After dinner, Tang Zihao pulled Chen Zhe aside.
"Brother, I think I like Mu Xiaoyu."
The familiar lines made Chen Zhe raise an eyebrow; "Zihao, how many is this now?"
"Oh my god, this time it's for real! I really like her!"
"When have you ever lied about something? Have you ever been lying?"
Tang Zihao previously said he liked Xie Yuhan, and later said he liked Wu Yuanyuan. Each time he said he was very serious, but after being rejected a few times, he immediately found the next target.
"This time is different! I'm absolutely certain!"
Tang Zihao glanced again at Mu Xiaoyu, who was helping to wash the dishes in the kitchen, and at the dilapidated and poor surroundings.
His gaze softened with pity.
"I feel sorry for her. I've liked many women before, I admit that, but she's the first one, the first one who makes me feel sorry for her. She's so beautiful, she should have a better life, but she lives such a difficult and aggrieved life. On the other hand, I've never been good at anything since I was a child, but I've lived a very comfortable life. It's a bit unfair."
Whether it was due to his emotional nature or genuine feelings, Tang Zihao's eyes reddened as he spoke about these things.
"Zihao, everyone starts from a different point in time. Her family is indeed in difficult circumstances, but there are just too many people with similar difficult circumstances. People shouldn't do things against their conscience just because they are in financial difficulty. If everyone did that, society would be in chaos."
“She already knows she was wrong about that, and she has promised not to do it again.”
Tang Zihao retorted on behalf of Mu Xiaoyu.
“Promises are not credible. The reason she chose to do that is because it's a quick way to make money, which suits her current situation perfectly. She's not doing it now because she's afraid of us, but she'll continue doing it once we leave.”
"Then... if I'm with her, she won't have to work anymore. I have money, I can support her."
Seeing that Tang Zihao was really serious, Chen Zhe sighed and shook his head again.
"If the love you're looking for can be bought with money, then why bother looking for it?"
These words left Tang Zihao stunned, unable to utter a single word.
Yes, that's why he's so tired—because he's looking for that kind of pure love.
He found it far too easy to obtain love that could be bought with money.
Chen Zhe patted Tang Zihao on the shoulder; "Zihao, if you want a girl to genuinely like you, then what you just did was wrong. Providing financial assistance might move her in the short term, but in the long run, she'll feel resentful. Your ex-girlfriend is a perfect example. If you don't want to repeat the same mistake, then don't do these unnecessary things. 'A little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment.' This principle has existed since ancient times."
Tang Zihao couldn't understand Chen Zhe's words for a moment. He stood there and muttered to himself, "Doesn't liking someone mean making sacrifices...?"
Chen Zhe did not disturb his thinking.
Some things don't need to be explained completely; some space needs to be left for the parties involved to have room to maneuver.
He wandered around the village alone.
He would talk to some villagers from time to time, but at first the villagers didn't pay much attention to him.
But when they heard that he was coming here to do development, one or two of them became very enthusiastic.
Chen Zhe finally understood why this place couldn't develop. Although Wangjiang is a tourist city, not all villages have the opportunity to be developed, such as their current village, Mengjia Village.
Because it is surrounded by mountains on all sides, far from the city, and has no famous scenic spots or historical sites, the village has little arable land, no local specialties, and cannot even grow the medicinal herbs that are abundant in the area. Therefore, Mengjia Village is both poor and backward.
Chen Zhe also learned that what Mu Xiaoyu said was basically true.
Her family was the poorest in the village. Her mother was chronically ill, and at her worst, she couldn't even get out of bed. The two of them had been relying on each other for a long time. Mu Xiaoyu started working before finishing junior high school. In the eyes of some elderly people, she was hardworking and capable because she supported her poor family.
However, some people think that Mu Xiaoyu must be doing dirty work outside.
An older woman started chatting with Chen Zhe.
“Let me tell you, I don’t believe she’s a tour guide at all. Her mother spends 10,000 yuan a month on medicine. How much does a tour guide make? Can she afford to support her mother’s medication? Look at how fancy she is dressed, she might be selling herself.”
The woman spoke with such conviction, as if she had witnessed it herself.
Chen Zhe smiled slightly; "Being a tour guide can actually earn a decent income. For example, this time I spent a lot of money to have her take us here."
The older woman hesitated for a moment, seemingly not quite believing Chen Zhe's words, and it seemed she had already decided in her heart that Mu Xiaoyu was being sold outside.
“Young man, you’re not here to invest, are you? I think you’re here to collect debts! A couple of days ago, some people came to her house to collect debts. Oh my, those people were so fierce. They were wearing suits and ties just like you, and their aura was really scary. Xiaoyu’s mother was so frightened that she got out of bed and kowtowed to those people many times before they let her go.”
The words of Mu Xiaoyu's mother were confirmed by these villagers.
It seems that it wasn't that Mu Xiaoyu's mother's health had improved, but rather that she was worried that her daughter would be overwhelmed by debt collectors, so she forced herself to get up.
Chen Zhe returned to the courtyard.
Seeing Mu Xiaoyu's mother sorting through the mushrooms she had picked, coughing as she did so, she didn't even dare to cough loudly, suppressing her own urges, afraid that her daughter would notice anything amiss.
Parents' hearts are always full of love and concern. Looking at the scene before him, Chen Zhe was reminded of his own childhood when no one paid attention to him.
Because of his sister's situation, his mother often neglected him. She would secretly grieve alone in some corner, so Chen Zhe's childhood was incomplete and he was neglected.
Mu Xiaoyu was deeply moved by his mother's tender maternal love.
Some impulse made him decide to do something.
He walked quietly to Mu Xiaoyu's mother's side.
"Auntie, if you'd like, I can take you to get your illness cured."
Meng Liping (Mu Xiaoyu's mother) was stunned for a moment.
"Boss, are you... are you going to force Xiaoyu to do that kind of thing?"
"Huh? What is it?"
Chen Zhe was a little confused.
After a serious conversation, I learned that Meng Liping was worried that Chen Zhe would use Mu Xiaoyu as a condition for a deal.
"Auntie, don't worry, I have no conditions. To be honest, I know Xiaoyu's father. Seeing your family's situation, I want to help you."
The things in Meng Liping's hands fell to the ground.
Before she could even ask Chen Zhe what his relationship with her man was, a commotion broke out outside the door.
A man shouted, "Mu Xiaoyu, I know you're home. Someone saw you when you entered the village. Come out and pay back the money right now, or I'll show you what we're made of!"
...
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