Momo's Gradual Change

C11. Guiding with Heart.

Chapter 11: Guiding with Heart

Song Yimo didn't lie either and told the story of that day, "At that time, I didn't know if he was a good person or a bad person. If he was a good person, I didn't do anything wrong by helping him. Maybe this money really helped him a lot? If he was a bad person, I was afraid that if I didn't give it to him, he would harm me. It turns out that he was a good person, and he really returned the money to me tenfold."

Miao Jun felt like patting the child's head. Mom Miao was more direct and hugged her, patting her back, "How did you encounter such a situation? Does your grandma know?"

"She doesn't know. I dare not tell her. She would worry. It's all over now. Don't let Grandma know. Let her think a computer only costs three thousand two hundred yuan."

"Don't worry, Dad Miao knows what to do. Yimo, give me that phone number."

"Okay." After convincing Dad Miao, Song Yimo breathed a sigh of relief. Although Grandma trusted her, trust didn't mean peace of mind. Dad Miao's intervention was necessary.

"Alright, you go to Ziruo's room to do your homework. I'll take you back later." Miao Jun nodded to his wife, and Mother Miao understood, leading Yimo out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Miao Jun thought about what he wanted to say later and dialed the number as planned.

The phone was answered quickly, "Xiao Song?"

"Mr. Zhai, hello. I am a family member of Yimo, surnamed Miao, a single name, Jun. I just learned about this from Yimo. I am truly sorry. The filial daughter was not sensible. Could you please provide me with a bank account number? I will return the money you gave to her."

Zhai Muyang was initially disappointed that it wasn't Xiao Song who called, but when he heard it was a family member, he was polite, "Mr. Miao, there's no need for that. It was an agreement between me and her. She helped me a lot, and this amount of money is nothing compared to that. If it wasn't for her insistence on ten times the amount we agreed on initially, I would have given her much more than this. Xiao Song is very well brought up."

Everyone likes to hear their children praised. Song Yimo may not be from the Miao family, but she had been brought up there since she was a child and had been looked after for various reasons. She was no different from their own daughter, and Miao Jun's face showed a smile, and his tone became even warmer, "Even so, this money should not have been taken. It was taking advantage of someone's vulnerability to ask for ten times the amount."

"Even though it was not her request, I suggested it, and she agreed. Mr. Miao, please don't blame Yimo. She is a good child."

Mother Miao came in from outside and saw that he was still on the phone, so she didn't say anything.

Miao Jun tried several times to turn the conversation back to returning the money, but it was in vain. Politely declining, he said goodbye and shook his head at Mother Miao, "The other party insists it was a gesture of gratitude, so there's no need to return it."

Mother Miao felt a bit uneasy, "I don't know what kind of person he is. It's not easy to take advantage where it's cheap."

"He speaks very courteously. He should be well-educated. The 1,800 yuan is probably nothing to him. Since he is firm in his decision, let's leave it at that for now. But we still need to say what needs to be said. You can't let someone borrow money and then insist on giving back ten times, especially in that situation."

Mother Miao nodded, "When you take her back later, bring it up. Don't be too harsh, she didn't do anything wrong. If it were Ziruo, she would either treat the person as a scammer and beat them up or show compassion and bring the person back to ask us for money."

Miao Jun smiled, thinking that his daughter was indeed capable of such things, "Does Song Yi still keep in touch with you?"

"We haven’t contacted for a long time, and I haven’t looked for her either."

"Then don't contact her in the future. Yimo is fine the way she is. Although life is tough for her, it has also tempered her character. As long as she doesn't go astray, she will definitely succeed in the future. If they stay together, I'm more worried that Yimo will be influenced by her mother."

Mother Miao sighed softly and agreed.

On the way back, Miao Jun went through in his mind what he wanted to say, making sure that it wouldn't hurt Yimo's self-esteem. He cleared his throat and said, "Yimo, it's not wrong to help others. When you see others in need and have the ability to help, it's right to do so. But when you set conditions while helping, the nature of the gesture changes. This is taking advantage of someone's vulnerability. Remember to treat others as you would like to be treated someday.”

Song Yimo hung her head, her foot idly tapping at the stones. The kindness of others, offered without condition, was a balm to her wounded spirit.

"Dad Miao does not censure you, Yimo," he said, his voice gentle. "You acted nobly. Consider it from this perspective: you extended a hand to those in need. Or, from another angle, you safeguarded yourself, albeit at a monetary expense. Nonetheless, you can strive for greater virtue. Let this matter conclude here. Promise me you will not repeat such an error."

"I understand, Dad Miao."

Miao Jun breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had always been close to the Song family, Yimo was not his child. He couldn't educate her the way he did with Ziruo. You couldn't bring good out of bad with her.

When they arrived at the Song family's house, Miao Jun asked Yimo to go back to her room to do her homework, while he stayed in the living room to talk to Grandma Song.

Yimo couldn't focus on her homework and kept running over to eavesdrop by the door. The old house had poor soundproofing, but Miao Jun spoke softly, and she could only catch fragments of the conversation.