Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

Tan's bedroom

"Has she left?" Madam Tan asked in a low voice.

"I heard the door close. Why did you do that?" Xu Lin affectionately pinched Tan's soft spot.

Tan let out a soft moan, turned her head and kissed Xu Lin before continuing to speak.

"What I just said is actually what I really think. You're too strong, I really can't handle you, and I'll definitely get old someday. I don't want to be old and useless then, and be disliked by you..." Before Tan could finish speaking, Xu Lin covered her mouth.

"Let's just live our own lives peacefully. I don't dislike her, but that doesn't mean I have to marry her. It's better for us to live our lives well than anything else," Xu Lin said shamelessly, completely forgetting the harsh words he had uttered in his heart after seeing Qin Huairu that afternoon.

Hearing Xu Lin's words, although she knew he was just pretending to be innocent after getting a good deal, she was still content and pressed her back tightly against Xu Lin's chest.

"That's enough. Anyway, you're definitely going to get married. You have no idea how popular you are. So many young women on the street have come to you for medical treatment, and the way they look at you is like they're eyeing Tang Sanzang's flesh. They all wish they could devour you."

Seeing you bring Qin Huairu back today has made me realize that it's better for Qin Huairu, that country bumpkin, to get married than for you to marry someone powerful later. At least after what happened just now, she won't dare to give me a hard time for a while...

Xu Lin smiled wryly, but he could understand Tan's thoughts. If they had just divorced, Tan definitely wouldn't have let Xu Lin marry Qin Huairu, because at that time, Tan was a widow raising a child alone, and she lacked a sense of security.

Things are different now. She has a job, a new identity, and a new life. She no longer worries about losing what she has and places her entire future on someone else. She can raise her daughter on her own. Although she doesn't earn much each month, Ms. Tan isn't short of money.

"Alright, you handle it, but don't mess it up. I'm not afraid of being paraded through the streets if you mess it up, I'm just worried about it affecting Xiao'e. Remember to discuss everything with me beforehand, your man isn't just capable of this..."

"Oh dear...didn't we agree...? How about I go and bring Qin Huairu in for you now...?"

"Dream on! You've made a mistake, so tell me what to do about it..."

Mrs. Tan was on the verge of tears. She had thought about it when she was starving, but now, ever since she started eating meat, she was always stuffed and actually missed the simple, bland days of the past.

But she was genuinely afraid of Xu Lin, so she slowly pulled away from his embrace, turned around, and shrank into the blankets.

"Let's just rest today, okay...?"

Xu Lin was deeply moved and slowly fell asleep.

Xu Lin woke up before dawn and realized that although Madam Tan was asleep, she had actually maintained a state of...

I pulled myself out of bed, then changed Tan's sleeping position to be more comfortable, and covered her with the blanket again.

After closing Tan's mouth, which had remained open while she slept, he left the way he came.

He soon returned to his bedroom and went back to sleep. Xu Lin was quite content, unaware that the three managers, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, had been up all night.

The entrance to the vegetable cellar in the backyard

"Old Yi, go back and get some sleep. I'll keep watch for now," Yan Bugui said to Yi Zhonghai, who was squatting at the entrance of the vegetable cellar, rubbing his sleepy eyes with one hand and holding his glasses in the other.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai stood up, stretched, and agreed. "Then keep a close eye on things. Old Liu said he secretly went to the backyard last night and found that Tan Liya's door wasn't closed properly; it was ajar."

This door was definitely left open for Xu Lin. I checked later and it was indeed open. It's almost dawn. Keep an eye on things. If Xu Lin sneaks in, he'll definitely come out again. If you spot Xu Lin, grab him and yell. Lao Liu and I will rush out immediately.

I refuse to believe it. Even if Xu Lin were to be caught staying overnight at a single woman's house, no matter how eloquent he is, he couldn't explain away the fact that he was having an affair!

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui perked up and immediately nodded emphatically.

"Fine, if he comes out, I'll give him a piece of my mind and teach him a lesson. A scholar's sharp tongue isn't just for show."

Hearing Yan Bugui say this, Yi Zhonghai was speechless. They'd already caught him in this mess, and he was still cursing? Was Xu Lin your father? You wouldn't even lay a hand on him...? But he couldn't say anything, so he nodded and quickly went back to sleep.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, having been tricked and beaten by Xu Lin the previous night, were ridiculed by their coworkers all day and had to hide from everyone on their way to and from get off work. When they got home after get off work, the three of them immediately plotted revenge against Xu Lin, and thus began keeping an eye on his house.

Later, they discovered that Tan had first taken an unfamiliar woman back to the backyard, and then returned to Xu Lin's house. The three immediately sensed an opportunity. Just as they were about to catch her in the act, they saw Tan return to the backyard carrying clothes that had been drying, so they had to give up.

However, Yan Bugui suggested that the three of them take turns standing guard and keeping watch in the vegetable cellar in the backyard. He was sure they could find something on Xu Lin. Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai thought about it for a while and then agreed to Yan Bugui's suggestion. After agreeing on the order of the watch, they quickly went back to take a nap to make sure they were well-rested for the watch later.

The three of them stared blankly all night, never imagining that after Xu Lin climbed out of the window of the back room, he would climb over the wall to meet Tan Shi in secret.

Yan Bugui kept his eyes on the backyard until the people in the yard gradually got up and started cooking, and he was still holding on until the very last moment.

