Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1145 It’s too late

The cracks first appeared on the day Lin Shen became a full-time employee. The office lights were mostly off, with only the warm yellow desk lamp at his workstation still lit. Having just saved the project document on his computer screen, he stretched, his bones making a soft click. He rubbed his sore shoulder—he had already worked three consecutive overtime days to finish this month's project summary. The night sky outside the window was completely dark. The streetlights outside the office building were on, occasionally leaving a fleeting streak of light from a late-night car. Lin Shen picked up the pay slip from the corner of his desk, his fingertips repeatedly running over the numbers—his first month's salary after becoming a full-time employee, after deducting social security and housing provident fund, he received 5,827 yuan. His lips curled up as he carefully folded the pay slip and slipped it into his shirt pocket, as if it were a hot treasure. He began to calculate: rent was 1,200 yuan, utilities were about 200 yuan, and if he was frugal, 1,000 yuan should be enough for this month's living expenses. He would first send one thousand home from the remaining money to buy his parents something nice, and then keep another two thousand as a reserve fund, in case work expenses became necessary or he fell ill. He had even decided to buy his mother a new coat after next month's paycheck—the last time they video chatted, he'd seen her wearing the same washed-out cotton jacket she'd worn two years before. After packing up his things, Lin Shen walked out of the office building, his bag on his back. The subway was sparsely populated late at night, so he found a window seat and watched the darkness pass by, feeling a sense of peace. His three-month probationary period, spent studying and working tirelessly day and night, had paid off. Not only had he been hired, but he'd also received praise from Brother Li, who praised his quick grasp and willingness to endure hardship. He felt he was one step closer to establishing himself in this city. Just then, his phone rang. The screen displayed the words "Uncle Wang"—Uncle Wang was a neighbor from his hometown, two doors down from his family, and he took good care of his parents. Lin Shen's heart skipped a beat. It was so late, why would Uncle Wang suddenly call? He quickly picked up the phone, his voice a little nervous: "Uncle Wang, it's so late, do you need me for something?" The voice on the other end of the phone was very urgent and a bit panicked: "Shen! It's bad! Your father fell at the construction site! He has been sent to the county hospital. The doctor said he needs surgery immediately and the surgery fee is 50,000 yuan! Your mother is almost crying. You have to think of a solution quickly!" "What?" Lin Shen's head buzzed, as if it was hit by a heavy hammer. His eyes went black in an instant. The crowds in the subway and the darkness outside the window all became blurred. He clutched his phone, his fingers turning white from the strain, his voice trembling. "Uncle Wang, was my dad's fall serious? What did the doctor say? Fifty thousand yuan... Where am I going to get that much money?" "The doctor said it's serious. If we don't have surgery soon, there might be complications! You can figure out the money later. Your mom's waiting at the hospital. Come back quickly!" Uncle Wang's voice was tinged with urgency as he hung up. Lin Shen sat in his seat, his body cold, his mind blank. Fifty thousand yuan was an astronomical sum for him—his new paycheck had barely warmed to the touch, and he only had a little over two thousand saved for a backup, plus the rest of the month's money, which came to less than five thousand yuan. He was still over forty thousand short. He stood up suddenly, almost bumping into the passenger next to him. "Sorry, sorry," he mumbled, then stumbled towards the subway entrance. After exiting the subway, he jogged to a nearby ATM and withdrew the entire fifty-eight hundred yuan from his paycheck. The thick wad of bills felt cold in his hand, but it didn't feel a bit warm. He stood in front of the ATM, looking at his phone's address book, his fingers trembling as he scrolled down. He had only just met most of his colleagues, so he was too embarrassed to ask for money. His college classmates were scattered across the country, and many hadn't found jobs yet, so they couldn't help. Finally, he gritted his teeth and called Brother Li. "Brother Li, I'm sorry to bother you so late... My father fell down at a construction site in my hometown and needs 50,000 yuan for surgery. I don't have enough money. Can you lend me some first? I'll pay you back next month when I get my salary, and I'll pay you back part of it every month until it's all paid off..." His voice was filled with tears, and he had thrown all his dignity to the back of his mind, thinking only of raising enough money for his father's surgery. Brother Li was stunned for a moment, then spoke gently, "Xiao Lin, don't worry. Take care of your father first. I have 50,000 yuan here. Send me your bank account number and I'll transfer it to you right away. Buy a train ticket back home quickly. Let me know if anything happens. Don't worry about work; I'll take care of it." After hanging up, Lin Shen couldn't help but burst into tears when he saw the text message on his phone saying Brother Li had transferred 30,000 yuan. He quickly wiped his tears and borrowed 5,000 yuan from two close colleagues, finally rounding up the 50,000 yuan. He combined the cash he had withdrawn with the money in his phone, with only one thought in mind: get back home to see his father. He bought the earliest train ticket back home on his phone, which departed at 3:00 a.m., requiring a 14-hour train ride and a two-hour bus transfer to the county hospital. He didn't bother to go back to his rental house to pack his things, but instead rushed to the train station, his bag on his back. The night wind bit his face like a knife, but he didn't feel it, his only worry for his father. The next afternoon, Lin Shen finally arrived at the county hospital. He headed straight for the inpatient department. At the ward door, he saw his mother sitting on a chair in the hallway, her hair disheveled, her eyes red and swollen, her face tear-stained. A pang of pain welled up in his heart, and he walked over, gently patting his mother's shoulder. "Mom, I'm home. How's Dad?" Upon seeing him, his mother burst into tears. She took his hand, her voice choking with sobs, "Shen, you're finally home! Your dad... he's still in there. The doctor said he can't do the surgery until the money is paid..." Lin Shen quickly pulled wads of cash from his bag and thrust them into his mother's hands. "Mom, I've got the money. 50,000 yuan. Go pay for the surgery right away. Don't delay Dad's surgery." His mother took the money and was about to get up when the ward door suddenly opened, and his father emerged, wheeled out by a nurse. Lin Shen hurried over to see his father lying on the bed, his head bandaged. His face was pale, but his eyes were evasive, not daring to look at him. "Dad, how are you? Are you in any pain?" Lin Shen leaned over to the bedside, his voice filled with concern. His father opened his mouth but remained silent for a long time before finally whispering, "Shen, actually...actually, my condition isn't that serious. I just wanted you to come back and see me." Lin Shen was stunned, not understanding what his father meant. "Dad, didn't you fall at the construction site? Uncle Wang said you need surgery, and it costs 50,000 yuan..." "I didn't fall at the construction site."