CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 3: THE DISFIGURED WOMAN OF THE GHOST WORLD (PART 3)

Zhou Jinyun was severely injured, and during this period, her master had been engaged in a battle of wits and courage with that Snake Spirit, so there was no time to deal with Li Shuning.

But in her mind, Li Shuning couldn’t jump around much, as long as she destroyed her before the master met Li Shuning. It was still early now.

She could handle her later when she had time to spare.

Li Shuning didn’t wait for Zhou Jinyun’s blow and didn’t relax her vigilance. Instead, she worked even harder on her cultivation.

By the time Li Shuning was a year old, she already looked better than most two or three-year-old children, but she knew how to hide her brilliance, so no one found it strange, only thinking this child was especially beautiful and well-behaved. Fair and chubby, smiling at everyone, melting hearts.

As in the plot, to make a living, Li Fu and Wang Xiaojuan were still busy on the boat, but unlike before, they would also take Li Shuning with them.

Li Shuning would generally lay on the boat, cultivating on her own.

In fact, Li Fu was also worried. After all, making a living on water still had its dangers, but being seasoned fishermen, they could avoid some risks, and they couldn’t leave the child at home alone, right?

Li Shuning didn’t get burned, so there was no need for hospital expenses.

With the couple being so diligent, in a year’s time, they had saved some money.

Li Shuning didn’t know if the father’s friend borrowing money from the plot would still happen, but this time, she would never lend to that kind of person again.

In the plot, Li Shuning’s parents both passed away, yet that friend didn’t even come to pay respects, directly embezzling the money. He wasn’t broke; he borrowed money for urgent needs but was wealthy. Li Shuning knew he later went to the city and bought a house, while at that time, Li Shuning lived a miserable life, relying on the help of relatives.

She had to find a way to let her father see that person’s true colors. The original plot did have the lending, but at that time, Li Shuning’s parents were still alive, so the money was returned. Later, when Li Shuning succeeded, their family became friendly with Li Shuning’s family, naturally not knowing his true face.

Another two years passed, and the True Yuan within Li Shuning became very thick. According to the cultivation world’s calculations from before, she now had the cultivation level of the Fifth Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm. Though this world was suitable for cultivation, she was still very young and without resources, relying completely on her own efforts to cultivate.

However, even so, such cultivation could contend with that Senior Sister.

Li Shuning turned three, and since they repaired the house, there were no savings left at home.

"Dad, I want to learn piano."

Li Fu was a bit embarrassed; learning piano was a costly affair, and there wasn’t much savings at home, which should be saved for the child’s schooling.

Wang Xiaojuan cuddled Li Shuning: "Baby, our family can’t afford it. Can we learn something else?"

"Mom, Xiaoduo is also learning piano, and I want to learn too." Li Shuning played the role of a clueless child to the fullest.

"Xiaojun, it’s us who are incapable, but we can’t delay the child. Should’ve not repaired the house, it’s livable anyway. Or should I go to Lei Zi and borrow some money?"

Wang Xiaojuan thought for a while and nodded: "That’s the only way."

However, Li Shuning knew that Wu Lei was planning to lend money to someone, with interest, at one percent per month. If Li Fu borrowed from Wu Lei, of course, there’d be no interest.

What would Wu Lei do?

Li Fu and Wu Lei were close friends, having grown up together. Since Li Fu had decided, he took a few fish with him and the family to Wu Lei’s house that evening.

Upon seeing Li Fu, Wu Lei warmly invited them into the living room.

Unlike Li Fu’s poverty-stricken home, Wu Lei’s was much larger, with a sofa and a large TV in the living room.

"Ah Fu, you didn’t have to bring anything."

"Lei Zi, I came to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead, no need for formalities between us. Take the fish back later for Xiao Ning to eat."

"Lei Zi, I want to borrow some money from you."

Wu Lei’s eyes flickered: "How much do you need?"

"I want to borrow twenty thousand, I’ll pay you back as soon as I have the money."

"Ah Fu, if it were a small amount, I could help, but twenty thousand, I don’t have it. Recently, Xiao Jing took the money to lend to her family, and now there’s only two thousand left at home. Do you want to take that?"

Li Fu quickly shook his head: "How could I? You need money for expenses at home too."

After chatting for a while, Li Fu took the family back home.

Li Shuning looked at Li Fu and said: "Dad, if there’s no money, it’s fine. I don’t want to learn piano anymore."

Looking at Li Shuning’s big, blinking eyes, Li Fu felt very sad. This child was always sensible, and the one time she wanted something, they couldn’t fulfill it.

Li Shuning, however, smiled and said: "Dad, I really don’t want to learn it. Xiaoduo learns piano and doesn’t get to play. Mom said she’d send me to school in a few months, so I wouldn’t be able to play then. Learning piano would be tiring, so I won’t go."

And so the matter passed, yet two days later, there were talks in the village.

The richest in the village, Qian Dafu, had been borrowing money from the villagers, offering one percent interest, prodding anyone with money to invest as he needed a large sum for a big venture.

The neighbor, Aunt Zhang, secretly marveled to Wang Xiaojuan: "I didn’t expect Wu Lei to be so rich. I heard he lent twenty thousand to Qian Dafu. Your family and Wu Lei get along so well; maybe he could help you improve your life too."

Wang Xiaojuan’s smile was somewhat forced, recalling Wu Lei’s words when she went to borrow money a few nights ago: "Sister Zhang, when did Lei Zi lend money to Qian Dafu?"

"My husband went to Qian Dafu’s the morning before last, took the family money to lend to him, and just happened to meet Wu Lei who was there lending twenty thousand to Qian Dafu."

Wang Xiaojuan didn’t know how she got home, and Li Fu couldn’t help but ask: "What’s wrong with Xiaojun, looking so lost?"

Wang Xiaojuan couldn’t help but cry: "Brother Fu, you and Lei Zi are so close. Whenever something happens to his family, we’d help even when struggling ourselves. We never took a penny from them. When we asked to borrow money the other night, he said he didn’t have any, but the next morning he lent twenty thousand to Qian Dafu. What does he mean? Did we misjudge him all these years?"

Li Fu found it hard to believe: "Lei Zi shouldn’t be like that."

"Shouldn’t? Sister Zhang’s husband saw it with his own eyes, could it be false?"

Li Fu muttered: "In the end, it’s because we’re not capable enough. Forget it, let’s just live our lives properly from now on."