"I know about you borrowing money from your colleagues." The manager looked at Fang Jianguo standing before him, utterly baffled how someone like him could stoop so low. "How do you plan to pay it back?"
Fang Jianguo froze, remaining silent. The truth was, he hadn’t even considered repayment.
But it wasn’t entirely his fault. In the original course of events, they had squeezed the money out of their children, and the amount borrowed had been small. However, due to Fang Zhiyi’s interference, they had reached this point much sooner.
The manager continued, "Given your character, the company would normally fire you. But for now, you’re being kept on. I’ll deduct a portion of your salary each month to repay your colleagues. Any objections?"
Fang Jianguo wanted to argue, but in the end, he simply nodded silently.
As the manager watched him leave, his phone rang.
"Hello, Mom? It’s handled, it’s handled. Don’t worry."
Chen Meihua faced a similar situation, only far more intense. Several colleagues were loudly demanding repayment, and her supervisor decided to suspend her until she resolved her debts.
Meanwhile, in a spacious shop, two full tables of elderly men and women sat chatting. Fang Zhiyi raised his glass, toasting each of them with a smile.
"I’m just a country man, don’t know much about manners. But meeting all of you—it’s the best luck of my life." With that, he downed his drink in one go.
"Old Fang, don’t you worry. We know exactly the kind of man you are. You stay right here. No more breakfast stalls—we’re opening a proper restaurant!"
"After all this, you’re still singing praises about your son? Truly, a parent’s heart knows no bounds," one of the elderly women remarked before pulling out her phone. "No, I have to call my niece again. That daughter-in-law of yours is downright wicked! And my niece happens to be a supervisor at their factory."
Fang Zhiyi tried to stop her but could only sigh heavily.
"Old friend, don’t take it to heart. Think of it as raising an ungrateful wretch," an old man consoled him.
Xiao Hei chimed in, "You’re practically grinning."
"Shut up."
"Is the influence of elderly humans really this strong?"
"You’re still too young to understand."
"Grandpa!" Three small figures appeared at the door.
Fang Zhiyi waved them inside.
"Is this Grandpa’s new shop? It’s so much bigger than the breakfast stall!" Fang Yang’s eyes widened in amazement.
Fang Xiao stood quietly, her expression tinged with worry.
Fang Zhiyi picked up Fang Yue. "What’s wrong?" Fang Xiao carried too much weight in her heart.
"Grandpa, if you’re gone… we won’t have enough to eat again."
The room fell silent. Some of the elders clenched their fists.
"What nonsense! From now on, come here every morning and after school. Tell Grandpa what you want to eat!"
"How did we never notice what kind of people those two were? Starving their own children to skin and bones while playing saints outside?" one of the elderly women fumed.
"Fang Jianguo once helped me carry rice and refused payment. Thinking back now, what a disgrace!" an old man muttered in regret.
"Let bygones be bygones! Come, let’s eat!" Fang Zhiyi called out as several young workers emerged from the kitchen, bringing out simple home-style dishes.
"You all, join us once you’re done," Fang Zhiyi invited.
One of the young men smiled shyly. "No thanks, Grandpa Fang. I have to go back and study. Exams are coming up."
"Oh? Do you have enough money?"
"Plenty, plenty!" The young man waved his hands. "I just helped with cleaning and organizing, and you already paid me 3,000 yuan. It’s too much! But don’t worry, I’ll be back after exams!"
Fang Zhiyi nodded, then turned to the others. "Then pack some food to take with you. I won’t have people saying you worked for me and still went hungry!"
Life had become unbearable for Fang Jianguo and Chen Meihua. Overnight, it seemed, the winds had shifted—and the gale was so strong they could barely lift their heads.
Neighbors who once praised them now looked at them with disdain. Posts about their good deeds on social media went unliked, with comments instead asking if they’d repaid their debts.
The three children came and went early, growing more distant by the day. When Chen Meihua saw a little girl in worn-out clothes and tried to take Fang Yue’s new dress for her, Fang Yue clung to it desperately. Furious, Chen Meihua raised her hand to discipline her "grandfather-spoiled" daughter—but under Fang Xiao’s icy stare, her hand froze mid-air.
Even worse, those they had once helped now either brushed them off with empty words or outright blocked them. A student they had sponsored lashed out when payments stopped:
"If you weren’t going to help long-term, you shouldn’t have started! Giving for one month and skipping two—do you think I’m a beggar?"
Online, posts circulated about the "hypocrite couple," their three pitiful children, and the hardworking old father. The posts ended with the address of Fang Zhiyi’s restaurant.
Cut off financially and socially ruined, the couple seethed with resentment. Why? They had only ever done good! How had it come to this? Now, instead of charity work, their days were filled with debt collectors and scornful whispers.
When they learned Fang Zhiyi hadn’t left town but opened a restaurant nearby, they swallowed their pride and went.
Unsurprisingly, they didn’t even get to see Fang Zhiyi. A college student working part-time at the entrance pointed at a notice on the wall—their photos were plastered beneath the words:
"These two are not allowed inside."
Fang Jianguo’s blood boiled when he saw the sign next to their pictures:
"This restaurant offers free meals for those in need. If you’re struggling, come in and eat."
The contrast was brutal.
"That’s them, right? Pretending to be saints, kicking out their father, abusing their kids," someone muttered, pulling out a phone to film. Fang Jianguo covered his face and dragged his wife away.
At home, things were no better. Suspended from work, Chen Meihua could only cook—but their meals were still plain rice and pickles, sometimes without even salted duck eggs. Before, they’d skimped to help others. Now, they were just broke.
The children, meanwhile, returned every day with satisfied smiles, eating breakfast and dinner at their grandfather’s. On weekends, they stayed at his restaurant.
Exhausted, Fang Jianguo was powerless to intervene. Fang Xiao had grown stronger, and strangers now threatened him: "Lay a finger on those kids, and you’ll regret it."
Fang Jianguo laughed bitterly. He was on the verge of collapse. Most of his salary went to repayments, but he clung to hope—just endure a year or so, and it would pass.