Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Rickshaw Puller He Qiang, The Plan to Destroy

The small Western-style house that Zhong Zijun bought for the siblings was just off the bustling city center, in a wealthy neighborhood where all the residents were either rich or influential—people who paid attention to appearances.

Unlike the villas in the suburbs, this area had convenient transportation, with buses running directly to it.

There were also plenty of rickshaws waiting nearby.

Gu Qinghuan and Gu Lanting arrived by rickshaw.

The so-called rickshaw was similar to the “yellow cab” of the Republic era, powered by human effort, though nowadays it was more like a small tricycle pedaled like a bicycle, which made things much easier.

Their rickshaw puller was a young, energetic guy, full of enthusiasm and very likable. Gu Qinghuan immediately had an idea.

When they got off, Gu Qinghuan paid the fare, then deliberately took out a five-yuan note and held it in her palm. “If you can help me find out some information about the owners of those two little Western-style houses up ahead, this five yuan is yours.”

He Qiang’s eyes lit up. Pulling a rickshaw, he’d have to run nonstop all day just to earn that much, and even then, the rickshaw company would take half.

But this person said he’d get five yuan just for asking around a bit—this was a windfall from the heavens.

He patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing I, He Qiang, can’t find out. Just wait here, I’ll be right back.”

Gu Qinghuan nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Lanting tugged at her disapprovingly. “Sis, you might as well hire me for five yuan. That’s way too easy money.” He muttered under his breath.

Gu Qinghuan shook her head and said confidently, “That’s where you’re wrong. If you go, you might not find out anything. But he definitely can. You’re still too young and inexperienced—you need more practice.”

Gu Lanting was unconvinced.

He followed after He Qiang anyway.

Gu Qinghuan let him go and found a spot by the roadside to wait.

She’d been navigating society for years and could read people well enough.

That young man, He Qiang, would definitely bring back what she wanted.

Sure enough, not long after, He Qiang pedaled his tricycle back, with Gu Lanting trailing behind, looking dejected.

“I got the info! The house on the left belongs to the Cai family—a big household, with an elderly couple, two sons and their wives, and four or five grandchildren.

They’ve lived here for almost five years. Apparently, they’re not very well-off—pretty stingy, and the lady of the house is always picking up wilted vegetable leaves at the market.

Both sons and their wives are lazy, don’t work, and live off the parents.

But here’s the strange part—they actually own two houses. The one on the right is also managed by them. I heard they rent it out, and the rent alone is enough for the whole family to live on, with plenty left over.

The house on the right just had a tenant move out. The Cai family kept raising the rent for no reason, and the tenant couldn’t take it anymore and left. The place is empty now.”

He Qiang rattled off the information, waiting for Gu Qinghuan’s verdict.

Gu Qinghuan was very pleased with the intel and immediately handed him five yuan in cash. “It’s yours. Thanks for your help.”

He Qiang grinned and took it with both hands. “If you ever need anything like this again, just come to me. Everyone who pulls rickshaws around here knows me—I’m He Qiang. See you around!” With that, he pedaled away at top speed.

Gu Lanting fidgeted with his hands, hiding behind and saying nothing.

“What? Admit defeat?” Gu Qinghuan teased him.

“Sis, how did you know?” He’d just tried to copy He Qiang, chatting up the old gatekeeper, but the old man just eyed him suspiciously, as if he were a thief, and told him nothing.

He had no idea what He Qiang had said to get the old man laughing so hard.

Gu Qinghuan smiled, stood up, and patted his shoulder. “Learn from this—you’re still too green.

Everyone has different natural talents. You’re a natural at studying, picking things up on your own.

But He Qiang has a natural affinity with people. He’s smooth, knows how to handle things, and has a way with words. That’s why people are willing to tell him what he wants to know. Understand?”

Gu Lanting more or less got it. Basically, he just wasn’t good at talking or making people like him, and his sister was being diplomatic about it.

“Sis, do you think the house on the left is where Wu Ma’s family lives?”

“Ninety percent sure. I remember Wu Ma’s husband’s family name is Cai—she’s mentioned it before.”

“People are never satisfied, huh? Mom treated her so well and entrusted her with something so important.” Gu Lanting sighed.

“Back then, Mom had no other choice. Giving it to Wu Ma was a hundred times better than giving it to Gu Yunchuan.

If Wu Ma took the house, at worst we’d be angry and kick her out. But if Gu Yunchuan got it, that would be truly disgusting.

Lanting, never try to test human nature, not even with those closest to you. Human nature can never stand up to scrutiny,” Gu Qinghuan said thoughtfully.

Gu Lanting thought she was talking about Gu Yunchuan and agreed wholeheartedly.

“Sis, what’s your plan now?”

“Wu Ma’s side is easy. The deed is in my hands. When the time comes, we’ll call the police, kick them out, and make them pay back the ill-gotten gains from all these years.

If a dog bites its owner, you just pull its teeth and drive it away—it’s not a big deal.

The real issue is dealing with Gu Yunchuan.

