Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

Steel rolling mill.

When Xu Lin came out of Yang Anguo's spacious office, his brand-new Zhongshan suit seemed to have become a bit heavier.

Deputy factory director.

These three words rolled across his tongue, tasting not a hint of pride, but only a heavy sense of reality. His heart was undisturbed, calm to the point of being somewhat dull; this detached state of mind even seemed strange to himself.

Back in the infirmary, the familiar smell of disinfectant instantly brought him back to reality.

Ding Qiunan is not here today, so Xu Lin is seeing patients alone.

Without that beautiful figure bustling around, the infirmary felt a bit empty. Fortunately, the young woman was meticulous; before leaving get off work yesterday, she had wiped all the instruments until they gleamed and mopped the floor until it was spotless.

He had just changed into his white coat when a head popped in from outside the door. It was an old master craftsman from the fitter's workshop, his face scrunched up like a bitter gourd.

"Director Xu, please take a look. It feels like there's a cat's claw scratching inside my stomach. It's been hurting all morning."

Xu Lin gestured for him to sit down, and gently placed three fingers on his pulse point.

After a moment, Xu Lin withdrew his hand, his eyes calm.

"Didn't you have breakfast?"

The experienced worker was taken aback, scratched his head, and said, "I overslept and didn't have time."

Xu Lin didn't say much. He turned around, took a few pills from the medicine cabinet, and then grabbed a few fruit candies from his drawer and handed them over.

"Take your medicine and suck on the candy. Remember, no matter how important the task, you must eat breakfast before you start working. 'Man is made of iron, food is steel,' that old saying isn't just for show. If you keep going hungry and drinking cold water, the pain will only get worse later."

The old doctor took the medicine and candy, feeling warm inside, and thanked him repeatedly. Even after walking quite a distance from the clinic, he couldn't help but look back one last time, muttering to himself.

"Amazing, truly amazing... He can even tell if someone has eaten breakfast by touch. This skill is incredible."

A day passes quietly in the monotonous routine of consultations, prescriptions, and filling out medical records.

An hour before the end of the workday, a sudden uproar erupted in front of the factory's bulletin board. The commotion spread rapidly, like boiling water bubbling and steaming.

Two huge sheets of red paper were firmly glued to the wooden board, the ink still wet, yet the characters were vigorous and powerful.

One document is the disciplinary decision regarding Cui Dake. The wording is harsh, directly pointing to serious disciplinary violations, but it avoids specific details, only stating that he has been dismissed and transferred to a higher-level unit.

The other document is a brand new personnel appointment.

"Comrade Xu Lin is hereby appointed as the deputy director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, in charge of technological innovation and foreign affairs reception."

Every stroke of this line carries an undeniable weight.

The news took flight and spread rapidly amidst the roar of machines, sweeping through every workshop and every office within minutes.

"Holy crap! Director Xu has become Factory Manager Xu?"

"A deputy factory director! That's a proper section-level cadre! A deputy factory director under twenty years old—this is unprecedented in the entire city of Beijing!"

A wave of discussion swept in, and a few workers who were passing by the clinic were bold enough to stick their heads in and shout at the top of their lungs.

"Director Xu, congratulations!"

Xu Lin was washing his hands under the tap when he heard the sound. He looked up with his usual faint smile on his face.

"The factory hasn't officially assigned me any work yet, so everyone's still calling me Dr. Xu, it sounds nicer."

His composure in the face of both honor and disgrace earned him the admiration of his fellow workers, who gave him a thumbs up.

However, the air in the forging workshop was so sour it could kill you.

Liu Haizhong had just put down his tools when he heard his coworkers around him gossiping. His fat face instantly stretched to a lengths longer than a horse's. Obsessed with officialdom, his biggest dream in this life was to become an official, even if it was just a team leader in charge of three or five people, it would be enough for him to brag about to his wife and children for half a day.

Now, Xu Lin, a mere child who hasn't even grown up yet, has risen to the top in one step, directly sitting on the deputy factory director's seat that he had only ever dreamed of and could never even touch.

A surge of sourness mixed with jealousy shot straight to the top of his head.

"Hmph, what deputy factory director? I think the factory leaders are just blind!"

Liu Haizhong grabbed a rag covered in oil stains and wiped his hands. The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was loud enough for the people around him to hear clearly.

"How many days has he been at the factory? Can he even tighten a screw or read blueprints? He knows nothing about management or technology! He's just good at acupuncture and knows how to please the bosses. If we let someone like that run the factory, our steel rolling mill will go bankrupt sooner or later!"

