Chen Chongshan's grades and attitude towards learning weren't as bad as he claimed. On the contrary, children from poor families often mature early. Chen Chongshan's academic performance had consistently ranked among the top in the county's key classes, so getting into university wouldn't have been difficult for him. It's just that...

As the eldest brother, he was like a father to his family. With their parents gone, he had to support the family and take care of his young and disabled younger brother. If he went to university, aside from the high tuition fees, his younger brother Chen Chongming would be left without anyone to take care of him. This was something Chen Chongshan could not give up.

A year ago, in order to let his dying father pass away in peace, Chen Chongshan made a vow at his father's bedside: "I will take good care of Chongming for the rest of my life."

This is a promise I made to my father, a promise I made to my brother, and a promise I made to myself—a promise I must never break.

Although Chen Chongshan longed for university life, it was just a beautiful but unreal dream for him now; he could only dream about it. He had to live a down-to-earth life.

The mention of their father plunged both brothers into despair. Chen Chongshan silently tended to the bamboo rats, while Chen Chongming sat blankly in his wheelchair watching. Even Ah Huang lay down by the wall, silent and not approaching its owner to beg for a couple of pieces of plump bamboo rat meat.

This is a smart dog that knows when to behave in a certain way. Although the Central Asian Shepherd Dog is not ranked high in terms of intelligence among canines, this is just a general statistic. In any breed, there are exceptions and exceptional individuals.

The courtyard remained silent. Chen Chongshan had already plucked the bamboo rat's fur and was preparing to gut it when the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open. A brightly dressed middle-aged woman walked into the courtyard with an expression that was both aloof and disdainful.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the expressions on the faces of the Chen brothers, Chongshan and Chongming, immediately turned grim.

The visitor was none other than the aunt of the Chen brothers, Chen Chongshan and Chen Chongshan. Logically, the two brothers should have been happy to see their aunt. Chen Chongshan was not an unhospitable person. It was just a pity that the visitor was not friendly.

Chen Chongshan's father, Chen Fulin, had two brothers. His uncle, Chen Futian, and his family ran a small hotel in the city. Although they were not extremely wealthy, they were quite well-off.

It was only because Aunt Zhang Lan didn't think much of Chen Chongshan's family, who were poor, and Uncle was a bit henpecked, that they rarely interacted with each other, even though they were close relatives.

More than a year ago, after learning about his elder brother Chen Fulin's illness, Chen Futian sent Chen Chongshan 20,000 yuan as a token of his appreciation. However, little did anyone know that Chen Futian had sent the money without Zhang Lan's knowledge. Just a month ago, Zhang Lan somehow found out the truth and has made a scene three times in the past month.

"Oh my, you keep saying you have no money, but your standard of living is not bad at all." Seeing the bamboo rat in Chen Chongshan's hand, Zhang Lan said with a sarcastic tone, "This bamboo rat sells for sixty-one yuan a pound outside, we can't afford to eat it once a year."

"Auntie."

Chen Chongshan's expression had already changed, and he said with a smile, "Auntie, this bamboo rat was caught by Ah Huang in the mountains. It didn't cost any money. If you like it, you can take it home and eat it after I've cleaned it up."

“Okay, that works!” Zhang Lan nodded without hesitation: “Chongzhi is going to be a senior in high school, so I’ll make him something nice to eat to help him recover.”

"But Chen Chongshan, don't think you can get rid of me with just a bamboo rat today. You have to return that 20,000 yuan to me today!"

Chen Chongshan said with a bitter expression, "Auntie, we really have no money."

"Hmph, no money?" Zhang Lan sneered, "Chen Chongshan, I've already found out everything before I came here. You've made quite a bit of money hunting in the mountains over the past six months. You can sell a wild boar for several thousand yuan at Fatty Qin's place, earning more than us. And you're still complaining about being poor? Are you trying to renege on your debt?"

Just as Chen Chongshan was about to speak, Chen Chongming suddenly shouted, "That money was given to us by our uncle, not borrowed. Why should we return it to you?"

"What? For you?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan's face instantly darkened, and her voice became shrill.

"Chen Chongming, get this straight, that's not just one or two yuan, it's twenty thousand yuan. Why should it be given to you? Besides, when has Chen Futian ever had a say in our family? If it weren't for the capital my family provided to open this hotel, he'd be half-dead like you guys now. What right does he have to use my money to do favors?"

