Chapter Bonanza (2/10)

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Zou-shi of the Hu family bore three daughters and one son. After giving birth to Hu Kang, she held her head high in the Hu household. Her mother-in-law no longer treated her with the same harshness as before. Especially after Hu Kang passed the jinshi examination at thirteen, everyone in Datong Lane said she had given birth to a child prodigy.

She had given birth to a child prodigy.

Hu Kang was her hope, her pride.

Having lived most of her life, Zou-shi’s greatest boast, her most prized possession, was this son. Even though he later failed exam after exam, even though his extravagant spending left her back bent from exhaustion, even though she now struggled to raise two grandsons, her son remained her pride.

Now, her lifelong pride—her son, the Juren—had been sentenced by the magistrate to become a son-in-law of the Tang family. The very ger she despised most had become Kang’s ‘master’ and stripped of his scholarly title.

Even in death, her son should retain his status as a Juren.

Stripping him of his scholarly title and forcing him into the Tang family as a son-in-law felt worse than ripping out her heart, pulling out her bones, or taking her life.

“No! No! No one can touch my son’s scholarly title!“ Zou-shi’s fear vanished as she raged in the hall, her eyes blazing with venom at Tang Xianling. ”You wretched witch! A mere ger—what right do you have to make my Kang’er your son-in-law? What right? What right?!“

”My Kang’er is a Juren! Wherever he goes, people praise him. Merchants bring silver to our home just to speak with him and flatter him.“

”I am destined to become a noble lady with an imperial decree!“

”I forbid anyone to touch Kang’er’s academic achievements. No one!”

Last September, Hu Kang was a Juren. Since the test was held in Fengyuan City, the results came quickly. The herald had barely delivered the good news when merchants arrived bearing silver to curry favor with the Hu family. That day was Zou-shi’s finest hour. Everyone praised her for raising such a fine son, predicting she’d soon be a noble lady, with maidservants attending to her every need.

Zou-shi was elated for days, with visitors bearing gifts arriving daily.

Instead of secluding himself to study for the next exams, Hu Kang spent his time attending banquets and social gatherings. One night, he drank himself into a stupor and never woke again.

To Zou-shi, those brief days had been a dream—the most beautiful dream of her life. But now her son’s scholarly aspirations were gone. After all those years of studying, he had sacrificed his life, only to lose his academic honors? To remain a commoner?

She would not allow it.

“It’s all your fault! You killed Kang’er—” Zou-shi lunged forward to strike Tang Xianling.

Tang Xianling knew Huangfu Tieniu would step in to block her, so he tugged at Tieniu’s arm.

In an instant, Tieniu understood. He frowned and took half a step back, his arm poised to shield Tang Xianling at any moment. This time, Tang Xianling didn’t indulge Hu Kang’s mother. He grabbed her arm firmly—

“You think I’m afraid of you?” Tang Xianling tightened his grip, violently wrenching Zou-shi’s arm

Zou-shi stumbled and fell to the ground, wailing and crying out her grievance.

“Hu Kang brought this upon himself. Grievance? The wrongs are only now being righted,” Tang Xianling said coldly.

Huangfu Tieniu heard this and looked at Xianling thoughtfully, his gaze lowered.

“How dare you act so brazenly in the courtroom?” Lord Li banged his gavel, his face ashen. “Zou-shi, if you lay a hand on anyone else in this court, don’t blame me for implicating your two grandsons. I’ve shown mercy because of your age. If you refuse to accept this, compensate the Tang family with four hundred and seventy taels of silver. Sell your house to pay it. If that’s not enough, let your grandsons sell themselves into debt to settle it.”

This was still insufficient, far from enough.

“However, Hu Kang entered the family by marriage with a written agreement. According to the law, his scholarly title is revoked and cannot be altered. If I were to let this pass, it would be unfair to all examinees under heaven.”

This meant Hu Kang’s scholarly title was definitely revoked. No matter how much Zou-shi protested, it was impossible to reverse.

Upon hearing her two precious grandsons might become slaves, Zou-shi’s eyes filled with tears and hatred, yet she dared not defy further. These were the lifelines left by Kang’er, the Hu family’s only two remaining male heirs…

“Is there any objection to this ruling?” Lord’s Li asked the aggrieved party.

