Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 356 Strong Mental Fortitude
It was Wang Jinshan's inexplicable self-confidence that led him to find Wang Chengpeng, which resulted in the incident mentioned at the beginning.

Looking at Wang Jinshan with amusement, Wang Chengpeng said with a smile:
"Comrade Wang Jinshan, you should think this through. The last person who tried to extort three thousand yuan from me is still in jail."

Wang Chengpeng arranged Shen Wei's matter cleverly, so it didn't cause much of a stir in the village, and almost no one knew about it. What Wang Chengpeng said was completely reasonable.

When Wang Chengpeng looked at him like that, Wang Jinshan felt as if he were being stared at by a vicious wolf. He trembled all over and immediately dared not be arrogant anymore. He softened his tone and said:

“Nephew, how could I dare to extort money from you? That three thousand yuan was originally my money!”

"Please, have some mercy and don't take your uncle's money. Just give it back to me right now."

Uncle?

Upon hearing Wang Jinshan's self-identification, Wang Chengpeng found it utterly amusing and loudly questioned him:
"Uncle? Comrade Wang Jinshan, you really know how to claim kinship indiscriminately."

"Whether from a bloodline or relationship perspective, I really don't know where you get the nerve to call yourself my uncle."

"Your nephew is not here, nor is your three thousand yuan."

"I think you've come to the wrong place. You should open your eyes wider and look again."

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's blunt honesty, Wang Jinshan pretended not to hear at all and continued shamelessly:
"Nephew, how can you turn your back on me like this?"

"There was a small misunderstanding between us, but it wasn't to the point of a complete falling out."

“I think you’ve been smart since you were little, but you’re a bit impetuous and need to calm down.”

"That's why I deliberately tested you. And look, after my training, you've indeed gained a lot of skills and become quite successful."

"I don't need you to repay me. Just give me back the money that's owed to me and Xia An the job that's owed to me."

Looking at Wang Jinshan's face, which was red from the cold, Wang Chengpeng experienced for the first time what it meant to be thick-skinned.

Sure enough, when shamelessness is taken to the extreme, everyone has to praise one's strong mental fortitude.

At least Wang Chengpeng certainly couldn't talk nonsense with Wang Jinshan without batting an eye.

Having stopped being led astray by Wang Jinshan, Wang Chengpeng sighed and said somewhat helplessly:

"So, Comrade Wang Jinshan, you've decided to extort money from me?"

“I’m just an ordinary citizen, and I really can’t deal with someone as shameless as you. So I have no choice but to call the police and tell them that someone is trying to extort money from me here.”

"If you can repeat what you just said in front of the police, then I'll really respect you as a man."

Hearing Wang Chengpeng's words, Wang Meiyan, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, laughed loudly, as if she feared the world wasn't chaotic enough:
"Call the police?"

“Great! I haven’t even made a call since the phone was installed. I’ll call the police right now and tell them there are bad people in my house, so they can come and catch them.”

As Dapeng Sugar Factory gradually grew, telephones became an essential item.

This is where the advantage of Wang Chengpeng living next to the Dapeng Sugar Factory became apparent. Not only was it convenient for him to commute to and from get off work, but he also took the opportunity to have a telephone line installed at his home.

However, the only problem was, as Wang Meiyan said, that they really didn't have any conversations that required them to make phone calls.

Considering that Wang Chengpeng was about to go to university in Shanghai, he installed the phone early on, reassuring his family that they would need it sooner or later.

Upon hearing Wang Meiyan jumping around and talking about calling the police, Wang Jinshan's face turned green, and he immediately shouted:

"Oh dear, my good niece, please don't call the police. I'm leaving, I'm leaving right now."

Wang Jinshan felt that the world had suddenly become so bad; these people were always talking about calling the police, as if they were guarding against bad guys.

Could Wang Jinshan be a bad person?
After leaving Wang Chengpeng's courtyard, Wang Jinshan did not go far. Instead, he sat down outside the courtyard.

The winter wind was bitterly cold, making him shiver, but he rubbed his hands together and breathed on them, unwilling to leave.

Wang Jinshan's waiting was not in vain. His eyes soon lit up because he had spotted his target: Wang Tieshan, who was chatting and laughing with Liu Chunhua as they hurried back.

He knew that his third brother had always been a kind-hearted person who was easily swayed, and had always accepted his forceful taking without daring to utter a single complaint.

