Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Xu Damao realized he was a bit confused.

He considered himself a smart man in the courtyard, yet he failed to see through these things.

He always thought he understood everything about the courtyard house.

Surprisingly, he still couldn't see through it.

"You don't have much contact with them, how do you know so much?"

He Yuzhu smiled but offered no explanation.

Of course, none of this was his doing; it was all thanks to Sha Zhu.

With the example of Sha Zhu, how could He Yuzhu not be able to analyze it?

Some of the conclusions he drew were ones that even Yi Zhonghai, the person involved, might not be able to explain clearly.

Take, for example, the point about being obedient.

Even Yi Zhonghai himself might not realize that he was attracted to Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu because they were obedient.

He would most likely do that instinctively.

This illusion is also why the deaf old lady didn't see through it.

Xu Damao didn't see this point either, so no matter what he did, he couldn't gain Yi Zhonghai's approval in the courtyard.

The only thing Yi Zhonghai acknowledged about him was probably that he ruined Sha Zhu's blind date.

The only thing they have in common is that neither of them wants Sha-zhu to get married.

After Jia Dongxu passed away, this similarity disappeared as well.

“If you stand outside the courtyard and observe what is happening inside, you can also understand this point.”

Perhaps this explanation gave Xu Damao some psychological comfort, and he did not continue to insist on his own opinion.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Just watch?"

Don't blame me for not warning you.

Those two, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, are definitely no match for Yi Zhonghai.

Yan Jiecheng and his group, even though they came to see him this year, it was just for show.

At any time, they might simply cut off all contact with Yan Bugui because of money.

And the Liu family too.

Liu Guangtian's two brothers are quite petty too.

Although they served Liu Haizhong every day.

But given the chance, those two would never care about what's in their bangs.

I reckon those two will end up with Yi Zhonghai sooner or later.

I can't say what's going on with Yan Bugui.

All I can say is that Liu Haizhong has earned quite a bit of money in the past few years.

If they join forces, Yi Zhonghai's retirement will most likely be secure.

That's the logic.

However, there were still many practical issues that Xu Damao hadn't considered.

It is indeed possible that Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui will join forces with Yi Zhonghai.

But it's impossible to get them to hand over the money.

Let's not even talk about Yan Bugui. He'd abandon his children for money, so there's no way he'd hand over any money to Qin Huairu.

If Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui don't take the money, how could Liu Haizhong possibly take it out?

This is quite different from what happened to Sha Zhu back then.

Back when Sha Zhu was there, the Liu brothers moved house and even took the gas stove with them.

Liu Haizhong and his wife fell ill from the stress and had no energy left to take care of themselves.

At that time, the couple naturally agreed to Yi Zhonghai's request.

In addition, at that time, both Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu told the public that Yi Zhonghai had handed over the money.

Under those circumstances, Liu Haizhong had no choice but to take out the money and hand it over to Qin Huairu.

Moreover, Liu Haizhong didn't have much money at that time.

After being hospitalized for treatment, most of the money was basically spent.

Qin Huairu received it; it was his retirement pension.

In contrast, later on, they found that their entire fortune had been swindled away.

Qin Huairu took out money to pay for their medical treatment.

How did Yan Bugui handle it?

Yan Bugui went out to collect scraps to pay back Qin Huairu's money.

At that time, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui paid living expenses for Qin Huairu, and Qin Huairu took the money and was responsible for taking care of them.

Rather than saying that Qin Huairu was providing for their old age, it would be more accurate to say that their relationship was one of employment.

Throughout his life, He Yuzhu never felt that Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were willing to take out their savings to support the Jia family.

"That depends on Yi Zhonghai's abilities. If Yi Zhonghai has the ability to make them hand over the money, that's his skill." Having money doesn't mean that money is enough to spend.

Keep in mind that all three men are quite old.

It will cost a lot of money to see a doctor in the future.

When Sha Zhu was taking care of them in their old age, apart from Yi Zhonghai being less sick, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui spent a lot of money on medical treatment.

Interestingly, the causes of their illnesses were exactly opposite.

Liu Haizhong developed "diseases of affluence" because he ate too well.

Yan Bugui's problem was that the food was too poor.

Yan Bugui was ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself; he rarely ate anything good in his entire life.

In other words, people only feel comfortable eating out once the nursing home is operational and they no longer have to pay for it themselves.

His inherent stinginess hasn't changed at all.

When eating, I try to eat as much as I can, even just one more bite.

At that time, the money for the nursing home was all raised from the restaurant.

Since it wasn't their money being spent, nobody cared.

At the time, we did whatever felt comfortable.

They've spent their own money their whole lives.

He Yuzhu refused to believe that their relationship would remain so harmonious.

Most importantly, if Qin Huairu provides for their retirement, it won't be for free.

Is the money they took out enough to pay Qin Huairu's salary?

When charity becomes a business, many problems are bound to arise.

Xu Damao said, "You mean, we're not going to do anything?"

He Yuzhu countered with, "What are you planning to do?"

Xu Damao thought for a moment: "There are so many things we can do."

For example, sowing discord between the three old men; sowing discord between Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui's children; and so on..."

He Yuzhu interrupted him: "Stop it. What are you trying to achieve by doing all this?"

As it turns out, it is impossible to sow discord among the three people.

Yi Zhonghai and his two companions have been scheming and fighting each other for so many years, but when have they ever truly spoken ill of each other?

Liu Haizhong is always thinking about bringing Yi Zhonghai down, but the two haven't fallen out, have they?
As for sowing discord between the two families' children...

They don't need to do this either.

The deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai had already taken care of all of this.

Given the current situation, unless a fool like Zhu appears and spends money to help the two families maintain their relationship, the only way to survive is to...

Otherwise, no one can restore the relationship between father and son.

Even the law won't do it.

The grievances suffered by the children of the Liu and Yan families cannot be soothed by words.

Besides, Yi Zhonghai wouldn't agree to use the law.

The law can force the children of two families to be filial to their parents, but it cannot force them to be filial to their neighbors.

If the law is really used, Yi Zhonghai's plan will fall through.

When the time comes, Yi Zhonghai will probably be the first to object.

As for the others, they are basically unnecessary.

Now that things have come to this, Yi Zhonghai will not be content to have no means of support in his old age.

Qin Huairu would not be content with getting nothing.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were unable to win back the child's heart.

Everything was predetermined.

The only difference is how to proceed.

In Sha Zhu's lifetime, it was Xu Damao who used smuggling to cheat Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui had nowhere else to turn but to join forces with Yi Zhonghai.

Without that one time, it would have taken Yi Zhonghai quite a while to fully unite the two.

Whatever they do will not affect the final outcome.

He Yuzhu was too lazy to bother with these trivial matters, and even if Xu Damao really wanted to get involved, it wouldn't make any difference.

Xu Damao didn't know what he was after, but he felt that if he didn't do something, he would feel unsettled.

"What do you care what I'm after? I just can't stand Yi Zhonghai."

I'll make them have some fun.

Knowing he couldn't persuade Xu Damao, He Yuzhu simply reminded him, "Just don't get yourself involved." (End of Chapter)