Momo's Gradual Change

C8. Money in Hand.

Chapter 8: Money in Hand

"I'll deposit the money for you right away, don't worry, it will be tenfold, plus my gratitude."

"Tenfold is enough, I don't want more, but let's keep our word." Song Yimo twirled the phone cord, glanced at the cheap digital watch on her wrist, "I have to hang up, long-distance calls are expensive."

"Wait a moment." Zhai Muyang subconsciously stopped her, but once she stayed, he didn't know what to say. Sitting up, he took a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and a crisp sound carried over the phone line. Song Yimo on the other end suddenly realized, "You're smoking, it's not good for your health."

Song Yimo didn't like people who didn't value life. She had worked so hard in the past but couldn't save her grandmother's life. Some people just didn't care about life, and sometimes she selfishly wished she could trade their wasted lives for her grandmother's, but unfortunately, there was no such magic in the world.

It was the first time anyone had told Zhai Muyang that smoking was bad for his health. For a moment, he didn't know what to feel. By the time he realized it, the cigarette had already been extinguished in the ashtray.

"Mr. Zhai, is there anything else you want to say? I need to hang up now."

"Well, um, by the way, did your family give you the money to make the call?"

"Yes, my grandma gives me money to buy food, I get hungry in the mornings."

"How do you manage?"

Song Yimo answered truthfully, "My grandma gives me two yuan a day, I spend one yuan on bread and save the other yuan."

"Is that enough to eat?"

"It's sufficient. I won't have to save tomorrow."

Zhai Muyang wanted to say he had a lot of money and could afford anything she wanted to eat. But after thinking it over in his head, he decided against it. If he said that, the girl might start seeing him as a weird uncle.

"Mr. Zhai, I really have to hang up now, I'm out of money. Goodbye."

"Alright, I'll visit you when I have the chance."

"Beep, beep, beep…" She may not have heard his last sentence, Zhai Muyang hung up the phone and regretted not giving her his phone number. He hadn't left the phone unattended these past few days waiting for her call.

On the other end, Song Yimo breathed a sigh of relief as she held the recovered four cents. Luckily, she hadn't gone over her allotted time.

Miao Zhiruo was waiting in the shade on her bicycle. As soon as she saw Song Yimo coming out, she pedaled over without a word.

Hearing her mom say that Mo Mo had been unhappy since coming back from visiting her mom during the summer break, maybe Mo Mo had called her mom and decided to go see her?

If her mom wasn't in a good mood, wouldn't it make things worse for Mo Mo?

High school ended late, so the next day after lunch, Song Yimo went to ask for permission from the teacher. "Teacher Chen, I want to take an hour off to go to the bank. The bank is closed after school."

Teacher Chen Bilin was impressed by this student who listened attentively during class. After flipping through her file, she remembered what Miao Zhiruo's father had said when he came to get permission for both of them to stay out. She thought that Song Yimo was probably going to withdraw some living expenses, so she agreed without hesitation.

She reminded her, "It's sunny at noon, so bring an umbrella. Heatstroke affects your studies."

"I understand. Thank you, teacher."

The Industrial and Commercial Bank was not too far from the school. When Song Yimo came out of the bank and saw the bright sun outside, she felt a bit dizzy. But her smile was wide. Mr. Zhai really kept his word, he returned ten times the amount and even gave her an additional sum of money, securing a third of the money needed to buy a computer!

Feeling a little excited, Song Yimo thought that good deeds could indeed be done.

After school that day, Miao Zhiruo was about to follow her routine of taking Song Yimo home when she heard Mo Mo say from behind, "Let's go to your house."

"Alright." Miao Zhiruo rode steadily, slightly picking up the pace. "Don't you need to tell your grandmother first?"

"No need, I told her before going to school today."

As they passed by each house, Song Yimo would think to herself, 'If I had money, that house could be torn down and a large shopping mall built in its place.'

'This place could become a pedestrian street; if I had money, I'd buy a few storefronts, and my grandmother and I wouldn't have to worry about money anymore.'

'This place is worth a lot; in a few years, Xinghu County will be incorporated into Xinghu District, and this will become a high-rise commercial center in the future.'

Ah, if only I had money.

"By the way, Mo Mo, where did you go at lunchtime?"

Swinging her legs, Song Yimo, who knew how to earn money but lacked the capital, sounded a bit despondent. "I went to the bank. I did a favor for someone, and they gave me some money as a token of gratitude."

"Squeak…" Miao Zhiruo turned back to look at her with her feet still on the ground. "Really? How much? Can you really accept money from others?"

"I can. He promised to give it to me, so why not accept it? I need money too."

"I've saved up some, I’ll get it for you when we get home. But you have to pay it back, this money was not taken for free."

Song Yimo hugged her waist and rubbed against her, causing Miao Zhiruo to shrink forward. Miao Zhiruo hated being tickled, especially around her waist. "It's okay, trust me. The money is legit, it's not illegal. I still need to support my grandma in her old age!"