He had barely finished speaking when several burly young men who had just seen Xu Lin overheard him.

One of them, who had a fiery temper, immediately threw the towel in his hand to the ground, spitting almost onto Liu Haizhong's face.

"Liu Haizhong, what the hell are you spouting! Director Xu has real skills! Who suppressed the malaria outbreak in the factory the other day? Who was busy from morning till night conducting the factory-wide health check? It's clearly stated in the announcement that Director Xu speaks Russian and can receive experts from the Soviet Union! You, a level-five forging worker, what can you do besides go home and beat your wife and kids?"

"Exactly! You're spewing filth everywhere. I think you're asking for a beating!"

Before Liu Haizhong could retort, several burly workers had already surrounded him.

I don't know who pushed him first, but then a dirty punch landed right in his eye socket.

"Ouch! Don't hit my face! Don't hit my face! I'm... the second oldest uncle in Director Xu's courtyard..."

His pitiful wails were instantly drowned out by the cacophony of machinery and the angry curses of his coworkers.

When he finally managed to escape the workshop, scrambling and crawling with his hands and feet, his face was swollen like a pig's head, and several dark shoe prints were clearly visible on his brand-new Zhongshan suit.

In front of the bulletin board, Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu, and Jia Dongxu stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the red paper, each with a different expression.

"This kid, is he some kind of rocket? He's really gone for the heavens." Sha Zhu stroked his smooth chin, feeling a mix of jealousy and something else entirely.

Jia Dongxu's eyes turned red, and the flames of jealousy almost burst from his eyes. His teeth were grinding together.

Only Yi Zhonghai, his old face so gloomy it could be wrung out, was quickly calculating in his mind how he should face this young man who had risen to prominence in one fell swoop in this courtyard.

Just then, Liu Haizhong covered his face and limped past them.

"Old Liu, what's going on...?" Yi Zhonghai was taken aback.

Liu Haizhong's lips trembled, and he didn't dare to say a word. He just waved his hand in fear, tucked his tail between his legs, and scurried out of the factory without looking back.

Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu exchanged a glance and simultaneously shrank back.

They both had a lot of sarcastic remarks on their minds, but seeing Liu Haizhong's miserable state, their little thoughts vanished instantly, and they both shut their mouths and went home without saying a word.

The door to the infirmary was suddenly pushed open.

Liu Lan rushed in like a gust of wind, her forehead still glistening with fine sweat, her chest heaving violently from her rapid running.

"Xu Lin! Did you see that? The announcement! The announcement is posted!"

The light shining in her eyes was a heartfelt, unadulterated joy.

Xu Lin closed the door behind him, then pulled her soft body into his arms, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, and chuckled softly, "Look how anxious you are, the sky isn't going to fall."

"How could I not be anxious? You're the deputy factory director now! The deputy factory director!" Liu Lan pressed herself tightly against his firm chest, her voice gradually lowering and trembling slightly, "I knew it, I knew you would amount to something..."

The air inside the room heated up rapidly.

In this small space, the two took advantage of this great opportunity to enjoy a passionate night of lovemaking.

When Liu Lan tidied her disheveled clothes and hair, the blush on her cheeks hadn't faded. She pushed open the door and took a few steps before suddenly realizing that it was already late and long past her workday.

Going back would mean being alone in an empty house.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she paused, then turned around as if possessed, and pushed open the door to the infirmary again.

Xu Lin had just fastened his belt when he saw Liu Lan return, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

"Sister Liu, you..."

Liu Lan's cheeks were burning, but her eyes were unusually firm. She took a few steps forward and interrupted Xu Lin directly.

"Stop talking nonsense, we're off work anyway, hurry up, we didn't get enough earlier..."

After saying that, she started doing it herself, and the belt that Xu Lin had just tied was ripped open again. Xu Lin looked at the woman in front of him with a mix of laughter and tears, and his desire to conquer was completely ignited.

This woman really doesn't know fear! It seems that unless I use real skill and put in a lot of effort, she really won't know what iron is or what blacksmithing is!

……

More than two hours later, Xu Lin returned to the courtyard house, looking refreshed and energetic.

In the infirmary, Liu Lan lay slumped in a chair, barely managing to stand up after a full half hour. She felt her worldview had been completely shattered by this man in the most primal and domineering way...

As Xu Lin stepped into the front yard, a rich aroma of food wafted into his nostrils.

