CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 167: THE WHOLE FAMILY IS CLEVER

167 A Family of Great Acumen

Zhao Zhitong did not take the silver and hairpins from Xiao Wang’s hand. Instead, he blinked his large, dark eyes, looked at her with an innocent expression, and said in a childish voice, "Aunt, you seem very unhappy. Are you reluctant? If Aunt is reluctant, then I won’t sell. I’ll go find Uncle Wang."

With that, he stood up and made a show of leaving.

Little brat! Xiao Wang cursed inwardly, hurriedly grabbing Zhao Zhitong’s arm. "No, no! Aunt isn’t reluctant at all!"

Zhao Zhitong tilted his head to look at her, asking doubtfully, "Really? But Aunt, you don’t look very happy."

Xiao Wang felt like beating Zhao Zhitong black and blue, but she quickly forced a smile. "You child, what nonsense are you spouting? How could Aunt be unhappy? Aunt is overjoyed to be able to help Tongtong!"

Only then did Bai Ran smile, happily reaching out to take all the silver, the hairpin, and the bracelet, treasuring them by tucking them into his bosom.

Watching this, Xiao Wang’s heart ached at the loss, and she could hardly bear it.

Once the money and jewelry were secured, Zhao Zhitong then pulled a deed from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Wang. "Here, this is the deed. I’m giving it to Aunt."

Xiao Wang’s eyes instantly lit up. She excitedly extended her hand to take the deed and opened it. Although she was illiterate, her husband had taught her how to recognize it. She glanced at it, felt everything was correct, and promptly tucked it into her bosom.

By this time, Zhao Zhitong, silver and jewelry in hand, had already run out of the alley. He had really swindled Xiao Wang this time.

The plot of land was actually only worth about five taels of silver at most. It was only Third Uncle’s family who thought they had struck gold.

However, given Xiao Wang’s usual shamelessness, she wouldn’t have wanted to part with even five taels of silver. Now that she had the land deed, she would undoubtedly try to somehow get the money and jewelry back from Zhao Zhitong. That was why he had hastily run off.

So, when Xiao Wang had securely tucked away the deed and turned to find Zhao Zhitong to snatch back the silver and jewelry, she discovered she was the only one left in the alley.

Xiao Wang muttered a curse under her breath, "You little wretch! Sooner or later, I’ll make you spit it all back out!"

Afterward, she touched the deed in her bosom, her mood soaring. Then, beaming with satisfaction, she walked out of the alley.

Meanwhile, at the banquet table, the last hot dish was being served: braised ribs with radish.

Zhao Dong was holding a wine glass, toasting his good friends, and the banquet was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.

Xiao Wang glanced at him from afar, a trace of triumph on her face. Hmph, this Second Brother’s family... this will be the only time they get to shine in their entire lives!

Tian Cuihua, the Village Chief’s daughter-in-law, who was sitting nearby, glanced at Xiao Wang curiously. Why did Xiao Wang seem in such a better mood after stepping out for a bit?

Now that Xiao Wang had achieved her goal, she was anxious to go home and share the good news with her husband. So, after just a few mouthfuls, she quietly slipped away.

After obtaining the land foundation, Zhao Chun was incredibly excited. He then went straight to the village chief’s house to have it officially transferred to his family’s name.

Then, he couldn’t wait and hurried over to the old courtyard.

The gate of the old courtyard was locked, and naturally, he didn’t have the key. However, this wasn’t going to stop him from entering.

Zhao Chun stood at the gate, looked around, then picked up a stone from the side of the road and smashed it against the lock on the gate.

At this moment, his Fifth Uncle Zhao Qiu, who was just returning from the Housewarming Banquet, happened upon this scene. His eyes widened in surprise. He told his wife to wait at the entrance while he rushed up. "Third Brother! What are you doing?"

Zhao Qiu’s sudden shout startled Zhao Chun, who was up to no good and feeling extremely guilty. He thought Zhao Dong had arrived.

When he turned and saw it was his Fifth Brother, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, glaring at him, he said with feigned righteousness, "Can’t you see? I’m entering the courtyard."

Zhao Qiu frowned. "Of course, I can see that. I mean, what are you doing going into Second Brother’s old courtyard? And you even smashed the lock!"

Zhao Chun stopped what he was doing and immediately pulled out the deed. "Second Brother has already sold this courtyard to me. I plan to use it to build a house for my Zhao Ji in the future. Stop meddling in other people’s business."

After saying that, he continued smashing the lock. A short while later, with a CLANG, the lock broke, and Zhao Chun pushed the gate open.

Zhao Qiu still looked incredulous. "Second Brother sold the courtyard to you?"

But Zhao Chun indeed held a deed, so it seemed it might be true. In the end, Zhao Qiu didn’t say anything further. He spoke briefly with Zhao Chun and then turned to go home.

After forcing the gate open, Zhao Chun headed straight for the vegetable plot. The vegetable plot was still properly enclosed by a fence, and the ground was intact, not damaged. It was just that there were no vegetables left in it.

Zhao Chun excitedly grabbed a handful of soil from the vegetable plot and held it to his nose, sniffing. It was as if he could smell the scent of money.

He was ecstatic. In the future, this treasure of a vegetable plot will be mine!

At this time, Xiao Wang and Mrs. Wang also entered the courtyard one after the other. Mrs. Wang was holding the radish and vegetable seeds she had saved that year, and Xiao Wang was carrying a hoe on her shoulder.

When they saw the vegetable plot was completely bare, without even a weed, Mrs. Wang snorted coldly. "That Second Brother’s family truly is a bunch of paupers! So petty! They dug the vegetable plot so clean!"

Although Xiao Wang was also displeased with the immaculately clean vegetable plot, she still consoled Mrs. Wang, "Mother, it’s fine. In the future, this will all be ours! Growing vegetables here is just a matter of time. But as for Second Brother’s family... they’re probably doomed. When the deadline agreed upon with Guang Ju Restaurant arrives, and Second Brother can’t hand over the vegetable plot, the owner of Guang Ju Restaurant will fly into a rage. Second Brother’s family will definitely be finished!"

Xiao Wang laughed maliciously.

Mrs. Wang also laughed triumphantly, then sneered with schadenfreude. "They deserve it! Who allowed them to monopolize the Zhao Family’s good fortune? This was left to us by our ancestors! Do they even think they’re worthy of possessing it?"

The news that Zhao Dong was preparing to sell the vegetable plot to Guang Ju Restaurant had actually come from her (Mrs. Wang’s) youngest daughter. She said that the owner of Guang Ju Restaurant wanted to possess the vegetable plot exclusively to earn even more money.

Thus, he was pressuring Zhao Dong to sell the courtyard to Guang Ju Restaurant. It was said the money had already been given, a full several hundred taels of silver, and they were just waiting for the deed to be handed over. But Zhao Dong’s family kept delaying, and it was heard that the owner of Guang Ju Restaurant was already furious.

And Xiao Wang’s family knew exactly why Zhao Dong was delaying—it was because that spoiled little daughter of his had hidden the deed.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Xiao Wang snorted coldly. No wonder! The other day, when Sun Mei was so angry she was about to hit her precious daughter, I thought it was strange. They usually dote on that daughter to the heavens, so why would she be willing to hit her? It turns out Guang Ju Restaurant wanted to buy it! And she even told us Guang Ju Restaurant was offering fifty taels. She must have been afraid we’d find out how valuable this courtyard is!

But now, I’ve tricked them out of the deed for just ten taels of silver and two pieces of jewelry. Second Brother’s family can just wait for Guang Ju Restaurant to retaliate!

Thinking of this, Xiao Wang instantly felt immensely smug.