MWC – Chapter 133 Preparing to Blackmail Again

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

The third district of Beiguan lies between two main roads and features a row of shopping malls and shops, with New Era Shopping Mall at the forefront. Behind this commercial area are four or five residential zones, with four or five-story apartment buildings as well as rows of two-story houses. There are over 20,000 eligible voters here, a stark contrast to the 49th district.

Currently, Lu Ming was strolling through one of these neighborhoods. 

Even though the high-ranking members of the Depeng Party hadn’t given their decision yet, Lu Ming had some free time today and decided to take a walk around the third district.

This was an apartment complex, but the buildings were quite old, and the residents were mostly from the working class.

“Which building is your uncle’s house?” Lu Ming asked Jin Meiyan, who was walking beside him.

Jin Meiyan was staying with her relatives who lived here, so she had brought him along.

Originally, Lu Ming had called Wen Liangyu to ask if he knew anyone reliable living in the neighborhood near New Era Shopping Mall who could show him around.

Jia Xiaoling, who happened to be nearby, took the phone and mentioned that Jin Meiyan was staying with relatives who had moved here after their business failed last year.

So Lu Ming went to Zou An Garden and picked up Jin Meiyan.

He also remembered to call Liu Laocai to help transfer Jin Meiyan to Fernard School.

“Over there, the second building…” Jin Meiyan pointed ahead. She was wearing a black and white baseball jacket, loose white pants, a baseball cap, and black canvas shoes, looking very youthful and sweet.

Lu Ming looked at her and thought about how both sisters had grown so tall early on, which was why Jin Meizhen sat at the back of the class and became his desk mate.

On the other side, an old man in a white shirt and black pants was walking slowly. It was naturally Uncle Sun.

Coming here was a spur-of-the-moment decision, known only to his most trusted people and the fourth brother and sister-in-law of the Wen family, so there was no need for a large entourage. 

However, there were still cars at each entrance and exit of the community, with armed personnel inside, monitoring the comings and goings.

“Meiyan! Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in so long!” a surprised voice called out. A small figure with a large box on her back emerged from a building. It was a seven or eight-year-old girl, her face lighting up with joy at the sight of Jin Meiyan.

Lu Ming shook his head. Troubled teenagers seemed to be popular among young children.

“Nowhere, Xiuxiu. Are you going to sell lemonade again?” Jin Meiyan laughed, pinching her cheek.

“Yes!” Xiuxiu answered cheerfully and struggled to open the box. “Meiyan, let me pour you a cup. This time I made it really well!”

“Sure!” Jin Meiyan helped her open the box. Xiuxiu took out an old thermos and a glass cup, pouring Jin Meiyan a cup of lemonade with a faint green tint.

Lu Ming smiled and said, “I’d like a cup too!”

Jin Meiyan was stunned, looking at Lu Ming in disbelief.

Lu Ming knew she thought he wouldn’t touch a homemade drink from a child, considering it might not be sanitary.

“Also, bring a cup for Uncle Sun,” Lu Ming pointed to Sun Bo nearby.

Xiuxiu was overjoyed and quickly poured three full cups, running to give one to Sun Lutian.

Lu Ming took a sip, finding the lemonade pleasantly sour and sweet. It wasn’t made with saccharin but real white sugar, with plenty of lemon.

Jin Meiyan took out her small wallet, pulled out one yuan, and handed it to Xiuxiu, saying, “Keep the change!”

“No, no, I’m treating you and your friend. I don’t want any money!” Xiuxiu waved her hands.

“Take it!” Jin Meiyan stuffed the yuan into Xiuxiu’s pocket and said, “If you don’t, I won’t drink next time.”

“That’s too much. I know your uncle doesn’t even pay your tuition…” Xiuxiu shook her head anxiously.

Lu Ming smiled, “Take it. Your sister Meiyan is earning money now.”

“Ah, I knew it! Sister Meiyan will make a lot of money!” Xiuxiu beamed and took out the yuan, still handing it to Jin Meiyan. “Sister Meiyan, I’m treating today, okay?” She spoke firmly.

Jin Meiyan thought for a moment and then accepted it. But when Xiuxiu wasn’t looking, she slipped the bill back into the box.

Lu Ming finished his drink in one gulp, handed the cup back to Xiuxiu, and watched her place it in a basin. “I have to wash it properly later,” she said.

