Wang Aixiang’s mother-in-law pointed at Wang Dazhu, "See, you all heard him. He admitted it himself."
"Admitted what? Are you senile? Your son is long dead. Why can't Wang Aixiang find someone else? If she's willing, I'll marry her right now. But you can't smear her name. She's a woman raising a child and taking care of you, the elder. Is it easy for her? Look at the dark circles under her eyes, look how thin she's become. You don't feel bad, but I do. Wang Dazhu is making this clear today: with me around, no one can bully her, not even you, old woman."
Wang Dazhu was tall and sturdy, and with his current anger, his glaring eyes were quite intimidating.
Everyone held their breath, not daring to even exhale.
There was a brief silence in the room.
Wang Aixiang felt as if her heart had been struck a heavy blow, and she couldn't snap out of it for a long time.
All these years, she had borne everything alone. She knew that if her support crumbled, she would be the pillar of the family, and she couldn't afford to be weak.
But Wang Dazhu's words now made her eyes involuntarily well up with tears.
"We've all been neighbors for so many years, and everyone knows what kind of person Aixiang is. When her child is sick, no mother would feel worse than her. To put it bluntly, when Yimin passed away and the family was in such dire straits, she didn't abandon you. That shows she's loyal. Why are you making things difficult now? Alas."
Grandma Zhang couldn't help but sigh at the end.
It must be hard for a mother-in-law to see her daughter-in-law remarry, but as the saying goes, when the sky wants to rain and the mother wants to marry, no one can stop it.
After all, they were outsiders. Since Xiaopeng and Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law were alright, Grandma Zhang and the other two neighbors got up to leave.
Wang Aixiang sniffled and quickly got up to see them out, "Thank you all for your help today. I've caused you trouble."
"We're all neighbors, so you shouldn't say that." Grandma Zhang, being older, saw things more clearly. As she stepped outside, she said to Wang Aixiang, "Don't blame your mother-in-law. She wasn't like this before. She's probably scared, that's why she said those things."
Wang Aixiang was confused, "Scared? Scared of what?"
"Scared that you won't be family anymore, scared that once you have your own home, you won't care about her, and scared of being a burden to you."
The Wang family was also unfortunate. They became widowed at a young age. Their son died just a few years after getting married. Fortunately, he married a good daughter-in-law, who left behind a grandson like Xiaopeng.
After seeing Grandma Zhang and the others off, Wang Aixiang returned. The moment she entered, she saw Wang Dazhu still standing in the middle of the room. Her mother-in-law, perhaps out of anger or guilt, sat facing the wall, twisting her body.
"Thank you for today. I won't ask you to stay for a meal in this situation," Wang Aixiang said after a moment of hesitation.
"I, I didn't help much." Wang Dazhu wanted to say more, but seeing her tired face, he swallowed his words.
"If there's any situation at home, just call the shop. I can come anytime."
Wang Aixiang's heart warmed. She nodded, "I know."
After Wang Dazhu left, Wang Aixiang glanced at her mother-in-law, who was still with her back to her. She thought for a moment and walked over, saying, "Mom, let's talk."
...
"The three-day deadline is up. How is the demolition going?"
'Coal Lump' called over one of his subordinates to ask.
The subordinate stammered, "Brother, they all think the demolition fees are too low. Only a small portion signed and moved. The majority are refusing to leave, saying they won't move unless the price is raised."
"They refuse a toast and insist on a forfeit." 'Coal Lump' threw his cigarette butt and looked up at the brothers in front of him. "Go gather some brothers. Since they won't move willingly, we'll help them move personally."
Soon, over a dozen subordinates were gathered, and the group strode towards the old residential area in the west of the city.
It was evening, the time when families were having dinner. Children, having eaten quickly, ran to the alley to play with their friends.
The two children leading the way were running joyfully when they suddenly ran into 'Coal Lump' and his group entering the alleyway. Unable to stop, they both fell to the ground.
The two children were also spirited. One rolled over and got up from the ground, about to say something. But seeing their menacing appearance, they decided to count themselves unlucky. With a turn, they scurried back into the alley.
"Start with the first house, one by one," 'Coal Lump' said, stopping at the gate of the first house in the alley.
The other subordinates understood. They kicked open the courtyard gate and walked in.
Before long, sounds of smashing and breaking came from inside, accompanied by a man's curses and the cries of women and children.
"Either sign, or don't expect a good life from now on. By noon tomorrow at the latest, if you don't move, everything in this house will be flattened along with you."
After they left, the family inside huddled together, trembling in fear.
After smashing four or five houses, thinking the warning was sufficient, 'Coal Lump' was about to lead his men away. Unexpectedly, the man from the last house suddenly rushed into the house like a madman. Soon, he rushed out again, holding a cleaver.
"You're pushing us too far! I'll fight you!"
At first, the group was indeed startled. But when the man rushed close, he abruptly stopped, his knife-wielding hand trembling uncontrollably.
"Get out! I won't sign for such a small compensation, nor will I move. You bastards! I, Tian Wenfu, will not yield."
'Coal Lump' winked at his subordinates. Instantly, over a dozen people surrounded him and started a barrage of punches and kicks.
They stopped after beating him for more than ten minutes.
The neighbors around only dared to come forward to check on the situation after the group had left.
"Old Tian, are you alright? Why are you putting yourself through this? These people are inhuman."
Old Tian stumbled to his feet. The bright setting sun shone on his thin, pale face, highlighting the bruises on his swollen mouth.
"If you don't give adequate compensation, I won't move even if I die."
...
The next day at noon, 'Coal Lump' and his group arrived in a vehicle with an excavator. Without any warning, they leveled the courtyard wall of the first house.
Despite their fear, they couldn't afford a new house with the meager compensation they received. In the end, everyone could only choose to call the police.
'Coal Lump' and his men were experienced with such matters. Both parties were taken in for questioning and released shortly after.
The families who called the police were unlucky.
Not only were they beaten, but their houses were also razed.
"Don't you know I have connections upstairs? I'd like to see who has the guts to hold out till the end."
The standoff continued for two more days. Many families couldn't endure the harassment and chose to endure and move away.
One morning, a resident coming out to dump swill saw something hanging on the Tian family's front door from afar. Curious, they cautiously approached and took a few steps closer, only to be so terrified by what they saw that they collapsed onto the ground...