Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"Da Biao, I know this isn't fair to you, but this is all the money our family can afford right now."

"I don't expect you not to pursue this matter; that's your right."

"I'm giving this to you as collateral. I hope that, for the sake of this, you won't hold my father responsible in the ministry. We'll figure out a way to resolve the compensation issue later."

Zhang Dabiao raised an eyebrow—【What the heck?】

"You think this tiny thing will make me drop the matter with your father in the ministry? And it's just collateral? What could be so valuable..."

Zhang Dabiao opened the small sandalwood box and saw a warm, lustrous jade bracelet.

Holy crap?!

[Is this the golden legend from the original drama "Full House of Love"?]

[The Lou family's... no, the Tan family's heirloom!]

Xu Damao was very curious. No matter how valuable a jade bracelet was, it shouldn't be enough to make Zhang Dabiao give up 72 yuan, right?

That's 72 US dollars!

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao has over 30 yuan in savings; what kind of bracelet can't he buy?

But Zhang Dabiao knew his stuff, and he immediately blurted out, "Lou Xiao'e, is this your family heirloom?"

"Your parents really want to part with this?"

Lou Xiao'e sighed: "What can we do if we can't bear to part with it? I won't hide it from you, this is my mother's lifeblood."

Zhang Dabiao clicked his tongue: "The fact that your mom brought out this treasure shows how much she truly loves your dad."

Lou Xiao'e rolled her eyes and said helplessly, "Zhang Dabiao, this isn't for you, it's just to be held as collateral here for now."

"If our family can afford to pay it back..."

At this point, Lou Xiao'e herself lost confidence. 72 US dollars, and the Lou family's current assets couldn't be liquidated. Even if those assets were given directly to Zhang Dabiao, he wouldn't accept them.

Therefore, there is basically no hope of getting the money back.

Xu Damao asked doubtfully, "Is this thing very valuable?"

Zhang Dabiao thought for a moment, and he remembered a certain scene from the original drama.

Lou Xiao'e said at the time, "Our family's treasure is priceless," while Sha Zhu responded, "That's a bracelet that shines all night long. I know it's valuable."

So he pondered and said, "It should be luminous jade or mutton fat jade, crafted by a famous master, an antique jade piece."

Actually, he was still thinking about something else, something that glows in the dark...

Does it emit radiation?

"As for its value, it's several hundred thousand yuan, enough to buy at least 10 courtyard houses, or half a street of shops or residences."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was so frightened that he sat down on the ground with a thud.

"Wow? That's valuable?"

"Xiao'e, you just... you just took it out like that..."

Seeing his cowardly appearance, Lou Xiao'e said irritably, "Otherwise what? Should I be making a big fuss about how I have half a street's worth of goods in my bag?"

Zhang Dabiao thought for a moment and figured that if this thing were kept for 25 years, it would be worth at least 1 to 3000 million yuan.

In US dollars, it would be worth between 140 million and 430 million!

Their purchasing power is equivalent to 3-5 ordinary courtyard houses in Beijing over 25 years (each with a price of around 10 million yuan).

Zhang Dabiao nodded: "Lou Xiao'e, this thing is a good treasure."

"But that's not enough to cover my $72."

Lou Xiao'e became anxious, but Zhang Dabiao raised his hand to stop her: "Let me finish."

"Since you're so sincere, I won't make things difficult for the ministry; your dad can handle this himself."

"Whether the higher-ups will let your Lou family off the hook is none of my business, but I can choose not to pursue the matter. However, I cannot guarantee anything else."

Zhang Dabiao can accept this loss, but if Zhang Yaoyang goes to Lou Yufan to seek justice for his brother, that's none of my business.

Sorry, but this time I'm going to try and profit from both sides. Who told Lou Bancheng to humiliate me with 100,000 yuan?

"This treasure is held as collateral here. I will return it to you only when you have paid off your debts."

I hope you can't pay me back, so I can legitimately and openly fleece you.

Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up, and she was about to say something when Zhang Dabiao stopped her again: "Wait until I finish speaking, what's the rush?"

"I can't let this go unpunished, can I?"

