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

"They used to be 'negotiators,' spending money to get things done cleanly and efficiently. Anyway, the Jia family has a pension, they've collected everyone's gifts, and you, Old Yi, even donated 50. A grand funeral is no problem at all, saving us from having to beg and put up with anyone's attitude. How convenient!"

I'm the only one who donated money; you all just gave gifts!

Can we talk about this now?!

Yi Zhonghai smiled wryly: "I'm afraid the Jia family won't be willing to spend that money..."

"Reluctant to part with it?" Liu Haizhong's eyes widened—"Then let them carry it themselves! Take it or leave it!"

"If we don't proceed, the neighborhood committee will come tomorrow, and that means they'll be forcibly taken to be cremated. Let the Jia family choose for themselves!"

Liu Haizhong is not so easily fooled now, with Liu Guangqi watching him and him being an old man...

Liu Guangqi was both the president of the Youth Mutual Aid Association and a cadre in the factory; he knew everything.

Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to back out.

In the darkness, he looked back at the Liu family, their house full of children and grandchildren, and felt a surge of anger rising within him.

Why is it that you, Fatty Liu, have such a large family, with a son who's a government official and a granddaughter...?

I, Yi Zhonghai, have ended up in this predicament.

I want to be a grandpa! I want to be a level eight worker!

I, Yi Zhonghai, will climb back to the top of Courtyard No. 95, step by step!

Yi Zhonghai glanced around the old deaf man's house, which was dimly lit, and thought he would have to find this "godmother" in a few days to make some serious plans.

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

After leaving the Liu family's house, Yi Zhonghai went to the Yan family's house in the front yard.

Yan Bugui was doing accounts, the accounts for the children's daily expenses, when he saw Yi Zhonghai enter. He immediately closed the account book and said, "Old Yi, let's not talk about carrying the coffin."

"You want me, an old man like you, to carry a coffin? You'll have to pay extra!"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned—[I haven't said anything yet, and you already know everything?]

"You want me to carry your coffin? Wouldn't that mean one of us would get killed? Are you kidding me?"

"Third brother, you're joking. I didn't ask you to carry it," Yi Zhonghai sighed. "I meant for you to call Jie Cheng..."

"Jie Cheng?" Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses. "They've separated, it's none of my business. Besides, the young couple is trying to conceive, they can't get involved in this. No matter how much money you offer Jie Cheng, he can't go. If he bumps into something, who's responsible?"

Even someone as stingy as Yan Laokou wouldn't touch this matter, so Yi Zhonghai was truly at a loss.

He finally went to find Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu was squatting by the door, boiling water on the stove. Seeing Yi Zhonghai approach, he immediately stood up: "Uncle Yi, what's up now?"

"Shazhu, tomorrow is Dongxu's funeral, could you help carry the coffin?"

"No problem!" Sha Zhu patted his chest and immediately agreed.

This surprised Yi Zhonghai. Why did you, Sha Zhu, agree so readily?

Have I really messed up your brain with PUA tactics?

"Silly Zhu, why did you agree so quickly?"

Yu Shui was having dinner with Zhang Dabiao and Qin Jingru in the next room. He was about to come out to stop them, but Zhang Dabiao stopped him.

"Your brother is your brother, and you are you. Why are you meddling in this?"

If Sha Zhu doesn't agree, he wouldn't be Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu thought for a moment, then asked, bewildered, "Didn't you say, Uncle Yi, that if I help him today, he'll help me tomorrow? When one is in trouble, everyone lends a hand!"

Yi Zhonghai, He Yushui, and Zhang Dabiao were all stunned. Sha Zhu genuinely agreed with this statement.

Having been schemed against and hurt so deeply by Yi Zhonghai and others for so long, does he still agree with this statement?

Is he genuinely stupid or just pretending?

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai didn't speak and seemed a little stunned, Sha Zhu waved his hand dismissively: "Hey, it's nothing, Uncle Yi, don't overthink it."

Whether the Jia family takes this seriously, whether they will remember this favor in the future, and whether they will help me are all other matters.

"I know what kind of person Jia Zhangshi is, but just because I say something about her doesn't mean I shouldn't help others, does it?"

"She's cunning, heartless, and ungrateful, so why should everyone in this courtyard become wary and fearful of each other? That doesn't make sense!"

"I'm not living for her, Jia Zhangshi."

"..."

Yi Zhonghai said, "I'm completely confused. Even I, a moral exemplar, don't know how to respond to your words. I can't keep up this lie!"

"Besides, my mother passed away not long after giving birth to Yushui. Uncle Jia helped carry her coffin. I remember that."

"Uncle Jia died in an accident at the factory, and it was my dad who carried the coffin."

"For no other reason than this, I have to take care of Jia Dongxu's matter."

Even Zhang Dabiao was stunned for three seconds when he heard this.

He Yushui's eyes inexplicably reddened after hearing this. She missed her mother, even though she didn't have much of an impression of her.

Moreover, what Sha Zhu said wasn't about doing something particularly noble or righteous, but rather about maintaining such a pure heart in this era, which impressed Zhang Dabiao.

This isn't foolishness; it's staying true to one's original aspirations and demonstrating genuine feelings and character!

Sha Zhu is truly, or rather, the only person in this courtyard who accepts the concept of "when one is in trouble, all lend a hand."

Yi Zhonghai was moved and patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder several times, nodding vigorously.

The old lady is right, we should have chosen Sha Zhu a long time ago! That boy is so honest!

You did him a small favor, and he's remembered it all this time without asking for anything in return!

[The same goes for Yushui; because Liu Cuilan took care of her when she was little, Yushui now treats Liu Cuilan like her own mother.]

Why didn't I listen to the old lady and sincerely reciprocate her feelings sooner? Wouldn't that have solved everything?

[Double protection!]

Yi Zhonghai is now truly regretting it: "Silly Zhu, well done!"

Sha Zhu was a little embarrassed by the praise: "Uncle Yi, please don't praise me like that, it's just what I should do."

"Besides—"

"Sister Qin's affairs are my affairs!"

"My family has relied on Sister Qin to come over and tidy up for us these past few years. Now that she's in trouble, of course I have to help!"

--puff--

Just as Zhang Dabiao was moved, a mouthful of noodles shot out of his nose, and he began to cough incessantly.

He Yushui and Qin Jingru almost choked as well.

【Holy shit!】

It has to be you again, you silly Zhu!

Hearing the commotion from Zhang Dabiao's side, Sha Zhu glanced over sheepishly and gave an awkward smile...

Yi Zhonghai's hand froze in mid-air...

He was embarrassed; he had praised her too early...

Jia Dongxu just died! How dare you!

"Never mind, I think we should just ask Wobo."

"No need, silly Zhu."

"Oh, what's wrong, Uncle Yi?"

"You need to save your energy for the banquet tomorrow, so just stay home, just stay home..."

Sha Zhu scratched his head: "This is inexplicable..."

"I can cook after I finish carrying the coffin; I have plenty of strength."

Yi Zhonghai sighed, put his hands behind his back, turned around and left.

I don't want to talk to idiots.

What the hell is all this stuff?!

Sha Zhu went back to his room, and Zhang Dabiao, who was in the side room, asked He Yushui speechlessly, "Yushui, does your family... like widows...?"

"Is it hereditary?"