Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 86 -

The guard’s anger did not last long.

He looked at the pouch again, then at Li Manman, and slowly calmed down.

"Hmph," he scoffed.

Without saying more, he reached into the box and took out a wooden token.

"House number eight," he said, handing it to her.

Li Manman smiled sweetly as she collected it.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Then she turned and walked back, her steps light, her expression proud.

Fu Fong stood beside her, his face still dark, but he said nothing more.

Behind them, Fu Jia could not hide her expression.

She let out a small laugh and crossed her arms.

"Some people really overestimate themselves," she said loudly.

Her eyes moved toward us.

"They cannot even afford fifty taels, yet they are still standing here like they belong among us." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Aunt Fu smirked slightly.

"Exactly," she added. "If you cannot afford it, then just accept your place quietly."

Grandma Fu also snorted.

"Some people should know their limits," she said.

The words were clearly directed at us.

I did not react.

But before anyone else could speak—

Grandpa Fu’s voice sounded.

"Who said that?" he asked calmly.

Everyone turned to look at him.

He stood there, leaning slightly, but his eyes were steady.

"We are a family," he continued. "We will stay together in the same house."

His tone was firm.

There was no hesitation in his words.

The moment he said that, Grandma Fu’s expression changed completely.

"What did you just say?" she snapped.

Her voice rose immediately.

"Old man, have you forgotten everything?" she said angrily.

Her eyes moved sharply toward Master Fu.

"That son of yours already separated this family," she added.

Her voice was full of dissatisfaction.

"And now you want us to live together again? I disagree."

Fu Jia quickly nodded.

"I agree with grandmother," she said.

"There is no need for us to suffer together."

Aunt Fu also stepped in.

"We should live separately," she said. "Everyone should mind their own business."

Their voices overlapped.

But Master Fu only lowered his head slightly.

It was as if he had already expected this reaction.

Just as the argument was about to continue—

A voice cut through them.

"Who said we needed your help?"

Everyone went silent.

All eyes turned.

It was me.

I stood there calmly, my arms still folded, a faint smile resting on my lips.

The air shifted instantly.

"Who said we need your help to survive?" I said calmly, my voice steady as I looked at them. "I do not remember saying that."

The moment I spoke, the air around us shifted.

Fu Jia let out a scoff and walked toward me. She folded her arms across her chest and looked at me with clear disdain.

"Stop pretending," she said. "Everyone here knows you have run out of money."

I looked at her quietly for a second.

Then I laughed.

It was not forced or small. It came out naturally, almost amused.

"Run out of money?" I repeated, still smiling. "You really are funny."

I tilted my head slightly as I looked at her.

"And who told you I cannot pay?"

Beside me, I could feel Fu Sheng’s gaze fall on me. There was a slight pause in his expression. Even he had not expected those words from me.

I did not explain anything.

Instead, I turned and walked toward the guard.

He was already looking impatient, clearly annoyed that I had stepped forward after standing still for so long.

When I stopped in front of him, he frowned deeply.

"What do you want?" he asked rudely. "Do not waste my time if you cannot pay."

I did not respond to his tone.

A faint smile remained on my lips as I slowly reached into my sleeve.

Then, without hesitation, I took something out and dropped it onto the table.

The sound was firm and clear.

At first, the guard rolled his eyes as if he did not expect anything worth looking at. But he still turned his head slightly.

The moment his eyes landed on the object—

He froze.

His expression changed instantly.

His eyes widened, and for a second, he did not even breathe.

Lying on the table, among the old, dull coins and worn-out taels, was a gold bar.

It was well carved, clean, and solid. It looked completely out of place among everything else on that table.

For a moment, the guard could not form words.

Then his voice came out, broken with shock.

"A... gold bar?!"

The moment he said those words, the reaction spread like fire.

"What?!"

"She brought out a gold bar?!"

"Where did she get that from?!"

People around us immediately leaned forward, trying to see clearly. Some even stepped closer, unable to hide their curiosity.

The quiet atmosphere from before was completely gone.

Fu Jia’s face stiffened.

Li Manman’s smile disappeared instantly.

Even Bai Ming looked surprised.

And beside me, I could clearly feel Fu Sheng’s gaze resting on me.

He did not speak.

But I knew—

Even he was shocked.

