Chapter 7: The Neighbors — They Deserved to Be Robbed

The public security officers looked rather awkward, and even the Guo family standing nearby felt extremely embarrassed. The officers were investigating a theft, and yet the old lady rushed into the bathroom and caused such a commotion! Guo Wanrou curled up in a corner, trying her best to make herself invisible. She was a university student—how could she bear being mocked by these annoying neighbors? But she also hated the thief tonight, who had taken away all the private savings she’d secretly stashed away for years. Her hands clenched so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her palms—it felt like someone had ripped flesh from her body!

“Officers, maybe the thief hasn’t gotten far yet. They took so many things—surely they’re still nearby. You should hurry and give chase!”

“If you see anyone suspicious nearby, arrest them all for questioning. Who knows? You might just catch the thief!” Bai Cuiyan was getting more and more smug as she spoke, thinking herself clever. The officers, however, were clearly exasperated. “We have to investigate properly and follow due procedure,” one of them explained.

“If you wait until everything’s ‘properly investigated,’ all our things will be gone!” Bai Cuiyan was still sitting on the floor, refusing to get up. “How is our family supposed to survive like this? Aren’t the police supposed to serve the people?!”

Her performance became more and more dramatic, and even the neighbors at the doorway couldn’t bear to watch.

“Are you stupid? The thief’s probably long gone by now!”

“Yeah, dream on!”

“Police have procedures to follow. If you were so worried, why didn’t you go out and look for the thief yourselves?”

“You’re always flaunting your wealth—of course the thief knew your house had money!”

The neighbors sneered in their hearts. After watching for a bit, they slowly dispersed. Although they were shocked by how thoroughly the house had been looted, deep down they were honestly a little happy. After all, Bai Cuiyan had always acted superior in front of them—just because her daughter was a college student. She’d flaunt it constantly, even using her daughter’s status to belittle others.

And let’s not even mention what happened a few days ago—she’d gone out humming while shopping for groceries, smiling like a flower and bragging loudly: “My unwanted niece finally found someone to marry her! He even paid 1,888 yuan in betrothal money!”

She wanted everyone to know they had money.

The neighbors all knew what kind of people the Guo family were. Watching her now, devastated, they all rolled their eyes. Bad people always get what they deserve—and now, karma had arrived. Who told them to keep flaunting their wealth? Everyone else was saving and hiding their money, but the Guo family? They couldn’t shut up about theirs. No wonder they were targeted. Who else would a thief rob?

Back home, the neighbors kept talking about it, repeating the story to their families.

Meanwhile, the eldest uncle’s family could only wait as the police wrapped up the investigation. When they finished, Guo Dakai asked, “Officers, when can we expect results on the case?”

All their money was gone. Not a single coin left. If the case wasn’t solved, how would they get anything back?

“Hard to say,” the officer replied seriously. “We’ll get on it right away, but we can’t guarantee results.”

There weren’t any surveillance cameras in those days, and no suspicious individuals had been seen nearby. Investigating this case would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“If you can’t find the thief, how are we supposed to survive?” The old lady had finished her bathroom break and came out. If anyone could cause a scene, it was her. She plopped herself on the floor, grabbed the officer’s pant leg, and pleaded, “Please help us catch the thief! Otherwise, our whole family is going to starve!”

Guo Dakai stood by, pretending not to notice. If her dramatics could push the police to work faster, all the better.

The officer’s face darkened. “Ma’am, we have to follow procedures. If you keep making a scene like this, we’ll have to take you with us.”

The old lady immediately let go of his pants and smiled awkwardly. “I just want your help. That’s all.”

She could make a fuss, sure—but getting taken away? No way. Even if she was old, she still had her pride.

“Alright,” the officer said, clearly losing sympathy. “We’ll do our best. We’ll notify you if there’s any progress.”

Then they left.

“…Tch.” Guo Dakai saw neighbors still whispering outside and quickly shut the door. As soon as it closed, the mood inside turned grim. They were still wearing their finest clothes from the wedding earlier—those clothes represented their pride. But now, other than the clothes on their backs, they had nothing left. It was like an invisible slap across the face.

“These cops are so irresponsible! Where are we supposed to sleep tonight?” Guo Ruizhuo finally exploded. His shoes had been cut up, his clothes stolen—he was furious.

“Where to sleep?” Guo Dakai’s face turned thunderous. “On the floor, of course. Or do you want to sleep in the courtyard?”

With everything gone, the floor was the only option.

“What?!” Guo Ruizhuo wanted to keep ranting, but Bai Cuiyan grabbed his arm. “Just listen to your dad tonight. We’ll figure something out tomorrow.”

