Returning Home, Encountering Debt Collectors

After leaving the pharmacy, seeing he had nothing else to buy, he went straight to the bank to withdraw some money. This was mainly because he thought he might need money when he got home.

There was no bank in the village, so it was convenient to carry some cash. Moreover, with the Universe Bead, it was extremely convenient to carry many things with him, and it could make thieves cry and faint, unable to steal anything even if they wanted to.

He originally had a lot of money on him, but he had spent some earlier, so he withdrew some more money and put it in the Universe Bead for convenience when he needed it.

Everything was almost done, so he bought a ticket for the intercity long-distance bus and went home.

While Chen Mo was on his way home, Zhang Liwei also started investigating Chen Mo through his contacts. Although he spoke well during the stone gambling, it was just polite talk, and he didn't take it seriously. As an aristocratic family disciple, he had suffered such a great loss at Chen Mo's hands. If he couldn't regain his face and dignity, and couldn't vent his anger, then he wouldn't be the Second Young Master Zhang. Therefore, it was only natural for him to send people to investigate Chen Mo. As for how to deal with Chen Mo after the investigation was complete, that would be a matter for the future.

The Zhang family was very influential in West City. The places Chen Mo went to after leaving Culture Street, and the destination he bought a ticket for at the intercity bus station, were all collected and sent to Zhang Liwei.

After Nangong Xue returned to the company, she also had people start investigating Chen Mo. However, she was only investigating Chen Mo because she found him a bit interesting and wanted to investigate him further. She didn't have any particular intentions towards Chen Mo. After receiving the information, she would collect it first, as it might be useful in the future.

Zhang Liwei knew where Chen Mo had gone, but because he received a family mission after returning home, he had to temporarily suspend his revenge on Chen Mo. However, this matter would not be dropped. After completing the task, he would definitely not let Chen Mo off the hook.

Chen Mo's location was West City, the capital of Qin Province. His hometown was in the Qinling Mountains, where there were no trains, so he had to take a long-distance bus to get home. Moreover, he needed to transfer twice, so it would be quite a journey.

He first took a long-distance bus to Chang County Town, then took a bus from the county bus station to Penghua Town, and finally found a small van to take him to his doorstep. The journey took more than 3 hours before he arrived home.

When he arrived at his doorstep, it was already getting dark. He took out all his luggage, and then he could take out the things he bought for his parents and others.

Chen Mo's family originally lived at the foot of the mountain. However, a few years ago, the county built a "village-to-village" road, so many villagers bought land by the road to build new houses. His family also bought a new foundation and built a house at that time. However, because the family didn't have much money, they built a one-story brick and tile house.

After getting off the car, he stood by the roadside, and his next step was to reach his family's courtyard gate. Many houses were already brightly lit.

However, Chen Mo saw a group of people surrounding his family's gate. A somewhat annoying, sharp voice came from the courtyard.

"Jianguo, I'm not just saying this! With your family's conditions, if you keep delaying, who knows if you'll be able to repay the money you borrowed. Isn't it good now? Just transfer this house and the land to my nephew, and the loan will be repaid. Why are you being so stubborn?"

"Exactly! It's not like Lan Meizi is considering your family's financial difficulties and thinking from the bottom of her heart to handle this situation. Why can't you be more open-minded?"

Chen Mo listened from outside the courtyard, not fully understanding the situation. However, he roughly guessed that someone was coming to collect a debt. Although it was getting dark, he could still see. There were lights both inside and outside the courtyard, those white energy-saving lamps, which illuminated the area quite clearly.

Looking inside from the crowd outside, he saw his father squatting in the courtyard, smoking, and his mother crying beside him. Instantly, a surge of anger rushed up in his heart.

"Who the hell is yapping? Get lost!" Chen Mo pushed aside the crowd watching the commotion and walked into the courtyard.

"Oh! The eldest son of the Chen family is back! That's good! Are you going to consider repaying your family's debt? Don't just learn to be a toad yawning after going to school outside!" The sharp voice said sarcastically again.

Seeing Chen Mo return, his father and mother were also a little excited. His mother hurried over and said, "Er Wa, you're back!"

