A Father's Bitterness

Aunt Four paced back and forth, unable to come up with any solution. She looked at Su Li with deep worry.

Su Li rubbed her forehead, feeling the weight of the problem. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she pulled everyone aside to whisper her plan.

Early the next morning, Sam Evans hadn’t even gotten out of bed when Sun Shi burst in, shouting anxiously, "Sam, get up! Hurry and find some money—Lana’s about to be dragged off to pay the debt, and you’re still sleeping!"

Sam Evans woke from his dreams, his whole body aching—his injuries from yesterday made everything worse.

But as soon as he thought of his daughter Lana Evans, Sam Evans forced himself upright, gritting his teeth as he dressed and got out of bed.

Just as Sam Evans reached the kitchen, planning to grab a cornbread for breakfast, Lana Evans hurried over. "Dad, are you heading out to draw lots again?" she asked, catching him at the door.

Lana Evans rushed in, urging, "Dad, go borrow the money now. The sooner you get it, the less chance something will go wrong."

As she spoke, Lana Evans snatched the cornbread from Sam Evans’s hand, her face falling. "Dad, I’m about to be hauled off to pay the debt, and you can still eat? I’ve lost my appetite!"

Sam Evans felt guilty at Lana Evans’s words and set the cornbread aside. "Lana, I’m heading out right now. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no one will take my daughter away to pay a debt!"

With that, Sam Evans hurried out, limping as he went. Lana Evans watched her father’s stumbling figure disappear, rolled her eyes, muttered "pretending to care," and then went to the kitchen to cook for Cheng Jin.

Sam Evans thought about lugging around a whole chest of silver and worried what might happen if he were robbed. He agreed to Arthur Evans’s suggestion.

Arthur Evans called for the carriage. The three of them boarded, Sam Evans clutching the chest like it was the greatest treasure, his heart full of hope that once the debt was paid off, he could finally protect his daughter. Watching him, Arthur Evans and Charlotte felt a deep ache for him.

Seeing this, Sam Evans was moved and said, "Arthur, I’ll write you an IOU for this silver. Our family will pay you back little by little."

"Sam, we’re brothers—no need for an IOU. You’re being too formal," Arthur Evans replied.

Sam Evans insisted, "It’s exactly because we’re brothers that I must write an IOU. I can’t take advantage of my own brother. If you don’t agree to this, I won’t borrow the money."

Unable to argue, Arthur Evans fetched paper and pen and wrote out the IOU.

After signing the IOU, Sam Evans hugged the chest of silver, finally feeling a bit relieved. "At least I’ve gathered half the silver. I’ll go to Lily’s place next, and that should be enough!"

Arthur Evans couldn’t help asking, "Sam, are you sure this silver is for Cheng Jin’s debt?"

Sam Evans nodded firmly, "No mistake—Lana Evans told me herself. Even if Cheng Jin lied to me, Lana wouldn’t lie to her own father."

Arthur Evans wanted to say more, but remembered Lily Evans’s instructions from yesterday and swallowed his words. He stood up and said, "Sam, it’s not safe for you to carry so much silver around. How about this: Mrs. Charlotte Evans and I are heading to the Prince of Qin’s Manor too. Ride with us in the carriage, and we’ll drop you off at home afterward, then go check on the shop."

Sam Evans thought about carrying a whole chest of silver and worried about being robbed, so he agreed to Arthur Evans’s suggestion.

Arthur Evans called for the carriage. The three of them boarded, with Sam Evans clutching the chest like a treasure, hoping that once the debt was paid, he could protect his daughter. The sight made Arthur Evans and Mrs. Charlotte Evans feel a pang of sorrow.