Courtyard House: I'm surrounded by celestial beauties on either side.

The courtyard was unusually quiet in the evening.

"I thought Xu Damao would cause trouble." Leng Si was playing with Fang Lianyun in the courtyard when he saw Fang Chengxuan return and said.

Fang Chengxuan said calmly, "It's just the calm before the storm."

"It seems that Uncle San hasn't paid back the money?" Leng Si asked again.

"He's always been one to take advantage, assuming outsiders will always defer to him." Fang Chengxuan glanced at him. "Are you going to interfere?"

Leng Si gave a bitter smile: "Knowing he's going to be in trouble, yet ignoring it..."

"Some people aren't worth it." Fang Chengxuan pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, leaving behind a patch of moonlight.

Fang Chengxuan glanced at him, put down his teacup, and said seriously, "You're both in your thirties. Take responsibility for your own actions!"

He suddenly changed his mind halfway through his sentence: "If you're really that bored, then go ahead and meddle!"

Leng Si stared intently at Fang Chengxuan: "I really interfered, aren't you angry?"

"What's there to be upset about?"

Fang Chengxuan had a smile on his lips.

Leng Si understood and pursed his lips without saying a word.

Fang Chengxuan remained silent.

As dusk settled, the two went home separately.

Leng Si baked pancakes on the kang (a heated brick bed) for half the night, then got up, put on his clothes, and went to the front yard to knock on the window of Yan Shuzhai's house.

Who is it?

"Uncle, someone wants to break your legs to pay off a debt. You should return that money."

After saying that, he turned and left.

When Yan Shuzhai chased after him in his slippers, he only caught a glimpse of a dark figure.

The three women clutched the hem of his clothes and pleaded, "Husband, how about..."

"Retreat for what!" Yan Shuzhai flung his sleeves. "If we were really going to fight, we would have come long ago! It's probably Fang Chengxuan who instigated Leng Si to bluff me!"

The three women hesitated, then ultimately remained silent.

The next morning.

Fang Chengxuan pushed his bicycle through the front yard, and a basin of dirty water splashed onto his feet.

Yan Shuzhai, hands on his hips, yelled, "Stop pretending to be a good guy, Leng Si! If you've got the guts, come and break my legs!"

Fang Chengxuan glanced at Leng Si, who looked embarrassed, and said, "I told you before, the people in this courtyard aren't worth your trouble."

In the kitchen, Leng Si silently chopped vegetables, saying, "I'm sorry, I..."

"No need." Fang Chengxuan tossed the spatula around. "I'm letting you go and say it because I know your conscience won't allow it."

When I returned to the hospital in the evening, I ran into law enforcement officers questioning me.

"Yan Shuzhai had his leg broken at Shichahai and identified you as the culprit."

Leng Si wrung his hands anxiously: "I heard the creditor is seeking revenge..."

The truth of the case quickly came to light—it was indeed the debtor who initiated the proceedings.

The two sons of the Yan family refused to go to the hospital, and the third aunt cried and wailed all day long.

The courtyard had been unusually quiet for half a month, but Xu Damao kept bringing wine and food to Liu Haizhong's house every day.

That day after get off work, I suddenly heard that He Yuzhu had also been hospitalized—not only had his bicycle been stolen, but his right hand had also been pierced through by an iron spike, and he probably wouldn't even be able to lift a spatula in the future.

Leng Si clicked his tongue and said, "That idiot Zhu is really unlucky!"

Yang Yuande sneered, "So what if he got a bicycle? Look how smug he is! Now he's got his comeuppance! Serves him right!"

Fang Chengxuan remained silent, but when he met Xu Damao, he glanced at him a few more times and noticed that the gloom between his brows seemed to have faded a lot.

He thought to himself, "This matter involving He Yuzhu is most likely related to Xu Damao!"

Xu Damao noticed his gaze and turned his face away in annoyance.

At that moment, Lou Xiao'e stormed in angrily.

"Xu Damao, was it you who reported my family?"

Lou Xiao'e questioned through gritted teeth.

Xu Damao snorted coldly, his face full of sarcasm: "If I wanted to report this, I would have done so long ago. Why would I have waited until now?"

"I'm going to marry Qianxue. Do you think everyone's like you, throwing themselves at someone and unable to even keep a man?"

"Lou Xiao'e, if I really reported you, I'll expose all your family's shady dealings, and you know the consequences! If you know what's good for you, don't spout nonsense in front of Qianxue!"

After saying that, he turned and went inside, "bang!"

The door was closed.

Lou Xiao'e stood there, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably, then staggered and ran towards He Yuzhu's house.

A neighbor, seeing this, warned, "Stop shouting! He Yuzhu's bicycle has been stolen, and his right hand is injured. He's in the hospital now!"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly stopped in her tracks, stood there for a long time, and finally turned and left resolutely.

