That building-shaking device instantly beca a useless piece of junk.
The family slept comfortably through the night. The next morning, Minda called.
On Monday, Luis's wife Lily went to work as usual. She still preferred riding her little electric scooter, as it was more convenient. That Benz C-Class she just couldn't get used to driving.
Luis and his mother-in-law went downstairs to take a look. Holy shit, the front windshield of the rcedes-Benz C had been smashed, and the side mirrors had been ripped off as well.
"We don't even need to check the caras. Anyone with half a brain knows that stubborn bastard did it."
At this point, Luis's mother-in-law was furious. Her heart had just softened the night before, and now her face was twisted with hatred again.
The property managent checked the surveillance footage, and sure enough, it was Old Peter. The drunk old fool, stumbling around like he was wasted, had sohow found a construction sledgehamr and started smashing at the fence.
But that fence was solid red brick and cent, even a drill bit would have trouble getting through. How did an old man like that have the strength to swing such a heavy hamr? After chipping off just a tiny corner, Old Peter was panting so hard it seed like he might drop dead from exhaustion. But the stubborn bastard wouldn't quit. In a fit of rage, he swung the hamr around and started smashing up the cars parked nearby.
They were all his neighbors' cars anyway. He really got a kick out of smashing them.
Minda, clever and tactful as always, imdiately tried to comfort Ruth. "Sister Ruth, don't be angry. The property managent has already called the police."
"When the police officers arrive, you two don't need to get involved. The property managent will handle the communication."
"We've also notified the car dealership. You don't need to worry about the damage assessnt either. Besides the repair costs, we can also pursue additional compensation."
Minda smiled slyly and said, "This ti it's a criminal case with civil liabilities. Fortunately, we've already hired a lawyer. We'll take care of him in one go."
Ruth's heart was overjoyed. She said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister. How thoughtful of you."
"We're family here. How could I just sit back and watch you get taken advantage of?"
As Minda spoke, her pretty eyes sparkled with springti charm as she looked at Luis.
There was no need for Luis to worry about this matter anymore. He accompanied his mother-in-law to the teahouse and comforted her properly.
The card gas hadn't started yet, but quite a few of her card partners had arrived early and gathered at the front desk to gossip about the events of the past couple of days.
Old Peter was indeed hated by both gods and n, but many people actually felt sorry for his son. To be stuck with such a father was really a miserable fate.
"Old Peter is truly out of line. His son isn't a bad person, but having a father like that is just too tragic."
"Exactly. Back when his son was in school, he could have gone to regular high school, but Old Peter said they couldn't afford college anyway, so he made him go to so crappy vocational school."
"That's right. Back then, he used to brag all the ti about how good his son's grades were."
"And when he joined the military, it was the sa thing. So officers wanted to keep him in the service, but that old bastard insisted there was no future in it and called his son back to run a street stall with him. He said that was how you earned real money."
"Ah, now he's working as a driver, and his boss really appreciates him. But Old Peter looks down on it and says it's just a job waiting on people."
"What you've said isn't even the worst part. When his son first ca back, soone introduced him to a girl. She took a liking to Old Peter's son right away."
"That makes sense. The young man was hardworking, had plenty of energy, and was pretty handso too."
"You don't know the whole story. That girl got pregnant, and her parents were willing to agree to the marriage because she was their only child."
"They were willing to buy a wedding house, buy them a car, and ask for no bride price. They even asked the young man to work at their family's factory, with the chance to take over the business later."
"Holy shit, that's like ancestors scattering gold dust."
"But Old Peter said, 'What's the difference between that and being a live-in son-in-law?' He said it would make him lose face."
"Fuck, does the Peter family own a throne or sothing?"
"No kidding. What's even more outrageous is that the girl's parents said they could have two or more children, and one of them would take the woman's family na, regardless of gender."
"Old Peter completely lost it. He grabbed so pesticide and forced his son to kneel, making him swear not to accept those terms."
"When you ntion that, I rember. That didn't happen indoors. He stopped his son right at the community gate and forced him to swear a public oath."
"I rember that too. Old Peter used to brag about it, saying the girl's family was going too far, trying to steal the son he had raised with so much difficulty."
"The way he tells it is absolute crap. The girl's parents said the young couple could live on their own to avoid generation gaps and constant argunts."
"In Old Peter's mind, if you're not right in front of him being filial, you're unfaithful. Being his son sounds pretty miserable."
"In the end, the girl aborted the child, and the wedding was called off. Old Peter was so proud, bragging about it everywhere. If I were his son, I would have killed him by now."
After all this chattering, Luis actually felt a bit of sympathy for the guy. Oddly enough, after all these incidents, his son's reputation hadn't turned out too badly.
Around noon, everyone went off to eat lunch or ordered takeout, rubbing their hands eagerly, waiting for the afternoon gas to begin.
Then Ruth spoke up. "Son-in-law, I've heard bits and pieces about those things. Honestly, this whole ss really is all Old Peter's fault."
"Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Just as Luis finished reassuring her, an unfamiliar figure walked in.
It was Old Peter's son, Pete. His face looked haggard, and with a hint of embarrassnt, he glanced at Ruth, then at Luis.
Finally, he spoke. "Auntie, that building-shaker thing, I took it apart and threw it away."
"I'd like to talk with you both, if that's okay…"
"Sit down. Have so tea."
Luis couldn't bring himself to be harsh with this guy. This poor, unfortunate bastard, even if his foolish filial piety and being emotionally blackmailed were his own fault, based on all the rumors, this guy had suffered more than a normal person should.
The only thing in life you can't choose is your relatives, and among those, the only thing you truly can't choose is your parents.
If your parents from your original family are as toxic as that, your first half of your life will be worse than a dog or a pig's.
And having just one father like this was more than enough. In just the past couple of days, this guy had completely changed.
Before, he had seed full of spirit and energy, like a radiant, proud groom, brimming with anticipation for the future and bursting with drive.
But now, he was neither human nor ghost, pitiful beyond belief.
"That wall, I asked the property managent about it, and you guys spent a total of five thousand dollars on labor, right!"
Pete said very sincerely, "Over the years, I've known a bit about the conflicts between my dad and you all. I really was in the wrong this ti, and I don't want to make excuses like I was tricked or anything, because after all, that's my father."
"I'll pay you eight thousand dollars to take down the wall, alright? I still need to keep my job."
After a pause, he quickly added, "Three thousand of that is my apology to you. If you agree, we'll sign an agreent with the property managent, and I'll find my own people to tear it down, the cost cos out of my pocket."
"I'll also take care of the trash removal fees."
Every single sentence was reasonable. Honestly, compared to his father, he was a total opposite, making people wonder if the lineage was even right.
If one wanted to think maliciously, Old Peter might have been suspected of wearing a green hat back in the day...
Otherwise, how could such an unreasonable, slippery rogue have a son who was praised by everyone and so understanding and reasonable?
Not to ntion, all his girlfriends were willing to marry him...
Even the experienced parents really approved of this guy, and the leaders in the military were willing to ntor this young man with no connections.
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