Chapter 7 — The Wedding House Was Destroyed, I Want It All Back

Offering candy in one hand and a knife in the other, both luring me with money that was much less than the actual damage, while also using the so-called "difficult to execute" sentence to scare me into giving up.

"Uncle Chu," I replied, my voice still as steady as flowing water, "the appraisal was carried out by a legally qualified unit, all the data is well-founded. If you find there is a problem, you can completely request a re-assessment, but you need to provide reasons and evidence."

“The gap between 1,500,000 yuan and 4,157,600 yuan is not ‘each side giving in a step’, but a request for me to give up most of my legal rights.”

“As for the execution of the sentence, that is part of the legal process. I believe in the fairness of the process and am also ready to wait.”

“If there is nothing else, regarding the compensation issue, please contact my representative lawyer Tham Du directly, I will send her contact information to you.”

I hung up, put his number on the block list, then sent Tham Du's electronic business card to Chu Da, along with a short sentence.

"Regarding compensation issues, please invite your lawyer to work with my representative lawyer. There is no need for further personal contact."

While I was completing the lawsuit documents and discussing strategies with Tham Du, someone suddenly came. It's To Nha, Chu Da's cousin, two years older than him, works at an auditing company in Guangzhou, normally doesn't hang out much, but always gives me a feeling of alertness, different from the rest of that family. She sent a direct message via WeChat, without beating around the bush.

"Lam Niem, can you answer the phone? About Chu Tinh and the house, there are some things I think you should know."

I hesitated for a few seconds, then called back. To Nha's voice was very low, as if she were standing in a private place, each sentence carried a cautious tone.

"I'll say it quickly, first of all, on behalf of Chu Tinh and my aunt, I'd like to apologize to you, this is really too much."

“Second, I'm not calling to ask you to forgive him, I just can't see anymore, and I don't want you to be hidden in the dark.”

"The fact that Chu Tinh led people to attack your house, in addition to being denied a loan and losing face... is likely to have another reason."

I tightened my grip on the phone, my voice lowered.

“What is the cause?”

"Last night, I went to my aunt's house to have dinner. I accidentally heard my uncle call, his voice was very urgent, as if he was spinning money, saying things like 'the hole must be filled immediately', 'the auditor can't handle it anymore', it sounds like it was related to the company's bookkeeping issue. Did Chu Da ever tell you before that their new project lacks capital?"

To Nha spoke very quickly, as if afraid that if she was too late she would be discovered by someone else. Her voice was low, but each word carried a clear sense of warning.

"Also, I accidentally heard my aunt calling and complaining, saying that Chu Tinh's boyfriend, that guy named Trieu Loi, seemed to be instigating him, if he just forced him to leave or give in, the house would be in his name... he could 'manage' something."

"I don't know what they intend to do, but it's certainly not simply venting anger. You should be careful, and Chu Da... actually, he knows his mother and younger brother are thinking too much."

"But you also understand his personality, he's used to being peaceful, and he's very obedient to his family. When it's important, you can't rely on him. Your choice to follow the law is right."

“Just have to be careful of them being pushed to the point of losing control, if you need financial information, I can try to help you find out, but I'm not sure I can get it.”

I gripped the phone tightly, the puzzle pieces starting to fit together in my head, each little detail becoming much scarier when placed next to each other. The Chu family company is likely having financial problems, Chu Tinh's destructive actions may not only be spontaneous, but also provoked by Trieu Loi. Even... the target could be my house. The fact that they were willing to offer 1,500,000 yuan in exchange for dropping the complaint was probably not only because of the fear of being criminally prosecuted, but also because of the fear of the matter being dug deeper.

“Thank you To Nha, what you said is very important to me.”

I say it honestly, because this information seems to open up another layer of the story, much darker and more complicated.

“Don't be polite, I just find this so unfair, you have to protect yourself, and the whole house.”

She paused for a moment and then added, her voice lowering even more as a final reminder.

“Ah, they will most likely come to your parents, you should prepare yourself mentally first.”

Sure enough, just two days later, my mother called, her voice filled with worry, saying that an old acquaintance of my father had come to the house to "advise". I didn't need to ask to know who was behind it, with moral words like "girls, don't be too stubborn", "you have to leave a way out", "If you work too hard, then living in this city will be difficult"... I gently reassured my parents, only telling them one thing - just let me and the lawyer handle everything, no need to talk to them myself.