…
Chu Tianshu planned to use his new number to tease his wife tomorrow!
Checking the growth progress of the crops in the Space, he could harvest a batch tomorrow.
There would definitely be more than his family could eat, so he needed to sell them.
Chu Tianshu returned to the Old House.
Xu Xiuxia had already closed her fruit shop and returned home. Under the lamplight, she was organizing money and checking her phone to calculate the day’s earnings.
“Mom, is the tricycle still charged? I’ll go stock up tomorrow morning.”
Hearing this, Xu Xiuxia couldn’t help but turn her head, looking at him with an extremely skeptical and disdainful expression. “Wait for you to get up and stock up? Even the rotten fruit peels would be gone by then.”
Chu Tianshu had never been one to wake up before 10 a.m., lazy as a dog.
“Times have changed. I’m going to embrace the traditional virtues of hard work and perseverance now… I’ll go charge it.”
Chu Tianshu headed to the small storeroom where the tricycle was kept.
This cargo tricycle could easily haul over a thousand pounds.
When he returned to the living room, he intended to give a few instructions before heading home to sleep.
He had been running around all day without a moment’s rest.
But Xu Xiuxia came over and closed the door firmly.
Her expression was serious, and she looked at Chu Tianshu with some sorrow.
Chu Tianshu: “…”
What, closing the door to beat the dog?
Xu Xiuxia went to the table and picked up a black leather bag, the kind used for collecting money at a stall.
She spoke: “If Old Zhang and the others hadn’t mentioned it today, I wouldn’t have known you’ve borrowed money again… No wonder you suddenly became so diligent today. It’s because you’re broke.”
Chu Tianshu was speechless: “…”
Why are there neighbors like this everywhere? They know what happens in your family before you do.
He had only incurred the debt about a week ago, and it happened over in Hu Shang. Old Zhang and the others were really well-informed.
Xu Xiuxia didn’t blame him—she was already used to it.
But Old Zhang had said it seemed like quite a big deal this time, and she felt somewhat heavy-hearted, especially given the family’s current situation…
“Here’s five thousand.” Xu Xiuxia took out a neatly stacked bundle of red bills from her bag.
“There’s another ten thousand in my phone.”
As she spoke, she picked up her phone again.
Chu Tianshu quickly said, “No need, keep it for yourself! Ah, I don’t need this money.”
Xu Xiuxia completed the transfer, visibly displeased. “Stop talking! It’s not much, but figure it out yourself. I can’t manage you anymore.”
She had no doubts about her son’s ability to make money.
But according to Old Zhang, it seemed like Chu Tianshu had been set up this time. The business world was full of deceit and scheming, with cunning people everywhere.
That was what upset her.
Chu Tianshu knew that this fifteen thousand was probably something his mother had saved up over several months.
Business wasn’t particularly good, and there were all sorts of expenses.
Besides, she was a patient now and shouldn’t overexert herself…
No matter when, his mother always loved him so selflessly.
In his previous life, Xu Xiuxia’s condition had deteriorated quickly, perhaps related to his divorce, not having children, and the debts.
This time, he wasn’t in a hurry to repay the debts. His priority was to stabilize his mother’s condition.
Xu Xiuxia still looked very unhappy, sighing deeply with regret. “From now on, I need to focus on my business properly and can’t afford to lose my temper with people so easily…”
Her illness, combined with menopause, made it hard for her to control her temper at times.
Chu Tianshu chimed in, “Yes, yes, if you want to vent, just scold me. If I’m not around, call and scold me!”
His debt had put pressure on the whole family.
In his heart, he cursed the gossipy neighbors a few more times.
Still, it was a good thing that Mom was willing to focus on running the business properly.
Xu Xiuxia shot him a sidelong glare: “It’s nine o’clock, get lost already!… Oh, and take a shower before you go. Change out of those dirty clothes—I’ll wash them for you.”
