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

Jia Family Courtyard

Madam Jia, her brows furrowed and eyes wide, snapped, "Qin Huairu, look at us! How long has it been since our grandson has had any meat? You wretched woman, find a way to get some meat for my precious grandson!"

Banggeng sat on the edge of the bed, joining in the commotion, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Grandma's right! Qin Huairu, you bitch, I want meat! I want meat!"

Qin Huairu looked bitter and helpless. "Mom, what can I do? We don't even have enough food to eat this month. Where am I supposed to get meat?"

Jia Zhangshi glared at him and said fiercely, "Who told you to buy it? Go ask for it! Wasn't Zhou Weiguo arrested? Go find Sha Zhu and ask for it later. Oh, and Yi Zhonghai just came back. Go to his house now and ask for the meat! If you don't get it, I'll tear your face to shreds!"

After Qin Huairu left, Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Banggeng, lowering her voice to ask, "Banggeng, do you want to eat meat?"

Banggeng's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Grandma, I miss it! I really want to eat meat! Didn't you ask Mom to get some?"

Jia Zhangshi smiled and tapped Bang Geng's forehead, saying slyly, "Silly child, self-reliance is the key to a good life. Look, Sha Zhu's family is probably empty now, and Zhou Weiguo has been arrested by the security department. He might get shot any day now, but his family has plenty of meat. A few days ago, they were cooking different kinds of meat every day, and they wouldn't even give my good grandson any. That beast deserves to eat peanuts."

"Yay! Yay! I hope that good-for-nothing He Yushui gets to eat peanuts too! The other day I asked her for a piece of candy and she wouldn't give me one. I told her that everything in Sha Zhu's house is mine, and she dared to glare at me. She deserves to eat peanuts!"

Madam Jia, beaming with pride, whispered, "My dear grandson, in a little while you'll..."

Qin Huairu stood at the door of Yi Zhonghai's house and called out loudly, "Grandpa, Grandpa!"

With a creak, Yi Zhonghai opened the door: "Huai Ru, what's wrong? What's the matter?"

Qin Huairu lowered her head, looking troubled: "Uncle, my mother-in-law insisted that I come to borrow some meat from you, I had no choice but to come."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai rubbed his teeth and thought to himself: The Jia family has been borrowing things far too frequently lately. This won't do. I need to think of another way.

He had a sudden inspiration and said, "Huai Ru, you know the situation at Uncle's house. Your aunt has to take medicine every day, and we have to give her some extra food when we have a little bit of ration coupons. To be honest, I haven't seen minced meat in a long time either. Here's what we've got: a lot of senior engineers came to the factory today, and He Yuzhu might bring lunchboxes back later. I'll tell him to give all the lunchboxes to you. Also, we need to take this opportunity to finalize this matter, so that Sha Zhu will bring your family lunchboxes every day from now on."

Qin Huairu asked with some skepticism, "Grandpa, will this really work?"

"Huai Ru, don't worry," Yi Zhonghai said confidently, "I know Zhu Zi well; he's just been led astray by Zhou Weiguo. Now that Zhou Weiguo has been arrested by the security department, give me some time, and I'm sure I can get Zhu Zi back to helping your family as before."

Qin Huairu nodded, then asked, "By the way, Uncle, how did Dongxu do on his exam? He came back and just lay in bed sleeping, ignoring everyone."

Yi Zhonghai sighed, "He didn't pass this time. I'll have Dongxu practice hard so he can pass level 3 directly next year."

Meanwhile, Zhou Weiguo and the others, having eaten and drunk their fill, bid farewell to Li Huaide. Zhou Weiguo told Shazhu to ride his bicycle home first, carrying the rainwater, while he planned to walk to digest his food.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Zhou Weiguo's face darkened instantly—he heard He Yuzhu's voice.

"Uncle, I really can't give this lunchbox to the Jia family today."

"Silly Zhu, your sister Qin's family is so poor, why don't you have any sense of helping others? Remember, this courtyard is our home, unity and friendship depend on everyone. It's settled then, from now on you must bring your sister Qin two lunchboxes every day. It's all your uncle's fault, he's made such a mess of things in the courtyard."

With her hands on her hips, Jia Zhangshi launched into a tirade against He Yuzhu: "He Yuzhu, you little beast! Why won't you give my family the lunchboxes you brought back? Four whole lunchboxes, and you wanted to keep them all for yourself? You're blind! Don't count on your good-for-nothing uncle; he's probably already been executed!"

He Yuzhu flew into a rage, pointing at Jia Zhangshi and shouting, "Jia Zhangshi, if you dare speak ill of my brother-in-law again, I'll fight you to the death!"

Jia Zhangshi, not to be outdone, pointed at He Yuzhu's nose and retorted, "You little beast, you've grown some guts, haven't you? Back then you were begging for food in the yard like a dog, and now you dare to yell at me? My Dongxu even fed you two cornbreads back then, you've raised a bunch of ungrateful wretches!"

He Yuzhu was so angry that his face turned red, and he raised his fist to strike.

At this moment, Qin Huairu rushed forward in a panic and grabbed He Yuzhu's hand: "Zhuzi, how can you talk to your elders like that? Listen to Uncle, Sister Qin really has no other choice, we're starving. Just bring Sister Qin two lunchboxes every day, and Sister Qin will definitely repay you in the future."

As she spoke, Qin Huairu reached out to take the lunchbox from He Yuzhu's handlebars.

He Yuzhu was already impulsive, and when he suddenly felt Qin Huairu's soft touch on his arm, he was momentarily dazed. What was even more embarrassing was that his body had reacted. He could only hunch over slightly and say awkwardly, "Sister Qin, please don't blame me. My uncle told me that I absolutely cannot give the lunchbox to your family, or he will beat me."

Qin Huairu stepped aside to block Jia Zhangshi's view and suddenly squeezed He Yuzhu's palm. At this, He Yuzhu felt his heart flutter and almost threw his bicycle away.

Qin Huairu reacted quickly, reaching for the net on the handlebars again. Just then, He Yushui grabbed the net, looking at her stubbornly.

Qin Huairu softened her tone: "Yushui, be good. Sister Qin can take it yourself. You don't need to help." He Yushui just stubbornly shook her head and didn't say anything.

Yi Zhonghai stepped forward and sternly rebuked, "He Yushui, how can you be so insensible? Your brother has already agreed, and your family eats lavishly every day, don't you know how to help families in need?"

Madam Jia stepped forward, grabbing He Yushui's hand with one hand and preparing to pinch her with the other, cursing, "You little slut, you're just like your blind uncle! Let go of me!"

Zhou Weiguo was heartbroken to see this, but still wanted to see if He Yuzhu had improved after his several reprimands, so he restrained himself from approaching. Just as he was about to lose control—

"This is truly eye-opening. Your own sister is being bullied, and you, as her brother, just stand there like an idiot. Only you, He Yuzhu, could do something like this." Xu Damao leaned against the wall of the moon gate in the backyard, his face full of disdain.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi turned around, pointed at Xu Damao, and cursed, "Xu Damao, you heartless bastard, you have no right to speak here! If you say another word, I'll scratch your face to pieces!"