Tang Xianling had long suspected the money was unlikely to be recovered. There was less than a nine percent chance of recovering the money. This lawsuit was solely to clear Wu-ger’s name and restore his reputation. He had his own hands and feet; he could make a living through trade and wouldn’t lack for money. If he pursued the Hu family just for the sake of money, chasing after Hu Kang’s mother and son every few months to collect debts, it would only sour his mood and drain his emotions.

Besides, seeing Hu Kang’s mother now, living a life worse than death, was satisfying.

Tang Xianling clasped his hands and said, “This humble subject is convinced. Thank you, Your Honor, for upholding justice on my behalf.”

Lord Li nodded. The lad was sharp. While he might recover the silver from the Hu family, even if he was in the right, the endless wrangling would drag in the old woman and her two grandsons. Some people would inevitably point fingers at Wu-ger.

“Dismissed!”

The spectators watching before the bench clapped and cheered. Lord Li was truly a just and impartial judge; the ruling was spot on, the Hu family deserved it—such were the cries. Some remarked: Lord Li had already shown great mercy. The Hu family had spent over four hundred taels of silver given by the Tang family, yet Lord Li hadn’t even demanded compensation. He’d merely stripped Hu Kang of his Juren title. Besides, Hu Kang was dead—what good was that now?

Master Tang still suffered a great loss.

Tang Xianling and Tieniu stepped out of the courthouse. Looking up at the clear, sunny sky that warmed the soul, he felt a surge of relief. Behind them, through the crowd, came the wailing and curses of Hu Kang’s mother. He felt nothing but satisfaction and lightness.

With matters settled for the Wu-ger, this was now Tang Xianling’s life.

“Thank you all. When my shop opens, I shall personally repay your kindness,” Tang Xianling said, bowing his hands.

Cui Dabao couldn’t hold back: “So when will the shop open?”

“It might take a while longer. Family matters still need settling,” Tang Xianling replied with a hint of a smile.

“No rush, Boss Tang,” 

“Boss Tang is still grieving, taking a few more days off is perfectly fine,” 

“No rush, no rush.”

Cui Dabao: …

Sun Douzi glared at Dabao, tugging his sleeve as if to say: Don’t you dare blurt anything out. Mr. Tang’s father passed away just days ago—how could you push him to open the shop just because you’re craving snacks?

Cui Dabao: Sigh.

Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu didn’t return home by carriage. Instead, they headed to the West Market and found a small theater troupe. Dressed in mourning attire, they drew stares from passersby. The troupe leader was startled and nervously inquired about their business.

“Master, do you have any playwrights? I’ll tell you a story. You write it up, and we’ll perform it—one day on Daitongfang Main Street, two days in the bustling West Market. Four taels of silver, how about it?”

Fifty-six taels of silver. After deducting eighteen for the funeral, the three sisters received thirty-six taels. The remaining two taels were added by Tang Xianling. He wanted this news spread like wildfire throughout the entire city.

Back in modern times, people always said netizens have short memories. They’d watch the commotion, then forget it all afterward. Some would even twist the facts and blur the details.

Brother Tang’s wrongs had been avenged today. Everything, inside and out, must be made clear.

The troupe leader paused, then said, “Alright, sir. We’re a small troupe. If you want a grand production, we can’t stage it…”

A large-scale performance required many actors; four taels of silver would certainly not suffice.

“No need for a grand production,” Tang Xianling began, his words instantly catching the troupe leader’s attention. “Brother Tang went to the magistrate today to file a complaint against the deceased Juren, his late husband…”

Tang Xianling spoke with a torrent of words, his eloquence flowing like a river. The case itself was already convoluted, and the fact that it involved a complaint to the magistrate added an extra layer of mystery—common folk rarely went to the magistrate unless it was a major matter.

As he spoke, a cup was handed to him. Recognizing Tieniu as the giver, Tang Xianling took a sip of water before continuing his tale. The troupe leader jotted down the story, pressing for further details.

When he finished, Tang Xianling handed over two taels of silver. ” …Get the story written up quickly. I’ll give you another two taels once the matter is settled.“

”Agreed.“ The young troupe leader nodded, then looked at the young man before him. ”Are you Brother Tang?”

Tang Xianling didn’t answer. He thanked the troupe leader and hurried home with Tieniu as dusk fell. There was still work to be done at home.

