"Wuwu, Mom, I'm scared."
"Wuwuwuwu..."
Hu Qiang's frenzied actions terrified Xu Guihua's son, who burst into tears.
Xu Guihua’s heart ached as she saw her freshly washed clothes on the ground stained with dirt. But without a second thought, she pulled her son into her embrace.
"Good boy, Xiao Ming, don't be afraid. Mom's here. You don't need to be scared."
Despite facing a group of men as ferocious as wolves, a mother's strength was formidable. Xu Guihua’s sole focus was protecting her son.
Just then, footsteps echoed again.
This time, several people entered the small courtyard.
These individuals, both men and women, were at least forty years old, with the oldest among them having completely white hair.
"What are you doing here? Why are you causing trouble?"
As this group walked in, a middle-aged man was the first to speak.
Upon seeing him, Xu Guihua immediately called out, "Brother Zhou."
"What, you think you can stop me from smashing things just because I want to? What business is it of yours?"
A young man standing closest to the middle-aged man tilted his head and glared at him.
As he spoke, the others also moved closer.
"Qiangzi? Is that you?"
Just as the atmosphere became tense, on the verge of erupting into violence, someone from the newly arrived group frowned and looked at Hu Qiang, who stood in the middle of the yard.
These newcomers were all neighbors from the vicinity. They had heard the commotion of smashing and destruction at Xu Guihua's house and had come to investigate.
At this point, someone recognized Hu Qiang, and the others gradually followed suit.
Although Hu Qiang’s current appearance was vastly different from his past, many of the people in the yard had watched him grow up and could still recognize him.
"Who are you calling Qiangzi? This is my big brother. You better show some respect!"
Before Hu Qiang could speak, the young man who had spoken earlier jabbed his finger at the person who had just called out "Qiangzi."
The man, frowning, was about to speak when two companions next to the young man swiftly drew daggers from their waists.
The cold glint of the blades reflected on the man's face. He opened his mouth, then closed it, swallowing his words.
"Qiang... Qiangzi, it's not that I want more money. It's just that this courtyard is the only thing Xiao Ming's father left us. If I sell it, my son and I will be left with nothing. Please, for the sake of us, a mother and her child, spare us."
Although many neighbors had arrived, Xu Guihua knew that they were all just ordinary people struggling to get by, just like her.
Facing these reckless hooligans, she could only endure in silence.
However, the small courtyard was all she had left. If she lost even this, Xu Guihua truly didn't know how she and her son would survive.
"Hu Qiang! Are you even human? Bringing outsiders to bully a helpless widow and her child like Guihua!"
"Qiangzi, have you forgotten how Guihua's man apologized on your behalf when you got into trouble and were being chased back then? Only then did they let you go."
"Exactly! When Guihua's husband was alive, he helped your family so much. Have you forgotten all of that?"
"Qiangzi, you were so sensible back then. How have you become a thug now? You've changed!"
The neighbors, who had initially planned to endure in silence, were infuriated by Xu Guihua's desperate pleas. Even though Hu Qiang's subordinates held daggers with a chilling glint, they couldn't help but loudly berate Hu Qiang.
Facing the accusations, Hu Qiang slowly lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
"Hmph."
He exhaled a large cloud of smoke.
"I don't mind telling you all, this entire area has caught the eye of a big boss. He's waiting for us to acquire the land so he can develop it. If it weren't for me, Hu Qiang, being here today, your fate would be far worse!"
"Go ask around on Dongshan Street next door. See how many people have been beaten into the hospital, how many homes have had their water and electricity cut off!"
"No matter how much you curse me, I'm taking this property. From now on, if you don't cooperate, don't blame me, Hu Qiang, for turning my back on you!"
After his speech, Hu Qiang reached out and snatched Xiao Ming from Xu Guihua's arms, lifting him into the air.
"Wah!"
"Xiao Ming!"
The little boy cried out in terror, while Xu Guihua's face turned ashen. She shrieked and lunged to snatch her son back from Hu Qiang.
At the same time, the neighbors who had just entered the yard also moved forward to help.
But before they could take a step, Hu Qiang's men, daggers drawn, pointed at them. Any movement would be met with immediate and brutal force.
With a thud, Xu Guihua knelt down.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Qiangzi, I beg you, let Xiao Ming go. He is my life. If anything happens to him, I won't be able to live either. Wuwu, Qiangzi, please let him go. He's just a child."
Hu Qiang completely ignored the crying child in his hands or Xu Guihua kneeling before him.
"Sign the demolition agreement, or else..."
"Okay! I'll sign, I'll sign."
This time, before Hu Qiang could finish speaking, Xu Guihua hastily picked up the demolition agreement from the ground and, with trembling hands, signed her name.
Although the small courtyard was the place where she and her son survived, what was the point of keeping it if her son met with misfortune?
Therefore, Xu Guihua signed the demolition agreement almost without a second thought and handed it to Hu Qiang.
Glancing at the signature on the agreement, Hu Qiang then lowered Xiao Ming back to the ground.
Xu Guihua immediately hugged her son tightly, fearing he would be taken again.
Hu Qiang then walked over to his subordinates and said to the people in the yard, "Since you're all here, it saves me the trouble of running around. Here are the demolition agreements for your respective homes. Take them and sign them for me."
With that, Hu Qiang surprisingly pulled out several more demolition agreements, identical to the one he gave Xu Guihua, and handed them to the crowd.
Initially, they were reluctant to take them, but with the gleaming daggers in front of them, they had no choice but to grudgingly accept the agreements from Hu Qiang.
After reviewing the demolition agreements Hu Qiang had given them, everyone's expression turned grim.
They hadn't understood why Hu Qiang was smashing things at Xu Guihua's house earlier, but seeing the demolition agreements in their hands, they suddenly understood.
However, the pitifully low prices listed in the demolition agreements silenced them all.
"I've already said it. Don't think this price is too low. If another group of people had come, you might all be lying in hospital beds right now!"
"From now on, on this street, my boss calls the shots. You..."
Hu Qiang looked down at everyone, as if bestowing charity upon them.
"What a big talk. When did Jianghua Street become private property?"
Just as everyone was intimidated by Hu Qiang and his men, a cold voice echoed from the entrance of the small courtyard.