bookrebus Chapter 2454 - 1550: Stay a While Longer
Chapter 2454 - 1550: Stay a While Longer
"Aren’t you going to help the kid with homework?"
"My kid is hopeless with studies; tutoring or not makes no difference."
Fang Weiguo was clearly hinting for him to leave. It was already past nine, and the buses would stop running soon, but Zhang Zhongquan seemed completely oblivious.
Without a doubt.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand, he was pretending not to understand.
He was full of himself bragging in the owner group, but the Fang Family’s ordeal snapped Zhang Zhongquan back to the harsh reality.
He couldn’t even stand up to a local thug, let alone Green Land, a leading property developer in Sha City.
Even Fang Qing, a big lawyer, didn’t scare them; they splashed paint on her. What could someone like him do?
Awakened to reality, Zhang Zhongquan regretted deeply, realizing his arrogance had put his whole family in danger, and his mind played all sorts of grisly scenarios over and over, feeling like pins and needles, suspecting criminals were lurking in the dark outside, waiting for him to leave.
Not everyone has the courage to face their fears.
Most people instinctively cower and evade.
But the problem is.
If he doesn’t leave.
Someone else can’t leave either.
He couldn’t possibly stay and pretend, sharing a bed, right?
"Uncle Zhang, Fang Qing explained everything to you clearly. It’s time for you to stand firm and not bow to evil forces."
Jiang Chen spoke timely.
Besides Fang Qing, perhaps no one else realized the weight of his words.
Evil forces.
What seemed like a casual remark actually labeled Green Land as such.
Not delivering the houses on time is one thing.
Real estate developers across the country do that.
But hiring thugs to threaten, intimidate, and retaliate against homeowners trying to defend their rights? What is that if not evil?
Of course.
Not everyone has the qualifications to label others.
Especially such a leading company.
Calling them "evil forces" from the mouths of Mr. and Mrs. Fang, Zhang Zhongquan, or even Qing Gege might not mean much.
But coming from Boss Jiang, it is significant and should not be underestimated.
"Certainly! Of course! I will never bow down!"
Zhang Zhongquan quickly promised, despite being terrified of Green Land’s brutality, perhaps even to death, he understood he couldn’t lose the Fang Family’s support!
"Qing Qing, you’re not going to abandon Uncle Zhang, right?"
Unable to contain his fear, he sought reassurance from Fang Qing again.
Fang Qing nodded, unhurriedly, "As long as Uncle Zhang doesn’t compromise, we’ll definitely help you get justice."
"Good, good, good..."
Zhang Zhongquan’s expression slightly eased, feeling a bit comforted, though as nervous as a startled bird, which made Fang Weiguo couldn’t help but say, "Look at you, is fear going to solve anything? The more you fear, the more they push on! Show some guts, be a man! You’re not the one in the wrong! Why should the good fear the evil?"
Fang Weiguo, despite being an ordinary person, contrasted sharply with Zhang Zhongquan’s timid nature. There was a time when the world was less peaceful, and the timid didn’t last long.
Fang Weiguo never lacked courage; what held him back was not age, but family, his wife and daughter.
The family for a man is both a harbor and a vulnerability.
Embarrassed from head to toe by his scolding, Zhang Zhongquan, though silent with his head lowered, inwardly dismissed Fang Weiguo’s words.
Why should the good fear the evil?
Isn’t it natural for good people to fear bad ones?!
Bad people dare to wield knives and guns, to flout the law, to stab without hesitation; do the good dare?
One doesn’t hit a smiling face.
Similarly.
With his head down, not speaking, Fang Weiguo couldn’t continue the lecture, softening his tone.
"Go home first, Qing Qing has guaranteed you, even if Green Land dominates Sha City, we can appeal to the Provincial Government in River City; there’s bound to be justice somewhere in this big country!"
Zhang Zhongquan couldn’t stay any longer, even though his heart was still worried, he could only tell himself that Green Land wouldn’t act against him so quickly, slowly getting up, filled with reluctance.
"Well... I’ll head back now."
Pan Hui nodded, "Take care."
Despite the criticism, Fang Weiguo still escorted him to the door, "Be safe on the way home."
A simple, everyday expression of politeness, yet in this context, it stung.
Just stepping out the Fang’s newly replaced security door, Zhang Zhongquan’s eyes widened, almost wanting to turn back, but Fang Weiguo already closed the door.
"Bang."
Zhang Zhongquan shivered, hesitating outside the Fang’s door, staring at the dark stairwell below, not daring to move for a long time.
The household opposite was silent.
The nephew he barely remembered, orphaned, perhaps wasn’t as helpless as he felt now.
A man’s responsibility truly doesn’t depend on age.
"This guy is just too timid and cowardly."
Fang Weiguo turned back into the house, unable to resist commenting while walking.
Though initially angry when inviting him over, seeing his frightened manner, he couldn’t really stay mad.
Pitiable people are often detestable too.
In Zhang Zhongquan, he fully realized this.
"It’s understandable. Green Land is big and powerful; we ordinary folks, how can we not be afraid?"
"But if you’ve chosen to go to court with Green Land, you should be prepared for what’s involved. Do you think such a company will just admit fault and pay compensation obediently?"
"Things have already reached this point, what good does it do to say this now," Pan Hui replied, then paused, asking softly, "Do you think Zhongquan can withstand the pressure?"
"Doubtful."
Fang Weiguo shook his head.
Both of them were well aware.
"Despite his earlier assurances, it was because he feared we wouldn’t support him. He was trying to placate us. Once Green Land approaches him with threats or a little bribery, he’s likely to surrender."
Hearing her husband’s judgment, Pan Hui worriedly glanced at their daughter, "Won’t that mean he’ll sell out Qing Qing?"
"Would he care?"
Fang Weiguo sighed, "We’ve known him for so many years, you should understand his character. As long as he gets his money, do you think he’d care how much effort Qing Qing put into finding a lawyer for him?"
Shaking his head again, Fang Weiguo continued, "Moreover, he won’t feel any guilt; he’ll think it’s every man for himself."
How could it be like this?
People can prioritize themselves, but not only themselves.
Pan Hui wanted badly to tell her daughter to drop the matter but refrained with Jiang Chen present.
"Whether he compromises with Green Land is his matter."
Jiang Chen knew it was time for him to speak.
"No matter if he’s just taking us for a ride or genuinely intends to fight against Green Land to the end, this case won’t be affected. There are more homeowners than just him who’ve yet to get their houses; there are many others seeking justice."
Fang Weiguo looked at Jiang Chen, "You mean even if Zhang Zhongquan gives up, we should still pursue the case against Green Land?"
"Of course."
Jiang Chen chuckled, "It’s not just the second phase Green Land homeowners; Green Land owes Uncle Fang justice too, don’t they?"
Fang Weiguo eagerly nodded, "Exactly! They should at least repay me for my door!"
Pan Hui chuckled, then remarked, "Who knows, maybe Zhang Zhongquan really has changed this time."
"A leopard doesn’t change its spots."
Fang Weiguo shook his head, "But if he actually does show some spine this time, I’ll apologize to him when we meet again."
"Uncle Fang, Aunt Pan, I’ll head back now."
Jiang Chen stood up.
It was getting late.
With no reason to hold him back, the Fang couple nodded, and since he was just next door, he didn’t need to be seen out.
But as Jiang Chen walked to the door, he strangely closed it again after opening.
The house was silent.
After a brief exchange of glances with Zhang Zhongquan outside, Jiang Chen turned around, faced by three pairs of eyes.
"... still outside."
Fang Qing’s lips barely twitched, her face calm and serene.
"Sit a little longer."