A Father's Humiliation

After leaving the villa, Wu Xiuli was still overwhelmed with shock and disbelief.

She clutched Jiang Tian's hand tightly and kept looking at him even as she walked, as though she feared he would disappear the very next second.

Seeing his mother like this, Jiang Tian did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Mom, watch where you're going."

Jiang Tian tightened his grip on his mother's hand and reminded her.

Wu Xiuli came to her senses and smiled sheepishly. "Tian, I'm just so happy, but I'm also afraid this is a dream, that you'll disappear as soon as I snap out of it."

The worry in his mother's eyes sent a stab of pain through Jiang Tian's heart. He stopped and clasped her hands in both of his. "Mom, you're not dreaming. I'm really back, and I'm never leaving again. I'll stay by your side and take care of you in your old age!"

Feeling the strength in Jiang Tian's large hands, Wu Xiuli could not help her eyes reddening. "Good, good, good. Oh, where exactly have you been these past ten years?"

Her son had disappeared for ten years, only to suddenly return. She could hardly believe it!

Jiang Tian paused, then changed the subject. "Mom, it's a long story. Let's pick up Dad first, and I'll tell you both everything once we're home."

"All right."

Wu Xiuli nodded.

Jiang Tian smiled faintly and took Wu Xiuli onto a bus, heading straight for where his father worked.

After his leg had been crippled, Jiang Chenglin had quit his job and become a security guard at a company.

The monthly pay was not high, but it was still four or five thousand yuan. With meals and accommodation provided by the company, he could save a fair amount each month.

It was lunchtime. Outside a cramped security office, Jiang Chenglin placed the last food delivery in the pickup area, then went back inside.

Several other men in security uniforms were gathered around a small table playing cards, with cigarette butts and liquor bottles scattered all around them.

Rubbing his hands, Jiang Chenglin approached them. He forced a smile onto his deeply wrinkled face and addressed a fat man with a brutish face. "Captain Yang, having any luck today?"

The fat man, addressed as Captain Yang, glanced up at him and flicked the ash off his cigarette. "Not bad. Won a little."

Delighted, Jiang Chenglin hurriedly said, "Then could you pay back some of the money you owe me? I need to send my daughter her living expenses next month."

Captain Yang's previously indifferent expression tightened into a frown. He set his hand on the card table and looked at him. "Chenglin, what's wrong with you? It's only a few thousand yuan. Do you really have to pester me about it all day? Do you think I, Yang Bin, would cheat you out of a few thousand yuan?"

The two younger-looking guards beside him chimed in. "Exactly, Chenglin. Captain Yang isn't that kind of person. Besides, we're all coworkers. It's not very decent of you to keep pestering him, is it?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chenglin seethed inwardly.

Right, right, you're all right. How generous you are. It's not your money he owes, so of course you're in no hurry.

Although that was what he thought, Jiang Chenglin did not want an open falling-out. He could only force a smile. "No, no, Captain Yang, that's not what I meant. It's just that I really need the money right now. The New Year is almost here, and I wanted to..."

"Old Jiang, I hate to say it, but your attitude still needs some work! There's always more money to be earned. Besides, I, Yang Bin, haven't treated you badly, have I? Are you really going to make such a fuss over a few thousand yuan?"

Yang Bin's face darkened, though his voice remained flat.

"Of course you've treated me well, Captain Yang, but I really need this money urgently. My daughter's in her final year of high school. She'll be going to college before I know it. I have no other choice!"

Jiang Chenglin's weathered face flushed red as he spoke.

These days, the debtor acted more like the boss than the creditor. Where could a man turn for justice?

"All right, all right, I get it. Next month. I'll definitely pay you back when we get paid next month, okay? Stop interrupting my game."

Apparently unwilling to waste any more words on him, Yang Bin waved impatiently.

"Yes, all right, all right. It's settled, then. You'll definitely pay me back next month. Go on with your game. I won't bother you!"

Jiang Chenglin was delighted to hear that and limped away as he spoke.

As long as he got his money back, he could wait a little longer!

"Hey, wait!"

Just as Jiang Chenglin picked up his lunch box and was about to get his food, Yang Bin called him back.

"Captain Yang, is there something else?"

Jiang Chenglin turned and asked.

