Back to 1993: The family splits up at the start, and the ingrates regret it so much they cry.

Wang Peng went downstairs, hurried to the bike shed, and rode away on Li Mengjiao's Giant bicycle.

Suddenly he heard someone calling his name from upstairs.

Looking back up, he saw Du Lei standing in the corridor. "Brother Peng, don't go yet, wait for me."

Three minutes later, Du Lei ran downstairs.

“Li Mengjiao wrote me a note saying that if you can’t find a place to live, you should go to her house and talk to her father about renting her house first.”

“I’ll also ask Lao Chen for leave, and I’ll help you move.”

Du Lei took out a piece of paper and handed it over.

After reading Li Mengjiao's note, Wang Peng said, "I have a chemistry class this afternoon, so don't miss it. I've asked my second uncle to help me move."

"This is so sudden." Du Lei scratched his head. "We were living there just fine, why would the landlord want you to move out?"

At that moment, a man and a woman appeared in front.

The woman was Zhang Qianqian. She glanced at Wang Peng and Du Lei, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.

The man is Wang Cheng.

His usual cotton trousers and cloth shoes with multi-layered soles are gone; he's now wearing jeans and soccer cleats.

The two passed each other by, and Wang Peng couldn't help but sneer.

They've hooked up already?

Wang Cheng actually sold his body to buy secondhand pants and shoes?

Without my support in this life, how could he have fallen to such a state?

"Brother Lei, you go back to class, I can manage on my own." Wang Peng got on his bicycle and left.

After walking a few steps, she stopped again to adjust the height of the seat; Li Mengjiao also has short legs.

The area around the school was mostly residential, so he inquired about each neighborhood.

I was lucky enough to find a courtyard for rent on the east side of the school, similar to Li Changshan's courtyard.

The landlord is a man in his thirties who works in the provincial capital and rarely comes home.

The two parties signed a contract for an annual rent of 500 yuan. Wang Peng handed over the money and received the room key.

I rode my bike back to my rented room in Xiaowangzhuang, passing by the train station square along the way.

The Zhang family's video arcade is located on the west side of the square.

The front is a glass and wooden door, where an old man sits with his legs crossed, drinking tea and selling tickets.

There was a wooden sign next to my legs, with a large poster written in calligraphy.

Today's screenings: Mr. Vampire, Uncle Vampire, Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury...

The train station was packed with people, and in no time, five grown men bought tickets to enter the video arcade.

Wang Peng rode over on his bicycle and asked, "Grandpa, how can I watch the video?"

"A ticket costs five cents and lasts for four hours." The old man's eyes were lewd. "Good movies will be shown in between."

"Hehe, I'll watch a good movie another day." Wang Peng rode away on his bike.

The "good film" that Old Deng mentioned must be pornographic videos contributed by teachers from the island nation.

Nan Batian dared to do something like this at the train station, so he must have connections.

Wang Peng rode his bike around the train station once before returning to his rented room in Xiaowangzhuang.

"Dapeng, have you found a house yet?" Li Guixi asked anxiously.

"Found it, it's similar to this courtyard." Wang Peng laughed. "Second Uncle, why did you come in an oxcart?"

"The oxcart is less strenuous." Li Guixi finally felt relieved. "Hmph, let's move then, we'll stay here for free for two months."

“This isn’t about living here for free.” Wang Peng shook his head. “Forget it, let’s move first.”

My cousin packed her bedding and belongings, while my uncle and nephew carried 300 jin of rice onto an oxcart, and then moved the television and VCR.

Even a ruined home is worth a fortune; the oxcart was filled with all sorts of kitchen utensils, clothing, and daily necessities.

Wang Peng led the way, while Li Guixi drove the oxcart, which was pulled by two food carts. The three of them made their way to the new house.

Upon opening the door, my second uncle and cousin began cleaning.

School was about to let out, so Wang Peng went back to school to deliver Li Mengjiao's bicycle, and then jogged all the way back to his rented room.