The following evening, Fang Chengxuan was on leave at home. After having dinner with Rong Xinrui, he prepared to return to the courtyard house.

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure ahead.

"Lou Xiao'e?"

He muttered to himself.

Rong Xinrui followed the gaze and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't that someone from your courtyard? Xu Damao's wife?"

The two exchanged a glance, and just as they were wondering what was going on, Shu Qianxue ran out of the house, her face covered with a red handprint.

Upon seeing Rong Xinrui, she immediately confronted her with tears in her eyes, asking, "Rong Xinrui, were you behind this?"

"You can't break me up with Xu Damao! I'm going to marry him no matter what!"

After saying that, Shu Qianxue glared at Rong Xinrui and ran away crying.

Fang Chengxuan stood protectively in front of Rong Xinrui and whispered, "Don't pay attention to her, it's probably something happening at the compound."

Rong Xinrui nodded knowingly: "Shu Qianxue has always been like this."

The two exchanged a smile, their understanding unwavering.

Before parting, Fang Chengxuan took advantage of the fact that no one was around and quickly kissed Rong Xinrui's cheek.

"I'm going back now."

He said softly.

Rong Xinrui's cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with a shy smile: "Mmm."

Fang Chengxuan rode his bicycle back to the courtyard house. When he passed the middle courtyard, he glanced at He Yuzhu's house. He didn't see Lou Xiao'e, but He Yuzhu had already been discharged from the hospital.

Upon seeing him, He Yuzhu flew into a rage: "Fang Chengxuan, did you steal my bicycle and then hit me?"

"He Yuzhu, have you lost your mind? If I wanted to do this, would I have waited until now?"

Fang Chengxuan scoffed disdainfully.

Too lazy to bother with it anymore, he pushed the cart toward the backyard.

He Yuzhu was furious, his face turning ashen, but he dared not make another move. He could only think to himself, "If it wasn't him, could it be Xu Damao? That bastard is the most insidious!"

At this moment, He Yuzhu carried a lunchbox to the backyard to visit the deaf old lady.

Seeing his arm in a cast, the old lady stamped her feet in distress, "Silly Zhu, how did you get like this?"

"Don't even mention it, my new bicycle was stolen, and we got into a fight."

He Yuzhu didn't care at all.

"You silly kid, is the car more important or yourself?!"

The old lady was so anxious that she kept slapping her thigh.

He Yuzhu set out the food: "Of course the car is important, it cost over a hundred yuan! I'm fine, it's just that my right hand is inconvenient, so I had someone help me make some dishes."

The old lady shook her head and sighed, "What a fool!"

Suddenly realizing Lou Xiao'e was missing, he asked, "Where's Xiao'e?"

He Yuzhu was immediately furious: "It's all Xu Damao's fault! He insulted Xiao'e, and I couldn't stand it, so I hit him, and it ended up at the law enforcement office."

The Xu family insists on returning the betrothal gifts, and Xiao'e's parents are now demanding that I gather the necessary funds—three turns and one ring—plus one hundred yuan—before they will allow us to get married!

He Yuzhu felt a lump in his throat when he recalled the disdainful looks in Lou's parents' eyes.

Am I really that bad?

The deaf old lady sighed, slowly moved to the inside of the bed, and took out a small black wooden box.

"This is the money I've saved up. It's enough to buy a set of three watches and a radio, and even a little more."

"Don't rush to buy anything. Just take the money to the Lou family and bring Xiao'e back to live a good life!"

She pushed the wooden box forward.

"Go quickly! What kind of wife always stays at her parents' house? Your hand is injured, you need someone to take care of you too."

He Yuzhu stared at the wooden box, waving his hands repeatedly: "I can't accept this money!"

"What's the point of keeping money for an old woman like me? You're the only child I've watched grow up; you'll be yours sooner or later."

The old lady was afraid that Xu Damao would ruin the marriage.

He Yuzhu felt a strong urge to linger when he thought of Lou Xiao'e, and his hand unconsciously clenched the wooden box.

"Then I'll borrow it from you first, and pay you back when my hand is healed and I've earned enough!"

He was overjoyed and picked up the box to leave.

"Go quickly! Don't cause any more trouble in the future, and live a good life," the old lady instructed.

He Yuzhu grinned: "Don't worry, I'll treat Xiao'e well once I bring her back!"

Watching his departing figure, the old lady sighed again.

Remembering what Fang Chengxuan had said, Xu Damao had plenty of ways to deal with He Yuzhu.

"I hope they can avoid Xu Damao and live a peaceful life," the old lady murmured to herself, picking up her chopsticks to continue eating.

Night falls.

He Yuzhu arrived at the Lou family's house excitedly, knocking on the door and calling out, "Is Xiao'e home?"

Inside the house, the Lou couple, who were preparing to leave the country, suddenly changed their expressions.

