122: Daqiang secretly sold his old house to hide stolen goods; the three men's greed led to their downfall once again.

Friday at 3:00 PM, the curtains of the Su Family Old Residence were drawn tight, leaving only the desk lamp on the coffee table lit. The dim yellow light cast a long shadow of Su Daqiang. He sat in the middle of the sofa, clutching a dog-eared property deed in one hand while the other fiddled with an old abacus. He made a loud "clatter" as he calculated, yet not a single abacus bead was aligned with a number—he was clearly just putting on an act. Su Mingzhe wore a shirt ironed excessively flat, but he frequently touched the mobile phone in his pocket, his fingertips trembling. Mingcheng squatted in the corner, his lighter clicking repeatedly without catching fire, his eyes staring fixedly at the house sale contract on the coffee table like it was his life-saving money.

"Mingyu, Zhu Li, Wu Fei, sit down since you're here." Su Daqiang didn't even look up as he slapped the property deed onto the contract. "I've already discussed this old residence with the agent. One point two million, and we're signing the contract today. You three have no share in this—Mingyu, for that hundred thousand you spent on renovations back then, I'll give you twenty thousand in compensation. Zhu Li and Mingcheng divorced long ago, so this has nothing to do with you. Wu Fei has a place to live, so there's even less reason for you to get involved. Hurry up and sign the waiver for your shares; don't delay my business!"

Just as Mingyu sat down, her canvas bag hit the leg of the coffee table with a "thud." She had heard from her neighbor, Auntie Zhang, this morning that Su Daqiang was bringing an agent to see the house, so she specifically brought Zhu Li and Wu Fei along. She hadn't expected to actually catch them trying to sell the house privately. "Dad, this house was left by Deceased Mother; I have a legal right of inheritance! Calculating that hundred thousand in renovation money according to current housing prices, it accounts for at least a thirty percent share. Twenty thousand in compensation is just treating me like a beggar!"

"What inheritance right? I am the head of the household!" Su Daqiang pushed the abacus, which slid half an inch across the floor, as he made a show of about to cry. "My old back hurts every day. The money from selling the house is for treating my back and for my retirement. You fighting me for it is unfilial!"

Su Mingzhe hurried over and tugged at his shirt collar. "Mingyu, my rent in America went up by five hundred dollars, and Xiao Mi's tuition is expensive; I really can't produce any money. You're a director, you don't lack this small share, so just consider it helping Dad. Zhu Li, Wu Fei, we're all family, don't be so calculating."

Mingcheng suddenly stood up and slammed his lighter onto the ground. "Exactly! I still owe seventy thousand in gambling debts. Sell the house and give me three hundred thousand, or I'll go make a scene at Xiao Mi's kindergarten so she can't go to school!"

As soon as those words came out, Wu Fei's eyes instantly turned red, and she shielded Xiao Mi more tightly behind her. "Su Mingcheng, you dare touch Xiao Mi and see what happens!"

Zhu Li also took out her mobile phone and opened a photo of the divorce agreement. "Dad, it's written clearly in my divorce agreement with Mingcheng: 'The Su Family Old Residence has no property connection with Zhu Li.' But I must say today—you're selling the house privately and even want to swallow Mingyu's share. This is too much!"

Xiao Mi hid in Wu Fei's arms and quietly tugged at her hem. "Mom, Grandpa has a metal box under his bed. Uncle said last time there's a lot of money inside."

Su Daqiang's face turned pale instantly, and he glared at Xiao Mi. "Don't talk nonsense, child! Where would I get a metal box?"

"Whether there is one or not, we'll know once we look." Xie Hui's voice came from the doorway. He was carrying a briefcase, followed by two people—one was Manager Li, the agent, clutching an unsigned contract, and the other was Director Wang from the neighborhood committee, holding a property registration book.

Xie Hui first nodded to Director Wang. "Could you please explain the property rights of the old residence to Mr. Su?"

Director Wang opened the registration book and pointed to the 'Co-owners' column. "Mr. Su Daqiang, this house is registered under your name and the deceased Zhao Meilan's name; it is joint marital property. After Ms. Zhao Meilan passed away, the property rights are shared by four people: you, Su Mingzhe, Su Mingcheng, and Su Mingyu. You have no right to sell it alone."

Su Daqiang's hands began to shake. He tried to grab the registration book, but Director Wang dodged him. "Impossible! I've lived here for so many years; it's my house!"

"Whether it's yours or not, you'll know after listening to this recording." Xie Hui took a mobile phone out of his briefcase and played a recording—it was recorded yesterday using 'Time Stop.' Su Daqiang was in the agency telling Manager Li: 'I'll trick that girl Mingyu regarding her share, just say she's voluntarily waiving it. Zhu Li is divorced and has no right to interfere. Wu Fei is easy to bully; she'll soften up after I cry a bit. After selling it, I'll keep five hundred thousand, Mingzhe will take two hundred thousand for rent, Mingcheng will take three hundred thousand for gambling debts, and the rest will be your extra commission...'"

The calculating voice in the recording was clear and piercing. Su Daqiang's face turned the color of pig liver as he reached out to grab the phone, but Xie Hui stepped aside to dodge him. Su Mingzhe quickly tried to smooth things over: "Mr. Xie, this is our family matter, don't interfere! I really do need money for rent, otherwise I'll be kicked out by the landlord."

"Need money?" Xie Hui pulled a bank statement from his briefcase and threw it in front of Su Mingzhe. "Your American account just received a thirty thousand dollar year-end bonus last month, and you even transferred ten thousand dollars to your younger sister Su Minglan to buy luxury bags. How could you be short on rent?" The words "Transfer to Su Minglan 10,000 USD" on the statement were glaringly red, and the color instantly drained from Su Mingzhe's face.

