The Fantastic Little Farmer

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: My Nephew Is So Promising

”Fugui! Let’s eat first. I’ll give you a portion of it later,” Zhang Fu said, giving him a slight pull.

Wang Fugui sighed. ”Fu, don’t blame me. I’m not here to force you to pay your debts today. I’m just worried that Zhang Yun will waste all his money if he has any. Don’t you think that makes sense?”

Zhang Yun took everything in. His father had been so happy, genuinely believing that Uncle Fugui had come to set up a match for him. But now, this sudden debt collection had left him utterly embarrassed.

As a son, Zhang Yun felt a surge of frustration bubbling up inside. However, Uncle Fugui wasn’t an outsider. It wouldn’t be appropriate to say anything harsh, so he maintained his smile.

”Uncle Fugui! You’re right. I’m to blame for this,” Zhang Yun said. ”I was too immature in the past. I let my dad carry all the burdens, thinking everything was easy. I’ll pay you back right now!”

Hearing this, Wang Fugui was delighted and immediately chimed in, ”I lent your dad fifty thousand back then. Since we’re family, let’s not talk about interest. If you’re afraid of wasting the money, just pay it all back at once. If you really don’t have enough, paying back thirty or forty thousand for now is fine too.”

”Fugui!” Zhang Fu’s tone darkened. How could his son possibly come up with thirty or forty thousand yuan on such short notice?

Zhang Yun had told him he sold ginseng for fifty thousand yuan, but he hadn’t elaborated further, fearing his father would worry. The main issue was that Zhang Fu didn’t even believe the fifty thousand figure. Between buying Maotai liquor, cigarettes, and a motorcycle, the money should have been all gone. Zhang Fu did have the ten thousand yuan in cash that Zhang Youcai had given him, which could be used for an emergency.

Zhang Yun smiled faintly and fetched the snakeskin sack he had casually tossed into the corner of the room earlier.

”We just washed our hands to eat. What are you bringing that thing over for?” Zhang Fu frowned. Was there ginseng inside? Could that really satisfy Wang Fugui?

Under the gazes of both men, Zhang Yun pulled a black plastic bag out of the snakeskin sack.

”I rushed out earlier because I dug up an old ginseng root. I just took it to Liu’s Restaurant and sold it.”

Smiling, Zhang Yun pulled out five stacks of hundred-yuan bills straight from the bag and placed them in front of Wang Fugui.

Zhang Fu was dumbfounded. His son had mentioned going out early to dig for ginseng last night. Had he actually found some? Hadn’t all the ginseng on Bijia Mountain been dug out already? How did this little rascal find one so casually? Could it be that his claim of finding a hidden spot full of ginseng and soft-shell turtles wasn’t just him blowing hot air, but the actual truth?

It defied all logic. Even his own father found it hard to believe, let alone Uncle Fugui, who didn’t know him as well. Staring at the fifty thousand on the table, Wang Fugui was utterly flabbergasted.

”Count it,” Zhang Yun said with a smile, pouring him a glass of Maotai before refilling his father’s glass. ”I wasn’t fully aware of the situation. I just wanted to show some filial piety to my dad now that I’ve made some money. Of course, I wouldn’t default on our debts.”

Wang Fugui downed his cup of tea in one gulp. Although counting the money right to his nephew’s face would show a lack of trust, he couldn’t help himself. He picked up the stacks and flipped through them carefully. It wasn’t just a real bill on the surface, and they weren’t counterfeit practice notes used by banks!

Seeing that he still looked skeptical, Zhang Yun chuckled. ”Uncle Fugui, check them carefully. The money came from Liu’s Pharmacy, so there shouldn’t be any fakes.”

Fifty thousand yuan was no small sum. Throwing pride to the wind, Wang Fugui pulled out a few random bills, examined them closely against the light, and even took a hundred-yuan bill from his own wallet to compare.

”Fugui! Would my son really deceive you?” Zhang Fu said, a bit displeased.

”I’m just being cautious. Of course I trust Yun’er, but I was worried someone else might have scammed him!” With the money in hand, Wang Fugui lost his previous aggressive demeanor and was all smiles. ”These shouldn’t be a problem at all!”

”Wait a minute!” Zhang Yun suddenly spoke up.

”What is it?” Wang Fugui was startled, instinctively pressing his hands down on the five stacks of cash. Was he going to take it back?

”You didn’t charge us interest, but we borrowed it for several years. I’d feel bad...” As he spoke, Zhang Yun picked up one of the stacks, flipped through it quickly, and pulled out two thousand yuan.

