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

18

Fang Chengxuan looked at Xu Damao's cowardly appearance.

This guy is all talk and no action; when it comes to actually fighting, he's got no real skills and can only sabotage things behind people's backs.

"I told Lou Xiao'e that you were pursuing Shu Qianxue, that's right."

Fang Chengxuan's voice was calm and unhurried, "But don't you know why I did this?"

"You keep telling everyone I don't earn more than twenty yuan a month, I can't be bothered with you."

"But you gossiped about me to my boyfriend—if I don't teach you a lesson, who will? You're not done with me yet, are you? Come on, let's see how you're not done."

He had a smile on his lips, but his eyes were chillingly cold.

Xu Damao's throat tightened, and he could barely speak.

With his limited abilities, he may look fierce, but he'd break easily with a single poke.

"As for Lou Xiao'e and He Yuzhu's affair, that has nothing to do with me. It was the deaf old lady who brought them together."

"If you don't believe me, ask Lou Xiao'e."

Fang Chengxuan turned his head, his gaze sweeping lightly over Lou Xiao'e's face. His gaze was as cold as well water at night.

Lou Xiao'e pursed her lips, met Xu Damao's gaze, and said, "Who I divorce and who I want to marry is my business."

"It was the deaf old lady who introduced Sha Zhu. But I'm willing to marry him because he's a million times better than you."

Xu Damao stared at Lou Xiao'e, his facial muscles twitching.

Lou Xiao'e wasn't afraid at all; she was no longer the submissive person she used to be.

"What do you think you are, telling me what to do?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Damao's face darkened even more, almost dripping with water.

"The whole compound knows about your relationship, I don't need to spread the word."

Yi Zhonghai spoke coldly, his eyes glaring at Fang Chengxuan.

Fang Chengxuan remained calm and composed, sitting there as if watching a play.

But he knew in his heart that Xu Damao had pinned this mess on him.

Lou Xiao'e took a step forward, her voice rising: "Let me tell you, Xu Damao, if you dare to interfere with my marriage, I'll expose all your dirty secrets. That broadcaster at the factory, and that young widow at the east end of the alley—do you think nobody knows?"

These words left everyone present looking at each other in bewilderment.

Xu Damao's face turned a deep purplish-red, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

The door was pushed open from the outside, and He Yuzhu strode up to Lou Xiao'e.

"Hey, you surnamed Xu, are you looking for trouble?"

He swung his arm across, shielding Lou Xiao'e behind him like a wall.

Xu Damao took a half step back, muttering curses, "You two are getting along so well. I'd like to see who can make your lives comfortable."

He Yuzhu didn't waste any words with him. He simply took a step forward, his shoulder pressing against Xu Damao's chest, forcing the man back several steps.

"Give it a try."

He Yuzhu's voice wasn't loud, but anyone could hear the ruthlessness in it.

Lou Xiao'e stepped out from behind him, raising her chin: "Hey Xu, let me make this clear. My dad said if you keep pushing him like this, his old buddies aren't pushovers. Who knows if you'll still be able to walk on three legs then?"

Xu Damao's eyes darted around; he had taken those words to heart.

Although the Lou family has lost some of its power, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.

Fang Chengxuan tapped his knees absently with his fingers, his gaze lingering on Lou Xiao'e's face for a few seconds.

This woman has changed.

In the past, if something like this happened, I would have hidden in a corner and wiped away my tears.

Now it is—

He could fight Xu Damao face-to-face.

He muttered to himself, "It seems that Lou Xiao'e and He Yuzhu's affair is a done deal."

The plot has taken a different turn than before.

Xu Damao should have continued his entanglement with Qin Jingru, but she married Yang Yuande instead. He admitted that Fang Chengxuan was behind this.

Xu Damao wasn't stupid; he naturally knew who was setting the trap.

Now this bastard has his eye on Shu Qianxue.

To win the girl's favor, Xu Damao spent money every day, acting as if he cared deeply about her.

Xu Damao was just a movie projectionist who could at most squeeze some money out of others. How much wealth could he possibly have? Naturally, he could only set his sights on Lou Xiao'e.

He had already figured out what was going on when he threatened the old man for money.

With this change, Xu Damao became hesitant and timid, unlike in the story where he would readily report the Lou family and cause trouble.

"I wonder what kind of trouble He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e will cause after Qin Huairu gets out?"

"If Sha Zhu still doesn't understand and keeps hanging around that widow, will Lou Xiao'e let this go?"

Fang Chengxuan stood to the side watching, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He thought to himself: If He Yuzhu could understand, he and Lou Xiao'e have a son. If the two of them really got together, Lou Xiao'e's temper wasn't too bad, and she could keep He Yuzhu in check.

He just watched quietly without saying a word.

Xu Damao's face contorted with rage. He pointed at He Yuzhu, then at Lou Xiao'e, yelling, "You two better remember this!"

Once I marry Shu Qianxue, I'll show you all what's what!

Xu Damao gritted his teeth until they ached, but he couldn't think of any way to deal with He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e, so he could only turn away in resentment.

"Xu Damao".

Lou Xiao'e suddenly called out to him.

She walked past He Yuzhu, stood in front of Xu Damao, and said in a low voice, "You'd better not even think about reporting my family. Think about it, if Shu Qianxue's parents knew you dared to report even your in-laws, would they still dare to marry their daughter to you?"

Xu Damao frowned, his gaze fixed on Lou Xiao'e with a gloomy expression.

"Lou Xiao'e, you better not marry He Yuzhu, or I'll never forgive you."

