"You're jealous of me? That's ridiculous. How could I possibly be..."
"Xiaoyu, shut up!" Cai Tiangui's head ached, realizing how foolish his daughter was being.
She was the same age as Cheng You, yet the former acted like an ignorant child while Cheng You had already become a boss, earning who knew how much money.
They were the same age, yet the gap between them was enormous.
Cai Xiaoyu reluctantly silenced herself, her face filled with resentment.
Cai Tiangui, not giving up, asked, "Boss Cheng, you really won't help us?"
"I don't wish to have any further entanglement with Boss Cai," Cheng You refused coldly.
Cai Tiangui had no choice but to leave in disappointment.
Without Cheng You's help, he was at a dead end.
He could either grit his teeth and plant the medicinal herbs, or cut his losses immediately.
Cai Xiaoyu shrunk her neck, not daring to speak, as she had also contributed to the decision to contract land for planting herbs.
"Why don't we have Feng Xue come and talk to her? She's Cheng You's cousin..."
Cai Tiangui scoffed, "Cousins? If Feng Xue had a good relationship with Cheng You, would she have tried to poach her business? Cheng You is holding a grudge against us; why would she extend a helping hand?"
Cai Xiaoyu pouted and lowered her head, muttering curses under her breath.
Seeing this, Cai Tiangui grew even more irritable.
"Why don't you let your mother find you a match, and get married sooner? Perhaps after getting married and having children, you won't be so simple-minded."
Cai Xiaoyu was about to retort when he glared at her fiercely, and she dared not speak.
"Then I want to marry a military officer, preferably a regiment commander."
Her man must be no less than Qi Chengyan.
Cai Tiangui ignored her; her ambitions were too high, thinking military officers were that easy to find.
He ultimately chose to cut his losses and abandon planting medicinal herbs.
The money already spent on buying seeds was irrecoverable, but the land leased from the villagers was a one-year contract. Since he was backing out, he might be able to get some of the money back through negotiation.
They were all neighbors; they wouldn't refuse him this much face.
In the end, after all the trouble, he lost tens of thousands.
Cai Tiangui had lost his entire savings.
If he lost tens of thousands, Feng Xue fared even worse.
Looking at the more than ten thousand yuan she received back, she had given out thirty thousand, leaving only this.
"Boss Cai, what do you mean by this? I mortgaged my house deed to raise this money. It's only been a short while, and you're telling me you're quitting!"
Cai Tiangui was even more ferocious, "You've only lost a little over ten thousand, while I've lost tens of thousands! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have spent money to contract land for planting medicinal herbs!"
Feng Xue was so angry she laughed, "In plain terms, you're incompetent. How can Cheng You make money, but you can't?"
Cai Tiangui spread his hands, "You're actually right. In this regard, I am indeed incompetent. Given my lack of ability, let's go our separate ways. I'm not doing this business anymore; if you want to do it, do it yourself."
Feng Xue was filled with despair. This little over ten thousand yuan wasn't even enough to repay the principal to the bank, let alone the interest!
If she couldn't repay it, her house would be repossessed.
After much thought, Feng Xue decided to go and plead with the old lady.
Ever since Feng Xianxu's wedding, she hadn't visited the Feng family elders.
Knowing she wouldn't receive a warm welcome, she naturally avoided facing humiliation.
But this time, she had no choice but to visit.
She spoke frankly, explaining that she had mortgaged her house to get a loan and that her business venture with Cai Tiangui had failed.
She had expected to face the old lady's wrath but was surprised by their unexpected calmness.
"What do you want by telling me this?"
Feng Xue bit her lip, "I want Grandma to lend me some money to repay the bank. Otherwise, my father and I will be on the streets."
The old lady smiled, "Only you will be on the streets. We can completely take your father in and care for him."
Feng Xue looked at her pitifully, "Grandma."
"Don't call me Grandma; I don't deserve it. If you have nothing else to say, then leave."
The old lady now only cared about Feng Xianxu and Cheng You's well-being; nothing else mattered.
At her age, what was there left not to see through?
"Grandma, can you then ask Cheng You to help me!" Feng Xue implored.
The old lady let out a cold snort, "Does my granddaughter owe you? Why should she help you?"
Feng Xue was indignant, "I am your granddaughter!"
"You can't even be bothered with the parents who raised you for so many years. I dare not have a granddaughter like you."
Feng Xue felt a pang of pain from her words. Even with a thick skin, she had her pride.
"If you won't help, then so be it. The house isn't mine anyway, and I won't feel heartbroken if the bank repossesses it."
She still had some patience; after the old couple passed away, the inheritance would eventually be hers.
As long as Feng Yaojun didn't die...
However, she was too wishful.
As August began, Feng Yaojun was rushed to the hospital that evening.
He passed away after unsuccessful resuscitation.
Feng Yaojun's health was already poor. He had undergone surgery not long before his stroke.
That was not all. Due to Feng Xue's withholding of the caregiver's wages and meal expenses, the caregiver took out his resentment on Feng Yaojun.
He wasn't fed enough, wasn't given good food, and wasn't changed when he soiled himself.
Ever since he had been bedridden, Feng Xue had acted as if she had no father, never visiting him.
The caregiver acted with impunity precisely because of this.
If this continued, even a healthy person would not be able to endure it, let alone the already frail Feng Yaojun.
After enduring for so long, death was a release.
The old lady wept for a while, then mustered her strength and handled Feng Yaojun's funeral.
With Feng Yaojun's passing, Feng Xue panicked.
This way, the old lady would surely care for her even less.
When the bank came to demand payment, she wouldn't be able to repay, and her house would undoubtedly be repossessed.
After much deliberation, Feng Xue decided to take the initiative and sell the house to repay the bank.
After repaying the bank, she would still have over ten thousand yuan left.
Although she couldn't afford to buy a house, renting one would allow her to live more comfortably.
However, Feng Xue was accustomed to a good life. Once she had a place to live, she wanted someone to serve her.
Hiring a nanny would incur another monthly expense.
After calculating, she felt that the over ten thousand yuan she had wasn't much use.
It would be great if there was someone who could serve her for free...
Feng Xue suddenly thought of her poor relatives.
Before coming to the Feng family, Feng Xue lived in the countryside.
Her parents were dead, but she still had many relatives.
Now that she had money, giving them some benefits to serve her should make them willing.
Having figured this out, Feng Xue began to contact them.
Little did she know, this action was akin to inviting a wolf into the house.