Super War God in the City

Suburbs of Binzhou, in a small alleyway, there is a cluster of dilapidated tile-roofed houses huddled together, some of which are uninhabited.
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In one of the crumbling courtyards, a group of people is surrounding a mother and daughter, gesticulating wildly and shouting accusations.

"It's not that we're unreasonable, we understand the trouble your family is in, but you also need to understand our situation, right!

Everybody has it tough, and it's really urgent for us too. You've been owing us for more than a year, and we haven't said anything before!" a middle-aged man spoke up.

Indeed, the two people being surrounded were Xu Miaotong and her mother, Ju Hong.

Ju Hong was dressed simply, her face showing honesty and a straightforward nature, with skin that revealed an age beyond her years, and her denim jacket was washed to a near-white!

This was something Xu Miaotong had worn before and passed down to her because Ju Hong really liked it; the denim was exceptionally durable and suitable for all seasons, especially good for dirty work.

"Uncle, you've seen the situation my family is in. Miaotong's dad had taken up two jobs before.

Due to lack of rest, he fainted while working at the construction site and fell from the scaffold. Luckily, it wasn't too high, and his fall was partially blocked by something; that's how he barely escaped with his life.

We don't have the money to pay the hospital fees and just brought him home from the hospital yesterday. He's still unconscious. Even if you force me, we just don't have the money!" Ju Hong's eyes reddened and her face turned pale, her tone full of pleading.

The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier was Xu Jingyi, Xu Miaotong's uncle.

Xu Jingyi looked at Ju Hong's pitiful state, feeling somewhat reluctant to be harsh, but today wasn't the time for empathy; sparing mercy for Uncle Three's family would spell disaster for them.

Before he could speak again, a sharp voice interjected from the side.

"Ju Hong, you don't need to play the victim in front of us. Who has it easy? Just because you have it tough, do we have it any easier? Go outside and look, who on the streets has it easy?

We offered to help when we saw your family in trouble at the beginning, but it's been a long time, and there's been no improvement in your situation!

Moreover, it seems you're getting poorer. As the old saying goes, help those in crisis but not those in poverty. There's an ailment that can't be cured in this world, and that is the disease of poverty!" Xu Huiran, Miaotong's elegantly dressed aunt, pressed aggressively.

Miaotong's mother felt waves of white and blue wash over her face, and her heart was full of grievances.

Sometimes, she really didn't understand; their family was honest and law-abiding, never doing anything outrageous, not stealing or robbing, always hardworking and never lazy; how come their life was so hard!

"Huiran, please give us a few more days. I'll find a way. Our family only borrowed money from you. We can't repay it now, but I promise we will pay it back in the future!

We are an honest family, and our days will surely get better. Old Xu and I have never done anything wrong!

Heaven won't be so unfair. It's thirty years on the east bank and thirty on the west; don't look down on us!" Ju Hong, biting her lip, couldn't help but retort to Xu Huiran.

Upon hearing this, Xu Huiran scoffed and disdainfully said, "Oh please, do you know why your family's days are like this? It's because you're too honest! It's ridiculous, you think you can experience a reversal of fortunes like 'thirty years on the east bank, thirty on the west'? I think you'd better get used to staying on the east bank!"

"Aunt, do you need to be so sarcastic? It's just a small debt to you, isn't it a bit too aggressive? Isn't that excessive!" Xu Miaotong, with red eyes, couldn't help but speak up against her aunt, Xu Huiran.

Ju Hong clenched her teeth, glanced at Xu Huiran and Xu Jingyi, and also spoke up, "I'm not bringing up old grievances, but ten years ago when your family was in trouble, you borrowed five thousand from my family and took five years to return it, did we ever say anything?

Now we only owe your family eight thousand, five thousand to Huiran's family, and three thousand to his uncle's family. It's only been a year, is your family really so short of this small amount of money?

You have to dare to come for it just when our family is having troubles. We planned to pay you back this year, but who knew that this accident would happen to Old Xu. At such a critical moment, you press us; this is a bit too much. Being human, you have to have some conscience!"

Ju Hong, although usually gentle and weak, couldn't suppress her anger being pushed to this extent, proving that even the meek aren't easily bullied when it comes to their rights.

Xu Huiran and Xu Jingyi, upon hearing this, were a bit speechless, since their own family indeed wasn't lacking that amount of money.

Pressing for a debt at this critical moment seemed rather unscrupulous, but if not now, when else would they get the chance? They had to do it now!

Xu Huiran sneered and continued, "You could have left out those old trivial matters. Your family did help us, but there should be reciprocity. We have also helped your family a lot, have we not?

Moreover, this time when we lent money to your family, it was also considered an offset; no one owes anyone anything. You can't use past favors to morally blackmail us!

Oh, just because you lent us money in the past, does it mean we can't ask for it back now? Asking for the money means we lack conscience, right?

If you don't want to pay back, just say so. These days, it's the debtor who's the boss!"

"The words from the third family's Huiran might be a bit harsh, but that's the reason. We recently had an investment failure and lost a good deal of money. If it weren't absolutely necessary, we wouldn't be making things so difficult for you!" Xu Jingyi interjected.

Ju Hong clenched her teeth and pursed her lips. A mere coin can oppress a hero, who asked her to owe them money.

To blame, blame herself and Old Xu for not making better relatives. Had she known their true colors earlier, even if it were difficult, she wouldn't have borrowed their money!

"I didn't say I don't want to pay you back. Give me a couple of days, I'll figure something out!" Ju Hong grudgingly said.

Xu Miaotong, angered to a pale face, said, "Mom, don't beg them!

Aunt, uncle, it's just eight thousand yuan. I'll figure out a way to pay you back. Come and get the money in three days!"

Eight thousand yuan, honestly, if she could put down her pride, she could manage to get it.

She reckoned if she asked He Jiayi, Ling Fan, or Xia Ying, she could probably borrow the money. It's just her pride and need to save face; she has never wanted to reach out and ask anyone for money!

Upon hearing this, Xu Huiran and Xu Jingyi were a bit shocked. Although they came to press for the debt, they didn't really hope that the third family could pay it back!

"Miaotong, as the saying goes, poverty limits ambition. Why do you have to puff out your face and compete for pride, accept the reality of being poor!

Eight thousand isn't a small amount for your family. Where are you going to get it? Don't tell me you're going out to sell, the money you dare give, we dare not take!" Xu Huiran said sharply.