Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"You should be treating me to dinner, right? Besides, this isn't about making a fortune, it's about..."

Xia Jie stopped halfway through her sentence, clicked her tongue, and muttered something under her chin.

"It seems like a windfall, although it's not winning the lottery, it's definitely free money."

Cao Xu, who had already reached the door, did not hear her words clearly, so he turned around and asked.

"What are you muttering about? Are you coming or not?"

Xia Jie responded and followed. After going downstairs, a cool breeze blew by, making Xia Jie shiver involuntarily.

"Cao Xu, let's go eat hot pot."

Cao Xu nodded.

"Okay, there's a pretty good hot pot restaurant near Dongzhimen, I'll take you there."

"Let's make it clear first, you're paying."

Xia Jie shook her head.

"We're not going to eat at the restaurant."

......... . .......

Cao Xu stopped and said.

"If we don't go to the store, where should we go?"

Xia Jie said.

"Let's go to your house."

Cao Xu pondered.

“I remember I scheduled you for the day shift. You’re going to Hufangqiao now, so you’ll have to get here first thing tomorrow morning.”

Xia Jie smiled.

"I meant going to your house here."

Cao Xu refused, thinking of the mess in the courtyard.

"Forget it, our department is a bit complicated, you'd better not go."

"How about this, since you've already moved into the dorm, we'll go to your place after we buy our things, and this hot pot will serve as a housewarming party."

Xia Jie crossed her arms.

"No, my building is full of factory leaders. If you go to my place, who knows what kind of gossip will spread tomorrow."

"As an unmarried woman, I have to be careful about my image so as not to ruin my reputation."

Cao Xu rubbed his nose and laughed.

“I remember a little girl before the New Year who became attached to me on our second meeting and insisted on going home with me.”

"Director Xia, do you think this young girl will be the subject of gossip?"

Xia Jie shook her head and said.

"Times change, and different things require different approaches."

Cao Xu looked up and said.

"is it?"

"Director Xia, aren't you afraid that people in our compound will gossip if you go to my house now?"

"Let me tell you, there are several companies in our compound that work at our factory."

She looked at Cao Xu with a half-smile.

"Cao Xu, when that Dr. Ding from the infirmary comes to your compound, aren't you afraid of being gossiped about?"

P.S.: The long-absent Bang Geng is coming back to stir things up!

Chapter 171 A Stepfather is Still a Father, and Bang Geng Gets Beaten Up and Cries! [Please Subscribe]

Cao Xu asked, puzzled.

"How did you know Ding Qiunan went to our compound? Which gossip was spreading rumors about you?"

Xia Jie thought to herself, "Do I need others to gossip? I'm not blind."

"There's hardly anyone around. I'll find out when I want to."

Cao Xu shook his head.

"That's right. You're the deputy director of the security department, so it's easy for you to find out things."

Xia Jie continued walking forward with her hands behind her back.

"Hey, don't overthink it."

"I am your supervisor. I am asking about your situation because I am afraid you will make a mistake, and also to give you a heads-up."

"Li Huaide is a cautionary tale. All three members of his family had moral problems; not one of them was a good person."

After walking a short distance, seeing that Cao Xu didn't speak, she turned back and asked.

"You're not angry, are you?"

Cao Xu smiled.

"Do you really think I'm such a petty person?"

Xia Jie nodded vigorously.

"Yes, 'September 17th,' he's been thinking about me paying back the money all day long, afraid that I'll default on my debt."

Cao Xu sighed.

"That's true, these days those who owe money are the bosses."

"Alright, you can pay it back whenever you want."

Xia Jie knew Cao Xu was teasing her, so she walked backwards and looked at Cao Xu.

"Don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I get my salary."

"The money you gave me was completely clean, and the money I return to you must also be completely clean."

"As for the ill-gotten gains in my pocket, let's eat, drink, and spend them all, consider it a reward for ourselves."

Just as Cao Xu was about to speak, he saw a puddle behind Xia Jie and reached out to pull her back.

“Sit properly while walking. You’re a grown man, why are you still acting like a child?”

Xia Jie withdrew her hand and whispered her thanks; the two continued walking forward.

Just as the two turned the corner, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Look at yourself, look what you've become! You really want to go out and hang around the streets like that?!"

"Come home with me right now. Your mother has been hospitalized for days because we couldn't find you, and she still can't sleep at night."

Cao Xu looked in the direction the sound came from and saw He Yuzhu dragging the stick towards the courtyard.

The beggar-like creature, Banggeng, struggled desperately, cursing as it struggled.

"You stupid Zhu, you scoundrel, let go of me! Our family's affairs are none of your business."

"I can go wherever I want, it's none of your business!"

He Yuzhu retorted, not to be outdone.

"Bang Geng, whether you acknowledge it or not, I'm married to your mother now, so you're my son. If I don't take care of you, who will?"

"You won't let me manage this? If I don't, you'll be begging for food soon!"

Banggeng roared loudly.

“My dad died a long time ago. You’re not my dad, and I don’t want you to be my dad.”

"Let me go, you stupid Zhu! You're a dead childless man! You can't even have a son of your own, and you want me to be your son? You're dreaming!"

Bang Geng's words deeply stung He Yuzhu, and he raised his hand, wanting to slap this ungrateful wretch.

Over the years, I've raised him like a son, and this is what I get in return for such a hurtful remark.

But as soon as He Yuzhu raised his hand, he thought of Qin Huairu, who had cried on her pillow until midnight, and he couldn't bring himself to slap her.

"Hit him, Sha Zhu, why did you stop hitting him? Are you scared now?"

"I'm telling you, if you dare to hit me, I'll report you to the police station!"

He Yuzhu originally didn't want to take action. As the saying goes, it's hard to be a stepmother, and the same goes for being a stepfather.

But his reluctance was seen as cowardice by the unfortunate boy, and his raised hand slapped down on the boy's buttocks.

Even though Banggeng was wearing cotton-padded pants in the dead of winter, it still hurt a lot when He Yuzhu slapped him hard on the buttocks.

His eyes widened, filled with disbelief.