Neighbors brought gifts to visit them. During the day, Jiang Yun, Chen Qiaolian, Lu Sanniang, and Zhou Xiangping dismantled the memorial altar.

People came to lend a hand.

When Tang Xianling returned, he thanked each of them personally.

These days, they owed much to their neighbors’ support. When the family went outside the city to bury Father Tang, leaving the house unattended, they asked the Lu family next door to keep watch. If any thieves approached, a stern shout would scare them off.

Lu Dalang and Father Lu took on this duty, keeping a close eye on the Tang household day and night. Earlier, Tieniu had presented Tang Xianling with a dowry of a full three hundred taels of silver—common knowledge in the neighborhood. If anyone coveted it and took advantage of the Tang household’s absence to scope things out—

“There was a dark shadow. I thought I might be mistaken, so I called out, ‘What are you doing?’ That shadow then fell against the wall of your backyard…” Lu Dalang told Tieniu, Not wanting to stir trouble, he added, “I didn’t get a good look either. Could’ve been the Li family’s.”

”Hurry and see what’s missing.”

Huangfu Tieniu thanked him for the kind warning. Tang Xianling checked around—his two plump geese had lost weight, but their skins and such were still there. As for the silver, they kept it hidden; the paving stone showed no signs of being moved.

It seemed someone had the nerve to steal but not the guts to actually take anything—likely scared off by the Lu family’s shouting.

There was also the milk they had ordered for the household. Lu Sanniang had been receiving it these past days and distributing it to Cui Dabao—Old Man Cui used to take only a small jar, but lately he’d been taking more than half.

The thing was, the Tang household hadn’t opened for breakfast that morning, so they’d had milk instead. Douzi loved it too.

In short, it was a series of small matters, and neighbors helped out wherever they could.

The family naturally remembered everyone’s kindness.

It was getting late. Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu saw their guests off. Jiang Yun hadn’t rested since returning that morning. Everyone was tired, so they went to bed early, leaving other matters for tomorrow.

Eight days after Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu were married, they had been sleeping together all this time. Previously, Tang Qiao and Erniang slept with Jiang Yun in the east room, while the shop floor served as a bed for Lin Hu and his two sons. Thus, Tang Xianling’s west room naturally stood empty, and he slept alongside Tieniu.

Logically, the wedding night should have been filled with awkwardness and shyness—but Father Tang’s sudden death had caught them off guard. Now, looking back, there was no awkwardness or embarrassment between him and Tieniu. Instead, Tieniu had gently held him in his arms and comforted him.

“I’m not sad,” Tang Xianling had said then.

Huangfu Tieniu hummed in acknowledgment. “I noticed. But you’re tired today. Sleep early. The bed’s too small. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

”No, stay with me. Though it’s hot, the floor is damp.” Tang Xianling said, pulling Tieniu’s hand.

The west room had been a storage space, cramped and dark.

Tang Xianling didn’t want Tieniu to sleep on the floor.

They had only met a few times, yet it truly felt like a ‘match made in heaven’—as if fate had bound them together. After all that happened during the day, so much happened during the day, and now sharing a bed for the first time at night, they only cherished each other, feeling no awkwardness.

For the next few nights, they slept this way.

Today was no different. Both had washed and changed into fresh clothes, feeling somewhat refreshed. Tang Xianling lay on the small bed, nestled close to Tieniu, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Tomorrow, they would settle accounts with the Li family—eliminate them.

Huangfu Tieniu gently tucked the blanket around Tang Xianling, then moved outward slightly, so as not to crowd Tang Xianling.

That day, the entire Baxing District was abuzz with talk of the lawsuit.

At the Zhao’s Sweet Oil Cake Shop.

” …The magistrate ruled that way, but didn’t make the Hu family pay any compensation.” Sun Honghong still felt the Tang family had lost out. Such a large sum of silver was unrecoverable. Hu Kang was dead. Even if he was confirmed as a parasitic son-in-law and stripped of his official rank, it had nothing to do with the Tang family. Tang Xianling gained nothing.

Even so, Sun Honghong felt a little happier.

The Zhao family matriarch nodded in agreement, commenting, “It might look better on the surface, but with everyone dead, silver is still the most practical.”

“All that fuss, and what did it get them?” Zhao Dalang thought it was a waste of effort. Causing trouble should yield some profit, but they gained nothing. Sure, everyone knew the Tang family had been wronged, but so what? Tang Xianling even went to the magistrate’s office to sue, exhausting everyone and wasting effort for nothing.