“Brother, sister Meiyan, I need to go quickly; otherwise, it won’t be clean!”

“Okay, go ahead!” Jin Meiyan patted her head.

Xiuxiu hefted the large box onto her back and walked out of the community, looking back every few steps, reluctant to leave Jin Meiyan but also needing to earn a living.

“Where does she set up her stall?” Lu Ming asked.

“In front of the mall, at the small square in front of New Era Shopping Mall,” Jin Meiyan said, also watching Xiuxiu’s small figure.

“Oh, don’t the mall security mind?”

“She’s been selling there for years. She used to be with her grandmother, but her grandmother became paralyzed, so she’s been doing it alone. Everyone knows her lemonade is well-made and hygienic.”

Lu Ming nodded. Liu Laocai’s mall security still had some humanity.

“What about her parents?”

“I don’t know. Ever since I met her, she hasn’t had parents.”

Jin Meiyan glanced at Lu Ming carefully, nervously saying, “Uncle, I’m not spending money recklessly.”

“That’s your money. It has nothing to do with me!” Lu Ming waved his hand.

The money was given to her by Jia Xiaoling, and when he returned earlier, he saw her diligently cleaning the floor, not missing any corners, and taking it very seriously. It seemed she did this every day.

That large house was actually quite a chore to clean, especially since every nook and cranny had to be spotless.

She also handled tasks like changing the pool water all by herself.

She was quite responsible.

“It’s not that. I know that was pocket money Sister Ling gave me on your behalf, I…”

Jin Meiyan’s head drooped.

Indeed, in theory, she was sold, so providing for her was enough; she shouldn’t be paid, right?

Especially in the past month, no one had any ill intentions towards her, and she was even allowed to live in such a luxurious house.

“Once it’s given to you, it’s yours,” Lu Ming waved his hand. This little girl was quite loyal once she had money.

Just by looking at the patches on Xiuxiu’s clothes, Lu Ming could tell why Jin Meiyan wanted to buy lemonade.

“Hmm, it seems everyone knows you!”

An old man walked over and greeted Meiyan, asking why he hadn’t seen her for almost a year.

The boy beside the old man blushed and kept sneaking glances at Jin Meiyan.

Jin Meiyan was probably the dream girl of all the teenage boys in the neighborhood.

“Who in your neighborhood has a good family? Let’s go visit!” Lu Ming suggested.

“Okay!” Jin Meiyan breathed a sigh of relief, clearly afraid of going to her relatives’ house where she was staying.

…

The living room had a sofa and a tea table, and the kitchen and bathroom looked quite nice.

A middle-aged woman sat across from Lu Ming, chatting with him.

As the central area of Beiguan, most of the residents here lived a middle-class lifestyle, with families like Xiuxiu’s being rare.

Regarding the upcoming council election, the middle-aged woman had no intention of voting and didn’t even know who the current council member for the area was.

She only remembered that a few years ago, a council member came to the community with a loudspeaker and gave a speech.

But those council members had nothing to do with her life.

Lu Ming listened, nodding occasionally.

Leaving the house of this woman called “Aunt Li,” Lu Ming pondered as he slowly walked towards the exit of the community.

Jin Meiyan followed him obediently, not daring to disturb him.

Lu Ming considered that low voter turnout was normal, especially in local elections in big cities. In his previous life, it was the same in the West, where local council and mayoral elections in big cities often had voter turnout rates of around 10-20%.

Western scholars believed that theoretically, whether 20% or 80% of voters participated, the results would be similar.

Looking at Jin Meiyan, Lu Ming smiled and asked, “If you could vote for a council member, how many neighbors could you mobilize?”

Jin Meiyan was taken aback, unsure how to answer.

Lu Ming laughed. Though he was joking, mobilizing the neighborhood for votes was actually quite important. Last year, the voter turnout in the third district was only 15%, meaning only three to four thousand voters participated. Mobilizing a few hundred neighbors would be a significant force.

They had now exited the community. Seeing the car parked by the broad-leaved green trees at the entrance, Lu Ming did not walk over to get in. Instead, he smiled and said, “Let’s go have another glass of lemonade from Xiuxiu.”

…

In front of the New Era Shopping Mall, a crowd had gathered, and there were sounds of crying from within, seemingly Xiuxiu.

