131: Daqiang secretly rented out an old house and pocketed the rent; his three sons' antics were once again foiled by the rest of the family.

Tuesday morning at nine o'clock, under the plane tree at the entrance of the Su Family Old Residence, fallen leaves were piled half a foot thick. Su Daqiang was wrapped in a dusty cotton-padded jacket, clutching a crumpled "House Lease Contract" in his hand. The figure "Monthly Rent 6,000 Yuan" on the contract had been traced over in black ballpoint pen—the actual market price was 8,000 Yuan; he wanted to pocket the difference. The tenant, Sister Li, stood nearby holding a suitcase, just about to sign, when Su Mingcheng suddenly emerged from the alleyway. Clutching a calculator and swaying nonchalantly, he said, "Sister, renting a house? I'm the 'actual manager' of this property. You have to sign the contract with me. Monthly rent is 7,500, three months' deposit and one month's rent upfront—pay 22,500 first!"

Sister Li was stunned and looked at Su Daqiang. "Old man, is this your son? Didn't you say before that you'd discussed it with your daughter and it was 6,000 a month?"

Su Daqiang hurriedly hid the contract behind his back. "He's talking nonsense! Mingcheng, don't cause trouble. I'm the one in charge of this house!"

"You're in charge?" Su Mingcheng snatched the contract and tore off a corner. "Dad, did you forget? Last time you said you'd let me be the sub-landlord and I'd take thirty percent of the rent! That girl Mingyu is busy with projects; how would she have time for this? Today, this contract must be signed with me!"

Just then, Mingyu's car pulled up at the roadside. She had just finished handling a tenant dispute at Company Name (Su Daqiang had been reported for raising rent arbitrarily). Clutching the property deed and a formal lease contract, she quickly got out of the car. "Dad, Mingcheng, I own a quarter of this house's property rights. Renting it out must be discussed with me! Sister Li, as I told you before, it's 6,000 a month. We'll follow the formal contract; I've already registered it with an agency."

Su Mingcheng reached out to grab the property deed. "Sister, don't meddle in other people's business! Dad and I can make the decisions! If you don't let me be the sub-landlord, I'll go to your project partners and make a scene, saying you can't even manage your own family's house, so how can you manage a project!"

Before Mingyu could retort, her mobile phone rang. It was a video call from Su Mingzhe. He was wearing a freshly washed shirt, with a kitchen in the United States as his background. "Mingyu, Dad and Mingcheng just want to make a bit more money; don't be so pedantic. I need to pay off a 10,000 USD credit card debt recently. Let them take a bit more rent; consider it helping me share the burden. The old residence is the root of the Su Family; don't always just think about your own property rights!"

With the three of them arguing, making a scene, and applying remote pressure, Sister Li frowned and backed away. "Your family's situation is too messy. I think I won't rent it after all."

"Don't, Sister Li!" Su Daqiang got anxious and reached out to pull Sister Li, but was blocked by Mingyu. Seeing this, Su Mingcheng raised his hand to push Mingyu, when Zhu Li suddenly shouted, "Su Mingcheng, don't you dare lay a hand on her!"

Zhu Li held a printed "Urban Housing Rental Market Price List," followed by Wu Fei and Xiao Mi. She had received a WeChat message from Mingyu that morning saying "Dad might be trying to rent out the old residence privately," so she checked the market prices and rushed over. Wu Fei, fearing Mingyu might be at a disadvantage, also brought Xiao Mi along, arriving just in time to witness this scene.

"Su Daqiang, the market price for old residences in this area is 8,000 a month. You told Sister Li 6,000 because you wanted to pocket the 2,000 difference!" Zhu Li handed the price list to Sister Li. "Sister Li, look, this is the market price just issued by the agency. He's deceiving you!"

Wu Fei also chimed in: "Su Mingzhe, you have 58,000 USD in your American account, and you even bought a 12,000 coffee machine last week. How can you say you owe credit card debt? You just want Mingyu to back down so you can split the rent!"

Xiao Mi hid behind Wu Fei, clutching a piece of candy she'd just bought, and said softly, "Mommy, yesterday Grandpa told Uncle (Mingcheng), 'Report the rent 2,000 lower and I'll pocket it, then you become the sub-landlord and raise it by another 1,500, and we'll split it to pay off gambling debts.' Uncle also said 'Mingyu doesn't know the market price.'"

Su Daqiang's face turned white instantly. He hurriedly clutched his cotton-padded jacket pocket tight, but didn't notice a slip of paper falling out. On it was written: "Tenant quote 6,000, actual 8,000, pocket the difference."