It's not a single fragrance, but a complex aroma brought out by the heat of a mixture of ingredients, after stewing, stir-frying, and braising. The aroma is distinct and whets the appetite.

In the courtyard, Qin Huairu, Tan Liya, and Ding Qiunan were busily working around a small stove and a cutting board. Clearly, the groundbreaking appointment announcement from the factory had already traveled back with the flow of people leaving get off work.

"You're back?"

Qin Huairu was the first to spot him, immediately putting down her work to greet him. She reached out and took the bag from Xu Lin's shoulder, her large, almond-shaped eyes brimming with an almost overflowing light. It wasn't simple joy, but a burning passion mixed with adoration, pride, and absolute possessiveness.

Ding Qiunan stood there, looking somewhat flustered, a pretty blush spreading across her fair face. She nervously wiped her hands on her apron before speaking in a voice barely audible.

"Congratulations, Dr. Xu... no, from now on... I'll have to call you Factory Director Xu."

Tan Liya, on the other hand, was much more composed and gentle. She raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and her smile revealed a sense of domestic stability.

"The food is almost ready, just waiting for you to come back. We're going to have a proper celebration tonight. Those two little girls have been waiting for you for ages; if it weren't for school tomorrow, they wouldn't have gone home to sleep first."

Xu Lin felt a warmth in his heart and nodded. He was supposed to get off work at six, but he had been pestered and tormented by that vixen Liu Lan for more than two hours. It was indeed getting late.

He was just about to step into the house when he heard a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps behind him.

"Director Xu! Director Xu! Great news!"

Xu Damao took the lead, his face beaming with a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum, and he was carrying two beautifully packaged bottles of Xifeng liquor.

"As soon as I heard the news, without saying a word, I immediately brought out all the best wines I had hidden away at home!"

Behind him, Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu followed closely, each carrying several kinds of cooked food wrapped in oil paper. Their expressions were a mixture of embarrassment and awkwardness, but more than anything, they couldn't suppress their desire to please him.

"Director Xu, I was ignorant before and offended you in any way. Please forgive me. I'll cook today, and I guarantee you'll enjoy the meal!"

Sha Zhu thumped his chest loudly, trying to cover up his guilty conscience.

At some point, Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng also shamelessly joined in, hiding behind the crowd and calling him "Director Xu" more affectionately than anyone else, as if afraid of falling behind in this grand event.

A hint of amusement flashed across Xu Lin's eyes.

These cats came running because they smelled fish.

He found it amusing, but his face remained impassive, displaying a warm smile.

"Alright, since everyone's so keen on this, let's all have a good time together. Zhu Zi, thank you for cooking today."

"It's not hard work! It's not hard work!"

Upon receiving the order, Sha Zhu acted as if he had received a tremendous reward. He immediately perked up, rolled up his sleeves, and plunged into the kitchen...

Before long, a large octagonal table was set up in Xu Lin's courtyard. Everyone sat around it, and wine glasses were filled one by one, the amber liquid shimmering alluringly under the lamplight.

"Brother Xu! You're the most successful person in our compound now! You're our pride! Come on, say a few words first!"

Xu Damao raised his glass high and started shouting.

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Xu Lin.

Xu Lin slowly picked up his cup, his gaze calmly sweeping over the faces plastered with obsequious smiles.

He spoke, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Actually, there's not much to say. This deputy factory director position is really just a title."

He paused, looked at the puzzled expressions on everyone's faces, and continued.

"Our factory leaders are all getting old and their energy isn't keeping up. We need a young person to step up and maintain appearances, especially in foreign affairs receptions. I happen to have a higher education, some luck, and a basic understanding of Russian. I also stood out during the recent physical examination, which is why I was thrust into this role. So, for today's first toast, I won't wish myself a happy one, but rather wish everyone here a bright future, smooth sailing, and continuous advancement on a smooth path!"

"good!"

Upon hearing this, the awe in everyone's hearts immediately faded, replaced by a sense of superiority that said "I see," and they all clapped and cheered.

Xu Lin smirked, raised his glass again, and suddenly raised his voice.

"Come on, everyone! Life is short, so let's enjoy it to the fullest! Cheers!"

"Dry!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the crisp sound of them colliding, a lively and festive atmosphere filled the air.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Xu Lin's body, modified by the system, was no different from drinking plain water after downing several bottles of strong liquor; his eyes remained clear. But Xu Damao and the others were already slurring their words, their eyes becoming glazed and unfocused. Even Tan Shi, Qin Huairu, and Ding Qiunan had flushed a deep, intoxicating blush rise on their fair cheeks.

