第三十八章 (Chapter Thirty-Eight)

Ever since he started working at the newspaper office, Wang De had been dealing with scissors and clippings all day long, his heart filled with discontent. Recalling Li Jing’s words, he felt the injustice of society even more keenly.

Meanwhile, at home, Li Jing’s heart was consumed by anxiety. Her uncle’s debt weighed on her mind like a great mountain. She knew she had to make a decision, but she was unwilling to sacrifice her own happiness.

One day, Wang De came to see Li Jing. The two of them sat facing each other in the room. Finally, Li Jing spoke. "Brother, I’ve thought long and hard about this. For the sake of my uncle, I’m afraid I can only agree to Lao Zhang’s proposal."

Upon hearing this, Wang De’s face instantly turned pale. He stood up and said, "Sister, you mustn’t do that! There must be another way. I’ll go find Li Ying, and we’ll think of something together."

Li Jing shook her head and smiled bitterly. "Li Ying is also struggling to get by. Why should we burden him further? Besides, you know the lengths Lao Zhang is willing to go."

Wang De clenched his fist. "I’d rather risk my life than let you marry him." As they spoke, tears welled up in their eyes.

Just then, Aunt Zhao returned from outside. Seeing them in tears, she hastily asked what was wrong. Li Jing glossed over the matter, and Wang De took his leave and departed.

Wang De walked down the street. The wind was biting, but his heart felt even colder. He decided to confront Lao Zhang directly and have it out with him, even if it meant a fight.

He arrived at Lao Zhang’s schoolhouse and found Lao Zhang inside, going over accounts with Sun Ba. Wang De barged in. Lao Zhang looked up, saw him, and gave a cold laugh. "Wang De, what are you doing here?"

Wang De raised his voice. "Lao Zhang, you can’t force Li Jing to marry you! She doesn’t want this. What right do you have to take her by force?" Lao Zhang let out a hearty laugh. "I hold her uncle’s debt; I have money and influence. What’s it to you, boy?"

Sun Ba tried to mediate from the side. "Master Zhang, there’s no need to get angry with a mere child." Wang De shot an angry glare at Sun Ba, then turned and left.

Wang De returned to the Zhao household. Li Ying had also come back. Wang De recounted his meeting with Lao Zhang. Li Ying remained silent for a long while before saying, "We need to find a final solution."

The two of them discussed plans late into the night, but no good strategy emerged. Li Ying said, "Unless we get a sum of money to repay that debt, both her uncle and Sister Jing will find it hard to escape Lao Zhang’s clutches."

Wang De sighed. "Where can we get that kind of money? We’re just a couple of poor lads. Where could we possibly get so much?"

That night, neither Wang De nor Li Ying slept well. Each was lost in their own troubled thoughts until dawn.