CHAPTER 788: CHAPTER 682: LIKING YOU, FROM THE FIRST GLANCE 23

Lai Wei’s home in the alley was extremely noisy, with all sorts of petty citizens who could make a huge fuss over the smallest things.

Lai Wei’s mother wasn’t in good health, but she had an excellent daughter. Lai Wei told Mi Lu that as a child, it was just her and her mother against the world.

The neighbors around them thought they, a mother and daughter alone, were easy to bully. But even at a young age, Lai Wei had rushed out with a kitchen knife in hand, terribly anxious inside, yet without showing it on her face.

She warned the neighbors that, as a minor, even if she were to kill someone, she would only be educated, but for the person killed, death would mean nothing.

Lai Wei didn’t start out so extreme, but she couldn’t stand how the neighbors would talk about her and her mother, sometimes with words that seemed trivial but were actually the most hurtful. Back then, her mother always cried, feeling sorry for her.

Her mother wasn’t weak, she had just been worn down smooth by life.

Lai Wei reflected on her past, and as Mi Lu listened, she leaned against her, half-hugging her waist, ""Weiwei, you’re so amazing. If it were me, I would have broken down a long time ago;

You’re good like this, at least no one dares to bully you and your mother anymore."

Lai Wei shook her head, "Not exactly. Later, people got worse. They stole into our home. That was the angriest I’ve ever been. I actually sliced someone with the knife. They fell from the second-floor window of our house. They didn’t die but became disabled."

Mi Lu was astonished, "Steal what? You and your mother were already so poor, what else was there to take?"

Lai Wei knew that Mi Lu hadn’t suffered through the hardships of life, nor had she been tempered by living. She was born at the peak; many things were simply placed before her without her having to think about it.

She didn’t get angry, but instead explained to Mi Lu with a smile, "The people in the alley are a mixed bunch. No one’s wealthy. I’m telling you, it was just to steal a chicken. Don’t you find that unbelievable?"

Mi Lu was taken aback for a moment and nodded, "Just for a chicken? So they were prepared to commit violence in your home?"

Lai Wei nodded, "Back then, there wasn’t a single wealthy family here. Even now, it’s tough. Everyone is poor and lazy, just scraping by. The house prices in the capital are high, and the people here all dream about the day when there will be a demolition;

Some will have their houses compensated, others will get money. Three years ago, there were rumors of an old district being transformed into a new one, and that our area would be demolished. Everyone somehow got wind of it and started to prepare for overnight riches.

Three years have passed, and there’s been absolutely no sign of demolition. Those neighbors who nearly ran through their savings are now even poorer."

As the saying goes, ’Bad lands breed troublesome people.’ It’s probably the same with this alley.

Mi Lu didn’t know what to say.

Lai Wei smiled, "Human hearts can be ugly. Who knows what someone’s truly thinking? So when I brought you here, the people sitting at the entrance, all stirring up trouble at the neighborhood committee, they’ve been talking about demolition starting, waiting for three years with no change."

Mi Lu was astonished, "How could the neighborhood committee possibly solve such a problem? Demolition is decided jointly by the demolition office and many urban planning departments. What’s the use of going to the neighborhood committee?"

"It’s useless, the neighborhood committee can say so much, but it’s all futile."

There are too many people who want to get rich overnight without putting in work, so these bizarre requests aren’t at all strange, especially not in this sort of old alley.

In the Old Town District, what’s most famous is the people from this section of the old alleys, notorious troublemakers far and wide.

Listening to Lai Wei’s casual conversation about home, Mi Lu felt sorry for her, "Weiwei, how did you endure all this?"

If it were her, she would have collapsed long ago. She couldn’t dare to imagine such things; if it happened to her, what would she do? Lai Wei patted her head, "My mother had a hard time raising me. I can’t afford to fall ill, to get in trouble, nor to entertain other thoughts until I’ve relieved her worries. Lulu, we’re different. You have a loving family and enough economic support for your dreams. What I have is too limited."

Mi Lu said in a muffled voice, "Weiwei, don’t worry. Little Jian Dan and I will always be by your side to accompany you."

"Yeah, thank you guys."

Mi Lu shook her head repeatedly, "Weiwei, Jian Dan and I really like you because you’re so confident. Behind closed doors, Jian Dan and I often say that you’re just too wonderful."

Lai Wei laughed, "You and Little Jian Dan just like to tease me."

"Not at all." Mi Lu shook her head seriously and said, "Weiwei, I’m really happy that you’re willing to share this with me. Later on, Jian Dan and I will come over more to keep you and your aunt company. Your aunt’s health isn’t very good, is it?"