Alcohol is the best catalyst; it gets people talking and also emboldens them.

Xu Damao let out a loud burp, and emboldened by the alcohol, leaned forward and whispered the true purpose of everyone's visit.

"Brother Xu! You're the most capable guy in our compound! Don't be fooled by those three old geezers, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, who swagger around the compound every day. But when they get to the steel mill, they won't dare utter a sound! From now on, we brothers will all be relying on you, Brother Xu, to back us up at the mill!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin understood, but remained expressionless. He slowly sipped his wine, and as he put down the glass, a perfectly timed expression of difficulty appeared on his face, as if he were pouring out his bitterness, and he sighed.

"Support me? What do I have to support you with?"

"As the deputy factory director, I don't actually have any real power. Although I'm entitled to the treatment of a section-level cadre, my salary hasn't increased at all and remains the same as before. I have absolutely no involvement in personnel, finance, or production management."

He shrugged, his expression both helpless and sincere.

"To put it bluntly, I'm just a senior translator. When foreign guests come, I use the title of deputy factory director to keep things in order and not embarrass the factory. Please don't think of me as some high-ranking official. Actually, I'm still just the doctor who treats everyone and prescribes medicine."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere at the table instantly became awkward.

Xu Damao froze, his drunkenness clearing somewhat. He blinked, then let out a long sigh of relief and burped.

"Hey! So... so it's a sinecure? I knew it, you're so young, how could I let you actually take charge?"

The drunken Sha Zhu had completely let loose. He chuckled and patted Xu Lin's shoulder with his greasy hand.

"Xu Lin, you're such an honest man. But let me tell you, being an official is all about how you conduct yourself. Listen to me, from now on, in front of the factory leaders, be more humble and offer them more toasts, and you can't go wrong!"

Jia Dongxu also nodded and swayed his head, earnestly imparting his "officialdom experience".

"Yes, yes! Sha Zhu is right! Don't take yourself too seriously; you should learn more from the older comrades and humbly ask for their advice!"

That sense of awe vanished completely.

At this moment, they all seemed to have become senior figures who were giving orders and began to lecture and criticize Xu Lin, this "ignorant" young man.

Sitting next to Xu Lin, Qin Huairu's pretty face was flushed with anger. Her hand gripping the chopsticks was clenched tightly. She was about to retort when Tan Liya gently pulled her hand under the table.

Tan Liya shook her head at her, gesturing for her to look at Xu Lin.

Qin Huairu turned her head and saw that Xu Lin still looked calm and composed, with even a faint smile on his lips. Her heart skipped a beat, and her anger instantly dissipated. She sat up straight again.

Without a sense of awe, certain vile thoughts begin to grow uncontrollably.

The three of them, including Sha Zhu, began to look at Ding Qiunan with increasingly unrestrained eyes, no longer as discreet as before.

Although Ding Qiunan sat there quietly without saying much, her aloof and otherworldly air had a fatal attraction for these ordinary people.

"Xu Lin, that Dr. Ding... doesn't have a boyfriend yet, right?"

Xu Damao lowered his voice and leaned closer to ask, his small eyes gleaming with ill intent.

"I don't know, I've never heard her mention it."

Xu Lin picked up a piece of peanut with his chopsticks and answered casually.

Sha Zhu wiped the grease from his mouth, his eyes fixed on Ding Qiunan's profile, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Tsk tsk, these highly educated intellectuals need to find someone who understands life and knows how to care for them. I think, with my top-notch cooking skills, I might just be able to make it work."

Xu Lin almost burst out laughing when he saw Sha Zhu's confident look, like a toad trying to eat swan meat.

He didn't respond, but silently raised his glass and drank the wine in one gulp.

The cool liquor slid down his throat, but the smile in his eyes grew even more playful.

The atmosphere at the table was heated up by the alcohol. Xu Damao and the others were already slurring their words, their eyes were starting to glaze over, and once they started talking, they became increasingly bold.

The gazes of Sha Zhu and the other two gradually lost their previous restraint, becoming sticky and unconsciously drifting towards Ding Qiunan. Ding Qiunan sat quietly, not saying much, and her aloofness, untouched by worldly concerns, had a fatal attraction for these mundane people whose minds were filled with clutter.

