Chapter Fifty-Eight: Spending a Hundred Yuan to Buy a Shopfront

Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Hundred Yuan for a Storefront

Ruan Qingshuang finally summoned her courage; she was determined to stand up for her own interests. Even if the other party was not an easy woman to deal with, she had to make it clear that she absolutely would not move out!

“Hm? Sister Shuang, you’re up.” Before Ruan Qingshuang could head downstairs, Xu Yun was already coming up: “How did you sleep last night?”

Thinking of the previous evening, Ruan Qingshuang’s face instantly flushed, her expression flustered. “Uh… it was… alright, I guess. Why are you upstairs? Where’s Aunt Weng and the others?”

“They’ve left,” Xu Yun replied breezily.

Hearing this, Ruan Qingshuang’s face quickly dimmed. “So… you agreed to move out for them?”

Xu Yun shook his head. “How could I? Of course, I won’t move. I bought this place.”

Ruan Qingshuang was stunned, unable to make sense of his words. “You… bought this place?”

“From now on, this is ours. If you want to run the shop, you can; if not, you can rent it out and be a landlady,” Xu Yun said with complete ease, “and all our future earnings won’t have to go toward rent anymore, haha! Later, I’ll head to the property office and do the transfer with her…”

Ruan Qingshuang couldn’t listen any further. Her almond-shaped eyes widened: “Where did you get so much money!?”

Though Hedong City didn’t compare to places like Yanjing or Jiangbei, where property prices soared to tens of thousands per square meter, a storefront spanning two floors and five or six hundred square meters would still be a frightening sum—no way it could be bought for less than several million.

“Uh, what’s in my pocket is enough,” Xu Yun mumbled, pulling out a hundred yuan note.

Ruan Qingshuang nearly died of exasperation. “Xu Yun, I’m really not in the mood for jokes right now…”

Suddenly, Qiangzi’s voice called from below.

“Brother Yun! Brother Yun! Hurry down!”

“Damn it! You sound like a pig being slaughtered!” Xu Yun cursed and then dashed downstairs.

Qiangzi was dressed to the nines in casual slacks, a short-sleeved shirt tucked into his waist, and shiny leather shoes. He was nothing like the little rascal he used to be—now he looked every bit a promising young man at the start of his career. Clothes really do make the man. Behind him stood a gleaming black Volkswagen Passat with license plate He A67888, making Qiangzi look even more impressive and dashing.

“Changed cars?” Xu Yun clicked his tongue. “How much did it cost?”

Qiangzi grinned, holding up three fingers. “Thirty thousand! That infantry guy who came with Lü Feng yesterday deals in black-market cars down south. Everything—papers, plates—is fake. They even redid the chassis and engine numbers. The guy’s really got skills.”

Xu Yun looked the car over, inside and out. It was at least a 95% new top-spec model. If bought new with taxes and insurance, it would easily cost close to three hundred thousand. Qiangzi getting it for thirty thousand was a real steal.

“What about your old Citroën Fukang?” Xu Yun asked.

Qiangzi waved a hand. “That piece of junk? I wanted to get rid of it to Infantry, but he wouldn’t take it even if I paid him. Said it was just taking up space. I’ll find someone to sell it to—if I get a thousand for it, that’s fine.”

Damn it! Xu Yun poked Qiangzi’s forehead hard. “Your brother here is still walking everywhere and you won’t give me your car? You’re going to sell it?”

Qiangzi was dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly realized Xu Yun was asking for the car. “Bro… you want to drive that thing? Isn’t that too embarrassing for you? How about… how about…” After much hesitation, Qiangzi finally said, “How about I give you the Passat, and I’ll keep the Fukang?”

“No need. Come on, take me to your Fukang,” Xu Yun said. He really didn’t care about cars—having something to get around in was enough. Besides, if he truly wanted a luxury car, a Passat, which you could see everywhere, wouldn’t interest him at all. These days, even village chiefs had better cars.

Qiangzi agreed and took Xu Yun home.

Ruan Qingshuang was left speechless. She’d thought the medicinal cuisine restaurant would be lively again today, but never expected to find herself alone. Qiu Yan had taken Guoguo to school early, Qin Wan’er had gone to work, Aunt Weng, who’d come to reclaim the property, had inexplicably left, and Xu Yun had gone off with Qiangzi…

The medicinal cuisine restaurant was left with only Ruan Qingshuang.

Fortunately, she was used to running the place alone and quickly got busy preparing vegetables and ingredients in the kitchen without losing her composure.

Xu Yun and Qiangzi returned to the shantytown where he lived. Many long-time residents were sitting on stools by the roadside or their doorways. Seeing Qiangzi’s new car, they all praised his success and ability.

Xu Yun, on the other hand, was met with many cold stares, being treated as Qiangzi’s unreliable lackey, even coming to drive his car…

The fifteen-year-old Citroën Fukang carried Xu Yun straight to the property transaction office. True to her word, Weng Qing was there waiting for Xu Yun with the property deed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to run, but she knew all too well how formidable someone who could defeat Zuo Leng was. If such a person wanted your life, hiding to the ends of the earth would be useless!

