Chapter 2: Relatives

Luocheng, Central Garden.

Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling stood in front of a villa, outside the beige wall, a wooden sign read "Central Garden 33, Peace and Joy."

Wang Huiling said sarcastically, "When your brother's family first moved into their new house, your sister-in-law would invite us over for barbecues every other day, as if only they had a villa and a yard, not enough for her to show off!"

"You have a villa now too," Chen Shuo said proudly, "If it weren't for your husband's smarts, could you live in a villa?"

Wang Huiling happily linked her arm with Chen Shuo's, "Look at you, so capable!"

Chen Shuo opened the door with his fingerprint. As soon as the door opened, they saw the grand and spacious living room with a crystal chandelier, and an Italian leather sofa.

However, the most prominent coffee table in the living room displayed a black-and-white photo of Chen Ji's parents, with fresh fruit placed in front of them.

Wang Huiling muttered, "How could he put the memorial photo in the living room? Does Chen Ji know any rules? Isn't he afraid of it being creepy? Even if he isn't, wouldn't it be uncomfortable for guests?"

With a loud thud, Chen Shuo carelessly threw the memorial photo into the trash bin.

Back then, when he wanted to start a big business and asked his brother for four million, his brother said he wasn't suitable for big business and only gave him twenty thousand to open a small supermarket, treating him like a beggar.

Wang Huiling sat on the leather sofa, touching here and there, looking at the 100-inch LCD TV opposite, she said happily, "How comfortable it would be to watch dramas here? They really lived like gods."

"Who cares about watching TV, let's go upstairs and find the property deed. I remember they also bought some gold, find that too."

On the second-floor corridor wall, there were honor certificates for "Outstanding Student" and "First Prize in Luocheng Go Tournament," all belonging to Chen Ji.

Wang Huiling pouted at the sight, "Every time we come here, your sister-in-law drags us upstairs to show off. Hurry up and throw them away, it's so annoying."

Wang Huiling immediately tore down the certificates and threw them on the ground, unable to wait a moment longer.

Opening the doors of the bedrooms, Chen Ji's room was stacked with books, mostly military science popularization books, as well as detective, mystery, and espionage novels, and many professional science popularization books.

On the desk, there was an acceptance letter from the Army Foreign Language College.

Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling rummaged through the room, clearing out and throwing away the belongings of Chen Ji's family, as if only by erasing these traces would the house truly belong to them.

In the living room, Chen Shuo scratched his increasingly thinning scalp, "Hmm, where's the property deed? Where did Chen Ji put the real estate certificate?"

"Did he guess something and hide the deed outside?"

"That's unlikely, Old Liu said he still thinks we're doing him a favor."

Wang Huiling quickly said, "We are indeed doing him a favor. After his parents passed away, he stays at home all day, not going out. If this continues, he'll definitely have problems and become disconnected from society!"

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang.

Chen Shuo was taken aback, "It's so late, who is it?"

He went to open the door, and outside stood a middle-aged man in a black Tang suit, with dark skin and a short, neat haircut, looking particularly sharp: "Where's Chen Ji?"

Chen Shuo was suspicious, "Chen Ji isn't here. What do you want? I'm his uncle."

"Uncle?" The middle-aged man pushed past Chen Shuo and walked in. Only then did Chen Shuo notice the person behind him.

This person had a shiny bald head with a scar over ten centimeters long, like a centipede, extending from his forehead to the back of his head.

"Who are you?" Wang Huiling stepped back in fear, "We're going to call the police!"

The middle-aged man looked around indifferently, "Friends call me Paoge. I usually do some lending business. The one behind me is my little brother, Erdao. Don't be afraid, Erdao's scar looks fierce, but it's just from a fall at a construction site. Now his brain isn't too good, a bit stubborn."

Paoge continued, "We're here because Chen Ji mortgaged this house. He called me this afternoon saying he couldn't pay back the money, so I came to collect the house."

"What?!" Wang Huiling was shocked, "Why would he mortgage this house? This house is ours!"