He was confident that as long as he made himself sound pitiful, he could easily get back what was rightfully his.

In particular, the job at Dapeng Sugar Factory was not only high-paying and with good benefits, but it was also crucial in determining whether he could get approval for a homestead.

Although it's freezing cold and there's basically no work in the factory,
However, the factory workers were honest people, and they didn't think about resting at home. They went to work as usual.

They could lend a hand with loading and unloading cargo, so Wang Yong didn't stop them and just let them do as they pleased.

After finishing their day's work, Wang Tieshan and Liu Chunhua walked home chatting and laughing.

Although only half a year had passed, they felt that their lives had undergone earth-shattering changes.

Not only have the family's financial situation improved and their lives become more fulfilling, but their son may even get into university and become a college student who brings honor to the family.
No wonder they were so happy; they felt like they had something to look forward to every day.

That's why they didn't see Wang Jinshan lying prone under their courtyard wall at all.

When it got close, it felt something suddenly kneel down and hug its thigh.

The person who clung to Wang Tieshan's coattails was naturally Wang Jinshan.
After learning of Wang Chengpeng's attitude, he knew that under normal circumstances he would definitely not be able to get back what belonged to him.

He was really going all out, and as soon as he stepped onto the field, he unleashed his ultimate move, grabbing Wang Tieshan's leg and bursting into tears:

"Third brother, third brother's wife, you have to help me!"

"If you don't help me, I won't be able to survive."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Jinshan burst into tears.

The sound was so mournful that it broke the hearts of those who heard it and brought tears to their eyes.

Wang Tieshan was momentarily stunned when Wang Jinshan suddenly grabbed his leg. It took him a moment to realize that the person hugging him was none other than Wang Jinshan, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He immediately said with a embarrassed expression:
"Jinshan, what are you doing? Get up quickly and let's talk this out."

Wang Jinshan was only going to put on an act; he was willing to stand up if Wang Tieshan persuaded him.

However, he instantly became alert when he heard Wang Tieshan address him as "Big Brother." Previously, Wang Tieshan had always affectionately called him that.
But this "golden mountain" sounds intimate, yet it actually reveals endless alienation.

He immediately stopped getting up and continued to hug Wang Tieshan, howling:

"Third brother, you have to help me. If even you don't help me, I really won't be able to go on living." "Didn't you want me to get up? As long as you agree to help me, I'll get up right away."

Even at this point, Wang Jinshan still didn't forget to set a trap for Wang Tieshan, trying to get him to agree to his conditions in advance.

Having experienced so much, Wang Tieshan wasn't stupid. He didn't immediately agree to Wang Jinshan's conditions, but instead frowned and said:
"What kind of help? Even if you want me to agree to help, you should at least tell me first, right?"

Wang Jinshan hadn't expected Wang Tieshan to be so hard to fool, and immediately started wailing again:

"Third brother, you've changed."

“In the past, when my older brother needed something, you would agree without even asking. But now, you have to ask so many questions.”

Wang Tieshan: ...? ? ?
Even though Wang Tieshan was an honest man, he still felt that Wang Jinshan's remarks were a bit too outrageous.

Wang Tieshan tried to pull his right leg away, but found that Wang Jinshan was holding him very tightly and he couldn't break free at all. He could only patiently continue to persuade him:

"Jinshan, you know my abilities are limited and I can't help much at all. The reason I let you speak first is because I was afraid I didn't have the ability to help, right?"

"You tell me first. If it's something I'm capable of helping with, I'll definitely help!"

Looking at the promise with two added conditions, Wang Jinshan's face turned ashen, and he could only loudly complain:
"Third brother, are you saying that because you don't want to help me?"

It was at that very moment that Liu Chunhua spoke in an extremely impolite tone:
"Help you? Why should I help you?"

"Is it because you embezzled public funds that our family is going hungry?"

"Is it because you clearly had money before, but you refused to give it to my son for his wedding?"

"Is it because of your blood relation to my Tieshan that's completely unrelated?"

"Is it because of the good reputation left by that promiscuous mother?"

Liu Chunhua knew that Wang Jinshan's visit to her family was definitely not for anything good. Since Wang Tieshan couldn't refuse, she would play the villain.

She was also willing to defend her husband in front of Wang Jinshan!
"You sharp-tongued shrew, how dare you fabricate such a thing as the brotherhood between my third brother and me?"

