"It's fine, being able to eat is a good thing. It's much better than being listless and unable to eat or drink like before, isn't it?"
Xie Sui rubbed Hu Zi's head. This child had died from this illness in his previous life, hadn't he?
He had already left home by then. He only found out years later that his elder sister also passed away due to her child, and with grief, she died young after a few years. Apart from Lin Wanyuan and her three children, she was another great regret for him.
Xie Lan smiled with relief. It was a good thing for the child to be able to eat and be mischievous.
"Sister, you don't need to worry about the money. I've saved enough. Sister, you should eat something good too and don't exhaust yourself."
"Okay, Xiao Sui has done well. Your sister can manage."
"Brother-in-law?"
As they spoke, Li Wenjun came in, carrying a tin thermos. Seeing Xie Sui, his eyes held a complex emotion. "Xiao Sui, you're here."
"Yes, brother-in-law. What did the doctor say?"
Li Wenjun was immediately pleasantly surprised. "He's recovering very well, and the surgery was very successful. We still owe some medical expenses. They asked us to pay as soon as possible, otherwise, they can't prescribe the follow-up medication."
"Xiao Sui, this money is what brother-in-law owes you, and I will definitely repay you. Thanks to you this time."
"It's nothing. Brother-in-law took good care of me before. We are family, so there's no need for formalities. I'll go ask the doctor. You don't need to worry about the follow-up medical expenses. I brought the money."
"Thank you, Xiao Sui. You saved my whole family. To be honest, your sister was injured when she gave birth to Hu Zi, and she can't have any more children. Brother-in-law's family only has this one precious son."
Xie Sui felt very guilty. He really didn't know. Perhaps he wouldn't have cared even if he had known. He felt like he was living in a fog back then, caring about nothing but eating, drinking, and gambling.
"Everything will be fine. Sister's health also needs good treatment."
Xie Sui walked out of the ward, exhaling a sigh of relief. It felt good to have his loved ones around and to mend regrets.
After understanding Hu Zi's condition from the doctor and paying the remaining medical fees, Xie Sui had to go home.
Xie Lan and her husband saw him off at the hospital entrance. Xie Sui waved his hand. "Go back. Take good care of Hu Zi. I won't come when he's discharged. You can take him home yourselves. Later, when you come to my place, I'm starting a business and need people. Come and help. I'll pay you the same wages as everyone else."
Li Wenjun rubbed his hands. "Really? What kind of business are you starting? Brother-in-law doesn't want money, I'll work for free."
"No, we're family, but let's be clear about our business. Half of the wages will be deducted, which can be considered repayment for Hu Zi's medical expenses. Hurry back, Hu Zi is still alone in the ward."
The couple was extremely grateful. They watched him and Zhang Wenfeng leave with the mule cart before returning to the ward.
As soon as they entered, they saw Hu Zi had already eaten half of the canned food. He had also eaten a lot of the cake and pastries. Half of the food on the table was gone. Xie Lan was so angry that she raised her hand to hit him. "You child, who told you to eat so much? Are you a hungry ghost reborn? You're not even fully recovered yet, and you'll be waiting for the doctor to give you injections!"
Hu Zi smiled fawningly. "No, the doctor said I'm much better. Uncle bought this for me, why can't I eat it? Mother, you eat too. It's delicious. I saved half of the canned food for you. It's very sweet."
Xie Lan's anger dissipated. She resigned herself to tidying up.
...
The whole village was waiting to see Xie Sui make a fool of himself. To their surprise, he returned with an empty cart, but also brought back two large bags of white sugar and bought more than ten catties of meat. So many things, it made people's mouths water.
Zhang Wenfeng helped unload the goods and drove the mule cart home. Not long after they left, they were surrounded. "Wen Feng, where did Xie Sui sell all those canned goods?"
"Yeah, and the scorpions and cicada shells, did he sell them? Did he get the money?"
Zhang Wenfeng said impatiently, "Brother Xie definitely has his own way. Don't ask. Even if I told you, you couldn't do it."
"In short, Brother Xie is very capable. Follow Brother Xie closely, and you'll always make money. If you have any ill intentions and provoke Brother Xie, you'll be responsible for the consequences."
Zhang Wenfeng had heard his father talk a lot about the villagers' character. They were envious of others getting rich but unwilling to work hard. They were never short of people who were unbalanced and liked to cause trouble.
Although Xie Sui hadn't instructed him, Zhang Wenfeng wouldn't talk. He earned two yuan from Brother Xie every day, so he couldn't betray him.
"Oh my, Zhang Wenfeng, it's only been a few days? You're already calling Xie Sui Big Brother? You're a tough man too, isn't it shameful to follow behind someone and pick up scraps?"
Those who were being sarcastic and couldn't get the information they wanted started to mock him.
"Exactly. If you have money, you're the boss. Zhang Wenfeng, you're really pathetic."
"Let's go. Say it or don't. We'll still find out. The county is not that big, we'll find a way."
Zhang Wenfeng was so angry that his face turned red. By the time he wanted to retort, they had already dispersed. He returned home with a stomach full of anger.
His father, Zhang Yutian, saw his son returning dejectedly. He remembered his son arguing with him that morning and said with schadenfreude, "Didn't you get the money?"
"Slap!"
Zhang Wenfeng slammed two yuan on the table. "Here, I said Xie Sui definitely had a way, but you didn't believe me, just like those people in the village, shortsighted."
"You little brat, you've gone too far, daring to talk back to me!"
Zhang Yutian happily pocketed the money and then said, "Then why are you so dejected? I can earn two yuan a day, I'd be smiling in my dreams."
"It's those people in the village. Seeing Xie Sui make money, they insisted on asking me about his sales channels. When I didn't tell them, they called me disgraceful and a lackey following behind someone. How can I not be angry?"
Zhang Yutian took a few puffs of his hand-rolled tobacco, and his cloudy old eyes showed a bit of wisdom. "Just this? You're still worth getting angry over? Just treat them like farts, are you still trying to sniff them to disgust yourself?"
"Since Xie Sui has ideas, you should follow him closely. That kid is truly smart, he just didn't use it on the right path before. Now that he knows how to make money, just following him to get a sip of soup will be enough for you to spend your lifetime." Sudian Novel Network
"Your personality is too honest. Xie Sui values your integrity. Do you think he would look for anyone in the entire village and only find you?"
"Isn't it because of our mule cart?"
Zhang Wenfeng didn't get scolded. Instead, he received his father's support, and his mood improved. It felt good to be recognized!
"There are several families with mule carts. Two yuan a day, who wouldn't rent it out to them!"
"Hmph, what's a mule cart? Brother Xie said he'll buy a tractor within half a year and teach me to drive it. Our family will rely on me to get rich. You just wait to enjoy life!"
Zhang Yutian was completely shocked. "A tractor costs thousands of yuan. He dares to brag, and you dare to believe him? You also need various permits. You can't buy one without connections. Stop dreaming and go to sleep."
Zhang Wenfeng didn't argue. He felt it would definitely happen. Brother Xie could talk to the manager of the grain station, and he had a cousin at the restaurant. Buying a tractor didn't seem difficult, did it?