"This 10 yuan, the three-courtyard house, and 10 small yellow croakers—that's compensation for my emotional distress, so I'll accept it. Remember there's also 10 Hong Kong dollars; tell your dad not to forget."

Yes, I'm going to eat and take some home!

Lou Xiao'e was a little displeased, but she still refrained from interrupting.

"Besides, I deposit all my money directly in the bank, so I get the interest rate I'm entitled to every year. Your Lou family has to make up for it for me, right?"

Lou Xiao'e stood up in surprise: "Zhang Dabiao! Do you know how much interest is involved?"

Zhang Dabiao said innocently, "I know, the annual interest rate is 6.12%."

「72万美刀兑换成人民币那就是177万2496块，一年的利息就是10万8476块7毛5分5厘。」

"I haven't even calculated the compound interest with you yet, or the fact that the government rewards overseas Chinese with remittance certificates when foreign exchange arrives. Those remittance certificates amount to 88.6..."

Zhang Dabiao's words became increasingly terrifying, and Xu Damao's face turned pale. Lou Xiao'e could only beg for mercy: "Alright, alright, I'll go back and discuss this with my dad."

"I can't make that decision."

With over 10 in interest annually, plus a total of 88.6 in remittance certificates, and if Zhang Dabiao were to continue calculating compound interest, even if it were done monthly…

Lou Bancheng would have been faster if he had just hanged himself.

Xu Damao was completely dumbfounded; this number... he couldn't even imagine it.

Is the world of capital really that terrifying?

The interest alone is over 10 yuan a year?

Lou Xiao'e gasped for breath several times, her fists clenched tightly.

Zhang Dabiao casually remarked, "Originally, once the 72 yuan arrived, I could have earned this interest."

"The loss was caused by your Lou family, so you should compensate for it. Is that reasonable?"

"I'm being very generous by not calculating compound interest and remittance certificates out of respect of Da Mao."

[What kind of "kindness" is that? You've already taken my money, the house, and even my jade bracelet, and now you want interest on it?]

However, Lou Xiao'e dared not show it, because Zhang Dabiao was someone the higher-ups valued highly.

Although he really couldn't do anything to the Lou family or Lou Yufan in Hong Kong, even if he could appeal in Hong Kong, he would most likely not win.

But if the higher-ups value him and stand up for him to cause trouble for the Lou family...

Lou Bancheng and Lou Xiao'e dared not gamble.

If we fall out with him now, wouldn't that be like handing a knife to our superiors?

Xu Damao – [Is my face really that important? Let me calculate, how much is my face actually worth?]

"Alright, Zhang Dabiao, I'll go back and ask my dad about the interest, then I'll give you a definite answer. But we've agreed, this bracelet is pledged to you, not pawned!"

Zhang Dabiao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Da Mao can testify, I always keep my word."

"As long as the money is in place, I'll hand over the bracelet immediately!"

Lou Xiao'e thought about it. Since she met Zhang Dabiao, he had indeed kept his word, but...

"What if you change your mind?"

Xu Damao quickly interjected, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! Da Biao always keeps his word! He would never go back on his word!"

Zhang Dabiao nodded repeatedly, pointing at Xu Damao and saying, "Yes, yes, yes. If I go back on my word, I'll make sure Xu Damao is infertile and has no descendants."

……

Xu Damao was completely dumbfounded: "Holy crap, Da Biao, what kind of oath are you making about me? What did I do to you?"

Zhang Dabiao waved his hand awkwardly: "Sorry, sorry, you two are family, it just slipped out."

"It doesn't matter, it's just a joke, a joke."

Xu Damao nodded at first, then suddenly realized something was wrong: "Wait a minute, this has nothing to do with whether Xiao'e and I are from the same family. If you're going to swear an oath, you should swear it on yourself, not me. Why are you cursing me?"

Lou Xiao'e only just realized what was happening: "You cursed Xu Damao to be infertile and childless, then wouldn't that mean I would also...?"

"No, you need to change your oath."

Zhang Dabiao was speechless. This Lou Xiao'e was really naive.

"Lou Xiao'e, do you think making an oath is meaningful?"