It was precisely because of this thought that Feng Qingwu decided to use her savings to help Eren.
Young people borrowing money often feel embarrassed. By offering it first, she could save Eren from the awkwardness of asking for help.
Everyone has moments of struggle.
Although her own savings were limited, Qingwu never hesitated to lend a hand when she could.
Looking at the thickness of the stack of cash in Qingwu's hand, Eren's gaze grew complicated.
That stack of bills was at least a thousand dollars—a considerable sum that Qingwu couldn't give away lightly.
Yet, she was willing to lend it to someone she had only met a few times, suspecting he might be in need.
Even without using his spiritual vision, Eren could feel the kindness emanating from Qingwu.
Seeing Eren hesitate to take the cash, Qingwu mistook his reluctance for embarrassment.
She stepped forward, pressing the money into his hand with a smile.
"Take it, little Eren. Don't feel bad. Aunt Qing just found a well-paying job recently, so I can afford to help now and then."
Eren shook his head and placed the cash back on the coffee table in front of him.
"Aunt Qing, I didn't come to borrow money, and I'm not short on funds."
In truth, though Eren still had a significant funding gap for building his lab, his financial situation was far better than Qingwu's.
This much was clear just by observing her living conditions.
Though Qingwu's apartment was neat and tidy, much of the furniture was old and damaged, some pieces even visibly chipped.
Perhaps the only newer items in the apartment were the children's toys neatly stored in cardboard boxes.
Hearing Eren's explanation, Qingwu blinked, a faint blush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks.
"Is that so? I'm sorry, little Eren. Aunt Qing must have misunderstood..."
After a brief, awkward explanation, Qingwu asked, "So, why did you come here this time?"
Looking at Qingwu's awkward smile and recalling her earlier kindness, Eren found it difficult to speak for a moment.
After a long pause, he rasped, "Aunt Qing, did you know that Uncle Yuan had an accident?"
"Uncle Yuan? You mean Yuan Li? What happened this time? Did someone break his arm, or his leg? Or maybe he was arrested by the police?"
As she spoke, the always gentle Qingwu became agitated.
"I've told him so many times—don't join a gang! Don't join a gang! Why can't he just find a stable job and help me raise Nannan? But he never listens."
"To be honest, if he had just listened to me, we wouldn't have ended up divorced."
"And now, when something goes wrong, he remembers me? Back when he refused to leave that gang, did he ever think about how I felt?"
Although Qingwu's words were harsh, Eren could sense her unease and lingering concern for Yuan.
"Aunt Qing, Uncle Yuan... he's dead."
"Dead?"
Qingwu froze, her eyes losing focus. She seemed utterly stunned.
After a long moment, she asked in a trembling voice, "You're saying... Yuan Li is dead?"
Eren nodded.
"Do you remember the big gas leak incident at the docks recently, Aunt Qing?"
Qingwu slowly nodded, still dazed.
The gas leak, orchestrated by S.H.I.E.L.D. to clear out the area around Morning Star Bar, had caused a massive uproar.
Over a hundred people had died inside the bar. The incident had been widely reported, and if not for efforts by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the federal government to suppress the news, it would have dominated headlines across New York.
Even now, its impact hadn't subsided.
Clearly, Qingwu had heard about it as well.
She looked at Eren and asked hoarsely, "Are you saying Yuan Li was there?"
Eren nodded again.
"Not long ago, I was kidnapped by the Water Ghost Gang at the docks. After escaping, Seventh Uncleordered Uncle Yuan to lead over thirty men to warn the Water Ghost Gang on my behalf. But they encountered the gas leak..."
Eren didn't mention anything about the anomalous objects involved. Some things were better left unknown to ordinary people.
"If it weren't for me, Uncle Yuan wouldn't have died."
With that, Eren took out $50,000 from his backpack, along with a piece of paper with his phone number written on it. He placed both on the coffee table.
"This money is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, Aunt Qing. And here's my number—if you ever need help in the future, don't hesitate to call me. I'll do whatever I can."
However, Qingwu, still in a daze, barely glanced at the stack of money.
After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice trembling.
"Yuan Li's death isn't your fault. Zhongyitang probably only stepped in because you paid them, right?"
Having been married to Yuan, Qingwu knew Zhongyitang's ways better than Eren ever could.
Seventh Uncle wouldn't have sent over thirty men to help Eren unless there was significant compensation involved.
"Yuan's death… I wouldn't blame you for that."
"People who join gangs—how many of them ever meet a good end? Even if he hadn't died at the docks this time, Yuan would have lost his life somewhere else eventually. I saw through this long ago. That's why I insisted on divorcing him back then. But he wouldn't listen."
"And now, we've been divorced for a long time. Whether he's alive or dead has nothing to do with me anymore. Take your money back, little Eren. I can't accept it."
(End of Chapter)
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