Chapter 27 Mutual Help

  "It's been years since we last met, and you're still as boastful as ever. By the way, now that I've run into you today, I might as well ask a favor of you." Ye Shaofeng said.

  "Ask me? Can the all-powerful Xiao Feng also have times when he needs to ask me for help? Haha, it's really a turn of fortune, isn't it? Tell me, what's up?" Tang Jiaqian said with a pleased smile.

  "Oh, it's nothing much, just... I was wondering if I could borrow some money from you..." Ye Shaofeng said with embarrassment.

  It's just the beginning of this month, and there is still a month to go before payday. Moreover, I have already given my salary card to Yao Xueqi, so now I only have around 300 yuan left on me.

  In today's high material living standards, these three hundred yuan can probably only last a few days. Moreover, I still need to visit Tang Jiaqian's parents and it's not okay if I don't bring some decent gifts. Buying gifts also costs money.

  If it were another woman, Ye Shaofeng would not have opened his mouth to borrow money, but this Tang Jiaqian was the one who grew up with him from childhood, wearing open-crotch pants together. Ye Shaofeng had always treated her as his own sister, and the two of them were extremely close, what's yours is mine, what's mine is yours.

  Even after being apart for so long, the familiarity was quickly restored once they reunited. That's why Ye Shaofeng had the nerve to borrow money from a young girl.

  "Borrowing money, easy does it, how much do you want to borrow?"

  Ye Shaofeng's face turned red, and after a moment of calculation in her mind, she said: "Two thousand, just two thousand."

  "Oh, when are you going to return it?" Tang Jiaqian asked with a hint of mockery.

  "I've paid the salary, I'll definitely pay you back. I'm a person who has never owed anyone money, it's easy to lend and borrow again, haha..." Ye Shaofeng said with a smile.

  "Alright, I'll lend it to you, but I don't have any money on me. Let's go, follow me home and get it." Tang Jiaqian said.

  "That... that's not good, is it? I won't go then. Your parents are at home, and I'd be too embarrassed to show up empty-handed. You can just drop it off at my place when you're on your way to work this afternoon." Ye Shaofeng said.

  "What's wrong with that? Since I was young, my parents have treated you like their own son. Now that you're back, you must go see them with me right away! If you don't go, it means you're not filial!"

  "I... I'm empty-handed, it's not suitable..."

  "You've already borrowed money from me, which means you're definitely out of cash. What's the point of pretending to be rich when you're not? Come on, it's just as well that you haven't eaten yet, I'm sure my mom has cooked dinner, let's go eat at my place!" With that, Tang Jiaqian pulled Ye Shaofeng's hand and dragged him out of the house.

  Arrived at Tang Jiaqian's home. Saw long-separated uncle and aunt, as if seeing one's own relatives again. The whole family had lunch together, Ye Shaofeng accompanied Tang Jiaqian's father Tang Aiqiang to drink a little wine.

  Normally, Tang Jiaqian's mother would never let Tang Aiqiang drink, but this time Ye Shaofeng was back, so she allowed him to have a couple of sips.

  The old couple heard Ye Shao's mixed southern experience and felt very sympathetic to this child, but that was fate.

  "Alright, let's just forget about what happened in the past and not bring it up again. At least you're back safe and sound. Since you're back, let's focus on working hard and living a stable life from now on. By the way, Shao Feng, do you want me to ask my friend to help you get a job at a government agency?" Tang Ai Jiang said.

  "No need... no need, your family has helped me too much already, I don't want to owe you any more. As a man, I'm already so old, I should walk my own path and not rely on others anymore." Ye Shaofeng hastily declined.

  "Not bad, after eight years, you've become even more of a man! Good kid, your future prospects are boundless!" Tang Ai praised.

  The four of them enjoyed their meal together, like one big happy family. As they were about to leave, Tang's mother reminded Ye Shaofeng: "Shaofeng, from now on, come home for meals when it's time to eat, we're a family, don't be polite."

  "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I'll come visit you often from now on." Ye Shaofeng thanked the old couple and walked out of their house with Tang Jiaqian.

  "You followed me out, what's going on? It's not even time for work yet." Ye Shaofeng asked.

  "Mind your own business, go home and wait for me. I'll send the money to your house later." With that, Tang Jiaqian ran a few steps away, leaving him behind.

  Ye Shaofeng returned home and before long, Tang Jiaqian arrived, holding a slightly thick envelope.

  He put the envelope on the table and said, "I just went to the bank to withdraw money. These 200,000 yuan are what I saved up in the first half of the year. You take it and use it. When you have money, return it to me."

  "Twenty thousand? I...I borrowed two thousand from you." Ye Shaofeng said.

  "Don't mention that useless thing, just take this money first. I'm not in a hurry to use it, and you don't have to rush to pay me back either. Consider this as my repayment for your help when we were young."

  I remember one time you helped me out and got beaten up by a few big guys until your head was covered in blood, haha...

  "You're still laughing, now it's funny to think about, I remember you were so scared that you cried, in a moment of desperation, you even picked up a brick and wanted to fight those big guys to the death."

  "Actually, your seemingly weak and small body contains a fierce heart!" Ye Shaofeng also chimed in with a tease.

  After sitting for a while, neither of them said anything, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Tang Jiaqian kept drinking hot water, suddenly this girl seemed to remember something, and said: "Right, Shao Feng brother. You also have to help me with one thing!"

  "What's wrong? Are you speaking up for me again?" Ye Shaofeng said with a smile.

  "That's right, about it."

  "Really? Who bullied you?" Ye Shaofeng suddenly became serious and asked.

  "No, it's not that someone is bullying me, but rather someone wants to introduce a boyfriend to me. Tonight, a pretty good colleague asked me to go to a bar for fun, but actually it was to meet a guy on a blind date. We're all friends, and they've already invited me many times before, I didn't want to refuse again."

  "Then go, who knows, you might run into your Prince Charming." Ye Shaofeng said with a smile.

  "Shaofeng, you're really useless! I'm being serious with you right now! I really don't want to have a boyfriend, so you have to help me out." Tang Jiaqian said.

  "Help? How can I help you? Let me go on a blind date for you? It's you they're interested in, besides, they're not gay!" Ye Shaofeng said with a smile.

  "Listen, tonight, there will be many friends gathering together to have fun, just like a friend's party, with both boys and girls. At that time, you come with me. Just say you're my boyfriend, so the guy who has a crush on me won't keep pestering me." Tang Jiaqian said.

  "What? You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend! This...this isn't quite right." Ye Shaofeng said in surprise.

  "Is there anything wrong, just go if you want to, I'll go and play with my sister instead. Is that okay? It's all up to your one sentence!" Tang Jiaqian's seemingly inquiring words were actually a command.

  This girl's big eyes stared at him, leaving Ye Shaofeng no room for refusal...