Chapter 49: Shrunk part 1
Second Uncle Ning’s face changed completely, draining of all color. “Big Brother, there’s no need to go this far…” To drive us to extinction?
They were blood brothers, after all.
Second Uncle Ning attempted to appeal to their emotions, but Professor Ning, having chosen to lay everything out in the open, clearly had no intention of giving him a chance.
Otherwise, how much sorrow would his youngest son, who had nearly died unjustly, have to bear?
Professor Ning stared at him grimly. “Here is every record of the Star Coins you borrowed from me over the years, all bearing your signature. When you borrowed them, you said you would pay them back, yet you never repaid a single cent. It just so happens that this time, you can pay it all back together. Including the millions of Star Coins you took from the accounts when you so-called ‘took over’ the Ning family—let’s round it to a total of 30 million Star Coins.”
Not only Second Uncle Ning and his family, but the onlookers also gasped.
Thirty million? Second Uncle Ning had actually managed to offend his “God of Wealth”—who was willing to lend him tens of millions without demanding repayment—to the point of no return?
If he didn’t want that brain of his, he should just throw it away! Why didn’t he give them such a big brother?
They would have enshrined him at home!
Second Uncle Ning hadn’t borrowed a massive amount each time, but he hadn’t accounted for the accumulation over decades. He hadn’t expected it to add up to so much either.
Ning Mengde was in a daze. Good heavens, our family owes Uncle’s family 30 million Star Coins?
Their old house was worth a few million at most.
Even if they sold themselves, it wouldn’t be enough to pay it back.
Second Uncle Ning’s legs went weak. “Big Brother, I really don’t have the money. You know exactly what I’m worth; I can’t pay it back at all… The matter with Yunyi has nothing to do with Mengde; it was my doing alone. As Big Brother said, debts are paid with money, lives with lives. But the mastermind wasn’t me, it was the Mu family. Even if Big Brother wants to find the culprit, it should be the Mu family… If Big Brother really needs an answer, then take me away and lock me up, but please don’t touch the children, okay?”
Second Uncle Ning lowered his eyes, retreating to advance. He knew those videos earlier had nailed them to the Ning Yunyi incident, but he wasn’t the one who physically did it.
Even if he had to pay with his life, he was at most an accomplice; he wouldn’t get the death penalty.
As long as the green hills remain, there’s no fear of running out of firewood. If he took the blame alone and saved his two sons, they could quickly figure out a way to get him out.
His eldest son was in a government department, after all; he had some pull, so it wasn’t a completely hopeless situation.
Professor Ning scoffed. “Don’t touch the children? Your sons are children, but my son isn’t a child, is that it? Ning Lao Er, I know what you’re thinking. You want to take the blame alone and let this slide? There is no such good thing in this world. Over these decades, you weren’t the only one spending this money. Since your two sons enjoyed it, it is necessary for them to repay it. After all… a son pays his father’s debts, right?”
Second Uncle Ning’s face darkened. “Big Brother, are you really going to be this heartless?”
Big Brother Ning spoke up again, cutting off his hope. “We came here this time to inform you, not to negotiate. Before coming, I already made arrangements for you. A few months ago, you used several million Star Coins from the Ning family to buy a job for your eldest son. I have already informed his superior. After understanding the situation, the other party was willing to dismiss your eldest son and return the millions of Star Coins. So, up to now, your family still owes us 23 million Star Coins. We will value this old house at 5 million. Transfer it to us, and that leaves 18 million.”
“You still have time to bring out valuable items for appraisal. For the sake of being relatives, we can estimate them at second-hand market prices for you. If it’s still not enough, I can kindly send your two sons to the military. Room and board are covered there, and their monthly salary will count toward these bills. When it’s paid off, they will be allowed to retire. If they are unlucky and die in a Zerg wave or a Beast tide, the higher-ups will provide a pension, which should be enough to clear this debt.”
“Second Uncle Ning, don’t you think this arrangement is exceptionally humane? Or, I’ll give you one hour. Whether you beg or borrow, I need you to pay off this debt. Otherwise, I will take not only you but your two sons as well.”
These emotionless words caused Second Uncle Ning’s family to collapse completely on the spot.
Ning Mengde’s legs gave out, and he shook with fear. “Father, Mother, save me! I don’t want to go to the military! I can’t stand that suffering! My spiritual power is bad, I don’t want to die…”
Special training was a near-death experience; there was no possibility of him surviving if he went.
Second Uncle Ning gave up all hope, knowing his brother was serious this time.
His lips trembling, he dared not play any more tricks. He looked at Ning Second Aunt, who was already weak-kneed and kneeling on the ground. “Quick, go and count what valuable things are left in the house!”
He then urged Ning Mengde, “Why are you still standing there? Go borrow money! Don’t you have many fox friends and dog companions? What about Mu Jiayi? Isn’t your relationship with him very good?”
However, it was obvious that the Ning family’s affairs had spread through the aristocratic circle in an instant. As soon as they saw it was Ning Mengde calling, they blocked him immediately.
Ning Mengde called Mu Jiayi’s account repeatedly with a mournful face, but no one answered at all.
In the end, likely truly afraid that Big Brother Ning would take his two sons away, Second Uncle Ning begged his father-in-law. Combined with whatever valuable items they could scrape together from the house, they finally gathered enough to cover the debt.
When Second Uncle Ning transferred the Star Coins with trembling hands, his heart was bleeding.
Professor Ning confirmed the receipt, then looked at Second Uncle Ning in silence. After a long time, he finally opened a digital agreement. “Sign it.”
Second Uncle Ning focused his eyes and gasped. “Big Brother!”
The crowd was also astonished, but thinking about it, no one would want to keep ties with such a troublesome and harmful younger brother. They would want to cut ties immediately too.
Professor Ning said, “I have done my utmost for you. Once this severance agreement is signed, from now on, you and I are no longer brothers.”
He spoke very plainly, without any emotional fluctuation, yet the words were deafening.
Only at this moment did Second Uncle Ning finally panic. At first, he was worried about being kicked out of District A and the ranks of aristocratic families.
Now, it was possible he wouldn’t be able to survive in the Capital Star at all.
The thugs Ning Yunyi brought didn’t give them time. After the severance agreement was signed, they urged everyone except Second Uncle Ning and Ning Mengde to leave, as this old house had also been used to offset the debt.
In the end, the rest of the family left dejectedly with only a few sets of clothes. They would never return here again; even if they wanted to, they couldn’t.
As for Second Uncle Ning and Ning Mengde, due to their involvement in Ning Yunyi’s “death,” they were directly escorted to the civil court by Big Brother Ning.
Professor Ning looked at the messy old house. He took one last look, had someone lock it up, and left with Ning Yunyi.
On the way back, Ning Yunyi and Professor Ning parted ways. Ning Yunyi returned to the Ning family home, while Professor Ning went to the palace gates to ask if he could enter the palace.
Ning Yunyi had intended to go with Professor Ning, but the Professor refused.
Firstly, he wasn’t at ease leaving the two “pets” at home alone. Secondly, he was worried that Ning Yunyi appearing frequently by his side would attract the attention of people in the palace.
No one knew the situation inside the palace right now, so it was better to be cautious.
Ning Yunyi thought about it and agreed, so the father and son went their separate ways.
When Ning Yunyi returned to the Ning house, Ning Xiaomiao was lying next to the Big Cat, his arms propped up on the sofa, muttering something as if comforting the cat.
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thank you for the chapter!