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

39

Many people nodded in agreement, "That's right, Sha Zhu only provoked those people to get revenge on Fang Chengxuan. Otherwise, other people's things wouldn't have suffered!"

"Yes, yes, both Sha Zhu and Fang Chengxuan have to take this responsibility."

In the crowd, someone raised their voice very high.

Fang Chengxuan slowly scanned the area and found that the households that were shouting the loudest had the most valuable items confiscated.

Yang Yuande leaned closer, "Brother Fang, so after all this time, those three old men were after you!"

His voice wasn't quiet; as soon as he spoke, everyone around him looked over.

Liu Haizhong spoke in an official tone, his lips moving rapidly, "Fang Chengxuan, the root of this matter is that Sha Zhu orchestrated this to get back at you."

"Why would Sha Zhu mess with you? You provoked him first."

"So in the end, you can't get away with the blame for Sha Zhu bringing those people and turning everyone's house upside down."

Yan Shuzhai nodded in agreement, "That's right, Fang Chengxuan should take responsibility for this."

Yi Zhonghai chimed in, "Fang Chengxuan, don't try to shift the blame. Those people are just using you as an excuse."

Fang Chengxuan's gaze slowly swept over the faces of everyone present, his smile lazy and nonchalant. That smile looked casual, but the danger emanating from it sent chills down their spines.

"According to the three old men, if I were to harbor hatred towards any of my neighbors and set fire to this entire courtyard, wouldn't the three old men also be held responsible?"

He had a smile on his lips, but his eyes were as deep as a dry well.

"Yang Yuande, go and get a torch."

Yang Yuande jumped up and walked outside without saying a word. The neighbors in the courtyard were all dumbfounded, their eyes wide as saucers.

Fang Chengxuan's tone was off as soon as he opened his mouth.

"You're talking to me about arson?"

He curled his lips into a sneer.

"I'm perfectly fine, I haven't done anything wrong, yet they're slapping a criminal label on me. I don't admit to this crime."

"Since you insist on putting this on my head, I might as well teach you a lesson."

Everyone in the courtyard went silent.

No one dared to speak; all eyes were fixed on Yang Yuande, who was carrying a torch as he walked in, before turning to look at the three old men.

Fang Chengxuan also glanced over.

"Gentlemen, please continue. I don't mind burning this yard to the ground and then calling the law enforcement to investigate."

"If I'm not having a good time, none of you will be having a good time either."

He still spoke in that lazy tone, but everyone could see his true spirit—he wasn't just trying to scare people, he was genuinely fearless.

The old man, Yi Zhonghai, looked ashen-faced.

"Fang Chengxuan, if you really burn down the courtyard, you won't be able to escape either."

Fang Chengxuan scoffed.

"Old man, do you really think I'm a fool? I burned down the yard? I was just making a scene. If I didn't make a scene, how would I send the three of you to the police station?"

"Don't forget, when you used to hold general meetings of the entire neighborhood, that was because the neighborhood committee had the right to mediate. Now? Do you have that right? It's not an exaggeration to say that you're coercing me."

"Besides, haven't all three of your families suffered losses? You're forcing me to admit to things just for your own little gain. The amount isn't small; do any of you have a father like Li Deshuang to bail you out?"

Fang Chengxuan snatched the torch from Yang Yuande's hand and threw it at the table between the three old men.

"Fang Chengxuan, are you crazy?!"

"what!"

The two old men were so frightened they almost lost their souls, and the third old man, Yan Shuzhai, was unable to run away because of his weak legs.

The torch struck the wooden table, and flames shot up instantly.

"I really don't understand you guys. I broke both of He Yuzhu's legs and nothing happened to me. Where did you get the nerve to mess with me?"

The flickering firelight reflected on Fang Chengxuan's face. His gaze swept over the three old men and finally landed on the neighbors in the courtyard.

It's like they're memorizing their faces.

The people in the courtyard finally came to their senses, but no one dared to meet his gaze.

"I already said it. When He Yuzhu approached those people, they were after the whole courtyard."

"They've done this a lot, they're so familiar with it, just ask around, you'll find out."

"If you want to blame someone, blame He Yuzhu. If you wanted revenge, come at me directly. Why did you have to provoke those other people?"

After speaking, Fang Chengxuan stood up.

"You can talk your way out of this, but it has absolutely nothing to do with me. Everyone outside knows what kind of people those are. They came here on their own; I didn't beg them to come. I'm the victim, understand?"

"To put it bluntly, my family doesn't have as many valuables as yours. You think I'm powerful and want to get something back from me? Dream on. I'm not a pushover. Before you mess with me, think twice about how you managed to break He Yuzhu's legs."

"Touch your legs again to see if your bones are strong enough."

Fang Chengxuan abandoned his usual mild demeanor, his words revealing a ruthless edge. Those in the courtyard, under his gaze, even lowered their breathing.

He turned and left, leaving the rest of the people frozen in place, their bodies stiff as wood.

Once the figures had completely disappeared, the two burly young men suddenly pulled out ten yuan and stuffed it into Xu Damao's hand.

"Xu Damao, take this. I dare not touch this money."

Leng Si and Yang Yuande exchanged a glance. Yang Yuande lowered his voice: "Why does Brother Fang seem a bit creepy today?"

"He's been holding back his anger for the past few days. Anyone who dares to cross him now will likely end up in a worse situation than He Yuzhu."

