Chapter Sixty-Four: Take a Step Forward If You Wish to Die!

“It was him who broke Uncle Luo’s leg!” Yaya snorted, a trace of resentment flickering in her clear eyes.

Luo Cheng gave a bitter smile. With his gentle nature, unless it involved his mother, no matter how grave the matter, he would usually endure it in silence, reluctant to bring it up.

“Just two months ago, that villain tried to forcibly demolish our house without paying compensation. It was Uncle Luo who stepped in to stop him.”

“Uncle Luo was only speaking up for our family, asking for compensation.”

“But he… he just picked up an iron rod and broke Uncle Luo’s leg.”

As she recounted the scene, even Yaya seemed pained. Clearly, it had left a deep shadow in the little girl’s heart.

“And the bulldozer had already pulled up in front of my house. If Uncle Luo hadn’t dodged quickly, they would’ve run him over right then and there…”

Standing nearby, Chen Shun’s face grew unsightly, as if some shameful secret had just been exposed.

“Is this true?” Qin Mu turned to ask Luo Cheng directly.

“It’s true.” Luo Cheng nodded.

Yaya’s family was not well-off in the village. If their house was demolished, the whole family would depend on the compensation to survive.

In the end, not only did Chen Shun pocket most of the compensation, he still tried to forcefully tear down their house.

How could someone as kind as Luo Cheng stand by? He stepped up to block the bulldozer Chen Shun had brought, simply hoping to get some of the compensation for Yaya’s family first.

Otherwise, they would soon be unable to even put food on the table.

But Chen Shun was nothing if not brazen. In front of everyone, he ordered a few of his thuggish workers to seize Luo Cheng and, with an iron rod, shattered his leg.

“That’s right, I did it. So what? Luo Cheng, that useless cripple, was obstructing official business, trying to stop the demolition. Can he bear the consequences of delaying the project?”

“Then how do you explain the compensation?” Luo Cheng demanded angrily.

“Hmph, the compensation just hasn’t been allocated from above yet. If you’re not satisfied, go ask the higher-ups yourself.”

Chen Shun acted as if he didn’t care at all. They’d been through this many times—every time someone tried to take it up the chain, the officials would just pass the buck, and eventually nothing would come of it.

“I’m telling you, if I lose so much as a penny, I’ll have this crumbling shack of yours torn down just the same!”

“You think you can demolish it at will? Do you have no respect for the law?” Luo Cheng fumed.

But what could he do? Chen Shun had the backing of the official demolition office—far beyond what someone like him could afford to offend.

“Hahaha! I’m in charge of demolishing these villages. Sooner or later, they’re all coming down. Now, if I decide I don’t like a house, I’ll have it torn down. Do you understand, you useless fool?”

“If you know what’s good for you, help me out of here nicely. Tomorrow, come to my door and apologize on your knees. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll let you off.”

“If not, tomorrow night I’ll have every single one of you out on the street, homeless!”

At these words, the villagers grew restless. They’d all witnessed Chen Shun’s tyranny—he was unreasonably domineering and violent.

“Chengzi, talk to your friend, please!”

“Yes, yes, talk to him! I don’t want my family sleeping in the street.”

Seeing the villagers so anxious, Luo Cheng felt torn. But he knew very well—once Qin Mu set his mind on something, nothing could sway him.

Just like years ago, there was a bully kid in the village everyone called the Little Tyrant, who loved picking on others. When Qin Mu returned to the village, the boy chased and cursed at him, and even bullied Jiang Zheng, smashing her beloved cake and making her cry all night.

Qin Mu, who never fought back or talked back, rushed out that night, unstoppable. He beat the bully so hard the boy ran home wailing and never dared return.

“I heard that if you lose so much as a penny, you’ll tear down this house?” Qin Mu sniffed.

“That’s right!”

Slap!

Wu Mu immediately landed a resounding slap, no lighter than Qin Mu’s punch, leaving the arrogant Chen Shun stunned.

“Try hitting me again, if you dare!” It took Chen Shun a while to recover.

Slap!

“Fine! You dare slap me twice? I’ll tear down two of your buildings!”

Slap!

“None of you in this village—”

Slap!

Wu Mu paid no heed to Chen Shun’s threats, raining down slap after slap.

Since you’re so stubborn, I’ll beat you until you’re not!

Chen Shun spat blood, several teeth knocked loose. He stumbled back, huddling in a corner, no longer daring to provoke Qin Mu.

“Just you wait.” Chen Shun mumbled through broken teeth, fumbling for his phone and dialing several numbers.

“Yes, Wanglong Village. I got attacked—send me a bulldozer, I’m tearing down a house tonight!”

“Don’t stop at one—bring every machine you can muster,” Qin Mu said calmly.

Just one? Far too dull.

“Damn you, fine! Bring every bulldozer from the demolition office! I’ll level Wanglong Village tonight!”

After the calls, Chen Shun glared viciously at them.

“You’ll regret this. And you, brat—last time I didn’t get your mother, but tonight, I’ll take both you and your mother!”

Yaya shrank away in fear from Chen Shun’s menace, while Luo Cheng glared back with deadly intent.

For some reason, with Qin Mu present, Luo Cheng felt there was nothing to be afraid of.

It was as if this brother from ten years ago had climbed to an unimaginable height by now.

Less than ten minutes later, the rumble of heavy vehicles echoed from outside the village, shaking the ground.

“They…they’re really here.”

“My god, there must be a dozen vehicles. Are they really going to raze our whole village?”

Those standing outside watched the imposing convoy of bulldozers approaching, fear gripping their hearts.

“We should go out and take a look.”

As soon as Qin Mu spoke, Wu Mu dragged Chen Shun outside.

Sure enough, the convoy occupied the entire village road—a line of yellow machines, radiating formidable pressure.

It wasn’t hard to imagine that with a single push, Luo Cheng’s house would be reduced to rubble.

“Brother Shun, how did you end up like this?”