Chapter 150 A Thunderclap

Ten days until New Year's Day, and my business is booming. My brother-in-law has been tasked with buying furniture for our new home. The studio is bustling with people coming and going, from choosing a moving date to getting married, and choosing a new name.

My brother-in-law is purchasing furniture and appliances, and he calls me from time to time to ask for my advice.

I said, "Whatever you like is what I like. You can make the decision."

After hanging up the phone, there was a person standing in front of me, and my eyes were wide open.

"Aunt Chen, why are you here?"

"I came to the market here to buy something, but I couldn't find anything suitable." There was a kind of melancholy in her eyes as she spoke.

I immediately left my seat and took her into the adjacent secret room. Yifan came in with a cup of tea, then left and closed the door.

I looked at Aunt Chen: "Did you walk over here?"

She nodded and said, "I feel something is wrong."

"Please tell me."

Aunt Chen said, "Your wife usually just gardens and raises grass, but these days, she suddenly loves to go out. I know she has the habit of worshipping the Buddha, so she always asks me to go with her. Now, she goes in and out alone. She especially goes back to her parents' home more often.

The master had no interest in sitting in the hall, and often wandered around the living room. He told me that if anyone wanted to see him, he should tell them he had been feeling unwell. I looked at him, and he certainly seemed unwell: coughing, wheezing, and feeling short of breath.

When I heard that, I said to Aunt Chen, "You go back first. I'll come over in half an hour."

After seeing Aunt Chen off, I sat there thinking, "Master, it's not surprising that I'm a little sick. As we age, we tend to have ailments, big and small. Why does Master's wife go out so often without Aunt Chen? They usually go together." Could something have happened at Lan Xin's house?

No, I have to go now.

I was driving to my master's house when I saw Aunt Chen pull over. She rolled down the door and said, "Come in."

She waved her hand: "Go away."

I understood what she meant and told me because I was afraid that Master and Mistress would blame her.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw a sign saying "No visitors at this time". When I went into the study, I saw the master sitting there, looking listless.

I said, "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell? Go see Mr. Xipo."

He waved his hand: "Don't alarm him."

Either I accompany you to the hospital, or I go and fetch Mr. Xipo."

The master still shook his head: "It's just a minor illness, don't worry about it making you panic."

"What about the Master's wife?"

"I went to my mother's house."

"Nothing happened to Lan Xin's family, right?"

The master was silent for a long time.

My heart leaped into my throat, and I said, "Master, I am your son. The only thing you lacked is me. If you have any questions, you can hide them from others, but don't hide them from me."

After a long pause, the master said, "Shanhong, I've been reluctant to tell you, but it's really hard to keep it in my heart. Now that you're here, I'll tell you."

He slowly recounted the story of his son...

He talked a lot, starting with Master's wife's infertility and raising this son, and then how she later became fertile and gave birth to a daughter. He talked about his adopted son's failed investments, how he fell from the middle class to a pre-liberation society, and how he suffered from severe depression, which he had to comfort, guide, and encourage... So, Master told me that they would be going to Shenzhen soon.

At the end, he was very sad and said to me, "Because he's adopted, we've poured more affection into him. He's closer than our own son, and he suffers from depression, which doesn't go away overnight. I don't know if he'll be gone for one year, two years, or even longer."

I can talk endlessly when comforting others, but in front of my master, I am too stupid to find a word to say, because I know that all the comfort will be pale, and tears just flow out uncontrollably.

The master said, "Don't be sad. Even if he owes millions, it's not a big deal. I'll go over and understand his situation. I'll help him raise the money to pay off his debts first, and then slowly guide him out of his shell."

I asked, "How much does he owe?"

Master said, "Forty-eight million. Mr. Deng, Mr. Lan, and Mr. He can all lend me some money, and I can help him. The key is that he must come out of his depression and regain his confidence."

