Financial Freedom Begins When I Return to My Small Hometown - Chapter 120

Chapter 120: The Queen Bee of Our Childhood
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Translation by : Rey || Part of Weebsread👹
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Early the next morning.
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When Bai Ye woke, the bed beside him was already empty—Li Sisi had slipped away at dawn, as usual.
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He didn’t need to guess; this had become their routine. Bai Ye had grown used to it.
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Outside, the snow still blanketed the ground, the streets iced over and treacherous—hardly the weather for a bike ride. He burrowed deeper under his blanket, content to linger in bed a while longer.
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Just then, his phone rang.
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He glanced at the screen. To his surprise, it was Du Zimu.
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After their last blow-up at Lin Zhenxin’s place, Bai Ye had blocked Du Zimu’s number, honestly believing he’d never have to deal with him again. Yet here he was, calling out of the blue.
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Bai Ye hesitated, then answered.
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The next instant, Du Zimu’s furious voice erupted through the speaker. “Bai Ye, tell me the truth—why did Xu Qing quit her job?!”
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“Xu Qing resigned?” Bai Ye was genuinely caught off guard.
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He’d worked with Xu Qing long enough to know her temperament—steady as bedrock, her moods and life both unshakeable. Maybe it was because her family was well-off, and work was just something she did to pass the time—a world apart from people like Bai Ye, who worked for survival.
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He’d also heard, more than once, that Xu Qing was related to one of the company’s board members. The rumor seemed true—she never had to work overtime, a privilege few enjoyed.
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In fact, after Bai Ye was laid off, Xu Qing had reached out to him directly, saying that if he ever wanted to come back, she could arrange it.
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But Bai Ye had no intention of returning—especially not if it meant encouraging her pursuit—so he hadn’t even considered it.
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Given all that, Xu Qing quitting now was downright strange.
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Of course, Bai Ye wasn’t about to let Du Zimu interrogate him.
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“Du Zimu, did you hit your head or something? If someone quit, go ask them, not me.”
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“Don’t play dumb! I know you talked her into it!”
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“Idiot.”
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Bai Ye spat out the word, cold as ice, and hung up.
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He considered calling Xu Qing to ask what had happened, but after a moment’s thought, let it go.
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He’d already left the Imperial Capital and returned home. There was no real chance for the two of them anymore.
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In the end, he’d been the one to let her down.
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Better to leave her be.
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Half an hour later, Bai Ye finally got up, washed, and headed downstairs.
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His parents had already finished breakfast and were sitting on the couch, calling relatives.
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But they weren’t just catching up—they were fishing for news about the Yang family.
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From the fragments he overheard, Bai Ye pieced together what had happened last night.
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First thing that morning, debt collectors had shown up at the Yangs’ house, turning it into utter chaos.
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After a round of shouting, Sun Hongxia—the one who actually managed the family finances—handed over 200,000 yuan to clear Yang Zhiwei’s debts.
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But right after that, in front of everyone, she announced she wanted a divorce.
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Whether from fear or rage, Yang Zhiwei stormed out on the spot.
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That’s right—a grown man in his thirties, running out of the house like a petulant child.
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When the call ended, Bai Ye’s parents could only sigh and shake their heads.
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Bai Ziru looked especially regretful. “Of all the things he could’ve gotten into, why did he have to choose gambling...”
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“Exactly. They had such a good life, and he just had to ruin it. Sun Hongxia’s a good wife—what a waste,” Liu Xiujuan added.
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It was family, after all. For parents who cared so much about these things, it was impossible not to feel upset.
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Trying to lighten the mood, Bai Ye grinned. “Come on, Mom, Dad. How about worrying about your own son first? I’m starving!”
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“Alright, alright, I’ll make some breakfast,” Liu Xiujuan said, getting up.
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“Best mom ever,” Bai Ye laughed.
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...
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Around ten in the morning, the three of them headed to the Old House.
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These days, his parents’ minds revolved around two things: Bai Ye’s love life, and the house.
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The snow had forced renovations to pause, but even so, the old place had already been transformed. The designs they’d envisioned were beginning to take shape.
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His parents nodded with satisfaction as they walked around, pleased with every detail.
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“At this rate, we’ll be able to move in by spring!” Bai Ziru said, beaming.
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“Yeah, though we’ll have to let the place air out for a while—get rid of the formaldehyde and all that,” Bai Ye replied.
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“Good things are worth waiting for,” Liu Xiujuan laughed.
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With the house finally coming together, both parents were in high spirits.
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They lingered in the courtyard for half an hour before finally heading out.
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But as soon as they locked the gate and stepped into the street, they saw a crowd approaching.
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Men and women, young and old—a mix of familiar faces. Bai Ye recognized more than half as neighbors from the hutong.
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His parents had lived here most of their lives and got along well with everyone. It wasn’t long before someone called out, “Hey, Old Bai! I thought we’d never see you back here again!”
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“What are you talking about? I’m still waiting to come over and snatch one of your rabbits for a stew!”
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“Get lost! Those are pet rabbits, not dinner!”
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After the laughter faded, one of the uncles turned to Bai Ye. “Impressive, kid—just got back and already fixing up the house for your folks. Bet you bought a place for yourself in the city too?”
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“I did, Uncle Li. By the way, how’s Sister Zhaodi doing?”
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Li Zhaodi was a legend in their alley.
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Back when they were kids, she’d been the queen bee—the one who led them into scraps with kids from other streets.
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She might’ve looked like a little punk, but she wasn’t a troublemaker. If anyone dared bully Bai Ye or the others, she’d make sure to pay them back with interest.
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The kicker? She was a straight-A student, got into a top university, then went on to grad school.
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After graduating, she landed a job at a research institute.
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Whenever her name came up, Uncle Li always wore a look of pride.
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Bai Ye’s question was partly to give credit where it was due—after all, Uncle Li had just praised him.
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But this time, Uncle Li’s face looked pained. “Ah, let her do what she wants. I can’t control her anymore.”
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“What happened?” Bai Ye asked.
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“Yeah, Old Li, what’s up with Zhaodi?” Bai Ziru echoed, just as curious.
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Uncle Li let out a heavy sigh. “She came home yesterday and flat-out refused to keep working out there. Says she wants to stay home and study for the civil service exam!”
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His frustration was written all over his face. “You know how things are around here, right? Half the departments haven’t paid salaries in six months!”