"Third brother, why don't you teach your wife a lesson, so that others won't hear about it and laugh at you?"

He pulled Liu Chunhua behind him, his face filled with barely concealed anger.
"Wang Jinshan, who do you think you are, daring to lecture my Chunhua like that?"

"Don't keep calling me 'Third Brother,' my family can't possibly be worthy of that."

"Go away. No matter what you want me to help you with, just because of your attitude towards Chunhua, even if you kneel here to your death today, I will not help you."

Family members were Wang Tieshan's Achilles' heel, and Wang Jinshan's words were tantamount to stepping on his landmine.

However, Wang Jinshan remained completely unfazed by Wang Tieshan's reprimand, and even screamed in alarm:
"Everyone come and see! I just wanted to ask my third brother for a small favor, but not only did he refuse to help, he also allowed this shrew to insult me."

"Everyone, come and judge this! What kind of world is this? The eldest brother knelt on the ground begging the third brother for help, but the third brother still refused to help!"

Wang Jinshan's choice to visit Wang Chengpeng's family at this time was premeditated. He not only wanted to test Wang Chengpeng's attitude but also to wait here and catch Wang Tieshan and Liu Chunhua.

Even though it's currently the end of the workday at Dapeng Sugar Factory, some workers who are leaving get off work will pass by here and become tools he can use.

Wang Jinshan's loud crying was already quite conspicuous, and since the main characters in the incident were his coworkers, it naturally attracted most passersby to come and watch the spectacle.

However, the course of events unfolded in a completely different direction than he had imagined, despite Wang Jinshan's loud accusations.

Wang Yulan retorted without holding back, "Oh, who do you think I am? Isn't this the son of the famous Zhao Yuju, the bastard child born from adultery?"

"You call him 'elder brother' and 'third brother' so fluently, but I don't know where you get the nerve to call him that when you're not related by blood at all."

At this point, Wang Yulan gave Wang Tieshan a fawning smile and said:
"Team Leader Wang, I'm telling you, you're just too kind-hearted. You can't bring yourself to be ruthless when dealing with these troublemakers."

“I’ll vouch for you. He’s the one who’s shamelessly clinging to you. If you’re trying to do anything to him, it’s purely out of self-preservation.”

On one side was Wang Jinshan, who had nothing to do with her, and on the other side was her team leader, Wang Tieshan. As long as Wang Yulan had a brain, she knew who to help.

Most importantly, Wang Jinshan's argument is completely untenable.

Ever since the scandals in Wang Degong's family were exposed, Wang Jinshan's lies have become so convincing that they can't even fool people outside of Wangjia Village, let alone the villagers themselves.

Sun Feiyang nodded in agreement and shouted:
"Team Leader Wang, if you find it inconvenient, I can help you."

"I love doing things like this that show courage and righteousness the most."

Seeing that the wind direction was somewhat off, Wang Jinshan immediately released his grip on Wang Tieshan's thigh, stood up, and questioned the crowd:

"How can you be so unable to distinguish right from wrong and turn black into white?"

"Wang Tieshan is the one who did wrong, so why is everyone targeting me?"

It was at this moment that Wang Dani, who had been silent for a long time, also stood up and loudly criticized Wang Jinshan:

"Wang Jinshan, you have quite the nerve to say that my Uncle Wang is wrong."

"You're clinging to Uncle Wang's leg without even asking what happened, trying to force him to agree to help you. You really know how to play tricks on your own family."

"My Uncle Wang and Aunt Liu are really good people. They took good care of me at the factory."

"If you had had any conscience back then and had treated us even a little better, you wouldn't have ended up being abandoned by everyone."

"Get out of here. If you make a scene, you'll be the one who suffers."

Although they are two brothers who are not related by blood to their father, Wang Dani addresses Wang Jinshan and Wang Tieshan with significant differences, clearly indicating the difference in their status.

It was precisely because of Wang Dani's accusations, a true member of the Wang family, that Wang Jinshan finally lost face and could only loudly berate everyone present:

"You, you are simply unreasonable."

"Now I understand. No matter how good I was to you before, as long as Wang Tieshan is in power now, you will shamelessly help him."

"I must have been blind to think you were all good people, and actually thought I could ask you for help."

"Don't just say it's you, I think the whole Wangjia Village is full of bad people, they're simply..."

(End of this chapter)