Lou Xiao'e glanced at him, turned around and walked to He Yuzhu's side, took his hand, and waved it at Xu Damao: "I insist on marrying He Yuzhu."

"I'm going to have a child with him and live a happy and fulfilling life, so that you can see clearly what kind of person you, Xu Damao, really are."

After saying that, she turned to He Yuzhu and said, "He Yuzhu, I don't want anything else from you, just that you're reliable and honest with me. Let's get our marriage certificate tomorrow!"

Xu Damao stared at Sha Zhu and Lou Xiao'e, his chest heaving with anger. But when he thought of Shu Qianxue, he gritted his teeth and endured it.

He hardened his heart: Lou Xiao'e, Sha Zhu, you just wait!

Even if you two get married, I can still make you divorce!

Xu Damao left with a livid face.

Beside the archway, the third uncle, Yan Shuzhai, secretly watched for a long time, originally hoping that Xu Damao could do something to Fang Chengxuan.

Is that all?

With a hint of disappointment in his eyes, he glanced at his second uncle Liu Haizhong beside him and nudged him with his elbow.

"Second Uncle, Fang Chengxuan has completely humiliated those old men, and you're just going to stand by and do nothing?"

Yan Shuzhai stared at Liu Haizhong, his tone tinged with emotion.

You know, Liu Haizhong used to dream of becoming a big shot in the compound. But now, he hardly ever shows his face anymore.

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong glanced at him sideways and sneered, "You still have the nerve to bring this up?"

"Yi Zhonghai stole someone's widow, you're a thief and a dog, and I'm an innocent person who's been dragged down to this state by the two of you, and you still want to drag me down with you?"

The third uncle, Yan Shuzhai, moved his lips but didn't say anything.

After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "We all live in the same courtyard. That brat Fang Chengxuan went too far. If he cared about us elders at all, would he have let us lose face?"

His voice trembled as he said this.

When he returned this time, he had lost his job at the school. He had lived most of his life and knew nothing but teaching.

The children in the family now treat him like an enemy, and they don't even want to talk to him.

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong glanced at him and waved his hand dismissively: "Go away, don't try to fool me. Do you think I'm as stupid as you?"

"elder?"

"Pah! Fang Chengxuan's biological parents are both alive and well!"

The scene flashed through Uncle Er's mind—Fang Chengxuan's parents fighting with Yi Zhonghai, witnessed by everyone in the courtyard. Yi Zhonghai's attempt to complain failed, and he ended up paying nine yuan in damages; he got beaten up for nothing.

I've had enough of the excitement.

Uncle Er turned around and walked into the house.

He disliked Fang Chengxuan, but he wasn't stupid enough to back down. After seeing what happened to the first and third uncles, why would he go and provoke that kid?

That's ridiculous.

As soon as the second uncle left, the third uncle, Yan Shuzhai, stood there, his eyes darting around, before walking towards Fang Chengxuan.

"Fang Chengxuan, you've ruined my livelihood! Now I don't have a single penny to my name. Five mouths in my family are waiting to be fed. If you don't give me an explanation today, I'm going to stay here and eat your food, drink your drinks, and live in your house."

He plopped down on the chair next to him, adopting a nonchalant attitude.

Fang Chengxuan glanced at him, a smirk playing on his lips: "Third Uncle, you really think your school project fell through because of me?"

"The school said they didn't originally intend to dismiss me, but someone went there and forced them to. Who else could it be but you?"

The third uncle got angrier and angrier as he talked.

Now he's lost his salary, and his two sons don't even respect him anymore; they won't listen to him. It's all Fang Chengxuan's fault.

This kid has to take responsibility.

"I don't care. If you can't let me go back to teaching, I'm not leaving your house!"

The third uncle became increasingly angry, feeling that all the blame lay with Fang Chengxuan.

Fang Chengxuan sneered.

"Third Uncle, the person who went wasn't me."

His voice wasn't loud, but his eyes were as cold as ice, making the Third Uncle feel a chill down his spine.

"Who could it be?"

The third uncle asked through gritted teeth.

Fang Chengxuan chuckled: "Third Uncle, you've got some nerve. You'll stuff any kind of money into your pocket. Don't you realize that someone can't afford to offend you by giving them so much money?"

His words were a direct reference to the matter of his third uncle, Yan Shuzhai, using his name to collect money.

The old man's expression changed, his eyes darting around, but he still stubbornly insisted, "You're talking nonsense! What money did I take? Don't make false accusations!"

Fang Chengxuan stared at him, his voice low, "Third Uncle, some things don't just disappear because you stubbornly deny them. Be careful lately."

Yan Shuzhai's eyelids twitched, his eyes filled with wariness and suspicion. "What do you mean by that?"

"Third Uncle, figure it out yourself."

Fang Chengxuan, too lazy to waste any more words with him, stood up directly. "You can sit in this courtyard if you want, I won't stop you. But if anything is missing from my room, you'll have to compensate me for it, not a penny less. Or does Third Uncle want to stay in jail for a few more days?"

When the topic of his days in the labor camp came up, a hint of fear flashed across Yan Shuzhai's face.

Fang Chengxuan ignored the neighbors watching the commotion in the yard, quickly washed his face, and turned to go back inside.

Yan Shuzhai remained motionless in the same spot.

Yang Yuande walked over, rolled up his sleeves, revealing hard, bulging muscles in his arms. "Third Uncle, if you make things difficult for my brother Fang, you're going against me. Are you leaving on your own, or should I help you?"