CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33 BROTHER, I CAN ONLY HELP YOU UP TO HERE

"Zhao Fang, you have the gall to speak?" Wu Xiaojun seethed with anger when he heard her voice.

"Tch! And why can’t I speak? The fact that I could fool you just means you deserved it. Why wasn’t anyone else fooled? It was just you. It’s because you coveted my beauty, a man who only thinks with his lower half. Hmph! Men."

This explosive tirade made the muscles on Wu Xiaojun’s face tremble with fury, his eyes blazing with rage. He struggled to find a comeback, finally managing to utter a single sentence. "Someone like you won’t come to a good end."

"Whether I have a good end is none of your concern. Where’s my money? When are you giving it to me?" Zhao Fang pressed aggressively. Her vicious expression was so contorted that the thick layer of powder on her face began to flake off.

"Let us inspect the items first. Once we confirm they’re correct, we’ll give you the money," Sun Dasheng said.

"Fine!" Zhao Fang’s expression changed in a flash, like a mask in a Sichuan opera, and she smiled smugly. She lowered her head and said to the man beside her, "Dad, give him the things in your bag to inspect."

The man stood up. He hadn’t seemed particularly large while sitting, but on his feet, he was tall and powerfully built. The calluses on his hands showed he was a martial artist. No wonder they dared to show up right at their home; they were backed by brute force and weren’t afraid of the evidence being snatched away.

The man placed the items on the living room table for them to verify, standing beside them like a watchful tiger, unafraid of any tricks.

"Xiaojun, take a good look yourself and make sure everything is right," Sun Dasheng called to Wu Xiaojun.

Wu Xiaojun hurried over, his sister and mother crowding around as well. After a careful examination, Wu Xiaojun nodded. "Brother Da Sheng, the items are all correct."

With the items secured, Sun Dasheng had them write a letter of guarantee, which they signed and fingerprinted, before transferring them the money.

The trio of scammers left, fully satisfied. It was another fruitful day. As long as men like Wu Xiaojun existed in this world, they would never go hungry. They just had to pray they didn’t run into an honest man who suddenly snapped. Otherwise, meeting God would only be a moment away.

In reality, the letter of guarantee was useless. Sun Dasheng had them sign it only to give Mother Wu some peace of mind. It was like a placebo from a hospital—though it had no real effect, it could ease a patient’s suffering and offer a sliver of hope. The audio recording was the real ace in the hole.

After seeing the scourge off, Mother Wu immediately went to the kitchen, insisting on cooking a meal to thank Sun Dasheng for his help. He felt it would be rude to refuse, so he sat on the sofa and started chatting with Wu Xiaojun.

Wu Xiaoli went to help in the kitchen. She was worried because her mother, for her brother’s sake, had insisted on discharging herself from the hospital before she had fully recovered.

Sun Dasheng glanced around at the villa’s interior decor. It was high-end and luxurious, and the house was spacious. Wang Jiadong was certainly living well.

"Where’s your brother-in-law, Wang Jiadong? I didn’t see him when you were in trouble?" Sun Dasheng asked.

"Don’t even mention him. He’s out fooling around and hasn’t shown his face in ages. He won’t answer my calls; he’s completely disappeared," Wu Xiaojun said with a pout. He then laughed. "He can’t compare to you, Brother Da Sheng. Not even close. I think you’d be a much better brother-in-law. You and my sister are a perfect match."

"Is that so?" Sun Dasheng chuckled.

"Of course! Don’t let this house fool you into thinking he’s rich. The truth is, he’s all surface and no substance."

"Oh?" Sun Dasheng was noncommittal.

Seeing his disbelief, Wu Xiaojun quickly continued, "I’m not lying to you, brother! This house and his car were both left to him by the rich old woman he used to be with. Besides that, he’s spent almost all his cash and has driven several businesses into bankruptcy. He doesn’t even dare to show his face around me now, afraid I’ll ask him for money."

He said this last part with a touch of pride.

You really do deserve to be scammed. You’re no saint yourself. Your sister has it rough with a gem of a brother like you. Sun Dasheng thought.

