Chapter 1003

Sun Family Village, under the jurisdiction of Jinxī County, evening cooking smoke rose in wisps, mingling with the scent of soil and crops, spreading over the village.

Sun Bingliang sat on a bench in his family's main hall, the cane in his hand having been used for many years, its tip severely worn.

On the Eight Immortals table in front lay a document titled Ecological Agricultural Park Land Transfer Compensation Agreement.

The agreement clearly stated the latest compensation standard: 32,000 per mu, plus an annual land-transfer dividend of 1,000 per mu per year.

Compared with the previous compensation standard, this one has been increased.

But the villagers didn't know that this was the result of Lin Dongfan and Ye Jiaying's discussion; otherwise they wouldn't have gotten so much money, let alone a land-transfer dividend.

"Dad, this compensation standard was set by the city. That Mr. Ye also promised to prioritize hiring people from our village to work in the park, out of pure goodwill." Sun Bingliang tried to reason with his elderly father opposite him: "Don't listen to the villagers' idle chatter about being able to demand more; that's unrealistic."

Sun's father sat on the threshold, clutching a dry‑tobacco pipe, his brows knotted: "Pure goodwill? My son's leg is worth only this much money?"

He jerked his head up, his cloudy eyes full of resentment: "Back then, you reported Chen Cheng's mine for illegal dumping, also for the villagers' good. The result? You had your leg broken by someone, and not a single one of those who beat you was caught—officials protecting officials. The wealthy and powerful have no conscience."

When this matter was brought up, Sun Bingliang's face darkened.

That was five years ago, when he had just returned from working away from home; he saw Chen Cheng's mine dumping tailings wastewater directly into the village's irrigation canal, causing large swaths of crops to wither, while the villagers dared to be angry but not speak out.

At the time he couldn't stand it and filed a real‑name report with the county environmental protection bureau.

Not long after, he was blocked at the village entrance by a couple of societal youths who brutally broke his right leg, leaving him permanently disabled.

Later, Chen Cheng sent people to the door, producing a sheet of paper saying they would give one million in compensation and asking Sun's father to affix his thumbprint.

Sun's father, illiterate, thought it would pay for his son's leg treatment and old‑age support, so he muddled through and pressed his thumbprint.

Only later did Sun Bingliang, upon looking at the agreement, realize that it was not a compensation agreement at all, but a loan contract titled Voluntary Loan of One Million.

At the signature block was written Sun's father's name, with his thumbprint affixed.

His leg was broken by Chen Cheng!

And he still owed Chen Cheng a huge debt of one million!

They were forced into silence, daring not to speak out; if they caused trouble, Chen Cheng would show up with the loan contract to demand payment! That contract could truly legally drive them to their deaths!

"That matter is all in the past."

Sun Bingliang gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger: "Chen Cheng now wields great power; we can't oppose him. Fortunately, Mayor Lin has noticed our county's economic shortfall and is vigorously developing the Ecological Agricultural Park. If we transfer our land, we'll have a steady income, and you can enjoy your twilight years in peace."

"Didn't you say before that Mayor Lin was your high‑school classmate?"

Sun's father's eyes lit up, as if recalling: "I remember you telling me before that you said his family was poor, so poor back then they couldn't even afford a meal. Every week you shared half of the pickled vegetables you brought from school with him, and you even helped him with school fees. Now that he's become mayor, couldn't he look after our family? Your leg is disabled; you'll never be able to work like a normal person for the rest of your life, and you're counting on this compensation to get by in the second half of your life."

Bringing up the old matter again, Sun Bingliang's face flushed crimson.

His tone carried a hint of stubbornness: "Dad, he's now the mayor, in charge of all the people's livelihood matters in Wuzhou; if I went to him begging for help, what's the difference between that and wagging a tail in supplication?"

His strong self‑esteem made him ashamed to speak up.

Back when they took the college entrance exam, he performed poorly, failed to get into university, and could only go out to work, whereas Lin Dongfan smoothly entered Jianglan Zhengfa University.

From then on, each followed their own life path, with no further intersection.

"You stubborn brat!"

Sun's father, furious, knocked his pipe on the ground: "Is that care? It's a debt he owes you! Back then, if you hadn't helped him, who knows whether he could have finished high school at all!"

Father and son were arguing, their faces red and ears flushed.

Suddenly, a hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, followed immediately by a loud bang as the door bolt was kicked shut, the wooden door slamming hard against the wall.

Sun Bingliang thrust himself up with his cane, instinctively stepping in front of his father.

