R70 Chapter 13

I Won’t Give You a Single Cent!

Xie Yun stood in front of the hospital payment window, clutching several crumpled bills in his hand, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The nurse inside the window tapped at her keyboard expressionlessly, announcing a figure that fell like a heavy hammer, striking hard against his heart.

He looked down and counted the money in his hand—it was only enough for one day’s hospitalization fee.

The child’s illness had come suddenly, a high fever that wouldn’t break. The doctor said it was pneumonia and required hospitalization.

But where could Xie Yun come up with that much money?

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his heart tightening wave after wave.

He thought of Wu Yunzhu’s cold, icy face. That woman had been iron-hearted from the very beginning.

When they first adopted the child, she had made it clear that she wouldn’t pay a single cent.

Xie Yun hadn’t thought much of it at the time, figuring that a soft-hearted woman like Wu Yunzhu could be coaxed, and besides, she liked children.

Whenever a child in the village had their full-month celebration, she would definitely go see and touch the baby.

But who could have imagined that on the very day they adopted Jiancheng, she didn’t come home!

Now the child was sick and needed money, but she was hiding far away, not even showing her face.

The more Xie Yun thought about it, the angrier he became, his chest feeling as if a stone was lodged there, pressing down so hard he could barely breathe.

He turned and left the hospital, walking heavily toward the village.

All along the way, his mind was filled with Wu Yunzhu’s cold, hard face and her icy words: “You were the one who insisted on adopting this child. I never agreed to pay a single cent.”

Xie Yun gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly, “This woman is truly heartless!”

When he reached the village, Xie Yun headed straight for Wu Yunzhu’s house.

But when he arrived at the door, he found it tightly shut, the courtyard quiet without a single person in sight.

He knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered.

He stood at the doorway, trembling with rage, his mind in complete chaos.

At this moment, several villagers gathered around, chattering away.

Someone advised him, “Xie Yun, what Yunzhu said isn’t wrong. When you adopted the child, she did say she wouldn’t pay. Coming to ask her for money now really isn’t quite appropriate.”

Another person chimed in. “That’s right. Yunzhu hasn’t been home these past few days. The child’s illness has nothing to do with her. Asking her for money really doesn’t make sense.”

Hearing this, Xie Yun’s face turned iron-blue with anger, his fists clenching even tighter.

He glared at those villagers, his voice hoarse. “The child is sick—should we just stand by and watch without doing anything? No matter how heartless Wu Yunzhu is, she can’t just stand by and let him die!”

But the villagers all shook their heads, feeling that Wu Yunzhu was being reasonable and that Xie Yun was being unreasonable.

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Cheng Yaoyao walked over from behind the crowd.

She wore a plain cloth dress and carried a basket in her hand, obviously just back from the fields.

She walked up to Xie Yun, looked at his face twisted with anger, and let out a gentle sigh.

She pulled out a small cloth pouch from her pocket, opened it, and inside were several neatly folded bills.

“Brother Xie,” Cheng Yaoyao’s voice was soft but carried an unquestionable firmness, “Sister Yunzhu is right. When you adopted the child, she did say she wouldn’t pay. But…”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding villagers before finally settling on Xie Yun’s face. “The child is sick—we can’t just stand by and watch without doing anything, right? If something really happens, that would be a human life.”

As she spoke, she stuffed those bills into Xie Yun’s hand. “This is a bit of money I’ve saved. Take it for the emergency first. The child’s illness can’t be delayed—it must be treated right away.”

Xie Yun was stunned, then immediately realized that Cheng Yaoyao was setting a trap for Wu Yunzhu.

Sure enough, some villagers were moved by Cheng Yaoyao’s words and began discussing in low voices.

Someone said quietly, “This educated youth Cheng is right. The child is sick—we can’t just ignore it, can we?”

Another person agreed, “That’s right. Even if Yunzhu won’t pay, she could at least lend Xie Yun some money. That child is quite pitiful.”

At this moment, an elderly villager stepped forward and said to Xie Yun, “Xie Yun, don’t be too anxious. Although Yunzhu said she won’t pay, you can go talk to her and see if she can lend you some money.”

“After all, the child is sick, and everyone can’t bear to just stand by and watch.”

Hearing this, Xie Yun felt a surge of joy.

He looked at the money in his hand, then at Cheng Yaoyao, and said in a low voice, “You’re really the one with solutions.”

Early the next morning, Xie Yun returned to the village.

He knew that the little bit of money from Cheng Yaoyao was far from enough for the child’s medical expenses.

He had to find another way.

In the end, Xie Yun decided to go find Wu Yunzhu. No matter what, he had to get her to contribute some money.

Even if she wasn’t willing, she had to lend him some money.

When he arrived at Wu Yunzhu’s parents’ home, Xie Yun stood at the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

The door opened, and Wu Yunzhu stood in the doorway, looking at him coldly.

Xie Yun gritted his teeth and spoke. “Yunzhu, the child is sick and needs money for treatment. Can you… lend me some money?”

Wu Yunzhu frowned, her tone icy. “I’ve already told you, I won’t pay a single cent. You were the one who insisted on adopting this child. It has nothing to do with me.”

Hearing this, a surge of anger welled up in Xie Yun’s heart, but he suppressed his rage and said in a low voice, “Yunzhu, the child is innocent. You can’t just stand by and let him die.”

Wu Yunzhu let out a cold laugh. “Xie Yun, stop pretending to be a good person here.”

“What did you say when you adopted the child? Now the child is sick, and you come asking me for money? Let me tell you, I have no money, and I won’t give you a single cent!”

Xie Yun trembled with rage, his fists clenched tight.

He glared at Wu Yunzhu, his voice hoarse. “Wu Yunzhu, you’re truly heartless! The child is sick—don’t you have even a bit of compassion?”

But Wu Yunzhu remained unmoved, saying coldly, “Xie Yun, stop wasting your time here. I won’t give you money. Leave.”

“Fine, Wu Yunzhu, you’re ruthless!” Xie Yun said through gritted teeth, his voice carrying a tremor. “You don’t want to pay, and I won’t force you. But don’t forget—Jianhua is your responsibility too!”

Wu Yunzhu looked at him coldly, her tone without a ripple. “Xie Yun, Jianhua is your responsibility, not mine.”

“When we adopted him, I made it very clear that I wouldn’t get involved in his affairs. Why should I give you money now?”

Xie Yun was left speechless by Wu Yunzhu’s words. He opened his mouth but found he couldn’t refute her.

When they adopted Jianhua, Wu Yunzhu had indeed made it clear that she wouldn’t participate in raising the child, and he had agreed. Coming to ask her for money now was indeed somewhat unreasonable.

But he still felt unwilling, especially seeing Cheng Yaoyao voluntarily take out money to help while Wu Yunzhu looked on coldly—his anger burned even hotter.

“Wu Yunzhu, you’re truly cold-blooded!” Xie Yun said through clenched teeth. “Jianhua is still a life. Will you just stand by and watch him die of illness?”

Wu Yunzhu let out a cold laugh, her tone sharp, “Xie Yun, don’t try to morally blackmail me here.”

“Jianhua is the child you adopted. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me. If you really care about him, figure it out yourself. Don’t waste your time here.”