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

13

Fang Chengxuan nodded: "I understand what Father means. Whether I do well or poorly outside has nothing to do with the family. If the family receives any benefits, they won't try to take them back."

Mr. Fang nodded.

Fang Chengxuan turned to his three older brothers: "Is that what you all think too?"

Brother Fang looked up at him and said, "Chengxuan, a person has to have a conscience. We made a promise to our great-grandfather, and we can't go back on our word."

Fang Chengxuan nodded again.

He looked at the people at the table and sighed softly to himself.

No wonder the original owner of this body suffered so much during that period.

"Although I was adopted out, my biological parents are still alive. If I bypass you and find an outsider to handle this matter, people will definitely gossip and wonder if I did something wrong that you are so eager to distance yourselves from me."

Fang Chengxuan spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"For the sake of my beloved, and for my own sake, I have no choice but to ask you to step in and officiate my engagement."

"Besides, even if I'm adopted, my branch is still related to the family. My parents are the elders, and that relationship can't be ignored."

As soon as he said that, everyone in the room fell silent.

Mr. Fang didn't respond, only saying, "Let's eat first."

Everyone started eating.

Fang Chengxuan stopped talking and focused on serving food to Fang Lianyun.

At the dinner table, the adults ate in silence, while the children stared curiously at the uncle who had changed into clean clothes and seemed like a completely different person.

into the night.

After Fang Chengxuan helped Fang Lianyun wash up, he escorted her back to her room. He then stood at the doorway, looking towards the room to the east.

In the east room, the Fang family members, young and old, were crammed together.

Father Fang tapped his pipe twice on the edge of the table, then glanced around at everyone in the room: "Your mother and I are getting old. Sooner or later, you'll be the ones calling the shots in this house."

"No matter how many times Chengxuan is adopted out, he is still flesh and blood of your mother and me. You can disown this brother, but we, as his parents, cannot bring ourselves to do it."

"He asked us to help with the wedding arrangements, and your mother and I discussed it privately—we have to go."

"Just like Chengxuan said, if we don't show up at such a big event, what will the people over there think of him?"

"Now, I'd like to hear your thoughts."

Mr. Fang looked at his three sons and daughters-in-law.

Of the four sons, the eldest was honest and kind, obedient to his parents, and married a decent woman. The second son was meticulous, only concerned with his own little family, and his wife was not talkative. The third son was the most cunning, always looking out for himself, and his wife was no pushover either.

Fang the eldest and his wife exchanged a glance and said, "We also think our parents should go. Also, we need to prepare a gift for our younger brother."

Fang Lao Er curled his lip: "They've all been adopted out, so they're two separate families now. We agreed to sever all ties cleanly, but now we're all involved again. What if Lao Si goes astray in the city and racks up a mountain of debt? We'll have to pay it off for him!"

Fang Laosan's eyes darted around: "I think this connection can be made. If Lao Si does well outside, he can't just abandon his brothers. If he doesn't do well, and like Er Ge said, he's in debt, then we can at least distance ourselves from it!"

"Exactly!"

Fang Laosan's wife chimed in, "In my opinion, Mom and Dad can go, but we can't let Lao Si feel that just because you're there, he's still the fourth son in the family!"

The couple exchanged a glance, their minds filled with thoughts of Fang Chengxuan's clothes, as well as the White Rabbit candies and pastries he had brought back.

Father Fang let out a heavy sigh, picked up his pipe, and took another deep drag: "You all think that fourth son went out to enjoy himself?"

"Don't forget, fourth brother also has to support your great-grandfather's granddaughter, Lianyun, and pay for that little girl's schooling."

"Don't all of these cost money?"

"The fourth son is still waiting to get married, and everything costs money. In the city, you have to pay for everything, from food and drink to sanitation. It's not like in the countryside, where we can make a living by farming."

Old Man Fang glared at his second and third sons with his eyes.

"The adoption was agreed upon long ago. Although Chengxuan proposed it himself, don't forget that none of you were willing to take on the responsibility and raise your great-grandfather's grandson."

"Back then, Chengxuan was unmarried and wouldn't be a burden, so we chose him. You yourselves took the money from our great-grandfather and even swore that whether Chengxuan's life was good or bad, you would never bother him!"

Fang Laosan curled his lip: "It's just a few words."

"Even though our great-grandfather is gone, isn't Fang Chengxuan still family? If the younger brother becomes successful, how can he not lend a hand to his older brother?"

His eyes were filled with calculation and greed.

"Who wouldn't want a stable job in the city? We gave the opportunity to Chengxuan; shouldn't he be grateful for our help?"

"Father, Mother, please take me with you on this trip. Once I get there, I'm sure I can find out everything that's going on in Chengxuan!"

Fang Laosan's eyes gleamed, his face feigned innocence, but his mind was full of wicked schemes.

Enraged, Old Man Fang swung his pipe and smacked him on the head: "Stop plotting! Your great-grandfather had already planned ahead; when he gave the money, he even arranged for witnesses. If you don't want people talking behind your back, don't try anything funny!"

"That's enough!"

Old Man Fang glanced at his three sons, adopted the demeanor of the patriarch, and declared, "Your mother and I will go with Chengxuan. From now on, you four brothers should not have any further contact, lest you end up as enemies!"

"I'll listen to my parents."

"I don't care."

"Look at my little brother, he's definitely living a very comfortable life in the city. Dad, I don't ask for much, just let him help us out, is that alright?"

