Chapter 122: Villains Gather

Lin Hu also couldn't figure it out.

Where did Wu An get the money?

He had been thinking about it all along, but still couldn't work it out.

Wu An might not realize it, but they've been running into each other often lately; he just secretly observed, seeing Wu An busy, and knew his luck was good.

He felt a little envious, but that was all.

Even with good luck, digging sea snails, clams and the like on the beach all day is still hard‑earned money.

It's even less likely he could earn enough for a motorcycle or home appliances.

Not to mention buying a fishing boat.

He said something, don't laugh, but he's had a dream since childhood—to buy a fishing boat and set sail.

But now he's past thirty, and that dream remains just a dream.

It's not that he can't make money at all.

But he has everyday expenses and a family to support; he can't save, and each month he still has to rely on his parents.

In just a little over ten days, Wu An accomplished something he might never achieve in a lifetime?

But it's totally screwed up!

Hearing him and his wife talk, his parents came out of the house.

Yes.

Now Lin Hu and his wife still live with his parents; the house is new, but it's a half‑loft—a bungalow with an added upper level.

The loft is very low.

At the highest point you can stand, but elsewhere you have to bend over.

Such a loft can't be lived in, only used for storage; few build houses like this in the village, and it's done out of necessity.

When Lin Hu married, he wanted two stories, but this loft isn't even a full floor.

Put bluntly.

It's just because they have no money.

Next door, Lin Bin's place is a proper two‑story house; when the families got along it didn't matter, but now that they're on bad terms, they've been giving him a hard time lately.

Lin Hu called out "Mom and Dad."

His wife hurriedly hid the money in her hand; although she was hiding it, the motion was too obvious, so it was a bit embarrassing, but everyone's gotten used to it.

The old couple casually asked a couple of questions.

Lin Hu said it was fine, so he didn't say more; the money he earned was for the young couple's use, and he never took any out to help with household expenses—there was no reason to do so.

He sat down to eat; the family had already eaten, and they'd left him a separate portion.

He had just taken two bites when a neighbor came to visit.

What they were talking about was naturally the Lao Wu Jia's affairs.

"Recently the Lao Wu Jia family has been showing off, constantly coming up with new tricks—really something."

"No kidding."

"They say all that money is earned by that kid Wu An alone, and no one knows whether the source is clean or not."

"They say that kid is still at it."

"Outwardly they'll say it's all nice and proper, but who knows what's really going on behind closed doors?"

"…"

The gossip goes round and round; actually it's boring—yesterday it was the Xiao Li family, today the Lao Wu Jia, tomorrow the Zhang San household; these talking points fit anyone.

Whoever makes money must have compromised their conscience; the money is definitely dirty.

Why?

We all do the same work; my family's honest and hasn't gotten rich—how can you get rich?

The answer seems to be on the tip of everyone's tongue.

But nobody says it outright, for fear of being heard or losing face.

Don't say villagers are simple and honest.

They're all sharp.

Hearing this gossip, logically the Wu family should be the ones angry, but for some reason Lin Hu gets angrier the more he hears, and can't even eat his food.

He flung down his bowl and chopsticks and jumped up.

Everyone looked over.

He said resentfully, "I'm full, I'm going out for a snack."

He had taken just two steps when his wife shouted, "There's still half a bowl of rice—what kind of snack are you sneaking off for?"

"Clear it up first before you go out—who's going to clean up after you?"

Lin Hu didn't look back: "I'll come back and clean up later."

That's what "family status" means.

He went out the door.

Lin Hu's mood was still off; he looked left and right, saw someone on the right, so he went left—he didn't even want to see anyone right now.

Walking on, he reached the intersection; looking up, not far away was the Lao Wu Jia.

"How did I end up coming this way?" Lin Hu muttered; he really didn't want to see the Lao Wu Jia's "grand scene," and with his mood already bad, adding to it meant he wouldn't sleep tonight.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw someone standing at the alley entrance.

It startled him.

He took a closer look and shouted, "Mao Wang, you brat, what are you hiding for?"

Mao Wang hurriedly replied: "I... I'm not hiding here; I want to leave from here."

"" Lin Hu didn't know what to say, you little brat yourself are an idiot, can't you stop treating others as idiots, the back of this alley entrance is completely blocked by a pile of firewood.

Leave from here?

How to leave, planning to fly over?

However, seeing Mao Wang's expression off, he lowered his head and saw a cigarette case and a cigarette butt on the ground, so he didn't say much, took out a Cigarette and passed it over.

Mao Wang took it and then said: "Fire."

Lin Hu glared: "You don't have fire? How are you smoking then?"

Mao Wang embarrassedly said: "I accidentally dropped it on the ground and broke it just now."

Lin Hu rolled his eyes, I don't believe you.

A five-mao lighter, quality not too good, even if you smash it hard on the ground it might not explode.

Mao Wang lit the Cigarette and took a hard drag.

Actually.

He came following Shen Fang.

Shen Fang had also come to the Wu family to watch the fun not long ago, he naturally followed along, and when Shen Fang left she muttered that it would have been good if she hadn't broken up with Wu An.

He asked what was good.

Shen Fang replied that those appliances Wu An bought included her share, and if they got married, Wu An would definitely buy better appliances for her to use.

As Shen Fang spoke, she felt heartbroken; now she has nothing, so she didn't stay long, quickly left the Wu family, and even Wu An didn't know.

Mao Wang felt even more heartbroken.

After Shen Fang left, he didn't know what he was thinking, and just hid here smoking.

One after another.

Now Lin Hu also came, and the two smoked together.

After smoking a cigarette, the two had just walked out of the alley entrance when they almost bumped into someone, both startled, Lin Hu and Mao Wang hurriedly greeted: "Uncle Gui."

The person was Chen Gui.

Chen Gui looked at the two and scolded: "What are you doing, hiding here to scare people for fun?"

Lin Hu gave an embarrassed smile and asked: "Come to watch the fun at the Wu family?"

Chen Gui coldly snorted: "I'm watching jack shit!"

"What's there to see?"

"Haven't you heard that saying: watching him build a vermilion tower, watching him feast guests, watching his tower collapse!"

Mao Wang shook his head: "No."

Lin Hu smiled and said: "Still, Uncle Gui speaks with skill."

His mood inexplicably became much better.

Chen Gui gave a hehe laugh, took the Cigarette Lin Hu passed over, the three chatted for a while, then each went their separate ways; as they walked, Chen Gui looked back at Lin Hu and Mao Wang and muttered: "Hey, these two can be used."

Lin Hu and Mao Wang walked together, also gossiping about Chen Gui.

"Brother Hu, I didn't expect Uncle Gui to be jealous of the Wu family."

"That's for sure, Uncle Gui and Uncle Ying Wei are sworn enemies."

"Huh? I think their relationship is pretty good."

"You can't judge by appearances."

"If we had just been smoking and chatting together, in a movie we'd be a gathering of villains."

"You... who says you're a villain?"

"I'm just saying, don't people on the road always gather like this to cause trouble?"

Lin Hu hearing this, his eyes flickered; he still remembered that on the tidal flat Wu An had embarrassed him, he had uttered harsh words, and suddenly asked: "You want to cause trouble?"

"How to do it?"

"I don't know..."

"I don't know either."

"Alright, go back early to wash up and sleep."