Zhao Xiaoxue glanced at the people in the room: "Xinyan, my, my, my cousin is hospitalized, and we still donât have enough money for the surgery, so I wanted to borrow some from you."
Xinyan squinted and asked, "Itâs been so long, your cousin is still in the Capital?"
Zhao Xiaoxue nodded, her face full of worry: "The doctors advised her to stay in the hospital for treatment before, but my cousin was a bit skeptical, originally planning to take her child back to her hometown.
But in the hospital, she happened to meet a fellow townsman whose son received orders to work in the South, and she accidentally fell and it was quite serious. The doctors said she couldnât be moved for the time being.
They heard her family was looking for someone to take care of her, so my cousin stayed.
A few days ago, that fellow townsman was picked up by her son. My cousin thought of getting a check-up before heading back home, but unexpectedly, the doctor said if she didnât have surgery, it might be life-threatening.
But all my cousin had was the twenty bucks the townsman left for care when he left, and I donât have much money myself, certainly not enough for the surgery."
She was afraid Xinyan would refuse: "Xinyan, I was wrong about the previous things, please donât hold it against us, itâs really a matter of life and death now, I hope you can help us."
Thinking of Zhao Xiaoxueâs cousin, Xinyan actually didnât like her at all, but the words were said to this extent, and if she didnât help, it would indeed feel uncomfortable in her heart.
Xinyan looked at Zhao Xiaoxueâs hands on both sides, so tense that she didnât know where to place them, and finally spoke: "Who knows if what youâre saying is true or false, and when can this money be repaid, I donât know your cousin, even if I lend it, Iâm lending it to you."
Zhao Xiaoxue quickly took out a medical record from her purse: "This is my cousinâs medical record."
Xinyan took it and skimmed through it, seeing the doctorâs orders on it, she understood that if Zhao Xiaoxueâs cousin hadnât delayed, it might not have been so severe.
As a woman, as a woman who got to live again, she understood the severity of this illness; if the best surgical time was missed, Zhao Xiaoxueâs cousin might not last long in this world.
After some contemplation, she looked up at Zhao Xiaoxue: "How much money are you planning to borrow from me?"
Zhao Xiaoxue was relieved to hear Xinyanâs words: "Iâve already sent a telegram to my hometown, someone should come from there soon, and theyâll bring some money when they do.
Can you lend me a hundred bucks first, Iâll have the doctor schedule the surgery. Donât worry, this money counts as me borrowing it, it might not be repaid quickly, but I will definitely find a way to repay you bit by bit until itâs all paid off."
Even though Zhao Xiaoxue is a bit scheming, seeing her asking for money on behalf of a cousin she doesnât like much shows that she has some integrity: "I can lend you the money, but you must write an IOU, and it must be paid back before college graduation."
Zhao Xiaoxue nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Sure, sure, donât worry, as soon as I have money, Iâll repay you first."
However, in these times, not everyone can just pull out a hundred bucks anytime: "By the latest, when do you need it?"
Zhao Xiaoxue quickly replied: "The doctor said the surgery could be arranged for tomorrow, but the fees must be paid before the hospital closes today."
Xinyan had it in her space, but it wasnât possible to give it to her right now: "Iâll bring it over when I go back at noon, letâs go to class first."
After Zhao Xiaoxue repeatedly thanked her, she finally turned and left.
Jiang Peiqin came over: "Youâre lending her so much money just like that?"
Zhang Zhaodi also chimed in: "Her cousin isnât easy to get along with, always feels a bit two-faced."
Xinyan picked up her books: "If she doesnât get surgery in time, it wonât be long before itâs life-threatening. Youâve seen Zhao Xiaoxue too; she seems afraid of her cousin as well, but in this situation, she still set aside her pride to come ask for money. Her character probably isnât too bad.
Isnât there a saying, âSaving a life is better than building a seven-storied pagodaâ, just think of it as accumulating virtue for myself. Besides, the money isnât lent to her cousin, itâs lent to her."