“No need, I can wash them myself,” Chu Tianshu firmly refused. He couldn’t afford to be as lazy as before.
“Mom, you should get some rest early. I’ll go stock up tomorrow morning—I found a pretty good supplier.”
Xu Xiuxia: “What a character!”
…
Chu Tianshu returned to his own home, took a shower, and washed his clothes.
They were filthy—he had no idea how to wash them properly, so he just dumped in extra detergent…
Leaving the washing machine to do its job, he picked up his phone.
It was already past 9:40 p.m.
Chu Tianshu messaged Jiang Furong: “Honey, are the kids asleep? Let me see.”
Jiang Furong had just finished bathing the two little ones not long ago. She turned off the lights and made them stay put in their own small beds.
These two rascals wouldn’t fall asleep until almost eleven; they were currently chattering away in baby talk.
Meanwhile, Jiang Furong was in Tang Xin’s room, both of them applying face masks together.
When her phone screen lit up on the table, Jiang Furong spotted Chu Tianshu’s message at a glance but didn’t reply immediately.
She had just put on the mask, and her hands were still coated with essence—no way was she going to waste it.
What kind of miraculous mask was this? One sheet could only be used once, yet it cost over a hundred yuan!
She could never bring herself to buy something like that.
Jiang Furong said, “This is way too expensive. Even with your high salary, you shouldn’t waste money like this.”
Tang Xin snorted: “This is called the ‘Piss Off Your Ex-Boyfriend’ mask. After using it, your complexion will be so good it’ll make your ex-boyfriend furious! Works just as well on ex-husbands too—let them know we’re living even better without them.”
As she spoke, she picked up her cup and took a sip of the sweet water through a straw: “Ah~ now this is the real miracle water!”
Tang Xin was utterly captivated by the purified water Chu Tianshu had delivered that evening.
Jiang Furong: “You’ve been raving about it all night. If you want to stock up, I can ask him for you.”
“The man is definitely trash; the water is truly delicious. Two separate things,” Tang Xin said. “You’d better not ask. If you do, he’ll know it’s for me, and I won’t humiliate myself like that.”
Tang Xin added: “So what? His beautiful wife is now in my bed… Bwahahahaha!”
Jiang Furong: “…”
She eventually replied to Chu Tianshu: “They’re asleep now.”
She sent him the short video she had taken before giving the kids their bath.
Chu Tianshu: “Got it. Good night, honey! Mwah mwah (￣3)(ε￣)”
Seeing this cute yet suggestive emoji, so proactive…
He had never sent anything like it before.
Jiang Furong felt a bit uncomfortable, finding it strange: “…I’m going to sleep.”
Chu Tianshu: “Sleep tight, baby~”
He promptly forwarded the video of the two little ones to his mom.
Then he went to sleep himself.
This was his first night back in 2015.
He had expected to be overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions, unable to sleep.
But exhausted from the day, he fell asleep quickly.
Later that night, however, he was plagued by dreams.
In his dreams, scenes shifted endlessly—one moment he was pondering who had tampered with the car before it plunged into the river, the next he was thinking about how to repay the 200 million this time…
Later, he even dreamed of the tragic scenes of his wife leaving him, his family shattered, and everything lost.
It was hard to distinguish reality from illusion.
Chu Tianshu struggled in the dream, waking up drenched in sweat.
He checked the time—a little past 4 a.m.
A faint hint of dawn was just breaking in the eastern sky.
“It was just a dream… it’s all in the past… Time to hurry and ‘stock up’!”
Chu Tianshu’s expression had unknowingly gained a touch of determination.
He resolved not to employ any of the debt-repayment methods from his previous life.
This time, he would use the Space to earn money.
He would never tread the old path again.
After a quick wash, Chu Tianshu entered the Space.
He was instantly stunned.
…
Wishing all our dear readers a prosperous New Year! May the Year of the Tiger bring you great fortune, endless blessings, and overflowing wealth!