Chapter 3: Everyone Here Is Gifted, and They Speak So Eloquently

"That... that wouldn't be right, would it? After all, Auntie Li is your stepmother," Chu Feng said, feigning an innocent expression.

"Pah!"

Zhang Yanran stood up. "She deserves it? A common street walker who packages herself as if she’s some noble lady—it makes me sick every time I see her! It’s just taking a few photos; it’s not illegal. Besides, once it’s done, I’ll give you seven thousand yuan!"

Looking at Zhang Yanran’s fierce demeanor, Chu Feng truly wondered if he had been blind in his previous life. To think he had groveled at the feet of a woman like this for so many years!

"If you can help me drive her away, maybe I’ll consider things between us," Zhang Yanran suddenly added.

Chu Feng deliberately put on an excited look. "Yanran, are you serious?"

"Of course! I’ll notify you of the specific time!" She cast a look of disdain at the environment of the rented room before standing up and leaving.

"Whew!"

Li Xueli poked her head out from under the covers. Her hair was disheveled, and she said indignantly, "That little bitch!"

"Do you want me to call Zhang Yanran back inside right now?" Chu Feng teased with a smirk.

"Don't! That girl and I don't get along. I've been married into the Zhang family for three years, and she has never once called me 'Mother'! If she finds out about our affair, I’ll definitely be kicked out of the house!" Li Xueli panicked.

"Want me to keep my mouth shut?"

"Is this okay?" Li Xueli wrapped her arms around Chu Feng’s neck and took the initiative to kiss his lips.

Those warm, soft lips sent Chu Feng’s mind reeling. Had Zhang Yanran not been just outside, he would have surely "taught" Li Xueli a thorough lesson.

"You're on my side, right?" Li Xueli cooed, acting cute.

Chu Feng smiled. In his past life, he wouldn't have dared to even imagine such a scene. A cold, aloof young lady like Li Xueli, acting so servile before him. Yet, he hadn't realized that the conflict between Li Xueli and Zhang Yanran was this intense. But this gave Chu Feng a perfect point of entry.

"In my youth, I didn't appreciate the charms of an older woman, mistaking a shallow girl for a treasure. I understand that truth now," Chu Feng said with a smile toward Li Xueli.

Chu Feng knew that Li Xueli was only being so accommodating because she had a handle on her in his hands. Once he lost that leverage, her speed in turning against him would likely be no less than Zhang Yanran's. What a wicked woman!

After Li Xueli left, the rented room returned to its usual solitude.

Outside the window, the sound of pile-driving echoed from a construction site, joined by the yapping of stray dogs by the roadside. Chu Feng held his phone, scrolling through his chat history with his parents, tears falling.

"It’s all your father’s fault for being useless. If I hadn't owed that money, you wouldn't have had to stay in Jiangcheng to work during your summer break."

"Ah Feng, your mother sent you some local specialties. They should arrive in about three days; they include your favorite sausages."

"Son, it's very hot. Don't be too stingy to turn on the air conditioning. Be careful while working out there, and don't let anyone scam you."

"..."

In his previous life, Chu Feng had chosen to largely ignore these words of concern. But now, seeing them, his heart surged with deep emotion. He had thought he would never see his parents again. Since fate had given him another chance, he would never let the tragedies of his past life repeat themselves!

"I must earn a sum of money first to help Mom and Dad pay off their debts so they can have it a bit easier," Chu Feng muttered to himself.

His father worked at a construction site by day and as a security guard for a residential complex by night, just to scrape together extra cash. His mother worked as a nanny; he vaguely remembered that the family she worked for had a foul temper, and he didn't want his mother to live such a servile life.

"I need to find a way to make my first pot of gold!"

Chu Feng began to rack his brain, searching for any opportunity he could exploit. Suddenly, he recalled a news report he had seen while eating in prison. District Chief Zhao of the Jiangcheng Economic Development Zone had been investigated and exposed for embezzlement six months later!

A golden light ignited in Chu Feng’s eyes! The news had reported that all the embezzled cash and gold had been buried in the abandoned ancestral home of District Chief Zhao! A full one hundred million—it had shocked all of Jiangcheng at the time and became a favorite topic of conversation among the prisoners. Some had even joked that if they had known the news in advance, they would have gone to dig it up long ago!

"Yes! Let's start with a small goal—this very goal!" Chu Feng stood up, excited.

He was just starting his freshman summer vacation, so he had a month and a half! Chu Feng checked the map. "Perfect! The Zhao ancestral home is only twenty kilometers from here!"

He opened his phone again and discovered that several residential developments in the Economic Development Zone were about to go on sale. He knew that before long, the authorities would announce the construction of an airport nearby, causing property prices in the area to skyrocket tenfold within half a year!

"Sales start in half a month. I must get my hands on Old Zhao’s money as soon as possible! Opportunities don't wait! As for the Zhang Yanran family... I'll let you live in peace for a few more days! Such good days won't last long!"

That night, Chu Feng locked his door. He didn't take a taxi but rode a shared bike toward the suburbs. Being cautious was always the right move.

"Small fortune, here I come!"

Chu Feng stood up and pedaled the shared bike furiously, showing no mercy to the equipment. For a fourth-tier city like Jiangcheng, the city was almost at a standstill after midnight. Aside from the occasional passing car, there wasn't a soul to be found. A person pedaling a bike like a madman in the dead of night was surely a rare sight. He suddenly wondered if he was being too conspicuous.

Having just started exercising, Chu Feng was panting after ten kilometers. Fortunately, he was used to working out, so he stopped to smoke a cigarette whenever he felt tired. Stopping and starting, it took him an hour and a half to finally leave the outer ring and reach the suburbs.

The surroundings were frighteningly quiet. Walking along country roads, the occasional barking of dogs kept Chu Feng’s nerves on edge. Finally reaching a stone bridge, Chu Feng parked the shared bike by the road and took out his flashlight. As he walked forward, a large, locked old house appeared before him.

The gate was secured with an old-fashioned brass padlock. Chu Feng threw his backpack over the wall, took a running start, and hoisted himself up. However, the shards of glass embedded on top of the wall nearly sliced his hands.

The courtyard was clean, as if someone came to sweep it frequently. Chu Feng used a bank card to jimmy open an old door, and after clicking on his flashlight, he saw the interior decorated in the style of a landlord from the previous century. He searched around until he finally found a loose bluestone tile.

"Got it!" Chu Feng was overjoyed. He immediately moved the stone, and sure enough, beneath it lay a circular stainless steel manhole cover!

Chu Feng opened the cover and descended the stairs. When he clicked on his flashlight, a flash of gold blinded his eyes!