Chapter Fifteen: Five Hundred Yuan

The meal was ready.

Xu Fei had regained some of his strength by now.

On Xu Qing’s side, she was helping her sister-in-law set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Xu Yun supported Xu Fei as he walked out from the room.

The family gathered around the table, gazing at the sugar cakes and braised meat. Xu Yun was already drooling at the corner of his mouth.

“Sister-in-law, is it New Year’s Eve?”

Xu Fei and Du Man exchanged a knowing smile.

“No, it’s to celebrate you taking first place in your exam. From now on, you must keep working hard, understand?”

Xu Yun nodded vigorously.

“All right, let’s sit down,” Xu Fei said with a wave of his hand.

Once everyone was seated, he looked at the three of them and smiled. “I, Xu Fei, was wrong before. Today, I want to promise you all that I will earn money—lots of it—and make sure you all live a good life.”

Du Man watched the man before her with a gentle smile, warmth blooming in her heart. Her eyes glistened with sudden tears.

“Brother, don’t worry. I will definitely get into university. By then, I’ll earn money for the family too,” Xu Yun announced, imitating Xu Fei’s solemn tone.

“Well done!” Xu Fei reached out and ruffled his hair.

“I…” Xu Qing lowered her head, a little embarrassed.

“What’s wrong, Xu Qing?” Du Man glanced at her little sister-in-law and gently patted her hand.

“Sister-in-law, I always thought my brother was finished in this life. I never imagined…” Xu Qing, always a strong-willed girl, suddenly got up and rushed into the inner room as she spoke.

Xu Fei looked at Du Man, then at Xu Yun.

“You two eat first…” He turned and followed her.

Inside, Xu Qing was kneeling before their parents’ memorial tablets, sobbing quietly.

“Xu Qing, it was my fault before,” Xu Fei said, glancing at the tablets before them.

“Brother, I really hated you. I hated how you had no ambition. Every day, I’d come before our parents’ spirits and ask them why you turned out this way. But now things are better. They must have heard me.”

Hearing her words, even though Xu Fei had no real connection to the former owner of this body nor had he ever met the parents before him, something stirred inside him. Since being reborn, he found himself recalling his parents from another world.

“Xu Qing, I let you all down before.”

“No!” Xu Qing turned to look at Xu Fei. “Brother, was it you who let me down?”

“Hm?” Xu Fei was caught off guard by her words.

“Xu Qing, what are you saying?”

At this, Xu Qing turned and took out a small cloth bundle from beneath the memorial tablets.

She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a stack of money inside.

“What’s this?” Xu Fei asked.

“Brother, this is what our parents left us. I found it by accident when I was sorting through their things.”

Xu Fei took the money.

“There’s five hundred yuan here in total.”

“What? That much?” Xu Qing nodded. “I think they must have saved it little by little from their daily frugality.”

Staring at the money, Xu Fei found himself speechless for a moment.

Five hundred yuan, in his original era, would barely cover a meal. But this was 1985. At this time, five hundred yuan was enough to accomplish a great deal.

“Brother, I hadn’t planned to take it out before, because you were so unreliable. If I’d told you, you might have gambled it away. But now, I think I can give it to you.”

Xu Fei, however, folded the bundle back up and pressed it into Xu Qing’s hands once more.

“Brother?”

“Xu Qing, you keep it. I know you trust me now, but this money was left to the three of us by our parents. I can’t take it.”

“But you and sister-in-law need money to live…”

“I can earn money. You keep this and use it when you go to university.”

Xu Qing wanted to say more, but Xu Fei silenced her with a gesture.

“Xu Qing, just knowing you trust me is enough. Don’t worry, I won’t let this family fall apart. I’ll keep my promises. Wait and see—I’ll make sure you all live a good life.”

Seeing Xu Fei’s resolve, Xu Qing said no more.

“I’ll put it away then.” She turned and placed it back under the tablets.

Xu Fei and Xu Qing bowed before their parents’ memorial once more, then turned to leave the room.

Outside, Du Man and Xu Yun were watching them with smiles.

“Why aren’t you eating? What are you smiling at?” Xu Fei sat down beside Du Man.

“You siblings have finally made up,” Du Man replied, her eyes shining.

Xu Qing shot her brother a look. “Brother, I believe you won’t gamble anymore, but don’t forget what you promised us.”

“I won’t,” Xu Fei replied firmly.

“Great! We’re going to have good days ahead!” Xu Yun clapped his hands, grinning.

Xu Fei and Du Man joined in the laughter.

“Let’s eat!”

The family, full of joy, shared the cakes and meat, talking and laughing together. This little courtyard hadn’t been so lively in a long time.

Outside, the morning glow slowly spilled into the yard, covering it in a gentle golden light.

It seemed everything was moving in a better direction.

By evening, Du Man brought in a basin of water for washing feet.

Xu Fei was lying on the bed, sound asleep.

Afraid to disturb him, Du Man quietly wrung out a towel from the steaming water. The heat stung her hands, but she endured it, twisting the towel carefully.

She was afraid even the sound of the water might wake Xu Fei.

When she finished, her fair hands were flushed from the heat.

She approached Xu Fei and spoke softly, “Don’t move, I’ll wipe you down.”

Xu Fei slowly opened his eyes. He was filthy—sweaty and covered in black grime. But he barely had the strength to move a finger.

“Leave it. I’ll wash up myself in the morning.”

“It’s all right, just lie still.”

Du Man gently placed her hand on his back, letting his skin get used to the heat before pressing the towel down.

A sense of comfort swept through him—warmth seeping into his skin, making his body shudder. The pain in his back eased considerably.

Seeing he didn’t complain, Du Man continued to wipe his back.

“Maybe you shouldn’t do piecework tomorrow?”

“I have to.”

“But you’ve never done such hard labor before. I’m afraid you can’t take it.”

Xu Fei sighed. “It’s fine.”

“I know you’re anxious about Ma San’s debt, but working yourself like this, you won’t make five hundred yuan in three days.”

Xu Fei sighed again because of this.

“I’ve been thinking about what to do about it.”

“Maybe I should visit my parents’ house?” Du Man suggested.

Xu Fei turned to her, ignoring his pain. “No, I don’t want you to endure humiliation for my sake.”

“But it’s such a large sum; we can’t possibly pay him back.”

Xu Fei thought for a moment. “Don’t worry. There are still two days left. Let me think.”

Seeing his determination, Du Man nodded and lowered her voice. “My brother just came back these past few days. On his trip south, he bought and sold some clothes—my mother told me he made over seven thousand yuan this time, so I was thinking…”

Xu Fei grabbed her hand, which was still wiping his chest. “Listen to me. It’s not that I don’t want to, but we can’t live our lives relying on borrowing money every time we’re short. I believe there’s another way. If…”

He paused. “If, after three days, I still can’t figure it out, we’ll talk about going to your family, all right?”

Du Man smiled gently at his words. “All right.”