"Chenglin, looks like you haven't spent much of this month's wages, have you? How about lending me another five thousand? I'll pay it all back together next month."

Yang Bin smiled as he spoke.

"Huh? You want to borrow more?"

The smile froze on Jiang Chenglin's face, and reluctance crept into his voice.

Before this, Yang Bin had already borrowed five thousand yuan from him in bits and pieces under various pretexts. Another loan would bring it to ten thousand.

"Come on, don't be so stingy. A debt's a debt, whatever the amount. We might as well round it up. Then I can just give you a whole stack of cash when I pay you back."

As he spoke, Yang Bin walked over and draped an arm around his shoulders.

Jiang Chenglin forced an ugly smile. "Captain Yang, I really can't. I need to save this money for my daughter's college education..."

"Chenglin, don't spit in my face when I'm being nice to you. Remember, you're only working here as a guard because I took you in. Who else would hire a cripple like you? Now you won't even lend me a little money?"

Yang Bin's face darkened at Jiang Chenglin's refusal.

The two younger guards stood up as well. "Chenglin, you owe Captain Yang an enormous debt of gratitude. It's only five thousand yuan. If you won't lend it to him, you're really being heartless."

Watching the three take turns guilt-tripping him, Jiang Chenglin felt his anger surge!

Yes!

It was indeed thanks to Yang Bin that he had managed to get this security job, but this so-called enormous debt of gratitude was pure bullshit!

When he first joined, he had indeed been deeply grateful to Yang Bin. Only later did he learn that the company's head of security was Yang Bin's brother-in-law. For every person Yang Bin recruited, he pocketed several thousand yuan in kickbacks, and that money was deducted from their wages!

As for these two young men, they were also connected to Yang Bin. The three spent every day together eating, drinking, and having fun, while all the work fell to Jiang Chenglin alone!

And now they were talking about an enormous debt of gratitude? What utter bullshit!

At that thought, Jiang Chenglin could no longer suppress the anger on his face. Even the meekest man had his limits, let alone him.

"Captain Yang, I'm sorry, but I really can't lend you this money. I'd like you to pay back what you owe me as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll report you to HR!"

Jiang Chenglin flung Yang Bin's arm off and spoke coldly.

"What?"

Seeing the usually meek Jiang Chenglin suddenly explode, Yang Bin froze in surprise.

When he recovered, he felt humiliated. He grabbed Jiang Chenglin by the collar.

"Fuck, you cripple! You really don't know what's good for you, do you? You're going to report me to HR? Let me tell you, even going to the chairman won't do you any good. Don't forget, my brother-in-law is the head of security here! He's in complete charge of company security!"

Then he reached toward Jiang Chenglin's pocket, cursing. "You're lending me that money today whether you like it or not!"

"What are you doing? Are you robbing me in broad daylight?"

Jiang Chenglin had not expected him to be so brazen and hurriedly covered his pocket.

"Fuck, so what if I am? Little Dragon, Little Tiger, get over here and hold him down!"

Yang Bin gave the two young men a meaningful look.

"You got it, Yang!"

Little Dragon and Little Tiger nodded, stepped forward, and pinned Jiang Chenglin between them.

"What are you doing? Let me go! This is illegal! You'll go to prison for this!"

Jiang Chenglin struggled desperately.

By then, Yang Bin had pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket, roughly ten thousand yuan or more. Looking at the money in his hand, he grinned. "Fuck, this old bastard's pretty good at saving."

Little Dragon and Little Tiger laughed along. "Brother Yang, doesn't this mean we should go splurge at White Gold Han tonight?"

Yang Bin grinned. "Of course. Tonight's on me. Bring every girl you can get hold of!"

"No problem!"

Little Dragon and Little Tiger roared with laughter.

"Aaaah!!!"

But the instant they finished speaking, Jiang Chenglin suddenly broke free of their grip and lunged at Yang Bin. He bit down hard on his hand and snatched the money back.

The bite was vicious. The skin on Yang Bin's hand split open instantly, and blood poured out.

Staring at his bloodied hand, Yang Bin flew into a rage. He pointed at Jiang Chenglin's nose and bellowed:

"You motherfucking cripple! You dare bite me? Little Dragon, Little Tiger, beat him up!"