"You have to pay back this money today, whether you want to or not!"

Zhang Lan stared coldly at the Chen brothers, her gold jewelry gleaming brightly in the direct sunlight.

Chen Chongming was intimidated by Zhang Lan's imposing manner, and Chen Chongshan's expression also turned unpleasant.

“Auntie, it’s not that we don’t want to pay you back, it’s just that we really don’t have the money right now. My brother and I live off the little income we get from hunting, and Chongming is ten years old this year. His leg condition can’t be delayed any longer. Once I’ve saved enough money to take Chongming to the provincial capital for treatment, I’ll pay you back immediately, okay?”

"You'll pay me back after you go to the provincial capital for treatment?" Zhang Lan seemed to have heard a huge joke, and scoffed a few times before saying, "Chen Chongshan, what are you talking about? Going to the provincial capital for treatment is something that can be done with a little money. Besides, the county hospital has already made a diagnosis about his leg; he's destined to be lame for life."

Zhang Lan's words instantly darkened Chen Chongming's face; Chen Chongming replied in a deep voice: "The county's medical capabilities are limited. Just because the county can't do anything doesn't mean the province can't."

"Fine, if you want to lose money in the provincial capital, that's your business, I don't care. I'm just here to get my money back."

Zhang Lan sneered a few times and continued, "You need to spend money, and we also have places to spend money. Chongzhi will be a senior in high school soon and will go to university next year. There are many places where he will need to spend money. You must return this money to me today."

“Auntie, your hotel business is doing well, and Uncle can also earn an income by working outside. It’s not that we don’t want to pay back the money, we just want to delay it a little. Why are you making things difficult for us?” Chen Chongshan replied with a bitter face.

"Making things difficult for you?" Zhang Lan's sharp voice rang out again: "Chen Chongshan, I've already been very lenient by not asking you for interest. What do you mean by making things difficult for you? Paying back debts is a matter of course. You must give me this money today."

“But…” Chen Chongshan was about to say something more when Chen Chongming suddenly spoke up: “Brother, don’t say anything more.”

"Chongming?" Chen Chongshan turned around in confusion.

"Brother, I know you've saved up some money. Give it back to her. My leg is beyond repair," Chen Chongming said in a deep voice, his youthful face trying to appear calm, but tears welling up in his eyes.

"no!"

Chen Chongshan shook his head. For nearly a year, he had been holed up in the forests of Lianshan Bay every day, setting traps and snares, and even risking his life to hunt wild boars with Ah Huang by himself, all in order to save enough money to take his younger brother to get medical treatment. He was almost at the right point to save enough money to go to the provincial capital. How could he give the money to Zhang Lan?

"Give it to her!" Chen Chongming suddenly became unusually resolute: "Dad once told me that even if we can't stand up, we still have to hold our heads high. The money is hers, so give it to her. We don't want charity from others."

As soon as he finished speaking, tears streamed down Chen Chongming's face. Then, without saying a word, he turned his wheelchair and went into the room alone.

Chen Chongshan's eyes also reddened at Chen Chongming's words. He paused, took a deep breath, glanced at Zhang Lan, who was still standing aggressively in the yard, and said coldly, "You wait here, I'll go get you the money."

"It would have been so much better if we had done this earlier. In this sweltering heat, I've had to make so many trips." Zhang Lan snorted and then strolled leisurely to the pomelo tree by the courtyard.

...

Chen Chongshan had already saved a little over 19,000 yuan, and with today's income of 2,500 yuan, he had about 22,000 yuan in savings. He originally planned to save up 30,000 yuan and then take Chongming to the provincial capital to have a comprehensive check-up at Yaxiang Hospital in Tanzhou, but now...

Chen Chongshan sighed, glanced at Chongming who was lying on the bed facing the wall, pretending to be asleep, and felt a pang of pain in his heart. After a moment, he got up, took the money, and went out.

Upon entering the courtyard, Zhang Lan was already holding the bamboo rat, which was almost gutted, in her hand.

Chen Chongshan snorted and walked over to hand the money to Zhang Lan. While Zhang Lan was counting the money, Chen Chongshan snatched the bamboo rat back and turned to walk towards the kitchen: "This is Chongming's dinner."

"Hmph, you ill-mannered brat."

Zhang Lan patted the banknotes in her hand with satisfaction, then watched enviously as Chen Chongshan took the fat bamboo rat back. She cursed under her breath before turning and leaving.