After getting off the bus in Zhuzhou, Shen Heng called Bai Jiaojiao at the guesthouse to ask if anyone had called home asking for money, but received a negative answer.
"If someone calls home, you can decide how much money to give. This kid's mother is in trouble, and it's emergency money."
Bai Jiaojiao asked from the other end, "Brother Heng, who is it?"
"It's that guy I told you about last time, the genius mechanical design student at our school. His family is going through such a big problem. If we don't help now, when will we?"
"Okay, I understand, Heng-ge. His name is Shan Guanwen, right? If I receive a call from him at home, I'll wire him the money."
Bai Jiaojiao has always supported all his decisions, and Shen Heng doesn't need to explain much. For this alone, Shen Heng can brag about it for the rest of his life.
Shen Heng and Wang Fushun came to Zhuzhou together to develop the market. Naturally, Shen Heng told Wang Fushun about the details of his factory. Now Wang Fushun regrets not having latched onto Shen Heng's coattails sooner.
"Brother Heng, if it weren't for my mother, you could really leave the whole of Zhuzhou to me."
“I know you’re worried about your mother. It’s too hot here in the summer, and there’s not even a heated kang in the winter. The old lady won’t be able to adapt. So you should stay in Yancheng with her.”
Wang Fushun had the same idea. He took his mother to Yancheng because he thought the conditions there were better. Putting aside all the new things, if the old lady really had any illnesses, the doctors here would be more reliable than in Hushan Town.
Bai Jiaojiao remembered Shen Heng's words and waited at home for several days in a row. She was afraid of missing Shan Guanwen's call, so she came home very early these past two days, but she still didn't receive a call.
Shen Heng and Wang Fushun didn't return until half a month later. Bai Jiaojiao didn't even get a call from Shan Guanwen. When she came back and told him, Shen Heng said, "Then his mother is probably already in bad shape. It's God's business, there's nothing we can do about it."
Although Bai Jiaojiao had never even met Shan Guanwen, she still felt sorry for him.
Shen Heng was in class when he saw Shan Guanwen waiting for him outside.
After class, Shan Guanwen handed Shen Heng a pile of money wrapped in a handkerchief: "I took thirty yuan out of your money, this is the remaining forty-five. I have already written the IOU, please check if the amount is correct."
Shen Heng didn't need to ask any more questions. Thirty yuan was enough for a simple funeral, plus Shan Guanwen's return ticket.
Shen Heng reached out and took the money. Without asking about his family situation, he simply nodded and said, "I'm not in a hurry for this money. Now that you're back, just focus on your studies. Don't worry about the money."
After saying that, he was about to leave.
This time, Shan Guanwen stopped him: "My mother couldn't be saved, but thanks to you, I was able to see her one last time and perform the ritual of breaking the pot and waving the banner for her. My mother didn't raise me, her son, in vain."
Since Shan Guanwen brought it up, Shen Heng could only say, "Please accept my condolences."
“You have done me a great favor, and I know why you helped me. But I really can’t agree to that. Your factory might not even last until I graduate.”
The way Shan Guanwen said it made Shen Heng really want to punch him to death; Shan Guanwen's small frame probably couldn't withstand a single punch from him.
"You're mistaken. I'm not helping you because I want to win you over. Although we're not exactly friends, we still know each other. A classmate from school came to me for help, why would I need to get anything in return?"
Shen Heng's words were righteous and awe-inspiring, but Shan Guanwen felt ashamed for judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.
"I...I'm sorry, I misspoke. But my attitude has made it clear. Thank you, Chen Heng. I will definitely help you if you need my help in the future!"
Shen Heng nodded, said nothing more, pocketed the money, and left.
Shen Heng knew that the more he played hard to get with someone like Shan Guanwen, the more sleepless the guy would be when he got back.
As he said, Shan Guanwen couldn't sleep for a week after he went back. His complexion was sallow and his eye bags were drooping.
Others assumed Shan Guanwen was overwhelmed with grief over the loss of his mother, unaware that in addition to sadness, he was also troubled by Shen Heng's situation.
He felt that Shen Heng was too good to him. He helped him get new glasses and gave him money to go home and take care of his mother. No one had ever been so good to him.
The price Shen Heng offered him was really high; even his mentor didn't earn that much. Moreover, Shen Heng promised to invest in his mentor's lab and support their research.
With the national economy in a tight spot, it's difficult for their lab to get funding approved. It's really a big favor that Shen Heng was able to come up with so much money.
But he actually said such heartless things to Shen Heng.
Shan Guanwen felt that he was a terrible person. His mother had taught him to be grateful since he was a child, but he treated Shen Heng like this.
Shan Guanwen is a senior in college. He doesn't have many classes and usually goes between his dormitory, the cafeteria, and the laboratory. But since they are from the same school, they are bound to run into each other. When he sees Shen Heng from afar, he tries to avoid him.
Seeing this, Shen Heng smiled and did not stop him.
"Heng-ge, why did that person just look at you and then leave? Did you bully him?"
Bai Jiaojiao could see from afar that Shan Guanwen was acting like a thief, which was quite obvious.
Shen Heng said, "He is Shan Guanwen."
"He's Shan Guanwen? Why is he avoiding you? Is he being bothered by you? Didn't you help him just a few days ago?"
Bai Jiaojiao noticed that Shen Heng seemed quite happy.
Shen Heng said, "He's too embarrassed to see me right now. Just wait and see. He'll break down in a couple of days and come to me for a chat. Then you'll see how I manage to win him over."
Seeing Shen Heng's confident demeanor, Bai Jiaojiao laughed: "Talk? Are you kidding me?"
“I’m also thinking about his future. Look at those state-owned factories now. Apart from the industries that private individuals aren’t allowed to work in, which industry is still doing well? If he doesn’t work for me, he’ll be laid off in the future. Besides, that kid is naive. He really thinks society is like going to school.”
Shen Heng had plenty of arguments, and Bai Jiaojiao couldn't win against him, so she stopped arguing with him.
As a result, less than three days after they finished talking, Shan Guanwen couldn't help but come to find Shen Heng.
"Oh, what brings you to our class?" Shen Heng feigned surprise, while Shan Guanwen pushed up his glasses.
"Shen Heng, I need to talk to you about something."
"What's wrong? Come on, let's sit down on that chair and talk about it."
Shen Heng led him to a small corridor where there were two or three people reciting texts. The two found an open space and sat down.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Shen Heng asked.
"Shen Heng, I thought about it for a long time after I got back, and I think I still need to formally apologize to you."
"Can't you act like a man? That's all in the past, I don't care. You said you'd pay me back, you don't owe me anything. Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going now."
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