Half an hour later, Tao Ran and her group arrived outside a residential complex called Ziwei Garden.
This was the house Fang Ming’s parents had bought for him, the same place that had served as Tang Ran and Fang Ming’s marital home. His parents had been reluctant to rent it out, so the new house had sat empty for a while. In the end, they decided to live here for at least half the year.
Tao Ran called the landline inside, but no one answered.
As expected, after hearing her voice, the couple must’ve panicked. Wanting to confront her yet fearing her time limit, they had probably bolted out the door the moment they hung up.
Perfect.
A small smirk curved Tao Ran’s lips.
If no one was home, that meant she could “go home” openly.
Of course, this had been her plan from the start.
She wasn’t even sure if there was a café on the first floor of the First Department Store, she’d never intended to show up. That phone call had been nothing more than a diversion.
From Ziwei Garden to the department store was at least a thirty-minute taxi ride. A round trip, plus the time they’d waste looking around, would easily cost them more than an hour.
Tao Ran drove straight to the building and parked downstairs.
Using the key, she stepped inside only to find that the house no longer bore a single trace of Tang Ran’s memories.
All of Tang Ran’s post-wedding decorations were gone. The place felt unfamiliar, as if it belonged to strangers.
A cold laugh slipped from Tao Ran’s throat.
Then she issued her first command: “Move everything.”
The sofa? Remove the covers and move it.
The tables and chairs? Strip the tablecloths and move them too.
The TV, the fridge, the washing machine, move it all!
Back then, Fang Ming’s parents had only paid for the house itself. The renovations and all the appliances had been purchased by Tang Ran’s family. Yet during the divorce, those items had somehow been treated as “gifts.”
Ridiculous.
The legal process to reclaim them would be tedious, and indirect methods exhausting. Tao Ran preferred the simplest and most direct approach.
Everyone got to work immediately.
While the movers handled the appliances, Tao Ran went to the bedroom to pack Tang Ran’s personal belongings.
The irony was painful.
Tang Ran and her family had furnished this home with care, yet all of Tang Ran’s belongings barely filled a single suitcase.
Back then, Fang’s family had cried poor. The bride price had been a token 10,000 yuan. Aside from empty promises, Fang Ming had given Tang Ran only a 3,000-yuan ring. Nothing else.
The Tang family had taken pity on them, assuming the house purchase had drained their savings, so they hadn’t argued. But in the end, everything had been part of a calculated plan. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
Many hands made light work.
The driver waited downstairs while six men worked upstairs. In about ten minutes, nearly all the electronics from the two-bedroom apartment were gone.
Tao Ran gestured toward the air conditioner. “Take that down too.”
It took more effort to dismantle, and a few of the men exchanged uneasy looks. Seeing their hesitation, Tao Ran said plainly, “This is my house. The scumbag cheated and even hit me. Everything here was bought with my family’s money, I’m not leaving a single thing for the mistress. Don’t worry, if anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility.”
That settled it. The men stopped asking questions. They comforted the “heartbroken lady” as they worked even harder. After all, she had the key clearly, she was the homeowner. Domestic disputes weren’t for outsiders to judge.
Once all the appliances were cleared out, the truck still had room to spare. Tao Ran instructed them to start moving the furniture.
Just then, a middle-aged woman from across the hall came over after hearing the commotion.
Tao Ran recognized her, Aunt Li.
She’d always been close to Fang’s mother, the type who fawned on the powerful and belittled the weak. She’d always believed Tang Ran was lucky to marry into the Fang family and had never once treated her kindly.
“Oh my, isn’t this Xiao Ran? Back from abroad? When did you get home? What’s all this?”
“As you can see,” Tao Ran replied coolly, “I’m moving.”
“Moving? Why are you moving as soon as you get back? Your mother-in-law didn’t mention anything! Where are you moving to? Where is she, by the way?” Aunt Li rattled on as she tried to walk inside. “Ah Zhen! Come out! What’s happening? Xiao Ming’s back too? Where is everyone? Need a hand?”
Tao Ran stepped forward and blocked the doorway.
“My mother-in-law isn’t here. No need for you to come in.”
Aunt Li’s face stiffened for a moment before she forced a smile. “Oh, so just because she’s not here, I can’t go in? My, my, Xiao Ran, two years overseas and you’re too good for Aunt Li now? I heard you were working abroad. What a pity! If you ask me, it’s still better here at home—”
“Aunt Li,” Tao Ran interrupted mildly, “you’re from the Northwest, right?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
“The Northwest… that’s inland, isn’t it? No sea there.”
“Of course not! What kind of question is that? You went to college, didn’t you?”
“Then why are you so salty? For a moment I thought you must live by the ocean, the way you stick your nose into everyone else’s business.”
“You—!” Aunt Li’s mouth opened and closed for several seconds before the meaning hit. “How can you talk like that! No manners at all! No wonder your husband will divorce you someday!”
Tao Ran smiled coldly. “Oh, I’m rude? I managed to feed that useless leech of a husband while being a stay-at-home wife. I only have a bachelor’s degree, can’t compare to your son, right? What was his degree again? Oh, I forgot, didn’t you spend a fortune just to buy it? He’s thirty-seven or thirty-eight now, isn’t he? Still living with you? No job? By the way, those dark spots on your face look worse. Haven’t seen a doctor? Your hair’s thinning too, looks like half of it’s gone. And that complexion… your breath smells bad. Maybe you should get checked out.
“You’ve got enough going on at home. How about you stop sticking your nose into mine?”
Offended? She could be offensive too.
Tao Ran hadn’t intended to be harsh, but the old woman simply wouldn’t stop pushing her way inside.
And it worked beautifully.
“You ill-bred woman! Fang Ming will divorce you soon enough!”
Aunt Li stomped back to her apartment, slamming her door hard enough to rattle the walls.
Tao Ran stood in the hallway, clearly hearing her call Fang Ming’s mother, Ah Zhen, to complain.
Go ahead, she thought.
Half the house was already emptied.
By the time Fang’s parents returned, she’d be right here waiting for them.
Sure enough, thanks to Aunt Li’s tattling, Fang Ming’s parents showed up about half an hour later.
By then, everything movable was already gone. Tao Ran had instructed the truck driver to take the furniture and appliances to the rented garage first, so Fang’s parents didn’t even see the loaded truck.
They’d been completely duped, rushing out of the taxi, panting and furious, only to find that the once-gentle daughter-in-law had turned into someone entirely different.
When they burst through the door, they found Tao Ran’s hired men dismantling the gas stove and the ceiling lights.
Heavens!
She’s gone mad!
The furniture was gone.
The appliances were gone.
Even the dining table was gone.
The entire house was hollow and echoing.
They rushed into the bedroom, even the bed was disassembled.
Only tablecloths, chair covers, and bedsheets lay scattered across the floor.
“You people! Who are you?! How dare you!”
Fang’s mother shrieked. She couldn’t believe that in just over an hour, the entire house had been emptied out.
She scanned the room anxiously before finally spotting Tang Ran, sitting calmly on the balcony, directing the workers like a queen overseeing her army.