The Daughter’s Final Entrustment chapter 2

Just when Mr. Johnson was at his wit’s end for money, he suddenly slapped his thigh and remembered that the butcher, Tom, still owed him more than $800. Before Christmas, Tom came to his farm to buy pigs but didn’t pay, saying he’d pay after the harvest season. Mr. Johnson thought that Lily’s tuition wasn’t due until then, so he agreed. Now, it was the perfect time to get that money back to save his daughter.

Thinking of this, Mr. Johnson quickly settled Lily in the hospital. Without even having a meal, he rushed back to the town by bus. He found Tom at the meat market as expected. But when it came to actually asking for the money, this honest and kind – hearted man hesitated. He thought: the money was his, but the due date hadn’t arrived. If he didn’t ask, his daughter’s life was at stake.

Just as he was hesitating, Tom spotted him first and shouted from afar, “Hey, Mr. Johnson, come and get some meat for a treat!” Hearing the greeting, Mr. Johnson gathered his courage and rushed over. Standing in front of the meat stall, he blushed and stammered, “My daughter is sick and in the hospital…” Tom was gesturing on the pork and said, “Then get some nutritious ones?” Seeing that Tom didn’t understand his meaning, Mr. Johnson got so anxious that he stuttered, “The money, I mean the money you owe me for the pigs. My daughter is in the hospital…”

Hearing him ask for the money, Tom pulled a long face, put down the knife coldly, and carelessly said while holding a cigarette, “Didn’t we agree to pay after the harvest? How can you go back on your word?” Mr. Johnson’s voice became even softer, “My daughter is waiting for the money to save her life. You know I’m not an untrustworthy person…” Before he could finish, he wished he could bury his head in his neck. Tom blew out a smoke ring, thought for a while, and casually said, “Well – okay, come back when there’s a market in a few days. I really don’t have the money today.”

Since he said he had no money, Mr. Johnson couldn’t keep pestering him. Although he was so anxious that his eyebrows were almost knitted together, he had to agree to come back later.

After waiting impatiently for a few days, Mr. Johnson rushed to find Tom again. It took Tom a long time to pay attention to him, but he didn’t give Mr. Johnson the money. Instead, he slowly spread his hands and said, “Mr. Johnson, I’m really sorry. I have to buy pigs after selling the meat today, or my business will be interrupted. I don’t have extra money today. Come and get it at the next market.” Mr. Johnson was so anxious that his insides were in knots. How could he break his promise? But the money was in Tom’s pocket, and he couldn’t just grab it. He gritted his teeth and warned, “Okay, you must give me the money in a few days. You can’t delay any longer. It’s a matter of life and death!”

A few days later, when Mr. Johnson went back to the town again, he couldn’t even find a trace of Tom. When he asked the other butchers, they all said they didn’t know. After three fruitless trips, he hadn’t gotten a single cent back. Mr. Johnson was so worried that half of his hair turned white. His daughter was seriously ill, and the hospital kept urging him to pay the fees. How could he not be anxious? Why was this Tom only concerned about making money and not caring about others’ lives?

Just when Mr. Johnson was on the verge of despair looking at his daughter, Lily’s class teacher brought more than $2000 donated by the students and teachers. Holding the money, Mr. Johnson felt really bad. The teachers and students didn’t owe them anything, but the person who owed him money kept refusing to pay. He just couldn’t understand it.

Soon, the money donated by the teachers and students was almost used up. One morning, Mr. Johnson took the bus back to the town. From afar, he saw Tom soliciting customers. He quickened his steps and reached the meat counter. He carefully said, “Mr. Tom, about that money…”

Hearing this, Tom flew into a rage. He picked up the meat – cutting knife and slapped it on the chopping board, “A life for a life, a debt must be repaid. It’s just a few hundred dollars I owe you. Who asks for debt early in the morning? How can I do business like this?” Mr. Johnson was stunned. Only then did he realize that he had violated a taboo. According to the local custom, you can’t ask a businessman for money in the morning. Thinking of this, he had to nod and apologize, then squatted aside.