Chapter 11: Borrowing Money
“Brother Feng, did you know? Jin Hui is about to get married,” said Anzhi.
Chu Feng replied, “If he is, then good for him. It’s about time, and it doesn’t really have much to do with us.”
He was part of the “four-nothings” group—no house, no car, no money, no degree. Go on a blind date and even the dogs would ignore you.
Jin Hui was different. He had a house, a car, and an education. A high-achiever. Matchmakers were lining up at his door. Auntie had been fretting over how to choose among them—probably overwhelmed by options.
“It actually does have something to do with us,” Anzhi puffed his cheeks again.
Chu Feng looked confused. “What does it have to do with us?”
Anzhi said gloomily, “Yesterday, Uncle talked to my parents and asked to borrow 200,000 yuan.”
“Two hundred grand? What for?”
“Brother Jin Hui wants to buy a car,” Anzhi muttered.
“A new one? Doesn’t he already have a car?” Chu Feng asked.
“My uncle has one, but it’s old. I guess Brother Jin Hui thinks it’s beneath him,” Anzhi said, shaking his head.
Chu Feng: “…”
“This time, the girl he’s pursuing is a rich one. Auntie said the dowry can’t be too modest. My dad’s stressed about it.”
Chu Feng chuckled, “Why is your dad stressing? It’s their marriage. Isn’t it a bit early for you to worry? You’re not getting married anytime soon.”
“How can he not worry? They’re broke and keep coming to our house to borrow money every few days!” Anzhi sighed.
“Did your dad agree?” Chu Feng asked.
Anzhi shook his head. “No. My dad said the money is saved to buy me a house. But Grandpa said buying a house for me isn’t urgent. With housing prices so high, we can’t afford one anyway, so it’s better to lend it to Uncle’s family for now.”
Chu Feng: … Grandpa hasn’t changed at all.
Back when his father was alive, Grandpa had often made him financially support Uncle’s family. Chu Feng had long heard that getting married nowadays could bankrupt you, but he’d never heard of the uncle’s household marriage bankrupting the nephew’s household too!
If his father hadn’t passed away, their family probably would’ve still been milked dry these past few years.
“Yesterday, my dad and Grandpa had a huge fight,” Anzhi said, scratching his head in frustration.
Chu Feng nodded. “I see.”
No good judge can settle a family matter, he thought. As a junior, Chu Feng didn’t want to get involved. He was struggling just to get by—how could he afford to worry about others?
He patted Anzhi on the shoulder with some sympathy. “Good luck.”
Chu Feng thought: Uncle’s family just bought a house, and now they want a new car. Who knows how many years they’ll be paying off the loans. If this money gets lent out, it won’t come back for at least ten years.
Anzhi looked at Chu Feng, annoyed. “Don’t look so smug. Did you know Auntie came looking for you?”
Chu Feng blinked. “Me? What for?”
He thought: This place is usually dead quiet. Sometimes a month goes by with no visitors—why all the sudden attention?
“Auntie doesn’t show up for no reason. Of course she’s here to borrow money!” Anzhi replied.
Chu Feng was stunned. “She came to borrow money from me?”
Yan Ping never thought of him when it came to anything else, but now she suddenly remembered him for money?
“I don’t have any money! Auntie’s really overestimating me,” Chu Feng said. I’m just a delivery guy!
Yan Ping had badmouthed him endlessly, calling him useless and hopeless—yet when it came to borrowing money, she suddenly believed he was rich?
Anzhi looked at Chu Feng and said, “I overheard Auntie talking to Grandpa and Grandma. She said you’ve been working for years and must have some savings. Grandma said that’s your marriage fund, and Grandpa said since you’re not getting married anyway, you might as well lend it out.”
Chu Feng: “…” Wow, Grandpa really treats me and Uncle equally, huh!
“Auntie’s been looking for you for days, but your phone was off and you weren’t around. I even heard her tell Cousin you’re avoiding her because you don’t want to lend her money.”
Chu Feng nodded. “I am avoiding her. I don’t want to lend her money.”
Historically, people robbed the rich to help the poor—not the poor to help the rich. Saving money was hard, and he wasn’t about to throw it away for someone else’s luxury. He wasn’t stupid.
Anzhi looked curious. “Brother, where’ve you been these past few days? Something going on?”
Chu Feng nodded and casually made something up. “Yeah, I’m chasing someone right now.”
Chu Feng had only meant to make a casual remark, but the moment he spoke, Ilya’s face suddenly flashed before his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.
Chu Anzhi looked at him excitedly, eyes wide. “Brother Feng, so you do have something going on!”
Chu Feng forced a smile. “Just messing with you.”
But Anzhi scowled. “Liar. I can tell something’s up—did you have some kind of romantic encounter?”
Chu Feng thought to himself: Well, getting dragged into another world and stripped of my clothes… I guess that sort of counts as a romantic encounter?
He just smiled and asked, “The banquet is the day after tomorrow, right?”
Anzhi nodded. “Yeah, Brother Feng, you have to come, okay?”
Chu Feng gave a small nod and secretly touched the mark on his hand, thinking: This time, the lightning symbol seems to be fading even more slowly. I might be able to stay in this world for four days or more… That should be enough to attend the banquet.