Seeing this, Mingcheng tried to slip out the door but was blocked by Xie Hui. "Where are you going? Didn't you call the casino debt collectors yesterday and say, 'Once the old residence is sold, I'll pay back the seventy thousand, and I'll have enough left to play a few more rounds'? Did you forget?" Xie Hui played another recording, where Mingcheng's voice was mixed with the background noise of a casino: "My dad can definitely handle my sister. Once the money is in hand, I'll go win back my losses..."

Mingcheng's legs went weak, and he collapsed into a squat on the floor. "I was wrong! I won't gamble anymore!"

Zhu Li also took out a document, a property appraisal she had a lawyer prepare. "Dad, this is the appraisal report for the old residence. The current market price is at least one point five million. The agent offering one point two million is clearly a lowball price—you just wanted to sell it quickly to pocket the money, fearing that delays would bring trouble!"

Wu Fei also brought out Xiao Mi's birth certificate and lawyer consultation records. "Su Mingzhe, as the granddaughter, Xiao Mi has the Right of Representation in Inheritance; you have no right to waive it for her! Furthermore, you have over fifty thousand dollars in your account. You don't lack retirement money at all; you just wanted to help Dad swallow Mingyu's share!"

With evidence scattered all over the floor, the three men of the Su Family lost all their previous arrogance. Su Daqiang hung his head, his fingers picking at the sofa seam. Su Mingzhe stared at the tips of his leather shoes, not daring to look up. Mingcheng squatted on the floor, his head buried almost to his knees.

"Do you still want to sell the house privately?" Xie Hui looked at the three of them, his tone as cold as ice. "Either divide the house according to shares, or don't sell it. Su Daqiang, if you dare look for an agent again, I'll hand the evidence to the court for a property rights ruling. Su Mingzhe, Su Mingcheng, if you dare threaten anyone again, I'll send your bank statements and recordings to your American company and the casino, and make sure you suffer the consequences!"

Su Daqiang quickly picked up the property deed and stuffed it into Mingyu's hand. "Not selling! Mingyu, you keep the deed. I'll never have such ideas again!" Su Mingzhe and Mingcheng followed with nods, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Seeing the three of them acting so cowardly, Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xie Hui, "Thank you. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have been able to keep my own share."

"No need to be polite with me." Xie Hui took three small porcelain bottles out of his inner universe and handed them to the three women. "These are nine flower jade dew pills. Since you were upset today, take one to calm your nerves. Xiao Mi was quite frightened; let's take her for an outdoor barbecue and play with bubbles for a while."

Hearing "bubbles," Xiao Mi immediately poked her head out from Wu Fei's arms. "Uncle, I want to blow big bubbles!"

On the community lawn in the afternoon, the sun was just right. Xiao Mi ran ahead holding a bubble machine, while Xie Hui followed behind to help her pick up the bubble solution that fell on the ground. Mingyu sat on a picnic mat, telling Zhu Li and Wu Fei the good news she just received—the new energy project had received a government subsidy, Zhu Li's audit project won an industry award, and Wu Fei had also found a part-time accounting job.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have the heart to work on projects at all." Mingyu handed Xie Hui a bottle of ice-cold cola. "I used to be so plagued by family matters that I had headaches, but now I can finally do my work with peace of mind."

Zhu Li also said with a smile, "I can lead audit projects independently now, and my boss even said he'd give me a raise. This is all thanks to you keeping Mingcheng away from me."

Wu Fei patted Xiao Mi's head. "I've finished talking with the lawyer. We can handle the divorce procedures next week. I won't have to bicker with Su Mingzhe anymore."

The evening barbecue stall wafted with the scent of meat. Xiao Mi sat next to Xie Hui, her face covered in corn as she gnawed on a grilled cob. Mingyu placed a skewer of grilled chicken wings on Xie Hui's plate. "Thanks to you for helping me keep my share today. Have more of these chicken wings."

Zhu Li handed Xie Hui a cup of chilled sour plum soup. "To cut through the grease. You've been running around all day; you must be tired."

Wu Fei took out a drawing, which was a family portrait Xiao Mi had drawn—it featured Wu Fei, Xiao Mi, as well as Mingyu and Zhu Li. On the far side, there was a little figure holding a bubble machine, with "Uncle Xie" written next to it. "Xiao Mi drew this specifically, saying she wanted to give it to you."

Xie Hui took the drawing, his heart warming. He raised his sour plum soup. "Come, cheers! Here's to us never being bothered by the Su Family again and to our lives getting better and better!"

"Cheers!" Four cups clinked together, and Xiao Mi, holding her corn cob, followed the shout: "Cheers!"

When they dispersed, Xie Hui sent Mingyu home. When they reached the bottom of her building, she took a hand-sewn car sachet from her bag, filled with dried lavender. "This is lavender I dried last week. I sewed a sachet; you can hang it in your car to calm your nerves. Thank you for always protecting me."

Xie Hui took the sachet, a faint fragrance lingering around his nose. "I like it very much. Thank you."

Mingyu's face instantly turned red. She turned and ran into the hallway, then after a few steps, she turned back and waved at Xie Hui.

On the drive home, Xie Hui touched the inner universe in his chest—inside were today's recordings, bank statements, the property appraisal report, as well as Xiao Mi's drawing and the lavender sachet. These were not cold pieces of evidence, but proof of them slowly escaping the shadows and living with confidence. He knew the three men of the Su Family might still be unwilling, but as long as he was there, no one could make them suffer again. As the night deepened, the car drove steadily under the streetlights, a smile remaining on Xie Hui's lips—the satisfying journey in the all is well world was still continuing, and he looked forward even more to seeing them fully blossom.