Looking around at their looted home and his father’s angry face, Guo Ruizhuo immediately deflated like a scolded child.

Guo Wanrou was also angry, but what could she do? The grandparents, too, had no choice but to accept it.

“We’ll need to buy furniture tomorrow,” the old lady said, frowning. “Dakai, you must still have some money hidden away. Buy a bed tomorrow. We’ll wait for the police to do their thing.”

“What money?” Guo Dakai’s face was terrifying—like an enraged lion. “There’s nothing left. Even that 1,888 yuan bride price is gone!”

“I don’t know what kind of mind that thief had, but they found everything—even the money we hid so well!” He practically winced with pain just thinking about it.

Bai Cuiyan was no better. “That damned thief even dug up our secret stash! The floor’s a mess!”

That bride price was a fortune. Even working for two or three years wouldn’t have saved that much!

The old lady’s face went pale. She stumbled back a few steps and would’ve fallen if not for the old man’s support. Then she started wailing and slapping her thighs. “That thief is heartless! Are they trying to drive our whole family to death?!”

She cried for a long time. Everyone wore a gloomy expression. This disaster might just crush them for good.

“Then how much money do we still have?” the old man finally asked. “We have to pull together enough to buy a bed and some furniture.”

With darkened faces, Bai Cuiyan and Guo Dakai pulled out some coins they had taken to the wedding. Guo Wanrou also handed over a few cents.

“Don’t we still have a bicycle?” Guo Wanrou said, arms crossed, eyeing Guo Ruizhuo who stood aloof. “Sell it. That’ll get us enough to buy some furniture.”

“No way!” Before she finished, Guo Ruizhuo exploded. “That bike is mine! It’s the trendiest model right now! No one’s selling it!”

He’d already lost his fancy clothes and shoes. If they sold his bicycle too, it’d be like taking his soul.

“Then you’ll not only be sleeping on the floor, but starving too!” Guo Wanrou rolled her eyes. What kind of selfish person was this? How could he be so ungrateful in times like this?

“Sell it!” the old man ordered. “We’ll use that money to buy furniture.”

“Grandpa—” Guo Ruizhuo tried to plead, but Guo Dakai kicked him. “You want the whole family to starve?! That bike will be sold!”

With the old man and Guo Dakai both insisting, the bicycle’s fate was sealed.

Guo Ruizhuo was fuming, but Bai Cuiyan leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, it calmed him down. He finally said, sulkily, “Fine. Sell it for now—but once we have money again, someone better buy me a better one!”

The old lady and the others doted on him, so they quickly agreed.

Only Guo Wanrou sneered from the side. She just wanted to go back to school.

Once the mood calmed, Bai Cuiyan’s eyes lit up. “Tomorrow, let’s go find Siqing. Her in-laws are rich. If they know we’ve suffered like this, they’ll definitely help!”

And if they played it smart, maybe they’d even get another 1,888 yuan bride price. To the Shen family, that was pocket change!

Everyone’s eyes lit up. Right—why hadn’t they thought of that? Siqing was family, and if she refused to help… well, they could always cause a scene at her door. The Shen family cared about their image, after all.

“Dakai, tomorrow you go find that girl. See if you can get more money out of her and replace the stuff we lost,” the old lady instructed before going to bed.

She found some cardboard in a corner, laid it on the floor, stripped off her clothes to use as a blanket, and slept through the night.

The Next Morning

Guo Dakai and Bai Cuiyan got up early and, faces still dirty, headed for the hotel—it was nearby. But after knocking for a long time, no one opened the door.

“They probably went out,” Guo Dakai sighed. “Let’s just sell the bicycle first and buy what we need to get by.”

Bai Cuiyan didn’t want to leave just yet. She had hoped they could get money today and avoid selling her son’s bicycle. Unwilling, she pounded the door hard—like she had a vendetta.

Someone from the next room woke up and shouted, “Are you crazy? Knock again and I’ll call someone!”

They got scolded and backed off quickly, not wanting hotel security involved.

At the entrance, Guo Dakai grumbled, “Just be patient. If we get the money back or the house, we can buy Xiaozhuo a better bike.”

“Hold it in,” Bai Cuiyan hissed through clenched teeth. “Once the police catch the thief, they better make them pay us double!”

“And that jinx Guo Siqing! I knew she was bad luck. We just went to her wedding banquet and came back to a looted house!”

“If she doesn’t help us, I’ll raise hell at the Shen family!” she declared angrily.

Guo Dakai didn’t object—he had the same thought. Guo Siqing owed them. If not for them, she would’ve starved in the streets long ago.