Chapter 2007: Chapter 1910: Willing but Unable

Because of Zhang Chao’s lack of tact, Boss Jiang eventually left in a huff, and Zhang Family’s Young Aunt was both anxious and angry, pointing at Zhang Chao’s nose, as if about to burst into a tirade.

But seeing Boss Jiang turn to leave, Zhang Family’s Young Aunt was still preoccupied with the lucrative project Boss Jiang had mentioned earlier, fearing that this matter would upset Boss Jiang and ruin the project.

So Zhang Family’s Young Aunt didn’t bother wrangling with Zhang Chao, glaring at him with an expression of "hate iron for not becoming steel," before turning around to chase after Boss Jiang.

Not long after the two went out, Li Long and Xie Qiang returned with food, seeing Zhang Chao standing grimly in the room, with two steaming cups of tea on the coffee table, they felt something was amiss, exchanged a glance, and Li Long asked:

"Chaozi, we ran into two people at the bottom of the building just now, one of them, a middle-aged woman, was cursing, I seemed to hear her talking bad about you, were those two here looking for you?"

Zhang Chao nodded, laughing self-deprecatingly: "That woman was my aunt."

Li Long was taken aback, then became a bit displeased: "This person is your aunt, how can she speak ill of you in front of outsiders? Is she your real aunt?"

Zhang Chao forced a smile more painful than crying: "She’s real, more real than gold, three years younger than my dad, since childhood has followed my dad, my dad always lets her have her way, especially caring for her."

"Then why does she speak ill of you behind your back? There’s a problem with her character! By the way, why did she come to see you?" Li Long asked curiously.

Zhang Chao’s face darkened: "She brought someone to buy a house."

"Buying a house? That’s a good thing, right? This way, your house can be sold quickly, and you’ll get the surgery fee to treat your dad’s illness. You just posted the house listing, and your aunt brought someone over to see the house. It seems your aunt isn’t all bad, at least she’s reliable when it counts, isn’t she?"

Upon hearing that Zhang Family’s Young Aunt brought someone to see the house, Li Long thought she was a good person and immediately changed his opinion, even speaking in a softer tone.

However, Xie Qiang, who hadn’t spoken, sensed something was wrong upon entering, recalling Zhang Chao alone at the hospital earlier, Xie Qiang had a vague sense that things weren’t that simple.

He instinctively furrowed his brow, asked: "Chaozi, is there a problem? You posted your house listing with the agency, how did your aunt know so quickly you want to sell the house?"

Zhang Chao’s face flashed with self-mockery, after several seconds, he nodded slightly, and said: "My aunt wouldn’t get up early without profit, must have been eyeing our house for a while, upon seeing my house listing, immediately came over with someone. The person she brought, surnamed Jiang, is a rich boss, presumably quite wealthy, has taken a liking to the location of our house, so wants to suppress the price due to our situation. I asked for 500,000, and the person refused, even said if I disagree, the house won’t sell any time soon."

"What?!"

Li Long, with a fiery temper, upon hearing this, instantly turned red in the face with anger, urgently said:

"How can there be such people, isn’t this strong-arm buying? Such people, what big bosses, are too shameless, right? And your aunt, how can she screw over her brother and nephew, doesn’t she realize your dad’s life is at risk and needs immediate surgery?"

Zhang Chao chuckled bitterly: "I guess my aunt has a favor to ask from the Jiang person, now it’s a conflict of interest between my dad and her, in such a situation, she’ll choose without hesitation to sacrifice my dad for herself. And it’s clear, the Jiang person isn’t lying, he can really prevent my house from selling."

Li Long and Xie Qiang, both young and impetuous, at seventeen or eighteen, are in the prime of youth, upon hearing this, were overflowing with anger, their faces flushed red, fists clenched tight, ready to rush out the door, chase down Zhang Family’s Young Aunt and Boss Jiang, and give them a beating.

In contrast, Zhang Chao was the calmest of the three, despite being the party involved, his age similar to Li Long and Xie Qiang, but since Father Zhang fell ill, his six months away from school, working odd jobs outside, let him see much of human coldness and social hardships, making him deeply aware of this unfair world.

"Take it one step at a time, my greatest wish now is to gather the surgery funds, operate on my dad. If the Jiang person really tricks behind the scenes, preventing my house from selling, I suppose I’ll have to compromise."

Zhang Chao’s tone was somber, striking the hearts of Li Long and Xie Qiang, making these young boys tremble slightly, it was the first time, these kids who always thought the world was theirs, felt the world’s cruelty, and their own powerlessness.

After quickly eating something and filling their stomachs, Zhang Chao was about to rush to the hospital again, though he hadn’t gathered the surgery funds yet, his dad was still in intensive care and he couldn’t leave for long, fearing something happened in the meantime and the doctor couldn’t find him.

Li Long and Xie Qiang were persuaded by Zhang Chao to return to school, this was ultimately Zhang Chao’s family matter, it couldn’t delay Li Long and Xie Qiang’s studies because of it, Zhang Chao himself had dropped out, but Li Long and Xie Qiang still had to study well.

Because Zhang Chao had dropped out, he was no longer a student at the school, his former homeroom teacher couldn’t smoothly get the donation for him either.

This left the former homeroom teacher feeling quite apologetic, after thinking, she still called to comfort Zhang Chao a bit, saying she’d think of other ways too.

Zhang Chao knew his homeroom teacher had already done her utmost for him, so even if feeling somewhat disappointed, he thanked the teacher solemnly for her effort, grateful to the teacher, even though he spent less than a year in her class, she could do so much for him, Zhang Chao felt a warmth like never before.

"By the way, hasn’t that scammer called again?"

Right before hanging up the phone, the homeroom teacher suddenly remembered something and asked.

Zhang Chao froze, hesitated for a moment, then told the teacher about the calls claiming to be Huo Sining’s agent.