The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

Tang Aijun found it extremely grating.

Zhang Qingtian, however, got carried away with her cursing:

"You have absolutely no shame!"

If it weren't for Tang Tiantian interfering, you and that idiot wouldn't be able to continue living together!

She's a jinx!

Now look what happened, she's in jail, serves her right!

retribution!"

Tang Aijun shut his mouth.

He knew that saying anything at this point would be useless.

Zhang Qingtian cursed for a full half hour, starting from when Tang Tiantian was fostered in her family as a child. She cursed her for being "unfilial and ill-mannered," for "seducing her cousin shamelessly," and for "ruining my good son's reputation."

Tang Aijun listened, feeling a mix of emotions.

Tang Tiantian was indeed fostered in his family since she was a child.

Zhang Qingtian never liked her, thinking she was a burden and someone who came to claim a share of the family fortune.

Tang Tiantian had indeed been clinging to him since she was little, following him around calling out "Brother Jun, Brother Jun" all the time.

But back then, he thought Tian Tian was cute, sensible, and much better than Qi Weiwei, that idiot.

What now?

Tang Tiantian is in prison. She took all the blame for him and will serve eleven years in jail.

And Qi Weiwei... ran away with the money.

He suddenly felt that it was all a joke.

Finally, Zhang Qingtian got tired of cursing and stopped to catch her breath.

Tang Aijun spoke again, his voice even lower: "Mom, the money..."

Zhang Qingtian glanced at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

After a few seconds of silence, she stood up, walked to the chest of drawers, opened the drawer, and took out a handkerchief bag.

The handkerchief was pink and had been washed until it was almost white.

She opened it, and inside was a stack of money, mostly one or two yuan coins, and a few grain coupons.

She counted out twenty one-yuan bills and handed them over.

"I'll give you two hundred at a time, since you haven't come to see your mother for half a year."

Zhang Qingtian said, her tone still harsh.

"Your dad isn't home right now—though he'll probably be released in a couple of days. He's a very reliable guy."

She paused, watching Tang Aijun take the twenty yuan, and then said, "Okay, back to the money. Twenty yuan should be enough for a week, right? When you run out, come back, and Mom will give you another twenty!"

Tang Aijun looked at the stack of money in his hand and felt a chill in his heart.

Twenty yuan.

Sun Xidi's hospital deposit is fifty yuan, and it's unknown how much the subsequent treatment will cost.

My two sons need to eat.

He needs to eat too.

What can you do with twenty yuan?

He wasted two hours listening to countless complaints and curses, and only got twenty dollars.

They didn't even get a sip of water.

"Thank you, Mom." He clutched the money tightly and stood up.

Zhang Qingtian waved his hand: "Hurry up and go. I still need to think of a way to see if I can ask someone to inquire about your father's situation."

Tang Aijun didn't say anything more and turned to leave 302.

The hallway was dark; the motion-activated lights were broken.

He walked down step by step, his steps heavy.

It was already dark when I walked out of the gate of the residential compound.

Winter evenings come early; by just past five o'clock, the sky was already overcast.

The wind grew colder, and it felt like knives on my face.

Tang Aijun stood on the side of the street, watching the pedestrians coming and going.

They all have places to go, homes to return to, and food to eat.

But what about him?

Grandma is waiting for life-saving treatment at the hospital, her son is hungry, her father is under investigation, and her mother only gives her twenty yuan.

He suddenly thought of Qi Weiwei.

If Qi Weiwei were here, she would never have put him in such an awkward position.

Although Qi Weiwei is simple-minded, she is good to him.

If he wants money, she will give it to him; if he wants something, she will find a way to get it; if he loses his temper, she will tolerate it.

Moreover, the Qi family behind Qi Weiwei can always make a profit.

Grandpa Qi is a retired deputy factory director and receives a pension;

Mr. Qi is a train driver, and his salary is not low;

Aunt Qi is a purchasing agent at the supply and marketing cooperative; she has connections.

The Qi family has so many older brothers and sisters, all of whom have jobs and can make a living from it...

He suddenly realized—Qi Weiwei's claim that she had tuberculosis and needed to go back to her parents' home to recuperate was probably a test for him.

To test his attitude.

She was testing whether he would care about her or try to keep her when she was "sick".

He knew perfectly well what kind of person he was towards Qi Weiwei.

From the day they got married, he never took her seriously.

I think she's stupid, easy to coax, and easy to manipulate.

He felt that she was marrying above her station.

So when she contracted tuberculosis and offered to go back to her parents' home, he was overjoyed and couldn't wait for her to go far away.

He didn't try to stop her, nor did he even take her home.

He avoided her as if she were a plague.

It now appears that he failed Qi Weiwei's test.

But what's gotten into her? Why does she suddenly want to test herself?

And does she even deserve it?

Does she really not want to live like this anymore?!

Tang Aijun couldn't understand it.

So far, although he has met Zhang Qingtian, he still does not know that Qi Weiwei has returned, negotiated with Tang Qu, and knows the whole truth.

Because Zhang Qingtian was only concerned with venting her emotions, cursing her neighbors, Qi Weiwei, and Tang Tiantian, she didn't say a single truly useful word.

Tang Aijun clenched the stack of money in his hand.

Several thin banknotes were soaked with the sweat from his palms.

Where else can we get money?

The steel mill has already fired him, and it's impossible for the factory to lend him any money.

He suddenly felt a wave of panic—he wouldn't get a salary anymore?!

He walked back to the courtyard in a daze, wanting to search every nook and cranny again.

It was completely dark by then. There were no streetlights in the alley, only the dim yellow light shining from the windows of a few houses.

He walked along, stumbling and sinking, his mind filled with nothing but money.

A deposit of fifty yuan.

Subsequent treatment costs.

The money for my son's meals.

His own food money.

When he reached the entrance of the courtyard, he stopped and his gaze fell on the gleaming Forever brand bicycle in the yard.

I bought this car last year.

At the time, he had just been promoted to propaganda officer, and in order to show off, he forced Qi Weiwei to get this new car from her father.

The handlebars and rims are polished to a shine. I ride it to and from get off work every day, attracting many envious glances.

just now……

Tang Aijun gritted his teeth.

Twenty minutes later, he pushed his bicycle and walked into Old Zhang's house, which was several courtyards away.

The Zhang family is an ordinary working-class family. The man works as a fitter in a steel rolling mill, while the woman stays at home to take care of the children.

Old Zhang was somewhat surprised to see Tang Aijun pushing his bicycle in.

"Aijun, what's wrong with you...?"

"Uncle Zhang," Tang Aijun forced a smile, "this car of mine... could you lend me some money first? My grandmother is sick and is waiting for treatment at the hospital. I'll leave the car with you as collateral, and I'll come back to redeem it when I have the money."

Old Zhang glanced at the brand-new Forever brand bicycle, then at Tang Aijun's anxious face, and hesitated for a moment.

"Aijun, it's not that Uncle Zhang doesn't want to help you." Old Zhang rubbed his hands together. "You know how much this car is worth. But I don't have that much cash on hand."

"Give me whatever you think is appropriate," Tang Aijun said urgently. "Any amount is fine! I need to save Grandma first!"

Old Zhang thought for a moment, then turned and went inside.

Tang Aijun rubbed his hands together, waiting anxiously.

Inside the room, one could hear hushed conversations.