The Strongest Man in the Universe

Chapter 37

River City

Pearl drove a Porsche 911 back to the South River International Residence after work. Before he could enter the gate of the South River International Residence, he suddenly stopped a group of people.

Pearl takes a close look at the people who stopped her and finds her parents, her brother Sam, and three other strangers she doesn't know.

'What are they doing here?' Pearl got out of the car.

"Mom, Dad, Sam, what are you guys doing here?”

“‘Huh! How else? We know that you really drive a nice car and live in a big house in a big city while we work to death at home?” pearl's mother, Leigh said.

“Bu, this is not what you think. This car belongs to my boss!” Pearl explained.

“‘Bosmu? Your boss lets you drive his car every day? Why can you, huh?

Why not someone else?”

"Mom, can we talk somewhere else? Where do you live? I can give you two hotel rooms!”

“We're not going anywhere! I want to stay inside! Don't try to lie to me, your sister has been watching you for the past few days and she knows that you have been living inside!” leigh said as he pointed at the South River International Residence.

“Bu, that's my boss's residence! I can't just take you guys in!”

“Omong empty! What boss?

That's your girlfriend, isn't it? That's why you can drive his car and stay at his house! How dare you forget your parents just because you've got a boyfriend? I'll take a page from the family rule book and teach you a lesson!” pearl's father, Billy, said, lifting a wooden stick to Pearl.

Pearl did not expect her father to suddenly hit her. Tears instantly flowed in his eyes from the pain as the stick hit his arm. He feels hurt. He has lived on minimal expenses just to support his family and even pay for Sam's university living expenses. He had sent twenty thousand dollars to his family every month, which was basically all the money he had made over the years.

However, now he was the target of a bad scolding. Still, there was nothing he could do because they were his family. He had no other choice but to bring the six of them to the International Residence. Pearl thought that since this was a public holiday, David would be in his hometown instead of River City.

The six guests were stunned when they entered the residence. Even on television they never saw such a luxurious house. Minnie's entire family was too dumbfounded to speak. They thought that their living conditions were quite good and looked down on Warners, who lived in the village. Only now did they realize how closed their minds were.

Minnie's parents now look at Sam happily, instead of being dislikeful as before. If his sister could live in a good place like this, then Sam himself would not be too far away either.

"It's so magnificent, Pearl! Decoration, landscape! This place is even more luxurious than what we saw on television.” Sam said as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

He began to imagine how his life would be comfortable here every day. It was a very big house, so there should be no problem to house it and Minnie.

Guests soon awakened from their daydreams. They initially feel out of place in this house, but soon relax once they realize that this is their daughter's home. And therefore, it could be said that it was their own home as well.

At this moment Pearl asked, "So, Mom, Dad, what are you here for?"

Billy points at Minnie and her parents and introduces them, “This is Minnie, your sister's boyfriend, and this is Minnie's parents. We plan to arrange your brother's wedding, so give us five million to buy him a house and a car.”

Pearl wanted to laugh at all that silliness. His father had been a farmer all his life so there was no way he would ask for five million dollars directly. He might not even know how much a five million could buy. So, those five million must be Sam's idea.

“I don't have that kind of money.” Pearl said.

"Then how much do you plan to donate?” ask Billy.

He also felt that five million was too much when Sam suggested this number.

“What? Do you want me to hit you again?” Billy roaring.

"Dad, you can beat me to death, but I won't give you a penny.”

"You! You damned girl! You're trying to piss me off and give me a heart attack, aren't you? I don't give a shit. You will give us money whether you like it or not!” Billy pointed at Pearl and scolded her.

Tears of anger swelled in Pearl's eyes as she yelled back at him, “Dad always liked him just because he was a boy! Dad gave him the best Dad could afford, while I had to make my own money to pay my university fees. What have you guys done for me? He wants to go to college, but we can't afford it? Then, I would borrow money for him and slowly return it by saving as much as I could from what I made. I spent as little as possible on myself. Do you know what kind of life I live? I even fainted at work due to malnutrition! My job got better after that, and I only saved a small portion of my income for living expenses. I sent everything back home for all of you. So what else do you want from me? And you, boy! What did you study at university, huh? You didn't show any gratitude, and now you want five million dollars from me? Then what do you think of me? Atm machines? Let me explain to you now, I won't give you a penny from now on.”

Pearl had kept this for too long in the heart. She was never recognized as a valuable person at home no matter how well she performed, all because she was born a woman, not a man. It didn't matter if she ranked first in every exam, as her parents would never give her praise or recognition.

Sam, however, is showered with the love and care of their parents, no matter how much trouble he causes. All Sam has to do is blame him, and he'll be beaten soon.

When she entered university, she almost had to drop out of school because her parents were unwilling to pay her. They say that women don't need to study because they're getting married, so she might as well start working to help feed the family. If not for his teacher's sponsorship and part-time job, he probably wouldn't have been able to graduate in the end.

Now her parents have come to ask for five million dollars for her brother's wedding. Where would he get five million?

He might get a promotion, but David never says anything about a raise!

Pearl's sudden explosion silenced everyone present. Especially Leigh and Billy, because their usually submissive daughter suddenly fought them off. They were a little too surprised to speak.

“I don't care! We will not leave this place until you give us money!” Leigh said without embarrassment.

"If that's the case, then I might as well tell you the truth. My boss is feeling sorry for me, that's why he let me stay here. Do you know how much this house is worth?”

Pearl did not wait for them to guess before she told them the answer.

“Four hundred million.!"

"WHAT, four hundred million? Oh God!"

They had no understanding of how much four hundred million was, but it should be enough to buy an entire street in their city. They even refused to believe it when Sam said that the house that Pearl lived in cost at least fifty million. There is no way a house can cost that much! Only now did they realize that fifty million was too little.

"Do you know how many four hundred million are? Everything here is enough to buy all the houses in the village! If you don't want to go, then I'll go! Don't blame me if the security guards come here and start arresting you all on robbery charges. Breaking through and entering a high-class area like this could land you in jail for about ten years, you know?" Pearl turned to leave as soon as she finished speaking.

"Stop right there! How dare you rebel against us, you damned girl!”

Billy stands up to hit Pearl, but is then held back by Leigh.

“Dad! Ever since I was young, you've never referred to me as anything other than 'cursed girl', are you aware of that.? I'm your daughter! But I mean nothing to you compared to the beggars out there" Pearl said with tears in her eyes.

Sam was shocked too. She initially thought that as long as she called her parents, Pearl would finally give her whatever she wanted. After all, things were always like that, but things did not go according to plan this time.

"Pearl, we" Sam tried to interrupt.

"Shut up! I know what you're planning. You called mom and dad so I would give up under their pressure, right? How old are you this year, huh? Can't you make your own money to finance your own wedding?”

Pearl then ignored them and walked towards the door.

The others in the room immediately stood up to follow him. They were not from the city and there was no one they could ask for help if they were thrown in jail for ten years. As Pearl arrived at the doorway, the main door opened from the outside.