The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

Around 8 p.m., Li Kaixin, Li Xiaoxiao, Li Kai, and Zhang Xiaohua appeared on the street.

Originally, if Zhang Hao and his mother's matter had been settled in the courtyard, Zhang Xiaohua wouldn't have needed to leave with Li Kaixin and the others.

However, seeing Li Kai's pitiful appearance, she still softened.

They all used the same excuse: Zhang Hao and his mother were there, and there wasn't enough room for them.

As for why, even after they've completely fallen out, they're still being kept around.

The reason is unavoidable: no matter how outrageous Zhang Xiaohua's grandmother was, she was still Zhang Xiaohua's father's mother.

Even if she is the heir, if Zhang Daqiang dares to kick her out today, being ridiculed behind her back would be the least of her worries; in more serious cases, she would lose her job.

As the four of them rounded a corner, Li Kai, who was walking at the very back, finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Brother, how could you let that bastard go like that? You should have called the police and had him arrested and thrown in jail."

"How dare you say that!" Li Kaixin turned around and glared at him angrily. "Didn't I tell you not to lay a hand on me? But you were right, you rushed in and kicked me twice."

Li Kai was not intimidated at all, and stubbornly argued his case:

"Brother, you heard what that bastard was spewing! If I don't fight back, what kind of man am I?"

"Alright, Kai, stop arguing! There must be a reason why you're not allowed to do it," Zhang Xiaohua, who was supporting Li Kai, interjected, tugging at his sleeve.

"Look, look!"

Li Kaixin looked at him with a disappointed expression and scolded, "Even Xiaohua saw it, and you're still arguing with me. How did I end up with such a stupid younger brother like you?"

If it weren't for the fact that he had just beaten his younger brother, he would have really wanted to beat him again.

Li Kai was visibly taken aback by the rebuttal, and his tone softened: "Big brother, then... then why can't I take action?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Xiaoxiao, who was walking in the middle, looked over curiously.

Although she knew that her older brother must have had a reason for not letting Li Kai take action, she still didn't quite understand the details.

"Now you know to ask?"

Li Kaixin snorted and didn't keep them in suspense: "Xiao Kai, do you know that the person we just beat up was Xiao Hua's second uncle?"

"So what!" Li Kai retorted dismissively, then became indignant again. "He dared to talk about Xiao Hua like that? I'd be lucky he didn't shit himself!"

"So what if I say that! You brat, do you not want Xiaohua to be able to hold her head high in the future, or are you going to marry her later?"

Upon hearing this, Li Kai looked bewildered: "Brother, it's not as serious as you say. He clearly started it..."

"He has his faults," Li Kaixin interrupted her brother, speaking sternly.

"But with so many eyes watching in the courtyard today, even if he's a scoundrel, he's still Xiaohua's second uncle on the surface. If you and Xiaohua had made your announcement that day, what would these people who came to stir up trouble today have said about Xiaohua?"

After listening, Li Kai fell silent, confirming that what his elder brother said was true.

It doesn't sound good to date someone who beat up his own uncle, especially since he's not even officially with Xiaohua yet, and he can't even find a reason to hit her.

He realized what was happening, and his voice softened considerably: "Brother, but I really can't hold back today, I...I..."

"I know! If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand it either." Li Kaixin's tone softened.

"Big brother, then what are you going to do?"

"Isn't this all to teach you!"

Li Kaixin turned back to look at the road ahead: "You're something else, coming right up to someone and thinking about sending them to jail. Don't you think about your future in-laws?"

"I didn't think that much about it," Li Kai said awkwardly, scratching his head.

At that moment, a soft touch suddenly brushed against his cheek.

"Brother Kai, thank you!" Zhang Xiaohua said gently in his ear, her face flushed.

Instantly, Li Kai froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, his ears turning bright red.

He looked at Zhang Xiaohua, who was supporting him, and stammered, "Xiaohua, you, you, I, I."

"Don't just stand there, Big Brother and Xiaoxiao have already gone far away." Zhang Xiaohua lowered her head and tugged at him.

"Oh, oh!" Li Kai snapped out of his daze and quickened his pace.

The four of them arrived at the entrance of courtyard number 93, and Li Xiaoxiao stepped forward and knocked.

A moment later, the courtyard gate was opened from the inside.

"Xiaoxiao, you're finally back!" Aunt Zhao said as she came out from inside.

But when she saw Zhang Xiaohua behind her, a look of confusion appeared on her face: "Huh, why is this little girl back again?"

"Aunt Zhao, she has guests at home, and she'll be sleeping with Xiaoxiao tonight," Li Kaixin explained with a smile.

"Oh, I see!" Aunt Zhao understood and quickly stepped aside. "Kaixin, then you two go in quickly!"

"Thank you, Aunt Zhao." Li Kaixin didn't linger any longer and led her younger brother and sister into the yard.

The backyard will be quiet now; there's no one there.

A lit kerosene lamp was placed on a bench in the center of the courtyard. Li Kaixin walked straight up to it and picked it up.

This kerosene lamp was a testament to the kindness of the people in the courtyard.

Whenever Li Kaixin's parents returned to their hometown and his siblings hadn't come back for several nights, the aunties in the courtyard would leave a lamp on in the backyard.

After pushing open the door and entering the house, Li Kaixin first asked her younger brother and two younger sisters to go to the kitchen to wash up, while she went to her parents' room first.

When she came out again, Li Kaixin was holding a new handkerchief and a toothbrush.

He walked up to Zhang Xiaohua and handed her the things: "Xiaohua, these are all new, you can use these!"

"No need, no need!" Zhang Xiaohua quickly waved her hand. "I'm only staying one night, there's no need to be so particular."

"Why are you being so polite? Just take it!" Li Kaixin forcefully shoved it into her hand.

At this moment, Li Kai, carrying a washbasin, also came up with a grin: "Xiao Hua, just accept it. Anyway, we'll all be family from now on."

Zhang Xiaohua gave a soft "hmm" and did not refuse again.

Seeing how compliant Xiaohua was, Li Kai grew bolder and tentatively moved closer:

"Little Flower, how about you sleep with me tonight? I promise I won't lay a hand on you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Kaixin gave him a sharp rap on the forehead:

"You little brat, you're asking for it again! I'm warning you, if you dare do that to Xiaohua before you're an adult, I'll break your legs."

"I know, big brother, I was just joking." Li Kai rubbed his forehead, wincing in pain.

Li Xiaoxiao was laughing so hard she bent over, while Zhang Xiaohua blushed and turned her head away.

After washing up, Li Kaixin waited until Li Xiaoxiao pulled Zhang Xiaohua into the bedroom before leaving the room.