"By the way, here's the information you asked me to find on Yang Qing, as well as on Xu Feng'an and her son," Duan Chongfeng said, opening a message and handing it to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke was startled for a moment before taking the phone.

He distinctly remembered the downfall of Chang Xiujuan, Siao Fan, and Shan Lan. They were already incarcerated, which was why he hadn't asked Duan Chongfeng to bother with them.

But Yang Qing and Xu Feng'an had yet to pay any price. It wasn't in Xu Ke's character to let a grudge go unavenged. He had only been held back because dealing with Wong Liqing and the Ye Family took priority.

The message showed that after the incident, Yang Qing was not only abandoned by Sun Luo but also fired from the bank, forcing her to return to her hometown. Yang Qing's hometown was a small, remote city where her father's family was from. Xu Ke knew she had always complained to Siao Jia about how poor her hometown was and hadn't been back since she was old enough to know better. Her return was obviously because the people there were behind on the news and unaware of what she'd done in Tianhai. She planned to start over.

But how could I possibly give Yang Qing that opportunity?

"What do you think?" Duan Chongfeng asked, looking at Xu Ke.

"Let's make sure everyone knows exactly what she did," Xu Ke said with a cold smile.

Honestly, what he really wanted to do was tear out the problem by the roots. However, Yang Qing wasn't a member of the Six Great Families, nor had she done anything to directly endanger his life, so he couldn't act recklessly. If the authorities got involved, his hands would be tied.

Thus, the best method he could think of was to ensure Yang Qing experienced a social death.

Yang Qing didn't want to build a life in Tianhai for two reasons: she was afraid the Huang Family and Xu Ke would come after her, and she had already become infamous for the atrocious crime of framing Xu Ke. She wouldn't be able to get by anywhere.

Now that she had returned to her hometown, Xu Ke naturally had to ensure that she couldn't make a life for herself there either, completely ruining her reputation…

"Reasonable," Duan Chongfeng nodded. "What about your aunt?"

At the mention of her, Xu Ke fell silent for a moment.

Xu Feng'an had returned to Nie Family Village. Although they hadn't successfully taken advantage of Xu Ke this time, they had still gotten eight hundred thousand. So after waking up in the hospital, Xu Feng'an had actually managed to convince herself she'd come out ahead and returned to Nie Family Village to live a proud and boastful life...

Seeing Xu Ke's silence, Duan Chongfeng asked, "Are you worried about your father?"

"Yes," Xu Ke nodded. He didn't make a snap decision because he was afraid of upsetting Xu Zhenguo.

"Then let him decide," Duan Chongfeng said. "Nie Qinghe's father is on the public payroll in the elementary school system. I have material right here that's enough to destroy the rest of his career. As long as your father gives the nod, the rest of their lives are ruined."

Xu Ke pondered for a moment, then nodded and pulled out his phone to call Xu Zhenguo.

"Dad, my friend has some material…" Xu Ke relayed Duan Chongfeng's words to his father.

Xu Zhenguo was silent for a while before replying, "Let it go, Xiao Ke. She's your aunt, after all."

He still couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.

"Alright," Xu Ke agreed. "But if she dares come to our house and cause trouble again, you have to tell me."

"I will. And you be careful, too. If anything happens, you must let us know," Xu Zhenguo insisted. He still had a vivid memory of when Xu Ke was in trouble, and Wong Qifu had to spirit them away from Jiang City. The fact that they had become a burden instead of being able to help their son when he was in trouble filled Xu Zhenguo with guilt.

Xu Ke glanced at his own arm, which had just finished healing from a fracture. "Okay, don't worry. I'm doing just fine in Tianhai."

Xu Zhenguo remained silent for a moment, ultimately saying nothing more before saying goodbye and hanging up.

Duan Chongfeng shook his head. "You and your father really don't communicate much."

"Can't be helped. It's always been this way since I was a kid," Xu Ke said with a wry smile.

Duan Chongfeng patted Xu Ke's shoulder. "I get it. My dad and I can't see eye to eye either, which is why I chose to move to Tianhai last year to make something of myself."

Hearing this, Xu Ke's curiosity was piqued. "What happened between you and your father?"

"Just the usual tacky, melodramatic nonsense. I can't be bothered to talk about it," Duan Chongfeng waved his hand dismissively, then added, "If you're ever interested in visiting Long Capital, though, I could tell you all about it."

Xu Ke laughed heartily. "Then I'll pass, haha."

「Jiang City, Nie Family Village.」

"What's all this racket? What business is it of yours what happens between me and Xu Ke? Always chirping away, more shrill than a bunch of shrews!"

Xu Feng'an, who had just woken up from her afternoon nap, became incensed when she saw a group of neighbors gossiping about her outside. It was true she had fainted from anger because of Xu Ke and Xu Zhenmin, but she was also notoriously thick-skinned.

After cooling down, Xu Feng'an figured she hadn't made out too badly. After all, she still had eight hundred thousand in her account, didn't she?

But her thick skin didn't mean the gossipy neighbors would let her off the hook. In the few days since her return from Tianhai, Xu Feng'an had become the focus of all the gossip in Nie Family Village. Waking up to hear them discussing her at her door again was what made her snap.

"Oh my, Feng'an, just because you did something doesn't mean people can't talk about it, does it?"

"Exactly. Besides, we weren't saying anything out of line, just weighing the rights and wrongs of it."

"Why start cursing the moment you show up? You have no class at all!"

These women were not to be trifled with. When Xu Feng'an called them shrews, they immediately stood up, ready to argue with her.

Seeing this, Xu Feng'an instantly backed down.

At that moment, Nie Qinghe came out of the house, trying to smooth things over with a smile. "Please, everyone, calm down. My mom just woke up, please excuse her."

"That's more like it." The women grumbled and walked away.

After the crowd dispersed, Nie Qinghe's expression darkened. "A bunch of long-tongued gossips. If they're so poor, they should go earn some money instead of chattering here all day."

"You're right," Xu Feng'an sneered.

"Alright, Mom, go back inside. Stop making a fool of yourself out here," Nie Qinghe said to Xu Feng'an impatiently.

He felt that if Xu Feng'an had just cooperated with him properly, he wouldn't have ended up with a mere eight hundred thousand. That Black Card of Xu Ke's was what he truly coveted.

In front of others, Xu Feng'an was imperious, but before Nie Qinghe, she only dared to mumble a few words. "Fine, let's go back…"

As they walked into the house, Nie Qinghe muttered, "Find a time to apologize to Uncle. I'm sure he's soft-hearted enough to take us back into the family. I can't even find a job now. If Xu Ke just said the word for me, I'm sure I could go back to Tianhai…"

Xu Feng'an's expression changed.

Me? Bow my head and apologize? Impossible! But when she thought about her son's job prospects, she fell silent, her heart seething with hatred. Xu Ke was too ruthless, driving away a good younger brother like Nie Qinghe. It was simply inhumane! Otherwise, why would they have been forced to hide back here in Nie Family Village?

「Yang Qing's hometown.」

"Isn't that Xiao Qing? Haven't seen you in ages! You've grown even more beautiful."

"Indeed!"

"Wow, you go to Tianhai and come back a completely different person!"

"How long are you planning to stay this time?"

At that moment, Yang Qing was seated at the place of honor at the banquet her father had prepared, basking in the praise of her fellow villagers.