"Xu Lin, that Dr. Ding... doesn't have a girlfriend yet, right?" Xu Damao lowered his voice, leaned forward, and his small eyes gleamed with oil.

"I don't know." Xu Lin picked up a peanut with his chopsticks, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it with a crunch, answering casually. "I've never heard her mention it."

Sha Zhu wiped the grease from his mouth, staring intently at Ding Qiunan's fair profile, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Tsk tsk, this kind of highly educated intellectual needs to find someone who understands life and knows how to care for others. I think, with my top-notch cooking skills, I might just make it work."

Xu Lin looked at Sha Zhu's confident, toad-like expression and couldn't help but chuckle. He wanted to ask Sha Zhu, "Don't you have a mirror at home? Don't you pee?"

Xu Lin didn't reply, but silently raised his glass and downed the wine in one gulp. "Eating my food, drinking my wine, and you still dare to covet my people?"

Xu Lin put down his cup, the porcelain cup clinking against the table with a crisp sound, instantly attracting everyone's attention. "Just drinking isn't fun, let's play a game." His eyes darted around, revealing a mischievous glint. "We'll play rock-paper-scissors, the loser drinks. If you can't drink, you choose dare." Xu Lin slowly explained the rules.

"It means the winner assigns a task to the loser, but it can't be too outrageous; anything illegal or disorderly is unacceptable."

"Alright! Who's afraid of who!" Xu Damao, flushed with alcohol, was the first to slam his fist on the table in response. The others were also in high spirits, thinking that they had often been beaten up by Xu Lin, so it wouldn't hurt to regain some face at the dinner table today. In an instant, the atmosphere became lively again.

The results are obvious.

These people took turns drinking, and they were all completely drunk by Xu Lin's body and mind, which had been modified by the system. After several rounds, Xu Damao and the others were so drunk that they couldn't drink anymore. They all looked dejected, and their stomachs were churning.

"Xu Lin, I really can't drink anymore," Xu Damao pleaded with a bitter face.

"We all chose dare, so you can give us a mission."

"Sure." Xu Lin smiled and waved to the others.

Five heads immediately swarmed over, drunkenly. Xu Lin lowered his voice, which carried a hint of seduction.

"In our courtyard, the deaf old lady's cane is a treasure. Xu Damao, go steal it. Shazhu, you're strong, smash the window facing the courtyard from Yi Zhonghai's house. Jia Dongxu, you're last, throw the cane into Yi Zhonghai's house. Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng, you two are in charge of keeping watch, and also block Yi Zhonghai's door so he can't come out immediately. I'm afraid you'll all be caught and won't be able to escape..."

After a series of tasks were assigned, the five drunken young men sobered up temporarily. They looked at each other, each seeing the conflict in the other's eyes. To Xu Lin, Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman's prestige in the courtyard was nothing, but in their hearts, they were two insurmountable mountains.

Xu Lin saw through their cowardice and then offered a second option with feigned generosity. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing: "Anyone who chickens out can do it. Go to my front gate now, shout 'I'm a coward' three times into the yard, and then state your name. That will be the end of it."

These words were the last straw that broke the camel's back. With the alcohol taking effect and the relentless provocation, the young people completely lost their composure.

"Who's the coward!" Xu Damao, with his thick slurred speech, was the first to roar. "We men of Beijing don't have the word 'fear' in our dictionary! So what if we smash a window or steal a cane? Let's do it!"

"Let's do it!"

The other four were also set ablaze, staggering and supporting each other as they rushed out of the house, creating a poignant scene reminiscent of the poem "The wind howls, the Yi River is cold." Inside, Tan Liya, Qin Huairu, and Ding Qiunan were all amused by this absurd scene.

"You're just making a fool of them," Madam Tan said, slapping Xu Lin across the face with a seductive look in her eyes. "How can you play like this? Besides, the deaf old lady is in the backyard, and Yi Zhongzhonghai is in the middle yard. What did they do to deserve this?"

Amidst Ding Qiunan's shocked gaze, Xu Lin pulled the slightly tipsy Tan Shi into his arms, lifted her smooth chin, and whispered with a wicked grin, "Who let these brats eat and drink my food, yet they can't control their eyes and stare at my people? If I don't teach them a lesson, who else should I teach a lesson to?"

After kissing Tan's delicate lips, he continued, "As for why it was Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman... those two old hags had too much influence in the courtyard before. If these young lads messed with them today, wouldn't they be even bolder to get their hands on others later?"

