In District X of Dongdu City, stood a dilapidated house spanning over seventy square meters.
The mottled walls and peeling paint on the doors and windows revealed a sense of decay.
However, a single character, “dismantle” (demolish), emblazoned on the wall, instantly elevated the house’s status, drawing envious glances from passersby.
At the entrance of the house, a dozen burly men gathered, their mouths spewing unpleasant curses intermittently.
“Damn it, that bastard Old Tang owes me half a million, and he just up and left! When is he going to pay it back?!”
“Exactly! We’re all neighbors, and you’re a sensible kid…
We all rely on this money to live. You know the saying, ‘a son repays his father’s debts,’ don’t you, kiddo?”
“We don’t want to push so hard, but everyone has a family to support, and earning money isn’t easy, right?”
“Screw this, stop the damn chatter! If you don’t pay up today, we’re ransacking the place!”
Some offered kind words, others hurled insults, but their objective was singular.
They wanted their money.
A hot-tempered, dark-faced man roared, but after surveying the bare house, he cursed in frustration, “Damn it, even a rat would starve in this dump.
Your dad just packed up and ran, leaving all his brothers and friends in the lurch. He’s truly a scumbag!”
Everyone nodded in agreement, a look of deep regret on their faces, as they heard his words.
Surrounded was a handsome young man, smiling helplessly at the crowd, his heart filled with bitterness.
“Uncles, grandpas, brothers, please listen to me for a moment, okay?”
Tang Zhen glanced at everyone, and seeing their attention on him, he raised his voice and continued, “I understand your difficulties. After all, no one’s money comes easily; it takes sweat and toil to accumulate a little savings.
Since this has happened, we must find a solution.
This house is worth something, but the demolition has been delayed for years, so it won’t be of use anytime soon.
Selling it now would be too much of a loss, and I can’t possibly sell it!
However, there’s always a solution to everything. How about this?
I’ll pay back five thousand a month. As for whose money gets repaid first, please discuss it among yourselves!
Although this isn’t much, I’ll have to live frugally. I can’t spare even a penny more!
But I’ll be frank: you can’t cause trouble at my house anymore. If you push me too hard, I’ll just leave, and then we’ll see who ends up worse off!”
Tang Zhen’s expression was resolute as he stared coldly at them.
The solution had been proposed; it was up to them to decide if it was acceptable. If they were still unsatisfied, they could go find the person who actually owed them money.
Not everyone agreed with Tang Zhen’s proposal, and they immediately started yelling, their faces flushed, rolling up their sleeves as if to fight, their eyes wide with anger.
“Cut the crap! I want the house! Go process the paperwork for me now!”
“Damn it, why should the house go to you? I want it too!”
“How much do you owe? How much do I owe? Have you no shame?”
Well, the creditors started fighting among themselves again.
…
After a morning of noisy commotion, Tang Zhen finally sent off the debt collectors, including a few who insisted on getting the demolished house.
The debt collectors had no choice; those who owed money were difficult to deal with, and if they truly scared the person away, they would lose everything.
With Tang Zhen around, at least there was a chance of recovering a few thousand yuan every few months.
After everyone left, Tang Zhen cleaned up the cigarette butts and trash scattered on the floor, then sighed as he looked at the empty room, a hint of sorrow crossing his young face.
Tang Zhen was an orphan, adopted at a very young age by his father’s brother.
The year after his adoption, the family had a daughter, and Tang Zhen gained a younger sister.
Unfortunately, good times didn’t last. His adoptive mother suddenly passed away, and his adoptive father began to indulge in nightlife, often not returning home, and developed a gambling addiction.
His adoptive father was shameless and selfish, only thinking of himself, and his family ties were as thin as paper.
It was perfectly normal for him not to come home for six months or a year.
The siblings depended on each other, growing up with inconsistent meals, and their lives were very difficult.
As the saying goes, “a leopard can’t change its spots.” His adoptive father had shown some restraint in his youth, but now he lived more and more freely.
Becoming a parent doesn’t necessarily mean one will be responsible. In some people’s worlds, selfishness only allows room for themselves.
A year ago, his adoptive father swindled a huge sum of money through various schemes and ran off with a married woman to live a carefree life in a distant land.
The creditors, upon hearing the news, naturally targeted Tang Zhen, coming to his house every few days to gather and curse, each time causing a ruckus for half a day before leaving.
Tang Zhen resented his adoptive father. Sometimes, he truly wanted to just leave; with his own hands and feet, where couldn’t he survive?
However, whenever such thoughts arose, he would think of his younger sister, and ultimately abandon the idea.
The days they relied on each other were his most unforgettable memories; he truly regarded his sister as his closest kin.
Sometimes, Tang Zhen particularly hated himself for being so useless, unable to create a better living environment for his sister.
He also dared not imagine the scene where creditors, unable to find him, would go harass his sister.
It was for these reasons that Tang Zhen silently endured the fatigue and insults, struggling to survive in the cracks of the city.
Ultimately, it was all for that one conviction in his heart.
He sighed, pulled out his phone from his pocket, and checked the time.
Having been delayed for so long, coupled with feeling unwell, he probably wouldn’t be able to set up his stall today.
Tang Zhen tossed his phone onto the bedside table, then reached out and rummaged a few times, pulling out the nylon woven bag tucked under the bed.
Opening the bag, he took out a transparent bead the size of an egg and began to fiddle with it casually.
This item had a history; his adoptive father had bought it from a tomb raider, claiming it was a genuine antique.
Birds of a feather flock together; most of the people his adoptive father associated with were not very reputable.
In recent years, antiques had become very popular. After watching television a few times, his adoptive father also entertained the idea of getting rich overnight and bought these items from his drinking buddies.
They were said to have come from an ancient tomb of unknown age. Three items were supposedly unearthed: a dagger, a piece of pottery, and the object Tang Zhen now held.
Tang Zhen’s adoptive father was conceited and determined that the bead was a treasure, so he spent ten thousand silver dollars to acquire it.
However, when he had it appraised, it turned out to be worthless.
After a few days of frustration, Tang Zhen’s adoptive father threw this “glass ball” under the bed, where Tang Zhen later put it away while cleaning.
After fiddling with the “glass ball” in his hand for a few moments, he placed it on the table with his phone, then got up to prepare lunch.
Holding a bowl of instant noodles in his right hand and half a bag of pickled mustard greens in his left, Tang Zhen ate while reading a novel.
After finishing lunch, Tang Zhen placed his phone on the table and turned to go to the kitchen.
The moment he turned, a faint glow shot out from the “glass” bead, completely enveloping the phone. It lasted for a few seconds before disappearing.
