To make up for the debt owed to Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Lin Qingping understood her position. It was as if she knew perfectly well that Gu Youlian's mother-in-law was no good person, but she couldn't directly confront her.

Lin Qingping nodded. "I know. I just came to say that Sister Zhao and Zhiyuan can stay at your place for the next couple of days. We might have to squeeze in from now on. Oh, and Sister, you don't need to pay the rent anymore."

Gu Youlian suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Pingzi, what you said reminds me of something. I've been in the capital for quite a while now, and I really like it and I've adapted to it here. You have a wide network of connections, could you help me see if there are any houses for sale? I'd like to buy one too."

Lin Qingping was unaware of the situation, but Sister Zhao did. She quickly said, "Now that you mention it, I remember. A few days ago, on our street, about three households, the nanny quit. She told me about it when we were grocery shopping together. The reason was that their son went to Shanghai to develop his career and settled down there. The elderly couple also wanted to move there and planned to sell the house. I don't know if they've sold it yet. I'll ask around later."

Gu Youlian was very happy, "Then I'll leave it to you."

In the past two days, she and Du Gen have made a lot of money with Lin Qingping. At first, Du Gen's mother took all the money. Later, she argued with Du Gen, insisting that the money be kept separate and that they each save their own. But Du Gen still gave all the money to her.

Since Du Gen and his wife started their business with Mei Li, Mei Li has treated them well. They contributed some capital, and Mei Li gave them dividends according to their shares, so they made a small profit.

After staying at Lin Qingping's house for a while, Gu Youlian grew to love the capital even more. She wanted to nurture Xiaomai and help her settle down here. However, she also had a deep-seated belief that renting someone else's house was never truly her own. So, after discussing it with Du Gen, she decided to buy a house in the capital.

Lin Qingping strongly supports this!

Gu Youlian just wanted a place of her own in this unfamiliar city, but Lin Qingping knew how much the house would be worth in the future!

Gu Youlian wanted to ask Lin Qingping what he planned to do with Wu Axiu, but after thinking about it, she felt it was inappropriate and kept quiet.

On Saturday, Sister Zhao and Gu Youlian went to the store. Zhiyuan and Xiaomai got out of school early in the afternoon, so Gu Youlian left the store early to pick up the two children.

When they brought her home, they found that Lin Qingping's house was very noisy.

As she passed by, she saw Wu Axiu lying on the ground, kicking and wailing, crying loudly, "This is outrageous! The people of the capital are robbers and bandits, trying to rob our homes! They're going to drive us out! Everyone, please judge this! These people of the capital are unjust! These heartless people of the capital! They won't let us live! Someone, please judge this!"

A crowd had already gathered outside the courtyard gate to watch the spectacle.

Gu Youlian quickly told the two children to go back to the next room first, and then squeezed through the crowd herself.

As soon as Wu Aixiu saw her, she immediately got up, tears streaming down her face, and grabbed her, pointing at the people opposite and accusing them, "Lianzi, it's so good that you're here! These people! These people are trying to kick me out! They say this is their house! Tell me, this is your sister-in-law's house! These robbers! Fraudsters! You kick them out right now!"

The man being pointed at looked bewildered and helpless. "This house originally belonged to me! It was rented to a family surnamed Gu, who were military officers. I only paid six months' rent at the time, and this month's rent is due, but they said they wouldn't renew the lease. I've come to take back the house today."

"What do you mean, 'your house'? This is clearly my son-in-law's house!" Wu Axiu grabbed Gu Youlian. "Quick, Lianzi, tell her, you have to tell her right now!"

Gu Youlian was somewhat embarrassed, but she had to tell the truth, "This...this house is really rented, it doesn't belong to my brother..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Axiu flew into a rage, "How could this be? Are you all ganging up on an old country woman like me? This house belongs to my daughter and son-in-law! Anyone who dares to let me leave today will have to step over me!"

She lay down on the ground and started throwing a tantrum again.

Gu Youlian was extremely anxious looking at Wu Axiu. According to her usual behavior, this was her younger brother's and sister-in-law's mother, and she would definitely take care of her. However, Lin Qingping's instructions were still ringing in her ears: "You must never say that the house next door is mine. You must insist that it is yours. If you see any trouble, don't get involved. Let me handle it."

Gu Youlian could only endure it again and again.

The people who came to collect the house had never seen anything like it before. They took one step back after another, muttering, "But this is my house..."

