Back then, the house only had two bedrooms. He and Wen Shiqing shared one, separated by a cloth curtain.
He often bullied her in secret, venting his resentment.
“Your mother is a seductress, and so are you.”
“One day, I’ll drive you both out of my house.”
Ten-year-old Wen Shiqing didn’t understand why her brother hated her so much, but she adored him—having a brother felt like something special.
She often trailed after him like a shadow, following him even when he went out to fight or engage in petty mischief.
At first, Xie Yucheng feared she would tattle to Xie Guoli, but he soon realized she just liked sticking close to him.
Ten-year-old Wen Shiqing was full of peculiar questions.
Like, “Brother, why do you fight?”
“Brother, what’s inside an ant nest?”
“Brother, if you catch the mother bird, what will happen to her babies?”
Xie Yucheng couldn’t be bothered to entertain her questions. Once, genuinely annoyed by her chattering, he slapped her bottom and said, “Can you be quiet for once!”
Wen Shiqing’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, looking at him like a pitiful puppy, full of grievance.
Yang Ying came out and saw this, shooting a displeased glance at Xie Yucheng before pulling her daughter aside. She asked in a low voice, “Nannan, did your brother bully you?”
Shi Qing shook her head, but couldn’t hold back a sudden wail: “Brother didn’t bully me, Mom. I fell accidentally, and my bottom hurts so much.”