Chapter 3 A Loan

"Kenneth, are you alright?" Casey asked, concerned. "I'm fine. Small-time punks like Woody are no match for me. I could handle a hundred of them," Kenneth reassured with a confident grin. "You're just boasting," Casey replied with a playful pout, dropping the subject. Kenneth smiled but didn't elaborate further. Turning to Kim, he asked, "Mrs. Cadman, are you okay?" "I'm fine, Kenneth. It's wonderful to have you back, but by offending Ron and Woody, you might..." Kim hesitated, knowing Kenneth's actions could have serious repercussions. Having watched him grow up, she understood that laying a finger on Woody meant inviting trouble from his entire group of hooligans. It could make Kenneth's life in Hollow Springs difficult from now on. "Mrs. Cadman, don't worry. I studied boxing abroad and even won a championship!" Kenneth reassured Kim with a confident smile. "Really? The Mohler family is truly exceptional! Not only did you study abroad, but you also learned self-defense!" Kim exclaimed happily, though her joy was interrupted by a fit of coughing that left her feeling worse. "Mrs. Cadman, let me take a look," Kenneth offered, placing his hand gently on Kim's. "Kenneth, did you also study medicine? Maybe even holistic medicine?" Kim inquired, hopeful. "Mom, don't you remember? Old Mr. Mohler was a renowned doctor in our village," Casey reminded her gently. "That's different. Old Mr. Mohler dedicated over sixty years to studying and practicing medicine from a young age…" Kim reflected, highlighting the distinction. Before Kim could complete her sentence, Kenneth interjected calmly, "You have seasonal rheumatism affecting the hip joint, coupled with bone hyperplasia in the lumbar spine. The hyperplasia likely began around six months ago, leading to compression and nerve changes, resulting in intermittent leg pain and difficulty with mobility. Am I correct, Mrs. Cadman?" Kim was left stunned, her mouth agape as she gazed at Kenneth. Every word he spoke was exact. Not a single detail was amiss. She had been grappling with rheumatism for three years, and the onset of severe bone hyperplasia had indeed occurred six months prior. She had quietly visited the hospital for a consultation, where the doctor had echoed Kenneth's precise diagnosis. These two conditions had severely sapped her physical strength. Unable to work anymore, she found herself borrowing money for Casey's daily needs. "Mom, is what Kenneth said true?" Casey's voice trembled with tears forming in her eyes. She had always believed her mother's struggles were limited to rheumatism, making it difficult for her to walk for most, if not all, of the day. She hadn't realized it was this serious. "Yes," Kim replied quietly. "Mom! I shouldn't have gone to college. Then you wouldn't be so worn out!" "Nonsense! Even if I have to work myself to the bone, I'll make sure you finish college." Watching the mother and daughter weep as they hugged each other, Kenneth felt deeply moved by this emotional exchange. "Mrs. Cadman, don't worry. It's a manageable minor condition. I'll massage your pressure points and apply some medication. You'll feel better soon." "Just a minor condition?" Bone hyperplasia and rheumatism were conditions Kim and Casey had always considered significant and incurable, manageable only with temporary relief as the pain recurred intermittently. "Ken, are you suggesting massage therapy? Your grandfather was quite skilled in that!" Kim was moved. Even if Kenneth couldn't offer a cure, his inheritance of holistic medical knowledge from his grandfather was impressive. "Yes, I learned a bit from my grandfather when I was young, and then I pursued medical studies abroad. My skills now exceed my grandfather's," Kenneth explained. "That's wonderful! Really wonderful!" "But, Mrs. Cadman, you can't undergo massage therapy just yet. Your body is weak and needs time to recover before we can begin treatment." "Okay, I'll follow your advice, Ken." "Casey, help your mom inside to rest. I'll prepare breakfast for you both." "Alright." After helping Kim settle into the living room, Casey suddenly remembered something and dashed out to the kitchen. Kenneth stood in the kitchen, staring blankly at the sparse provisions. "Case, please don't tell me this is what you and Mrs. Cadman have been eating..." His voice trailed off as he surveyed the scene: just two packs of bread and a modest block of cheap butter. The cooking oil jar was nearly empty, with only residue at the bottom. There was also salt stored in a plastic cup that Kenneth suspected was borrowed. The pan on the stove had a gaping hole, rendering most of it unusable—even making a sandwich seemed impossible. Kenneth had long suspected Casey and Kim were struggling, but he hadn't imagined it was this dire. "Kenneth, I'm sorry you have to see this. It's because we didn't go to town yesterday, so we didn't get groceries," Casey said, her head lowered and smile tinged with awkwardness. She felt a deep sense of inadequacy. "Kenneth, do you think less of us?" She asked tentatively with reddened eyes, sensing his prolonged silence. "Silly girl, what do you think of me? Even though you don't have much now, with me back here, you'll have everything you want in the future!" "Mm. I believe in you, Kenneth." "I'm glad you do. It's settled, then. From now on, you'll have a good life with me!" "Yes, from now on, I'll follow you, Kenneth, even if it means making do with leftover crusts!" Casey chuckled joyfully. She was immensely relieved that Kenneth didn't look down on her. "Let's make breakfast with what we have," Kenneth suggested. "Okay, Kenneth, I'll get the fire started!" Casey responded promptly. Growing up in the countryside had instilled a strong work ethic in her, and her life experiences had made her more resilient than her peers. In no time, they prepared sandwiches together and carried them into the living room. A cracked table and four homemade wooden chairs, which had been constantly repaired over time, set the scene. "Mom, try the sandwich Kenneth made," Casey urged eagerly, her happiness palpable. With a man in the house, everything seemed to have taken a turn for the better. "Mm. Ken, you've done a great job. After I'm done eating, I'll visit some relatives," Kim replied warmly. "Mrs. Cadman, are you planning to borrow money from your relatives?" Kenneth inquired gently. "Yes, I need to settle the debt with Ron. Otherwise, we won't be able to stay here peacefully," Kim replied with resolve. She had already made up her mind to approach her relatives for financial help. She was adamant about not involving Kenneth with Ron and Woody. Despite his skills, he was just a young, twenty-five-year-old man. How could he compare to Ron, who had spent half his life as a thug? "Mrs. Cadman, there's no need for you to do that. I'll find a way to repay Ron's money," Kenneth offered. "I can't let you do that! You've already done so much for us today. How can I take your money?" Kim immediately declined, knowing that tens of thousands was no small sum. Brighter Valley depended on farmland for its livelihood, mainly cultivating rice and corn. Throughout the year, they managed to earn only a few thousand after meeting their basic needs. Kim found herself in a challenging and impoverished situation, but her resilience wouldn't allow her to accept Kenneth's money. "I didn't say it's a gift. Just consider it a loan, Mrs. Cadman. You're going to ask others for money anyway. Why not take mine?" Kenneth suggested earnestly. Kim's eyes brightened at Kenneth's proposal. Yet, she doubted Kenneth would accept repayment when the time came. "Alright, let's make a deal. Consider this money a loan from the Mohler family to the Cadman family. If I can't repay you, we'll repay you once Casey graduates and starts working," Kim affirmed. "Haha, no problem," Kenneth agreed with a smile. During Kenneth's conversation with Kim, Casey remained quiet, happily enjoying her sandwich. Since Kenneth's return, life seemed to have taken a turn for the better. However, she couldn't shake off her doubts. Does Kenneth really have that much money? She recalled him mentioning last night that his classmates had helped to chip in for his return ticket... After they finished their meal, Kenneth suggested Kim rest at home while he and Casey went out for a stroll around the village. Walking along a secluded path behind the village, Casey suddenly asked, "Kenneth, do you have money?"