"Oh?" Paoge said calmly, "The deed is in Chen Ji's name, what does it have to do with you?"

"How much did he mortgage it for?" Chen Shuo asked nervously.

"Fifteen million," Paoge sat down on the sofa, "We follow the rules. As long as the customer can pay back the principal and interest, we'll be fine. But I like this house now, so no need to pay back the money, the house is mine."

"No way!" Wang Huiling shouted, "Chen Ji is a mental patient, his mortgage contract is invalid."

This reminded Chen Shuo, he said urgently, "Right, Chen Ji is a mental patient, we have his diagnosis!"

Paoge frowned.

Looking at the date on the diagnosis, he laughed in anger. Chen Ji had arranged for him to come tonight, but suddenly produced a diagnosis, clearly trying to trick him. Not having money to pay back the debt was understandable, but treating him like a fool was too much: "So you were waiting for me, you planned this, didn't you? Kneel down."

"What?" Chen Shuo almost thought he heard wrong.

Erdao: "Paoge, kneel where?"

"Kneel in front of me."

Before Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling could react, Erdao dragged them to Paoge and kicked them in the knees, making them kneel in front of him.

Paoge bent down and looked at Chen Shuo, "I've been through a lot in this world, what haven't I seen? You think you can trick me? Break a finger and then we'll talk."

Erdao: "Which finger?"

"Index finger."

Erdao: "Which joint?"

Paoge scratched his eyebrow in exasperation, "The second joint."

Their conversation was bizarre. Erdao did exactly as Paoge said, without hesitation.

Erdao's hand, like a vise, gripped Chen Shuo's index finger and snapped the second joint with a precise crack.

"Ah!" Chen Shuo cried out in pain.

"I'm calling the police!" Wang Huiling shouted.

Paoge: "Erdao, slap her."

"How hard?"

Paoge sneered, "Slap her until she sees her great-grandmother."

Erdao thought for two seconds, then slapped her hard, making Wang Huiling see stars.

After the slap, Erdao observed Wang Huiling's expression and turned to Paoge seriously, "She should have seen her."

Paoge took the diagnosis from Chen Shuo, "I'm a reasonable person. Since Chen Ji says he can't pay, the house is mine. Normally, that would be the end of it, but I hate being deceived. You set up a trap for me, so you should face the consequences."

"No!" Chen Shuo gradually realized, "No, no, no! This wasn't our trap, it was Chen Ji's trap, and we were deceived too!"

"Oh?"

Chen Shuo, in pain, sweat pouring down his forehead, "Chen Ji said he couldn't pay, so he asked you to come collect the house. But as far as I know, his parents left him at least thirty million! He can't possibly be short of money, and he doesn't need to mortgage this house, let alone be unable to pay you back!"

This surprised Paoge. Chen Ji wasn't short of money?

As Chen Shuo analyzed, his mind also cleared up: Chen Ji's performance at Qing Shan Hospital was all an act, just to make them bring the diagnosis back and anger Paoge, while Chen Ji himself stayed safe in the hospital.

So, Chen Ji chose a ruthless person from the underworld to take over the house instead of a regular bank!

Paoge thought for a moment, "Chen Ji? He seemed so honest and shy, are you lying to me?"

He recalled his impression of Chen Ji, who was particularly shy and quiet when signing the contract.

Could such a sheltered student have the nerve to trick everyone?

Seeing his hesitation, Chen Shuo continued, "Didn't he trick me too? I didn't even know he signed a mortgage with you. Doesn't that prove something? And you want this house, right? He can pay you back anytime, and once you deal with me, he can redeem the house, and you'll only earn some interest! He's playing you!"

Paoge smiled faintly, "So you're saying I was used by a high school student?"

"He's not a high school student, he was specially recruited to the Army Foreign Language College."

Paoge's eyebrows raised, "That school teaches more than just foreign languages, the graduates are all diplomatic attachés... Interesting, where is Chen Ji now?"

"At Qing Shan Mental Hospital!"

(End of Chapter)