"Makoto, we'll see each other tomorrow then!"
Ningguang packed up the meal box, then waved goodbye to Makoto, turning and disappearing at the end of the road.
Ningguang's farewell surprised Makoto, because he had thought Ningguang would immediately open the meal box and start eating.
After all, while Ningguang was grilling the fish, her stomach had been rumbling non-stop from hunger.
Makoto still remembered the little girl's shy, blushing face.
However, this little girl, who was so hungry, didn't rush to eat when she saw the food; instead, she chose to take it home.
Soon, Makoto understood Ningguang's action.
Ningguang must have thought the meal was very rich, so she wanted to take it back to share with her family.
This also made Makoto sigh with emotion, feeling that this little girl was so sensible it made his heart ache.
If Makoto had previously helped Ningguang because he wanted to obtain Intertwined Fate and future help from a wealthy woman, then now, he was more genuinely wanting to help Ningguang.
Because this little girl was truly going through too much.
Looking at Ningguang's disappearing back, Makoto continued eating the grilled fish, then said, "I hope that money can relieve some of her pressure."
Yes, in the meal box he gave Ningguang, Makoto secretly put a bag of Mora.
The amount of Mora wasn't much, only fifty thousand.
Of course, the money wasn't given directly by Makoto, but lent to Ningguang.
She could just pay it back when he had money in the future.
...
Now, regarding Ningguang.
Ningguang returned home much faster tonight than usual, because today she was carrying two boxes of Wanmin Restaurant's food, wanting to share them with her mother.
It must be said, the portions at Wanmin Restaurant are really generous!
All the way home, Ningguang felt a heavy weight in her arms; it was a bit strenuous to carry.
As a result, her fair, full forehead was covered in sweat, and her hair was also damp with perspiration.
Although she was tired and sweating, Ningguang had a happy smile on her face, because her mother had always wanted to eat food from Wanmin Restaurant, but due to their impoverished family, she had never said it.
Today, she could finally fulfill her mother's wish.
...
Ningguang's home was a wooden house.
It wasn't large, with only a simple kitchen and one bedroom.
It looked a bit crude and was dilapidated, with some wood showing signs of decay.
If one sniffed carefully, there was a faint smell of dampness and mold in the air.
This was a place that even the Treasure Hoarders would shake their heads at, too lazy to bother with.
But for Ningguang, this was her haven.
Because her gentle and kind mother was there, which made Ningguang feel very secure.
"Mom, I'm home!"
"Guess what I brought back today?"
Ningguang pushed open the door as usual, speaking joyfully towards the inside.
Normally, her mother would come out of the room after hearing Ningguang's voice.
However, today her mother was somewhat unusual; no sound came from inside the room.
Ningguang had a bad premonition; she immediately ran into the room.
Then, she saw her mother collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious.
"Mom, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Ningguang tried to wake her mother, but found it was useless.
Ningguang remembered there was an old doctor in their village, and immediately invited him over.
The old doctor also knew Ningguang's family was struggling, and upon hearing Ningguang explain the situation, he immediately followed Ningguang home.
He examined Ningguang's mother for a moment, then said, "Ningguang, your mother fainted because of overwork."
"I will prepare a prescription for you; you can get the medicine according to the prescription and have your mother take it for a week."
The old doctor said as he took out paper and pen to write down the prescription.
"Thank you, doctor, thank you, doctor." Ningguang quickly thanked him, and at the same time wanted to give the doctor Mora for his consultation fee.
However, the old doctor just waved his hand, not accepting Ningguang's fee.
"Little girl, we are all from the same village, so let's forget about the money."
"Besides, everyone knows your family's life isn't easy,"
"And getting medicine for your mother will cost at least fifty thousand Mora, so you should save some money and find a way to get the Mora."
"Her condition cannot be delayed; it will only get worse the longer you wait, so she must take the medicine as soon as possible, understand?"
After the old doctor finished his instructions, he sighed helplessly and left.
This sigh was also for the helplessness and sorrow he felt for Ningguang's family.
For such a poor family, how easy was it to come up with fifty thousand Mora?
Ningguang's mind also buzzed when he heard these words.
Her mother's illness could not be delayed and had to be treated soon, but it required a fee of fifty thousand Mora...
This amount was enough to crush their impoverished family.
Ningguang usually earned a thousand Mora a day, and that was when business was good.
If business was bad, she earned nothing.
Even if business was good every day and she could earn a thousand Mora daily, she would have to save for fifty days without eating or drinking to gather enough for the medicine.
Ningguang didn't mind working harder to earn money, but could her mother wait until then?
Borrow money from someone?
But who would lend it? And from whom could she borrow?
Makoto?
No, she had just met him; how could she ask him for money? Especially fifty thousand Mora.
Ningguang felt a sense of helplessness and despair.
At this moment, Ningguang's mother also woke up from her coma.
Ningguang also stopped thinking about anything else and immediately stepped forward to ask, "Mom, how do you feel now?"
Ningguang's mother did not answer, but her eyes welled up, and she gently shook her head, "Child, I'm sorry…"
Tears silently streamed down her mother's cheeks; she had heard what the old doctor had just said.
"This illness, we won't treat it, and we can't afford to."
"We can treat it, we definitely can treat it." Ningguang watched her mother cry, and she also started crying.
"Mom, don't cry, we'll definitely find a way!"
Ningguang wanted to comfort her mother.
She could not give up on her mother, no matter what.
Ningguang's mother reached out and caressed Ningguang's tender, pretty face, wiping away her daughter's tears.
At the same time, she forced a smile, "I'm crying because I feel regret…"
"Not seeing my Ningguang grow up into an adult with my own eyes."
"I'm sorry, Mom didn't take good care of you; from childhood to now, you've always suffered with me."
"If I'm gone, just bury me with your father…"
Ningguang's mother's tone was like she was giving her last wishes, because she also knew she didn't have much time left.
However, Ningguang didn't wait for her mother to finish and interrupted him.
"I won't help you then; don't think about leaving me!"
"There's a way, there will definitely be a way!"
Ningguang said as she got up to get the food Makoto had given him.
"Mom, don't worry yet, let's eat first."
"I need to eat too, so I'll have the strength to go out and find a way to earn money later!"
Ningguang was also determined to cure her mother's illness.
If time wasn't enough, she would work day and night.
She would definitely make it in time!
Seeing Ningguang so stubborn, her mother had no choice but to sigh.
She knew her daughter's personality; once she made up her mind to do something, she would not easily compromise.
Well, let her be.
Ningguang was still young now; many things were not as simple as she imagined…
At this moment, Ningguang's mother saw the Wanmin Restaurant packaging, first stunned, then was surprised.
"Girl, is this food from Wanmin Restaurant?"
"Why did you buy such expensive food?"
Ningguang also explained, "I met a big brother named Makoto today, and he's very, very kind to me."
"These two portions of food were also part of his transaction with me."
Ningguang said as she opened the packaging.
Then, she saw a heavy bag.
Opening it, inside was Mora!
Ningguang counted it briefly, exactly fifty thousand Mora!