Chapter 27: Hush Money

Xu Damao picked up a stool from the ground, hesitated for a moment, and put it back down. A sinister smile played on his lips as he turned, grabbed a washbasin, and headed toward the courtyard's water tap. The splashing sound of the water masked his footsteps. Carrying the basin of icy water, he marched toward the He residence with a look of smug triumph.

However, he was unaware that every move he made was being watched by Yan Jiecheng. Yan followed him stealthily, tailing him all the way to the door of the He house. Crouching by the window, he saw with his own eyes as Xu Damao poured the basin of icy water over the television.

Seeing this, an idea immediately took root in Yan Jiecheng's mind.

As Xu Damao swaggered out of the room, he was caught off guard by Yan Jiecheng waiting at the door, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

"You... why are you here?" Xu Damao stammered.

"I followed you, of course," Yan Jiecheng said, feigning composure. "Xu Damao, what are you doing at the He house again?"

"Nothing much. I just borrowed something from He Yuzhu a couple of days ago and came to return it," Xu Damao instinctively made up a lie.

Yan Jiecheng’s lips twitched, and a playful, mocking light appeared in his eyes. "Xu Damao, oh Xu Damao, you’re as stubborn as a mule. I saw you with my own eyes pouring water all over their TV."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao’s face turned paper-white, drained of all color, and he slumped like a wilted eggplant. Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng hauled him up from the ground, patted the dust off his clothes, and said with a sly grin, "Don't worry, I’m a man who can keep his mouth shut. I won’t go spreading this around. But, you’ll have to show some sincerity and give me twenty yuan as hush money."

"Twenty yuan?" Xu Damao’s eyes widened like copper bells, his voice rising by several decibels.

Yan Jiecheng felt a surge of secret triumph; he was truly his father’s son—the old abacus himself—and making money was just too easy. He chuckled and said, "Xu Damao, you don't understand. This is hard-earned money. Just think, if this gets out, will you ever be able to show your face in this neighborhood again?"

Hearing this, Xu Damao was so furious his throat felt like it was smoking. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yan Jiecheng, this is extortion! Twenty yuan—do you know how much rice and flour that could buy? No way! You’re not getting a single cent from me!"

The smile on Yan Jiecheng’s face vanished like morning mist. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a casual, detached tone, "In that case, I’ll just go and have a word with He Yuzhu."

As soon as those words left his lips, Xu Damao felt as if a cold wind had pierced his marrow. At the mere mention of "He Yuzhu," his entire body shuddered uncontrollably. Just as Yan Jiecheng took a step forward, Xu Damao panicked and hurriedly called out, "Wait! Fine, twenty it is!"

"Once you take the money, you’d better keep your mouth sewn shut!" Xu Damao winced in pain, as if those twenty yuan were a piece of flesh being carved from his heart.

When Yan Jiecheng heard this, a radiant smile bloomed on his face—a smile that, to Xu Damao, was more blinding than the winter sun.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu had returned home, unaware that his newly purchased television was already malfunctioning. He opened his lunchbox, retrieved a bottle of liquor and a plate of peanuts from the cupboard, and was just about to settle in for some rare leisure time when the door was pushed open.

"Brother, hurry up and turn on the TV! I want to watch it," He Yushui shouted as soon as she entered. She had been thinking about that new television all day.

"Turn it on yourself if you want to watch. Stop bossing me around," He Yuzhu mumbled, chewing on a peanut.

"Alright, alright, you just enjoy your meal," He Yushui said with a giggle, heading toward the television set.

However, only three seconds later, a sharp cry pierced the room: "Brother! The TV is broken!"

He Yuzhu’s hand froze mid-air with his cup. He set the drink down and strode over to the television.

"Brother, it won't turn on!" He Yushui cried out anxiously. "We have to go find the store staff! They sold us a broken TV!"

As she spoke, she tried to drag He Yuzhu toward the door, but stopped after two steps, slapping her own forehead. "I forgot, the store is closed by now. We’ll have to go tomorrow."

He Yushui paced back and forth, fretting incessantly: "We finally bought a TV, why are we so unlucky?"

"Brother, do you think they’ll exchange it for us?"

"If they don't, they'll have to answer for it! We just bought this, and it’s already broken. It must be a factory defect; they have to take responsibility!"

Amidst He Yushui’s complaints, He Yuzhu noticed something amiss. He reached out to touch the television and felt a damp sensation.

He Yuzhu furrowed his brow, his mind racing. Suddenly, he turned sharply, pulled open a drawer, and quickly retrieved a screwdriver, a wrench, and other tools, his movements skilled and decisive. Without a word, he began to dismantle the television, his hands moving with the precision of a surgeon performing a delicate operation.

Standing to the side, He Yushui watched in alarm. She paced anxiously and urged him to stop: "Brother, what are you doing? If you break it even more, how are we supposed to exchange it for a new one?"

"Brother, please stop! Don't make things worse!" He Yushui’s tone was filled with helplessness and worry.

He Yuzhu, however, seemed not to hear her, remaining focused on dismantling the set. Soon, the outer casing was completely removed, revealing the inner workings.

When He Yushui saw what was inside, she was stunned, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg. She walked up to the TV in disbelief, staring with wide eyes at the sight before her.

The interior of the television was soaked through, as if it had just survived a sudden downpour.

He Yushui pointed at the television, too shocked to speak: "This... how could there be so much water inside?"

He Yuzhu lowered his head, his voice deep and firm: "Someone did this on purpose." A spark of anger and malice flickered in his eyes, as if he had already guessed who the culprit was.

...

The night had grown deep, and the courtyard was wrapped in silence, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects. Suddenly, a sharp, urgent, and rhythmic sound of a gong echoed through the night sky, its clear and loud tone instantly shattering the peace of the compound.

The sound of the gong seemed to carry a certain power, resonating clearly in every household.