Chapter Twelve: Demolition

Shen Ye was truly famished. After three months of eating nothing but radishes and cabbage in that pyramid scheme organization, his taste buds had grown numb. His mother’s cooking, on the other hand, was superb; he devoured every dish, his mouth slick with oil, clearing each plate within moments. Only after washing down the meal with a glass of water did he finally feel revived. “Mom’s cooking is always the best,” he said contentedly.

“Just look at how thin you’ve gotten,” Lin Mei said, touching Shen Ye’s face with a look of deep concern.

Feeling better, Shen Ye took another sip of water and said, “When I came in just now, I saw a huge notice at the entrance to our alley. It had ‘Demolition’ written across it. They say our place is finally getting torn down. People have been talking about this for over a decade, and it’s always been a false alarm. Looks like this time, it’s really happening.”

“That’s right,” Shen Jiaping nodded.

“Demolition, huh? Does this mean I’m about to become one of those ‘second-generation demolition tycoons’? With that status, a promotion and a raise, becoming a CEO and marrying a rich, beautiful woman are just within reach,” Shen Ye joked, laughing as he spoke.

Truthfully, their family’s finances had never been good. His old man, Shen Jiaping, loved to play cards. His mother worked hard but was scarcely literate, merely managing a small shop selling odds and ends. His younger sister’s school tuition was expensive. Part of the reason Shen Ye had rushed to find a job was because of these financial pressures.

“You and your dreams of being a rich demolition kid,” Shen Jiaping remarked, though gently. Despite his fondness for cards, he never imposed a strict father’s authority on his son; he always spoke to Shen Ye as an equal. “This round of demolition is being handled by that Ma Lao Liu and his gang. The price they’re offering us is only four thousand per square meter.”

“Damn, four thousand a square? I heard the alley next door got fifteen thousand per square meter when they were demolished. They’re treating us like pigs to be slaughtered—Ma Lao Liu really is ruthless,” Shen Ye said, stunned.

Though N County was just a county town, it fell under the jurisdiction of Yang City—one of the largest cities in China. As a result, property prices in N County had soared alongside Yang City’s. Even a basic apartment now cost at least eight thousand per square meter. If the compensation was only four thousand, it meant they’d lose a fortune—demolishing their home would leave them tens of thousands short before they could afford a new place. And the family simply didn’t have that kind of money.

Shen Ye had never dreamed of striking it rich from demolition, but at the very least, he didn’t want his family to suffer a loss.

Four thousand per square meter—it was a disaster.

Having grown up in N County, Shen Ye knew exactly who Ma Lao Liu was. His real name was Ma Guosheng. Once a mere street thug, Ma Lao Liu had made his fortune through force—years ago, he seized control of a sand quarry, dug out its resources, and became rich. With a growing gang, he muscled his way into the construction business and became a developer. He had powerful connections and quickly became one of the dominant underworld figures in N County.

Ma Lao Liu was ruthless; anyone who stood in his way would be dealt with. Rumor had it that some people had ended up mixed into cement and sunk to the bottom of the sea at his orders. An out-of-town developer once tried to move in, only to be beaten up by Ma Lao Liu’s men and sent packing.

Back in Shen Ye’s school days, one of his classmates was Ma Lao Liu’s nephew, Ma Fuxing. With his uncle’s backing, Ma Fuxing became the top bully at N County First Middle School—so powerful that even the teachers barely dared to intervene. No one knew how many girls he had taken advantage of in that school.

Shen Jiaping rubbed his temples. “Just now, some of Ma Lao Liu’s thugs came over and gave us an ultimatum—four thousand per square meter, not a cent more. We have no choice but to agree. They have plenty of ways to make us comply. They even threatened us with your sister.”

“That’s why I haven’t gone out to play cards today—I was busy negotiating with Ma Lao Liu’s men.”

“Forget it. We have a family to protect; we can’t go up against criminals like them. We’ll just have to accept it.”

“So the plan is, when they come back in a couple of days, we’ll sign. Our place is just over sixty square meters, so the compensation would be a little over two hundred thousand. Plus, we’ve managed to save up another two hundred thousand over the years, so we’ll have a little over four hundred thousand in total. Apartments are about eight thousand per square meter now, so we can buy a fifty-square-meter place. At least you and your sister will still have a place to live.”

“To threaten us with my sister, to force us into signing a contract that’s guaranteed to make us lose money—this is the true face of a criminal syndicate. It’s exactly how Ma Lao Liu operates,” Shen Ye said with a cold smile curling at his lips.

Ma Lao Liu and his gang were nothing short of a black society, using every despicable tactic to squeeze ordinary people, leaving a trail of evil in their wake.

Heaven may not punish them.

Then let me, in Heaven’s stead, deliver justice.

“Why talk about such heavy matters now that our son’s home?” Lin Mei said, her gaze full of distress at her thin, worn-out son. “You’ve just returned from that pyramid scheme ordeal. Rest for a few days. It’s almost New Year’s—don’t worry about finding a job before then. Wait until after the holiday.”

“Mom’s right. I’ll go get some sleep,” Shen Ye agreed, not wishing to discuss his plans for vigilante justice with his parents. Besides, after a long train journey, he was truly exhausted.

Their home was tiny—just over sixty square meters, with two bedrooms and two living areas. His parents occupied one room; his teenage sister, naturally, had the other for her privacy.

Shen Ye had always slept on the sofa. Now, he collapsed onto it with a thud and soon drifted off.

…

After a good nap and a hearty dinner, Shen Ye prepared to head out.

“Wait,” Lin Mei called, handing him a red banknote—five hundred yuan. “You’re a grown man now. You should have some money when you go out. Just don’t stay out too late with your friends.”

A knowing, mischievous smile flickered across her face. “If you’re with a girl, though, feel free to stay out a little longer.”

Shen Ye scratched his head in embarrassment. At twenty-two, freshly graduated from college, he still had to take money from his mother—how shameful! But he was broke, and nothing emboldens a man like having money in his pocket.

He accepted the money, making a silent vow to himself: one day, he would earn a fortune.

Night had fallen outside, the city aglow with dazzling lights. Shen Ye walked along the streets he had known since childhood, his heart swelling with the comfort of home. After taking a deep breath and savoring the moment, he composed himself. His next destination was the east side of town.

Ma Lao Liu was known for his domineering presence. He had forcibly seized land from local farmers at the end of a broad avenue in the eastern part of the city and built a sprawling French-style mansion, covering four to five hundred square meters. The mansion, said to have four stories, had been constructed seven or eight years ago at a cost of over two million.

Most of the time, Ma Lao Liu resided in this grand French villa.

If Shen Ye wanted to find Ma Lao Liu, that was where he would begin.