There was a motorcycle parked outside the gate, with a license plate that had five sixes on it, looking quite domineering.

In the courtyard, my second uncle and cousin stood beside the oxcart, their faces grim.

The landlord walked up to Wang Peng, took out five hundred yuan from his pocket, and said, "Excuse me, I'm not renting it to you anymore."

"Why is that? We've already signed a contract." Wang Peng frowned immediately.

The landlord lowered his head, avoiding Wang Peng's gaze, and gritted his teeth without saying a word.

At this moment, a middle-aged man walked out of the main room.

He was wearing a leather jacket, dress pants, sunglasses, and carrying a handbag.

"You must be Wang Peng. My son had a misunderstanding with you a few days ago, and I've come to apologize."

"That jerk, he's always doing nothing productive, he had to dye my perfectly good black hair yellow."

"Wang, I'm really sorry, please don't take it to heart."

A middle-aged man extends his hand to shake hands.

Wang Peng understood; this was Zhang Qianqian's father, the legendary Southern Overlord.

"Mr. Zhang, this is going too far," Wang Peng sneered. "Ping'an County is so big, do you think every landlord listens to you?"

Zhang Chenggong pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. "What do you mean, bro? I don't understand what you're saying."

“You know better than anyone else,” Wang Peng sneered. “That fight was your son’s own fault. Please discipline him strictly.”

"Haha, no one has ever dared to talk to me like that before." Zhang Chenggong stepped up to Wang Peng.

"What are you doing?" Li Guixi forcefully pulled her nephew behind her. "If you have a problem, come at me! I'm not afraid of you!"

"Second Uncle." Wang Peng stepped forward.

Li Guixi blocked him behind her again, glaring at Zhang Chenggong, "My family is poor, and those with nothing to lose are not afraid of those wearing shoes."

"Don't be nervous, brother. I just want to say a few words to Wang Peng," Zhang Chenggong said with a smile.

"Just say what you have to say, don't get physical," Li Guixi said through gritted teeth.

"Hehe!" Zhang Chenggong smiled at Wang Peng. "It's getting late. Take your things to your rural hometown."

Snapped--

He took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, grabbed his briefcase, went outside, turned back with a cold smile, and rode away on his motorcycle.

The landlord smiled wryly, "Brother Wang Peng, go apologize to him. There's no need to hold a grudge against him, really."

"Landlord, don't worry about it, I understand your difficulties," Wang Peng reassured him.

"Thank you, brother, all the better!" the landlord sighed.

The carriage left the courtyard, the landlord locked the gate, and reposted the "For Rent" sign on the courtyard wall.

"Dapeng, you go back to school and stay there. I'll move my things to my place first, and we'll do business as usual tomorrow." Li Gui said through gritted teeth, beaming with joy.

“Yes, it’s about getting up two hours earlier. He can’t mess with our business,” Li Fang said.

Wang Peng smiled slightly.

"Second Uncle, Sister Fang, it hasn't come to that point yet. Come with me."

"Before I came here, my deskmate Li Mengjiao said that her family had a spare house."

"I didn't want to trouble her, but now I have no choice but to ask her to take me in."

Li Fang knew Li Mengjiao, and upon hearing this, the father and daughter finally felt relieved.

An hour later, it got dark.

The three arrived at the Li family's door and happened to meet Li Longfei in the alley.

After hearing about Wang Peng's experience, Li Longfei couldn't help but chuckle coldly.

"Nan Batian? Bullshit!"

"Come with me. I want to see if Zhang Chenggong dares to threaten me."

Wang Peng felt a warmth in his heart and said with a wry smile, "Uncle Li, I've caused you and Mengjiao trouble again."

"Don't be shy," Li Longfei said. "You can stay at my dad's house for now. The old couple have passed away, and the house is a bit run-down."

"It's alright, as long as I have a place to stay, that's fine. I plan to buy a yard and a house in the county town," Wang Peng said.

"Good lad, you've got ambition!" Li Longfei patted him on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you the house."