Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Director Wang left very quickly and was long gone, so Jia Zhangshi could only grab Yi Zhonghai's clothes: "Old Yi, you can't leave! Who will carry the coffin for tomorrow's funeral?"

Liu Cuilan glanced at them but ignored them and went back to her room alone.

Anyway, she now has her goddaughter He Yushui to take care of her in her old age, so she doesn't care what Yi Zhonghai does. If Yi Zhonghai hadn't refused, they would have divorced long ago.

Forget about helping the Jia family, she wouldn't even care if you, Yi Zhonghai, were to pair up with Jia Zhangshi.

Yi Zhonghai was at a loss looking at Liu Cuilan's attitude. He had recognized Jia Dongxu as his godson, and his godson was always borrowing money and grain from him. That was bad enough, but now the man had died.

He was so depressed at home for several days because of this, he didn't say a word and didn't know why he had become like this.

But life goes on. He's not my biological son, so there's no need to make a scene.

Liu Cuilan recognized He Yushui as her goddaughter, and He Yushui would bring Liu Cuilan a share of any good food she had every day, including the wolfskin coat. She was very attentive to Liu Cuilan's well-being, and it was clear that she was sincere and didn't want anything from Liu Cuilan. He Yushui had a house and money, and it was precisely because of this that her feelings for Liu Cuilan seemed even more genuine.

Moreover, the more this happens, the more others compare Yi Zhonghai and think he lacks vision.

Moreover, He Yushui acknowledged Liu Cuilan but not Yi Zhonghai, so Yi Zhonghai's retirement could only be arranged with the Jia family; he had no other choice.

Looking at the helpless Jia Zhangshi, carrying the coffin for the funeral was indeed a problem. In previous years, when there was a funeral in the courtyard, it was enough for the young people to help out. However, the Jia family had a bad reputation in the courtyard. They had even falsely accused Zhang Dabiao a while ago. Now, asking them to help with the funeral was a bit of a dilemma for Yi Zhonghai.

More importantly, he's no longer an old man; young people have formed mutual aid groups and no longer listen to him.

"Aunt Jia, don't be anxious," Yi Zhonghai said in a low voice, "This matter should be discussed with Liu Haizhong. He is the current head of the household, and his words carry more weight than mine."

"What's the point of finding him?" Jia Zhangshi scoffed. "What can that fatso do besides showing off?"

"That's not how it works," Yi Zhonghai sighed. "Now I'm no longer the big boss, and nobody listens to me. He's the big boss, so he should be in charge of this matter."

Without saying a word, Jia Zhangshi ran towards the backyard, but Yi Zhonghai stopped her.

Are you rushing off to argue or to discuss business?

"You go back first, I'll go and check out the situation first."

------------

When Yi Zhonghai arrived at the Liu family home, Liu Haizhong was playing with his granddaughter Liu Xiaoqing inside, his face beaming.

Liu Haizhong does hope to have a grandson, but that doesn't mean he favors boys over girls. He has so many sons that it bothers him; otherwise, why would he beat up Guang Tianfu every day?

None of them give him any peace of mind, but none of them are as lovable as his eldest granddaughter.

Upon seeing Yi Zhonghai enter, he asked casually, "Old Yi, isn't the donation all done? Is there anything else?"

"Old Liu, Dongxu's funeral is tomorrow, and we don't have enough men to carry the coffin," Yi Zhonghai said with a forced smile. "Could you get some help from the young people in the compound?"

Liu Haizhong handed his granddaughter to Liu Guangqi, frowning. "Call on someone? How can I call on someone? Don't you know the situation in the yard?"

He counted on his fingers, his voice booming: "Leaving aside everything else, just consider our Liu family. Guangqi just had a daughter who's only a little over six months old; the child can't be associated with bad luck, so Guangqi can't go."

"And my son is a cadre, you think he'd carry the coffin of a lowly second-level worker who died a violent death? Dream on!"

