Just because Harold got the news didn’t mean the Luo family could get it early.

Only after Xia Xiaolan had signed with the city government and everything was settled did the Fuding Street Office notify the Luo family—the office cadres were being somewhat intentional about this. According to the unified plan, this entire area was to be sold to foreign investors. How dare Luo Degui, a mere village chief, oppose a major policy?

It was disruptive to harmony. A stinking waste pool could have been sold to foreign investors with compensation payments. Otherwise, the Fuding Street Office would have to pay for cleanup and renovation. Fortunately, Qihang Real Estate bought it, saving the Street Office money.

The Luo family had disrupted major policy by secretly withholding the 23 mu of Stinky Bamboo Gully land. The Street Office cadres were annoyed with them and deliberately withheld the news. Sure enough, once told, the Luo family started wailing.

The loudest wailer wasn’t the father-son pair of Luo Degui and Luo Yaozong, but the elderly Old Man Luo.

Hearing that the government had acquired their gold-accumulating pool for real estate development, Old Man Luo’s cloudy eyes filled with tears, his body trembling severely: “That’s our Luo family’s feng shui treasure spot, how could it be sold, how could it be sold… Yaozong, did you do this?”

Luo Yaozong was completely confused.

He had wanted to contact foreign investors and sell the land for compensation, but his grandfather had kept him confined at home—he’d had no chance to sell the land!

However, now that Stinky Bamboo Gully was sold, Luo Yaozong was actually the happiest. He didn’t care how it was sold; how much compensation would they get for 23 mu of land?

Luo Yaozong was elated, ignoring his grandfather’s streaming tears while excitedly asking questions.

His father Luo Degui, however, sensed something unusual. Why were they only notified after the land was sold? Did the higher-ups have issues with him? Luo Degui felt guilty—it was indeed his doing that prevented foreign investors from buying Stinky Bamboo Gully initially.

“Director, about this matter…”

The Street Office Director chuckled, “Isn’t it clear? This is the first residential land approved by the city government for a private company. If I were you, I’d cooperate quietly and not cause trouble. The garbage there was dumped by the Ganquan Village people, right? They’re cleaning it up for free—what more do you want? Comrade Luo, don’t be too greedy, know when to stop!”

The Director’s words made Luo Degui’s heart race.

This wasn’t a hint—it was an explicit warning not to trouble the land buyer. Since this was the first residential land approved by the city government, they would certainly be watching this project closely and wouldn’t want anyone causing trouble!

Luo Degui also heard the Street Office Director’s dissatisfaction.

Though elected by villagers as chief, he couldn’t sit securely without the Fuding Street Office’s approval.

Luo Degui felt bitter. Just for his father’s so-called feng shui treasure spot, he’d managed to displease both sides. In the end, Stinky Bamboo Gully was still sold, and he’d left a bad impression on the leaders above!

Ignoring the old man’s wailing, Luo Degui promised to cooperate with the city government’s decision.

What use was not cooperating?

The land ultimately belonged to the state.

Shenzhen’s big environment was about development and construction—an unstoppable trend!

After the Street Office people left, Old Man Luo’s tears dried up. His cloudy eyes suddenly sparked with light as he grabbed a stick and started beating Luo Yaozong: “It’s all your fault, you wretch! You blabbed about the Luo family’s feng shui treasure spot until everyone knew. Now it’s been bought away—the Luo family has lost big!”

Being the only son for three generations couldn’t stop Old Man Luo from beating people. Luo Yaozong howled in pain, and Luo Degui didn’t even want to stop it.

He’d long wanted to beat his son, but his father had always stopped him. Now that his father was doing it himself, it had nothing to do with him.

Being beaten by his usually doting grandfather, Luo Yaozong felt wronged. While dodging blows, he tried defending himself: “It wasn’t my fault! People were already asking about Stinky Bamboo Gully long ago. I didn’t want to sell the land—others wanted to buy it…”

As Luo Yaozong’s thoughts cleared, his own words stopped him short.

Why would that female demon ask about Stinky Bamboo Gully for no reason?

Not long after, someone bought Stinky Bamboo Gully—these two events must be connected.

Stopping earned Luo Yaozong several more hits before Luo Degui finally rescued his son. “Father, let Yaozong explain clearly. Whether to sell the land was our family’s business. Being outmaneuvered like this—where’s the Luo family’s face?”

The land was sold before they were even notified—Luo Degui was quite unhappy too.

Luo Yaozong’s eyes darted around, hemming and hawing until Old Man Luo raised his stick again. Then he blurted out: “It was that female demon who had people beat me before! When I was coming home from drinking, she and a man caught me at Stinky Bamboo Gully and asked me about this land… It must be her!”

Luo Degui knew about the woman who had people beat Luo Yaozong.

When Luo Degui went to rescue his son, he’d been severely berated by them.

His worthless son had harassed others and got beaten for it.

Luo Degui hadn’t wanted to reason with them, but they had numbers on their side, so he had to.

Looking suspiciously at Luo Yaozong, he asked, “Did you think she was pretty and conspire with her to take away Stinky Bamboo Gully?”

Old Man Luo also gripped his stick.

If true, his grandson would have shown some capability.

But even doing bad things requires brains—Luo Yaozong didn’t have such cunning. He swore it wasn’t his doing.

Old Man Luo was immediately disappointed, and Luo Degui became listless too.

This was the Luo family way—they didn’t fear their descendants being unethical. Nice people always got bullied; one had to be a bit bad to live well.

Being bad wasn’t the issue—lacking smarts was.

Luo Yaozong was foolish. In his twenties and still clueless, Luo Degui worried: “Father, should we find Yaozong a wife to manage him? Maybe he’ll grow up after starting a family.”

Old Man Luo smacked his lips, “Yaozong, the person who asked you for information must be the one who bought our feng shui treasure spot. Since you harassed her, is she beautiful?”

Luo Yaozong nodded dumbly.

She was certainly beautiful—he’d never seen such a beautiful woman. Even TV actresses couldn’t match her vibrancy.

Old Man Luo clapped his hands:

“That’s perfect then! She bought the land, you marry her, and the land returns to our Luo family! Your children will be Luo family descendants, and that plot will still be passed down through generations of the Luo family!”

Xia Xiaolan’s enchanting face floated through Luo Yaozong’s mind. Just thinking about marrying her made his heart race.

But while Xia Xiaolan was beautiful, she was too fierce.

If he married her, he’d certainly be the one getting disciplined—beaten three times a day. What use was beauty then!

Luo Degui was speechless. His father really dared to dream—given Yaozong’s character, would someone who could buy 23 mu of land marry him?

Luo Degui certainly didn’t dare think so!

Old Man Luo shook his head:

“One must dare to dream and act. What’s impossible now might have a chance in the future. Listen to me—she bought the land to build houses. You’re the village chief of Ganquan Village. Even the fiercest dragon from across the river can’t handle the local snake. When she starts construction, you lead people to demand answers.”