Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

Yi Zhonghai felt his face burning as he listened to the six middle-aged women's insults.

He's lived to such an old age, and he's a respected senior worker in the steel rolling mill. He's also a respected figure in the yard. When has he ever suffered such humiliation?

As more and more people gathered around, apart from a few who were on good terms with their families, everyone else stood far away, looking like they were enjoying the spectacle.

"No, if this continues, my authority in this courtyard will be completely ruined!"

Yi Zhonghai steeled himself, took a step forward, and shouted loudly to the crowd in the courtyard, "Are you all still watching this commotion? This is a matter concerning our No. 95 courtyard. If word gets out, it will be a disgrace to the entire courtyard!"

He pointed at the six middle-aged women standing angrily at the gate, hands on their hips, and shouted, "Hurry up and chase them away!"

As soon as these words were spoken, some people in the crowd moved slightly, but most remained standing still.

At this moment, Aunt Qian stepped out from the crowd, displeased, and said, "Master Yi, I don't like hearing you say that!"

"They're criticizing those despicable bastards who wrote the whistleblower letters, what does that have to do with us?"

She looked around and continued, "Most people in our compound are honest and law-abiding citizens. Who would do something so despicable? Some people have something to hide and want to drag us down with them, but that won't do!"

That makes sense, and many people in the courtyard nodded in agreement.

"Aunt Qian is right, it wasn't us who reported it!"

"Exactly, everyone knows who did it!"

"Master Yi, you didn't really report this, did you?"

Yi Zhonghai was furious, his face turning ashen. Although he hadn't written the report, he had instructed Jia Dongxu to do it.

Seeing this, Liu Haizhong felt it was an opportunity to shine, so he cleared his throat and prepared to speak: "Um..."

"Dad!" His eldest son, Liu Guangqi, grabbed him and whispered, "Don't get involved, this has nothing to do with our family!"

"But..." Liu Haizhong wanted to say something more.

Liu Guangqi said anxiously, "But what? This has nothing to do with us. If you go out to help Yi Zhonghai now, won't you just offend He Yuzhu for no reason?"

Liu Haizhong was taken aback, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed true.

"Ahem, well... I think what Sister-in-law Qian said makes sense." Liu Haizhong changed the subject, "We have to be reasonable in what we do. We're all neighbors in the same compound. If there's anything we can't clarify face to face, then these people who made the reports are the bad elements in our compound."

Yi Zhonghai almost spat out a mouthful of blood. "You Liu Haizhong, are you trying to backstab me?"

He turned to look at Yan Bugui, hoping that this cultured man could say a few fair words for him.

Yan Bugui's eyes darted around. He had also written a letter of complaint, but he was feeling guilty and didn't dare to step forward.

When he saw Yi Zhonghai looking over, he quickly lowered his head and pretended to be adjusting the corner of his clothes.

Yi Zhonghai turned his gaze to He Yuzhu, trying to make his voice sound as calm as possible: "He Yuzhu, what exactly are you trying to do? What good will this commotion do you?"

He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle and walked out from behind the six middle-aged women.

"Master Yi, I should be asking you that," He Yuzhu teased. "Don't you guys love to report others? One wasn't enough, you sent six!"

He paused, looked around at everyone in the courtyard, and said loudly, "Since you all like to play dirty tricks, then I'll expose all your shady dealings and let the neighbors see just how many demons and monsters are hiding in our No. 95 courtyard!"

"You...you..." Yi Zhonghai trembled with anger.

He Yuzhu ignored him and turned to the six women, saying, "Aunties, if you're tired, take a break. We have plenty of time today, so take your time scolding them. There's no rush."

The plump woman, engrossed in her tirade, laughed upon hearing this, "Master He, we're not tired! We could curse about this kind of despicable thing for a whole day and night without repeating ourselves!"

"Exactly!" another middle-aged woman chimed in, "I've lived this long and I've never seen such a shameless person!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Yi Zhonghai shouted to the young men standing at the courtyard gate, "Close the gate! Close the gate!"

The young people looked at each other, about to go forward and close the door.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle forward and parked it across the middle of the gate.

"Master Yi, why are you in such a hurry to close the shop?" He Yuzhu asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you feeling guilty? Afraid that the neighbors will find out the truth?"

His words immediately caused an uproar among the neighbors in the outer courtyard who were watching the commotion:

"Oh, could it really be Yi Zhonghai who reported it?"

"Looks like there really is something to hide!"

"Tsk tsk, the waters in courtyard number 95 are really deep!"

Yi Zhonghai's face flushed red and then turned pale as he pointed at He Yuzhu: "You...you move the car!"

"Move it?" He Yuzhu laughed. "Why should I? Is this gate yours? Or has this compound changed hands to the Yi family?"

"You..." Yi Zhonghai was choked and speechless.

Just then, a voice came from behind the crowd: "Zhu Zi is right, why should we close the door? You've done something wrong, and we can't even talk about it?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xu Dahai's wife, Wang Xiulan, pushing through the crowd to come over.

She had been watching from behind, and the more she watched, the angrier she got. Now she couldn't hold back any longer.

Wang Xiulan walked up to the six middle-aged women and started yelling at everyone in the courtyard: "I've never seen anyone so shameless! Do you think it's easy for Zhuzi, a sixteen-year-old kid, to live alone?"

"They earned the award through their own ability, that's their ability! And you, out of jealousy, report them? Have you no shame?"

She pointed at Yi Zhonghai: "Especially you, Yi Zhonghai! Don't think I don't know the dirty things you've done!"

Yi Zhonghai's heart tightened: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Wang Xiulan sneered. "Last time, right after Zhuzi's father left, you intercepted the living expenses He Daqing was supposed to give to the two children. Didn't you do that?"

These words were like a bomb, exploding in the crowd.

"What? Is that true?"

"Is Master Yi withholding someone else's child's allowance?"

"Really? Master Yi usually seems quite upright..."

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly explained, "You...you're talking nonsense. I was just worried they would squander the money. I returned it when Zhuzi came back."

"Whether you've been deducted or not, you know the answer in your heart!"

Xu Dahai then stepped out from the crowd, stood next to He Yuzhu, and said, "Yuzhu, your uncle will stand up for you today!"

He turned to the crowd in the courtyard and said loudly, "Neighbors, I'm putting this out there! Although He Daqing is no longer in Beijing, Zhu Zi isn't without elders protecting him!"

"I, Xu Dahai, and He Daqing have been friends for over twenty years. Zhuzi is like my own nephew!"

"If anyone dares to bully him again, they'd better ask me, Xu Dahai, if I'll allow it!"

He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and looked at Xu Dahai with gratitude.

Xu Dahai continued, "Yi Zhonghai, you know what you've done! It's not just about deducting your living expenses; your apprentice, Jia Dongxu, also spread rumors about hiring people to build pillars. Is that true?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Yi Zhonghai was completely enraged. "Xu Dahai, I have no grudge against you, why are you slandering me?"

"Slander?" Xu Dahai sneered. "Jia Dongxu was locked up for a few days because of this. Do you think we didn't know?"

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing this, everyone in the courtyard understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

"It seems it's true..."

"I never expected Master Yi to be this kind of person!"

"They put on such a virtuous facade all day, but they're so despicable behind the scenes!"

"Exactly, a senior technician, my foot!"

The murmurs grew louder and louder, and Yi Zhonghai felt dizzy and his vision blurred.