Other families, like the Zhu family, who ran the pork butcher shop, were also discussing it.

“The Hu family bullied people so badly that they deserve this outcome. It’s just pitiful that a widowed mother is left to raise two grandchildren. How will they manage in the future?” Old Zhu Si, a soft-hearted pushover, as he spoke.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Zhu Si’s mother glared at him and shouted, “You fool! What’s so pitiful about them? Hu Kang up front could even be Wu-ger’s father! At that age, what are those two children he fathered now? Just little kids? They must be fourteen or fifteen by now, right?“

”That’s true.“ Zhou Xiangping hadn’t considered that. Her mother-in-law, being older, saw things more clearly. She said, ”If they really are that old and they’re boys, it’s their duty to support their grandmother. If they’re lazy and good-for-nothing, relying on the old woman to support them, then that’s the Hu family’s fault for raising them badly.”

“The Hu family matriarch’s miserable twilight years are the bitter fruit she herself sowed.”

Zhu Si’s mother nodded, deeply fond of this daughter-in-law. She had personally arranged the match for her son. Tall and slender with a face like a silver plate, she radiated good fortune at first glance. Add to that her strength, straightforward speech, and unpretentious manner—she worked efficiently and was clever.

She was a perfect match to her slightly slippery son.

She could handle him.

If he’d married a spineless weakling, she’d have climbed onto the roof.

Zhu Si’s father shrugged his shoulders. Upon reflection, his wife was right. Zhu Si’s mother understood perfectly well. She sighed, “She won’t have an easy life ahead. If she could raise someone like Hu Kang, her two grandsons are probably no better. “

”Our family must remember not to follow the Hu family’s example. In business, integrity comes first. No matter how many pennies we earn, we must keep our word… “ Mrs. Zhu admonished her son.

Zhu Si: ”Mother, I know. We’ll run our business properly without coveting others’ trade. Our family eats well and lives comfortably. My bragging outside is just that—I know my place.“

”But don’t let your bragging get too big!“ Mrs. Zhu cautioned.

Zhu Si: ”Understood.”

The Cui family ate their evening meal a bit later than usual today.

With the heat, the three of them sat in the courtyard to eat, chatting as they did so. Cui Dabao recounted the whole story of suing Master Tang to his father. Father Cui nodded repeatedly, pleased to hear it.

“You grew up eating Old Tang’s noodles, too. Now his son has made something of himself. With his father gone, there are no more worries to weigh him down.“ 

Death itself isn’t frightening; it’s inevitable for everyone. If one can settle their affairs before passing, they can close their eyes with peace and contentment.

Cui Dabao instantly understood his father’s thoughts and retorted irritably, “Father, why do you dwell on death all the time? You’re still young!”

Father Cui chuckled at his son’s teasing, not the least bit annoyed. “Fine, fine. I won’t rest in peace until I see you and Douzi have children.”

Sun Douzi felt both embarrassed and a little worried. He… he’d been married to Dabao for nearly four years, yet there was still no sign of a child. Cui Dabao caught the look on Douzi’s face and shared a donkey meat bun with his father—one he’d bought that morning at the East Market.

“Dad, eat your bun. What are you talking about?”

“Then Douzi and I won’t have kids. You live to be a hundred!”

Father Cui: …What nonsense are you spouting!

How could they not want children?

He’d been about to scold his son, but seeing Douzi present, he swallowed his words.

“Douzi, your father isn’t pressuring you and Dabao. There’s no rush, no rush at all.”

The more Father Cui spoke like this, the more guilty and distressed Sun Douzi felt.

He went to bed early that night.

Sun Douzi had lingered over his bath today, washing himself thoroughly. Back in his room, he shed his outer garments, climbing into bed clad only in a small belly-covering and undergarments. The room was pitch-black, save for a sliver of moonlight seeping through the half-open window. A sliver of moonlight seeped in.

“Dabao, are you asleep yet?”

Cui Dabao, who had been running around all day, was exhausted. Hearing his husband’s voice, he shifted his hips inward to make room for Douzi and mumbled, “Not yet. Almost. Come up and sleep.” He yawned again, utterly exhausted.

Sun Douzi slipped under the covers, gathering his courage to reach for Dabao’s waist.

