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

Yi Zhonghai then took on the responsibility of caring for the old lady's daily life. Even the choice of Sha Zhu, the person to take care of her, was made by the deaf old lady on Yi Zhonghai's behalf.

"Xiao Yi, why are you back today? Come, sit down and have something to eat with me."

Yi Zhonghai sat down in the chair next to the old lady, looking anxious.

"Grandma, I'm not in the mood to have dinner with you."

"I've come back to tell you the news!"

The old lady put down her chopsticks and asked with a puzzled look.

"Report?"

"What news?"

"Has something gone wrong with Sha Zhu's situation?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

"Grandma, you are wise; you guessed exactly right."

"Today, Director Yang gave the order to hand Sha Zhu over to Director Sun of the Security Department for personal investigation."

"Xu Damao revealed a lot about Sha Zhu's past, and those things couldn't withstand a thorough investigation by the security department."

"It's all over the factory now, and the workers are furious and demanding that Sha Zhu be severely punished."

"I reckon we might have to hold a denunciation meeting tomorrow. You need to make a decision about this quickly."

"If it gets too late, there might be no way to save Sha Zhu."

The deaf old lady, who was enjoying her meal, suddenly changed her expression and, unusually, slammed her hand on the table.

"Xu Damao, that bastard, that traitor, how dare he stab me in the back like that."

"Damn it, Xu Damao, that little beast, can't be kept alive. We can't keep a wolf cub in the yard!"

Yi Zhonghai responded.

"Don't worry, madam. Once this matter is settled, I'll find a way to kick him out of the courtyard."

"We can't let this one bad apple spoil the whole bunch!"

After thinking for a moment, the deaf old lady said to Yi Zhonghai.

"Xiao Yi, go and call Cao Xu over."

"I'll ask him what happened. Didn't I tell him yesterday to keep things quiet?"

"How come this matter has become common knowledge overnight? Does my word no longer carry weight?"

Yi Zhonghaidao.

"Grandma, I already asked about this."

Yi Zhonghai repeated what Cao Xu had just said, and then sighed.

"To be honest, this matter has little to do with him. Ultimately, it's because Sha Zhu has a bad temper and doesn't hold back his words, which offended some petty people."

"With Xu Damao stabbing him in the back like that, it's a matter of over a thousand yuan, so Cao Xu can't suppress it even if he wants to."

The deaf old lady agreed after listening to Yi Zhonghai's explanation.

“You’re right. A case worth over a thousand yuan, let alone a team leader like Cao Xu, even a section chief wouldn’t dare not report it.”

“In cases where statements have already been taken, it’s not reasonable for people to sacrifice their future to protect Sha Zhu.”

"If the engagement hadn't been called off, Cao Xu might have risked delaying it for the sake of Yu Shui."

"Now that the two families have severed ties, why should anyone bother with his mess?"

The deaf old woman said angrily at this point.

"In the end, this whole thing was caused by Qin Huairu's family. Most of the boxed lunches that Sha Zhu brought back ended up benefiting her family."

"Over the years, I, the old lady, have only been able to eat this a few times!"

“I’ve told him so many times not to get too close to the Jia family. There’s always trouble around a widow’s door.”

"But he just wouldn't listen, and now not only has his chicken theft been confirmed, but old cases have been dug up."

"Now everyone knows about it, and if the steel mill doesn't take action, it won't be able to quell the public anger."

In fact, Yi Zhonghai is also partly responsible for this matter, as Qin Huairu's deceased husband, Jia Dongxu, was Yi Zhonghai's apprentice.

As the saying goes, "A teacher for a day is a father for life." If a disciple is gone, the master, who lives in the same compound, should take care of his family.

Yi Zhonghai was a man who cared about his reputation and was afraid of gossip, so he brainwashed Sha Zhu.

Tell him to respect the elderly as you would your own parents, and to care for the young as you would your own children, and ask Sha Zhu to take good care of the Jia family.

An older woman who had finished tidying up the house came out from the inner room.

"Grandma, now is not the time to talk about Sha Zhu."

“I know that Sha Zhu will definitely be punished this time, but we have to think of a way to keep him from being expelled.”

"As long as I don't get fired, I'll keep this job."

“Shazhu is skilled, and Director Yang likes to use him. We’ll find a way to transfer him back once things calm down.”

The deaf old lady praised.

"That old lady is right. Now all we need to do is make sure Sha Zhu doesn't get fired."

"Whether he goes to the factory or sweeps the streets doesn't matter, just consider it a lesson for him!"

At this point, the deaf old lady asked.

"By the way, has the rain returned?"

"Have the Jiang family given us a reply?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head.

"He hasn't come back. I haven't seen him since he went out last night."

"I don't have time to ask the Jiang family. How about I go to the police station now and ask Jiang Hai?"

The deaf old lady waved her hand.

"Never mind, daughters grow up and leave home."

"They haven't come back yet, and they haven't even sent a message. I guess it's probably hopeless."

"It's better to rely on yourself than on others; we can't count on the Jiang family for this."

"How about this, I'll go talk to your factory director Yang first and see if there's any room for negotiation."

"If all else fails, I'll go and plead with that person again."

When Yi Zhonghai saw that the old lady had agreed to help, he was overjoyed.

"Okay, ma'am, please finish your meal first, and I'll go find a tricycle."

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

"Cao Xu, wash your hands and eat."

After Lou Xiao'e called out, she began serving dishes and soup.

With four dishes and a soup, including both meat and vegetables, this is considered a feast in an era where a family might share a plate of cabbage stew with vermicelli.

"What are you writing? The food will get cold soon."

Lou Xiao'e took off her apron and hung it on the wall before going into the inner room.

When Lou Xiao'e arrived at the desk, she saw Cao Xu drawing.

"Is this a Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup that you painted?"

Cao Xu put down his pen in surprise.

"you know?"

Cao Xu knew that the Lou family owned many antiques and paintings, most of which were collected by Lou Wanshan. He had never heard that Lou Xiao'e knew anything about them.

"I think I've seen it before."

Cao Xu pressed for an answer.

"At your house?"

Lou Xiao'e shook her head.

"No, it's outside."

Cao Xu said urgently.

Do you remember where we met?

Lou Xiao'e thought for a while and shook her head.

"I can't remember. I was very young when I saw this thing, probably when I was a teenager."

"I only remember that the person who took this thing was a girl of about eighteen or nineteen years old. I can't remember the specifics, but I guess it was in the Liulichang area."

Liulichang is neither very big nor very small, and judging from Lou Xiao'e's words, more than ten years have passed, so it's hard to say where it is now.