Chapter 291 - 171: The Boundless Happiness of a Retired Old TCM Doctor

Chapter 291: Chapter 171: The Boundless Happiness of a Retired Old TCM Doctor

Zhou Yan was stunned as he listened from the side. ’The fighting spirit of the older generation is truly impressive.’

"No way! I have the IOU! It’s written in black and white, clear as day! And it has Gu Liwei’s mark on it!" Gu Changgui said frantically.

"Exactly! You don’t get to decide!" Gu Changgui’s wife, Wu Hongxia, added.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhengping and Zhang Shufen frowned. They seemed to be at a bit of an impasse.

Seeing their hesitation, Zhou Yan stepped forward. "Gu Changgui, about this IOU of yours with five percent monthly interest... should we take it to the police station and the court to have it verified?

The state has regulations that loan interest rates cannot be substantially higher than bank rates. You’re charging sixty percent interest per year. I’d like to see which court would dare to support your claim for that kind of interest!

You’re the accountant for Shangshui Village, which makes you a quasi-public official. Come on, let’s go to town right now and settle this officially! We’ll see about the nature of this five-hundred-yuan principal of yours, and whether the police will support an outlaw loan shark like you!

Also, today, the two of you forced your way into my great-aunt’s house and tried to steal two bags of soybeans, a chicken, and a goose. What do you call that? A home invasion robbery!

You know about the Strike Hard campaign, don’t you? Robbery is a capital offense! And your victims are a disabled old woman and a deaf-mute child. That makes it even worse.

When that happens, not only will you lose your job as accountant, but the two of you will be waiting to face a firing squad!"

At the mention of a firing squad, Wu Hongxia’s grip on the chicken and goose failed. Her hands shook, and the birds dropped to the ground, scattering and running wildly around the courtyard.

For the first time, a look of terror appeared on Gu Changgui’s face.

He was a high school graduate, educated enough to have become the accountant.

Zhou Yan’s words were terrifying, and the more he thought about them, the more sense they made.

’If they really charge us with robbery, given the way things are with the Strike Hard campaign, we really could face a firing squad!’

He Zhiyuan, who had been standing to the side, pulled out a camera. "I’ve already photographed the evidence of the robbery," he said. "If necessary, I can have the film developed and hand it over to the police at any time."

Gu Changgui and Wu Hongxia stared at the gleaming camera in He Zhiyuan’s hands, their faces growing even paler.

"Scared now, are you?" Zhang Shufen sneered. "The way I see it, you two are just courting death!"

Gu Changgui forced a smile onto his face. "A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding! We’re all family here, related one way or another. There’s no need to drag the police and the town into this. We can talk about anything."

"There’s nothing to discuss," Zhang Zhengping said. "Get the IOU. We’re settling this rotten debt for Li Hua today."

"I don’t have the IOU with me. We’ll go home and get it," Gu Changgui said, waving to Wu Hongxia and preparing to slip out the door.

Zhang Zhengping lifted his bamboo pole, blocking their path. "Have your wife go get it," he said in a cold voice. "You will wait right here. Otherwise, we’re heading to town to file a report right now. And let me tell you, my third sister’s youngest son is the director of the Suji Armament Department. His Spear Technique is both fast and accurate. We could have him apply to carry out your execution."

"No, don’t do that! Please don’t!" Gu Changgui’s face drained of color. He waved his hands frantically and yelled at Wu Hongxia, "Go get it! Quick! It’s in the third drawer of the nightstand!"

"Okay..." Wu Hongxia’s legs felt weak. She steadied herself against the door as she left the courtyard, then broke into a stumbling run.

Gu Changgui’s face was ashen, his expression panicked.

’Zhou Yan’s words had thrown his mind into chaos. If they were really reported for robbery and hauled into the police station, they’d be skinned alive, even if they weren’t killed.’

’He’d never imagined the old woman had a son who was a high-ranking official in town! He had been bullying Mrs. Sun because he thought she had no one to back her up, intending to swallow her family’s assets whole. Who knew her own family would be so formidable.’

’This time, he’d really picked a fight with the wrong people.’

’He had worked so hard to become the village accountant; his position couldn’t possibly withstand an investigation.’

Zhou Yan went over and helped Mrs. Sun up, seating her in a chair. "Don’t you worry, Great-aunt," he said comfortingly. "We’re here to back you up today. We’ll get this sorted out for you."

"Li Hua, don’t be afraid," said Zhang Zhengping. "Third Sister and I are your family. No one gets to bully you."

"Yes, yes..." Mrs. Sun nodded, tears streaming down her aged face.

Lai Fu gripped Mrs. Sun’s hand tightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Before long, Wu Hongxia returned with the IOU.

Gu Changgui reached for it, making a show of being about to tear it up.

"Hold on!" Zhang Shufen said, looking at Gu Changgui. "You can’t tear that IOU up yet."

"If I tear it up, doesn’t that mean I don’t want the money anymore?" Gu Changgui said, his face a mask of misery. "Can’t we just let this go? I’ll even forgo the principal."

"Paying one’s debts is only right and proper. Li Hua will pay you back the principal. That way, in the future, you won’t be able to say a single bad word about her and her grandson." Zhang Shufen snatched the IOU from Gu Changgui’s hand. She glanced at the words "Five Hundred Yuan Principal" and Gu Liwei’s signature and mark, then continued, "You said the old donkey sold for three hundred. The chickens, ducks, and geese you took before were worth twenty. That leaves a hundred and eighty yuan. Do you agree with that figure?"

"I agree! I agree," Gu Changgui nodded eagerly. He hadn’t expected to get any of the remaining money back. If he could recoup the last hundred and eighty, at least he wouldn’t be taking a total loss.

"Li Hua, what do you think?" Zhang Shufen asked, turning to Mrs. Sun with a gentle voice.

"I’ll do whatever you say, Fenfen," Sun Lihua said with a nod. She reached into her clothes, fumbled for a moment, and pulled out a cloth pouch. Opening it revealed a stack of neatly folded bills. There was one Great Unity bill, but the rest were mostly small notes and coins. She pushed the whole bundle toward Zhang Shufen. "There’s forty-eight yuan, two mao, and seven fen here. Fenfen, please give this to him for me. I’ll pay back the rest slowly."

Zhang Shufen reached out to take the money.