"Wait, isn’t there supposed to be one more person living here?" Sun Dasheng asked, recalling the phone call Wu Xiaoli took at the bar.

"Oh, you mean Wang Jiadong’s mother!" Wu Xiaojun said with a look of disdain. "She chewed my sister out again and left early this morning. Probably went to play mahjong. My sister had terrible luck marrying him. He’s never home, and his mother constantly restricts my sister. She’s not allowed to work, saying a woman’s place is at home, tending to her husband and children. She even has to be home by a certain time, and whenever she tries to make friends, her mother-in-law is hypercritical. And there’s no peace at home, either. She’s always picking fights with my sister over the smallest things."

"And your sister puts up with all that?" Sun Dasheng asked in surprise, his gaze drifting toward the busy silhouette in the kitchen. Can a woman like that really exist in this world?

For once, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Wu Xiaojun’s face. "It’s because of my mom and me, we’re two burdens. After all, Wang Jiadong did put up a million for my mom’s surgery. And I’m a good-for-nothing who’s always asking him for money. It’s never a lot at one time, but it’s been so many times that it adds up to a large sum."

"My sister doesn’t dare to get a divorce because of us," Wu Xiaojun admitted, for once speaking frankly.

"Let’s stop chatting! Come to the table while the food is hot, before it all gets cold." Shortly after, a table laden with a sumptuous feast was ready, and Mother Wu called them over to eat.

During the meal, Mother Wu was incredibly warm, constantly piling food onto his plate. "Go on, eat! Don’t be polite, just make yourself at home."

His plate was heaped high with food. Sun Dasheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "That’s enough, Auntie, please don’t add any more. This is plenty."

"Mom, you’re not giving me any," Wu Xiaojun whined, acting like a child in front of his mother.

Mother Wu smiled and put some food in his bowl, then did the same for Wu Xiaoli. "Our guest today helped us so much, so of course, we have to take care of him first." It was clear her mood had improved drastically. A great weight had likely been lifted from her heart, and she was subconsciously much happier.

After the meal, she served him a cup of steaming hot tea. Sitting down gently beside him, she said, "Da Sheng, is it alright if I call you that?"

"Of course, Auntie. You’re my elder," Sun Dasheng replied, setting down his tea.

"Don’t worry about the money we borrowed from you today. We will definitely pay it back as soon as we can. You’ve seen this house; my son-in-law is a wealthy man," Mother Wu said.

"Auntie, there’s no rush to pay it back. Just whenever it’s convenient for you," Sun Dasheng said with a smile.

"Yeah, my Brother Da Sheng is super rich, way richer than that Wang Jiadong guy. He’s not short on money," Wu Xiaojun chimed in as he came over.

Mother Wu’s expression soured. "That’s your brother-in-law. How can you call him by his full name? It’s Da Sheng’s business whether he’s short on money or not. Our responsibility to repay the debt is our business. How can you confuse the two?"

You could tell Mother Wu was well-educated and cultured. Otherwise, she couldn’t have raised a daughter as wonderful as Wu Xiaoli. As for how she raised such a scoundrel of a son, one could only surmise that once their children are grown, parents often dote on the one who is struggling the most. After all, Wu Xiaojun entered the workforce right after high school, destined for a lifetime of menial jobs. If they didn’t show him a little favoritism, how could he ever live a decent life?

"Mom, I’ve packed everything. I’ll take you back to the hospital. You haven’t recovered yet, so you should stay a few more days to rest," Wu Xiaoli said, holding several bags.

Wu Xiaojun, quick on the uptake, snatched the bags from her. "Sis, you and Brother Da Sheng are old classmates who haven’t seen each other in years. You two should go out for a bit. I’ll take care of Mom."

Without waiting for a refusal, he took Mother Wu’s hand and walked out. Before he left, he turned and gave Sun Dasheng a wink, as if to say, *Bro, this is all I can do for you.*

Suddenly, Sun Dasheng found that the previously detestable Wu Xiaojun was actually quite agreeable. The kid wasn’t half bad; he had a bright future!