Volume One, Chapter 11: Gratitude

“Uncle Mouse, the money has already been transferred. Please check if it’s correct!”

Transferring money directly via phone—so convenient and fast!

When Meng Hao glanced at his phone, he grew anxious.

“Jelly, this…”

Guo Dong chuckled and said, “Just take it. I’ve owed this money for so many years, I’m embarrassed. Consider the extra as payment for helping me pick peaches today.”

Before Meng Hao could say more, Guo Dong was already transferring money to someone else.

Most of them were from the same village, and he was well aware of how much he owed each person.

Over the years, he had thought about it almost daily. Even without checking the accounts, he could remember clearly.

He counted and transferred, taking nearly an hour just to repay the debts.

Everyone present received a bit more money than expected, each sighing deeply.

He’s really made it!

Just from selling peaches this once, he cleared all his accounts.

And there was even some left over!

The villagers who received the money finally felt a great sense of relief.

“Jelly, I heard your blind date didn’t go well yesterday?”

Someone began teasing.

Guo Dong laughed and joined in, sitting under the fruit tree to chat idly.

“Not suitable!”

“What do you mean not suitable? I have a cousin whose daughter is about your age. Tomorrow, come with me—I’ll take you to meet her!”

At these words, Meng Xiao Han, who had been quietly calculating on her phone, perked up and glanced repeatedly at Guo Dong.

“Uncle Fu, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Honestly, Guo Dong didn’t want to meet anyone.

He’d faced too many setbacks over the years, and his confidence was shattered.

The clothes he wore only for blind dates were still on him; he hadn’t even changed since yesterday.

When he was loading peaches into the truck earlier, he tore a hole in them.

If he went to the blind date tomorrow, he wouldn’t even have a new outfit.

“Why say not suitable if you haven’t even met her?

Let me tell you, I’ve seen that girl. She’s quite pretty and tall, just…

Well, compared to Xiao Han, she might be a bit less, but not by much!”

Hearing this, Guo Dong instinctively glanced at Meng Xiao Han.

Caught stealing a look, Xiao Han blushed slightly and continued fiddling with her phone.

Even she didn’t know what she was doing.

“We might not even be worthy of her!”

Guo Dong stood up, dusted off his pants, plucked a peach from the tree, and began eating.

“Kid, with your current situation, if word gets out, that girl will definitely be willing.

I’m telling you, her skin is pretty fair too.”

“Hmm, just like Xiao Han…”

Uncle Fu glanced at Meng Xiao Han, who was still absorbed in her phone, and smiled wryly.

There was no choice—he was the only girl present.

If they didn’t set her up, who else?

But comparing them seemed impossible!

After Uncle Fu finished speaking, others joined the teasing.

Meng Hao said, “Even if you don’t like her, it’s okay. In the morning, I’ll take you with Uncle Fu to meet her.

At noon, I’ll take you to see another girl I know. She’s picky and still unmarried.

Tomorrow, uncle will take you to meet her. The difference won’t be much!”

Meng Hao also glanced at Meng Xiao Han.

He was smart enough not to make comparisons.

Because the gap was too great!

Once the topic opened, the whole village joined the excitement.

Usually, if you asked around, no one knew.

But now, almost everyone knew one or two.

Sometimes, when you’re powerless, no one cares no matter what.

After all, no one wants their relative to marry an incompetent man.

Why would they suffer along with someone else?

Now things had changed. Guo Dong had earned 300,000 yuan in one day.

That was a fortune—more than many villagers would make in years!

Guo Dong handled one introduction after another, his scalp tingling.

If everyone agreed, he wouldn’t need to work this month.

He could just go on blind dates every day!

Seeing Guo Dong’s anxious expression, Meng Xiao Han sitting not far off suddenly laughed.

Guo Dong couldn’t stand the scene!

Almost everyone around was his elder.

One would interrupt, another would add a comment; even the thickest skin wouldn’t hold up.

So he found an excuse and left.

Just as he left with Hei Zi, Meng Xiao Han followed behind, hands clasped behind her back, smiling.

“If you don’t seize such a good opportunity, it’ll be harder to find one later!”

“What?”

Guo Dong was still pondering why Li Tianhu hadn’t shown up when Meng Xiao Han suddenly spoke, catching him off guard.

“A blind date!” she giggled. “Before, people said your family was poor, so the girls didn’t want to go out with you.

But now it’s different. You made 300,000 yuan in one day—you’re a tycoon!”

Guo Dong was helpless at her teasing.

“Thirty thousand a day sounds a lot, but after repaying debts, I have nothing left!”

He glanced at Meng Xiao Han.

“Looks like I’ll be dragging your family’s money along for a day or two!”

Meng Xiao Han was stunned.

That was 300,000 yuan—gone in just a short time!

“So much debt?”

Guo Dong smiled bitterly.

“This is just the lighter debts. I haven’t even gone to my grandfather’s village yet.”

Meng Xiao Han looked at Guo Dong deeply, unsure what to say.

Anyone else would have run away under such a burden.

But he stayed in the village and started growing peaches.

What kind of heart did that take?

“Don’t worry. We still have plenty of fruit. If we sell some more tomorrow, it should be enough!”

Guo Dong nodded.

“I calculated it; it will definitely be enough.

But now I have to find Tianhu!”

“Li Tianhu?”

“Yes, he should have come today.”

“You don’t owe him much, do you?”

Meng Xiao Han knew about this—the house construction, the costs for hauling sand and bricks.

It couldn’t have been much.

Guo Dong shook his head.

“Before my dad passed, he went to Tianhu’s house.

Though Uncle Huasheng never mentioned it, knowing his temper, I’m sure he lent money.”

“That’s impossible!”

Meng Xiao Han found it hard to believe.

Would anyone be so foolish?

If someone borrowed money from him, wouldn’t he say something instead of suffering in silence?

“You don’t understand. When Tianhu was young, he almost died. My grandfather saved him.

Uncle Huasheng is a man who never forgets a kindness.

If I don’t go to see him, he’d keep this secret forever.

I heard from Tianhu that three years ago, Uncle Huasheng went to the bank to withdraw money but said he lost it on the way back.

He even argued with his wife over it!”

Guo Dong’s words finally made Meng Xiao Han understand.

“You mean he lent money to…”

“To my dad, probably. That’s why I have to visit Tianhu today.”

Guo Dong clenched his fist.

Some things can be forgotten, but some must not be.

He remembered every kindness shown to him.