But ever since spiritual energy revived in the twenty-eighth century, the world's capitalist powers had undergone a massive reshuffling, frantically harvesting ordinary people like cutting chives. This had left the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. The divide between rich and poor was like a heavenly chasm almost impossible to cross.
"Yes, chicken soup. We slaughtered an old hen especially for you. You're in such poor health that you need some nourishment," Wang Shuqin said.
Tang Guo chimed in, "Brother Xiao Fan, hurry up and drink it. This was the only old hen we had at home. Once you've had this meal, there won't be another."
The only old hen...
Jiang Fan felt an ever-deepening ache in his heart. Ordinary poor families almost never slaughtered old hens, because they could lay eggs.
They would usually take the eggs to the market to sell, supplementing the household income.
Yet now, they had slaughtered their only old hen for him.
"Guoguo, why do you have so much to say? Drink your soup." Wang Shuqin gave her a warning look, then turned to Jiang Fan with a smile. "You hurry up and drink, too."
"Okay."
Just as in his previous life, the Tang family treated him as well as anyone possibly could.
That was precisely why Jiang Fan had not immediately gone to take revenge on Jiang Youtian after awakening as a Junior Psychic.
Jiang Youtian was Tang Fugui and Wang Shuqin's biological son. No matter how much of a scumbag he was, their blood still flowed through his veins.
If he killed Jiang Youtian, what would Tang Fugui and the others do? How would they face him?
After all, Jiang Youtian had not yet tried to kill him in this life. Even if Jiang Youtian suddenly attacked him and he killed Jiang Youtian in retaliation, the Tang family might understand, but how would they deal with facing him afterward?
Just as Jiang Fan was thinking this, the front door was suddenly kicked open with tremendous force.
A potbellied middle-aged man strode inside. A glittering gold necklace hung around his neck, and a gold ring set with a red gemstone adorned his finger. He glittered with jewels from head to toe.
The moment he entered, Jiang Fan's almost luminous fair skin caught his eye, and he sighed inwardly. Too bad he's a man.
"Well, isn't this Jiang Fan? I heard you were kicked out of the Jiang family. I didn't expect you to come back here."
Jiang Fan said nothing. He had always remembered this skinflint landlord. He was a bad egg who frequently exploited his tenants.
Tang Fugui smiled awkwardly. "Boss Chen, what brings you here?"
"Hey! Listen, Tang Lao'er, your rent is due tomorrow. I'm telling you, if you still don't pay up tomorrow, I'll throw your whole family out!" Chen Wenhua said rudely.
Tang Fugui looked troubled. "Well-well-Boss Chen, you know our family's situation. We just paid our daughter's tuition, and she's still in college. Our youngest is so little, only seven. Now Xiao Fan has come back, too. Please have a heart and help us out. Give us a little more time. If you're willing to show us some kindness, our entire family will be very grateful!"
"What the hell does any of that have to do with me?" Chen Wenhua spat rudely, then noticed the chicken soup on the table. "Oh, you've even got chicken soup."
"That's Brother Xiao Fan's! You-" Tang Guo was just about to step forward when Jiang Fan pulled her back.
Tang Guo stamped her feet in fury.
Chen Wenhua picked up the bowl, tilted his head back, and took two gulps, then spat it all over the floor.
"Pah! This tastes awful. Was it made for pigs?"
Jiang Fan's pupils slowly contracted, like icy pools.
Chen Wenhua flung the bowl away in disgust and looked at Tang Fugui.
"You're still crying poverty to me? How come you've got chicken soup to drink if you're so poor?"
"Boss Chen, this soup is to help Xiao Fan regain his strength. He's ill," Tang Fugui explained.
Chen Wenhua glanced at the pale-faced Jiang Fan and sneered. "Look, who knows how much longer this sickly little thing will live? Is he worth wasting an old hen on? He might drink the soup today, then kick his legs out tomorrow and follow the hen into death. They'll have company on the road to the Yellow Springs."
"Chen Wenhua! Shut your mouth! Say whatever you like about us, but how dare you curse our Xiao Fan!" Tang Fugui raised his voice, his face turning purple with anger.
"Oh! You've really grown some backbone, Tang Lao'er! You dare raise your voice at me now. Fine. I was going to let you pay tomorrow, but it looks like I've been too kind and too good-tempered. Pay the rent right this instant, or I'll get Scar to smash up your home!"
At that, Tang Fugui immediately wilted.
Scar was a ruthless man who had made a name for himself in the slums, specializing in bullying the poor on behalf of the rich. As long as the money was right, he showed no mercy even to pregnant women and children.
"Boss Chen, we've known each other for so many years. Do me a favor and give us a few more days. I'm begging you."
Facing the bowing and scraping Tang Fugui, Chen Wenhua held his chin high. "It's not impossible for me to give you a few more days. But-let your eldest daughter, Tang Duo, spend a night with me. Not only will I give you more time, I'll even waive a month's rent."
At those words, everyone's expression darkened, including Jiang Fan's.
"You really are a toad lusting after swan flesh," Jiang Fan scoffed coldly. "Why don't you piss yourself a mirror and take a look at your own face? You actually dare covet my sister?"
Chen Wenhua's expression changed abruptly, his chest heaving with anger.
"Jiang Fan, you're an outsider! Who gave you the right to speak? Say one more damn word and I'll knock you flat with one punch!"
At that moment, Tang Fugui abruptly stepped in front of Jiang Fan, standing firm with his neither tall nor broad frame.
The sight moved Jiang Fan deeply.
Compared with the one in the Jiang family, this was a truly good father who fulfilled his duties!
"Xiao Fan isn't an outsider!" Tang Fugui roared furiously. "And he's right! Chen Wenhua, take a look at how old you are, and that face of yours! My daughter Duoduo is in the flower of her youth, and she's beautiful, too. Pair her with you? That would be nothing short of ruining her!"
"Fine! Very good, Tang Lao'er. You brought this on yourself! Just you wait. I'm calling Scar right now!" Chen Wenhua took out his phone to make the call.
Tang Fugui took out his phone, too. "Go ahead! Call him if you've got the guts! If you dare call him, I'll dare report you! The rental period doesn't end until midnight. Until then, you're in the wrong! Smashing the place up would be illegal!"
Hearing this, Chen Wenhua thought it over. That was indeed true. Although this was now the age of spiritual energy revival, the law still had to be followed.
"Fine! It's eight in the morning now. Midnight isn't that far away. I'll be kind and give you a few more hours. I'll be here at this exact time tomorrow. If you can't produce the money, I'll smash every piece of furniture in your home!"
With that, Chen Wenhua gave his sleeves a sharp shake, turned, and left.
Standing at the doorway, Jiang Fan now let his gaze fall on a pebble outside. With a stir of his mind and a contraction of his pupils, the pebble struck Chen Wenhua's knee with the speed of rushing wind and lightning.
"Aaargh!" Chen Wenhua let out a wretched scream like a pig being slaughtered and fell to his knees.
Jiang Fan reached out and took Chen Wenhua by the arm.
"Boss Chen, it's not even New Year yet, and you're already kneeling? I'm just a student. I don't have a red envelope for you."
"You-you-" Angry and in pain, Chen Wenhua struggled for a long while without managing a complete sentence.
Suddenly, the system's voice rang out in Jiang Fan's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Master, for supporting an injured person and doing a good deed. Points +20]
Huh?