Let Zhuang Xin Decide

In Green Bud County Town, Zhuang Xin followed the main road and stopped in front of a four-story residential building.

The car stopped at the entrance and quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.

After all, a sports car like this was practically never seen in such a small county town.

"Isn't that Zhuang Xin?"

"Yeah, he hasn't come back in a long time."

A group of neighbors hurried over.

When Zhuang Xin's parents had arrived by taxi earlier, they had not attracted much attention.

But this time, Zhuang Xin had driven back in a sports car and was immediately surrounded by people.

"You've made it big, Zhuang Xin. I could tell you were different from other people even back then." An auntie stroked the rear of the car, her eyes shining. "Xin, you're not married yet, are you? My granddaughter just came back yesterday."

Seeing the auntie's smiling face and her apparent intention to introduce her granddaughter, Zhuang Xin gave an awkward laugh, grabbed Cheng Huai, and rushed into the four-story building. His grandmother's family ran a small pharmacy that was rarely closed during the day.

After entering, Zhuang Xin dragged Cheng Huai straight to the third floor.

As soon as he reached the stairway, he saw his uncle-in-law, Cheng Yuan.

When Cheng Yuan saw Zhuang Xin dragging his son inside, his body trembled. "Is that Xin...?"

"Yeah." Zhuang Xin merely nodded coldly, carrying Cheng Huai onward upstairs.

Cheng Yuan stood where he was, his expression turning unpleasant. He gritted his teeth and, after a long while, called his wife. "Xu Pei, hurry back and take a look. Your son was brought back by Zhuang Xin. Judging by the look on his face, he doesn't seem willing to let this go."

"What? Cheng Huai was brought back by him? He doesn't plan to let it go? Who does he think he is? I'm still his eldest aunt. When it comes to family matters, the adults should have the final say. Since when was it his turn to decide? I'm coming back right now. Wait for me and make sure you stall him. If you don't, I won't let you off when I get back!" Xu Pei's shrill voice came through like a roar.

Even Cheng Yuan could not help moving the phone slightly away from his ear.

"Fine, just hurry back. What's the point of yelling at me? This isn't even my home. What can I do?"

"Hmph!" Xu Pei hung up and hurried back from outside.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Xin dragged Cheng Huai to the third floor.

His parents and grandparents were upstairs drinking tea. Zhuang Xin dragged Cheng Huai into the room and kicked him to the floor.

Cheng Huai cried out in pain and sucked in a sharp breath.

That kick had not been light.

He scrambled toward his grandmother and cried, "Grandma... look at Zhuang Xin. He's being way too rough."

His cousin Xu Chi stood and walked over to Zhuang Xin. "You caught him so quickly? I only called you a short while ago."

"Heh..." Zhuang Xin looked over at Cheng Huai with a cold laugh, then patted Xu Chi on the shoulder. "It's fine. Wait while I deal with this."

As he spoke, he returned the bank card and the White Jade Chess set to his father. Looking at the recovered belongings, Zhuang De finally released the breath he had been holding in all day.

Ever since the White Jade Chess set and bank card had been stolen, he had barely said anything.

"Dad, we got the things back, but we absolutely can't just let Cheng Huai's theft slide." Zhuang Xin narrowed his eyes and said coldly.

"Xin, Xin..." Cheng Yuan ran upstairs and grabbed Zhuang Xin. "No matter what, Cheng Huai is your cousin. If he did anything wrong, it was because we, his parents, failed to educate him properly. Besides, we're all family. Look... we got the things back, so why not let it go? I'll definitely discipline him properly when we get home."

"Yeah! We're all family. No matter what, I'm still your cousin." Cheng Huai hid behind his grandmother. With his family backing him up, he began shouting too.

"Let it go? Do you know how much the things he stole were worth?" Zhuang Xin's laugh grew colder.

"How much could they be worth? I know a little about jade prices. That chess set is worth a few thousand at most. Don't try to fool me," Cheng Yuan said.

Zhuang Xin was so angry he laughed. "A few thousand? Take this White Jade Chess set to any legitimate appraisal agency. If it's worth less than ten million, I'll take your surname."

"Ten million? Are you crazy? You really dare to say that." Cheng Yuan was dumbfounded. A chess set could be worth ten million?

"That's not all. The bank card he stole had another forty million in it. He took it to a casino and lost seven hundred thousand in half an hour. Counting the old gambling debts he paid off, he spent over a million! And he even gave the White Jade Chess set to some little street punk girl! Cheng Huai, Cheng Huai, you sure made some big moves!"

Zhuang Xin suddenly slammed his hand against the table. He nearly roared the final word.

Cheng Huai, hiding behind his grandmother, turned deathly pale.

The White Jade Chess set was really worth ten million?

He had actually given it to some little street punk girl. Even he felt like he had gone insane.

"Together with the bank card, that's over fifty million. If you're sentenced, how long do you think you'll be in prison?" After speaking, Zhuang Xin leaned against the wall with his arms folded.

Cheng Yuan swallowed hard. Fifty million...

They were far too rich.

He had thought the Zhuang family father and son had simply done some small business and made a good amount of money, which was why they had returned so proudly.

He had never expected... the Zhuang family father and son to have already reached heights beyond their grasp.

"Xin, although those things are worth fifty million, we got them back. Cheng Huai only used a little over a million at most. Since your family is so rich, why don't you... why don't you just let this go?" Cheng Yuan asked through gritted teeth.

"Let it go? When my mother came back that year to borrow a few tens of thousands to treat my illness, do you remember how your family treated us?" Zhuang Xin's smile became increasingly sinister as he glared at Cheng Yuan.

Cheng Yuan was also left at a loss by Zhuang Xin's gaze. If Zhuang Xin insisted on calling the police, then their son... would never truly be able to come back.

"You little bastard! What are you talking about? I could hear from downstairs that you wanted to send my son to prison!" Xu Pei stomped up the stairs, her voice extraordinarily loud. She charged in and turned to see Zhuang Xin, her eyes blazing. "I'm your eldest aunt! This is your uncle-in-law! And this is your cousin! You carry the blood of the Xu family in you. Is this how you repay the Xu family?"

"Besides, since when was it your place, you little brat, to make decisions in this house?" Xu Pei was tall and strongly built, having inherited her father's physique. She had done plenty of heavy labor in her daily life, and standing there, looking down on them, she was overwhelmingly imposing.

"Xu Yunfang, look at him! Aren't you going to discipline your son?"

After berating him, Xu Pei ran over to her mother, Xu Yunfang.

Zhuang Xin merely sneered from the side.

Xu Yunfang opened her mouth, unsure what to do.

Xu Pei was right. They were family after all. Sending Cheng Huai to prison seemed somewhat excessive.

Especially since the things had already been recovered.

She looked toward her husband. Zhuang De merely glanced at Zhuang Xin. "The child has grown up. There are some matters where the child should be allowed to make the decisions."

Clearly, Zhuang De had handed the decision over to Zhuang Xin.

"Xu Yunfang! Look at your man. He's still holding on to such a trivial matter?" Xu Pei grew anxious. Zhuang Xin clearly had no intention of letting this go. If Zhuang Xin got to decide, wouldn't that be disastrous?