Paying Back The Money (Part 1)

Tao Xia recognized the bowl as her own.

It was covered with a piece of cloth.

As she took it, she disapproved, saying, "You can just return the bowl; there's no need to fill it with anything. Don't do this again."

She invited them inside, where a little boy named Zhihao was leaning against his mother's legs.

It was nap time, but he was still wide awake.

Hearing the commotion, he looked up and rushed over, "Tianzhou!"

Zhihao, a chubby little boy, charged at Huo Tianzhou with great enthusiasm.

Liang Hongyu quickly reached out to cushion the impact, but Huo Tianzhou still staggered back a step as Zhihao clung to his leg.

After stabilizing himself, Huo Tianzhou looked down at Zhihao with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

Tao Xia moved aside with the bowl to avoid being hit and laughed, "This rascal! You almost knocked your aunt over. Be careful with your strength."

"That's because Aunt can't stand up properly. Look, Tianzhou is fine," Zhihao said, then when he looked up and saw Liang Hongyu, He shouted loudly, "Aunt Hongyu!"

"Yes," Liang Hongyu responded with a smile.

"Tianzhou, why didn't you come earlier? Erlang is still napping, and I'm bored to death," Zhihao turned back and said, "Let's go pick fruit on the mountain today. I'll take the bamboo basket you made for me and won't come back until it's full."

Wu family's eldest daughter-in-law laughed and shook her head, she then walked over to pull her son away, "Show some manners. You should call him Uncle Tianzhou."

Huo Tianzhou smiled and patted Zhihao's head, signaling it was okay.

"Your Uncle Tianzhou doesn't have time to accompany you on your mischief," Tao Xia said, then took the bowl to put it away.

She assumed the bowl contained some snacks, so she hadn't paid much attention when she accepted it.

But when she removed the cloth and saw what was inside, she was so surprised that she stumbled over her words.

"This—this is too valuable," she said, quickly covering the bowl with the cloth and pushing it back toward Huo Tianzhou, "You should take it back and keep it for yourselves."

Just a few days ago, Wu Erlang had brought them a rabbit, but honey was much more precious.

In the village, only a few families could afford sugar throughout the entire year.

Huo Tianzhou had anticipated this reaction when he brought the honey.

If they hadn't brought it inside, Tao Xia would have returned it to them as soon as she saw it.

He turned his head to look at Liang Hongyu.

Before they left, Liang Hongyu had found it odd that Huo Tianzhou insisted on bringing her along for such a short distance.

Now she understood his intentions.

Liang Hongyu glanced at Huo Tianzhou, then she turned her head to Tao Xia and said, "We got this honey in the mountains yesterday. We don't plan to sell it; it's for us to eat. Please, have some as well."

"How can we accept this?"

Tao Xia protested, knowing how valuable honey was.

Curious, Zhihao ran over, tugged on Tao Xia's sleeve, and asked, "Second Aunt, what's in the bowl? It smells so good."

Wu family's eldest daughter-in-law was also puzzled by Tao Xia's reaction.

When Huo Tianzhou refused to take the bowl back, Tao Xia handed it to the Wu family's eldest daughter-in-law for help, "It's fine if you keep it for yourselves, but bringing so much here—Sister-in-law, please say something to them."

When Wu family's eldest daughter-in-law saw it was honey, she had the same reaction as Tao Xia and urged them to take it back.

Aunt Wu, who was in the room putting her granddaughter to sleep, heard the commotion and came out to see them in a stalemate outside.

After understanding the situation, Liang Hongyu said, "Since we've already brought it, there's no reason to take it back. Aunt Wu, if you don't accept it, I won't dare to trouble you with anything in the future."

Having heard that, Aunt Wu smiled helplessly and agreed to accept the honey.

...

The next morning, after Liang Hongyu went into the mountains to hunt, Huo Tianzhou finished his chores at home.

He then went out to pay back the money to the village head and Butcher Ma and later took a cart to town.

After returning the rice sack to the grocery store where he had bought the rice and flour the day before, he walked to Hong Family Bun Shop, a few streets away.

When he arrived, he found a crowd in front of the shop, lining up to buy buns.

Huo Tianzhou stood at a distance for a while, waiting until the people who were buying the buns finished their purchases and gradually left.

Only then did he step forward.

The bun shop had seen several waves of customers since it opened in the morning, and the owner, Mrs. Hong, was in a good mood as she closed the cash register.

Noticing someone approaching, she looked up to greet them but her expression soured when she recognized the visitor.

This was Uncle Hong's wife.

She had never been happy about the money her husband had lent to Huo Tianzhou, and except for times when he came to repay the loan, she was always unwelcoming when she saw him.

"It's not even the end of the month when you're supposed to pay back the money. What are you doing here? Are you here to borrow more money?"

The half-open steamer basket held neatly arranged buns, steaming and round.

She glanced at Huo Tianzhou who is still dressed in his worn-out clothes, and closed the steamer as she spoke.

"It's not that I want to scold you, but you've owed us money for years, and we haven't pressured you to repay it. Business is getting harder these days. Do you know how many buns we have to sell to make back the money we lent to you…"

Mrs. Hong was certain that he was here to borrow money again, so she continued her rant.

Huo Tianzhou moved his mouth slightly but remained silent, waiting for her to finish her words.