I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Yan Fugui stared blankly at Yi Zhonghai in front of him, as if the person in front of him had become a stranger.

Zhang Cuilan also stared blankly at Yi Zhonghai, her face full of surprise, but she deeply hid the faint worry in her eyes.

"Good, good, good! Old Yi, if you had understood this sooner, how could you have ended up in this situation today? Old Yi, I, Yan Fugui, sincerely congratulate you. Not only are you congratulating yourself on having your own child, but you're also congratulating yourself on finally understanding life!"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head helplessly: "Yes, I've lived my whole life, and only now at this age do I finally understand life. It's both laughable and pathetic to think about it."

"Alright, alright, Lao Yi, you've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel! This is great news! And I have another piece of good news for you: our courtyard will no longer have a steward."

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's surprised expression, Yan Fugui continued, "That's right. From now on, there will be no 'manager' in our courtyard, only 'manager aunties'! Your wife is the eldest auntie, Lao Liu's wife is the second eldest auntie, and my wife is the third eldest auntie. This is a new pilot policy implemented by the neighborhood committee."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai showed neither joy nor dissatisfaction.

After a while, his expression suddenly turned resistant: "No, Lao Yan, I can't agree to this. My wife needs to take good care of herself during her pregnancy, and I can't let her suffer. If Cuilan gets sick from all the stress, it would be a loss. I'll go to the neighborhood committee right now and cancel this."

"Hey, hey, Lao Yi, wait a minute!" Yan Fugui grabbed Yi Zhonghai, who was about to turn away, and hurriedly said, "Lao Yi, there's no need to be in such a hurry. You see, the three of us have been working together for so many years, we're used to it. We three can just assist the three aunties in charge, you won't need to make a special trip to the street office. After all these years, we know the situation in the courtyard very well, don't you think?"

Yi Zhonghai looked at Yan Fugui seriously, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly nodded: "Alright, let's give it a try first. But let me make this clear from the start: if this matter delays my care of Cuilan or tires her out, I will definitely resign from this manager's position without hesitation."

After saying that, Yi Zhonghai carefully helped Zhang Cuilan walk towards his home.

After returning home, he first settled Zhang Cuilan in, and then specially poured her a glass of boiled water.

To ensure the water temperature was just right, he stirred it back and forth between the two cups dozens of times until it was slightly cool before gently handing it to Zhang Cuilan.

Zhang Cuilan's eyes reddened as she looked at the thoughtful and considerate Yi Zhonghai, feeling a mix of emotions.

Since suspecting she was pregnant, she had felt anger and resentment. The man in front of her had lied to her for 20 years, and she had been called a "hen that can't lay eggs" for 20 years.

But now the truth is out: it wasn't that she couldn't have children, but rather that the man was the problem. Ever since she learned last night that she might be pregnant, Yi Zhonghai had become a different person. He pulled the cart all the way to the hospital by himself.

In the hospital, she lay down to rest, and he sat by her bedside, gently touching her belly, staying there all night without leaving her side. He carefully fed her, and this tender care made her both touched and guilty.

This deep affection was too heavy, almost unbearable for her. She thought to herself, how wonderful it would be if this child were truly his!

Just as Zhang Cuilan was lost in thought, Yi Zhonghai suddenly sat down beside her with a serious expression, took her hands in his, and said softly, "Cuilan, I'd like to see the old lady, as well as Zhuzi and Zhou Weiguo, in a little while."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuilan was utterly astonished and asked incredulously, "Old Yi, what... what do you want to do?"

Yi Zhonghai was silent for a moment, then said in a tone as relaxed as possible, "Cuilan, I've done a lot of foolish things over the years. I was just thinking of having a heart-to-heart talk with the old lady and then properly apologizing to Zhuzi and Zhou Weiguo."

Zhang Cuilan stared wide-eyed at the man before her in disbelief. For a moment, she even felt a chill, and couldn't help but wonder, "Could Old Yi be possessed?" But she quickly realized what was happening.

"Are you... are you scared?" Zhang Cuilan asked tentatively.

Yi Zhonghai sighed, nodded silently, and did not deny it.

After a long pause, he slowly explained, "Yes, I'm scared. I thought about it all night, so many things. Before I had children, I wasn't afraid of anything. I just wanted to live a peaceful and healthy life until I grew old, to have someone to take care of me, and to live a comfortable life. But it's different now. A mistake is a mistake. I've done so many foolish things over the years, and I'm scared! I'm scared that the immoral things I, Yi Zhonghai, have done will be punished on my children; I'm scared that I was too malicious in the past and harmed my descendants; I'm even more scared that the people I've offended will hurt you and the children in order to get revenge on me."

Zhang Cuilan stared intently at Yi Zhonghai, tears welling up in her eyes.

At that moment, she made a decision: if she could, she really wanted Yi Zhonghai to never know the truth for the rest of his life.

Because the Yi Zhonghai she sees now is the kind-hearted man she remembers from his youth!

When Yi Zhonghai saw Zhang Cuilan crying, he hurriedly stepped forward and gently wiped away her tears, his own eyes also becoming wet.

Zhou Weiguo, who had been secretly observing the two, had a complex look in his eyes.

He pondered to himself: What is this all about? Is it crocodile tears, feigned sincerity? Or is it a genuine act of laying down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot? Or has he finally realized that the sea of ​​suffering is boundless and that turning back is the shore?

For a fleeting moment, Zhou Weiguo felt a pang of tenderness.

But for some reason, a surge of intense anger welled up from the bottom of his heart.

He was angry not at anyone else, but at his own momentary wavering.

"Why should I?" Zhou Weiguo roared inwardly, "Why should I, after a lifetime of heartless, mean-spirited acts, now know fear and reverence, and shed a few tears to be forgiven? What kind of bullshit logic is this!"

Thinking of this, Zhou Weiguo shook his head with a wry smile and muttered to himself, "Yi Zhonghai, I wonder if you will continue to 'become a Buddha' or completely transform into a demon when you know the truth? Interesting, very interesting indeed."

Just then, a series of urgent knocks came from the gate of the east courtyard, "bang bang bang, bang bang bang," the sound being particularly clear in the quiet courtyard.

Zhou Weiguo used his senses to probe the situation outside the door, paused slightly, and then got up and opened the courtyard gate.

Zhu Zi, Yu Shui, and Yi Zhong Hai were standing outside the door.