"Guang Tian's college entrance exam is just two months away. You're asking him to carry a dead person, especially one who died a violent death? Isn't that bad luck? Who's going to take responsibility if he doesn't pass?"

"Guangfu is still young, and I'm an old man in my fifties. You want me to personally take the lead? And I'm Jia Dongxu's elder. This is inappropriate."

When talking about his own situation, Liu Haizhong spoke eloquently, but his attitude was always the same—he wouldn't go.

Yi Zhonghai, forcing a smile, asked, "Then... what about the Yan family in the front yard? Jie Cheng is young and suitable. Why don't we go together and talk to the third brother?"

"Yan Jiecheng?"

Liu Haizhong scoffed, "She's trying to conceive, so it's even more impossible. What if Jia Dongxu goes back with Yan Jiecheng and then..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "This is feudal superstition, so it can't be said to be entirely true."

"Anyway, Yan Jiecheng is absolutely impossible, don't even think about it."

"Besides, they've separated their family property. What business is it of his? Even his own father can't control him, so why should I, his uncle, have any say in it?"

Yi Zhonghai was still not giving up: "What about Xu Damao? He's young and strong..." Young as he may be, it's hard to say whether he's strong or not, but he's certainly good at taking a beating, and he can easily carry a hundred or so pounds of equipment on a bicycle, making him perfect for carrying a coffin!

"Xu Damao is getting married the day after tomorrow! He's getting married the day after the Jia family's funeral!" Liu Haizhong slapped his thigh, the sound making the windows rattle. "Old Yi, are you out of your mind? Making the groom carry the coffin? Aren't you cursing them? Don't you know the custom?"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless. Liu Haizhong's words were all reasonable, and he couldn't refute them.

And the key issue is—

When did Lao Liu become so eloquent?

After glancing up, Liu Guangqi immediately turned his face away and went to tease Xiaoqing.

Well, with Guangqi in the yard, this guy with bangs isn't easy to fool, and his IQ seems to be growing.

"What about Tian Liugen? He's the eldest son of the Tian family; surely he's strong?"

Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai like he was an idiot: "Old Yi, he's still studying at university and hasn't come back yet! Even if he did come back, would it be appropriate for the only university graduate in our department to carry Jia Dongxu's coffin? Wouldn't that be shameful?"

Yi Zhonghai looked dejected. Seeing him like this, Liu Haizhong patted him on the shoulder casually: "Old Yi, no offense, but the Jia family is completely deserted this time. You can run yourself ragged, but no one wants to go!"

"What should we do then?" Yi Zhonghai was a little worried. Things were different now than when he was a big shot. Moral blackmail was useless now, and it wouldn't be proper for him to directly ask for help. If Liu Haizhong refused to help rally support, he really couldn't get anyone to listen.

"Forget about the Jia family having eight pallbearers, but we still need to gather four pallbearers..."

"Siping?"

Liu Haizhong interrupted him, counting on his fingers, "According to the old rules of Beijing, the coffin bearers must be able-bodied young men, preferably 'complete people'—parents alive, husband and wife harmonious, and both sons and daughters."

"There aren't many people in this courtyard who meet the criteria!"

He leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Besides, don't you know the Jia family's reputation? What did the Jia family do at Zhang Bansian's funeral the year before last? They didn't contribute a single penny, didn't send a single person, and yet they were eyeing his house and work site. And these two families are supposed to be legitimate relatives! Now the tables have turned, and you expect everyone to carry the coffin?"

"Who would be willing to do that?"

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale; he hadn't expected the repercussions of those events to be so great.

Yes, he keeps saying things like, "You help me today, I'll help you tomorrow."

At least Yi Zhonghai's actions were respectable on the surface; whether he would help others in the future was another matter. But what about the Jia family?

He's a complete scoundrel, only taking advantage without contributing anything, never giving a penny and expecting to eat and take everything.

The neighbors in the courtyard house have long suffered under the Jia family's rule.

Suddenly, he slapped his hip with his bangs and said, "If you ask me, just go for the neck!"