Zhang Jun said generously, “According to the judge’s ruling, Zhao Panpan first transferred 160,000 yuan to me. The remaining 840,000 yuan would normally be split between you two, meaning each of you owes me 420,000. But the problem now is that Panpan already counted her share toward the house payment. So really, you only owe me 420,000. Based on the judge’s calculation, even after selling the house, you’d only get 160,000, right? Mom transferred all the money from the house to me, so you still owe me…”
“Xiaoliang, you’re a university student and a math teacher. You’re better at calculating than I am. Help your brother figure out—shouldn’t you owe me more?”
Zhang Jun laughed as if he were just chatting casually with Zhang Liang, but every word was carefully calculated.
Zhang Liang felt a deep helplessness. The three people closest to him suddenly felt so alien.
. The house was worth 800,000 yuan. After subtracting Panpan’s 220,000, 580,000 remained. But 420,000 of that was already considered Panpan’s, leaving him with just 160,00.
After everything, he couldn’t even get the 160,000 that was supposed to be his—and on top of that, he now owed Zhang Jun 260,000.
“260,000…”
Zhang Liang whispered the number in disbelief.
Zhang Jun smiled, satisfied. “Brother, we’re being fair. Don’t worry—you can pay it back slowly.”
Zhang Liang looked at his family, realizing their smiles were laced with calculation. He felt disgusted and disappointed. He couldn’t really take his older brother to court—if the fake evidence came out, he’d be left with a record, a ruined reputation, and likely no job.
Everyone in the family and their friends believed Zhang Jun had paid for his schooling. If he openly rebelled, he’d be branded ungrateful and lose any future prospects.
After thinking, Zhang Liang decided to swallow the loss. “Mom, my salary card has been with you for five years. It should have saved some money. Can we use it to pay Brother?”
When he started working, his salary wasn’t high. But after five years of hard work and moving to the city for better opportunities, with annual bonuses and benefits, he had around 150,000 yuan a year. Over five years, that added up to more than 700,000 yuan. Even after accounting for living expenses, there should be at least 500,000 yuan saved.
Zhang Liang planned to use this money to buy out their family’s claims, to separate relationships from money, and finally put a clear boundary between himself and Zhang Jun.
Before he could speak, Zhou Xiangping sighed heavily.
Zhang Liang felt a chill. Something didn’t feel right.
“Over these years, my health hasn’t been good. I’ve been taking medicine, hospitalized a few times, and didn’t want to bother you. Most of the money’s already been spent.”
She handed over a bankbook showing only 250,000 yuan.
Zhang Liang was shocked. “Mom, how can there be so little?”
He had worked diligently for years. He wasn’t rich, but he should have been comfortable.
After marriage, his mother had warned him about Panpan, saying she might not have good intentions. On his older brother’s advice, he had given his salary card to his mom for safekeeping.
After Panpan insisted on buying the house before having a child, he felt relieved knowing the money was safe with his mom. But when it came time to buy the house, both his mother and brother insisted Panpan should contribute first, claiming a woman shouldn’t have hidden savings—it could lead to trouble.
Later, when Panpan used her pre-marriage savings, he was touched. But when it came to using his salary for renovations, they made excuses to block him.
Soon after moving into the new house, his mother claimed that as a city person, he wouldn’t support her in the future. She cried and threatened, and Zhang Jun suggested transferring the house to her name to give her peace of mind.
Now, thinking back, Zhang Liang realized his family had been calculating against him from the start.
Zhang Jun handed him the bankbook. “Xiaoliang, don’t feel pressured. It’s okay if your brother takes the loss. Consider this your full repayment, alright?”
Zhang Liang felt sick to his stomach. He didn’t say a word and just nodded.
Zhou Xiangping cheerfully served him some food. “You two brothers are close. You’ll need to support each other. Your dad would be proud of how responsible you are.”
Zhang Liang couldn’t eat. “I’m full… I’ll go for a walk.”
As he left, he overheard them talking:
Zhou Xiangping: “Jun, do you think Xiaoliang will grow distant from us?”
Zhang Jun: “Relax, Mom. He’s soft-hearted.”
Zhang Liang felt like he had swallowed a fly—he couldn’t process it.
Being stabbed in the back by those he trusted most—it felt like this.
In his mind, he saw Panpan’s tear-filled eyes asking, “Why are you doing this to me?” He felt her pain as if it were his own.
He had valued his family over Panpan, and now, because of them, he had lost the woman who had been willing to give everything for him.
He had nothing.
The home that should have been filled with joy over a new life was gone. His savings from years of hard work were gone. The house he had helped arrange was gone.
The woman who loved him, he didn’t cherish.
Those who schemed against him, he had treated like treasures.
He had even lost the child he might have had.
He deserved it.
Everything he had lost was because of his own choices.
If he had supported Panpan against his family, or kept control of his salary, or refused to listen to their schemes, he and Panpan might have been happy now.
Panpan had once looked up to him, worshiped him as her savior.
All these “what ifs” played over and over in Zhang Liang’s head until reality hit, and he collapsed by the roadside, covering his face and crying uncontrollably.
Even if they had divorced, had he returned Panpan’s belongings properly and ignored the family’s fake debt schemes, things could have ended peacefully.
But he had done nothing.
Because of his foolishness and selfishness, he had even gained a 1 million yuan debt, letting others take what he had worked so hard for all these years.
He had literally shot himself in the foot.
“Zhang Liang, you’re such an idiot!”
His little family was shattered. Meanwhile, Zhang Jun’s family was happy, enjoying the money he and Panpan had earned, living carefree for the rest of their lives.
Zhang Liang slapped himself twice, cried with snot and tears, and realized that no matter how much he regretted, nothing could be undone.
But he knew one thing—he owed Panpan an apology.