Cui Dabao hadn’t stirred, used to his husband’s touch. But when Douzi’s hand slid down, reaching into his crotch, Dabao jolted awake. His drowsiness vanished instantly. He turned abruptly to face Douzi, whose heart sank at Cui Dabao’s sudden tension.

“Do you hate me? You never touch me anymore.” Sun Douzi felt tears welling up.

Cui Dabao: “What are you talking about?”

Sun Douzi said nothing; only tears fell silently.

“Don’t take what Dad said to heart.” Cui Dabao thought for a moment and realized what had happened. It must have been when Dad urged them to have a child during the evening meal that Douzi had acted this way.

Sun Douzi gave a muffled grunt. Dabao was always like this.

This matter ended just like the past ones—unspoken, each going to sleep. The room fell silent. Cui Dabao wanted to say something several times, but didn’t know what—he hadn’t figured out what was wrong with his husband.

“Are you upset about what Father said? If you are, I’ll talk to him tomorrow and tell him to stop making those remarks.” After much deliberation, Cui Dabao finally spoke up.

After all his pondering, this was the only thing he could think of.

Sun Douzi grew impatient. “No, it’s not about Father.”

Not about that? Then what is it? Cui Dabao was stumped. He turned over to try sleeping again, but sleep had vanished. Watching the man toss and turn restlessly, Sun Douzi felt a pang of sorrow. Gathering his courage, he pressed closer and whispered, his voice trembling, “Dabao, I want a child.”

Cui Dabao froze, then turned. In the darkness, he could see Douzi’s eyes—large and bright, yet timid. He disliked Douzi’s fear. Reaching out, he touched Douzi’s eyelids and said, “You’re frail and thin. Having a child isn’t good for you.”

“Huh?” Sun Douzi froze in confusion.

Cui Dabao continued, “My other father died giving birth to me.”

At that moment, Sun Douzi felt all the grievances of the past three years suddenly make sense. It wasn’t that Dabao disliked him or refused to touch him—

“I heard my dad say that father was thin, too. He misses father sometimes and cries in front of me. He said he shouldn’t have let my father conceive me so early, when his body wasn’t strong enough yet, and my head was so big…“ Cui Dabao’s voice trailed off, sounding a bit downcast.

He had paid close attention to his own head. It was indeed large.

Sun Douzi hurriedly hugged Dabao. ”Not big, not big. Your head really isn’t big.“

”Having a baby isn’t urgent. The first time I saw you, I thought you were handsome, just too thin. If you were a bit fatter, you’d be even better looking. I wanted to marry you, and we’d eat all the good food together.“

Sun Douzi nestled into Dabao’s embrace, all his earlier distress gone. He wrapped his arms around his waist and said earnestly, ”Okay, I’ll listen to you. I’ll eat well.”

“But don’t force yourself to eat. When you first came home, you ruined your health eating like that—it scared me half to death.” Cui Dabao knew Douzi’s temperament well. He feared that if he said this, Douzi would stubbornly stuff himself regardless. That wouldn’t do at all.

”You should eat what you can eat and what you love. Or the food Chef Tang makes—if it makes you happy and suits your stomach, naturally it suits mine too. I wonder when Chef Tang will be able to start his business again.”

As Cui Dabao spoke, his appetite stirred once more.

In the end, the couple obediently went to bed on an empty stomach. But this time, Sun Douzi slept soundly. He finally realized he’d misunderstood Dabao for over three years—Dabao truly cherished and loved him.

Thinking of this, Sun Douzi’s heart felt sweeter than honey.

The Li family is in the back half of the Tang household’s courtyard.

“…I don’t think it’ll work.” Auntie Li wasn’t trying to be tough this time. ”He dared to go to the authorities. We’ve been hounding him, but this guy isn’t afraid.”

While Tang Xianling beating Zhao Dalang had surprised the Li family matriarch, she could still find excuses—just a neighborhood quarrel that escalated. Maybe, just maybe, without anyone backing him up, they could still force the Tang family mother and son out as planned.

But now things feel off.

Madam Li chimed in from the side: “Today’s court case caused quite a stir—it’s all over the neighborhood. Tang Xianling dared to stand before the magistrate alone. I certainly wouldn’t dare.” A man like that wouldn’t be afraid of anything.

