Chapter 154: There Go the Family Savings

Clara has something to give Evan before he leaves.

Outside the door, Evan asked, “What is it? What's wrong?”

Clara took out a small envelope and handed it to him.

He accepted it in bewilderment. “What's this?”

“A bank card. I've changed the PIN to your birthday.”

Evan paused. “What? Why are you giving me a card?”

“Don't you owe someone money? Withdraw it and pay back some of what you owe. I was going to transfer it to your salary account, but why is it a Class II account? The transfer wouldn't go through.”^[1]

Still confused, Evan said, “I only make twenty-five hundred yuan a month. That kind of account is plenty for me.”

Clara's face darkened at once. There was a dangerous look in her eyes. “So you're saying I don't pay you enough?”

Evan hurriedly waved his hands. “That's not what I mean. It's just… why are you giving me money?”

“Think of it as a bonus. It's not much. About eighty thousand yuan.”

Evan froze.

“I was keeping it for Dad's treatment,” Clara said. “But you've cured him, so there's no need to keep it for that anymore. The clinic's doing well, too. We're making a profit, and we don't have to worry about the rent.

“There's no point leaving this money sitting around. Use it to pay off your debts. But don't go borrowing recklessly again. Especially those loan scams online. Stay away from them!”^[2]

She curled her lip and gave him a disdainful look. “So young, and already up to your neck in debt… All right, off you go.”

Evan hurried to explain. “No, I don't want your money. That debt of mine is—”

“I told you, it's a bonus,” Clara said impatiently. “Just take it. You're not getting a raise, though. Stop dawdling. Go on.”

She waved him away, turned, and went straight back inside.

Evan couldn't call her back. The little envelope felt hot in his hand.

Once inside, Clara quickly pressed a hand to her chest. She had looked casual, even impatient, but she was actually very nervous. Her heart was racing.

Adam glanced at her from the sofa.

“People with those old feudal ideas used to say a daughter was a losing investment,” he said slowly. “I never believed them.

“I thought the most I'd lose was a dowry, and I'd make that back in betrothal gifts. But look at us now. Not a sign of any betrothal gifts, and I've already lost every last bit of the family savings.”^[3]

“Who are those snide remarks meant for?” Clara demanded.

“My darling daughter, who's given away everything we own.”

“What are you making such a fuss about?” she said, displeased. “Haven't I been handling the business and all the money for ages?”

Adam had to laugh. “Yes, you have, but did you have to go this far? That was all we had, and now you've given every bit of it to him. If something comes up, will you have enough cash to cover it?”

“What could come up? The clinic brings in cash every day. I won't let you starve. Stop worrying about nothing!”

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Adam shook his head. “So daughters really do put outsiders first. You've set your heart on this boy, haven't you?”

Clara, usually so fierce and forceful, suddenly looked flustered.

“What nonsense. I'm trying to keep an employee!” she hurried to explain. “Mingxin Clinic depends entirely on Evan. People out there are offering him such high salaries. If I don't do something to keep him, someone's going to lure him away sooner or later.”

“Heh.” Adam smiled and shook his head. “Keeping an employee, is it? If that were what you wanted, you'd give him a share of the profits at the end of the year. Instead, you've handed him all our savings. Aren't you afraid he'll take the money and disappear? Then you'd be left with neither him nor the money.”

Clara had no answer. Finally she waved a hand in irritation. “Stop bothering me!”

She was about to go back to her room when Adam spoke again.

“Come on, sweetheart. There's no point denying it. You've been talking about Evan for years, ever since you started college. Just because I was a wreck back then doesn't mean I don't remember anything. I just never thought you'd actually get him to work at the clinic.”

Clara was left speechless again, her expression turning awkward.

Adam gave a small sigh. “All right. You're old enough. It's only natural for you to have a boyfriend. I may not feel entirely comfortable with it, but fathers are like that. That's my problem, not his.

“The boy's actually quite good. Good-looking, capable. He's already seeing patients at the hospital's specialists' clinic at his age. That's quite something. A doctor's ability is what counts, after all. He'll do well for himself.

“And he seems decent. If you really like him, sweetheart, I won't object. Honestly, he's a fine young man. Of all the young doctors I've met, he's the best.”

His words made Clara anxious.

Adam looked at her and teased her again. “If you don't like him, I'll call him right now. I'll ask for all my savings back!”

Clara immediately lost her temper. “Will you stop? Haven't you said enough? You keep going on and on!”

Her shout startled Adam. “What's wrong with you? Why are you so angry?”

“At your age, why are you still so nosy?” Clara snapped. “All this talk about dating, being together, dowries, betrothal gifts! Someone like me doesn't deserve to be in a relationship, all right?”

This time it was Adam who froze.

When he recovered, he was angry too. “What kind of thing is that to say?”

“That's enough. Stay out of my business. Just concentrate on getting better. Go to bed early. I'm going.”

Clara turned and went back to her bedroom.

Adam was left sitting on the sofa, feeling troubled himself. Even Story of Yanxi Palace wasn't enjoyable anymore.

Outside, Evan didn't know what to feel or say. The envelope felt almost too hot to hold. He folded it and tucked it into his shirt pocket against his chest.

He rode Clara's little electric scooter to the Chinese medicine hospital.

It was already past the end of the working day, but none of the young doctors had left.

The hospital's medical and nursing staff, and even its administrators, were baffled. What had gotten into these youngsters lately? Their enthusiasm had gone through the roof. For such modest pay, they not only worked eagerly all day, they wouldn't even go home when their shifts ended.

Now they were waiting for Evan again.

Unless you practiced Chinese medicine yourself, it was hard to understand how they felt. At many Chinese medicine universities, the very first thing many teachers told their students on the first day of classes was that at least half of them would eventually change careers.

Reader Notes

Reader Notes

1. ↩︎ Class II bank accounts. Mainland Chinese banks distinguish Class I, II, and III personal accounts. A Class II account has more limited functions and transaction amounts than a full-function Class I account. Bank of China's 2016 explanation describes Class II daily and annual limits of 10,000 and 200,000 yuan. This background makes Clara's complaint about a large transfer intelligible; the novel does not specify Evan's bank or the transfer channel. Source: Bank of China — Personal Account Categories (in Chinese).
2. ↩︎ Online loan scams. Clara's warning refers to taolu dai, schemes disguised as ordinary lending. The trap can involve inflating the amount supposedly borrowed, manufacturing a default, or concealing evidence of repayment, then demanding money against the fabricated debt. The term means more than an expensive loan, and does not describe every online lender. Clara is warning Evan about this kind of fraud; she has not established that it caused the debt he is trying to explain. Source: Supreme People's Court — Joint Guidance on Fraudulent Lending, section I (in Chinese).
3. ↩︎ Dowry and betrothal gifts. These gifts travel in different directions. A dowry, jiazhuang, comes from the bride's family and accompanies her into marriage. Betrothal gifts, caili, come from the groom's side toward the bride's side; some may later form part of the dowry. Practices vary between families and places. Adam's joke treats the gifts as money out and money in, then complains that his daughter has given away the savings before any marriage arrangements exist. Source: Wu Jinfeng, Fudan University — The Circulation of Dowry, opening and section I (in Chinese).