"Whether there's pocketing or not, you'll know by listening to this." Mr. Xie's voice came from the alleyway entrance. He was carrying a black briefcase, followed by a man in a suit—it was Manager Zhang from the community agency. In his hand was a "Su Family Old Residence Lease Registration Form," which clearly stated: "Property Owners: Su Daqiang, Su Mingzhe, Su Mingcheng, Su Mingyu. Jointly owned by four people; leasing requires unanimous consent."

Mr. Xie parted the crowd and stepped forward, first nodding to Manager Zhang. "Please, Manager Zhang, tell everyone about the property rights and leasing regulations."

Manager Zhang opened the registration form and pointed to the "Joint Property Rights Clause." "Mr. Su Daqiang, the Su Family Old Residence is jointly owned by four people. According to regulations, leasing must be signed and agreed upon by all four owners. You negotiating 6,000 a month with a tenant alone and trying to bypass Ms. Su Mingyu has already violated joint property regulations. Furthermore, when you came to the agency to inquire yesterday, we clearly told you the market price was 8,000, yet you still wanted to pocket the difference. Isn't that the case?"

Su Daqiang panicked instantly and reached out to grab the registration form. "You're lying! I didn't go to the agency at all!"

"Didn't go?" Mr. Xie took a mobile phone out of his briefcase and played a recording—it was recorded yesterday using Time Stop. Su Daqiang was on the phone with Su Mingcheng in the agency: "Just tell the tenant 6,000. I'll keep the 2,000 difference, and you be the sub-landlord to raise it by another 1,500. When you get the money, pay off your 40,000 gambling debt first. I'll keep 10,000 for travel. Tell Mingzhe over there to let him take 5,000 too. If Mingyu doesn't agree, you go make a scene at her project; it'll definitely work!" In the recording, Su Daqiang could also be heard saying, "If the agency asks, just say Mingyu agreed."

As soon as the recording played, Sister Li's face turned red with anger. "So you all conspired to deceive me! I'm absolutely not renting this house!"

Seeing this, Su Mingcheng reached out to grab Sister Li's suitcase to prevent her from leaving. Mr. Xie grabbed his wrist and gave it a gentle twist—using the Nine Yin Manual's force-displacing technique learned from the condor heroes world. Su Mingcheng immediately let out a howl of pain, a red ring appearing around his wrist. "Su Mingcheng, I warned you last time. If you dare act tough again, I'll cripple one of your hands. Did you think I was just blowing hot air?"

Mr. Xie pulled Su Mingcheng's gambling debt collection notice from his briefcase and threw it in front of him. "You owe the casino 40,000, and the repayment date is tomorrow. Thinking of being a sub-landlord to cheat rent money to pay your gambling debts—don't think nobody knows!"

Su Mingcheng's face instantly lost all color, and he hung his head, not daring to speak. On the video call, Su Mingzhe hurriedly turned off his camera, his voice stammering, "I... I suddenly remembered I need to go to the supermarket. Hanging up now!"

Mr. Xie then took out Su Mingzhe's bank statements and waved them at the phone screen. "Su Mingzhe, stop playing poor—an 18,000 USD bonus just entered your American account last week, and your balance is now 61,000 USD. How can you say you owe credit card debt? You just want a share of the rent to pay your own debts. You're incredibly selfish!"

The words "Bonus Income 18,000 USD" on the statement were particularly glaring. Su Mingzhe's video call went black. Manager Zhang also couldn't stand it and said to the passing neighbors, "Everyone should be careful when renting the Su Family's house in the future. This family even cheats their own property owners!"

Su Daqiang no longer had the face to stay. He scrambled up, picked up the torn contract from the ground, and ran into the alley. Su Mingcheng also hurriedly followed, nearly stepping into a puddle in the pile of fallen leaves as he ran. Sister Li spat at their retreating backs and said to Mingyu, "Ms. Su, fortunately you came in time, otherwise I would have been cheated! In the future, I'll definitely check the property rights before renting a house!"

Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief, thanked Sister Li, and turned to Mr. Xie. "Thank you, Mr. Xie. If you hadn't recorded the evidence in advance and registered with the agency, not only would I have been cheated of the rent today, but Sister Li would have been dragged into it too."

"Why be so polite with me?" Mr. Xie pulled a bottle of hot soy milk from his inner universe and handed it to her—knowing she hadn't had time for breakfast, he'd specially bought a sweet one. "Drink something hot first. I've already told Manager Zhang that any future lease for the old residence must be signed by all four owners; missing even one won't do."

