2: Chapter 2 Borrowing Money

Relatives had long since avoided him like the plague; after thinking it over, only one name remained in Jiang Chen's mind—Wang Hao.

Wang Hao was his classmate and the only person in this city he could call a "brother."

Wang Hao's family wasn't wealthy, just average middle-class. Both parents were office workers with stable incomes, far better off than Jiang Chen's family, which was suffocating under medical bills.

He was a loyal person, sincere and without a hint of pretension. He couldn't stand seeing others mistreated and had always treated the impoverished Jiang Chen as an equal, even going out of his way to look after him.

But ten thousand yuan was no small sum, after all.

After agonizing for a full ten minutes, Jiang Chen took a deep breath and finally pressed the call button.

The phone rang over and over, each ring sounding like a hammer against his heart. He gripped his phone, palms slick with cold sweat, his breathing becoming cautious.

"Hello? Chenzi? It's the middle of the night, why aren't you asleep? Did something happen?"

The moment the call connected, Wang Hao's groggy yet urgent voice came through. It was raspy from being woken up, but held not a trace of impatience.

That familiar voice was like a warm current, instantly dispelling some of the anxiety in Jiang Chen's heart.

"Haozi... I... I have something I need your help with."

"Spit it out. Why are you being so polite with me?"

Wang Hao's voice cleared up instantly, his tone full of certainty.

"Is your dad's condition getting worse? Or did something happen with your part-time job? Whether you need money or help, just say the word. I'll definitely help you."

Wang Hao's words were like a reassuring pill that settled Jiang Chen's heart.

He bit his lower lip and spoke word by word.

"Haozi, my dad needs to pay 3,800 yuan for tests, and I can't scrape it together right now... But I have a money-making opportunity that's really reliable. I need ten thousand yuan in capital, though. I... I want to borrow ten thousand from you. I'll definitely pay you back within a week, no delays. I can even write you an IOU."

After saying this, Jiang Chen's heart leapt into his throat. He gripped his phone tightly, holding his breath as he waited for Wang Hao's answer.

The other end of the line fell into a brief silence. There was no sound, only the faint sound of breathing. To Jiang Chen, these few seconds felt as long as a century.

He had even prepared a script for being rejected, ready to think of other ways.

But he knew in his heart that besides Wang Hao, he would never find another person willing to lend a hand in such a desperate situation.

Just as Jiang Chen was about to lose hope, Wang Hao's voice came through again—decisive and without a hint of hesitation, carrying the warmth and certainty unique to brothers.

"Chenzi, what are you panicking for?"

There was a hint of reproach in Wang Hao's voice, but it was mostly concern.

"Isn't it just ten thousand yuan? It's no big deal. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't mention an IOU to me—that's too formal."

"I'll transfer the money to you right now. Pay for your dad's tests first so his treatment isn't delayed. Don't worry about making money yet. With your brother here, the sky won't fall."

"Haozi... thank you!"

Jiang Chen's voice was a bit choked up.

"What's there to thank me for?"

Wang Hao interrupted him, his tone lightening up with a touch of humor.

"We're brothers. Your business is my business. Once you've made your money, just treat me to a good meal and add a chicken leg—consider that the interest. Stop overthinking it and wait for me. I'll definitely have the money transferred within ten minutes."

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Chen lay on the bed, his eyes slightly moist.

This time, it wasn't because of despair or helplessness, but because of this sudden warmth and unconditional trust.

This brotherhood was worth more than a thousand catties of gold.

Ten minutes later.

The mobile banking notification chimed on time. The crisp sound was like a bugle call of hope, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Jiang Chen quickly opened his mobile banking app. The numbers on the screen finally allowed his nerves, which had been tense all night, to completely relax.

[RMB 10,000.00 has been deposited into your account ending in 9985. Balance: 10,292.70 yuan.]

In the early morning, Jiang Chen had barely slept a wink.

He washed up quickly, changed into a relatively clean set of clothes, grabbed his bank card, and hurried out of the rented room.

The morning air was exceptionally fresh. The scent of Old Camphor Trees wafted toward him, and morning dew sat crystal clear on the leaves. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting mottled shadows.

Jiang Chen walked hurriedly along the Backstreet path toward Chengxin Second-hand Digital Store. He had to secure that batch of phones before 10:00 AM; he couldn't afford to waste a single second.

By now, the Backstreet was gradually becoming lively. The aroma of breakfast stalls wafted through the air, steam rising from bamboo steamers. Students walked in small groups, some heading to class and others buying breakfast, chatting and laughing with youthful energy.

But Jiang Chen had no desire to linger. He had only one thought in mind.

Get the phones as soon as possible, flip them as soon as possible, and make money as soon as possible.

The owner of Chengxin Second-hand Digital Store was surnamed Li. He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, honest and very straightforward in business, never selling refurbished or fake goods.

Usually, business wasn't booming, but his reputation was excellent. Jiang Chen had often passed by while delivering food and seen him sitting quietly in the shop, organizing phones.

But today, Boss Li wasn't sitting in the shop as usual. Instead, he was squatting at the entrance, his face haggard, eyes bloodshot, and hair a mess.

He was holding his phone, making call after call with an anxious tone, sighing from time to time. His brow was furrowed into a tight knot, as if he had encountered some monumental trouble.

"Boss Li."

Jiang Chen walked over quickly, keeping his voice as calm as possible to avoid appearing too eager.

Boss Li looked up and froze for a moment upon seeing it was Jiang Chen. Then he nodded, his voice carrying an unmistakable weariness: "Young man, not delivering food today? Here to buy a phone?"

"No, Boss Li."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath and got straight to the point, looking at him with steady eyes. "I heard you have a batch of brand-new, unopened phones you're looking to sell as a package?"

Boss Li's eyes lit up instantly, as if catching a lifeline, but then a flicker of hesitation crossed them. He looked Jiang Chen up and down, his tone filled with doubt.

"How do you know? I only decided last night and haven't had time to tell anyone yet. I didn't even dare mention it to my regulars."

Jiang Chen made up a random excuse, not revealing the secret of "daily wealth intelligence."

"I passed by while delivering food yesterday and accidentally overheard you on the phone. I knew you were in urgent need of money, and since I happen to have a friend looking to buy a batch of phones in bulk, I came over to ask."

Hearing this, the hesitation on Boss Li's face lessened. He stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, sighed, and said in a heavy tone.

"Young man, I won't lie to you. My wife is seriously ill and needs surgery this morning. I'm in desperate need of money, so I had no choice but to think about selling this batch of phones as a package."

"There are fifteen in total, all brand-new unopened Android phones. They're low-to-mid-range models, perfect for students. When the market is good, one can sell for nearly a thousand. Since I need money urgently, the price is a flat ten thousand for everything. No haggling, and I won't sell them individually."

This price was exactly the same as what the intelligence had stated.