Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

9

Qin Huairu felt the gazes cast upon her by her neighbors, their eyes filled with disdain and distance. She felt a surge of resentment and anger. After finishing her laundry, she changed her demeanor and approached them in a humble and submissive manner.

"Mom, don't worry, I will never remarry without your approval. I'm doing all this for the sake of this family."

She squatted down with a basin of hot water to wash Jia Zhangshi's feet, her voice as soft as water.

Madam Jia snorted, "Go wash your feet properly."

Qin Huairu bit her lip, a sinister glint in her eyes.

At night, Qin Huairu tossed and turned, constantly tugging at the rope around her wrist. Jia Zhangshi, who had just fallen asleep, was woken up by the tugging.

She hadn't slept soundly all night. During the day, Jia Zhangshi was drowsy and wanted to doze off for a while, but as soon as she closed her eyes, Qin Huairu shook the rope and woke her up.

They just kept going back and forth like that.

Jia Zhangshi was a sleepyhead by nature, but she managed to stay awake until the afternoon. When she could no longer hold on, she collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and fell into a deep sleep.

Qin Huairu tugged at the rope binding her, but she didn't wake up.

She simply untied all the ropes.

While everyone was busy at their stoves, Qin Huairu slipped into the backyard, pushed open the door to Fang Chengxuan's room, and went inside.

He put on his clothes, lay down on the bed, and pulled the blanket up to his chin.

She didn't notice that when she pushed the door open, the red yarn tied to the door knocker fell off, floated to the ground, and was blown away by the wind.

"Fang Chengxuan, I'd like to see if you can explain yourself when I'm lying naked on your bed! Even if I have to marry someone else, I'll marry you and make sure you have no sons and no descendants for the rest of your life!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Qin Huairu's eyes.

The thought of Rong Xinrui's arrogant and disdainful attitude, and the fact that Fang Chengxuan hadn't given her a second glance since entering the hospital, made her determined to ruin their relationship.

As it was getting dark.

Fang Chengxuan pushed his bicycle into the yard, leaned it against the eaves, picked up a bucket of hot water, and planned to go back inside to wash himself and change his clothes.

As he reached the door, he glanced down at the door knocker and frowned.

Aunt Chen lives at home.

He didn't lock his room at all. But to prevent anyone from sneaking in, he didn't know that he had a habit of wedging the red yarn in the crack of the door when he closed it.

The yarn will fall down whenever someone pushes the door open.

Now, the door knocker is completely bare.

"Aunt Chen, is there anything to eat in the kitchen? Could you come in and get me something?"

Fang Chengxuan picked up the bucket and turned to go into the kitchen.

Aunt Chen was taken aback.

"Chengxuan?"

"Aunt Chen, has anyone come into my house today?"

"No."

"Then go to the law enforcement office and say that your house has been broken into and you don't know if you have any weapons on you. Tell them to come quickly."

Fang Chengxuan lowered his voice and said.

Aunt Chen's face turned pale instantly. She remembered that she had taken Lianyun out for a walk earlier that day and hadn't been in the backyard for a while. She quickly nodded.

Shortly after, the law enforcement officers arrived.

"It was you who reported it again."

The visitor sighed when he saw that it was Fang Chengxuan.

Fang Chengxuan said helplessly, "I don't want to either, but there are always people causing trouble."

"What happened?"

"I have someone guarding my house, so I never lock it. But I don't like people just coming in, so I left a mark on the door. When I came back today, the mark was gone."

"So you suspect there's someone hiding inside?"

"The law enforcement officer asked."

Fang Chengxuan nodded: "As you both know, several families in this compound are at odds with me because I didn't help that widow or listen to those people and give them benefits. I'm afraid someone might have stuffed something contraband into my house or be hiding someone there."

The two law enforcement officers exchanged a glance and nodded. "That makes sense. Okay, let's go in and take a look."

Two people in uniforms walked into the courtyard.

The neighbors in the courtyard all stopped what they were doing, craned their necks, and whispered among themselves.

"What's going on? Fang Chengxuan contacted law enforcement again?"

"Who knows, maybe another thief broke into the house?"

Because there were government officials present, everyone kept their voices down. The two law enforcement officers didn't waste any time; they took out their weapons and pushed open the door.

He glanced around the room and his gaze fell on the bulging blankets on the bed.

The two exchanged a glance.

One reached out and lifted the corner of the blanket, while the other raised his gun and aimed.

The blanket was pulled back.

Qin Huairu was naked, a charming smile on her face, and shyly raised her eyes.

I saw two unfamiliar faces at the door.

"ah--"

Her voice was shrill and piercing, and she frantically covered her chest.

The two law enforcement officers were completely stunned.

Fang Chengxuan stood outside the threshold, staring at the naked Qin Huairu inside the room, his eyes as cold as blades.

"Qin Huairu, what are you doing in my bed? What, you're not satisfied with sleeping with an old man like me, so you want to accuse me of being a pervert?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was filled with anger.

If he hadn't been so careful and hadn't had a backup plan, things would have been different today.

Once you step into that room and are trapped in bed, you'll never be able to clear your name, no matter how hard you try.

The neighbors in the courtyard all gasped in shock.

"Is it Qin Huairu?"

Someone peeked inside through the doorway and clicked their tongue, "Wow, I never would have guessed this woman was so shameless."

"In broad daylight, she crawled naked into a man's bed."

One woman twisted her husband's ear on the spot, gritting her teeth and yelling, "Where are you looking? Is this something to do in bed?"

The men realized what was happening and gasped.

"Tsk, she usually seems like a very honest person, I never expected her to be a Black Widow."