Only to see Chen Cheng burst in wearing a floral shirt, belly protruding, accompanied by four menacing thugs, clutching a crumpled contract in his hand.

"Sun Bingliang, long time no see, your legs are still pretty nimble—you popped up just like that." Chen Cheng curled the corner of his mouth in a brazen sneer, his eyes fixed on Sun Bingliang's right leg: "Impressive, a disabled leg but an undaunted spirit. You kid managed to catch this land‑transfer boon—consider it ancestral grave smoke rising."

"Hey Chen, what do you want? We don't owe you money!"

Sun Bingliang's face turned livid with anger.

"You don't owe me money?"

Chen Cheng snorted, then thrust the contract in his hand before the Sun father and son, "Open your dog eyes wide and see clearly—is that your father's thumbprint on this? One million loan, five years now, principal plus interest. Don't say I'm bullying you, a cripple; by bank interest you owe me 1.6 million."

Sun Bingliang glared back: "Chen Cheng, don't go too far! Back then you sent people to break my leg, tricked my father with a fake compensation agreement into stamping his thumbprint, and now you dare come demanding repayment?"

"I broke your leg? Got proof? If not, shut up!"

Before his words even finished, Chen Cheng stepped forward and grabbed Sun Bingliang's collar: "Stop arguing about whether it was a deceit—the contract is black and white, the thumbprint is stamped, you want to deny it? I warn you: either you pay back the money today, or… you know, those who don't repay debts are likely to be struck by lightning and left dead in the street. Your father is already old—can you bear to see him left dead in the street? You're an educated person, don't be so unfilial!"

Saying this, Chen Cheng teasingly patted Sun Bingliang's face.

Sun Bingliang's eyes blazed with fury, almost spitting sparks: "Money—I won't give a cent; if you've got the guts, just kill me!"

"Why would I kill you? It's not your father's money—you're the one who owes me!" Laughing, Chen Cheng loosened his grip and shoved, sending Sun Bingliang stumbling back a few steps before he fell to the ground.

"Damn useless wretch."

In the midst of laughing and scolding, Chen Cheng turned his head to Sun's father: "Choose—money or your father. I, today, have the breadth of a prime minister's belly; I won't press you."

"We have no money."

Sun's father spoke weakly, turning to help his son up.

Chen Cheng chuckled: "No money? That's easily settled—sign a supplementary agreement with me, transferring your family's land to me, and this debt will be cleared."

"Dream on!"

Sun Bingliang rose to his feet with his father's support, wanting to retaliate but lacking the strength.

He now understood: Chen dog had come today ostensibly to collect a debt, but his real aim was to seize the Sun family's land, to exploit the loophole in land transfer.

With the land, Chen dog could sit down and negotiate prices with Mortal Group.

Sun Bingliang gritted his teeth: "Money—not a cent! Land—I could never give it to you! I'm betting you don't dare kill us father and son; go ahead, try again!"

"You've got guts, you bastard!"

Chen Cheng gave Sun Bingliang a thumbs‑up.

You think he's admiring you?

No!

He turned and walked out without saying a word, merely giving a glance to the lackeys behind him; those lackeys immediately rushed forward and knocked Sun Bingliang down with a single punch.

"You beasts!"

Sun's father flew into a rage, grabbed a hoe from a corner, intending to rush forward to help, but being old and slow, he had just lifted the hoe when someone kicked him to the ground.

In the blink of an eye.

Sun Bingliang and his father were both knocked to the ground, with no chance to fight back.

"You ungrateful wretch!"

"You're courting death!"

Four young thugs surrounded Sun Bingliang and his father and kicked them wildly.

Until Sun Bingliang and his father were beaten half to death.

Chen Cheng, who had been smoking at the doorway, then turned and went back into the hall: "Hey, Sunzi, to be honest, your worthless life isn't worth anything; I wouldn't even take it if you gave it to me. But the thing is, if you insist on opposing me to the bitter end, your father's leg could end up like yours, and you'll have to walk with a cane."

"……!!!"

Sun Bingliang, his face bruised and swollen from the beating, tried to push himself up twice but couldn't rise; he could only lie on the ground, gritting a blood-stained tooth, glaring fiercely at Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng flicked ash from his cigarette and kicked out with his leg.

He stepped with a smile onto Sun Bingliang's chest, saying: "Tsk tsk, look at you—I love seeing that look of yours, disliking me yet unable to beat me. Does this step of mine make you a bit short of breath? Does your heart feel uneasy? If it does, that's good. I'll give you ten seconds to decide: do you want the land, or do you want your father's leg?"