132: Daqiang sells his belongings to swindle money; the three men cause trouble again, only to be thwarted by everyone else.

At two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, in the courtyard of the Su Family Old Residence, the wind carried withered leaves onto the dust-covered mahogany dressing table. Su Daqiang, wrapped in a faded cotton padded jacket, was directing Mingcheng to move the dressing table, its wooden legs scraping against the bluestone slab with a harsh sound. "Move it gently! This was your mother's dowry, don't scratch it!" Su Daqiang shouted to be careful, but his eyes were fixed on the antique dealer at the door, clutching a crumpled note that read, "Quote 8000, tell Mingyu 5000, pocket the 3000 difference."

Mingyu had just rushed over from Company Name — she had received a WeChat message that morning from Aunt Zhang, saying, "Your dad is moving your mom's dressing table, looks like he's going to sell it." She was also clutching the silver bracelet Deceased Mother wore when she was alive (wanting to place it on the dressing table as a memento). Seeing this scene, she quickly rushed over: "Dad! Mingcheng! Don't move it! This dressing table was left by Mom, I want to keep it!"

Mingcheng stopped what he was doing and swaggered casually: "Sister, what's the use of keeping this broken dressing table? It can fetch 8000 yuan! Dad said he'd give you 5000, and I'll take the remaining 3000 as 'moving fees,' so you won't lose out!"

"5000?" Su Daqiang quickly interjected, sinking half an inch to the ground, feigning tears, "Mingyu, my old bones need to pay property fees, and Mingcheng needs to eat too, just pity us! Short for Su Mingzhe video called me from America and said this furniture is useless, told you not to stop us!"

No sooner had he spoken than Mingyu's mobile phone rang. It was a video call from Su Mingzhe, wearing a new sweater, with American supermarket shelves in the background: "Mingyu, Dad and Mingcheng also have no choice, don't be so particular. I recently have to pay 10,000 US dollars in house repair fees, I really can't spare any money to help them, just let them sell it for now, and I'll buy you a new one later."

The three of them sang in harmony, and the antique dealer also chimed in: "Miss, this dressing table is only worth 5000. The old man has already negotiated with me, just let them sell it."

Mingyu was both anxious and angry. Just as she was about to take out her mobile phone to check the market price, Zhu Li and Wu Fei arrived with Xiao Mi — Zhu Li had helped Mingyu organize Deceased Mother's inventory of relics that morning and saw the dressing table listed. Fearing something fishy, she pulled Wu Fei, who had just dropped Xiao Mi off at calligraphy class, to come over, and they happened to witness this scene.

"Su Daqiang, don't lie!" Zhu Li quickly stepped forward, pulled out a printed copy of the "Antique Furniture Market Price List" from her bag, and pointed to the "Mahogany Dressing Table" section, "A dressing table of this model is worth at least 12000 now. You told the dealer 8000, told Mingyu 5000, you want to pocket 7000!"

Wu Fei also chimed in, shielding Xiao Mi behind her: "Su Mingzhe, you have 61000 US dollars in your American account, and last week you even bought a 15000 treadmill. How can you say you can't afford the repair fees? You just want Mingyu to back down so you can get a cut!"

Xiao Mi hid in Wu Fei's arms, clutching the character "Fu" (meaning good fortune) she had just written, and whispered: "Mommy, yesterday Grandpa told Uncle (Mingcheng), 'If we sell the dressing table, I'll take 4000 to buy a radio, and you take 3000 to pay off gambling debts.' Uncle also said, 'Mingyu doesn't know the market price, she's easy to fool.'"

Su Daqiang's face instantly turned pale. He quickly stuffed the note into his cotton padded jacket, but didn't notice that a corner of the note was exposed, which the antique dealer glimpsed. "Old man, what is this..." The dealer frowned and stepped back, "You told me 8000, and your daughter 5000, I'm not doing this business!"

"Don't go!" Su Daqiang panicked and reached out to grab the dealer, but Mingyu stopped him. Seeing this, Mingcheng raised his hand to push Mingyu, when Mr. Xie's voice suddenly came: "Mingcheng, try to lay a hand on her!"

Mr. Xie was carrying a black briefcase, followed by a man in a suit — Master Li, an appraiser from the city's antique market, holding an appraisal report for the dressing table, which stated, "Republic of China mahogany dressing table, market estimated value 15000 yuan." He quickly walked into the courtyard, first nodding to Master Li: "Master Li, please tell everyone the true value of this dressing table."

