Courtyard House: A Veteran Returns Home and Becomes a Father

Jia Zhangshi's wailing stopped abruptly.

Police station?

These three words were like three death warrants, stuck to her forehead.

She stared blankly at Su Mo, whose face, distorted by greed and anger, now held only pure fear.

money?

Five hundred yuan?

A few days ago, in order to compensate Su Mo for the five hundred yuan, she emptied her savings and even had to shamelessly borrow a large sum of money from Yi Zhonghai.

That money is still recorded in Yi Zhonghai's ledger, how could she possibly come up with another penny!

Besides, even if she had the money, she wouldn't be willing to spend it!

On what grounds?

Why should the Jia family keep sending money to this man surnamed Su?

It's just a little brat who failed to steal something and got scared by a dog so badly he peed his pants. It's no big deal!

A surge of anger, mixed with a shrew's instincts, suddenly rose from the depths of Jia Zhangshi's heart, instantly burning away the last bit of her reason.

Her eyes lit up, and an idea came to her.

Cry! Make a scene! Act like a scoundrel!

She refused to believe that with so many people watching, Su Mo could really do anything to an old woman and a child!

"Oh my god! I don't want to live anymore!"

Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh and sat down on the ground, beginning her skillful performance.

"Damn it! Is there no law anymore?! Do rich people think they can bully us orphans and widows like this?"

"My grandson was terrified by your dog, and you still want us to pay compensation! Is your heart black? Is it made of stone?"

"I'm telling you, I have no money! Not a single penny! I have no money, but you can take my life! If you have the guts, take my old life today!"

She wailed and rolled on the ground, her face covered in snot and tears, looking exactly like a respectable woman being bullied by a thug.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.

This...this style of art changed way too fast.

One second they had irrefutable evidence and were at a loss for words, the next they became the general representative of the victims' alliance?

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale and then flushed.

What he feared most was Jia Zhangshi doing this.

Once this old hag starts throwing a tantrum, there's no saving her.

What's worse, that 500 yuan she owed last time was indeed borrowed from him. If he had to pay back another 50, the Jia family would probably be truly starving. When would he ever get his money back?

Thinking of this, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step in to smooth things over.

"Ahem, Su Mo." Yi Zhonghai leaned forward, forcing a kind smile. "Look, Jia's wife... she was just confused for a moment. Bang Geng has learned his lesson. How about... how about we just let it go? We're neighbors, we'll see each other all the time, let's not make things so awkward."

Liu Haizhong chimed in, "Yes, yes, we should be forgiving. The child is still young; let's give him a chance to reform."

Yan Bugui hid in the back, not daring to speak, but in his heart he cursed Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong to the core.

Su Mo looked at the farce unfolding before him, at Jia Zhangshi throwing a tantrum on the ground, and at Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong trying to smooth things over. He laughed.

That smile held no warmth, only endless mockery and coldness.

He didn't say a word, he just watched them perform quietly.

Seeing that Su Mo didn't speak, Jia Zhangshi thought he was intimidated by her, so she cried even more loudly and even started to rub against Su Mo's feet, trying to hug his legs.

"My poor grandson! You absolutely cannot get hurt! If anything happens to you, your grandmother won't want to live anymore!"

Just as her hand was about to touch Su Mo's trouser leg.

Su Mo moved.

He simply took a step back, causing Jia Zhangshi to miss her target and end up with a mouthful of mud.

Then, he turned around and faced everyone in the courtyard, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"It seems we've chosen to go public."

He spoke in a flat tone, as if he were talking about something trivial.

But it was this calm tone that made the temperature in the entire courtyard seem to drop several degrees.

Yi Zhonghai's smile froze on his face.

The official air about him in his bangs was stuck in his throat.

Jia Zhangshi's wailing stopped abruptly, like a duck being choked.

Everyone stared blankly at Su Mo, wondering what he was going to do.

Su Mo looked around and finally his gaze fell on a figure jumping around in the crowd.

"Xu Damao".

"Hey! I'm here! Brother Su, what are your orders?"

Xu Damao sprang to his senses, like a primary school student being called on by the teacher, and immediately emerged from the crowd with a big smile on his face, his back almost bent at a ninety-degree angle.

He had long disliked the Jia family, and Su Mo's forceful action today was truly gratifying! He had been worried about not having a chance to show off, but unexpectedly, happiness came so suddenly!

Su Mo said calmly, "You're quick on your feet. Go to Jiaodaokou Police Station and tell them that someone broke into a house at No. 95, Nantongluo Lane, and was caught red-handed. They also instigated a minor to commit a crime. Tell them to send someone over to handle it."

"Okay!"

Xu Damao agreed faster than anyone else, his voice loud and clear, as if afraid that others wouldn't hear him.

He straightened his back, cleared his throat, and had a holy aura of "acting on behalf of Heaven" on his face. He glanced sideways at Jia Zhangshi, who was lying on the ground, Bang Geng, who was already terrified, and Yi Zhonghai, whose face was ashen.

"Everyone heard that! It was Brother Su who sent me!"

"To deal with these rotten apples in the yard, we must use the iron fist of revolution! I, Xu Damao, am today the messenger of justice!"

"Don't worry, Brother Su, I guarantee I'll get the police here for you within five minutes! Just you wait and see!"

After saying that, he dashed out of the yard like a wild dog, his bowed legs carrying him, shouting as he ran, "Officer! Thief! There's a thief in the courtyard at No. 95, South Tongluo Lane!"

The commotion was so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire city of Beijing.

The entire courtyard was deathly silent.

Everyone was baffled by Xu Damao's actions.

No one expected that Su Mo would actually do it for real.

He's too lazy to even go himself; a single word from him and people will scramble to be his henchmen.

Lying on the ground, Jia Zhangshi was completely dumbfounded.

Tears still clung to her face, her mouth was agape, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.

How could he... how dare he?

How could he really dare to call the police?

Bang Geng is just a kid! How could he do this!

An unprecedented panic gripped her heart like an invisible hand.

Qin Huairu could no longer hold on; her legs gave way, and she collapsed next to Jia Zhangshi, her face ashen.

It’s over.

This time, it's really over.

Yi Zhonghai's face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

He looked at Su Mo, his lips trembling for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He wanted to scold, to stop, and to uphold his authority as an elder.

But he dared not.

Su Mo's calm, unwavering eyes were filled with an undeniable resolve.

He knew perfectly well that from the moment Xu Damao rushed out of the courtyard gate, the matter had completely slipped out of his control.

The world in this courtyard is about to change.