"Two thousand!" Peng Cuiying exclaimed in shock, raising her voice, "Ranran, what kind of joke are you making with your mother?"

Jiang Yiran immediately took Peng Cuiying's arm and appealed to her emotions and reason, saying how uncomfortable she had been living in the countryside recently, and that besides giving the money to Qin Haiyang for his business, she also planned to rent a house in the city.

Peng Cuiying had only saved a little over two thousand yuan in savings over the years, but now Jiang Yiran was about to empty her savings with just a few words.

Her heart was bleeding.

But Jiang Yiran played the victim and made promises. She really couldn't bear to see her beloved daughter suffer. She gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, Mom will give it to you. But remember, this money is Mom's retirement money, Mom's support for the rest of her life. You have to pay it back to Mom later."

"Mom, don't worry! Once my brother Haiyang makes money, I'll pay you back 200,000!" Jiang Yiran said with a smile.

Peng Cuiying was pleased by the grand promise she made and patted her affectionately, saying, "You really dare to dream big, child!"

*

On the other side.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry to Jiang Yiran..."

After the Jiang siblings left with Qin Haiyang, Huo Beixiao closed the door and tried to explain to Jiang Qiaoqiao.

"stop!"

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Qiaoqiao stopped him.

Her round, watery almond-shaped eyes stared at him intently. "Huo Beixiao, we're not really husband and wife. You don't need to explain to me what's going on between you and Jiang Yiran, or what feelings you have for her. I'm very grateful that you took me in when I was at my lowest point. Once I've earned enough money and am able to make a living, I'll move out."

Although she thought Huo Beixiao was a good person, she couldn't force matters of the heart.

No matter how good it is, if it's not hers, then it's time to cut ties.

Huo Beixiao looked at her with deep eyes, and after a moment of silence, said in a deep voice, "Okay."

Although Jiang Qiaoqiao understood, she still felt a sudden emptiness in her heart.

Days passed by like flowing water.

During this period, Jiang Qiaoqiao would set up a stall in the morning and visit Zhou Ling'er and her brother at the hospital in the afternoon.

Zhou Ling'er's leg cast has been removed, and she will be discharged from the hospital after two more days of recovery.

When Jiang Qiaoqiao arrived at the hospital that day, she found that only Zhou Ling'er was in the ward.

"Ling'er, where is your brother?" Jiang Qiaoqiao asked in confusion.

Zhou Ling'er immediately smiled broadly, "Sister Qiaoqiao, Ling'er missed you so much. Brother went to collect recyclables. When Ling'er's leg heals, Ling'er will go with Brother to collect recyclables too. If Ling'er and Brother collect more recyclables, we can pay back Sister Qiaoqiao's money with the money we earn."

The little girl has been eating well lately, and her face has gotten a bit chubby. When she smiles, she reveals two shallow dimples, making her exceptionally sweet and adorable.

The little girl smiled and opened her bright eyes wide, craning her neck to look behind Jiang Qiaoqiao.

"Sister Qiaoqiao, did you and Brother Beixiao have a fight?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao's smile froze. "No, your brother Beixiao and I didn't have a fight?"

Zhou Ling'er blinked, and asked with a precocious look, "Then why don't you and Brother Beixiao come to see Ling'er together anymore?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao knew that Huo Beixiao had been coming to the hospital every day during this period, but perhaps Huo Beixiao was doing it on purpose, because the two of them had never met.

Moreover, since that day, Huo Beixiao has never returned to the staff quarters in the family compound; he has always slept at the factory.

Jiang Qiaoqiao didn't know how to answer Zhou Ling'er's question for a moment. She patted the little girl's head and changed the subject, "Ling'er, now is not the time to pick up scraps. Ling'er should go to school to study and learn more knowledge."

Upon hearing Jiang Qiaoqiao's words, the little girl stopped worrying about whether Jiang Qiaoqiao had argued with Huo Beixiao.

The little girl lowered her head in disappointment.

Jiang Qiaoqiao knew what the little girl was upset about. Although Zhou Ling'er was young, she was very sensible.

She knew that she and her brother depended on each other for survival. Her brother struggled to support both of them by collecting recyclables, let alone afford to send her to school.

Jiang Qiaoqiao gently stroked Zhou Ling'er's head, as if she were facing her younger self.

Just as she was about to tell the little girl that she could take her to school, Zhou Yang's voice came from the doorway, "Sister Qiaoqiao, you're here!"

When Jiang Qiaoqiao went to buy goods last time, she actually gave Zhou Yang and Zhou Ling'er each a set of clothes, but Zhou Yang is still wearing his old clothes that are full of patches.

The thin boy was clutching an empty, dirty-looking burlap sack.

Under Jiang Qiaoqiao's gaze, Zhou Yang scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "Sister Qiaoqiao, please sit for a while, I'll go wash up and come back."

*

"Ling'er can be discharged from the hospital in two more days. What are your plans?" Jiang Qiaoqiao asked after Zhou Yang returned after washing up.

"I guess I can only continue doing what I used to do with my sister for now." Zhou Yang lowered his head, somewhat avoiding Jiang Qiaoqiao's eyes.

"But don't worry, Sister Qiaoqiao. I will work harder and collect more recyclables to sell. After I pay you back and save some capital, I can set up a clothing stall like you!" Zhou Yang said, looking up at Jiang Qiaoqiao with a particularly firm gaze.

Jiang Qiaoqiao smiled. Young people aren't afraid of being poor; they're afraid of being so poor that they have no ideas.

If Zhou Yang has an idea, she's happy to help him out.

"Zhou Yang, do you want to hear my thoughts?" Jiang Qiaoqiao asked Zhou Yang.

"Yes, yes!" Zhou Yang nodded earnestly.

After Jiang Qiaoqiao finished speaking, Zhou Yang opened his mouth slightly in surprise, his face showing a mixture of joy, excitement, and a little fear.

It took him a while to calm down before he asked Jiang Qiaoqiao, "Sister Qiaoqiao, do you really think I can do it? Aren't you afraid that I'll lose money and won't be able to pay you back a single penny?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao laughed and said, "You don't know when you'll be able to pay me back if you keep collecting and selling scrap. Since we're gambling anyway, why not go for something bigger? Do you dare?"

Under Jiang Qiaoqiao's gaze, Zhou Yang nodded heavily, "I dare!"