The Courtyard House: Xu Damao's Aunt is the Queen of Women

Xu Damao's words were immediately met with approval from everyone.

Anyway, it wasn't us who got beaten up. If you report it to the police, we won't be able to be recognized as an advanced compound, and everyone will suffer the consequences.

"That's right, how can you set the rules yourself and break them?"

"We can report it to the police, but if we want to report it to the police in the future, please don't say that matters within the compound should be handled by the compound, okay?"

"What happened tonight was entirely your fault, sir. The west wing is Ye Juan's private property, intended as part of her dowry for Accountant Liu and Ye Juan to use as their wedding room. You insisted that they vacate two rooms to lend to the old lady and Yan Jiecheng and his wife. Isn't that making things difficult for them?"

"Exactly! This is not a fair way to do things."

"What Ye Juan said just now makes a lot of sense. If you were in her shoes, and you were preparing a wedding room for your son, would you be willing to vacate it and lend it out to outsiders?"

"An old man has no son!"

"Hahaha"

Someone said something, and everyone burst into laughter.

Yi Zhonghai was so angry that he trembled. He helped the deaf old woman, Li Meihua, to her feet and cried her heart out. She hated herself for being useless and not being able to give Yi Zhonghai a son or daughter, which made him unable to hold his head high.

Liu Hao walked to Ye Juan's side, took her icy hands, and stuffed them into the pocket of his down jacket.

"Yi Zhonghai, should we report this to the police? If not, we'll go back to sleep."

Before Yi Zhonghai could speak, the deaf old woman shrieked, "Report! Report to the police!"

"China Overseas was just discussing borrowing a house from you, not stealing it from you. You not only insulted us, but you also hit us."

"I'm telling you right now, Liu Hao, you either pay up or you go to jail. You've injured so many people, that's enough to keep you in jail for years."

Upon hearing about the compensation, Yan Fugui's eyes lit up, and he loudly echoed, "Yes, compensation!"

"Liu Hao, let me tell you, the old lady is a martyr's family member. She even gave straw sandals to the Red Army back then. Director Wang of the neighborhood office and the head of Jiaodaokou Police Station both treat her with utmost respect. She's giving you a way out because you're young, and she'll let it go with the compensation. Otherwise, if the old lady said something casually, the police station would have dealt with you severely!"

Yang Ruihua hurriedly added, "That's right, Liu Hao, think it through. Do you want to pay compensation, or go to jail?"

Other residents also offered their advice, suggesting that Liu Hao settle the matter by paying compensation.

"Accountant Liu, tonight's incident was certainly wrong of the old man, but were you two completely without fault? Just pay some money and apologize."

"In my opinion, each of you should pay 5 yuan. Let's all compromise and stop making a scene. We all have to go to work tomorrow."

"Yes, yes, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. We're all neighbors, there's no need to make things so tense."

"Accountant Liu..."

Liu Hao was speechless; as expected, there weren't many normal people in this courtyard.

"Stop, halt! There's no way we'll lose money, not a single penny."

"Go report it to the police and let them judge the matter. Also, call the neighborhood committee over. Should we fight back against Yi Zhonghai forcing us to vacate the house tonight?"

"As for Sha Zhu, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, and Yan Jiefang, they wanted to kill me. I was forced to defend myself. Liu Haizhong was just asking for a beating because of his foul mouth!"

"But Yan Fugui, you said the deaf old lady was a martyr's family member?"

Liu Hao looked at the deaf old woman with a half-smile and asked in a deep voice, "Are you sure you're a martyr's family member?"

The deaf old woman's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head away guiltily, not daring to meet Liu Hao's gaze.

"I……"

Liu Hao roared, "Answer me! Isn't that right?"

The deaf old woman was startled. She couldn't deny it, nor could she admit it, so she could only resort to a tantrum that was even more powerful than Jia Zhangshi's.

She shook off Chen Xiucui and Li Meihua, plopped down on the ground, and cried out in anguish.

"Oh dear... my poor children, you all died young for the country, leaving this old woman alone to suffer in this world. Everyone bullies this childless, miserable woman... I can't live anymore!"

"I'll just smash my head against this wall and die today, to join my son in death!"

The deaf old woman was wailing and about to commit suicide when Chen Xiucui and Li Meihua quickly stopped her.

