The guard was getting a massive headache from listening to Su Dan. "It’s really not like that, sir, please don’t misunderstand... Oh, Su Li, Su Li, you’re finally back."
Seeing Su Li, the guard let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Su Li, this young man says he’s your brother." The guard looked at Su Li, ready to help immediately if she said he wasn’t.
Su Dan also let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw Su Li. "What took you so long to get back!"
After his relief came anger. "Look at this place you’re living in! Even a watchdog dares to block my way."
Su Li’s eyes darkened. "Shut up."
"Who are you telling to shut up? Su Li, you’ve really grown a spine and think you can fly now, is that it? How dare you talk to me like that? Are you looking for a beating?"
Su Dan spoke menacingly.
Su Li closed her eyes for a moment, then first apologized to the guard.
Seeing Su Li’s reaction only made Su Dan even more furious.
"What’s with this attitude? I came all this way, and this is the attitude I get! You didn’t even send money home for the New Year, you heartless, ungrateful wretch!"
Su Li took a deep breath. "Why are you here? And how do you know where I live?"
Su Dan snorted. "What, I can’t come visit? Where else would I get the address? Shanshan told me, of course."
He stuck out his hand. "First, give me a thousand."
Su Dan brazenly held out his hand, demanding not one, ten, or a hundred, but a full thousand, leaving the guard dumbfounded.
"Give you a thousand? Do you think a thousand is just pocket change?"
Su Li was utterly speechless. "I don’t have it. And why should I give you anything?"
’He must be daydreaming.’
The moment she saw Su Dan, Su Li’s good mood vanished without a trace.
"What do you mean, ’why should you’? Who am I? I’m your older brother, the only male heir of the Su Family! If you don’t give it to me, who will you give it to?"
Su Dan was in a foul mood himself. "I was being polite by not demanding you hand over the factory. It’s just a thousand, and you can’t even part with that? The factory makes so much money every day, and you can’t even spare a thousand for me!"
Su Dan’s eyes fell on Little Tang Mo, whom Su Li was holding by the hand. Seeing the boy dressed in fine clothes and looking so well-fed, he seethed with anger.
"All you do is raise this little bastard. He’s not even your own flesh and blood! You’d rather spend money on him than give it to me? We’re the real family, don’t you get it?"
Su Li covered Little Tang Mo’s ears, no longer bothering to argue or even speak with him.
"I don’t have any money, and don’t come looking for me ever again." Su Li turned to the guard.
"Sir, if this person comes again, please don’t let him in. If he tries to force his way through, just call the police."
The moment Su Dan heard the word "police," his heart couldn’t help but tremble.
He’d never been afraid of anything in his life, but the one thing he feared was the police. The time he’d been arrested and spent in the detention center had become a recurring nightmare.
"Why would you call the police? Are you crazy?"
Su Dan immediately cut Su Li off.
"What else am I supposed to do? You show up and demand a thousand right off the bat. If I refuse, you look like you’re about to rob me. Of course I have to ask the police for help. Besides, you’re a frequent flyer anyway. It’ll be a good chance for you to experience the might of the Imperial City’s police and see how their detention center compares to the one in Fengcheng County."
She knew that look all too well—the way he’d instantly sized her up and eyed her bag, looking for a chance to snatch it.
Hearing this, both Su Dan’s and the guard’s expressions changed drastically—one out of fear, the other out of shock.
The guard immediately picked up his wooden baton, ready for anything.
"You shut up! Always threatening with the police, the police... I don’t believe you know cops here in the Imperial City too." Su Dan’s face went from pale to livid.
"Sorry, but I actually do. And the police in the Imperial City are much more formidable. As for sending someone to prison... well, it wouldn’t be the first time for me. You can go ask around."
Su Li took another deep breath. "Su Dan, I don’t care why you’re here. Don’t show your face in front of me again, and don’t even think about getting any ideas. The best thing you can do is stay far away from me. Neither I nor the factory are things you can touch."
Su Dan stared at Su Li, his expression changing dramatically, as if he were seeing a stranger.
’Su Li has changed again, becoming even more terrifying. He could see the dead seriousness in her eyes.’
"You..." Su Dan glanced at the guard, then back at Su Li, gritting his teeth in anger but not daring to say anything more.
"Fine. If not a thousand, then five hundred will do. I need money to get by in the Imperial City."
He took a step back. "Just treat it as a filial payment for Mom. You can’t be unfilial."
Su Li shook her head. She wouldn’t give him a single cent. ’If I give him even one cent today, it will lead to endless trouble in the future.’
"I told you long ago that I’ve severed all ties with you. Forget five hundred, I wouldn’t even give you five cents."
Su Dan hadn’t expected Su Li to be so stubborn and nasty. "You’re... Are you just going to watch me starve to death?"
His dangerous gaze couldn’t help but drift toward Little Tang Mo again.
Su Li pulled Little Tang Mo behind her. "I’m telling you one last time, if you don’t leave now, I’m calling the police."
A flash of hatred crossed Su Dan’s eyes. He wanted to make a move, but seeing the guard on high alert, he forced himself to hold back.
"Fine, Su Li. You’re ruthless."
He turned as if to leave, then turned back. "Do you know where Qin Shanshan lives?"
He had come to find Su Li not just for money, but mainly to ask for Qin Shanshan’s address.
Su Li raised an eyebrow. "Qin Shanshan? Why are you looking for her?"
"None of your business why I’m looking for her! Just give me the address," Su Dan said impatiently.
Su Li almost laughed. "So, Qin Shanshan told you my address, but you don’t know hers? That’s really something."
"Stop wasting time and just tell me! She’s your future sister-in-law," Su Dan demanded, all the while fantasizing about slicing Su Li into a thousand pieces.
The first time Su Dan saw Qin Shanshan in Xinghua Village, he was stunned by her beauty and became completely infatuated.
None of the potential wives Miao Fenghua had tried to set him up with were as beautiful or alluring as Qin Shanshan, and Su Dan had sworn he would marry no one else.
After Su Li left Fengcheng County for the Imperial City, Su Dan and Miao Fenghua went to block the entrance of the Pingjun Factory in Fengcheng County every day. It was there in the county town that they ran into Qin Shanshan again.
Qin Shanshan, whether intentionally or not, gave Su Dan plenty of suggestions. Adoring and idolizing her, Su Dan’s feelings for her grew deeply rooted, and he treated her like a precious treasure.
Unfortunately for them, no matter what methods they tried, Su Li’s attitude remained firm, and they were left with no options.
Eventually, Qin Shanshan lost interest. Later, after meeting Mrs. Tang, she came directly to the Imperial City with her.
Su Dan was heartbroken and miserable, even becoming lovesick. In the end, Miao Fenghua was worn down by his pestering and let Su Dan go find his "true love."
Unfortunately, while Qin Shanshan had told him Su Li’s address in the Imperial City and described how well-off and wealthy Su Li had become, she hadn’t given him her own address.
So after arriving in the Imperial City, Su Dan had no choice but to find Su Li.
"You just wait, Su Li! Once I’ve taken care of my business, I’ll be back to settle the score with you."
Su Dan couldn’t bear the loss of face from just leaving, so he had to leave a final threat.
"Settling the score," of course, meant getting money from her.
Su Li couldn’t be bothered with him. She once again apologized and thanked the guard.
’That damn Qin Shanshan is like a lingering ghost...’ Su Li was utterly exasperated on her way back.