In the stable, Chu Eighth was carefully applying medicine to the horse.
Chu Qingzhi was asked to find a water source, so she couldn’t take care of the matters at home. Hence, she asked the children to help her.
The injured horse’s leg was still broken, so it lay on the ground. However, it was in good spirits. Its big eyes were sparkling.
Chu Eighth applied the medicine on the horse as she muttered, “After applying the medicine, you will feel less pain.”
There were a few close friends of Chu Eighth in the village. At this moment, they stood by the stable and watched.
Chu Hongxiu placed her hands on the railing by the stable and looked at the scene intently. “Chu Eighth, the horse’s injuries seemed to have healed a lot today.”
Chu Eighth reached out and touched the horse’s ear. “Yes, it’s no longer red and swollen. I’ll apply some medicine on it in the afternoon again.”
Chu Hongxiu was eager to try. “Why don’t we help you apply the medicine?”
Chu Eighth quickly raised her hand to stop them. “No need. Just stand there and watch.”
Chu Hongxiu really wanted to help. “The horse is so big. It’ll take you a long time to do it alone.”
Chu Eighth still refused. Her eyes widened slightly and she revealed a determined gaze. “1 don’t mind. I like to do these things.”
Chu Hongxiu was speechless.
They could only stand at the side and watch.
Li Qingwu’s daughter, Li Hongfeng, walked over. She looked at the horses enviously, so she walked into the stable and reached out to touch Fu Bao. “Chu Eighth, can you give one of your two horses to us?”
Chu Eighth raised her head and frowned. “Are you dreaming?”
Li Hongfeng touched Fu Bao lovingly, wishing she could bring it home immediately. This horse was too impressive. If she brought it home, everyone in the village would definitely be envious of their family.
“Don’t be so stingy. You don’t need an extra horse anyway. Raising two horses will cost your family a lot of money. 1 just want to share your burden.”
How shameless… Chu Eighth pouted and said unhappily, “Our family can afford it. You don’t have to worry.”
Li Hongfeng turned around and glared at Chu Eighth. She said with obvious displeasure, “Chu Eighth, you’re too unreasonable.”
Chu Eighth widened her beautiful eyes and glared back. “I’m unreasonable? You eat our food and live in our house. What else do you want?”
Li Hongfeng pursed her lips and said arrogantly, “We’re your relatives. What’s wrong with us eating some of your food?”
Chu Eighth snorted. “Then 1’11 go to your house to eat as well, okay?”
Li Hongfeng immediately retorted. “Our family isn’t as rich as yours.”
Because our family has money, you can eat and stay here for free?… Chu Eighth rolled her eyes. “My family’s money is borrowed…” After saying that, Chu Eighth acted like she had revealed a secret. She hurriedly covered her mouth and lowered her head uneasily.
She was instructed by her ninth brother to do this.
“What?” Li Hongfeng widened her eyes in disbelief. “Did your family borrow money?”
Chu Eighth nodded guiltily. “Yes, someone lent us the money to do business. We haven’t earned much from the business now and are already asked to pay back the debt. 1 wonder if my parents have saved enough to pay it back.”
She suddenly looked up. “Sister Hongfeng, if our family can’t pay it back, can you lend us some?”
“What makes you think our family has money? Think of a way yourself,” Li Hongfeng said and ran away in a panic.
Chu Eighth watched her leave. Then, she covered her mouth and giggled, thinking to herself, Li Hongfeng should have been fooled by my acting, right?
Chu Hongxiu asked with concern, “Chu Eighth, did your family really borrow a lot of money?”
Chu Eighth sighed and nodded helplessly. “Yes, we borrowed money to do business. Otherwise, why do you think we had money to do business?”
Chu Hongxiu comforted her. “Your family’s business is doing so well. You can definitely pay it back.”
“Of course.” Chu Eighth smiled secretly. Even her best friend believed her words. It seemed that her performance was really not bad.
Li Hongfeng went to look for Cao Zhilan, intending to tell her everything that Chu Eighth had just said.
As she walked, she suddenly saw a piece of paper left at the door of Li Qingyu’s room.
She picked it up and unfolded it. She couldn’t read, so she put it away, thinking of showing it to her father later.
In the front yard, she found Cao Zhilan and pulled her to a corner to tell her what Chu Eighth had said.
When Cao Zhilan heard this, her expression changed. “Chu Eighth told you that?”
Li Hongfeng nodded affirmatively. “Yes, she said it out of panic. She even said that her family would borrow money from us.”
Cao Zhilan snorted when she heard that. “With so many working for them, I thought they were doing well, but in fact, they are about to go broke.”
Li Hongfeng asked softly, “Mother, what should we do now?”
Cao Zhilan already had an idea. “Let’s wait and see first. If it’s true, we’ll go home.” She would not lend the money no matter what.
Li Hongfeng nodded. “Ok.”
Li Hongfeng then went to look for Li Qingwu and handed him the paper. “Father, look at what’s written on it.”
Li Qingwu did not think much and unfolded the paper.
When he saw the word “IOU”, his heart sank, as if a basin of cold water had been poured on his head.
How could Chu Rong be so bold as to borrow fifty taels of silver to do business? How long would it take to earn it back?
He looked at Chu Rong, who was sitting on a chair beside him, and couldn’t help but want to ask if the 1OU was true. However, he felt that it wasn’t a good idea to ask, so he handed the IOU to Li Hongfeng and told her to put it back. He thought to himself that he would ask Chu Rong indirectly later to confirm if it was true.
Li Hongfeng left with the IOU.
Li Qingwu walked towards Chu Rong. The words lingered on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Chu Rong noticed his abnormality and asked, “Second Brother, just say what you want to say. We’re brothers. There’s no need to hold it back.”
When Li Qingwu heard this, he slowly said, “Chu Rong, does your family owe a lot of money?”
Chu Rong was stunned. Then, he pretended to be surprised. “You know it?”
“I found out by accident.” Li Qingwu laughed awkwardly. “Chu Rong, why didn’t you tell us about such a big matter?”
Chu Rong forced a smile. “I was thinking about telling you. The half-month period is almost up. They want us to return the money. We’re not earning money at all from the business. I was about to ask you to lend us some money. Now that you’ve asked, I’ll take this opportunity to tell you. Second Brother, lend us some money. When we earn money from our business, we’ll return it to you.”
Li Qingwu expressed his doubts. “You haven’t made money from the business for half a month. Can you make money in the future?”
Chu Rong said honestly, “Qingzhi said that we can. We all believe her.”
Li Qingwu frowned. He originally thought that the Chu family was earning a lot of money, but in fact, they couldn’t even pay back their debts. It was too disappointing. “She’s a girl. Why do you trust her so much?”
Chu Rong lowered his head and continued working. “She reads a lot of books and is knowledgeable. We all listen to her..”
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