Yi Zhonghai knew it was his turn to step in; if he didn't change the subject soon, the deaf old woman's impersonation of a martyr's family member would be exposed.

He stepped forward, pointed at Liu Hao, and said with great indignation, "Liu Hao, are you even human? The old lady is highly respected; she's our ancestor. It's one thing for you to bully us just because you're strong, but you even dare to bully the old lady! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning and dying a horrible death?"

Here it comes, finally here! Yi Zhonghai has forcibly sent your ancestors here.

Liu Hao scoffed, "Ancestors? My wife Ye Juan and I are not like you, Yi Zhonghai, a ungrateful grandson who forgets his ancestors. We don't have the habit of randomly claiming ancestors."

These words weren't just directed at Yi Zhonghai; everyone in the hospital felt insulted.

But no one thought Liu Hao's words were wrong; on the contrary, they felt a sense of sudden realization.

Yes, we have our own ancestors, why should we treat an old neighbor like an ancestor?

"Deaf old lady, I'll ask you one more time, are you a family member of a martyr?"

The deaf old woman cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, "Oh... my son!"

Liu Hao really admired this old man; he was so old, yet his voice was still so loud.

"It's fine if you don't answer directly. Tomorrow, Ye Juan and I are taking the day off to get our marriage certificate. We'll also take the opportunity to ask you if your deaf grandmother is a martyr's family member. I heard you're a recipient of the 'Five Guarantees' (a government welfare program for the elderly and disabled). I've never heard of anyone receiving the 'Five Guarantees' in the city!"

Ye Juan added, "Moreover, it's even more unreasonable for a recipient of the Five Guarantees who has three main rooms in the rear building."

The deaf old woman was getting anxious and desperately tried to signal to Yi Zhonghai with her eyes.

Yi Zhonghai was so frustrated he was about to vomit blood. If he had known that Ye Juan's house was a private residence, and that Liu Hao and Ye Juan were going to get their marriage certificate and that the house in the west wing was their wedding home, how could he have been so stupid as to ask Ye Juan to vacate the house?

At the same time, he was also cursing himself for being too impulsive. He had just been mocked by Ye Juan for not having a son, and he had acted rashly and forced Ye Juan to vacate the room.

The reason he wanted to force Ye Juan to vacate the house was simple: he didn't want the deaf old lady to live in his house.

Staying at Sha Zhu's house? No way!

Sha Zhu wouldn't agree. This kid is still thinking about getting married, how could he possibly be keeping an ancestor at home?

The situation is very unfavorable for me now; I can't afford to cause any more trouble.

A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years! Just you wait!

After a few seconds of contemplation, Yi Zhonghai forced a smile that looked more like a grimace onto his swollen and bruised face.

"Well, Liu Hao and Ye Juan! I meant well tonight, but I didn't explain things clearly, which led to this huge misunderstanding. I apologize to you both."

"You fools, Zhu Jiefang, Guangtian, and Guangfu, you're all so ignorant! How could you lay a hand on them?"

"Everyone has made mistakes; no one is entirely in the right. Let's each take a step back and let's put this matter behind us. Our community can still be a harmonious family; let's not give outsiders a reason to laugh at us!"

"It's getting late, everyone can go home now, we all have to go to work tomorrow."

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, he turned around, helped the deaf old woman up, and walked her home.

Liu Haizhong covered his face and muttered a few curses under his breath. He then angrily led his bruised and swollen-faced sons, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, away, determined to go back and give them a good beating.

Doesn't he know his own limitations? He caused him to get slapped in the face in public!

Being beaten was a minor matter; what he found most intolerable was that his second uncle's authority had been completely undermined!

Soon, the sound of leather belts being used to stir-fry meat came from the Liu family home, along with the screams of Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu!

In the middle courtyard, the unconscious Sha Zhu lay on the ground, his whole body covered in snow, and no one noticed him.

After a while, Sha Zhu slowly woke up, groaned in pain, and shook his pig head. The dizziness subsided a lot, and he then realized that the yard was empty.

"What happened? Where is everyone?"

Sha Zhu sat on the ground for two minutes to recover, then shivered from the cold, got up, and stumbled back into the house.

"Damn you, Liu Hao, I'll kill you sooner or later!"