Er Wa was Chen Mo's nickname. In his hometown, it was customary to raise children harshly so that they would be healthy and safe from a young age. Therefore, the name they casually called him was very common.

"Mom! I'm back. You go inside and sit down first. Dad and I will handle this matter today!" Chen Mo's heart ached when he saw the graying temples of his mother. However, this was not the time to exchange pleasantries, so he asked his mother to go inside and stepped forward to deal with the situation.

Chen Mo's mother looked at her son's broad shoulders and felt a sense of relief. Her child had grown up and knew how to care for his mother.

Although Dad was squatting in the yard, he felt a sense of peace watching his children. He worked tirelessly for the family, all for the sake of his sons having a bright future. As for the current situation, he wasn't too worried. At worst, he could put on a brave face and borrow some money from his son's uncle to tide them over. It shouldn't be a big problem.

Chen Mo's dad hadn't spoken, but he had already figured everything out in his mind.

"Tell me what's going on?" Chen Mo asked the shrill-voiced woman. He knew this woman; they were from the same village and shared the same surname, Chen Xianglan. However, this woman was no easy person to deal with. Any matter she was involved in never ended well. Her scolding ability was unmatched, capable of holding her own against anyone for miles. The villagers had nicknamed her Rotten Mouth Chen!

Most villagers intensely disliked this woman. However, she was also a snob. She wouldn't provoke those with power, those with large families, village officials, or the wealthy. Otherwise, don't expect to get anything from her. Thus, looking at Rotten Mouth Chen, Chen Mo felt a wave of disgust.

"Er Wa, don't look at me like that. Even if you stare, you still have to pay back the money you owe. It's only right that debtors pay their debts!" Rotten Mouth Chen wasn't afraid when Chen Mo glared at her. She had seen plenty of such looks; they were nothing.

"Dad! Why does the family owe her money? How much do we owe?" Chen Mo turned to ask his father. He found Rotten Mouth Chen utterly repulsive and didn't want to speak to her. However, based on his understanding of his parents, they shouldn't owe Rotten Mouth Chen any money. They would rather starve than borrow from someone like her!

"What's there to ask? Let me tell you!" Rotten Mouth Chen was quick to speak, cutting in before Chen Mo's father could and directly explaining the situation.

After a torrent of jabbering, interspersed with her colorful, earth-shattering slang, Rotten Mouth Chen recounted the story. Chen Mo managed to grasp most of it.

Because of the drought last year, the harvest wasn't good. To buy pesticides, fertilizer, seeds for the next year, and Chen Mo's younger brother's tuition fees, his father borrowed 10,000 Yuan from someone in the village with whom they had a good relationship, agreeing on a repayment date and interest.

But life is full of unexpected hardships. At the end of the year, Chen Mo's mother fell ill and was hospitalized. This hospitalization put a further strain on the family's finances. However, the elderly couple didn't contact Chen Mo or his younger brother, bearing the burden themselves. As a result, the borrowed money wasn't repaid by the due date a month ago; only the interest was paid.

Chen Mo's dad had to write a new IOU and agreed with the lender to repay next year. But unexpectedly, Rotten Mouth Chen's nephew wanted to open a shop by the Roadside, and the land there was difficult to acquire and get permits for. So, he came up with a different scheme. Hearing that Chen Mo's family owed money, he bought the IOU for 14,000 Yuan and forced Chen Mo's dad to sell him their family's homestead.

Although the person who lent Chen Mo's father money had a good relationship with them, faced with a profit of 2,000 Yuan, making money came first. He transferred the IOU without any scruples about their relationship or considering the legal feasibility. Most rural people are very concerned about money and are prone to greed.

Since the original debt was 10,000 Yuan, plus new interest, it amounted to 12,000 Yuan. Rotten Mouth Chen's nephew wanted to offer an additional 8,000 Yuan to transfer ownership of Chen Mo's house and homestead to him.

This way, Chen Mo's family would have no outstanding debts, and he would get a location for his shop for just 22,000 Yuan. It was a win-win Good Deed.

The elementary school student here shyly asks for votes. I hope all readers can cast their votes. I am immensely grateful and deeply moved!