Forty-eight million was an astronomical sum for me at the time. While Mr. Deng, Mr. Lan, and Mr. He could afford to spend tens of millions on trial and error, or even on scammers, I was a little worried about giving tens of millions to my master.

The master sighed and said, "The house will be managed by Lan Xin's parents. They will live here. As for you, you should take care of your own business. We have been master and apprentice for a long time. You have been loyal to me. In the past few years, you have been my secretary. Thank you for your hard work."

I wiped the tears from my eyes and said, "Master, you are the greatest benefactor in my life. No matter where you go, you will always be my Master. Your care for me is even better than that of a son. I know this. I will strive to be worthy and repay you."

The master said softly, "Don't be so polite. If you can walk your own path well, that will be the greatest reward for me. Also... don't spread this matter. Don't tell your parents everything. Just say that my son took me to Shenzhen to live in my old age."

I nodded carefully and said, "I understand."

The master warned, "It's not a question of understanding or not. You have to understand me. Others say I'm a god, but I can't even guide my own son. This damages my reputation and indirectly affects you."

I quickly asked, "Didn't he ask for your opinion?"

The master shook his head helplessly: "No, I can't open my mouth. As soon as I open my mouth, he will ask me if I understand international trade? Do I understand finance? Do I understand futures? Do I understand stocks?"

"Young people are all the same. They haven't experienced setbacks, so they won't believe what we're saying."

The master gnashed his teeth and said, "I warned him not to expand production or invest in the next two years because the luck is not favorable, but he didn't believe me."

I didn't want to get involved in his family affairs, so I didn't continue what he was saying.

The master said, "There's no time to make detailed arrangements for family matters. We'll be leaving the day after tomorrow. After we're gone, if anyone asks, just tell them your son to take him home to live with you for two years."

"Don't worry, I'll handle it."

The master said with some reluctance, "We had originally wanted to go next week, but my daughter-in-law said my son was emotionally unstable, so everything was rushed. Lan Xin's parents agreed to come and see the yard. I was thinking of giving the car to you, but my sister-in-law specifically asked that the car be given to them. So, the day after tomorrow, you can give it to us and give the car to Lan Xin's father."

"As I should. I've been treating your car like my own. I'll give it a good maintenance and then hand it over to him. He'll feel more at ease."

"I won't take the books in the study with me. You can pick out the ones you like and bring them home to read."

"You'd better stay. Big Brother's mood will improve soon, and you will come back."

"I hope so, but you can still choose some to read; they're just gathering dust here."

"OK."

"Only Lan Xin's family, President Deng, and you know about this matter. I'm going over there, and you manage your business well. If you prosper here, I'll be happy."

"Don't worry."

The master said, "I have things to do too. You go back. I want to be quiet for a while and think about what I need to think about again."

After hearing what he said, I didn't stay long. I drove the car to a repair shop and asked them to repair it from the inside out. I would come back to pick it up tomorrow afternoon, and then I hailed a taxi home.

When I got home at noon, I found the food tasteless. My mother asked, "Is the food not cooked to your liking?"

I said: As for your appetite, you just need to intentionally control your food intake.

My mother said: Eating is a blessing, why control anything?

I smiled bitterly.

My brother-in-law told me, counting on his fingers, what he bought, the brand, the quality and the price.

I didn't hear a word he said.

After taking a few quick bites, I went downstairs to my bedroom to do some financial calculations.

The most important thing in helping others isn't comfort, but solving the problem. Forty-eight million is no small sum, and I'm powerless to help. But I'll do whatever I can. This is the best way to cure my brother's depression.

Currently, I owe the bank 200,000 yuan for the house purchase. I don't have any debt. But I really don't have any extra money. The money I've earned in the past few months has been mainly used to buy furniture and appliances for the new house.

If I am not in a hurry to use the money, I will pay off the bank debt next year and my life will be easier. However, this matter suddenly occurred. Not to mention supporting my master, even if I have to pay back all the support he has given me, it will cost me 300,000 yuan.

How to raise money?

I began pacing around the tiny bedroom.