“Plus, Tang Xianling has a new husband. That young man is tall and fierce—they say he’s a hunter.”

Li Erlang frowned deeply. “My cousin said the Tangs had no standing, that they were weak in every way. I foolishly believed him.”

The “cousin” mentioned by the Li family was none other than the famous oil seller known throughout the neighborhood.

The oil seller began by carrying barrels of oil door-to-door,

When business boomed, and he made enough to buy a cart, over a decade passed. Now he’d saved enough to open a shop. Being familiar with the area, he didn’t want to risk antagonizing anyone by stepping forward himself, so he chose the Li family to act as his front while he stayed hidden.

Once the Li family forced the Tang family out and took the shop, the two could negotiate a deal—half for each family.

The plan seemed sound, but little did they know… the Tang family wasn’t pushovers.

“I don’t think it’ll work out. We’d better find another place soon. At least we haven’t completely burned bridges with the Tangs,” Madam Li concluded.

Li Erlang: “I reckon they’ve figured it out too.”

“Who cares if they figured it out? As long as we maintain appearances, it’s fine. We’re not marrying into their family. The neighborhood doesn’t know what we’re scheming, and even if they did, we haven’t acted on it yet,” Madam Li countered.

So the next day, Tang Xianling and Tieniu took the silver coins and the lease agreement. When they knocked on the gate that had once been the Tang family’s backyard, the Li family showed no surprise whatsoever. They warmly welcomed Tang Xianling and Tieniu inside and inquired about their business.

“My family runs a business, and we need more space. I have the money now. I’ll take the lease agreement, and I’ll pay the penalty for breach of contract. You have three days to pack up and move out.” Tang Xianling was blunt, not even bothering to ask if the Li family agreed.

He delivered the notice with considerable force.

If it had been any other tenant, Tang Xianling certainly wouldn’t have spoken this way. After all, he was the one who had breached the contract first. But with the Li family, Tang Xianling showed no courtesy.

This family had been eyeing the Tang household like wolves. If he hadn’t arrived, Jiang Yun’s Wu-ger would have been torn to shreds by them.

“If you’re unwilling and feel something’s amiss, take it to court. I’ll summon the witnesses from that day. Whatever compensation is due, whatever procedures are required—I’ll comply.”

The Li family matriarch’s smile froze on her face. For a businessman, Tang Xianling sure didn’t know how to conduct himself! He wasn’t leaving them a shred of dignity!

“The wall my family built, and this vegetable patch—I just planted the vegetables and raised the chickens…” Madam Li began listing everything, demanding compensation for each item.

Tang Xianling: Want to argue about it?

“Tieniu, hand over the lease agreement. I’ll review it and go through everything with the old lady. The courtyard we rented was clearly documented in the lease. We even left your family the furniture. That covers nearly a year’s worth of usage fees. And this wall? You were the one who insisted on building it. You kept saying you’d cover the costs. When I tear it down, I’ll need to hire labor. If you want these bricks, take them.“

”Xiao Tang, that’s not right. We rented the place, and your dad let us use the furniture. He never said he wanted money for it.“

”Then you can take all these chickens you raised with your vegetables. I don’t want them.“ Tang Xianling finished speaking, took a few steps, and looked at the vegetable patch at the base of the wall. ”Tieniu, take a look— Are there footprints here? The other night, when we weren’t home, neighbors said thieves broke in late at night—“ 

He turned to face the Li family’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Madam Li froze under his gaze, suddenly understanding something. Anger flared instantly. ”What’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying my family would steal from yours?”

“Then we’ll report it to the authorities. Have the constable compare these footprints and see whose they belong to. Look, the muddy footprints are still hanging on the wall.”

Madam Li’s hands trembled with fury. But then she remembered hearing her son moving about in the courtyard late the night before. When she called out from inside, he had hurriedly said he was just getting up to use the bathroom. She hadn’t thought much of it. 

Could it have been Erlang? 

As she stared at the muddy footprints on the wall, her unease grew.

“Fine, fine! If you want to terminate the lease, so be it. Why bother with witnesses? Just get it over with!” 

“If you don’t want trouble, stop talking nonsense. Hand over the lease agreement. I’ll calculate your refund. You have three days. If you haven’t left by then, I’ll tear down the walls and demolish the courtyard to evict you. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Tang Xianling cut her off bluntly. 

Why was she still babbling on?