On the other side, after taking a comfortable nap, Xu Lin took a cold shower before heading out. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Yan Bugui staring at him with red eyes. Xu Lin joked...

"Old Yan, what's wrong? What were you doing last night? Your eyes are bloodshot. Did you go catching hooligans again? The contractor who renovated Sister Tan's backyard wall specially raised it so we don't have to keep watch over it every day, hahaha."

Yan Bugui trembled with anger upon hearing this, but he couldn't refute it. He glared at her again, then snorted and went home.

Xu Lin didn't care; instead, he felt a little regretful. Why didn't that old guy make a move? If he did, he could have a legitimate reason to beat him up. He had a feeling that these three old guys were definitely up to no good.

Just then, they saw Yan Jiefang, the second son of the Yan family, emptying the chamber pot as he was about to leave. At that time, Yan Jiefang was only 10 years old, and his younger brother, Yan Jiekuang, was only 4 years old, so he was the one who emptied the chamber pot for the whole family.

Xu Lin immediately followed, and with a flick of his wrist, he took out several candies from his spatial storage.

"Jiefang, come here, Uncle has some candy." Xu Lin was almost 10 years older than him, but didn't want to appear inferior to Yan Bugui, so he started calling himself Uncle.

Yan Jiefang is impulsive and reckless, acting without considering the consequences. His most memorable scene in the original novel is the earthquake and demolition scene, a typical example of someone corrupted by his father. Upon seeing the candy in Xu Lin's hand, he immediately dropped it from the toilet with a "thud" and ran straight to Xu Lin.

Xu Lin's eyelids twitched when he saw Yan Jiefang's actions. This kid almost spilled the toilet on the main road while running over. Just like his father, he was reckless enough to risk everything for a small advantage.

Yan Jiefang was about to get the candy from Xu Lin when Xu Lin clenched his fist and clutched the candy in his palm. Yan Jiefang was so anxious that he almost knelt down before Xu Lin.

Upon seeing this, Xu Lin asked...

"Tell Uncle Xu, what did your dad do yesterday? Why are his eyes so tired? You said this candy is yours." She then quickly opened her palm and clenched it again.

Yan Jiefang's mind was completely occupied with candy; he couldn't care less about anything else. Even if Xu Lin had hit his father, there was enough candy to beat him up.

"I don't know either. My dad went out before dawn and didn't come back until daybreak. When my mom asked him, he said he was going to relieve Uncle Yi and then he left. My mom even argued with him for a bit, which woke up my older brother and me. Otherwise, I wouldn't know."

Yan Jiefang rattled off everything he knew, eagerly recounting it all, then stared expectantly at Xu Lin.

After hearing this, Xu Lin thought for a moment and thought, "Good heavens, it seems these three really did come to ambush me. If I hadn't been quick-witted and climbed over the wall instead of going through the main entrance, I would have really fallen for their trap."

Xu Lin kept his word, stuffing the candy into Yan Jiefang's hand and telling him not to tell anyone he had asked, before going to work.

Yan Jiefang happily counted the candies, while Uncle Wan glanced around furtively, making sure no one was watching before peeling one open and popping it into his mouth.

"Hehehe, so sweet~", then picked up the toilet and ran to the bathroom, swaying it as he went, his face beaming with smugness. Just then, Xu Damao came out of the bathroom, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his pants in his hand, squinting and tilting his head back to avoid the smoke.

Yan Jiefang, head down and chuckling, ran towards the toilet. He didn't notice Xu Damao in front of him hadn't moved aside, and with a loud thud, the two collided head-on. The wobbly toilet that Yan Jiefang was carrying flew up, its yellowish liquid spilling directly onto Xu Damao's pants.

"Holy crap! Yan Jiefang! Are you blind?! Didn't you see anyone come out?" Xu Damao's hoarse voice instantly rose several decibels.

Yan Jiefang was also knocked to the ground, his pants soaked. Hearing Xu Damao's loud voice, Yan Jiefang got angry. Although Xu Damao was three or four years older and much taller, his father was the head of the compound, and this kid had never been afraid of anyone.

"Holy crap, you idiot Mao! Are you blind?! Didn't you see I was carrying the toilet and didn't even move aside? You broke my toilet, you'll be waiting for my dad to come after you for money!"

"Hey, you little brat! You've gone too far!" Xu Damao said, grabbing Yan Jiefang by the collar and pulling him close. "You try calling me 'Idiot Damao' again!"

Yan Jiefang, equally defiant and unfazed by Xu Damao, pointed at him and began to curse, "Stupid Damao! Stupid Damao! Stupid Damao! So what if I curse you? You dare to hit me and see what happens!"

Xu Damao's parents had always been servants to the Lou family, and over the years they had amassed a considerable fortune for him. Therefore, his family was arguably the wealthiest in the courtyard besides the Xu Lin family. Xu Damao usually looked down on the poor folks in the courtyard, but when he heard a ten-year-old kid pointing at him and cursing, he immediately flew into a rage.

"Snap"

Xu Damao slapped Yan Jiefang across the face, leaving five finger marks covering half his cheek. He was, after all, just a ten-year-old child.

Yan Jiefang froze for a moment, then his mouth opened wide silently, his lips trembling uncontrollably, followed by a heart-wrenching scream that echoed through the street…