Listening to Xu Lin explain this trivial matter so eloquently, Tan, who was in his arms, rolled her eyes at him, exuding charm, and said, "You're so cunning..." She broke free from Xu Lin's embrace, sat down next to Qin Huairu, and took her hand, giving her some advice.

"Huai Ru, you'd better keep a close eye on him. I don't know how that kid's brain works, he's incredibly quick-witted. I don't want him to sell you out one day and you'll still be helping him count the money."

Qin Huairu just smiled, her almond-shaped eyes full of sweetness. She picked up a piece of golden scrambled egg, carefully held it to Xu Lin's lips, and said softly, "I'd be happy even if you sold me. I'll listen to Brother Xu; what wife doesn't listen to her man?"

Xu Lin laughed heartily, his affection for Qin Huairu deepening. He embraced her soft, slender waist and kissed her cheeks several times.

Standing to the side, Ding Qiunan, slightly drunk, watched this scene, her mind somewhat blank. She observed the natural and intimate interaction between Xu Lin, Qin Huairu, and the Tan family, a way of getting along that she had never seen before.

A vague yet bold idea quietly took root and sprouted in her heart...

After frolicking with the two women for a while, Xu Lin suddenly put his index finger to his lips and made a "shh" gesture. He stood up, walked into the yard, and listened intently.

The night was so quiet that you could hear the wind blowing through the eaves.

suddenly!

"Who is it! Sneaking in at night and touching my cane!" The deaf old woman's sharp yet powerful voice pierced the night sky from the backyard.

Before the words were even finished!

"Splash—"

A sharp, piercing sound came from the courtyard. It was the sound of glass shattering, crisp and loud.

Immediately following was a muffled groan and a roar.

"Ouch! Who the hell is this?! Who the hell is courting death?!" It was Yi Zhonghai's voice! He had obviously been hit by something. A moment later, hurried footsteps and cursing came from the backyard, and the deaf old woman rushed out, still wearing her clothes. Yi Zhonghai also came out with a dark face, holding a familiar wooden stick in his hand.

"Zhonghai! Why did you smash my window! No, why did you take my cane!" The deaf old woman chased after Yi Zhonghai to the Central Court and immediately saw the cane in his hand, and began to question him.

She wasn't stupid; she knew Yi Zhonghai couldn't possibly be behind this. However, the atmosphere had reached a certain point, and it would be impossible to maintain her authority without berating someone. Just now, in the pitch-black room, a dark figure darted in, startling her. She grabbed her cane and ran. If her legs weren't still quite nimble, and the cane didn't affect her walking, she'd probably be stuck in the room right now.

"Grandma, I didn't take it!" Yi Zhonghai was terribly wronged. "This cane flew in by itself! My window is broken!"

The courtyard instantly descended into chaos. Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui also rushed out, still wrapped in their clothes, and exchanged bewildered glances at the farce unfolding before them.

Inside Xu Lin's room, several people listened to the noise outside and laughed until their stomachs hurt.

"This is fighting fire with fire." Xu Lin pulled Qin Huairu's hand and squeezed it. "Let them fight like dogs, we'll eat our food. After we're full, we'll clean up. Those guys, it looks like they're not planning on coming back for dinner..."

The turmoil in the courtyard continues.

Although the three old men suspected Xu Lin was behind it all, seeing the five young men slumped against the wall, completely drunk, they didn't dare take a single step into Xu Lin's room. Who knew if that little bastard would take advantage of his drunkenness and beat them up again?

Yi Zhonghai's face was dark as he looked at the shards of glass scattered on the ground, then at the cane in his hand. The fire in his heart burned so fiercely that it hurt his very insides. With nowhere to vent his anger, he turned his head and glared fiercely at the five drunken faces of Liu Guangqi, Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao, Shazhu, and Jia Dongxu.

Enraged, he rushed forward and kicked each of them twice. Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, seeing their son being beaten, felt some heartache, but didn't dare to intervene. After all, it was clear they were all involved, and they couldn't show too much favoritism.

After venting his anger, Yi Zhonghai raised his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness, fixed on the direction of Xu Lin's house in the front yard. He spat viciously on the ground.

"You little bastard, you just wait! This isn't over!"

Meanwhile, Xu Lin, the instigator, was enjoying a delightful dinner with Tan Shi on one side and Huai Ru on the other. As for Ding Qiunan... she had already pretended to be drunk and gone upstairs to rest...