Ning Xingchen's voice, as if emerging from the depths of hell, sent shivers down everyone's spine. They could feel the truth in his words, especially Xu Kai, who felt a chill run down his spine and a warm dampness between his legs, terrified to the point of almost wetting himself.
Xu Jinping, on the other hand, was deeply moved. Ning Xingchen's loyalty rekindled his hope for the future. He resolved that he would follow Ning Xingchen to hell and back if need be.
Fearing Ning Xingchen, the creditors dared not approach the Xu siblings. Even Xu Kai stood aside, watching coldly and occasionally sneering. He began to suspect that Ning Xingchen might have run away, thinking that the promise to repay Xu Jinping's debt was a lie.
Many others shared Xu Kai's suspicion, unsure whether Ning Xingchen had really gone to get the money or had simply fled.
"Shit, he better not run away!" someone in the crowd muttered, trying to stir up doubt.
"Brother Xingchen will definitely come back!" Xu Yiwei, who had been silent all this time, suddenly declared loudly, her eyes and tone full of determination.
"Hmph, I'll give him one hour at most. If he's not back by then, your family is in big trouble," Xu Kai sneered, glancing at his watch.
The villagers, not wanting to be made fools of, watched Xu Jinping and Xu Yiwei with predatory eyes. But Ning Xingchen's earlier display of power kept them from acting rashly. They could only stand and wait.
As the hour neared its end, Xu Kai's face lit up with glee. Based on his experience, he concluded that Ning Xingchen wouldn't return. No one would repay a friend's 500,000 yuan debt unless they were utterly foolish.
In Xu Kai's worldview, friends were meant to be betrayed, not helped with debts. This despicable mentality left him surrounded only by fair-weather friends, with no true companions.
"Xu Yiwei, come with me. That guy won't come back. If you marry into my family, you'll never worry about food or clothes!" Xu Kai declared arrogantly.
Just as Xu Kai finished speaking, Xu Yiwei, like a swift little bird, darted toward the door.
"Brother Xingchen!" Xu Yiwei was the first to notice Ning Xingchen at the entrance.
Without hesitation, Xu Yiwei threw herself into Ning Xingchen's arms, hugging him tightly and not wanting to let go.
"Yiwei, they didn't do anything to you, right?" Ning Xingchen smiled, patting the girl's head.
"No, they were all too scared of you. One look from you, and they didn't dare move!" Xu Yiwei looked up at Ning Xingchen with adoration, unable to hide her affection.
"That's good. Once the debt is repaid, they won't have any reason to bully you anymore." Ning Xingchen could feel the young girl's dependence on him, a subtle affection stirring between them.
Xu Kai was dumbfounded, unable to believe that Ning Xingchen had returned, and with two large suitcases!
...
Lin Hao and Xu Jinping brought a table to place the money. When they opened the suitcases, the glittering sight of stacks of cash lit up the courtyard, making several villagers swallow hard. This much money was the most beautiful sight in the world!
"Everyone line up with your IOUs and come get your money, one by one!" Ning Xingchen announced loudly.
Cheers erupted from the crowd, happier than during the New Year.
Lin Hao took the crumpled IOUs, verified the amounts, and handed out the money from the suitcase to the villagers.
Xu Jinping finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ning Xingchen's help in clearing his debts left him speechless with gratitude. He knew he could never repay such a massive favor in his lifetime.
"Five thousand," Xu Kai approached, ready to collect his money.
"Give me the IOU!" Lin Hao, who had long disliked Xu Kai, eagerly wanted to punch him.
"Ahem, I lost it years ago," Xu Kai tried to bluff. In truth, he had only lent Xu Jinping's father five hundred yuan, but he claimed it was five thousand, shamelessly attempting to extort money.
"No IOU, no money!" Ning Xingchen said coldly.
"What do you mean? Are you trying to weasel out of paying? You want to be a deadbeat?" Xu Kai's face darkened as he shouted.
"My dad would never borrow that much from you!" Xu Jinping retorted, thinking Xu Kai was despicable and shameless.
"Of course he did! We were the best of friends," Xu Kai argued.
No one, not even Xu Kai, believed his own words, and the villagers burst into laughter at the idea, knowing Xu Kai's notorious stinginess.
"Dapeng, stop wasting time on this idiot. Get him out of my sight!" Ning Xingchen dismissed Xu Kai.
"Got it." Xu Jinping grabbed Xu Kai by the collar, dragging him to the gate and kicking him into a nearby ditch, turning him into a soaked, pitiful figure.
"Damn you, Xu Jinping! How dare you treat me like this? You'll regret living in this village. I'll make your life hell!" Xu Kai cursed, seething with rage.
With Xu Kai gone, the process sped up. In no time, Ning Xingchen had repaid all of Xu Jinping's debts, with plenty of money still left in the suitcases. Ning Xingchen had withdrawn a full million yuan.
The villagers, having never seen so much money, viewed Ning Xingchen as akin to the God of Wealth.
An old, superstitious woman even knelt and worshipped Ning Xingchen, asking reverently, "Are you the God of Wealth?"
"Hahaha, sorry, I'm not the God of Wealth. But I'm richer than him. Compared to me, even the God of Wealth would feel poor," Ning Xingchen laughed confidently.
Hearing this, many villagers looked at Ning Xingchen as if he were a deity.
Standing nearby, Xu Yiwei gazed at Ning Xingchen with admiration and a fluttering heart. She knew Ning Xingchen wasn't the God of Wealth; he was the gallant hero who came to her rescue, clad in golden armor and riding a rainbow!