The thought of Fang Chengxuan's imposing manner upon his return made Fang Laosan feel like he was being scratched by a cat.

Fang Chengxuan must be living a comfortable life in the city. I really thought he was suffering there!

Fang Laosan's eyes darted around.

The family meeting ended, and Mr. and Mrs. Fang shooed everyone away. The three brothers, with their wives, came out of the house and immediately spotted Fang Chengxuan standing outside.

Everyone was stunned.

"Chengxuan."

Fang Chengxuan smiled at his eldest brother and sister-in-law, his cold gaze sweeping over his second and third brothers, making them feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Big brother, sister-in-law."

Fang Chengxuan called out, nodded, and turned to go inside.

The group watched his retreating figure, exchanged glances, and remained silent. Only when they went home did the couple begin to whisper amongst themselves.

The eldest son's wife leaned close to her husband and whispered, "Have you noticed? Fourth brother's been acting all different since he came back. The way he looked at people just now, the way he smiled—it wasn't that he was scared, but there was this tightness in his chest, like he was really uncomfortable."

Boss Fang nodded and sighed, "His letter back wasn't lying; he really suffered over there."

"It's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore. In the end, he was adopted out when he was young, so there's something between us. From now on, we'll just treat each other as relatives, and don't try to take advantage of him. Even if we're brothers, it's not right for the older brother to take advantage of the younger brother."

Fang the eldest sighed again: "Didn't our parents harden their hearts and send him away because they were afraid that if he became successful in the future, his older brothers would use the adoption as an excuse to ask for benefits?"

On the other side, Fang Laosan was also muttering to himself.

"Second brother, did you see that? Fourth brother's reaction just now, did he hear us talking? Also, he only called us eldest brother and sister-in-law, he didn't even look at us."

Fang Lao Er retorted, "What does it have to do with me? We agreed that each family would be responsible for their own affairs after the adoption. I'm not getting involved."

After saying that, he grabbed his wife and walked into the house.

Fang Laosan stared at his retreating figure and spat, "None of you are smart enough to think straight. Fourth Brother has clearly made a name for himself in the city. Even if not for yourself, you should think about the younger generation at home and try to get closer to him."

Fang Laosan's wife nodded, her expression somewhat troubled: "That's true, but Fourth Brother's aura is unsettling. I always feel like I can't afford to offend him, and I get nervous just getting close."

"What's the panic? No matter what, he's still my brother, and my son is his nephew. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. Do you really think he can just ignore it?"

Fang Laosan stiffened his neck.

The next morning.

Fang Chengxuan got up, helped Fang Lianyun wash up, and the family sat around the table to eat breakfast.

Mr. Fang put down his chopsticks and spoke directly: "Chengxuan, your mother and I have discussed it. Marriage is a big event, and we need to go and lend a hand. We'll leave after we finish eating."

Fang Chengxuan nodded in agreement: "Okay, thank you for your hard work, Mom and Dad."

Fang Laosan immediately interjected, "Dad, I'll go too. I can take care of things on the way."

Father Fang glared at him: "Take care of what? Just stay home and farm your land."

After finishing the meal, Fang's father said to Fang Chengxuan, "I'll go to the village to borrow an oxcart, and we'll take it there in a bit."

Not long after, the oxcart arrived.

After a scolding from their father, the three brothers stood there, watching the oxcart slowly drive away.

Fang Chengxuan sat for a while, then suddenly slapped his forehead: "Oh no, I forgot something at home."

He handed Fang Lianyun to his mother to hold, and patted the little girl's head: "Lianyun, wait here with Grandma for a while, your brother will be right back after he goes to get the things."

After saying that, he jumped off the oxcart and ran quickly back to the Fang family's courtyard.

Before they even reached the courtyard, they could hear Fang Laosan cursing at his two brothers, saying that Fang Chengxuan was heartless and wanted to abandon his brothers now that he had made something of himself.

Fang Chengxuan turned around and saw the person standing at the door.

Fang Laoda was taken aback for a moment, then quickly stood up to greet him: "Chengxuan, why are you back? Did you forget something?"

"I haven't forgotten."

Fang Chengxuan's lips twitched, and his fist was already aimed at Fang Laosan's face. He grabbed a rag from the table with his left hand and shoved it into Fang Laosan's mouth. The whole action was smooth and fast, without the slightest hesitation.

What followed was a brutal beating. The dull thuds of fists smashing into flesh were constant.

Fang Lao Da stood rooted to the spot, while Fang Lao Er gasped and took two steps back.

Fang Laosan's wife realized what was happening and opened her mouth to scream.

Fang Chengxuan turned to look at her, his voice not loud: "Third sister-in-law, do you believe I can make Third Brother divorce you?"

Fang Laosan's wife's throat seemed to be choked, and she couldn't utter a single word.

No one dared to move in the courtyard.

After Fang Chengxuan finished beating him, he looked down at Fang Laosan, who was curled up on the ground, holding his head and not moving.

"Third brother, when I was going through the hardest time, not a single one of my parents or brothers lent a helping hand. I walked through the palace gates once, and after I woke up, I never expected anything from anyone."

He paused.

"Take what I'm willing to give you. If I'm not willing, reach out your hands—"

"Then don't blame me for chopping it up."

Fang Chengxuan pulled out five yuan from his pocket and slammed it on the table: "Medical expenses. The oxcart is waiting, I'm leaving now."

After beating them up, he nodded to Fang Laoda and Fang Laoer, straightened his collar, and turned to leave.

The adults in the courtyard remained silent.