Uncle Sun led the way, and the people around him naturally made way. Lu Ming walked in, frowning slightly.

He saw Xiuxiu crying as she cleaned up the broken glass on the ground. The large thermos was shattered, and many glass cups were broken, with fragments scattered all over and lemonade spilled everywhere.

Xiuxiu was picking up the glass shards and putting them into her large foam box.

A middle-aged man in black clothes stood nearby, a pen in his shirt pocket, loudly scolding, “Hurry up and clean it up, and then leave. This time, I won’t fine you!”

The onlookers sighed, and Lu Ming frowned, about to step forward to ask what happened.

Jin Meiyan had already hurried inside to help Xiuxiu pick up the glass shards. An old man couldn’t stand it and asked, “What are you doing? The little girl is just selling some drinks for everyone, why are you bothering her?”

“She doesn’t have a health permit, so she can’t sell. It’s the law, understand?” The middle-aged man looked at the old man contemptuously.

Lu Ming nodded, realizing he was a health inspector.

Stepping inside, Lu Ming gestured, and a burly man came over to help the two girls clean up. He smiled at them, “You two step aside, so you don’t get hurt.”

Lu Ming’s fine clothes and the way he had a subordinate do the menial work drew attention.

The middle-aged man eyed Lu Ming nervously and said, “Alright, hurry up and clean it up!” He turned to leave.

Lu Ming smiled and said, “Don’t go. Give me your name. You and the Beiguan Health Committee can expect my lawyer’s letter.”

The middle-aged man was stunned, turning back with a forced smile, “Sir, you’re a lawyer? This isn’t a joke. You understand the law. This little girl doesn’t have a license, and her products don’t have a health permit, so she can’t sell them, right?”

“Don’t explain to me. Tell it to the judge in court,” Lu Ming replied, making a gesture.

A beautiful woman in a red suit approached the middle-aged man, “Your ID, please. I need to record it.”

The middle-aged man had no choice but to show his ID, which the woman took and quickly noted down before returning it.

“Ah, you’re a lawyer!” The old man who had criticized the inspector walked over, trembling slightly. He wore a traditional green robe. “Lawyer, I’ll testify. This man was very aggressive. He kicked the girl’s stall. You can ask people to clear a stall, but you can’t do that, right? This girl, Xiuxiu, I’ve seen her often. Her lemonade is clean, cheap, and tasty. My grandson loves it.”

Lu Ming nodded, “Clearing a stall shouldn’t be done like that.” He smiled, “Do you often walk here?”

“Yes, I live just behind the mall, across the street from Xiuxiu’s neighborhood,” the old man pointed to the area behind the New Era Shopping Mall. He seemed to live in the two-story houses.

“Great. If I need a witness, I’ll contact you. Can I have your exact address?” 

The woman in the red suit took down the old man’s address.

Lu Ming thought this matter might not need to go to court. The committee’s lawyer would probably come to settle, asking for some compensation, and witnesses might not be necessary.

Walking over to the softly crying Xiuxiu, Jin Meiyan was comforting her.

Lu Ming turned to the woman in the red suit and asked, “Do you have a hundred yuan in cash? Give it to me.”

The woman quickly took out a red bill from her briefcase.

Lu Ming handed it to Xiuxiu, “Forget these things. Buy new ones later.” Without waiting for Xiuxiu to refuse, he added, “This isn’t from me. It’s their compensation. More will come later. I’m just advancing it for now.”

But the little Xiuxiu, looking at the hundred-yuan bill, didn’t dare to take it, only shaking her head and wiping her tears.

Lu Ming handed the bill to Jin Meiyan.

Noticing that although the health inspector had left, the crowd was still watching curiously, some guessing his identity and whispering.

Lu Ming looked at the woman in the red suit and said, “What are we here for?”

The woman was momentarily stunned, then raised her hand and said loudly, “Everyone, this is Lu Qianxing, Lawyer Lu, who is running for council member in this district. He has always been striving to create a fair community and a fair society!” After saying this, she led the applause.

Most of the mall visitors were not from this district and were confused, but people tend to follow the crowd. With the woman clapping and some burly men joining in, many others clapped along, even if they didn’t understand why.

The two journalists who came with them started taking pictures.

Lu Ming stood with a smile for the camera. Initially, he had brought the journalists just in case, but it turned out they were actually needed.