"How can an old woman set an example for children? To be honest, it's not unreasonable for me to demand compensation at the original price.
Didn't I tell you this toy I bought was a limited edition Optimus Prime? You won't find ten identical ones in the whole country. Over time, this thing has great potential for appreciation.
Believe it or not, even if I sold it for ten thousand yuan right now, there would be plenty of buyers?"
"I believe you, but you didn't damage any of your parts. As long as it's reassembled, it can be restored to its original condition. So what compensation are you talking about?" Zhao Kunming asked.
"It seems you're reluctant to pay. Then we have nothing more to discuss. I'll let the police handle it. They'll decide whether you pay or go to jail.
Don't expect me to settle this. I won't settle anymore.
But think carefully, if your second aunt goes to jail, she'll have a criminal record that will affect three generations. Your son probably won't be able to take the civil service exam for the rest of his life." Liu Yifeng knew Zhao Kunming's fears and used them to intimidate him.
Zhao Kunming knew Liu Yifeng's character. He was capable of doing such a thing, otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on compensation.
He didn't want to ruin his sons' future over a few thousand yuan.
Despite his reluctance to part with the money, he agreed, "Alright, I'll have my mother pay you the original price!"
"That's more like it. It's not worth going to jail over a few thousand yuan. Consider this a lesson for your second aunt, otherwise, she might make the same mistake again.
You'll bring the money and the parts to me later today. If not, we'll meet at the police station." Liu Yifeng hung up the phone.
Little did he know, Zhao Kunming's heart was bleeding. With that money, he could have bought his son a new Optimus Prime, and it also caused his son to get beaten for no reason. What had his mother done!
When Liu Ju heard that Zhao Kunming had agreed to pay, she became agitated. "How could you agree? How long has he had that toy? It's not worth much anymore."
"Mom, it's all your fault. Why did you have to dismantle the part?
If we don't pay, you'll go to jail. It's not just you, but it will also affect Xiao Hao and the others from taking the civil service exam and becoming officials in the future. You caused this mess, so you pay for it!" Zhao Kunming angrily shoved the phone into his mother's hand.
When Liu Ju heard that it would affect her grandson's future career, she dared not say anything more.
She only felt heartbroken about her own money. The money she earned from selling vegetables earlier was not only gone but she also had to pay an additional two thousand, making her chest ache.
"What are you two arguing about? You're disturbing my sleep." Zhao Dacheng, who had heard the commotion, came out of the bedroom.
After listening to his son's explanation, he became furious. "You spendthrift woman! I told you to return it, and this wouldn't have happened. Now, trying to steal a chicken, you ended up losing the rice. How did I end up marrying a woman like you!"
"Dad, there's no use saying that now. We should hurry and send the parts and compensation over, otherwise Yifeng will report it to the police tomorrow." Zhao Kunming was not worried about anything else except that this incident would affect his and his son's future.
Zhao Dacheng couldn't help but sigh, "Yifeng is really something. We're family, why can't he be a bit more generous?"
"Generous? Last time I went to his house to get some fruits and vegetables, he didn't give me anything. I had to come back empty-handed.
Indeed, the richer they are, the stingier they become." Liu Ju was still angry about this.
Zhao Dacheng's expression didn't improve after hearing his wife's words. "Don't talk about Yifeng. You're no angel yourself. If it weren't for your meddling hands, would all this have happened?
Why are you all standing there? Hurry up and get the money ready. Do you really want to go to jail?" 138 Reading Network
Liu Ju was sometimes quite afraid of Zhao Dacheng, especially when she was in the wrong. She dared not argue and obediently went to her room to get the money.
"Yifeng, are you really going to make your second aunt pay?" Liu Chunsheng asked after his son hung up the phone.
Liu Yifeng nodded. "Of course, she has to pay. Second aunt's situation is not a minor issue.
If she had dismantled someone else's toy today, and they couldn't find the culprit, they would have reported it to the police. If it were traced back to second aunt, she might have actually gone to jail.
Only when she feels the pain will she dare not do such things in the future.
Today she can be petty about a child's toy, tomorrow she might be petty about adult conflicts, and who knows what irreversible actions she might take.
So, Dad, please don't interfere. When second aunt arrives later, no matter how much she pleads, don't yield. Let me be the bad guy."
"Okay, I understand," Liu Chunsheng replied.
Liu Mei, standing nearby, couldn't help but sigh. "How did this Mid-Autumn Festival turn out like this?"
About an hour later, Zhao Kunming drove his mother over.
Zhao Dacheng did not accompany them, as he felt too embarrassed and preferred to stay home and look after the children.
As soon as she got out of the car, Liu Ju began to soften her stance. "Yifeng, I don't know what came over second aunt today, I must have been out of my mind to do such a foolish thing.
Afterward, second aunt really regretted it and wanted to return the parts to you, but I was afraid you would find out and scold me.
Can you please let second aunt off this time, considering it's her first offense?" She then shed tears of regret, her words sincere.
Liu Chunsheng and Liu Mei were moved by her words, but Liu Yifeng knew that his second aunt was doing this only because she didn't want to pay. She hadn't truly realized her mistake, but rather, she was reluctant to part with the money.
After all, his second aunt valued money more than her own life.
Therefore, he looked at his second aunt without wavering. "Second aunt, adults should be responsible for their actions. We already agreed on this. If you pay and return the parts, I won't call the police."
"Yifeng, how can your heart be so cruel? Second aunt doesn't have that much money. I don't have a job, you can take my life as payment." Liu Ju, seeing that Liu Yifeng was unmoved, resorted to acting unreasonably.
She didn't believe Liu Yifeng would actually demand her life.
Liu Yifeng had anticipated that his second aunt would argue endlessly.
Without further ado, he took out his phone in front of everyone and dialed 110. Just as he was about to make the call,
Liu Ju quickly snatched his phone and flashed a guilty smile. "Yifeng, second aunt was just joking with you. How could I not pay you?
This was second aunt's fault from the beginning. I brought the money and the parts. Show me the invoice for your toy, and I'll pay you!"
Liu Yifeng took out the invoice he had prepared earlier and handed it to Liu Ju. "It's a total of three thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine. Second aunt, please pay!"
"So expensive?" Looking at the price, Liu Ju's heart ached.
She then took out a large amount of cash from her pocket and counted it out, one bill at a time. Finally, she counted out thirty-eight thousand-yuan bills. Just as she was about to hand them to Liu Yifeng, she looked at him pitifully and said, "Yifeng, you've had this toy for a long time, can you give me a discount and round down the odd amount, just make it three thousand?"
Liu Yifeng thought she meant to round down the ninety-nine, not the seven hundred and ninety-nine. Without a word, he took three thousand eight hundred from her hand and gave her back a coin. "Thank you, second aunt. Give me the parts, and let's never mention this again."
Liu Ju looked at the money that Liu Yifeng had already put in his pocket, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away. However, she still forced a smile and handed the parts to Liu Yifeng.
Just as Liu Yifeng took the parts to reassemble the precariously balanced Optimus Prime, Liu Mei walked up to her sister and reprimanded her, "Liu Ju, how could you do something so foolish! To go after a child's toy, you're too thoughtless!"