A Lot of Money (2)
âYouâre here, Little Ancestor.â Jiang Xing sighed, âShall we go up and have a look?â
He didnât dare to go alone!
âThen you are not allowed to scold Teacher later.â
âThis has nothing to do with me, why would I scold her?â
âThen what did you scold her for earlier?â
â⦠My brain short circuited.â Jiang Xing was very self-conscious and firm as a boss; no one should eye his money pouch!
The two went to the inpatient ward together. Jiang Xiaoman still remembered the room number. As soon as they arrived, they saw Tao Tao inside.
She was still crying miserably, looking very desolate.
Mama Tao was already asleep. Even so, her face still looked haggard and exhausted, as if she really couldnât hold on much longer.
Jiang Xing just took a glance, then looked away with a guilty conscience. Everything he had wanted to say was stuck in his throat, and nothing came out.
Tao Tao turned around and saw them. She cried and put her motherâs hand down, and walked out of the ward.
âSorry Mr. Jiangââ
âSorry Teacher Taoââ
The two talked at the same time and stopped at the same time.
Tao Tao smiled, âI was reckless earlier, I shouldnât have done that. This has nothing to do with Xiaoman, please donât scold her. The child doesnât understand anything, but she has a good heart.â
âIâm not going to scold Xiao Man.â How would he dare to scold Xiao Man? Jiang Xing hesitated, âIâm hereâ¦Iâm here to see your motherâ¦â
âOkay, youâve seen her. Itâs inconvenient for her to see guests now.â Tao Tao said softly, âMr. Jiang, please go back. I will be busy these two days. I will resign as a tutor. Xiaoman is smart and full of initiative; she doesnât need me to be amazing. Iâm not worthy to be her teacher.â
âThatâs not what I meantâ¦â¦â
âThen what do you mean?â
âIâm⦠here to give you money.â
ââ¦Is Mr. Jiang trying to humiliate me?â Tao Tao smiled miserably and said weakly, âNo matter what your intent is, youâve already seen it now. I cannot pay attention to anything else. Mr. Jiang, please go back, I will remember your help in my heart.â
Jiang Xiaoman quietly pulled Jiang Xingâs sleeve and stared at him silently.
Jiang Xing⦠Jiang Xing felt like crying!
How many years had it been since anyone talked to him like this? But Xiaoman was here!
This child⦠He had to set an example!
Jiang Xing coughed and said righteously, âTeacher Tao, there are some things that I canât say in front of the child. If youâre still willing to give me face, letâs talk in private.â
Tao Tao also glanced at Jiang Xiaoman. She nodded and went downstairs with Jiang Xing.
Jiang Xing said, âTeacher Tao, I donât care what you think of me. I am indeed here to give you money. To tell you the truth, I donât care about the money at all. My niece wants to help you, and I canât say no. Of course, I am also a good person, so I am willing to help you.â
âI⦠I stillâ¦â
âDonât you want to help your mother?â
Tao Tao couldnât say anything when Jiang Xing struck her weakness with a single sentence.
Jiang Xing was satisfied, and secretly put on the face of a capitalist with a little bit of conscience. âThis way, it will be a good outcome for both of us. Just give me face and consider this matter settled?â
Tao Tao slowly said, âMr. Jiang is willing to help me, I am already very gratefulâ¦â
For her to give him face? Wasnât it the other way around?
But she still had some mixed feelings, and felt a little uncomfortable after all.
âBut I donât understand why Mr. Jiang wants to help me. Nobody wanted to help me when I was in trouble before.â Tao Tao took a deep breath, âI want to understand.â
How could he say that it was because he was afraid of his niece!?
Jiang Xing coughed again and calmly said, âOf course, there is no free lunch. If there is one, it must be a trap1. I understand your concerns, so letâs sign a contract.â
ââ¦Contract?â Tao Taoâs face turned pale, and her face showed an expression as if she just came to an understanding âOh, so it was like thatâ.
Tao Tao felt much better; she wasnât accepting the kindness of others for nothing.
Jiang Xing glared at her as he continued pretending to be calm, saying, âWhat? You donât agree? Let me tell you, if you want to negotiate terms with me, you must understand at least this much!â
âI agree.â
Jiang Xing breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, âI will transfer you the money first, and my lawyer will contact you soon.â
Tao Tao cried and said, âThank you.â
In any case, Tao Tao was sincerely grateful to him for saving her mother. Other bosses would definitely not care about her motherâs life or death.
Jiang Xing glanced at her, not knowing what to say. He did not know how to comfort people, especially women.
His mother and his niece, each one was more amazing than the other. If anyone among them needed comforting, it could only be him!
Jiang Xing hesitated for a while and said fiercely, âWhat thanks? What are you thankful for? From now on, you belong to the Jiang family, and I will work you to the bone to pay your debts!â
Tao Tao nodded, that was what she thought too.
After the two adults finished talking, they returned upstairs.
Jiang Xiaoman looked down from the stairâs vent, trying to eavesdrop, but it was too far to hear anything.
Seeing them come up, she immediately asked, âHow was it, did you shake hands and make peace?â
âYes.â
âWill Teacherâs mother be saved?â
âYes.â
âThen how much money does Teacher really need?â
âFive hundred thousand.â
âEh?â
âFive hundred thousand.â
ââ¦Oh, thatâs a lot of money.â Jiang Xiaoman sighed.
Footnote:
1. The original idiom I translated to âno free lunchâ is âpies donât fall from the skyâ. The word for âpiesâ and âtrapâ sounds similar in Chinese.