Chapter 22: Buying a House

Tu Shan patted her backside and stood up. Everyone in the courtyard had been driven out of their rooms, and no matter how they cried or screamed, it was useless.

It was fortunate that these people only wanted the house and didn't want to hurt anyone, let alone kill, otherwise the tenants wouldn't have had the strength to cry and scream right now.

The things in the courtyard and the rooms had been seized by that group of thugs, who were now arrogantly and triumphantly taking inventory.

"This is robbery! It’s a crime! I’m going to report you, I’m definitely going to report you! I’ll make sure you die a horrible death, I hope your whole family is wiped out!"

"You animals, you beasts, you bastards, you’re all just human scum!"

A man in his thirties, his face bruised and swollen, cursed with glaring eyes.

A thug carrying a club walked over and struck him squarely on the head: "Go on, go report us. I want to see if you can report us faster than my club can move."

"If you dare to report me, be prepared to never show your face in the state capital again. As long as I’m alive, I guarantee you won’t have a single day of peace."

The man was beaten until he rolled on the ground, his head bloodied.

His wife rushed over to beg for mercy: "Stop hitting him, please! We won't report you, we won't! Please let my husband go, you'll kill him if you keep hitting him!"

The thug didn't listen and started hitting the woman too: "You say hit, so I hit? You say stop, so I stop? Who do you think you are?"

"Damn it, a bunch of lowly peasants. I give you face and you don't want it, wasting my time."

"What were you doing earlier? If you had just cleared out, none of this would have happened. Now you're here wailing like it's a funeral? I'll show you a funeral..."

The man’s ferocious appearance scared everyone into retreating. Although they sympathized with the beaten couple, no one dared to step forward.

They might have been able to win in a fight, but they were terrified of the man's threats.

They had nowhere else to go outside the state capital. If they offended these people, what would happen to their families if they were retaliated against?

Such is the sorrow and helplessness of the lower class.

Tu Shan let out a long breath, weighed the club in her hand, and rolled her neck.

"Shunzi, watch out."

"Boom..." With one swing of Tu Shan's club, the man called Shunzi flew backward, crashing into the door and leaving a large hole in it.

After falling to the ground, he twitched twice, his head covered in blood as he passed out.

"Bitch, you're looking for death!"

Tu Shan turned back. Her face, partially hidden by long bangs, wore a wicked expression as she licked her lips.

The club in her hand flew out, smashing into the head of a man rushing toward her, blood spraying everywhere.

The club spun a few times before returning to Tu Shan's hand.

Tu Shan strode forward, breaking a man's leg with a single swing.

"Ah..."

Screams rang out one after another. The thugs who had been so fierce just moments ago, brandishing clubs to drive people out, were now falling one by one—either bloodied or with broken arms and legs.

Tu Shan stepped on the head of the ringleader: "Brother, let's set some ground rules. I'm protecting this courtyard now. What do you say?"

"Woooo..."

"You don't agree? That won't do. I've already made a big promise, and I can't take it back. How embarrassing would that be?"

"Woooo..."

"Whoever owes you money, go find them. Whether you cut off their hands, feet, or heads, it doesn't matter to me. I won't interfere, but you cannot touch this courtyard."

"Woooo..."

"I'm actually a very reasonable person, but you keep being so uncooperative. I have a temper too, you know?"

"Woooo..."

"Since that's the case, then I'm sorry." She raised her club high, and the man under her foot wet himself.

Tu Shan...

Auntie Wang said faintly: "Is it possible that he can't talk?"

Tu Shan blinked. The man's mouth was currently being stepped on by her: "Ah, sorry, sorry. I didn't notice. You're really something, why didn't you tell me you couldn't talk? Are you trying to make a fool out of me on purpose?"

The man...

The man and his subordinates left after hurling threats. The tenants happily and grumpily began taking inventory of their belongings.

Tu Shan looked at Auntie Wang: "Is it a deal?"

Auntie Wang’s face twitched in pain. Could she refuse? Did she dare to? Those people had made threats; they would be back.

Gritting her teeth, she said: "It's a deal."

Tu Shan clicked her tongue: "Look at how stingy you are. Don't worry, I won't ask you to give it to me; I'll buy it. However, I want to buy my small room, the storage shed next to it, and the little courtyard behind my room that faces it. I'll pay the market price, how about that?"

Ling Yang had rented a small corner cubicle for Tu Sanmei, right next to the storage pile and against the courtyard wall.

If she could buy it all and renovate it, it would become a perfect, independent little space.

Auntie Wang wanted to refuse immediately. She and her husband had worked their fingers to the bone to earn this house when she was young; she couldn't bear to part with even a single tile.

Tu Shan crossed her arms: "I've always liked things to be mutual. If you don't want to, that's fine. My lease is expiring soon anyway, so I'll leave tonight. Oh, right, I don't have much to pack, I can leave right now."

The tenants, who had been eavesdropping, panicked. She couldn't leave.

"Auntie Wang, you have to weigh the pros and cons. Think about what's more important, a room or the whole courtyard. Don't be foolish."

"Exactly! Those people won't just let it go. Oh, those cursed beasts, they broke several of my bowls!"

"That's right, they even stole my money and coupons. May they die a horrible death, I can't go on living like this."

"If they come back a few more times, we'll all be forced to jump into the river."

"We can't live, we can't go on! Oh, Heavens, please open your eyes!"

They wailed around Auntie Wang like they were performing in a play.

Auntie Wang was so angry her nostrils flared.

"Shut up, all of you! It's so annoying. It's not your house, so it's easy for you to talk."

An old friend leaned in: "But the money is yours! If you sell the house, the money goes into your pocket, not ours."

"Exactly, you're only selling a small corner, it won't matter."

"Old sister, you have to look at the big picture. Your son is waiting for money to save his life, every cent counts, right?"

Soft and hard tactics—these people knew how to persuade others.

Auntie Wang remained silent for a long time. Everyone was getting anxious.

Tu Shan wasn't in a hurry; it wasn't like she absolutely had to have this place.

"I can agree, but I have a condition."

The tenants stopped crying and stared eagerly at Auntie Wang, hoping she would be sensible and not ask for anything too outrageous.

Auntie Wang really wanted to spit in their faces. They were standing there talking without feeling the pain, being generous with her property—how capable of them.

Tu Shan reached out: "Please speak. I won't necessarily agree."

Auntie Wang glared at Tu Shan: "I can sell the room to you, but you have to take care of me in my old age."

She had finally seen the truth and given up hope. Her son couldn't be relied upon, and her daughter couldn't be counted on either.

She didn't hate them; this was her own doing, she couldn't blame anyone else.

But for the days to come, she wanted to live for herself.

She couldn't control her son anymore, and she didn't want to. She had no ability to teach him well, so let society teach him properly. Whether he lived or died didn't matter.

She wouldn't use the money from the house sale to fill her unfilial son's holes; she would keep it for her own retirement.

No matter how good others are, nothing is as secure as having money in your own pocket.

But she also understood that everyone gets old. She was afraid that when she became bedridden, she wouldn't even have anyone to collect her body, ending her life in misery.

Tu Sanmei hadn't been much of a person before, but in the last few days, she had clearly felt a difference, and for some reason, she felt she could trust her.

So, she wanted to take a gamble.

"Impossible," Tu Shan refused, crisp and clear.