Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Most people lack self-awareness.

Old stubborns like Yi Zhonghai lack self-awareness even more.

He thought he was very approachable, but little did he know that to others, he was like a ticking time bomb.

Yan Bugui was somewhat unhappy, but he didn't want to argue with Yi Zhonghai, so he chose to give in.

"Okay, I admit I misspoke. Is this alright?"

What brings you here?

Yi Zhonghai didn't want to argue with Yan Bugui either.

Arguing is the most disadvantageous thing for Yi Zhonghai.

He needed Yan Bugui to watch over him and protect his safety.

Without outside support, one is easily exploited and left with nothing.

"I'm here to discuss retirement with you."

Yan Bugui fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.

He politely declined Yi Zhonghai's retirement plan.

But it did not completely reject it.

Just as Yi Zhonghai needed his help to supervise the elderly, Yan Bugui also needed Yi Zhonghai to step forward.

If it weren't for Yi Zhonghai's suggestion, the Yan family children's attitude towards him would definitely not be as it is now.

Not to mention that Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang would occasionally come back a few times, even Yan Jiecheng would bring him a lunchbox once a week.

This is all thanks to Yi Zhonghai.

"Old Yi, it's not that I'm not giving you face. It's just that I'm worried about causing trouble for Qin Huairu."

She's already having a hard time taking care of you and your sister-in-law all by herself.

"Plus the two of us, she can't handle it all."

Yi Zhonghai said, "That's alright. If Huairu can't handle it all by herself, there are still the stalks and locust flowers, aren't there?"
Huairu's children are all around her, so there are enough people to help.

Besides, aren't there other neighbors?

We're all in the same facility, so helping each other is only natural.

Yan Bugui still shook his head. It wasn't that he thought it was wrong for everyone to help each other, but he mainly didn't want the Jia family to take advantage of him.

Even his own son shouldn't try to take advantage of him, let alone the Jia family.

In the end, Yi Zhonghai could only leave with the words, "Think it over carefully," before departing.

After Yi Zhonghai left, the third aunt spoke up: "I don't think what Lao Yi said is very reliable, so don't listen to him."

"The three of them are now being filial, so we'll still have to rely on our son for our old age."

The Yan family's children are all very intelligent.

They knew very well that Yan Bugui was extremely cunning. It would be far too difficult to fool him.

The three brothers chose to side with the three aunties.

After six months of effort, the three women's impressions of their three sons have changed considerably.

Yan Bugui was not as easily fooled as the three aunts; he would not believe his three sons' words.

Although he hoped that his three sons' filial piety was genuine, he did not forget to be wary of them.

"Don't let those three brats' sweet talk fool you."

If they are truly filial, then they should show it through their actions.

The three women were genuinely worried that Yan Bugui would listen to Yi Zhonghai.

The three sons meant the same thing.

"That's still better than relying on the Jia family for old age. Except for those who have no descendants, no one else is there to take care of them in their old age."

If you really listen to Lao Yi, your children might truly sever ties with you in the future.

Yan Bugui said impatiently, "Alright. I know what I'm doing."

Keeping the Jia family alive is also a warning to those children.

Even without them, we wouldn't have to worry about our retirement.

What about Jie Di?
"That brat still refuses to show us any filial piety?"

The old woman sighed: "That girl said she's a married daughter, like water spilled from a cup."

She doesn't covet our retirement money, nor does she promise to support us in our old age.

Yan Bugui snorted: "Of all the children in our family, that girl is the most cunning."

Over the years, she has never forgotten to try to please Sha Zhu.

I think she must have struck it rich recently.

The three women were taken aback: "Who told you that?"

Yan Bugui said, "Do we need to hear anyone's opinion? It's obvious."

Look at the Wu Tiezhu and Miao Jianye families, they've been all smiles these past few days.

What could make someone so happy besides getting rich? Oh, and the Li family too.

I feel that the Li family is also acting strangely.

I asked you to go find out information from Old Li's wife. How did your investigation go?

It must be said that Yan Bugui is indeed talented when it comes to calculating money.

They guessed the truth based on just a few clues.

Unfortunately, his scheming was misdirected.

The third aunt said helplessly, "Don't you know how our family's relationship with the Li family is?"
She'd be a fool to tell me the truth.

Actually, I think you've guessed wrong.

Old Li and his wife rarely go out; where would they earn money?

Yan Bugui firmly believed that his guess was accurate.

As for how Li Dagen and his wife made money, he had no idea.

His intuition told him that this matter must be related to He Yuzhu.

Yan Bugui regretted it again; He Yuzhu was too petty and didn't tell him the truth.

He felt that if He Yuzhu had told him earlier that he had such a formidable father-in-law, he would never have followed Yi Zhonghai.

This is just wishful thinking on his part.

His position dictates that he will inevitably end up with Yi Zhonghai sooner or later.

This is not something he can decide whether he wants to or not.

The couple's conversation ended there.

The three aunts went to do housework, and Yan Bugui also went out, turning on his guard mode.

The people in the courtyard had gotten used to Yan Bugui going to the fried chicken shop.

Seeing him standing guard at the door felt quite strange.

Yan Bugui wasn't bothered at all; when he saw someone carrying things in, he went to greet them.

Things are different now than before.

People's living conditions have improved a lot, so they are less concerned about small things.

Yan Bugui took advantage of this mentality and started to exploit people.

Little by little, it adds up, and at least he and his aunt saved enough for a day's expenses.

The only thing that Yan Bugui regretted was that the wealthy families of Wu Tiezhu and Miao Jianye wouldn't let him take advantage of them.

Xu Damao returned to the courtyard house carrying a bag of fruit.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up when he saw him.

His real target today is Xu Damao.

Wu Tiezhu and the others made money following He Yuzhu, so there's no reason why Xu Damao shouldn't make money too.

After much deliberation, Yan Bugui decided that he could only start with Xu Damao.

"Da Mao, you're back so early today."

Xu Damao has been in a pretty good mood lately. He didn't take him with him when he was making money, but he didn't completely forget about him either.

Xu Fugui has earned quite a bit of money.

"Why are you sitting here?"

Yan Bugui stood up, pulled Xu Damao to his door, and tried to drag him home.

Xu Damao struggled and said, "What are you doing? Say what you want to say, don't pull me around."

Yan Bugui was old and weak and no match for Xu Damao. Fearing that he would fall, he had no choice but to let go of Xu Damao.

"Don't shout, I have something to ask you."

Xu Damao looked down at the fruit in his hand and took one directly from it.

"I know you've got your eye on my fruit, here you go."

Yan Bugui didn't stand on ceremony, reached out and took the fruit, then said, "You gave it to me voluntarily, I didn't ask you for it."

That's not what I wanted to talk to you about.

Xu Damao was too lazy to argue and simply said, "Yes, I gave it to you voluntarily."

Is there anything else?

Yan Bugui glanced around and whispered, "I heard you guys have made a fortune recently?"

Xu Damao immediately became alert.

They wouldn't tell anyone about making money without He Yuzhu's permission.

Xu Damao thought someone had let it slip and racked his brains, but couldn't find anyone to suspect.

"Who are you listening to? As for making money, I did make some."

He Yuzhu gave me part of the project payment a couple of days ago. (End of Chapter)