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

In the backyard of the Liu family's house, the incandescent light bulb emitted a buzzing sound. The air was filled with the savory smell of scrambled eggs and the pungent odor of cheap tobacco.

The brand-new copy of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" lay open on the peeling paint of the eight-immortal table. The scent of ink from the pages clashed with the smells in the room, making the missing-leg wardrobe and the peeling-painted bench around it appear even more dilapidated.

Liu Haizhong, with his large pregnant belly, sat imposingly in the main seat. His slicked-back hair gleamed under the light, and the fat on his face trembled rapidly. His small eyes were fixed on the three characters "Zhang Dabiao" on the cover of the comic book.

His thick lips were pressed tightly together, and his breathing became heavy.

He looked at the books on the table, then at his youngest son, Liu Guangfu, and felt a pang of sadness.

Liu Guangfu is only 15 and a half years old this year, and he will have to take the high school entrance exam or the vocational school entrance exam in early July.

Liu Haizhong suddenly stood up, his fat body jiggling. His thick fingers skillfully moved to his waist, and with a "click," he unbuckled the belt.

The belt folded in mid-air with a crisp "snap".

As soon as the sound rang out, the Liu family children knew they were about to be beaten, and Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu instinctively trembled.

"Let's not even mention Zhang Dabiao, who got into a vocational school." Liu Haizhong said, his hands behind his back, tapping his belt against his palms.

"But look at what they've accomplished now! Their music is included in textbooks nationwide; they can just draw a picture book and people line up to buy it!"

"Guangfu, your eldest brother is a leader, which has brought some pride to our family. But we know what kind of person your second brother is; he's just someone who works at the factory to make a living."

At this point, Liu Guangtian's face turned pale. He thought back on the past two years and realized that although his salary was just so-so, he didn't seem to have caused any trouble.

"Our Liu family is now counting on you, Guangfu!"

Liu Guangfu huddled on the long bench, his face completely drained of color.

"I don't expect you to make any music or draw any comic books." Liu Haizhong flicked his wrist, the belt whistling through the air. "But if you can't even get into a vocational high school—watch your skin!"

Liu Guangfu trembled with grievance, his back teeth grinding together.

In a fit of anger, Liu Guangfu blurted out his true feelings: "I'm still a child! Is Zhang Dabiao even a normal person? How can you compare me to that living devil? He can earn over a million in two years! Why don't you compare yourself to him?"

"Even if we put all the staff in the hospital together, we can't compare!"

"Besides, is it up to me to decide whether or not I pass the exam?!"

The second brother, Liu Guangtian, standing to the side, was shocked—[You unlucky kid, why did you blurt out your inner thoughts?]

Seeing that things were not going well, he crouched down, snuggled close to the wall, and slipped out of the house, closing the door behind him.

He knew his father's tactics all too well. Once the old man got into a rhythm, he would definitely resort to indiscriminate attacks.

Staying behind to plead for the third brother? That's just asking for trouble. You'll definitely get called a "good-for-nothing" and then get beaten up along with him.

Taking advantage of the old man's attention being entirely on Guangfu, Liu Guangtian made a quick escape!

"Oh ho! You mean what your dad said is wrong?"

"Snapped!"

"Oh, Dad! I'll learn! I'll learn it like crazy, okay?!"

The screams inside the room came in waves, quite rhythmic.

Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangfu still have a bit of a musical rhythm.

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

However, the atmosphere was completely different in the west wing of the central courtyard.

Liu Guangqi held the copy of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" in his hand, his fingers unconsciously stroking the delicate paper. He leaned close to his wife You Hongjuan's ear and lowered his voice: "Hongjuan, what do you think... how about we let Xiaoqing learn to paint from Dabiao? Dabiao is Xiaoqing's officially recognized godfather."

"Given this favor, he can't possibly keep it to himself, can he?"

You Hongjuan was sewing a hole in her daughter's smock when she heard this. She rubbed the needle in her hair and shook her head repeatedly.

"No, no. Painting is too tiring. I heard you have to sit for a whole day, which not only hurts your eyes but also makes you all dirty with paint. Our Xiaoqing is a girl." You Hongjuan glanced at her daughter who was holding a doll next to her and suggested in a low voice.

"How about letting Xiaoqing learn to sing from Dabiao? Dabiao's musical talent is off the charts. It's so respectable for a girl to learn to sing. She could even get into a performing arts troupe later on—that's a secure job!"

Liu Guangqi slapped his thigh, realizing that this made sense.

Zhang Dabiao is now a section chief with the benefits of a full-fledged department head, and he's also officially registered in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. As long as Xiaoqing clings to this godfather, she'll have a good life ahead of her.

"But..." Liu Guangqi smacked his lips, "Is Da Biao's drawing talent really being wasted like this? How much money would he make from selling one of these comic books?"

You Hongjuan's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes sparkling: "How about... we have another one? A boy! The girl can study music, and the boy can study art, taking all of Da Biao's talents!"

"That's a great idea!" Liu Guangqi rubbed his hands together, already having thought of a name for the child. "If it's a boy, we'll name him Andy Lau! He'll be virtuous and talented, bringing glory to China!"

"Da Biao said that if they have a second child, he'll name the boy Dehua—that name is sure to be a hit!"

"Really?"

"What Da Biao says, absolutely!"

Hearing Liu Guangfu's pig-like screams coming from the backyard, Liu Guangqi pulled out the light.

"Everything is ready. We need to work harder tonight and get Andy Lau out there as soon as possible!"

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

The front yard, the Yan family's house.

The atmosphere inside was somber, and the kettle on the stove made only a soft hum.

Yan Bugui sat at the square table with a missing corner, his black-rimmed glasses, whose legs were wrapped with tape, had slipped down to the tip of his nose, but he didn't bother to push them back up. He held the book "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" in both hands, his fingers clenching uncontrollably, causing the pages to rustle.

Why should I?!

Zhang Dabiao, a notorious idiot in Nanluoguxiang, an idiot who only finished third grade after ten years of primary school, actually managed to publish a book and stand on his own?!

What kind of crooked and unorthodox things are these paintings? The lines are rough, the composition is exaggerated, and there's none of the gentleness and subtlety of traditional Chinese painting. How did they become so popular nationwide?!

Yan Bugui's Adam's apple bobbed as he forcefully swallowed the mouthful of blood that had risen to his throat. He had taught his whole life, written lesson plans his whole life, and considered himself the only cultured person in the courtyard, yet he had never even had a single piece of writing published in the newspaper.

And that idiot, who rides his motorcycle around all day with the engine roaring and gets into fights at the drop of a hat, actually got several thousand yuan in royalties! He even got a huge order of 100,000 copies from the Ministry of Foreign Trade!

Yan Bugui was jealous of Zhang Dabiao's wealth, but that was all he could think of. However, the several thousand yuan in royalties and the formal publications really struck a chord with Yan Bugui.

Of all professions, only studying is noble!

The ultimate goal of a scholar is to publish a book and establish himself! Yan Bugui was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred—envy so intense he was about to urinate blood!