Chapter 17: Aunt Lin, the Bully
Zhang Yi completely disregarded Aunt Lin's words, treating them as nonsense.
However, feeling idle and wanting to have fun at the old woman's expense, he provoked her.
"Wow, Aunt Lin, you seem quite capable! Why don’t you ask Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao to come down and clear the snow?"
He mentioned their names in the group, showing no regard for anyone's face.
Chen Zhenghao, also known as Brother Hao, was a notorious gangster.
In his previous life, Chen had broken into Zhang Yi's home, wielding a hatchet.
Xu Hao was an arrogant and domineering wealthy heir, the first to attack Zhang Yi with a knife.
These neighbors, with only a few exceptions, had all participated in the attack and robbery against Zhang Yi in his past life.
So Zhang Yi had no intention of sparing anyone's feelings; he exposed their dirty secrets openly, sickening them.
Aunt Lin's face turned pale as she looked at her phone.
Zhang Yi had named them directly, putting her in a difficult position.
If she backed down now, she would become a laughingstock, losing all authority.
She tagged Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao in the group with no other option.
"Neighbors, the community is our home. Clearing the snow is everyone's responsibility. Please bring your tools and join us."
Soon, Chen Zhenghao, with an ID of 25#602, responded with several question marks.
Then he posted a voice message in the group.
"Clear the snow? Clear your damn head! Are you blind? Can't you see it's still snowing heavily outside?"
"Are you brain-dead? If you're sick, find a doctor. Don't bark here. Tag me again, and I'll kill you!"
Chen Zhenghao's tirade against Aunt Lin was harsh and vulgar.
The residents, listening to the tirade, couldn't help but laugh, holding their stomachs.
Aunt Lin thought she was important, but people didn't take her seriously.
A minor community committee member held some sway over ordinary residents but meant nothing to someone like Chen Zhenghao.
Xu Hao, the wealthy heir, also sent a voice message.
"Why should I care about clearing the snow? I don't need to go to work. I can stay in bed all day."
He even posted a picture of himself lying in a thick quilt, holding a woman.
Xu Hao had bought this house to keep his mistress and was now stuck here by chance.
Aunt Lin asking him to clear the snow made him think she was crazy.
Unable to retort to Chen Zhenghao, Aunt Lin tried to stand her ground with Xu Hao.
"You're also a resident here! Clearing the snow is your duty."
Xu Hao scoffed, "Bah! I pay property fees every month. Without my money, you community committee members would starve."
"Taking our money and acting high and mighty, as if you're in charge. Hilarious!"
Rich kids like Xu Hao were no pushovers. Although idle, they had seen the world and wouldn't be intimidated by a minor community committee member.
He continued, mocking her, "I am where I am because of my family's power, unlike you paupers. Go clear the snow if you need to. I want to leave this hellhole as soon as possible."
His arrogant words enraged everyone.
But they couldn't refute him, for his statements were painfully true.
Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao's defiance dampened everyone's spirits.
Aunt Lin's authority was reduced to a joke, and no one paid her heed.
Furious, Aunt Lin didn’t blame Chen Zhenghao or Xu Hao but instead targeted Zhang Yi.
She believed her mobilization had succeeded until Zhang Yi had disrupted it.
So, she privately messaged Zhang Yi, seething with anger, "Zhang Yi, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"
"What do you want? I asked everyone to clear the snow. Was that unreasonable?"
"No one will do it, and we might be trapped. Do you want that?"
Zhang Yi's eyebrows lifted.
Oh, someone wants to be scolded?
"You old hag, stop pretending! Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, barking like a dog!"
"You didn't dare to respond to their insults, but you come to me to feel powerful?"
"Listen, I'm not to be messed with. Bark at me again, and I'll destroy you!"
Zhang Yi had perfectly gauged Aunt Lin’s character—a bully who cowered before the strong.
His harsh words terrified Aunt Lin.
Living with her grandson, Aunt Lin depended on her community committee status for respect.
If someone disregarded her position and threatened her life, she was powerless.
Terrified, she blocked Zhang Yi, trembling, unsure if it was from the cold or fear.
"That bastard! He's a complete psycho!"
"I better not provoke him now, but I'll make his life difficult later!"
She imagined using her committee power to trouble Zhang Yi, withholding supplies or excluding him from community events.
She fantasized about Zhang Yi begging for mercy, while she would coldly refuse, saying, "Weren't you arrogant? Keep being arrogant!"
Thinking about this, she smiled smugly.
"Sooner or later, you'll beg me!"
"Right now, I won't stoop to your level."
Satisfying herself with this petty victory, Aunt Lin continued urging others in the group to clear the snow.
Despite their disdain, some honest residents, worried about future travel, reluctantly ventured out in the minus seventy degrees to clear the snow.
Having dealt with Aunt Lin, Zhang Yi didn’t expect another troublemaker.
His phone rang, showing a call from Chen Zhenghao.
Angered by Zhang Yi’s earlier comments, Chen Zhenghao seemed intent on scaring him.
Zhang Yi, already harboring resentment towards this thug, narrowed his eyes at the incoming call.
Hoping the fool would confront him, Zhang Yi prepared for a nasty encounter.
He answered the call.