Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Lying on the hospital bed, Xu Damao looked at Xu Fugui, lowered his voice, and said excitedly:

"Dad, the police came to see me just now. They asked me if I knew someone named Hu Sanwa and where I had been these past few days. I guess it must be Ninth Master's side that made their move."

"Dad, go and find out if Shazhu is really dead. Dad, when you go to gather information, be careful not to arouse suspicion."

Xu Fugui's face was gloomy. He waved his hand and said, "No need to investigate. I just saw Sha Zhu at Xiehe Hospital. He lives next door to you. When I came, he had just been wheeled from his ward to the operating room."

At this point, Xu Fugui sighed and lowered his voice: "This Sha Zhu is really lucky. I just asked the doctor, and he said that Sha Zhu was stabbed twice, once in the back and once in the kidney. He is not in any danger and is on his way to the operating room for kidney removal surgery."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face instantly darkened, and he growled through gritted teeth, "You didn't kill Sha Zhu again?"

Xu Damao wanted to tell his father to go find Ninth Master to continue the fight, but Xu Fugui raised his hand to interrupt him and said in a deep voice:

"Da Mao, this matter can't be rushed. You just said that the police questioned you, asking if you knew someone named Hu Sanwa. I guess this Hu Sanwa is the one who attacked Sha Zhu, otherwise the police wouldn't have asked you. Hu Sanwa must have been arrested."

"Shazhu needs to have kidney removal surgery now, and he'll have to stay in the hospital for at least a week. It's impossible for Ninth Master to send someone to the hospital to do it, so we can only wait until Shazhu is discharged."

"Da Mao, don't worry. I've inquired about this Ninth Master. He's very reliable. He also assured me that even if they don't kill Sha Zhu this time, they'll find another opportunity to strike."

Hearing his father's explanation, Xu Damao sighed deeply: "That's all we can do now. Let Shazhu live a few more days."

"Dad, when you went to see Ninth Master last time, did they not recognize you?"

Xu Fugui revealed a sly smile: "Don't worry, even if the police arrest Hu Sanwa, or even if they arrest Ninth Master, they won't have any evidence to identify me."

Xu Damao nodded: "That's good, Dad. I can be discharged today. Go and get the discharge papers done for me."

"Okay, I'll go and handle the discharge procedures now. Sumei and your mother have already cooked at home. We can eat when we get back."

After Xu Fugui left the ward, Xu Damao clenched his fist, gritted his teeth, and growled, "You idiot, you just wait! If I don't kill you, I'm not Xu Damao!"

The discharge procedures were completed quickly; Xu Fugui returned to his ward in less than ten minutes.

Soon, with Xu Fugui's help, Xu Damao walked out of Xiehe Hospital, trembling.

Xu Damao's wound has now healed, but it is not completely healed yet. When he walks or bumps into something, his kidney area still hurts a little.

Xu Fugui found a clerk, who then pulled Xu Damao along, and they headed towards courtyard number 95.

The old man's pace was neither fast nor slow; by the time he returned to courtyard number 95, it was nearly 11:30 a.m.

The threshold of courtyard number 95 was quite high, and Xu Fugui insisted on pulling Xu Damao into the courtyard. The old man could only let Xu Damao get off first, and then let Xu Damao lie down after the cart had passed the threshold.

When they arrived at the front yard, the older women and aunties in the yard saw Xu Damao being pulled back on a cart and all ran over to see what was going on.

"Old Xu, how's your Da Mao doing?" the third aunt asked.

Xu Fugui forced a smile: "I'm almost better, but it still hurts a little when I walk. I'll be fine after resting at home for a while. Thank you all for your concern."

"Old Xu, the year is bad, and there are a lot of bandits outside the city. I heard the other day that a postman from Dongzhimen was robbed by bandits when he went to the countryside. He was even beaten up. You'd better worry about your Xu Damao when he goes to the countryside to show movies in the future."

"Thank you, thank you everyone for your concern."

The cart traveled from the front yard to the middle yard, followed by the older women and aunties from the yard, as if they were seeing Xu Damao off.

Xu Fugui had no choice but to leave.

As she passed by Jia Zhangshi's house, Jia Zhangshi immediately spotted Xu Damao lying on the cart.

Madam Jia sneered and mocked, "Oh, so this is the family of that childless child, so shameless as to bring a dead person into the yard. How unlucky!"

Xu Fugui stared coldly at Jia Zhangshi and shouted angrily, "Jia Zhangshi, are you blind? If you dare to talk nonsense again, believe me, I'll kill you! Don't think that just because I don't hit women, I can be ruthless to myself."

Xu Damao's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, fists clenched, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Jia Zhangshi, you old hag, you just wait! When I'm better, you'll see how I deal with you!"

"Hit me, hit me, hit me! If you've got the guts, hit me!" Jia Zhangshi shouted, her neck stiff.

"Who told you to leave Xu Damao lying motionless on the cart? My eyesight is bad, I must have misread it. If you dare to hit me, this matter won't be over until you pay me a hundred bucks."

Last time, Jia Zhangshi stole Xu Damao's chickens. Even though there was no evidence, Xu Fugui still extorted fifty yuan from her. She still feels heartbroken when she thinks about it.

She was happy to cause trouble for the Xu family. After all, it was just a few words. What could Xu Fugui do to her?

Xu Fugui's face darkened, and he waved to the old man, "Let's go, ignore this crazy woman."

The older women in the courtyard thought a fight was about to break out, but they didn't expect Xu Fugui to be so patient.

"Tch, spineless coward."

Madam Jia gave a cold laugh, went back into the room, and closed the door.

When Xu Damao heard Jia Zhangshi say that she was spineless, he almost ground his back teeth to powder, wishing he could tear Jia Zhangshi's foul mouth to shreds.

Upon arriving at the backyard, everyone had already gone home.

Xu's mother had been waiting for Xu Damao to return in the backyard. As soon as the cart arrived in the backyard, Xu's mother saw Xu Damao.

"Sumei, come out quickly, Damao is back."

Xu's mother shouted into the house, and Li Sumei quickly came out.

"Da Mao, be careful, we'll help you back to your house."

With the help of Xu's mother and Li Sumei, Xu Damao was safely helped to sit down on a stool.

Soon, Li Sumei brought the dishes out of the kitchen.

There was old hen soup and lean meat porridge, both of which were quite nourishing, and there were also plenty of white flour steamed buns.

"Mom and Dad, Damao, dinner's ready."

Li Sumei served Xu Damao a bowl of lean meat porridge and a chicken leg, and the family of four began to eat.

Xu Fugui took a bite of the steamed bun and said to Li Sumei, "Sumei, now that Da Mao has been discharged from the hospital, I'll have to trouble you to take care of him from now on."

Li Sumei nodded: "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I will take good care of Damao."