"You told him?" Lou's father asked sternly.

Lou Xiao'e shook her head: "I didn't say... Let me go say goodbye to him."

"Foolish! Do you think we could have left after he made such a scene?" Lou's father lowered his voice. "She married him without discussing it in the first place, and now she's almost ruined everything!"

"I understand," Lou Xiao'e said, her eyes red-rimmed. "I won't tell."

Thirty minutes later, Lou Xiao'e opened the door and stopped He Yuzhu: "Why are you here?"

He Yuzhu proudly held up the wooden box like it was a treasure: "The old lady borrowed the betrothal money! We're going to see your parents and take you home!"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly burst into tears.

Lou's mother, unable to bear it any longer, rushed out of the house:

"Borrow money? How dare you even say that! You want my daughter to go back with you to pay off your debts?"

"Look at your pathetic state! You've worked in the steel mill for so many years, and you can't even afford a dowry. What makes you think you can marry my daughter?"

"They got their marriage certificate without even meeting their parents, and now they're putting on an act!"

Lou's mother snatched the wooden box back into He Yuzhu's arms: "Get out! You've disgraced the Lou family!"

He Yuzhu was stunned by the scolding and stared blankly at Lou Xiao'e.

"You should go back first," Lou Xiao'e said softly. "Return the money to the old lady; she's had a hard life too."

Before she could finish speaking, Lou's mother slammed the door shut.

Back inside, Lou's mother was still trembling with anger: "Why did I marry such a good-for-nothing man?"

"Don't say things like 'I'm helping others out of kindness.'"

Who would be foolish enough to leave themselves penniless after receiving financial assistance?

"Take another look at everything that's happened since you decided to marry He Yuzhu. Can't you see whether a man is reliable or not?"

"That's right, you were the one who wanted to marry He Yuzhu, but doesn't he have any self-awareness?"

"Even if he had borrowed some money to prepare the betrothal gifts, I would still think he was a decent person."

Look at all the things he's done, which one of them shows any independent thought?

Lou's mother spoke earnestly and patiently.

"That deaf old lady in your courtyard, I thought she was a sensible person, but now it seems she's not so great after all."

"Why would she try to match you up with He Yuzhu? Doesn't she know that He Yuzhu and Xu Damao are mortal enemies? Do you think Xu Damao will let it go after you get married?"

"Alright, the three of us will leave tonight. Don't associate with that courtyard house again. I don't think there's a single good person there!"

Lou's mother kept talking incessantly.

Lou Xiao'e listened with red eyes, and her mother's words gradually brought her back to her senses.

She had been focused on getting revenge on Xu Damao. When the deaf old lady tried to match her with He Yuzhu, she thought it would be difficult for her to find someone better after her divorce, and she also thought that He Yuzhu had a good reputation among the old lady and the people in the compound.

But now that I hear what my mother said...

It's no wonder He Yuzhu is called "Silly Zhu"; he really lacks his own opinions.

With his job at the steel mill and his culinary skills, how could he not be able to get married and have no savings? Where did all the money he earned over the years go?

"Mom, I understand," Lou Xiao'e replied softly, a chill running through her heart.

Seeing that their daughter had finally come to her senses, Mr. and Mrs. Lou breathed a sigh of relief and comforted her, saying, "Don't always think that it's hard to remarry after a divorce."

"Hong Kong has an open-minded atmosphere. You're beautiful and your family is wealthy, so you won't have to worry about not getting married."

"Once we get there, we'll ask someone to change your name, and we'll pretend that your marriage certificate with He Yuzhu never happened."

Lou's mother's tone softened.

Lou Xiao'e nodded: "I left a divorce letter with Director Wang at the neighborhood committee. He Yuzhu can go and handle the procedures to remarry himself."

The family said no more, packed their things, and left by car under the cover of night.

the other side.

He Yuzhu carried the black wooden box and walked back to the courtyard house with his head down, the sound of Lou's mother's scolding echoing in his ears.

Confused, he went to the deaf old woman's house and asked, feeling wronged, "Grandma, what did I do wrong? Why did you say I lack my own opinions?"

How am I being unreasonable?

He Yuzhu was filled with grievances and couldn't understand why Lou's parents disliked him so much!

The deaf old lady frowned after hearing his retelling.

Suddenly, he said urgently, "Shazhu, hurry and go keep watch downstairs at the Lou family's house! We must bring Lou Xiao'e back today no matter what! If she doesn't come back, you stay at the door and don't leave!"

He Yuzhu looked bewildered: "Grandma, what's wrong?"

"My parents already dislike me. If I keep making a scene, won't they hate me even more?"

He stood still.

The deaf old woman pressed on, "What were the Lou family doing when you arrived?"

"What can you do? Just rest at home!" He Yuzhu asked, puzzled.