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

Director Chen personally came to the courtyard to refute the rumors, saying that Comrade Zhang Dabiao was assisting with the investigation and went to the hospital because he was feeling unwell, and that it had nothing to do with assaulting anyone.

But the more he refuted the rumors, the less the people in the courtyard believed him.

People recalled Zhang Dabiao's previous miraculous prophecies, such as Kennedy and Nehru, who died one after another. Now it was his turn to vomit blood and be hospitalized. Isn't this "revealing heavenly secrets and incurring divine retribution"?

Just like his father, Zhang Bansian, back then!

The three old men gathered together again around the stone table in the courtyard.

"Hey, I told you, young people should believe in science and not get involved in those feudal superstitions." Yi Zhonghai held a teacup, looking heartbroken.

Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and adopted the air of an old man: "Don't spread rumors about this. Director Wang said that Comrade Da Biao has a hidden ailment, and his old problem has flared up again."

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and slowly said, "I've calculated it. A day in the hospital costs a lot in medical and nutritional expenses. If... sigh, what a pity."

Despite their words of regret, the three of them couldn't hide the smug smile in their eyes.

Zhang Dabiao, you thought you were so capable? So arrogant? You've finally got your comeuppance!

When Jia Zhangshi of the Jia family heard the news, her triangular eyes darted around nervously.

Is Zhang Dabiao dying?

His two side rooms, the entire east courtyard, and the more than 300,000 yuan in bank savings...

I am his third aunt, who is within five degrees of kinship!

If this family's property, which has no heir, is not given to the Jia family, then who should it be given to?

And so, the people in the courtyard witnessed a strange scene.

Changing her usual lazy ways, Jia Zhangshi started sweeping the covered walkway in front of Zhang Dabiao's side room every day before dawn with a broken broom.

It was swept so clean that not a single leaf could be found.

As she swept, she muttered to a passing neighbor, "Oh, my poor nephew. As his aunt, I have to keep an eye on his house and not let outsiders take advantage of it."

She looked exactly like the future mistress of this courtyard.

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

Unlike some people in the compound who were gloating, Zhang Dabiao's close friends were genuinely worried.

Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, and Yan Jiecheng, the three brothers, went to the hospital almost every day. One day they would bring a can of malted milk powder, and the next day they would bring a net bag of apples. The ward was piled up like a small shop.

"Da Biao, hang in there! If you die, those boxes of good wine in your stable will be mine!" Xu Damao sat on the edge of the bed, his words sharp, but the worry in his eyes was genuine.

Liu Guangqi, on the other hand, was much more composed. He inquired about the patient's condition carefully and mentioned that he had already used his connections to find a specialist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Even Sha Zhu, for the first time ever, brought over a clay pot of fragrant old hen soup.

Of course, He Yushui paid for the chickens.

That day, Xu Damao came again, looking indignant.

"Da Biao, you have no idea, that old hag Jia in the courtyard is practically wearing down your doorstep!" Xu Damao lowered his voice and embellished the disgusting things Jia Zhangshi did in the courtyard to "assert her dominance."

"Now she tells everyone she meets that she's your third aunt, and if anything happens to you, your yard and savings will all belong to the Jia family. That little brat Banggeng is also yelling in the yard, saying he wants to live in your little wooden house!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the ward instantly turned cold.

Mu Wanqing, who was peeling an apple for Zhang Dabiao, dropped the fruit knife on the ground with a "clatter".

Qin Jingru was furious, her pretty face turning bright red with anger: "How dare she! Shameless old hag! I'll tear her mouth apart when I get back!"

Mu Wanqing picked up the knife, her eyes chillingly cold: "Jingru, let's go back!"

The two girls were like two enraged tigresses, exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay.

He Yushui stood aside, watching the two women's aggressive demeanor, feeling both anxious and embarrassed. She didn't even have the right to interrupt in this situation.

She has no identity!

Qin Jingru and Mu Wanqing rushed back to the courtyard like a whirlwind, and Zhang Dabiao couldn't stop them.

He Yushui was watching over him at the hospital, so Zhang Dabiao could only send Xu Damao and the others back to keep an eye on things, making sure Qin Jingru and Mu Wanqing didn't suffer any losses.

As for himself, his blood volume is currently 72.5% (approximately, perhaps), so he can't be discharged from the hospital, and he can't exert any strength in this condition.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Jia Zhangshi standing with her hands on her hips at Zhang Dabiao's door, yelling at a neighbor who wanted to rest on the porch: "Go away! Do you think this is your place to sit? If you knock down my nephew's porch, can you afford to pay for it?"

The neighbor was completely bewildered—"Can I just sit down and the porch collapse?"

How much tonnage do I weigh?

Do I have that ability?

Without saying a word, Qin Jingru rushed to the sink, picked up a basin of muddy water that someone had just used to wash sweet potatoes, and splashed it all over Jia Zhangshi's head.

"Ouch!"

Jia Zhangshi was drenched in cold water, which dripped down her greasy hair and covered her face.

Before she could react, Qin Jingru rushed up to her, grabbed her hair, and started slapping her hard across the face.

"I'll teach you to curse my brother Da Biao! I'll teach you to eat up his entire fortune! I'll beat you to death, you old bastard!"

"Ah! This is outrageous! Qin Jingru, you little whore, how dare you hit me!" Jia Zhangshi screamed and fought back, and the two instantly started fighting.

Hearing the commotion, Qin Huairu rushed out of the house. Seeing her mother-in-law had been wronged, she cried out and lunged at her, "Jingru, are you crazy! Let go of my mother-in-law!"

Seeing this, Mu Wanqing rolled up her sleeves and joined the fray, directly blocking Qin Huairu's way: "Qin Huairu, get out of my way! This isn't over yet!"

The four women instantly started fighting in the courtyard.

Hair flew everywhere, and cries and curses filled the air; the scene was more lively than watching a play.

Xu Damao and the others watched from the sidelines. When women fight, men shouldn't interfere, because if they do, they'll easily be accused of bullying orphans and widows.

Besides, Qin Jingru and Mu Wanqing fought incredibly fiercely and didn't suffer any losses at all.

In the chaos, Jia Zhangshi, driven to desperation, screamed incoherently, "Kill me! Go ahead and kill me! Zhang Dabiao is destined to have no descendants! He deserves it! I'm his third aunt, his family fortune should belong to the Jia family! Heaven is on our side!"

The burly man hiding by the door chimed in, shouting, "My grandma's right! When he dies, all his money and his house will be mine! You're all outsiders!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanqing trembled with anger and shook off Qin Huairu, ready to strike Bang Geng.

"Wanqing, don't move!" Qin Jingru stopped her.

Mu Wanqing was taken aback; she didn't understand why Qin Jingru was pulling her.

But in that instant, Qin Jingru's eyes turned cold, and with lightning speed, she slapped Bang Geng across the face with an extremely loud slap.

"Snapped!"

The slap was so powerful that it sent the stick spinning three times before he landed hard on his backside, spitting out two bloody molars.

The entire courtyard fell silent instantly.

Everyone was stunned by the slap.

Qin Jingru shook her numb hand and looked coldly at the dumbfounded Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi.

"I'm his aunt, it's my right to hit him to teach him a lesson!"