Just as Shen Qiang silently closed the main door with a smile, in the lower part of the street, at Aunt Xiu Lian's house, the Village Accountant had just sat back down at the drinking table, looking displeased as he said, "What does Shen's honest wife mean? Acting all high and mighty just because she has money? Look at her arrogance, 'not today,' she says, 'it's time for the kids to rest; you all should leave.' It's not even seven yet!"

Aunt Xiu Lian rolled her eyes and snorted, "Isn't it obvious? Now that she's loaded, owning billions, can't even fit luxury cars in the yard, living in a big new house, do you think she still remembers us?"

Hearing this, the Head of the Village Security Team sighed and said, "Xiu Lian, we're all family here. I'm a straightforward person, and I'll just speak my mind. Shen Qiang returned, and what did you do? You acted all out of sorts and went to their house to gossip, even tried to give Shen Qiang a hard time indirectly."

"To what extent does Shen Qiang have to be brain-dead to let you mock him, then invite you to dinner, pour you a drink, and laugh along with you? Listen to your slander? Jeez, I think the fact Shen Qiang didn't lose his temper on the spot and politely saw you out was already giving you plenty of face."

"Lose his temper? He dares!" Aunt Xiu Lian got all worked up, her eyes widening as she said, "Don't listen to Shen Qiang brag about giving his mom a billion as pocket money. I find it hard to believe. There's so much fake stuff nowadays; who knows, maybe all those cars are rented, the girlfriend is hired, and the bank deposits are just for show to fool us."

Upon hearing this, the Village Chief furrowed his brow and said, "Enough, stop being so stubborn. Those Audi sports cars are worth two or three million each. Multiply that by ten; do you think it's that easy? And without collateral? Besides, don't you see the kind of women Shen Qiang brought back! Can the mayor's daughters even compare?"

The Village Women's Director quickly nodded, "Those girls are not ordinary people. We won't talk about status, but just look at how well-maintained their skin is; you can't compare them to regular folks."

The Village Chief glared at Xiu Lian, "Even if those cars are rented and the people are hired, do you think ten or eighty thousand is enough to cover the expenses?"

"Why not? Why not enough?" Aunt Xiu Lian retorted, grudgingly wide-eyed.

The Village Chief was displeased, "Alright, stop babbling on and on. The cars your family rents out, are they all priced at 5 million 1s or 5 million 9s? You're spoiled by the straightforward villagers. Listen to me, Xiu Lian, if you're smart, find some time, and return the 15,000 sunshade fee back to the Shen Family with a laugh. Move on."

"Why should I?" Aunt Xiu Lian was annoyed, rolling her eyes dramatically, "Shen Honest was willing to give it. And frankly, if it weren't for respecting the Village Committee's reputation, even if he gave me thirty thousand, I'd still contemplate whether to let him build."

Hearing this, the Village Security Team Leader chuckled, "Still dreaming? What's the old saying, 'The poor don't fight with the rich, the rich don't fight with officials.' The Shen Family is so rich now; do they care about a mere thousands?"

"I guess Shen Qiang doesn't know about this yet, so he's still being polite, calling you Aunt Xiu Lian. If you don't resolve this yourself, once Shen Qiang finds out, though money isn't an issue for him, he won't be able to swallow this insult. He'll come looking for you, and it won't just be about that sunshade fee anymore."

Aunt Xiu Lian rolled her eyes again at the Security Team Leader, "Ha, don't try to scare me. I, Xiu Lian, wasn't scared into growing up. That money was given by Honest Shen; what does it have to do with Shen Qiang. Besides, Old Shen is so timid he fears leaves falling on his head; what can he do?"

The Village Chief frowned, studying Xiu Lian for a while, and said, "Remember the big yellow dog always lying under the willow tree beside the stone grinder?"

"I remember, why?" Aunt Xiu Lian raised her eyebrows in surprise.

The Village Chief frowned, "Old Shen is like that yellow dog. You kick him a couple of times, not a peep, but once you turn around, he'll bite your leg. Better trust these words, Xiu Lian. You know money's good; others do too. Old Shen gave you 15,000 without hesitation to avoid your nonsense delaying the project. Don't think he's really afraid of you."

Hearing this, Aunt Xiu Lian rolled her eyes, "No money, bought a car."

The Village Chief frowned, "Fine, I'll cover it; tomorrow you return the money to Honest Shen. He's a genuine guy; give the money back, and everything will be fine. He won't even mention your antics to Shen Qiang."

"Why should I!" Aunt Xiu Lian's eyes bulged, "You have money, you want to give it, send as much as you want, I don't care. Our agreement was signed, the whole village knows. Now if I return the money to Honest Shen, how am I supposed to save face?"

The Village Chief was getting annoyed, "Xiu Lian, I'm telling you, think carefully about this. I've said what needs to be said. If Shen Qiang gets angry at you, his girlfriends will pin you down before anything else. You might end up in the hospital needing two dollars for medicine, while it's just a couple of bucks for Shen Qiang. When you suffer the loss, don't come crying to me."

Aunt Xiu Lian, unwilling to concede, said, "I'll think about it."

Just then, from inside the house, there was a loud thud from downstairs, followed by an angry female voice shouting, "What are you doing!"

Everyone in the room paused in surprise.

No one paid it much mind.

But then there was another thud, and the people upstairs heard a girl crying, "What are you doing, Pillar? What did I do wrong!"

Hearing this, the Village Chief stood up with a start and headed outside, while Aunt Xiu Lian and a few other village officials hurriedly went downstairs. Upon reaching the bottom, they saw Pillar's girlfriend crying. Her phone was smashed, and the thermos was evidently kicked and smashed as well, with shards and water scattered across the floor.

"Pillar, what's gotten into you? Why are you giving her the cold shoulder?" The Village Chief was anxious, angrily shouting.

Pillar glanced at his girlfriend and said angrily, "Playing with her phone, just playing. Ever since coming back from Shen Qiang's place, she's been messing with her phone, happily chatting with Shen Qiang and all that."

Hearing this, Pillar's girlfriend immediately started crying, "Shen Qiang didn't even add me. That was my cousin asking if she could make it home by the sixth to attend our wedding."

"Nonsense!" Pillar said coldly, "I saw you added Shen Qiang! You must be chatting with him! You think he's better than me, don't you? If you think he's so great, go find him then!"

Instantly, Pillar's girlfriend's tears started falling in big drops, "Pillar, what are you saying? You're an only child, and Shen Qiang said he considers you a blood brother. Your families are neighbors, and when I marry over, we'll run this household together! Don't you understand that distant relatives aren't as good as close neighbors?"

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