Looking at Qin Huairu now, many people felt fear in their eyes. Then all eyes turned to the old man Yi Zhonghai, their faces full of meaningful expressions.

Yi Zhonghai felt a tightness in his chest from those stares. He strode to the Fang family's door and saw Qin Huairu wrapped in a blanket inside. His vision blurred for a moment.

"Qin Huairu, how dare you!"

His voice trembled.

How dare she climb into another man's bed when he was preparing to marry her!

Qin Huairu, wrapped in the blanket thrown to her by the law enforcement officers, stood rooted to the spot by everyone's gaze.

Her throat was dry, and her lips moved slightly.

"I……"

She wanted to explain, but her tongue seemed tied in knots, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word for a long time.

What happened?

Why did Fang Chengxuan report the case to the police?

Fang Chengxuan stood outside, his face showing an expression of relief.

"That woman is too vicious."

If someone were to actually catch him in the same room with Qin Huairu, and that woman was naked, the gossip in the courtyard would drown him.

At that point, you won't be able to explain yourself no matter how hard you try.

The law enforcement officer put away his gun and stared at Qin Huairu: "Put your clothes on and come back to the station with us."

"Comrade, no!"

Qin Huairu's voice suddenly rose, "It was Fang Chengxuan! He's the one who made me do this!"

The law enforcement officer, with a stern face, took out his weapon and handcuffed Qin Huairu, who was already dressed.

It looked like the person was about to be taken away.

Qin Huairu panicked and turned to the old man Yi Zhonghai, shouting, "Uncle, help me up! I just wanted to teach Fang Chengxuan a lesson, I really didn't intend to do anything with him!"

Yi Zhonghai's face was gloomy. He glanced at Fang Chengxuan and kept his mouth shut without saying a word.

With two law enforcement officers standing there, and Fang Chengxuan being the aggrieved party, what could he do if Fang Chengxuan wouldn't give in?

Qin Huairu immediately realized her mistake and turned to Fang Chengxuan, begging for forgiveness: "Fang Chengxuan, I was wrong! Please forgive me this time, I'll never dare to provoke you again, please let me go!"

"My mother-in-law and children are waiting for me at home; I can't go to the labor camp!"

Fang Chengxuan's face was as cold as ice.

"Officers, Qin Huairu has a history of harassing men and falsely accusing them. This time, in front of you, she took off her clothes and framed me for harassment. I hope you will deal with this severely."

The law enforcement officer nodded: "We will take this matter to heart."

Done.

Two law enforcement officers took Qin Huairu away.

An elderly man named Yi Zhonghai stared at Qin Huairu's retreating figure, then turned to Fang Chengxuan: "Fang Chengxuan, without Qin Huairu to take care of the Jia family, how will the old and the young survive?"

Fang Chengxuan sneered, glanced at him, and said contemptuously, "Isn't there an old man here? You've already talked about marriage with Qin Huairu, which means you're family."

"Why don't you take care of Qin Huairu's mother-in-law and son? Once she's out of there, it'll be easier for her to agree to marry you, won't it?"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless.

Fang Chengxuan looked at his room, his anger flaring: "Aunt Chen, throw away all the dirty bedding. Clean the room inside and out again!"

Aunt Chen hurried into the room and picked up the quilt. She knew that Fang Chengxuan was very clean, especially his own things, and he wouldn't let anyone else touch them.

"Brother Fang, this quilt is so nice, can I have it?"

Zou Chang'an stared at the blanket on the floor and asked in a low voice.

He didn't know where the bedding was dirty, but if he had this quilt, he and his grandmother wouldn't be afraid of the cold this winter.

"Take it."

"Thank you, Brother Fang!"

Zou Chang'an happily picked up the bedding.

The stunned neighbors then realized what had happened and slapped their foreheads: "Why didn't I think of asking for a blanket?"

"What Fang Chengxuan thinks Qin Huairu has done, I don't think so!"

Fang Chengxuan pulled out new bedding from the closet and laid it out, but a lump remained in his throat, unable to release it.

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and his chest rose and fell.

"Qin Huairu, Qin Huairu, why do you always have to pick on me?"

The next morning at six o'clock.

When Jia Zhangshi woke up and didn't see Qin Huairu, she was furious. She grabbed a broom and rushed to Uncle Yi Zhonghai's house.

Standing at the door of Yi Zhonghai's house, Jia Zhangshi pointed at the door and started cursing.

"Yi Zhonghai, you shameless old man, how dare you lay a hand on my daughter-in-law? Where is she? Hand her over right now!"

That shout woke up all the neighbors.

The neighbors came out of their houses yawning and rubbing their eyes, their faces full of impatience.

"Jia Zhangshi, stop wailing. Your daughter-in-law went to Fang Chengxuan's house yesterday, trying to extort money, but she was caught off guard by two men dressed in official robes."

"What did you say?"

Someone chimed in, "That's for sure. Those two comrades thought it was some kind of revenge, so they kicked the door open with their guns, pulled back the covers, and found Qin Huairu lying there completely naked, not even wearing underwear."

Jia Zhangshi felt a tightness in her chest and gasped for breath.

"You shameless slut, Qin Huairu, are you that desperate for a man?"

Her face turned bright red, as if she wanted to devour Qin Huairu alive.

The people around started talking all at once.

"I never would have guessed Qin Huairu could be so promiscuous. It's a shame everyone used to praise her for being virtuous; you can never judge a book by its cover."

The discussions grew louder and louder.

Hearing those words and seeing those people praising her while their eyes were full of amusement, Jia Zhangshi was so angry that her vision blurred, her body swayed, and she collapsed.

"Hey, Jia Zhangshi has fainted!"

Someone shouted, but no one came forward to help.

The others stood at a distance and watched.