Chapter 3 - How Much Do We Owe? (2/2)

“That won’t do. You just left the hospital. You need to nurture your body. I’m used to sleeping on the hard bed from the hospital. It’s fine.”

ZhouXiang, “Mom. That’s not right, I can’t let you sleep in the living room while I sleep in the bedroom.”

The two argued for a while. ChenYing could not win over him so she could only agree.

ChenYing brewed a pot of tea, took out a big photo album and went to sit on the sofa in the living room. Then she slowly told ZhouXiang about his past.

ZhouXiang was an ordinary child growing up in the imperial city. His father was a civil servant. His mother was an accountant. Initially, they had a good life, but his father passed away when he was in college. Adding on, with his accident when he was 24 years old, one can well imagine how painful and miserable ChenYing’s life was.

He was not very interested in ZhouXiang’s past, but the more he knew, the more sympathy he has for this woman.

ChenYing talked and talked and then started crying. “My life is really bad. I almost can’t go on anymore. Son, it is good that you woke up, otherwise, I really won’t be able to keep going.” In the two years, she held onto that miracle, not knowing when it will come; using that as her motivation all along; this thin and frail small woman looks a lot stronger than her outward appearance.

ZhouXiang held her shoulders so she could heartily cry in the arms of her beloved son.

After ChenYing unleashed her pent up emotions, she was embarrassed. Seeing ZhouXiang sitting healthily in front of her, she could not help but laughed.

ZhouXiang asked, “Mom, the time I was in the hospital, you owed a lot of money right? Take out the (bank) book and let’s take a look.”

Immediately after he mentioned this, ChenYing’s expression turned bleak again. She hesitated a bit, stood up, and pulled out a book from the drawer from the TV cabinet.  In the book, all the loan strips were clipped together carefully and neatly. ChenYing was previously an accountant, it was very organized.

She sighed heavily, “There were some savings in the beginning, but your hospitalization fees were too high. I sold both of our two condos. The real estate market was not good at the time. If it was sold during these two years, the price would be nearly 1 million more but at that time, we desperately needed the money……”

ZhouXiang turned over the heavy loan slips page and asked quietly, “Mom, how much do we owe?”

ChenYing sniffled, “My retirement is about ¥2,000 a month. Later, I went to borrow money from other people…relatives, friends, and colleagues. They saw my phone number and won’t even pick up……”  ChenYing quietly said, “Now, we still owe ¥370,000.”

¥370,000……

ZhouXiang calculated his previous savings. If he did not count the condo and the car, his savings is about ¥200,000. The old condo unit was given by his father’s previous employment but the location is very good. Two years ago, it would have sold for ¥1.3 million. His car is second-hand but it can be sold for about ¥20,000-¥30,000. He can’t sell the condo because he and ChenYing also needed to live in it. From his calculation, paying off the ¥370,000 is not too hard…ZhouXiang was just calculating when he inadvertently looked at the picture in the old photo album. He suddenly realized that he is no longer that ZhouXiang. He is already ‘dead’!  How were his bank accounts and property managed and who helped him managed it? He knew nothing. How could he use a different identity to get back his own assets?

ZhouXiang sweated profusely. So essentially, he not only turned into pauper but one with ¥370,000 in debts?

ChenYing saw his unsightly expression, she also looks depressed. Her son had awakened but the hard livelihood is far from over.

ZhouXiang glanced at her. Although this woman is not his mother, he thinks that he has the responsibility to take care of her for the rest of her life because he took over her son’s body, making her lose her son forever. He, on the other hand, got a renewed treasured life. He can’t just accept that. He should also take up the responsibility that this life should have taken and complete his obligations.

ZhouXiang cleared his mind and closed the book, “Mom, don’t worry too much. We’re both living fine. The money is earned by people. The debt can be paid off one day.”

ChenYing forced a smile, “You’re right. We must be optimistic. With you waking up, mom sees hope. Tomorrow morning go to Xiao Cai’s place to work. I’ll also go to look for a job.”

ZhouXiang grasp onto ChenYing’s hands, “Okay.”

ZhouXiang didn’t sleep well at all that night, thinking over and over again on how to earn money. Finally, he decided to find out as soon as possible how his assets were handled after his death. By morning, he had only dazedly slept for a short time.  After he got up, he realized that he didn’t think of YanMingXiu at all last night. This is a good sign.

He washed his face, got changed, then went to CaiWei’s company to report to work.