The fog was gradually clearing, the figures becoming distinct.
When Jiang Jinsang helped Old Tang out, he distinctly felt that the Tang family members were acting unusual, initially thinking it was due to seeing Zhang Defu’s indignant astonishment. He paid little attention to the girl at the doorway holding a broom.
Now, hearing the neighbors gossip about the Tang family’s in-laws, combined with the appearance and age of this girl, she was likely the one Tang Wan mentioned—
Dressed in a red trench coat, with a low neckline and cinched waist, her long hair loosely tied, revealing a segment of her pale neck.
White as jade, black as ink, the red clothes were bright yet not vulgar, her slim figure exceptionally sharp and clear.
"Auntie," Tang Wan called softly.
She smiled at Tang Wan, her eyes like pear blossoms in spring water, utterly devoid of impurities.
Her looks weren’t the ravishing kind, but she possessed a temperament that overshadowed ordinary features, making it hard to ignore the casual defiant spirit in her eyes and brows.
In fact, Zhang Defu did not recognize them, which wasn’t surprising.
Given her unique status, and since the Shen family lived abroad and not in Pingjiang, even if they came back, they were careful not to meet with the Zhang family to avoid awkwardness.
But the residents beside the old house were all old neighbors, even if the Shen family had been abroad for twenty years, they would certainly recognize Old Shen’s face.
Zhang Defu hadn’t expected her to be from the Shen family, causing him considerable embarrassment.
"Auntie, what exactly is going on? How could you..." Tang Wan looked them over.
"When my father and I came here, we saw him sneaking around trying to climb the wall. My father just asked him a question, and he started cursing loudly. I was just defending my father, but he started attacking me with objects. I was merely defending myself."
Her tone was nonchalant.
"It was clearly you who knocked me down first!" Zhang Defu retorted furiously.
"Wasn’t it because you insulted my father? As his children, who could tolerate that?"
"If you hadn’t been climbing the wall, my father wouldn’t have asked anything, especially since it wasn’t even light out yet. You don’t look like a decent person, with eyes like a rat, even if this was your own home, it would still raise suspicions."
Jiang Jinsang stood slightly behind her, slightly raising an eyebrow.
Wow, her mouth was really something!
She could probably argue black into white, and considering the whole situation, it really did seem like Zhang Defu was at fault, leaving him even less room to argue.
Tang Yunxian furrowed his brow, "What are you really doing at our house?"
"I..." Zhang Defu clenched his teeth, his gaze shifting to Tang Wan.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Why do you think I am looking at you? Don’t you know?"
"You’re lying to me? What was that thing you gave me! The check was fake." Zhang Defu pulled out the crumpled check from his pocket and threw it at Tang Wan.
Jiang Jinsang stood behind her, pulling her arm back a step, and the crumpled paper landed at Tang Wan’s feet.
The girl in red raised an eyebrow, glanced at Jiang Jinsang holding her arm, and narrowed her eyes without saying anything.
"Zhang Defu, don’t you know what you’ve done? I haven’t even come to you for a settlement, and you expect me to give you a million? Has my brain been squeezed by a door?"
Tang Wan’s expression clearly said:
Believing such nonsense.
Zhang Defu felt as if his bones were aching and Tang Wan’s mocking expression infuriated him further, his head buzzing, subconsciously wanting to step forward.
But just as he took a step, a broomstick was already blocking his path.
"What now? What are you planning to do?" She squinted her eyes, sizing up Zhang Defu.
"Tang Wan, we had a deal, as long as I helped you, you would give me a million. There are so many neighbors around, they can judge for themselves, you can’t go back on your word!"
Zhang Defu was alone; the Tang family members were all present, so he dared not act rashly, only yelling at the top of his lungs.
Old Tang, leaning on his cane, asked, "Wanwan, what about this million?"
Tang Wan stepped out, "The matter with Madam He was actually not as everyone knows. Madam He did frame me, but the info was not stolen by her; instead, she paid five hundred thousand to buy it from Zhang Defu."
"Later, she sent someone to create chaos and threaten me; knowing it was Tang Mo’s doing, and since she was in detention, the only other person likely to know the inside story would have to be Zhang Defu because, after she and her daughter were incarcerated, he owned everything."
"That night I went to see him, didn’t do much, just told him how much she paid, and I could pay double."
"In the dead of night, where would I get a real check or cash? I just fooled him with a fake one, and he performed a scene in front of everyone."
Unable to cash the fake check, Zhang Defu knew he had been duped, and with debt collectors threatening to chop off his hand, he was desperate for money.