Master Li opened the report and pointed to "Appraisal Basis": "Mr. Su Daqiang, this dressing table is a fine mahogany piece from the Republic of China period, well preserved, with a market price of at least 15000 yuan. When you asked me to appraise it yesterday, I clearly told you, yet you still want to sell it at a low price to pocket the difference, is this true?"

Su Daqiang instantly panicked and reached out to grab the report: "You're talking nonsense! I never asked you to appraise it!"

"Didn't ask?" Mr. Xie took out his mobile phone from his briefcase and played a recording — it was recorded yesterday using Time Stop, a conversation between Su Daqiang and Master Li in the antique market: "Just say this dressing table is worth 8000. If my daughter asks, say 5000; Mingcheng helps me move it, give him 3000 to pay off gambling debts, I'll take 4000 to buy a radio, tell Short for Su Mingzhe to take 4000 to pay off his credit card; if Mingyu disagrees, Mingcheng will go make trouble at her project, it will definitely work!" In the recording, Su Daqiang could also be heard saying, "I'll only give you 200 for the appraisal fee, don't ask for more."

As soon as the recording was played, the surrounding neighbors gathered, some pointing at Su Daqiang and saying, "Old Su, you're too heartless! You even cheat money from your deceased wife's relics!" "Mingyu is too pitiful, always being schemed against by her family!"

Seeing this, Mingcheng reached out to grab Mr. Xie's mobile phone. Mr. Xie dodged sideways, and at the same time grabbed his wrist, using a technique of redirecting force from the Nine Yin Manual learned in the condor heroes world — it seemed effortless, but it made Mingcheng scream "Ow" in pain, his wrist turning red: "Mingcheng, I warned you last time, if you dare to touch Mingyu again, I'll cripple one of your hands. Did you take it as idle talk?"

Mr. Xie pulled out Mingcheng's gambling debt collection notice from his briefcase and threw it in front of him: "You still owe the casino 30,000, and the repayment date is tomorrow. Don't think no one knows you want to use the dressing table money to pay off gambling debts!"

Mingcheng's face instantly lost all color, and he hung his head, not daring to speak. Su Mingzhe quickly turned off his camera on the video call, his voice stammering: "I... I suddenly remembered I have to pick up the kids, I'm hanging up now!"

Mr. Xie then took out Su Mingzhe's bank statement and waved it at the mobile phone screen: "Su Mingzhe, stop pretending to be poor — last week, 20,000 USD in bonus just entered your American account, and your balance is now 63,000 USD. How can you say you can't afford the repair fees? You just want to pocket the difference to pay off your own debts, you're so selfish!"

The words "Bonus Income 20000USD" on the statement were particularly glaring, and Su Mingzhe's video call immediately went black. The antique dealer was also furious, and said to Su Daqiang: "You're cheating me and your daughter, don't even think about doing business in the antique market again!" After saying that, he picked up his toolbox and left.

Su Daqiang had no face to stay any longer, so he got up, picked up the note from the ground, and hid in the house. Mingcheng also quickly followed him in, almost pinching his finger when he closed the door. The neighbors looked at their disheveled appearance and comforted Mingyu: "Mingyu, don't be angry, such people are not worth it!" "Luckily Mr. Xie came in time, otherwise you would have suffered another loss!"

Mingyu sighed in relief, gently placed Deceased Mother's silver bracelet on the dressing table, and said to Mr. Xie: "Thank you, Mr. Xie. If you hadn't arranged for an appraiser and recorded evidence in advance, I wouldn't have been able to keep Mom's relics today, and I would have been cheated out of 7000 yuan by them."

"Why are you being so polite with me?" Mr. Xie took out a bottle of hot red date tea from his inner universe and handed it to her — knowing she had been staying up late for her project recently, he specifically put it in a thermos. "Drink something hot to warm yourself up. Master Li said that if this dressing table is well maintained, its value can still increase. I've already contacted a furniture maintenance master for you, who will come tomorrow to take care of it."

Zhu Li and Wu Fei also walked over. Zhu Li helped Mingyu wipe the dust off the dressing table: "Mingyu, don't be angry, this dressing table is saved, we can come and see it often in the future, it's also a way to remember Auntie."

Wu Fei shook the "Fu" character in her hand: "Xiao Mi specially wrote the 'Fu' character to stick on the dressing table mirror, which can bring good luck. Come to my house for dinner tonight, we'll make dumplings with cabbage and pork filling, which Auntie loved when she was alive, as a celebration for saving the relics."

Mr. Xie took out three small porcelain bottles from his inner universe and handed them to the three of them respectively: "These are nine flower jade dew pills. You've been startled today, so taking one can calm your nerves. Tonight, I'll bring some freshly bought apples; doesn't Xiao Mi love to eat them?"

