Courtyard House: Home Alone

When the deaf old woman saw through Yi Zhonghai's thoughts, a hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his solemn expression.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice even further: "Mrs. Long, to be honest, I've come here to discuss the Lin family's affairs next door with you."

"The Lin family?" The deaf old woman paused, her fingers holding the pipe, and looked up at Yi Zhonghai. "The one next door? Now all that's left is that little brat Lin Yifan, right? What could he possibly have that would make you come all this way to see me?"

A complex expression appeared on Yi Zhonghai's face. He leaned closer, almost whispering in the deaf old woman's ear, and said, "Mrs. Long, you see, their master's fate is currently unknown. If I let Xiaolan move in, she could take care of him..."

The deaf old woman squinted, took a deep drag on her pipe, and through the swirling smoke, her seemingly cloudy eyes sharpened.

"Let Xiaolan move in? To take care of that child?" She repeated slowly, her tone unreadable. "Zhonghai, you've certainly got a clever plan."

Yi Zhonghai's face flushed, and he explained somewhat awkwardly, "Mrs. Long, you see, Xiao Fan is all alone and really needs someone to take care of him."

"Xiao Lan has served you for so many years. She's very attentive. Letting her go there would be beneficial. Firstly, she could help Xiao Fan. Secondly... secondly, those two main rooms in their house are just sitting empty anyway. Letting Xiao Lan live there would also help keep an eye on things, wouldn't it?"

"Guard the gate?" The deaf old woman sneered, tapping her pipe on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "I bet you've got your eye on those two rooms, haven't you? They're in the best spot in the backyard, much more spacious and brighter than the east wing you're living in now."

His secret was exposed, and Yi Zhonghai looked even more embarrassed. However, he did not deny it. Instead, he leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Mrs. Long, to be honest, I was also thinking about the children."

"Think about it, his parents have been missing for several days. In these chaotic times, anything can happen. If something happened to them... then only this one child will be left. Or... or if something else happens to him, then... then this house..."

"Shut up!" The deaf old woman abruptly interrupted him, her eyes turning stern. "Yi Zhonghai! How can you say such a thing? That's a human life! A living child! How could you think of such a wicked idea for two dilapidated houses?"

Yi Zhonghai trembled at the deaf old woman's imposing manner and quickly protested, "No, Mrs. Long, that's not what I meant! I just... I just said it casually. Why would I wish for the child to be unwell? I just felt that this was a rare opportunity..."

"Chance?"

The deaf old woman slammed her pipe down on the table with a loud thud. "I think you've been blinded by lard!"

Aren't there plenty of people eyeing the Lin family's house in this courtyard? Old Zhang in the front yard is kind-hearted; he wouldn't fight with a child for it.

"Those two, Jia Gui and his wife in the Intermediate Court, and Li Ermazi in the west, aren't they all shifty-eyed? You think you're the only smart one?"

She paused, looking at Yi Zhonghai with a complicated expression: "It's been almost ten years since I married Xiaolan to you, and you two still haven't had any children. I know the bitterness in your heart, and I also know that you want to plan for your retirement."

But a gentleman loves money, but he acquires it in a proper way! Can you live with peace of mind if you get something obtained through such despicable means? If word gets out, won't you lose all your reputation?

Xiao Fan has been clever since he was little, and his parents have raised him well. If you treat him well, he'll be the best person to take care of you in your old age. Let me tell you, don't have any improper thoughts, otherwise... hehe... I, this old woman, will be the first to object.

Yi Zhonghai blushed as the deaf old woman spoke to him, lowered his head even further, and said in a somewhat weak voice, "Yes, yes, Mrs. Long is right. I was confused. I shouldn't have had those thoughts."

He said this, but he hadn't completely given up in his heart; he was just temporarily suppressed by the deaf old woman's authority.

The deaf old woman looked at him, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She picked up her pipe again, but didn't light it. She just rubbed it in her hand and said, "Zhonghai, I know you've had a hard time all these years. You've supported the family all by yourself and had to take care of this old woman like me."

But there are some bottom lines that must never be crossed. I watched Xiao Fan grow up; he's a kind-hearted child, but he suffered this undeserved misfortune.

If you treat him sincerely, he might remember your kindness in the future. But if you have ulterior motives, well, everyone in this neighborhood is watching.

Yi Zhonghai nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, I understand, Mrs. Long. I will definitely treat Xiao Fan well from now on and will never have those messy thoughts again."

He was afraid the deaf old woman would say something harsh again, and he just wanted to leave this place that made him feel so stressed as soon as possible.

The deaf old woman waved her hand: "Alright, go back now. Remember what I said today, don't do anything foolish."

Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly replied "Yes," turned around, and quietly opened the door. He looked around and, seeing that the courtyard was still quiet, slipped out like a thief and hurried back to his east wing.

Watching Yi Zhonghai's disheveled departure, the deaf old woman sighed softly, placed her pipe on the table, and looked out the window towards Lin Yifan's house, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Lin Yifan took in all of this through his mind, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Yi Zhonghai, the deaf old woman... everyone in this courtyard is not as simple as they seem on the surface.

Although the deaf old woman rebuked Yi Zhonghai, wasn't she also thinking about her own retirement in the meantime?

Saying things like "treat him well, and he'll be the best person to take care of in his old age" ultimately means treating him as a potential "tool."

However, compared to Yi Zhonghai's blatant greed, the deaf old woman's methods were clearly much more sophisticated and covert.

"A person to rely on for old age?" Lin Yifan muttered to himself, his eyes darkening. In this cannibalistic age, relying on someone else for old age was simply a pipe dream. He could only rely on himself!

He got out of bed, walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and looked into the middle and front yards. All the doors were tightly shut, as if the farce had never happened.

But Lin Yifan knew that beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging. Jia Zhangshi's clamor, Yi Zhonghai's scheming, and the eyes peeking from behind the door... all of this reminded him that this was a cannibalistic society.

He must improve his strength as soon as possible and accumulate enough power in order to gain a foothold in this chaotic world, protect himself, and find his missing parents.

Thinking of this, Lin Yifan felt a jolt. He realized that ever since he transmigrated and merged with the original owner's memories, he had always had a strong desire to find his parents.

So he said quietly: Now that I've taken over your body, your parents are my parents too. I will find them, even if they're no longer here. I will find out their whereabouts and give you an explanation. This is my promise to you.

He clenched his fist, a power seemingly gathering in his small palm. The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, gilding the old locust tree in the yard with a golden edge, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in Lin Yifan's heart.