For a moment, no one moved.

Then Fu Jia was the first to react.

"This must be fake!" she shouted immediately, her voice sharp as she pointed at the gold bar. "How can she possibly have something like that? Guard, you need to check it properly!"

Aunt Fu quickly stepped forward as well, her face full of suspicion.

"Yes, check it carefully," she added. "People can easily trick others with things that only look real."

Grandma Fu also snorted.

"In a place like this, you cannot trust what you see," she said. "Do not be fooled by appearances."

Their voices overlapped, all directed at the guard.

But on our side—

Fu Li and Fu Fei were already staring at the gold bar with wide eyes.

Fu Li leaned slightly closer, her voice full of disbelief.

"I never knew sister-in-law still had this much money..." she said.

Fu Fei nodded slowly, still shocked.

"And she gave more than what was even required..." she added quietly.

Their voices were not loud, but the surprise in them was clear.

The guard, who had been frozen for a moment, finally moved.

His expression had completely changed.

Carefully, he picked up the gold bar with both hands, as if afraid it might slip away.

Then he brought it closer to his mouth.

Without hesitation, he bit down on it.

The sound was small, but clear.

He paused.

Then his eyes lit up.

"It is real..." he said under his breath.

The moment he confirmed it, his entire attitude changed.

His face broke into a wide smile, almost greedy.

He quickly placed the gold bar down carefully, as if it were something precious beyond words.

Then he looked at me again.

His tone softened instantly.

"Big sister Su..." he said with a slight bow.

His earlier arrogance was gone.

Completely gone.

"You should have said so earlier," he continued quickly. "Why did you let me speak to you like that before?"

He even laughed awkwardly, trying to please me.

"From now on, you are under my care," he added. "If anything happens, just tell me. I will make sure no one troubles you."

The change was so sudden that it almost felt ridiculous.

But before the moment could settle—

Fu Jia shouted again.

"Do not believe her!" she said angrily. "Who knows where she got that from?!"

Her voice was full of resentment.

The guard’s expression changed immediately.

The smile on his face disappeared.

Without warning, he grabbed the wooden stick lying on the table.

Then—

He threw it.

The stick flew straight toward her.

"Ah—!"

It hit Fu Jia on the forehead with a loud sound.

She cried out in pain and stumbled back, holding her head.

"Do not open your mouth again," the guard said coldly.

His voice was no longer polite.

"If I hear you say anything about big sister Su again, I will beat you to death."

His eyes were sharp as he looked at her.

Fu Jia’s face turned pale.

She did not dare to speak again.

Instead, she quickly moved and hid behind Aunt Fu, holding her forehead with trembling hands.

Aunt Fu’s expression also changed, but she said nothing.

No one dared to challenge the guard anymore.

Not after that.

At the side, Li Manman stood quietly.

But her eyes—

They were fixed on me. Cold. Full of hatred.

As if she wanted to tear me apart.

I noticed it.

But I did not care.

Not even a little.

I only smiled faintly and looked away, as if she did not exist at all.

The guard’s anger faded as quickly as it came.

The moment he turned back to me, his face had already changed again. That same flattering smile returned, as if nothing had happened.

"Big sister Su," he said politely, almost bowing this time.

He quickly wiped his hands on his clothes before reaching into the box again.

"This kind of payment... you deserve the best," he added.

He searched for a moment, then carefully picked out a token that looked slightly different from the others.

It was cleaner. Better carved.

He held it with both hands and passed it to me with respect.

"This one is for you," he said. "The best house in Unit 50."

His voice lowered slightly, as if sharing something important.

"I have kept it aside... it is the biggest one. It even has its own courtyard and is in a good location."

He smiled wider.

"You and your family will be very comfortable there."

Around us, people immediately reacted again.

"The best house?"

"She got the best one just like that?"

Fu Li’s eyes lit up.

"Best house?" she whispered excitedly.

Fu Fei also looked surprised.

"That means we do not have to worry about space anymore..."

Behind them, Fu Jia clenched her fists tightly, her face still pale from the earlier hit, but now filled with jealousy.

Li Manman’s expression darkened even more.

I looked at the token in my hand.

Then back at the guard.

A small smile appeared on my lips.

"Good," I said simply.

That was all.

But it was enough.