Xiao Mi heard "apples" and immediately poked her head out from behind Wu Fei, her eyes sparkling: "Uncle, can I help you wash the apples? I wash them super clean!"

Mr. Xie smiled and patted her head: "Of course you can, the apples Xiao Mi washes will definitely be the sweetest."

In the afternoon, Mingyu stayed at the Su Family Old Residence guarding the dressing table. The maintenance master came to carefully wipe and wax it, and the dressing table gradually regained its former luster. She looked at herself in the mirror, recalling the scene of her mother sitting at the dressing table braiding her hair when she was a child, her eyes reddening slightly. She took out her mobile phone and sent a message to Mr. Xie: "The master said the dressing table is well maintained. Tonight at dinner, I'll bring a bottle of the yellow wine Mom loved to drink when she was alive, and we'll toast her together."

Mr. Xie quickly replied: "Okay, I'm already buying apples. Xiao Mi is still looking forward to sticking the 'Fu' character with you."

That evening, the aroma of dumplings filled Wu Fei's kitchen. Xiao Mi stood on a small stool, helping Mr. Xie wash apples. The washed apples were first given to Mingyu, then to Zhu Li and Wu Fei. Mingyu's technique for rolling dumpling wrappers was exceptionally gentle, Zhu Li's cabbage and pork filling tasted very similar to Deceased Mother's, and Wu Fei cooked dumplings nearby, occasionally tossing a few frozen dumplings into the pot as "samples." The atmosphere was warm and filled with a touch of nostalgia.

"I really have to thank you this time." Zhu Li served Mr. Xie a bowl of dumpling soup, "If you hadn't hired an appraiser and recorded the conversation, Su Daqiang and Mingcheng would have definitely cheated Mingyu out of the dressing table, and she would have been so sad."

Mingyu also picked up a dumpling for Mr. Xie: "These dumplings taste just like my mom's. Thank you for helping me save her dressing table, and for preserving my memories of her."

Wu Fei watched Xiao Mi and Mr. Xie sticking the 'Fu' character, smiling: "Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to come every weekend, saying that Uncle can protect us and will listen to her talk about kindergarten, even better than Daddy."

Mr. Xie raised his bowl and said with a smile: "Come, let's toast with soup instead of wine! To saving Auntie's relics, and to the smooth progress of Mingyu's project, and never again being troubled by those annoying Su Family matters!"

"Cheers!" Four bowls clinked together, and Xiao Mi also raised her small porcelain bowl, childishly shouting along: "Cheers! Let's eat lots of dumplings and apples!"

When they dispersed, Mr. Xie drove them home separately. When he dropped Mingyu off downstairs, she took out a neatly folded blue cloth handkerchief from her bag — it was one Deceased Mother used to use, embroidered with a small orchid: "Mr. Xie, this was left by my mom, please take it. You always help me protect important things. Although this handkerchief isn't valuable, I want you to know how grateful I am to you."

Mr. Xie took the handkerchief, his fingertips feeling the fine texture of the fabric and a faint scent of soapberry. His heart felt warm: "I will keep it safe. In the future, whether it's Auntie's relics or anything else you care about, I will help you protect it."

Mingyu's face instantly flushed. She turned and quickly walked into the apartment building, then after a few steps, she looked back and waved to Mr. Xie. The streetlight illuminated her face, like it was covered with a soft layer of sugar, exceptionally gentle.

On the way home, Mr. Xie carefully placed the blue cloth handkerchief into his inner pocket, then glanced at the keychain and charm hanging on the rearview mirror — the characters "Zhai" and "Zhong" were particularly clear under the light. He touched the inner universe in his chest, which contained today's recording, the appraisal report, Su Mingzhe's bank statement, and this blue cloth handkerchief carrying memories. These were not cold objects, but proof of the three female protagonists' determination to protect their family affection and maintain their confidence in life, and also the meaning of his guardianship.

As night deepened, the car drove steadily under the streetlights, and Mr. Xie's lips curved into a smile — the second part of the all is well world, "Full Intervention, Slapping the su family men's Faces," finally came to an end. He knew that after these repeated exposures and protections, The female protagonists had completely seen through the selfishness of the three su family men, and were becoming increasingly reliant on each other and on him. The upcoming third part, "Emotional Warming, Final Netting," would be the beginning of them breaking free from the shadows and embracing new lives, and he would always be their strongest backing, accompanying them to welcome every hopeful tomorrow.