Zhu Li and Wu Fei also walked over. Zhu Li handed the market price list to Mingyu. "I checked; 8,000 is a fair price for this area. In the future, let's find a formal agency for renting so they can't exploit any more loopholes."

Wu Fei helped Xiao Mi wipe the candy crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "Xiao Mi letting it slip just now can be considered a contribution. Come to my place tonight to make dumplings; let's celebrate properly that they didn't succeed in their deception."

Mr. Xie took three small porcelain bottles from his inner universe and handed them to the three women. "These are nine flower jade dew pills. You've had a scare today; taking one can calm your nerves. Tonight I'll bring some oranges I just bought; doesn't Xiao Mi love them?"

Hearing "oranges," Xiao Mi immediately poked her head out from behind Wu Fei, her eyes sparkling. "Uncle, can I help you peel the oranges? I peel them very cleanly!"

Mr. Xie smiled and patted her head. "Of course you can. The oranges Xiao Mi peels will definitely be the sweetest."

In the afternoon, Mingyu took the formal contract to the agency for registration. Manager Zhang specially added a note: "Clear property rights, four signatures required." He also said if any tenants inquired, they would verify the property status first. Mingyu felt much more at ease and sent a message to Mr. Xie: "Registration is done. Manager Zhang said he'll help keep an eye on things. I'll bring a bottle of good wine for the dumplings tonight."

Mr. Xie replied quickly: "Great, I'm already buying the oranges. Xiao Mi will surely be happy."

In the evening, the aroma of dumplings wafted through Wu Fei's kitchen. Xiao Mi stood on a small stool, tiptoeing to help Mr. Xie peel oranges. The peeled orange segments were first handed to Mr. Xie, then shared with Mingyu and Zhu Li. Mingyu was skilled at rolling the dough, and the cabbage and pork filling Zhu Li seasoned was perfectly balanced. Wu Fei was boiling the dumplings nearby, occasionally tossing a few frozen ones into the pot as "tasters." The atmosphere was exceptionally warm.

"I really have to thank you this time." Zhu Li served Mr. Xie a bowl of dumpling soup. "If it weren't for the recording you made, Su Daqiang and Su Mingcheng would definitely have kept arguing. They might have actually cheated Sister Li out of the rent."

Mingyu also placed a dumpling in Mr. Xie's bowl. "Not only did you help me block my family's nonsense, but you also helped handle the lease registration. I don't even know how to thank you anymore."

Wu Fei looked at Xiao Mi and Mr. Xie playing together and said with a smile, "Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to come every weekend. She said Uncle peels oranges better than Daddy and listens to her stories about kindergarten."

Mr. Xie raised his bowl and said with a laugh, "Come, let's toast with soup instead of wine! Here's to the Su Family not getting their way this time, and to Mingyu's project going smoothly. May you never be troubled by them again!"

"Cheers!" Four bowls clinked together. Xiao Mi also raised her small porcelain bowl, shouting in a childish voice, "Cheers! I'm going to eat lots of dumplings and oranges!"

When the gathering ended, Mr. Xie saw each of them home. When he dropped Mingyu off at her building, she took a hand-woven keychain out of her bag. It was woven from light brown cotton thread, with a small character for "Residence" on it, adorned with a light brown wooden bead. it happened to pair perfectly with the "Company" character ornament she'd given him before. "I wove this last night. The 'Residence' character is to remind myself to look after the old residence Mom left behind. Thank you for always helping me protect these important things."

Mr. Xie took the keychain, his fingertips feeling the fine texture of the weave. His heart felt warm. "I'll keep it safe. In the future, whether it's the old residence or anything else you care about, I'll help you protect it."

Mingyu's face turned red instantly. She turned and walked quickly into the apartment building, but after a few steps, she looked back and waved to Mr. Xie. The streetlight fell on her face like a soft layer of sugar, exceptionally gentle.

On the drive home, Mr. Xie strung the new keychain together with the previous ornament and hung them from the rearview mirror. He touched his chest, feeling the inner universe—inside were today's recording, Su Mingzhe's bank statements, Su Mingcheng's gambling debt collection notice, and this keychain with the character for "Residence." These weren't cold objects; they were proof of the three female leads' defense of their property rights and principles, and the meaning of his protection.

As the night deepened, the car traveled steadily under the streetlights. A smile remained on Mr. Xie's lips—the satisfying journey in the all is well world was continuing. He knew that the Su Family's three men's antics would only become more and more futile, while the three female leads, under his protection, would live with increasing resolve and confidence. And he would always be their most solid backup, accompanying them through every path that needed support until they completely escaped the shadow of the Su Family and welcomed true freedom.