Thus, Weng Qing cooperated fully. Paying for peace was the simplest solution. She finally understood why the formerly meek tenant, Little Ruan, had become such a legendary figure in the southern district of Hedong. It turned out she had such a formidable person by her side…

Weng Qing had pulled some strings, enlisted help, and paid an extra three hundred yuan for expedited service, so the paperwork went through quickly. She also covered all taxes and fees associated with the property transfer.

In the end, Xu Yun generously handed over a hundred yuan. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Looking at this man who could easily dominate the southern district, Weng Qing felt a chill. If he decided to expand his territory, the Jin family would be his first target. She’d have to discuss matters with Jin Biao—uniting with Wu Lei from the western district and Ma Pinghai from the north was essential. Otherwise, the Jin family alone would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

With a brand-new property deed in hand, Xu Yun was in high spirits. He planned to present it that evening and let everyone rejoice.

Weng Qing didn’t dare leave until Xu Yun had gone. She hurried back to Riverside Community, gathered her essentials, and knew she wouldn’t dare set foot in Wenhui District for the time being.

After leaving Riverside Community, Weng Qing went straight to the municipal hospital—her son had been left with multiple fractures by that man’s three punches and two kicks. Regret gnawed at her to the point of suicidal thoughts—why had she provoked such an untouchable person?

“Coming to reclaim the restaurant property?”

Suddenly, a cold, piercing voice sounded behind her. Weng Qing’s mind went blank, her hand trembling as she drove her car straight into the roadside greenery. Through the rearview mirror, she saw a long-haired woman with a face of icy arrogance staring at her, eyes sharp as blades, a cold dagger flashing silver in her hand.

“N-no… I don’t dare, I don’t want the property anymore, just let me go…” Weng Qing trembled; this woman’s aura of death was even more terrifying than the one who had easily defeated Zuo Leng. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask your restaurant’s chef. I’ve already transferred the property to him!”

Sitting in the backseat, Qiu Yan frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected Xu Yun to move faster than her. After taking Guoguo to school, she had immediately sought out Weng Qing, arriving at Riverside Community as soon as Weng Qing did, only to find that Xu Yun had already resolved everything.

Qiu Yan pushed open the car door and walked away lightly, leaving behind a trembling Weng Qing, whose face was ashen, her heart pounding in terror. Who would have thought that gentle Ruan Qingshuang would be surrounded by such dangerous people? It seemed Hedong City’s underworld was about to undergo an earth-shattering change.

…

All day, the three southern tigers had behaved themselves, not causing any trouble. Though they were eager to see if anything would happen at the medicinal cuisine restaurant, Xu Yun had made it clear the day before—no one was to show up with reinforcements.

Xu Yun’s word was law to them—if he forbade it, no one dared go.

After five in the afternoon, Guoguo returned to the restaurant with Qiu Yan. Guoguo was in high spirits—Fatty Sun Haoran, who’d missed a week of classes, had brought a schoolbag full of snacks to apologize and swore never to talk about chasing her again. Now, he trailed after her like a little eunuch.

Qiu Yan was fully reassured after seeing the restaurant safe and sound. It seemed that old woman really had been subdued by Xu Yun. She was only curious whether Xu Yun had truly acquired the property.

Ruan Qingshuang bustled about tending to business, Xu Yun was in the kitchen as usual, and even Qin Wan’er, who returned from work, felt out of place—ten days without slogging away at odd jobs, and now she was back to square one.

Three hours of work left everyone exhausted, but Xu Yun had prepared several delicious dishes and a huge surprise.

“Look what I have here!” Xu Yun announced, producing the property deed for the storefront.

Ruan Qingshuang nearly dropped her jaw to the floor. She hadn’t believed a word when Xu Yun claimed to have bought the place that morning, but now, with the deed in front of her, what was left to doubt?

Qiu Yan’s reaction was much calmer—she’d already heard the news from Weng Qing and now simply received confirmation.

“You bought this place?” Qin Wan’er was so stunned her mind went blank. Never mind it being a commercial property—even at Hedong City’s lowest rate of six thousand per square meter, two floors totaling over five hundred square meters would cost three million!

She stared at Xu Yun, who was dressed in clothes worth barely thirty yuan, and couldn’t see how he could come up with three hundred, let alone three million…

Xu Yun beamed and pointed at the little Citroën Fukang parked outside. “There’s more—Qiangzi gave me his car. From now on, I’m a car owner too! If anyone needs a ride for errands, just tell me—I’ll drive you myself!”

Silence. Everyone was petrified.

Guoguo looked disappointed—she had no interest in the car at all. She simply took the property deed and examined it closely.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. The deed was real! She looked up expectantly at Ruan Qingshuang. “Mom, when are you going to marry Dad? After you get married, this property will be joint marital property, right? Don’t hesitate any longer! Sister Wan’er and Teacher Su are interested in Dad too. If you don’t make a move soon, you’ll lose your chance.”

Once again, everyone was petrified.

A murderous aura radiated from Qin Wan’er. “Guoguo… Which eye of yours has seen me interested in Xu Yun?! I’m going to spank you!”

“Uh, Sister Wan’er, are you angry because I revealed your true feelings? Oh, women—so thin-skinned. What’s there to be shy about?”

Aiyaya—! Qin Wan’er was at her wit’s end!