“This man is shameless, leeching off his niece, eating and drinking at her home, yet he dares to turn things around!”
“The whole family is of the same mold, acting more theatrically than any stage performance—nothing but clowns.”
“They weren’t released because they were innocent. No witnesses, insufficient evidence, yet they act so arrogant.”
People living under the Red Flag didn’t think too darkly; they simply assumed the death of a witness was an accident.
Everyone hated relatives who sucked their blood, living off others—the malicious kind. Shen Liren couldn’t bear the pointing fingers of the crowd and snarled, “Li Li, how could you become like this?”
Ah, still trying to blame her.
Shen Li found it utterly laughable.
“Uncle, you haven’t always had such good days. What, do you want to go back?”
Zhong Shuhua still wanted to make a scene, but the crowd’s fury was overwhelming. If she continued, they’d only look worse. Shen Liren grabbed her. “Let’s go.”
Shen Li watched them flee like rats, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light struck her eyes.
In the scuffle, Shen Man’s pocket had been tugged, revealing the head of the little yellowfish. She quickly pressed it back in.
But Shen Li saw it.
She even noticed a tiny character engraved on the fish’s head—a small “Li.”
It was from her mother’s maiden family, the Li family.
“Comrade Shen, shall we follow them?”
Shen Li withdrew her gaze and nodded. “Follow them. For three consecutive days, I need you moving around more in Shanghai.”
For three days, Shen Li would let them “advertise” Shen Liren’s family for free. She really had good people.
Shen Liren’s family darted through one alley after another; clothes and hair were in disarray. Some of the agitated citizens even tried to attack them—it was terrifying.
The scariest part? Four burly men followed them, drumming and announcing their presence all the way.
“Split up,” Shen Liren said. Perhaps it would be better that way. Shen Man didn’t follow them this time.
Zhong Shuhua spat, her gums bleeding from an elbow strike. “This wretched girl is like a different person now. You can’t fool her one bit.”
Even Zhong Shuhua recognized the change. Shen Liren had noticed it long ago—from when they entered the Public Security Bureau to the things Shen Man had said.
Perhaps Shen Li hadn’t really changed—she’d just been pretending all along, pretending so well that she fooled them completely.
If that were true, the money at the bank wouldn’t be so easy to get.
Shen Liren had a bad feeling—and that feeling was confirmed when he returned to the small mansion.
His key wouldn’t open the door.
Shen Li had changed the locks.
Damn it!
At that moment, Aunt Zhao returned with a group of women from washing clothes. “Oh, isn’t that Shen ‘Leech’?”
“What do you mean, ‘leech’?”
“The one sucking his niece’s blood, of course.”
“Still has the nerve to come back! I was at the Public Security Bureau this morning; Li Li had it so rough. Who knows how much she’s suffered?”
Then, someone started throwing stones. Shen Liren was hit, his head bleeding.
He shielded himself. “It’s a misunderstanding! All a misunderstanding!”
But the crowd was furious. No one listened.
Shen Liren could only flee in humiliation. In ten years, he had never been so humiliated.
Watching the small mansion fade into the distance, he swore to himself he would return.
The small mansion was his obsession. Once, when he had nothing, he had stood beneath it, watching his brother hold a pale, tender little girl, pointing at him and calling him a beggar.
At that moment, he swore to take everything back.
Aunt Zhao, seeing Shen Liren run, instructed the other women, “Whenever you see that ungrateful family, scold them! Let everyone’s spit drown them!”
Many kind-hearted people agreed.
The most pitied of all, Shen Li, went to Xiatan.
She went to find Uncle Lu.
Now that the family assets were in hand, Shen Li wasn’t afraid of Shen Liren discovering them.
She no longer pretended in front of Shen Liren’s family. Once the goal was achieved, who still pretends to be weak?
Uncle Lu was about to leave when he bumped into her.
“Uncle Lu, I have something to ask you.”
Old Lu hurriedly invited Shen Li inside. The house, though still dilapidated, was much tidier. Many items had been added, especially winter-proof supplies.
All thanks to Shen Li, Old Lu was living more comfortably.
“Uncle Lu, I want to ask—before my uncles were sent away, did they ever meet Shen Liren?”
“Today I saw Shen Man holding a little yellowfish from the Li family.”
Old Lu ground his teeth in anger. “That ungrateful wretch! Before your grandfather was sent away, he did meet Shen Liren. Originally, he wanted to see you, little miss, but Shen Liren said you wouldn’t want to get involved. The day before your grandfather was sent away, Shen Liren came. At the time, I found it strange that he’d show up.”
“The assets taken from the Li family didn’t match. I always thought the Red Committee people had swallowed them, but now it seems someone else did.”
With her uncles’ character, they would have left assets for Shen Li, just like her parents did.
But Shen Liren had taken everything.
Shen Li: “How much is missing?”
“About half.”
Shen Li was silent for a moment. “Uncle Lu, please keep an eye on Director Lin from the Red Committee for me during this time.”
“Little miss, you intend to…”
Shen Li smiled. “Of course, let Shen Liren gnaw his teeth and bleed while doing it.”
Both were pests—might as well eliminate them together.
But there was still a major problem: where had Shen Liren hidden the Li family’s assets?
The Li family was a prominent family, and many of their assets bore their mark—the character “Li.”
The ones Shen Li had already collected had no marks—they were definitely her family’s property.
Shen Li discussed the Li family matters with Uncle Lu. They hadn’t contacted the Li family yet, but Uncle Lu’s contact had located the village chief and promised to give them easier work and take care of them.
Before leaving, Shen Li gave Uncle Lu some items and Shen Liren’s pocket watch—things the ungrateful family had used. Leaving them in her space felt dirty, better to give them to Uncle Lu for a better life.
As the sky darkened, it was almost time. Shen Liren’s family should be back.
Returning to the small mansion, she saw Shen Mingtang trying to open the door with a wire.
“What, trying to steal again?”
Shen Mingtang saw Shen Li return, still carrying a state-owned hotel bag—surely filled with delicious food she had bought.
“Steal? This is my home! This small mansion is mine now. In the future, it’s mine. I’ll do whatever I want.”
“You’re using Dad’s money to buy such expensive things! Give me the money—it’s all Dad’s!”
After being stuck in the hospital for days, his parents wanted him discharged and sent to a low-class housing. He refused. He wanted the small mansion.
Seeing the ruins outside, Shen Mingtang realized how good the small mansion was.
Besides, it was clearly his own property—why should Shen Li get it!