Li Fei's home was a three-story building, constructed when his father was in the aquaculture business. It was considered quite impressive in Xinghua Village.
At the moment, many villagers had gathered in front of the Li Family's doorway.
All eyes were filled with a touch of anger, directed at Liu Dabao standing at the gate!
Liu Dabao, in his early forties, sported a slicked-back hairstyle, complete with hair gel, making him look rather dapper. Behind him followed four youths with a ruffian air about them.
Chen Huixian, Li Fei's mother, was pushing her husband, Li Zhenyun, in a wheelchair, confronting Liu Dabao at the doorway.
At this time, Liu Dabao took out an IOU and spoke with a smug smile, "Brother, considering our past friendship, I haven't come to collect the hundred thousand yuan you owe me. But it's been two years, and it seems you have no intention of repaying? Isn't that going a bit too far?"
Li Zhenyun's eyes immediately reddened with immense anger as he glared at Liu Dabao, hissing through clenched teeth, "No money to be had here, only a life to take. If you have the guts, come take my life!"
Two years prior, when Li Zhenyun had gotten into trouble and was detained at the police station, Chen Huixian, in her panic, went to Liu Dabao—who had been like a brother to her husband—to discuss what could be done.
Liu Dabao, that beast, deceived Chen Huixian by claiming he had connections in the station and could get Li Zhenyun out, but it would take a hundred thousand yuan in bribes. Chen Huixian agreed, but having no money on her at the time, Liu Dabao volunteered to front the amount.
Chen Huixian was deeply touched at the time and took the initiative to write the IOU. But that beast Liu Dabao took the IOU and not only did he fail to get Li Zhenyun out, he capitalized on Li Zhenyun's detention to take over his business.
Eventually, Li Zhenyun was beaten and his legs were broken while in custody, leaving him disabled by the time he was released.
When Chen Huixian heard Liu Dabao bring out the IOU, she immediately shook with rage and cursed, "Liu Dabao, you have no shame!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Dabao just smirked, "Brother and sister-in-law, repaying debts is a matter of principle. The terms are clearly written on this IOU. If you think of wriggling out of it, don't blame me for disregarding our past relations!"
With a face ashen with rage, Li Zhenyun retorted, "Stop calling me brother. It makes me sick!"
"Li Zhenyun, you're really asking for a face-slapping!" Liu Dabao sneered, then turned to his four lackeys, "Since this cripple won't be reasonable, I, Liu Dabao, shall just have to play hardball. Go, search the house and take out anything of value!"
"Yes, Boss Dabao!"
The four subordinates answered in unison, then swaggered towards Li Fei's house with raucous laughter.
"Bastards, what do you think you're doing?"
Chen Huixian instinctively tried to stop the four men, but was shoved aside. She cried out in pain as she slammed against the courtyard wall, feeling a searing pain in her back.
Liu Dabao said with a sneer, "Today, whether you want to or not, this debt will be repaid!"
Li Zhenyun clenched his fists tightly, his face contorted with hatred as he glared at Liu Dabao and spat out a curse, "You'll get your comeuppance, Liu Dabao!"
With a contemptuous shrug, Liu Dabao replied, "My dear big brother, thanks to your 'blessings', my aquaculture business is booming, earning me at least five to six hundred thousand a year. What kind of retribution are you talking about?"
As he spoke, his lips curled into a sneer, looking at Li Zhenyun in his wheelchair, "Oh right, big brother, now that you've become disabled, could it be that this is the retribution landing on you?"
"You—"
Li Zhenyun was almost choked with rage.
"Liu Dabao, watch your mouth and have some decency!"
"Indeed, if it weren't for Zhenyun helping you back in the day, would you be where you are today? Ungrateful wretch!"
"Alas, like a wolf of the wilds that turns fierce when it gets the chance; this man's heart is too venomous."
"..."
The surrounding villagers could no longer stand by and watch, and couldn't help but voice their concerns.
Liu Dabao's face immediately darkened, and he glared menacingly around, laughing sinisterly, "Come on, those of you who want to curse me, don't hide in the crowd. Have the guts to come forward, point at my nose, and curse!"
The scene suddenly fell silent, and no one spoke anymore.
Liu Dabao was the richest man in Xinghua Village, always followed by a group of lackeys, and he was ruthless. Everyone feared retaliation.
Moreover, the key point was, this guy dealt in the seafood business and sometimes also traded vegetables. The villagers had to sell their vegetables and fish to him.
If they offended him, and he refused to buy their produce and fish, many villagers wouldn't be able to get by.
So normally, this guy strutted around the village arrogantly and domineeringly, and the people were too scared to speak out against him.
Seeing that everyone was intimidated by his words, Liu Dabao's face showed a smug expression.
At this moment, a series of crashing noises came from the house behind him, clearly indicating that something in Li Fei's house had been broken.
Shortly after, the four who had previously entered came out holding Li Fei's LCD TV.
Leading them, Li Sanmao grumbled, "Brother Dabao, this damn TV is the only thing of any value in this house. The rest is all trash that even a junk dealer would disdain! How about we take this TV to your place?"
"That piece of junk, not even my dog would watch it!"
Liu Dabao said disdainfully, then continued, "If any of you fancy it, take it back to your own home!"
Upon hearing this, Li Sanmao immediately laughed, "Thanks, Brother Dabao. If you don't want it, then I'll gladly take it home."
Then, Liu Dabao turned his head again, looking at Li Zhenyun with a mocking smile, "Big brother, since you have no money, there's nothing much to say. Your house looks fairly decent, although it's a bit old. It might barely be worth around a hundred thousand."
"So, just give me this house, and we'll call it even!"
As he spoke, the expressions of the surrounding villagers changed; constructing such a three-story house would cost at least three to four hundred thousand. It was simply impossible on less.
Liu Dabao wanting to take someone's house for just a hundred thousand was outright robbery.
And the key issue was, where would Li Fei's family live without their house?
This was truly a ruthless move!
Li Zhenyun, furious, cursed loudly, "Son of a bitch, keep dreaming! I won't give you the house, and I won't pay you back, either. If you're capable, kill me."
"You dare to be tough with me? You're but a cripple, do you even qualify?"
Liu Dabao dropped all pretense, as the true threat emerged, laughing coldly, "Believe it or not, I'll break your wife's legs too? Let you and your wife spend the second half of your lives in wheelchairs together!"
As his words ended, Li Sanmao and the other three immediately moved forward, viciously surrounding Chen Huixian.
Liu Dabao said with sinister intent, "Li Zhenyun, is it going to be your house or your wife's legs. You choose!"
"Liu Dabao, if a single hair on my mother is touched, you won't get away with it!"
Just then, an icy voice rang out.