Chapter 46: Troubling Matters (Fourth Update)

Demolition is a matter between the demolition company and the property owners; as for the individuals and businesses renting here, they have absolutely nothing to do with the demolition company. The boss in charge of the demolition, being willing to offer some compensation to these tenants, was already acting with remarkable benevolence.

Suddenly, Qin Tian found himself no longer sympathetic toward that boss; at most, he thought the way the group of men in suits handled things was a bit excessive.

“Everyone, please judge for yourselves. All the property owners in this area have agreed to the demolition. After all, this dilapidated old district has long been slated for redevelopment. Our boss took on this project and not only provided full compensation to all the homeowners but also, based on the businesses’ monthly turnover, offered the tenants compensation equivalent to three months’ revenue. Isn’t that more than fair?”

“Go ask around—when has anyone ever paid demolition compensation to tenants? It’s always just the owners, right? The tenants’ issues are between them and the owners. Demolition companies, as third parties, have nothing to do with it, isn’t that so?” The middle-aged man in the suit addressed the crowd of diners.

Many nodded in agreement. If what he said was true, then they had indeed done a good deed.

“But what about them? Not only are they ungrateful, they even joined forces to petition against us, accusing us of violent demolition?”

“My goodness, are they even property owners? And yet they accuse us of violence? Are they not just deliberately causing trouble for our project? This is sabotage!”

The man in the suit made his case with such logic that there was simply no room for rebuttal.

“Even so, you shouldn’t have resorted to violence. Hitting people makes you the one in the wrong,” Wang Shoucheng said.

“We were just provoked to the breaking point by this old man. As for his medical expenses, whatever the amount, we’ll cover it,” the suited man replied, not shirking responsibility.

“Not everything can be resolved with money. You need to apologize to him, or else we’ll have to call in the city enforcement officers,” Wang Shoucheng insisted.

“Who do you think you are? Trying to play the hero?” The suited man scowled at Wang Shoucheng.

“One thing at a time. The tenants were in the wrong over the demolition. But you were wrong to hit someone, and you should apologize first,” Wang Shoucheng replied.

“Apologize? Apologize my foot! Old man, I’m giving all you tenants three days to clear out. After that, demolition begins!” the man in the suit spat out, glared at the boss, hurled a final threat, and left.

“What are we going to do now?” The boss’s wife slumped to the floor, utterly at a loss.

The boss too, clutching his wounded head, stood helplessly where he was.

“Boss, we’ve paid. We’ll be leaving now.”

“Boss, we’ll leave for now. If there’s another chance, we’ll come eat again.”

“Boss, try to communicate. The other side hasn’t done anything wrong. Don’t be too stubborn.”

Many diners got up to leave, waving their phones to show they’d paid.

“Ma’am, get up—don’t sit on the cold floor,” Wang Shoucheng said, helping the boss’s wife to her feet.

“Uncle, Auntie, you really are in the wrong this time. You’ve received compensation—it's time to move. If it were another demolition company, you might not have gotten anything at all, since there was no obligation to compensate you in the first place,” Qin Tian said, not to rub salt in the wound, but simply stating the truth.

“Do you think we don’t know that? But we’ve been renting here for decades. This place feels like home. Now, all of a sudden, we have to move—where are we supposed to go?”

“Even if we do find a new spot, will we be able to adapt to a new life?”

“And this shop has been here for over ten years, with a loyal customer base. If we move, will people still come?”

“That’s why, after thinking it over, we foolishly decided to submit that petition,” the boss now regretted his actions, never expecting it would push matters to this point.

Qin Tian sighed. This really was a bitter situation.

The demolition team had done nothing wrong—in fact, they’d gone above and beyond, offering compensation they weren’t obliged to give.

And the tenants, wanting to stay, weren’t wrong either. They simply couldn’t bear to leave.

“Uncle, Auntie, let me give you some advice: start packing up, take what you can, and look for a suitable new place to reopen the business,” Qin Tian urged.

“Sigh, that’s all we can do now.” The boss, shoulders hunched, began to gather the scattered belongings.

Qin Tian noticed the boss seemed to have aged several years in an instant.

He remembered what Old Kong had once told him: When a person resigns themselves to fate, their spirit wilts and their energy fades.

The boss before him now was a perfect illustration of that truth.

Qin Tian sighed again and crouched down to help the boss tidy up. He could only offer his sympathy and lend a hand in small ways.

“Young man, thank you. Would you like something else to eat? I can make it for you, as a gift—these ingredients can’t be taken with us anyway,” the boss offered.

“That’s more than enough, thank you,” Qin Tian quickly shook his head.

After helping the boss clean up, Qin Tian checked the time—it was almost ten o’clock. Time had flown by.

“Young man, take these with you. Thank you for your help,” the boss’s wife said as she handed each of the four a bag of fried rice cakes before they left. It wasn’t much, but it was a token of their gratitude. The four accepted without protest.

“Uncle, Auntie, we’ll come back for one last meal the night after tomorrow, to say goodbye. Save us a table,” Qin Tian said with a smile.

“Of course! Once we find a new place, we’ll let you know and give you a lifetime fifty-percent discount!” the boss said, smiling.

“Fifty-percent? How are you supposed to make a living? I’d sooner break your bones than your prices!” the boss’s wife scolded, tugging his ear.

“Ow, I was wrong, I was wrong!” the boss wailed, tilting his head in surrender.

Qin Tian and the others burst out laughing. After the earlier tension, the boss and his wife seemed to be feeling a little better, though who could say what was truly in their hearts or whether their worries had really been laid to rest.

“I’ll head off now. Call me if you need anything,” Wang Shoucheng said, leaving with his bag of rice cakes.

“Let’s go back to the hospital,” Qin Tian said to the two women.

“Qin Tian, I think it was misguided for Uncle and Auntie to submit that joint letter, but their wish to stay was sincere and deserves respect,” Jiang Yingying said.

“What, do you want to help them?” Qin Tian asked.

“Yes. Maybe... I really do have a way to help them,” a sudden glimmer of hope appeared in Jiang Yingying’s eyes.