Seeing this, Zhang Fu grew anxious. ”You child! Put that away! Would your Uncle Fugui really ask you for interest?”

Wang Fugui felt a wave of awkwardness. He opened his mouth, wanting to politely decline. However, his body was too honest, and he simply couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

”We’re family, so let’s not call it interest. Just consider it a thank-you red envelope from me to Uncle Fugui!” Zhang Yun proactively shoved the money over.

Zhang Fu was speechless. That was the price of half a bottle of Maotai right there! Without a word, he downed the glass of Maotai in front of him. He thought, ”What a spendthrift! Why does he have to be so generous?”

”So generous! Big-hearted! It’s obvious my nephew is someone who will do great things and make a fortune. Your Uncle Fugui accepts!” Wang Fugui praised with a beaming smile.

Seeing the pile of cash still left in Zhang Yun’s bag, Wang Fugui swallowed hard and couldn’t help but add, ”Um... what about the money you owe your Eldest Uncle and Youngest Aunt... How about I take it back to them? It’ll save you a trip.”

”Fugui!” Zhang Fu called out with a frown, his tone losing its previous familial warmth. ”Zhang Yun hasn’t even found a wife yet!”

Wang Fugui had already collected his own share, but he was afraid that if he missed this opportunity, it would be hard to get the money later. He brazened it out. ”Hey! I just figured that since it’s not a holiday, Zhang Yun would have to buy them gifts if he visited. I might as well make the trip for him!”

Zhang Yun knew that these debts weighed heavily on his father. He decided to settle them all today, saving them the constant worry.

”Dad! How much do we owe Eldest Uncle and Youngest Aunt?”

Fearing Zhang Fu wouldn’t answer, Wang Fugui immediately chimed in, ”I know this! Your Eldest Uncle lent you eighty thousand, and your Youngest Aunt lent you twenty thousand. I’m not sure if you’ve paid any of it back since then...”

In truth, he knew perfectly well. If they had paid the others back without paying him, he would have thrown a fit long ago.

Zhang Fu nodded silently. ”We were supposed to pay it off slowly, but you needed money for school... and then you came back and contracted the fishpond...”

”Help me count this!” Zhang Yun said, and without another word, he pulled out eight stacks and placed them in front of Wang Fugui.

Wang Fugui became even more meticulous. He was carrying money for his older brother; what if there was a mistake and he was blamed for it?

”This is for Youngest Aunt’s family.” Zhang Yun counted out another thousand and added it to Youngest Aunt’s pile, then counted out three thousand and added it to Eldest Uncle’s pile. ”These are also thank-you red envelopes.”

This was a disguised form of interest. Since everyone had lent different amounts, Wang Fugui naturally wouldn’t demand an equal cut. After carefully finishing his counting, Wang Fugui took out his phone and directly initiated a video call with his older brother.

”Eldest Uncle!”

”Big Brother, look at this. Yun’er has made something of himself. He sold some ginseng and made a fortune. Today, he settled the debts for all three of our families and even included red envelopes. It’s all right here. I’ll bring it over to you in a bit!”

After showing him the cash, he hung up the video call without caring about his brother’s dumbfounded expression, and then dialled his younger sister.

Zhang Fu watched with a deep frown, silently drinking his liquor in frustration. Zhang Yun, however, found it secretly amusing. Uncle Fugui was just being cautious. He wanted to give the two families a clear look to prevent them from blaming him later if they suspected counterfeit bills!

In the countryside, any news spread immediately. Wang Fugui naturally knew a few people in Tianxin Village. When Zhang Yun’s family had a new motorcycle delivered yesterday, someone had tipped him off right away. So, he had come prepared. He brought out a bag and carefully stashed all the money inside.

”My nephew is so successful!” Wang Fugui gave Zhang Yun a thumbs-up and then vigorously patted Zhang Fu on the shoulder. ”Fu! You are truly blessed! You won’t need to toil anymore; you can just enjoy a peaceful retirement. Once Zhang Yun finds a wife and you have grandchildren to hold, what a life that will be! Tsk, tsk...”

Zhang Fu watched as Zhang Yun’s bag of money dwindled down to a small fraction, his heart aching at the sight. Although paying back debts was right and proper, his son wasn’t even married yet. He would rather have paid off the borrowed money slowly by himself.

Smiling, Zhang Yun handed the remaining forty-odd thousand, along with the bag, to his father. ”Dad, you keep this!”

Wang Fugui had already drunk the Maotai and eaten the food. Having unexpectedly collected the debts for all three families, complete with interest, he was no longer in the mood to stick around. After offering a few more praises, he made an excuse and left.

The father and son were left facing each other in silence.