The neighbors knew the house was rented, and they started gossiping, "It's definitely rented; how can you not move out when the rent is due?"

"Xiao Lin next door usually seems like a reasonable person, how come he's suddenly become so barbaric?"

"This is Xiaolin's mother. She came a few days ago. She's from the countryside and doesn't know much, so she might have made a mistake."

Someone couldn't stand it anymore and advised Wu Axiu, "Auntie, this house really belongs to these parents. We've lived together for many years."

"Yes! We all know about the house we rented last year; it was indeed rented."

Some people were less polite and said directly, "What kind of behavior is this? Are you throwing a tantrum? Even if you throw a tantrum, this house won't become yours!"

"Yes, yes, shouldn't we just hand over the house? It looks so bad like this! Xiaolin's husband is a soldier, is this how soldiers are?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Youlian realized that it concerned her younger brother's reputation, so she should try to persuade him.

She stepped forward and whispered, "Mother-in-law, shouldn't we just hand over the house? With so many people watching, it's not a good look, and it doesn't look good for Pingzi and Chengzi either..."

"If all else fails, call the police station! How can you just occupy someone else's house and not let them move?"

"Yes! That's too barbaric! You should call the police station!"

While the homeowner hesitated, Wu Axiu sprang to her feet, grabbed a shovel, and began shoveling at the window and smashing it against the walls, shouting frantically, "You forced me! You forced me! I won't live here anymore! I'll tear this house down and see who lives here!"

This action was truly terrifying; it was something no one had ever seen before.

Gu Youlian stepped forward to try to stop Wu Axiu, but Wu Axiu pushed her hard, causing her to stumble back several steps.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Lin Qingping's voice rang out at the courtyard gate.

Seeing this, Wu Axiu swung the shovel even more vigorously, shouting, "Bottle! These people are bullying us country folk! I'll teach them a lesson!"

"Mom! You'll have to pay compensation if you demolish someone's house! If you report this to the police station, you'll be arrested!" Lin Qingping hurriedly held her mother's hand.

Why are they arresting people again?

Wu Axiu's hand holding the shovel paused, and Gu Youlian, with quick reflexes, snatched the shovel away.

As if waking from a dream, Wu Axiu grabbed Lin Qingping's arm and asked, "They said this house isn't yours, it's rented?"

"It was rented!" Lin Qingping said innocently. "I already said this house isn't mine. How much money do you expect to pay for all the damage you've done to it?"

"Snapped!"

Before Lin Qingping could finish speaking, a crisp sound rang out, and Wu Aixiu slapped Lin Qingping hard across the face.

Upon seeing this, Gu Youlian immediately pulled Lin Qingping into her arms, "Mother-in-law, what are you doing? Why are you hitting her!"

"Hitting someone?" Wu Axiu roared angrily. "I'd beat this little bitch to death!"

"What kind of mother calls her daughter a little slut? You came to the capital, and Pingzi is still a student. We treat you well and give you good food and drink. What more do you want?" Gu Youlian always protected Lin Qingping, and at this moment she didn't care that Wu Axiu was Lin Qingping's mother.

"Treat me well and make me feel good? Giving me this house that's about to be returned is what you call treating me well and making me feel good? You're making me get kicked out, and you call that treating me well and making me feel good? I shouldn't have trusted this heartless daughter!"

Lin Qing huddled in Gu Youlian's arms, looking completely weak, helpless, and bullied. She covered her slapped face, her eyes brimming with tears. "Didn't I tell you long ago that you couldn't stay in this house anymore and that I arranged for you to stay in a hotel?"

More and more people gathered around to watch the commotion, and even the restaurant owner was drawn in. After hearing the story, he quickly vouched for Lin Qingping, saying, "Xiao Lin did indeed book a room for the elderly woman at the hotel next to my restaurant. She also told me that she had classes and would be quite busy, so she asked me to let her mother eat at my restaurant and that she would pay the bill."

Among the onlookers was a hotel receptionist who was leaving work, shouting, "Yes, yes! She's staying at our hotel! This Comrade Lin is so kind; she paid for ten days' worth of rooms and said that if the old lady wanted to extend her stay after ten days, she could come back and pay. Comrade Lin even took the old lady sightseeing in the capital. But then, Comrade Lin had to go to class, and the old lady came to the front desk demanding a refund for the remaining eight days' room fees! Hey, Comrade Lin, did the old lady give you the room fees?"