Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

As expected, Jia Zhangshi began her performance early the next morning.

Instead of hanging herself at Yi Zhonghai's door, she took a more offensive approach—sitting at her own doorstep, slapping her thighs, and wailing in a drawn-out tone: "Oh dear! I can't live like this anymore! God, please open your eyes! Are you taking advantage of the fact that our Jia family has no one to rely on? Such a big courtyard is given to an outsider, while the five of us are crammed into a pigeon coop! I'm an old woman, and I still have to suffer like this..."

The crying wasn't deafening, but the continuous, curse-like wails, like demonic chants, pierced through the thin walls and permeated the entire courtyard. Some children cried in fear, while workers hurried away with furrowed brows, creating a suffocating and restless atmosphere in the courtyard.

Qin Huairu hugged the stick, her head bowed, occasionally letting out a sob. Jia Dongxu, on the other hand, hid at home, too ashamed to come out.

Hearing the commotion outside, Yi Zhonghai said to the older woman, "See? It's starting now. Good, let Dr. Wang experience the 'enthusiasm' of our institute first."

As noon approached, Yi Zhonghai felt the time was right. He then walked out of the house with his hands behind his back, approached Jia Zhangshi, and, with a stern face, adopted the air of a domineering old man: "Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Get up! What kind of behavior is this! Can't you talk things out properly if you have any difficulties? This commotion is really bad!"

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai had finally shown up, Jia Zhangshi wailed even more loudly: "Uncle! You have to stand up for us! We can't live like this anymore!"

Yi Zhonghai was secretly delighted, but on the surface he feigned deep distress: "Sister-in-law, I know your difficulties. Crying won't solve anything. Tonight, let's hold a hospital-wide meeting to specifically discuss the housing problem and hear Comrade Wang's opinion, since he's now a member of our hospital. What do you think?"

This was exactly what Jia Zhangshi wanted, and she immediately seized the opportunity: "A general meeting of the whole courtyard? Good! Sir, you have to uphold justice for our family!"

Yi Zhonghai comforted Jia Zhangshi with a few words, and then went to the front and back yards to "talk to" Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were naturally delighted and expressed their support for holding the conference.

Yi Zhonghai finally arrived at the entrance of the west courtyard and knocked on the door.

Wang Huanbo was organizing the newbie gift pack in the system space (which contained some basic supplies and a "Advanced Mechanical Mastery" skill book) when he heard a knock on the door. He smiled slightly and said, "They're here."

He opened the door and saw Yi Zhonghai standing outside with a warm smile on his face: "Comrade Wang, I hope I didn't disturb your work?"

"Uncle, you're too kind. Is there anything I can help you with?" Wang Huanbo pretended not to know.

Yi Zhonghai sighed and recounted the Jia family's "difficulties" and Wang Huanbo's "waste" of living in three rooms by himself in a seemingly fair tone. Finally, he said, "Comrade Wang, you see, we're all neighbors, and a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. The Jia family's situation is indeed special. Of course, the neighborhood committee must have its reasons for allocating the house to you. We just want to hold a general meeting of the whole compound to discuss and see if there's a win-win solution, such as... could you show some generosity and give up one or two rooms to a neighbor who is in a more difficult situation? Of course, this is just a discussion, and the final decision rests with you."

Wang Huanbo sneered inwardly. Sure enough, here comes the moral blackmail. He put on a gentle, puzzled expression: "Uncle, I'm new here and don't know much about the situation in the institute. However, since this is a general meeting to discuss collective matters, I will definitely attend. As for the house, it was allocated to me by the street committee for work and research, and I'm afraid I can't make that decision on my own. But it's good to hear everyone's opinions."

Seeing that Wang Huanbo didn't directly refuse, Yi Zhonghai felt reassured, thinking he had a chance. Young people are easily embarrassed, and having just returned from abroad, they certainly wouldn't want to strain their relationship with their neighbors. At the conference, he could join forces with several older men and the deaf old lady to put pressure on him; he wasn't afraid Wang Huanbo wouldn't give in.

"Good, Comrade Wang is very understanding! Then it's settled. The Intermediate People's Court will hold a meeting at 8 p.m.!" Yi Zhonghai left satisfied.

Wang Huanbo closed the door, his eyes turning playful. A college-wide meeting? A moral high ground? Yi Laoliu, do you think I'm still that idiot you can easily manipulate? Tonight, I'll show you what a true dimensional reduction attack looks like.

After dinner, at exactly eight o'clock.

The courtyard was already set up. A square table and three armchairs were for the three elderly men. Other residents brought their own stools, forming a semi-circle. Jia Zhangshi had deliberately moved a small stool to sit at the very front, looking utterly resentful. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were also eager to get started. Sha Zhu leaned against the moon gate, hands clasped, watching the spectacle, while Xu Damao hid behind the crowd, a smug look on his face. The deaf old lady, helped by an older woman, sat in a rattan chair specially prepared next to Yi Zhonghai, her eyes half-closed, seemingly indifferent to everything.

Wang Huanbo moved a chair and sat down near the entrance to the west courtyard, looking calm and composed.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat, tapped the table, and announced the start of the meeting.

"The main purpose of today's plenary meeting is to discuss the housing difficulties of some residents in our compound, and how to foster unity, friendship, and mutual assistance among our new neighbor, Comrade Wang Huanbo, after he moves in." Yi Zhonghai's opening remarks were as grand and dignified as ever.

He first asked Jia Dongxu to describe his difficulties. Jia Dongxu stammered as he described the family's cramped living conditions, while Jia Zhangshi added her tearful complaints from the side.

Next, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong also spoke, stating the cramped living conditions of their families. Although they did not explicitly ask for the west wing, their words implied that it was unreasonable for Wang Huanbo to occupy three rooms by himself.

After they finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai summarized: "As you all know, the housing difficulties are an objective fact. But it is also true that Comrade Wang is a highly skilled individual and needs a quiet environment. Therefore, the purpose of our meeting today is to carry forward our institute's fine tradition of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, and to discuss a proper solution."

He looked at Wang Huanbo and said in a "gentle" tone, "Comrade Wang, you see, you know everyone's situation. Could you consider temporarily giving up one or two rooms to solve the immediate problem in the courtyard? Of course, we won't take your room for nothing. We can give you some compensation, or we can find a way to help you when you get married and need a house."

The noose of moral blackmail was quietly being tightened around Wang Huanbo's neck. Everyone was watching Wang Huanbo, and Jia Zhangshi's eyes were filled with coercion.

Wang Huanbo slowly stood up, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Yi Zhonghai's face. He smiled slightly and uttered a sentence that surprised everyone.