Chapter 2, Dual Pupils

Xu Tong said: "I am waiting to see what you can do to me!"

Tang Xingbang owns three properties on the old street. One is a hardware store; another is a residence not too far from the hardware store, where the Tang father and son each occupy a room. The other room was initially rented to Xu Tong and her mother, but after Xu Yan passed away, Xu Tong became Tang Xingbang's adopted daughter, and that room is now Xu Tong's exclusive space. The third property is designated for his son, Tang Zhuang, which is quite large and located further away from the hardware store, at the other end of the old street, an area known for its mixed and chaotic environment. Xu Tong became Tang Xingbang's adopted daughter, and that room is now Xu Tong's exclusive space. The third property is designated for his son, Tang Zhuang, which is quite large and located further away from the hardware store, at the other end of the old street, an area known for its mixed and chaotic environment

Xu Tong could not help but sneer, mockingly saying: "Zhang Zhen Tong, I actually don't want to use foul language, but you keep pushing me. I find it strange how you can be so shameless, coming here to provoke me. Fine, I will indulge you. " Her gaze suddenly changed, previously languid, now shooting forth a sharp cold light, "Zhang Zhen Tong, oh Zhang Zhen Tong, what do you think you are?" She asked in a soft voice, almost like a whisper, yet each word was filled with a strange sense of oppression, "You are indeed brave, coming directly to my door to shout at me. What did you call me? A delinquent, a rogue, a scoundrel, right? Let me tell you, you are absolutely correct! Not only was I a delinquent, rogue, and scoundrel back in high school, I still am! So," she paused, looking at the flesh on Zhang Zhen Tong's trembling cheeks, and said with a cold smile: "You better not provoke me. If you do, I will definitely retaliate against you tenfold! Oh, by the way, you are quite unhappy that I want your father's money, aren't you? Ha, just for the sake of making you unhappy, I absolutely must have that money! You want me to wait and see, right? Fine, I will listen to you, I will definitely wait for you, and I am looking forward to seeing what you can do to me!"

However, the sudden appearance of Zhang Zhentong completely wiped away her good mood

Xu Tong immediately felt as if she had been struck by five thunderbolts. She rubbed her stomach. Fortunately, she had not eaten breakfast yet, otherwise she would undoubtedly have vomited

He suddenly remembered something, patted Xu Tong on the shoulder, and pointed at the phone, saying: "While you were out delivering goods just now, your Grandpa Qiao called looking for you, hurry up and call him back." As he spoke, he recalled another matter, "Tang Tang, you have already graduated from university, it is time for you to get a mobile phone, this way it will be convenient for everyone to reach you when needed"

Xu Tong spent the entire night at Tang Zhuang's place. After venting her feelings, she felt that the heaviness in her chest had dissipated. Upon returning home, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, sleeping soundly until dawn

Zhang Zhentong was panting heavily when her phone in her pocket suddenly started ringing loudly

After hanging up the phone, Xu Tong felt a heaviness in her chest

Although they had not seen each other for many years, Xu Tong found that her half-sister's face was still as annoying as ever

Xu Tong smiled and nodded, "Alright, I will go buy it tomorrow"

She turned away, as if this way Xu Tong would not hear her speaking; she spoke into the microphone in a delicate and charming manner to the person on the other end: "Gu Chen, Gu Chen, wait for me, okay? I can get there soon, just ten minutes, please, please, you must wait for me!"

Previously, he caused her pain, and afterwards, she was finally able to make him experience pain alongside herself

In those years, she transferred from a key school to a regular high school and attended the same school as Tang Zhuang. She learned to skip classes, play cards, fight, and use foul language by following Tang Zhuang, becoming a widely recognized typical delinquent in everyone's eyes

In the morning, she pushed open the door and walked into the yard. The air was exceptionally fresh, and she breathed deeply, feeling an unparalleled sense of comfort throughout her body with each inhale and exhale. Her mood instantly improved. While squatting by the well brushing her teeth, she even hummed along to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" with her mouth full of toothpaste foam

Hearing these words, Xu Tong was filled with anger. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Zhang Zhen Tong, "I have truly witnessed what it means to be a thief shouting to catch a thief, and to be ignorant of one's own shame! I had originally promised my mother not to stoop to the level of your family. But since you insist on being so unreasonable and aggressive, very well, I shall disregard my filial duty to my mother just this once, and have a proper discussion with you about who is truly more shameless!"

