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

The next day, in the evening.

After getting off work, Xu Damao rushed to the east courtyard.

Zhang Dabiao pointed to two large nets in the corner.

"Da Mao, everything's over there."

Xu Damao went over and took a look, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

The mesh bag contained two cans of imported milk powder, two cans of Ovaltine (containing malt extract), a case of Vitasoy, a case of soy milk, and Garden "Life Bread"—it was obvious that these were not products from mainland China!

In a bamboo basket next to it, two plump old hens were lying there!

"Oh my! Brother Biao, Master Biao! You've saved my life!"

Xu Damao was so excited that he was incoherent. He thanked them for a long time, then, carrying a net bag in one hand and a bamboo basket in the other, he walked out of the east courtyard with a proud and imposing air.

They couldn't figure out what was in the net, but when they saw the metal can and the two old hens, their eyes lit up.

Upon returning home, Xu Damao immediately began boiling water and killing the chicken without saying a word.

Soon, the rich aroma of chicken soup wafted out of the backyard window. Xu Damao's cooking skills were considered above average in this courtyard.

The fragrance swirled in the sweltering air and seeped into the Jia family's house in the central courtyard.

The Jia family was having dinner at that moment, while Qin Huairu took Huaihua'er and Xiaodang to Qin Jingru's place to get a bite to eat, because she really couldn't stand it anymore.

Qin Jingru treated her two nieces quite well, and Zhang Dabiao didn't interfere in their affairs, as long as he didn't let the ingrate and Jia Zhangshi take advantage of them.

As for the claim that Qin Huairu took advantage of Qin Jingru, the sisters' relationship was complicated to begin with. When they were little, Qin Huairu carried Qin Jingru to work in the fields, so she could be considered half a mother to her.

Moreover, Qin Jingru was using her own "salary," so she could use it however she wanted, and Zhang Dabiao couldn't stop her.

Zhang Dabiao didn't think the two girls had done anything wrong, so he wouldn't go so far as to kill them.

Zhang Dabiao pretended not to see the matter between Qin Jingru and Qin Huairu, letting the two sisters handle it themselves. Qin Jingru was quite sensible.

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

On the Jia family's table were several dark cornbread buns and a bowl of bland cabbage stalks in clear broth.

Banggeng took a bite of the cornbread, and the rough texture made his throat ache.

He smelled the aroma of chicken wafting from outside the window, and tears streamed down his face.

"Grandma, I want to eat meat."

"Xu Damao's family is stewing chicken, it smells so good."

Jia Zhangshi held the bowl in her hand and swallowed hard.

Her triangular eyes gleamed with greed and jealousy.

"Pah! Xu Damao, that childless man, does he even deserve to eat an old hen!"

"Eating so well, aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"And your mother and two younger sisters, they eat all the food themselves without ever bringing you anything back, they're heartless!"

Madam Jia cursed fiercely, but what she really meant was envy, jealousy, and resentment that she hadn't gotten the better deal.

If the whole family benefited, she could just scold the outsiders, but the fact that only she and Banggeng couldn't benefit made her feel even worse.

She turned her head and looked at the large, still swollen bump on Banggeng's head, and a surge of anger welled up inside her.

Last night, Xu Damao not only didn't pay much compensation, but also caused his grandson to fall and break his head.

She just couldn't swallow this insult.

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Bang Geng's ear, lowering her voice.

"My dear grandson, Xu Damao bullied you yesterday, we can't just let it go like this."

"Grandma overheard someone in the front yard saying that Xu Damao brought back several cans of malted milk powder and milk powder. That stuff is so sweet, it tastes even better than sugar water when you mix it with water."

"He's childless, why should he drink such good stuff?"

"Xu Damao is going to the countryside to show a movie tomorrow morning. Every time he goes to the countryside, he sends his wife back to her parents' home."

"Wait until no one's home at his house tomorrow."

"Go to his kitchen and bring that malted milk powder back to Grandma."

"This isn't stealing, this is taking! We're taking back the compensation we're owed, understand?"

Bang Geng already harbored resentment towards Xu Damao.

Influenced by Jia Zhangshi, his evil thoughts swelled up instantly.

"Grandma, don't worry, I'm going to take all of his good stuff!"

It's not that Bang Geng doesn't know what stealing is, it's that he really couldn't resist anymore.

"Don't take it all. Tomorrow, take a can and scoop half a can of each of their milk powder and malted milk powder back, like this..."

"Grandma, I understand! You're so smart!"

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

The next day, Xu Damao went to show a movie and also took Lou Xiao'e home on the way.

The people in the courtyard went to work as usual, and the older women went to the market early in the morning to buy vegetables, or to the park and the moat to pick wild vegetables.

Liu Guangfu's junior high school entrance exams were over in mid-June and early July. As for whether he will be able to get into a vocational school, it's hard to say.

Since the results won't be out until August, he goes out early every morning to hang out with his classmates and isn't around.

Only the deaf old lady was at home, but she was old and woke up late.

Even the second aunt took Liu Xiaoqing for a stroll in the alley.

So around 9 o'clock, there were basically no people in the backyard.

In the middle courtyard, only Zhang Dabiao, Qin Jingru, and He Yushui were at home because it was summer vacation. However, they were either painting or farming in the east courtyard and were completely too lazy to care about anything outside.

So Banggeng went to the backyard openly and legitimately.

It's holiday time, so it's reasonable for the little brat to be running around the yard instead of going to school, right?

It's not illegal for me to wander into the backyard with a jar and a spoon, right?

He crept along the wall and tiptoed to the kitchen window of Xu Damao's house.

He listened intently, but there was no sound, so Banggeng was relieved.

The latch on Xu Damao's kitchen window had been loose for a long time; Bang Geng had already figured it out before.

He skillfully pulled out a small knife and pried open the latch along the window crack.

Gently pushing open the window, Banggeng climbed inside using both hands and feet.

The old hen was temporarily kept in the chicken coop outside. He really wanted to steal it, but it was too conspicuous. Today, he would take some milk powder or malted milk powder first, safety first.

Banggeng walked towards the five-drawer chest against the wall.

He knew that Xu Damao's family usually kept any good food in a dresser, on top of it, or under the bed.

There was no one in the room, so he opened the cabinet and exclaimed, "Hey!"

No?

Clean and tidy?

So Banggeng tiptoed and touched the top of the cabinet again, and suddenly felt that he touched a metal object.

A jar?

He was overjoyed, thinking he had found a can of milk powder or malted milk powder.

Then he forcefully extended his finger and hooked it—

—Smack!—

A sharp, metallic clang rang out in the cramped kitchen.

The mousetrap's immense biting force slammed into the middle finger of Banggeng's right hand.

"ah--!!!"

A heart-wrenching, agonizing scream instantly echoed throughout the entire courtyard!

The idiot has been caught!