Courtyard House: Wudang Disciple Sweeps Through the Compound

Chen Wenqi carefully peeled the hard eggshell off his younger sister and gently placed the smooth, white egg into the small bowl in front of her, his movements gentle and delicate.

The family sat around the small dining table, enjoying a warm and lively breakfast together, the air filled with the scent of happiness.

Because the rice was cooked with water from the secret spring, the food was much more fragrant and tasted better than usual. However, Zhou Shuqin did not notice anything unusual. She thought it was just that her child was being thoughtful and considerate, which made her happy. So she found everything she ate particularly delicious.

My mother works near Nanluoguxiang, specifically at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital on Jiaodaokou Nanmen Street. This hospital is considered a large and well-known hospital in Beijing. It's only about a ten-minute walk from home, so it's not far.

After Chen Wenqi had tidied up the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, his mother slowly went out to work with a cloth bag that had been prepared in advance, a satisfied smile on her face.

After Chen Wenqi and his younger siblings carefully checked the doors and windows to make sure they were locked, the three of them chatted and laughed as they left the house, preparing to go to Jingshan Park to exercise.

As soon as they reached the central courtyard, they caught sight of a pair of triangular eyes glaring fiercely at the three siblings. The eyes were filled with resentment, and the person was muttering something under their breath, which, judging from their tone, was mostly some unclean curses.

Chen Wenqi glanced coldly at Jia Zhangshi, his eyes devoid of any warmth. He was too lazy to pay any attention to this sharp-tongued, unreasonable old hag—there would be plenty of time to settle this score later, and there was no need to waste his energy now.

Just then, Jia Dongxu, Sha Zhu, and Yi Zhonghai also walked out of the house together, looking like they were about to go to work together.

Upon seeing the figures of Chen Wenqi and his two siblings, a sinister glint flashed across Yi Zhonghai's eyes. The glint was so fleeting that it was almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention.

He had no children in his life, making him a true childless man. Although he had always loved Banggeng as his own son, he ultimately had no heir to rightfully carry on the family line, which remained a thorn in his heart.

Seeing the three healthy, lively, and energetic children of the Chen family, a vicious thought inexplicably welled up in his mind. He wished he could rush forward and strangle them to vent his anger. His jealousy had completely distorted his mind.

Sha Zhu, who was standing to the side, also had a flash of barely concealed anger on his face, clearly still holding a grudge about what had happened earlier.

Jia Dongxu quietly leaned close to Sha Zhu's ear and said in a low, sinister voice, "Sha Zhu, look at that kid Chen Wenqi, how arrogant he is! Are you just going to swallow this insult like this? Can you really let it go?"

Sha Zhu turned to look at Jia Dongxu, his face full of confusion, not understanding why he suddenly said these things. Jia Dongxu leaned closer, lowering his voice even more, as if afraid of being overheard: "He's just a little brat who hasn't even grown his hair yet, what's there to be afraid of? Later, we'll find a secluded place, put a sack over his head, and give him a good beating, preferably breaking one of his legs, then let's see how he'll run rampant in the yard!"

"Dongxu, don't act rashly. Now is not the time." Yi Zhonghai happened to hear Jia Dongxu's words and hurriedly stopped him, his tone urgent. "Don't make any rash moves these next few days, lest you get into trouble."

"Master, I just can't swallow this insult! Look at how arrogant he was yesterday, he didn't take us seriously at all!" Jia Dongxu roared angrily, his chest heaving violently with emotion, clearly furious.

Yi Zhonghai cursed his apprentice inwardly for being stupid and brainless, but he still patiently advised, "We just had a big fight with the Chen family yesterday. Everyone in the courtyard knows about it. If that brat suddenly breaks his leg in the next couple of days, the police will suspect you two first. You won't be able to explain yourselves then."

"Everything takes time. Be patient and don't rush. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with him later."

Actually, compared to the impulsive and reckless Jia Dongxu and Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai wanted to get rid of Chen Wenqi, this thorn in his side. However, he was cunning and cautious, and always made sure to leave no trace, so as not to damage his reputation and status in the courtyard.

"Fine, fine, let that little beast live a few more days. We'll settle the score with him later and make him pay the price!" Jia Dongxu said with a venomous glint in his eyes and a ruthless tone, every word chilling.

"Don't worry, he's just a greenhorn. He can't cause any trouble. We'll teach him a lesson sooner or later." Yi Zhonghai said calmly, his tone full of disdain and contempt, as if Chen Wenqi was nothing more than an ant that he could crush at will.

Jia Dongxu's eyes darted around, and he moved closer to Yi Zhonghai, forcing a fawning smile. He tentatively asked, "Master, you see, Huai Ru is about to give birth, and our little house is already so cramped we can't even turn around. We simply can't accommodate so many people... What about the Chen family's spacious house...?"

Yi Zhonghai felt a surge of annoyance – last time, it was because he was scheming to get the Chen family's house that Zhou Shuqin publicly berated him, almost causing a scene at the neighborhood committee, which made him lose face.

He knew perfectly well that the Chen family's house was genuine private property with all the necessary paperwork, and it would not be easy to openly take it for himself; it might even backfire.

But ever since the last conflict, Yi Zhonghai has regarded the Chen family as a thorn in his side and is eager to drive them out of the courtyard house as soon as possible to eliminate future troubles and relieve his hatred.

"This matter can't be rushed. The time isn't right yet. Let's talk about it later." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand dismissively, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further, fearing that it might cause some trouble.

He had a meticulous plan in mind: even if he could get his hands on the Chen family's house, he had to keep the deed firmly in his own hands. Only in this way could he control the Jia family and make them obedient to him for the rest of their lives.

Yi Zhonghai has an extremely strong desire for control. Just as the original novel describes, he openly and secretly sabotages every blind date that Sha Zhu goes on, because he is afraid that after Sha Zhu gets married and starts a family, he will completely break free from his control and no longer listen to him.

He even secretly intercepted the living expenses that He Daqing sent to Sha Zhu and his sister, just so that when they were desperate, he would pretend to give them a few steamed buns, so that they would be grateful and be manipulated by him for life—his vicious nature can be seen from this.

If it weren't for the deaf old lady's secret scheme to lock Sha Zhu and Lou Xiao'e in a room and facilitate their affair, Sha Zhu would probably have been rendered childless and never recovered. Even Lou Xiao'e would have been sucked dry by these beasts in human skin, along with Sha Zhu, with no chance of escape.