Hanging up the phone, Zhang Zhentong's previously gentle demeanor vanished like magic. She put away her phone and looked at Xu Tong, speaking harshly: "Xu Tong, I don't want to argue with you, but I must warn you, you better take care of yourself!"

Tang Xingbang smiled as he patted her on the head, his face filled with affection. "Why don't you go play with Zhuangzi for a while?" he said, gently pushing her towards the door. "Go and clear your mind. There aren't many people in the shop right now, and I can manage on my own."

She still remembers the moment she smoked her first cigarette, quite coincidentally, when Pang Meng came to the high school to look for her. When that outstanding and handsome ambitious young man saw her leaning by the window, indulging in the smoke of the cigarette, the expression on his face was one of deep sorrow and heartbreak

Xu Tong bent down and scooped water from the bucket into a basin, while stirring the toothbrush in it to rinse it. She casually said, "Zhang Zhen Tong, do you know that there are certain people in this world who have no other talents but to be particularly despicable, making others unable to help but want to splash water on them as soon as they hear them speak!" After saying this, she swiftly raised her hand and forcefully splashed the basin water mixed with toothpaste foam towards Zhang Zhen Tong.

The entire process was both swift and unexpected, causing Zhang Zhentong to scream in distress repeatedly

Xu Tong, I tell you, if you truly have any backbone, then do not come to bask in the glory of the Zhang family! And do not think about trying to get a share of my father's money!

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Tong raised her hand and splashed the remaining half barrel of water all over her. She jumped back sharply, but still could not evade it, and one of her shoes was thoroughly soaked.

He can come back if he wants, but what does it have to do with her? Missing her? How ridiculous! Back when he was having an affair with his secretary and abandoned his wife and daughter, he never mentioned anything about missing her.

She paused for a moment, a mocking smile spreading across her lips, her voice filled with disdain and contempt, "If we are to discuss the audacity of shamelessness, who could possibly surpass your mother? Your esteemed mother can sweetly call me her older sister here, while over there she can shamelessly slip into her brother-in-law's bed, and even enthusiastically help her brother-in-law produce a niece for her sister; not only did she steal her sister's husband, but she also didn't spare her sister's daughter's name, insisting on appropriating it for her own daughter. If the girl is named Tong, then so is she, and not just that, but she is 'real' Tong! Tsk tsk! Zhang Zhen Tong, how can your mother have such thick skin? Doesn't she feel embarrassed? Tsk tsk! Zhang Zhen Tong, how can your mother have such thick skin? Doesn't she feel embarrassed? When she was seducing her brother-in-law, she didn't think about it; if it weren't for her kind-hearted older sister taking her in back then, as a seasoned housewife turned newly abandoned woman, lacking both qualifications and skills, with nothing but her flirtatiousness, could she have survived?"

Zhang Zhentong rushed forward, exuding an air of arrogance akin to that of a queen. She cast a sidelong glance, raised her chin high, crossed her arms over her chest, and imperiously shouted at Xu Tong: "Xu Tong, stand up! I have something to say to you!"

The moment Zhang Zhentong answered the phone, her entire demeanor changed abruptly, transforming from a fierce and aggressive woman into a gentle and soft girl, her previous hoarse and forceful tone completely vanished, replaced by a sweet and delicate voice that was almost unbearable to others

She slowly stood up and unexpectedly spat the mouthwash she had in her mouth towards Zhang Zhentong's feet.

Zhang Zhentong approached with great intensity. As Xu Tong looked at her face, which was filled with the anger of a money-driven slave, she immediately understood the reason for her visit—merely for her father's filthy money

Xu Tong almost laughed out loud. After many years, she did not expect that Zhang Zhen Tong's opening line during the challenge would still be so clichéd and ridiculous.

Upon returning to the store, Xu Tong was just about to put the money she earned into the cash box when Tang Xingbang said to her, "Don't deposit it in there; keep it for yourself. Additionally, take out some more and go shopping in the street tomorrow. Buy yourself some new clothes. Look at your work uniform; it's both dirty and old. Now that you've graduated from university, you should dress a bit more appropriately. Go out and submit some resumes, find a decent job as a white-collar worker or something. It’s better than spending every day staring at each other while selling this scrap metal."

Zhang Zhentong's entire face was trembling with rage as she shouted at Xu Tong: "You are talking nonsense! You are the fake! I am 'Zhen' Tong, I am my father's 'Zhen' Tong!"

