"What trouble did Du Guobing get into?"
Upon hearing his mother say that Du Guobing had caused trouble in the city and was arrested, Du Fei couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
Although Du Guobing wasn't a great student, he was a clever individual, able to adapt to different people and situations. By all accounts, someone with his personality shouldn't have gotten into trouble.
Wu Chunmei shook her head. "I don't know that. When your aunt called me yesterday, she was crying profusely, saying she needed me to help her as a family member. Son... Mom knows you don't like your uncle's family, but we can't just stand by and watch them suffer."
Du Fei listened to Wu Chunmei's words and shook his head helplessly.
His mother was just such a kind and soft-hearted person.
He remembered when his father had been in a car accident and he himself was framed and imprisoned. Yet, his uncle's family offered no help. Worse, they took advantage of his sister's young age and ignorance, swindling them out of their house and money.
If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have even answered the aunt's call. But his mother still wanted to help them.
Seeing his mother looking at him with pleading eyes, Du Fei ultimately couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"I have a hundred thousand yuan, but I don't think we should give it to them," Du Fei said after considering the situation.
Logically speaking, a hundred thousand yuan wasn't a colossal sum for his uncle's family.
However, over the years, Du Guobing had repeatedly spoken of starting businesses and ventures, losing all their money on several occasions.
Du Fei surmised that his uncle's family must have been in dire straits, forcing his aunt to humbly call his mother for help.
Wu Chunmei: "Son, Mom knows you still resent what your uncle's family did back then. But that's all in the past, and we're living well now. Just do it for Mom, please help them."
She thought Du Fei was unwilling to give money because he still held a grudge against his uncle's family for their past actions.
"Mom, can you guarantee that if we give them a hundred thousand yuan, they'll release Du Guobing?" I think it's better to find out exactly what happened instead of just giving money. Only by truly resolving the issue can we achieve a lasting solution," Du Fei proposed.
Wu Chunmei nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
With her son agreeing to help, she finally felt relieved.
So, Wu Chunmei immediately called Du Fei's aunt.
...
"Who was on the phone just now?"
Du Wenyong paced back and forth in the rented room, the floor littered with cigarette butts. His brows were furrowed into a deep frown.
It had been three full days since his son, Du Guobing, was arrested. Today was the deadline.
The other party had made it clear: if they didn't have the money, they would break his limbs.
Initially, the couple had considered calling the police. However, Du Guobing had explicitly told them not to, on the phone, saying it would lead to his death. This had dissuaded them from involving the authorities.
But a hundred thousand yuan was an astronomical sum for them at this moment; they simply couldn't afford it.
In desperation, Du Wenyong's wife thought of calling Wu Chunmei.
Du Wenyong felt that given their past relationship, the other party would never lend them money.
However, Du Wenyong's wife believed that at this point, they had nothing to lose. If Wu Chunmei could lend them money to save their son, she would even kowtow and apologize.
"It was Wu Chunmei. She said Du Fei agreed to help and is on her way over."
Du Wenyong's wife held the phone, her heart filled with apprehension.
If she had called Wu Chunmei earlier with the intention of exploiting her kind and soft heart, Du Fei was a different matter.
Now that Wu Chunmei had brought Du Fei along, would they still lend her money to save her son?
For a moment, Du Wenyong's wife's heart churned with anxiety.
"I never expected Du Fei to make it to the city, and it seems he's even met some rich people. Ah, if necessary, I'll put aside my pride. As long as Guobing can be saved, I'll do anything," Du Wenyong sighed.
About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door of the rented room.
Du Wenyong and his wife exchanged a glance, then hurried over and opened the door.
"Second Aunt, Du Fei, you're here! Please, come in."
Upon opening the door and seeing Wu Chunmei and Du Fei standing outside, the couple warmly ushered them inside.
Du Fei looked at the enthusiastic greeting from Du Wenyong and his wife and was immediately reminded of his own home not long after he was released from prison.
He had knocked on his own door, only to find his aunt, not his mother or sister, opening it. Her attitude had been indifferent, as if he were a stranger.
Time had passed, and his aunt's demeanor had undergone a complete transformation.
It was truly beyond imagination.
Seeing Du Fei remain motionless and the enthusiastic expressions on Du Wenyong's and his wife's faces turn awkward, Wu Chunmei quickly tugged Du Fei's arm and pulled him into the room.
After Wu Chunmei and Du Fei sat down, Du Wenyong's wife immediately brought over two cups of water. Du Wenyong sat to the side, looking somewhat flustered.
The couple looked at each other, and finally, Du Wenyong's wife spoke.
"Second Aunt, you must save Guobing this time. Don't worry, we will work tirelessly to repay the money you lend us!"
Du Wenyong's wife's tone was earnest.
After all, they were the ones asking for help now, so they had to show the proper attitude.
Wu Chunmei glanced at Du Fei, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Auntie, the situation is like this..."
Following this, Wu Chunmei reiterated what Du Fei had told her earlier.
"Second Aunt, I know I've done some improper things before. You can hit or scold me if you want. This time, Guobing's life is in your hands. Please, be merciful, I beg you."
Upon hearing that Wu Chunmei didn't intend to lend them money, the couple was stunned.
However, Du Wenyong's wife, with a crestfallen face, was about to kneel before Wu Chunmei.
Seeing this, Wu Chunmei quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from kneeling, and continuously signaled to Du Fei.
Du Fei, seeing his mother's incessant signals, slowly said, "A hundred thousand yuan is easy to come by, but who can guarantee that the extortionists will keep their word?"
"Li... Du Fei, your uncle wronged your family before. But I swear, if you agree to save your cousin this time, I, I will kneel down and apologize to you!"
Du Wenyong, who had been sitting quietly, also stood up excitedly.
However, Du Fei remained unmoved.
"Rather than trusting the words of some shady characters, it's better to trust ourselves. In any case, since I promised my mother I'd come, I guarantee I'll see this through. Rest assured," Du Fei said calmly.
Du Wenyong and his wife had never anticipated this turn of events.
But seeing that Du Fei was adamant about not lending money, and having no other options, they could only follow Du Fei's lead.