"Let's go, let's go, don't disturb the family reunion!" The neighbors gathered around gradually dispersed.
"Dad, let me help you rest for a while."
Chen Fan picked up his father and placed him on the bed.
As he glanced around the room, Chen Fan saw that it was bare, with not even a decent piece of furniture.
The only appliance was an old, bulky television from the last century.
His father and sister wore shabby clothes, some even patched up.
Seeing this, Chen Fan felt a pang of sadness.
He understood why his sister held such a grudge against him.
He didn't want to shirk responsibility; it was indeed because of him that the family ended up like this.
"Dad, Little Ran. I was wrongfully imprisoned."
Chen Fan took a deep breath and briefly explained what happened three years ago.
Chen Dongshan immediately hugged Chen Fan, tears streaming down his face.
"Little Fan, I knew it. My son takes after me, honest and decent. How could he do something so despicable?"
Chen Dongshan held his son with relief; Chen Fan had always been his pride.
He never believed his son would truly commit a crime.
Chen Fan glanced at his sister, Chen Ran, who was bent over, tidying up the broken items, remaining silent.
But her constantly shaking shoulders told Chen Fan that she had forgiven him.
Chen Fan tightly held his father's hand and said, "Dad, don't worry, I will get to the bottom of this!"
"And now that I'm back, I'll find a way to earn more money, so our days will get better and better!"
Chen Dongshan kept wiping his tears, "Son, as long as you're safe, that's all that matters. Our family can be together again."
"Making money isn't easy, son, don't rush. If the debt can't be paid, I'll think of a way to borrow a bit more."
Chen Dongshan held his head in guilt, "It's all my fault for being useless, otherwise, you two wouldn't be in such a difficult situation."
Chen Fan quickly grabbed his father's hand, "Dad, how can you blame yourself? Don't worry, I'll figure out the money."
Chen Dongshan nodded with relief, but he knew Chen Fan was just saying that.
Making money wasn't that easy. Three hundred thousand, how many years would it take to earn that?
If it really doesn't work out, tomorrow I'll try to borrow some more money from relatives.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Seeing the beautiful woman who walked in, Chen Fan warmly called out, "Sister Fang."
Xu Fang was very beautiful, but she was a woman of misfortune. Shortly after marrying into Panshi Town, her husband died.
But she didn't remarry; instead, she took care of her elderly mother-in-law until her passing. She was recognized as a good woman throughout the town.
After her mother-in-law died, Sister Fang lived alone in the town, never seeking another man.
Sister Fang had always had a good relationship with the Chen family. When Chen Dongshan and his daughter had to mortgage their house and were left homeless, it was Sister Fang who took them in.
The house they were living in now was a storage room Sister Fang had cleaned out.
"Little Fan, I heard you were back, so I came to see you!"
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Eat something first."
Sister Fang was kind and considerate. She brought freshly steamed buns for the Chen family and then hurried to help Chen Ran tidy up the house.
"Those bastards, how could they push people like this!"
Seeing the mess in the house, Sister Fang was furious, but she could only express her anger.
Those debt-collecting thugs weren't people she, as a woman, could provoke.
Soon, it was late at night, and Sister Fang returned to rest next door.
There were only two beds in the storage room, usually occupied by Chen Dongshan and Chen Ran.
Now that Chen Fan was back, there wasn't even a place for him to sleep.
Sister Fang had initially offered Chen Ran to sleep at her place, but Chen Ran declined and went to stay at a classmate's house on the east side of town.
Chen Dongshan held Chen Fan's hand, chatting away for most of the night until he finally fell asleep.
But Chen Fan lay in bed, unable to sleep.
He had finally returned home from prison, and there was much to do.
Besides clearing his name, the most urgent matter was figuring out how to make money.
The three hundred thousand high-interest loan needed to be repaid in three days, and Chen Fan also needed to buy a house; the family couldn't continue living in Sister Fang's storage room.
The impoverished state of the family needed to be improved quickly.
As for making money, Chen Fan already had an idea.
"As long as I can produce that formula, I can definitely make money, and the family won't be in such dire straits."
"Those herbs should be common. I'll go to the mountains tomorrow to see if I can find them."
"And Dad's leg, I need to heal it too. The herbs needed, I'll look for them tomorrow."
Chen Fan had checked Chen Dongshan's leg; it could be treated, but it would take time.
Having made up his mind, Chen Fan prepared to sleep.
But just then, he faintly heard a woman's voice from next door.
"No!"
"Don't do this, it's not right..."
"I'm begging you, let me go!"
Due to practicing the Wind and Cloud Primordial Spirit Art, Chen Fan's hearing was extraordinary.
So the faint sounds from next door were very clear to him.
Next door was Sister Fang's room. Chen Fan knew she lived alone for years.
But he heard another man's voice. The man seemed eager, as if he was about to do something to Sister Fang.
And Sister Fang was resisting, but her voice was weak.
At first, Chen Fan thought Sister Fang had found a man out of loneliness.
Sister Fang had been widowed for years at such a young age; her physical needs were understandable.
But soon, Chen Fan sensed something was wrong.
The man was forcing himself on Sister Fang, and her struggling voice grew more intense.
Hmm?
Something's wrong!
Chen Fan immediately got up, glanced at his sleeping father, and headed next door.
The courtyard wall of Sister Fang's house was no obstacle for Chen Fan, who had trained in martial arts. He swiftly climbed over the wall and reached the window of Sister Fang's house.
With the moonlight, Chen Fan's enhanced vision saw everything clearly.
Inside the room, on the kang bed, a man was about to assault Sister Fang.
Sister Fang was struggling desperately, her clothes torn, and she was about to suffer.
Seeing this, Chen Fan's anger flared. If Sister Fang had willingly found a man, it was none of his business.
But if someone dared to bully Sister Fang, Chen Fan would never let it slide!
Chen Fan kicked open the window and jumped onto the kang.
He grabbed the man's collar and slapped him hard several times!
"Bastard! How dare you bully Sister Fang! I'll beat you to death!"
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The man screamed as Chen Fan beat him, rolling off the kang.
Sister Fang quickly pulled a nearby quilt to cover her disheveled body.
The man, guilty as a thief, got up and tried to run.
Chen Fan wanted to chase him and continue the beating, but Sister Fang stopped him.
"Little Fan, let it go, let him go."
In the end, the man fled out the door, leaving in such a hurry that he lost a shoe.
Chen Fan turned to look at Sister Fang. Her hair was disheveled, and her smooth, tender face was streaked with tears.
Chen Fan asked with concern, "Sister Fang, what happened? Who was that man bullying you?"
Sister Fang lowered her head, silent for a long time.
Finally, she let go of the quilt, burst into tears, and threw herself into Chen Fan's arms.