As for the borrowed money, let's delay paying it back for now. Colleagues have salaries, and those people really need help!
After gossiping with others and venting about his troubles, Fang Zhiyi finally returned home satisfied.
"You'll probably be just like this when you're old," remarked Little Hei.
Fang Zhiyi chuckled. "I'm already old now."
"Why didn't you just go all out from the beginning?"
"It's understandable that you don’t get it. When people first meet, they’re skeptical of everything you say. But look at me now." Fang Zhiyi spread his hands. "I’ve built such a great persona—caring for my children, kind-hearted. Plus, those people are around my age. After spending time together, they’ll believe whatever I say."
"Controlling public opinion?" Little Hei nodded. "That’s your style."
"Actually, that’s not the key point."
"Then what is?"
"It’s hard for you to grasp." Fang Zhiyi clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the sky. "Let me put it this way—I’m their father!"
After a long pause—
"Did you just indirectly insult me?"
"No."
Pushing the door open, he walked into a classic scene, one that had naturally developed in this world’s logic.
"Eight hundred yuan? Xiao Xiao, wait a moment. Mom will figure something out."
Fang Xiao looked up and saw his grandfather standing at the door, then instinctively lowered his head.
Fang Jianguo was holding his phone. "Look at this college student—" The next moment, he spotted his father at the entrance.
Fang Zhiyi strode over, glanced at Chen Meihua, who was still folding clothes, and didn’t bother hiding his disdain before delivering a slap.
With a crisp sound, Fang Jianguo clutched his face. "Dad! Why did you hit me?"
"A father hitting his son—isn’t that normal?"
"But why?!"
Fang Zhiyi pointed at Fang Xiao. "Your son needs eight hundred for his textbooks, and here you are ogling some college student?"
Slap!
"No! This college student isn’t what you think, Dad!" Fang Jianguo, now fearful, shrank back. "His father is seriously ill, and he’s working part-time to support himself. I was just seeing if I could help!"
"Oh." Fang Zhiyi nodded. "So I misunderstood you?"
Fang Jianguo relaxed—his father was still reasonable today.
The next moment—
Slap!
"You won’t lift a finger for your own son’s school fees, but you’re eager to help strangers!"
Chen Meihua quickly intervened. "Dad, Dad, stop hitting him!"
For a split second, Fang Zhiyi considered striking her too but restrained himself.
"Xiao Xiao is our own child. It’s fine if he suffers a little. But look at others—they’re in desperate need!"
Fang Zhiyi nearly laughed in frustration. The anger from reading about this scene was nothing compared to witnessing it firsthand.
"I won’t say more. Eight hundred—give it now."
"Dad... we don’t have that much," Chen Meihua whispered, then suddenly had an idea. "Your breakfast stall’s been doing well lately. Why don’t you cover it first? Jianguo and I will pay you back next month when we get our salaries."
If I hadn’t read the plot, I might’ve believed this! Their son needs eight hundred, but they turn around and donate two thousand! Fang Zhiyi cursed inwardly.
"I don’t have money."
"How could you not? Dad, we’ve never asked you for a cent. You barely spend anything—we even give you an allowance..."
"I donated it!" Fang Zhiyi puffed out his chest.
"You... donated it?" Fang Jianguo was stunned, reassessing his father.
"Donated?" Chen Meihua was equally shocked but soon shook her head. "Dad, stop joking..."
"What? You can donate, but I can’t? Age discrimination, is it?" Seeing the accusation looming, Fang Jianguo hastily replied, "No, no! Dad, where did you donate?"
"Oh, a couple of days ago, I ran into a blind man and a deaf woman while out walking. They looked so pitiful, so I gave them everything."
"How much?" Fang Jianguo asked.
"Seventy thousand. All of it." Fang Zhiyi didn’t bat an eye.
"Dad, how could you... sigh... you should’ve discussed this with us!" Chen Meihua panicked at the amount—that was enough to cover months of living expenses for the students she supported!
"Why?"
"It’s just... you’re older and might not realize—what if they were scammers?" Chen Meihua argued. "Besides, that money was yours, but Jianguo and I contributed too. How could you just donate it without a word?"
"Cut the nonsense. When you donate, do you ask Fang Xiao and the others for their opinion?"
Chen Meihua glanced at her son and hesitated. "They’re too young..."
"Bullshit! With me, it’s ‘you’re old,’ and with them, it’s ‘they’re young.’ So you’re always right, huh? Listen up—you’re coughing up that eight hundred today, or else..." Fang Zhiyi resorted to outright threats.
"You—!" Chen Meihu was furious, heartbroken, and anxious—that was seventy thousand! She tugged at Fang Jianguo, urging him to speak.
But the moment Fang Jianguo opened his mouth, Fang Zhiyi raised his hand, sending him scurrying against the wall.
In the end, the couple reluctantly handed over eight hundred to Fang Xiao, their eyes full of reluctance.
"What a joke..." Fang Zhiyi led Fang Xiao to his room, ensuring the money wouldn’t be taken back.
"Grandpa, you didn’t donate the money," Fang Xiao whispered.
Fang Zhiyi looked at him and smiled. "How do you know?"
"You taught us that helping others is good, but only after taking care of ourselves first. You’re not the kind of..." He struggled for words.
"Your grandpa obviously isn’t a good person, right?"
Fang Xiao blushed and lowered his head.
"Hahaha! Kid, you’ll go far." Fang Zhiyi ruffled his hair. With proper nutrition now, hopefully, the illness from the original plot wouldn’t happen.
Thanks to Fang Zhiyi’s deliberate rumors, Fang Jianguo and Chen Meihua had stopped their charitable acts in the neighborhood. No one sought their help anymore—those who did heard whispers about them being gullible fools exploited by a cunning old man. More and more neighbors began noticing the odd dynamics in their household.
The rumor that the couple neglected their family while playing saints had spread far and wide.
It tormented them—they couldn’t eat or sleep well, their reputation in tatters. Only strangers online still gave them a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
Chen Meihua tried salvaging their image through social media, but it was futile. Her "kind-hearted" persona prevented her from fighting back openly.
So, she and Fang Jianguo doubled down on charity work. When a nonprofit called seeking donations, they barely discussed it before borrowing money to send a full hundred thousand to the organization’s account.