I’m an adult now, so he can’t control me, but you’re still a minor. If he finds out about the property in our names, he won’t let go of such a fat piece of meat.

There’ll be lawsuits and endless trouble!

So, we have to deal with Gu Yunchuan first. Only then can we get the house back without any worries.”

Gu Lanting hadn’t thought of that, but he trusted his sister completely.

“So what should we do?”

Gu Qinghuan flicked him hard on the forehead.

“Use your brain! What’s the point of being so smart if you don’t use it?”

Gu Lanting rubbed his head, looking innocent. “Isn’t that what you’re here for? Why should I bother thinking?”

Gu Qinghuan leaned over and whispered something in his ear.

Gu Lanting’s eyes lit up like he’d found treasure. “Let’s do it! Sis, you’re a genius.”

With their plan set, they split up to get to work.

Their plan had three steps.

Step one: Destroy his self-esteem, so he can’t hold his head up at work or among acquaintances.

Step two: Break up the childhood sweetheart couple, so they turn on each other.

And the twenty yuan that Xia Shuhua gives to the Chen family every month is the best evidence—he’ll never be able to take off that green hat.

Even if he wants to believe Xia Shuhua, he’ll always have doubts.

Step three: Completely ruin him.

Years ago, he used his grandfather’s connections to get an accounting job at the chemical plant, and over the years he’s worked his way up to chief accountant.

When Grandpa’s family got into trouble, everything was confiscated. Gu Yunchuan distanced himself, moved out, and took nothing but his personal belongings.

On his salary alone, he could never support a whole family. He could manage a modest life, but there’s no way he could keep up with the extravagant lifestyle of Xia Shuhua and Chen Zhaodi.

So there’s no doubt he’s been up to something shady at work. No one would believe he hasn’t been lining his own pockets.

They always tell people that Xia Shuhua’s family is well-off and helps them a lot. Seeing how Xia Shuhua spends money without blinking, no one questioned it.

But if people knew the truth about Xia Shuhua’s family, everything would make sense. How could an accountant like Gu Yunchuan afford such a lavish life for his family?

By then, everyone would want to grab onto his weaknesses and drag him down.

As for Xia Shuhua and Chen Zhaodi, their alliance would fall apart on its own.

At that point, the siblings could do what Gu Yunchuan did years ago—draw a clear line and protect themselves.

Clearly, neither sibling had any affection for their father. They despised him and only wanted to bring him down.

Gu Qinghuan looked longingly at the two beautiful Western-style houses in the distance—these were mansions in the 1970s.

Just a little longer, and they’d be theirs.

The siblings got to work according to plan.

Gu Qinghuan pulled out a set of “beggar clothes” from her space, put on some pitiful makeup, and bought a bottle of tear gas from a vending machine.

She headed straight for the chemical plant.

It was five in the afternoon—rush hour.

Gu Qinghuan waited at the gate and immediately spotted Gu Yunchuan in the crowd, hair slicked into a middle part, looking full of himself.

To be fair, the guy was good-looking. Even that old-fashioned hairstyle couldn’t hide his handsomeness—no wonder he fooled Zhong Zijun back then.

Too bad he was rotten to the core.

As he walked out the gate, Gu Qinghuan grabbed his arm in front of everyone and made a scene.

“Dad, how could you be so heartless!

It’s just like they say—get a stepmother, get a stepfather.

Now that you have a new son, you treat Lanting and me like this. You’re not even human!

That woman falsely accused Lanting, and you believed her. You beat him black and blue and kicked him out without even checking if he was really your son. Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs—you’re worse than an animal!

And me—you treat someone else’s daughter like a treasure, but your own daughter like grass, sending me off to the northwest without a single letter or penny.

You even introduced my former fiancé to your stepdaughter. What a great father you are!”

Gu Qinghuan launched into a tirade before Gu Yunchuan could get a word in.

The crowd’s eyes lit up with gossip.

Gu Qinghuan’s personality was actually very different from the original. The original had never suffered much, was raised like a proper young lady by the Zhong family, never liked to complain, and always endured everything in silence.

So no one ever knew what Gu Yunchuan and Xia Shuhua had done to the siblings—she never told anyone.

But Gu Qinghuan wasn’t like that—she thrived on making others uncomfortable.

She aired all the family’s dirty laundry right there.

In an instant, Gu Yunchuan’s face turned beet red with anger, and he glared at Gu Qinghuan, raising his hand to hit her.

Gu Qinghuan knew she wasn’t as strong as him, but she didn’t dodge. Tears streamed down her face, making her look even more pitiful.

“Go ahead, hit me! Once you do, there’s nothing left between us. I’m already the daughter you abandoned. From now on, you only have your stepdaughter and new son—Lanting and I aren’t your children anymore.”

People around them felt stifled—some even teared up. This girl was just too pitiful.

Everyone had heard that Accountant Gu had cut ties with his old family, remarried, and had a new son. But no one knew it was like this.

Honestly, anyone would think Accountant Gu had lost his mind."

"Chapter 101: A Great Show