Watching Zhang Zhentong hurriedly jump and dodge, Xu Tong felt very happy. She smiled and said, "Zhang Zhentong, my spitting at you is actually meant to make you understand a principle." She blinked her eyes, her gaze clear and sincere, her expression genuine and moving, "When you come to someone else's home and want to speak to the host, please remember one thing—if the host is brushing their teeth, then please have the sense to keep your mouth shut. No matter how urgent your need to speak is, wait until the host has finished brushing their teeth before you let it out. Otherwise, you will get sprayed!"

Later, she also wanted Tang Zhuang to teach her how to smoke

Yet, as she looked at the expression of pain on his face, the shadows of anguish that had arisen in her heart because of him were instantly swept away.

Xu Tong smiled and put the money into the money box as usual

The Grandpa Qiao in Xu Tong's mouth is the high school homeroom teacher of her mother, Xu Yan, and her father, Zhang Kangnian. Today, he called Xu Tong to convey a message for Zhang Kangnian

Zhang Zhentong's eyes turned red with anger, and she stomped her feet desperately, looking at Xu Tong with a gaze full of resentment, as if she wished she could tear her into a thousand pieces.

Xu Tong can hardly remember how many years it has been since anyone called her "Tai Mei". Ever since she was admitted to university, she has transformed from the bad girl in the eyes of others into an ambitious good girl. It seems that no one remembers how rebellious and unruly she was in her youth.

Zhang Zhentong could not utter a single word, her face turned a deep purple like an eggplant, her chest heaving violently, and her breathing was extremely rapid. Xu Tong was almost worried that she might faint from not being able to catch her breath in the courtyard

She was jumping up and down while screaming: "Xu Tong! You delinquent! Rascally! Scoundrel! My father's money absolutely cannot be given to someone as uncivilized and barbaric as you! You! You! You are going too far! Just wait and see!"

If it were not for him, Mother would not have fallen into a state of melancholy and fallen ill, passing away before she could finish high school. Reflecting on the loneliness and sadness that enveloped Mother during her prolonged illness, Xu Tong felt a surge of intense hatred within her. If she had not promised Mother early on, she would not have engaged in disputes and fights with that family; she truly did not want to live in such a state of enduring humiliation.

Tang Xingbang was at a loss with her, smiling and shaking his head, his face full of helplessness

Zhang Zhentong immediately shouted in exasperation: "Xu Tong, you barbarian, do you have no manners at all!"

Uncle Tang, I have finally completed my university studies after much effort, so could you please let me take a break before looking for a job?" She walked over to Tang Xingbang, hooked her arm around his, and playfully asked with a smile, "How about I keep you company at the store to help alleviate your boredom?

Seeing Xu Tong's face turn pale, Tang Xingbang walked over. He understandingly patted her shoulder and comforted her, saying: "Tao Tao, it's alright, don't think too much, relax, and don't let your mother worry about you over there"

Catching sight of her face full of indignation and resentment, Xu Tong rolled her eyes, picked up the water jar, and took a large mouthful of water, vigorously swishing it around in her mouth with the toothpaste foam.

No matter how uncultured I may be, I would never behave like a madman, barging into someone else's home early in the morning without knocking, barking incessantly, and disturbing the peace

As she gazed at the blooming patterns on the high-grade leather, Xu Tong's heart blossomed with joy

Xu Tong let out a "pfft" of laughter, her laughter filled with disdain and mockery

Xu Tong almost spat. She turned back to Zhang Zhen Tong and sincerely asked her, "Zhang Zhen Tong, do you know what it means to take care of yourself? I feel like you have never had this quality. Why not learn it? By the time you have self-awareness, oh thank you! I believe this world will become a pure land, and from then on, the evil Mary Sue will never appear again"

Xu Tong forced a smile and said, "Uncle Tang, I am fine."

The next scene left Xu Tong in shock.

Zhang Zhentong immediately shouted at her with all her might: "Xu Tong, how can you be so shameless! You are simply disgraceful! My father's money was all earned by my mother with great effort, penny by penny. Why should it be given to you? On what basis do you demand it?"

He informed Xu Tong that Zhang Kangnian was about to return to the country. Due to his poor health, he planned to shift the focus of his business back to the domestic market, returning to his roots. Additionally, he was very concerned about her and intended to include her name in his will.

Zhang Zhentong, let me tell you, genuine products are now low-key, it is the counterfeit ones that keep sticking labels on themselves and emphasizing that they are real! Oh, "real" ~ ~ ~ Tong! She deliberately pronounced the word "real" with extra weight and length.