Leng Si glanced around at the neighbors in the courtyard and continued, "Don't think that just because you've got a secure job at the steel mill, you're guaranteed a stable position. He Yuzhu had a secure job too, didn't he? And look at him now?"

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Yuande added, "Have you all lost your minds? Someone just casually instigated you, and you rush in to be used as pawns. Use your stupid brains!"

"Anyone who messes with Brother Fang, whether from the compound or the factory, ends up badly. If you think you're so tough, feel free to come and test your skills."

"As for the losses? That was caused by Sha Zhu. Go find Sha Zhu. Do you think Brother Fang is as stupid as you, scared just because there are more of you?"

"Let me tell you, Brother Fang will deal with you like you're little chicks."

After Yang Yuande finished speaking, he snorted coldly and chased after Fang Chengxuan with Leng Si.

The courtyard remained quiet for a while. Finally, someone spoke up: "Yeah, when Sha Zhu was acting like a bully in the yard, none of us dared to mess with him. Fang Chengxuan has Sha Zhu completely under his thumb, so why do we think we can control him?"

"Do you think Fang Chengxuan will hold a grudge and kick us out of the steel mill too?"

"Oh dear, what if he really breaks our legs?"

The group of people, who had been blinded by money, finally came to their senses. The more they thought about it, the more frightened they became, and their faces turned pale.

The crowd quickly dispersed. Only three old men and Xu Damao remained standing there, staring at each other.

No one could understand why the plan, which had been meticulously planned, completely collapsed when it reached Fang Chengxuan.

Fang Chengxuan stopped Yang Yuande, who was following him, and said directly, "Give me the list of the neighbors who attended the hospital-wide meeting today. They have to be from the steel mill."

After saying this, he smirked, a chilling glint in his eyes.

"If I don't teach them a lesson, they'll really think I can't handle them."

Early the next morning.

Yang Yuande went to work with Fang Chengxuan, and on the way, he couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, those guys!"

After finishing his tirade, he turned to look at Fang Chengxuan, his voice softening: "Brother Fang, your bicycle and all the things in the house were stolen by those people under some lame excuse. Are you just going to accept that?"

Fang Chengxuan glanced at him sideways. "I explained the situation before I sent the law enforcement officers away after I broke He Yuzhu's leg that day. Whether we can get it back depends on what kind of explanation the law enforcement officers can give us."

"That bastard Sha Zhu, just you wait!"

Yang Yuande cursed again.

The two walked all the way to the entrance of the steel rolling mill. Yang Yuande saw that Fang Chengxuan remained silent and dared not say anything more.

He felt that Fang Ge's aura had been frighteningly low these past few days.

Upon entering the factory, Fang Chengxuan first arranged matters in the kitchen, then went to the personnel department.

"Manager Xu, I'd like to inquire about the total number of employees in the steel rolling mill."

The HR manager smiled broadly when he saw him—his younger brother was able to get a job in the kitchen entirely thanks to Fang Chengxuan's help.

"Our factory has one canteen serving 2,000 people, and there are four canteens in total, which adds up to 8,000 people."

Fang Chengxuan nodded: "Okay, I understand. Your younger brother Xu Pei is good, down-to-earth and willing to learn, he's a promising talent, I'll keep an eye on him."

He paused, then asked, "Manager Xu, are you familiar with those foremen in the workshop?"

The HR manager nodded: "Yes, we know each other. Manager Fang, is there something you need?"

"It's like this, the people in our compound haven't been working very hard lately, and we'd like the workshop foreman to keep a closer eye on them and help them improve."

"I'm not familiar with those directors, but I thought you had a wide network of connections, could you help me put in a good word with them?"

Fang Chengxuan spoke of it casually.

The HR manager blinked, understanding immediately: "No problem. Just give me the names of the people in your compound."

Fang Chengxuan took out the list prepared by Yang Yuande and handed it over: "Everyone's here. Please ask the workshop director to take good care of them. You know, He Yuzhu was also from our compound. He had ideological problems and has already been fired. It's always good to be on guard."

The HR manager smiled and accepted the document: "Understood, Manager Fang, don't worry. Someone with questionable thinking definitely needs to be closely monitored."

After they finished talking, Fang Chengxuan got up and left.

The HR manager looked down at the list in his hand, then looked up at Fang Chengxuan's back and couldn't help but laugh.

"What a bunch of idiots! Why did they have to provoke Fang Chengxuan?"

He didn't linger and headed to the workshop with the list in hand.

In the afternoon, apart from Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade fitter, and Liu Haizhong, a seventh-grade fitter, no one dared to mess with them in the courtyard. The others weren't having an easy time. Yang Yuande and Zhang Yangde were subjected to all sorts of difficulties, while the rest were directly transferred to extremely arduous and exhausting positions. Their lives were incredibly miserable.

Fang Chengxuan had already calculated the list of Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes and handed it to Factory Director Yang. Factory Director Yang immediately approved the plan: mooncakes would be distributed for the Mid-Autumn Festival, one savory and one sweet.

As Fang Chengxuan came out of the factory, he immediately spotted someone standing at the gate. Rong Xinrui was pushing her women's bicycle and waiting there.

He paused for a moment, then his face lit up with a smile, and he quickly went to greet him.

"Why did you come here? Don't you have classes today?"

Rong Xinrui tilted her head and looked Fang Chengxuan up and down, finding him rather strange.

"What's wrong?"

"Leng Si let it slip that you haven't been in a good mood lately."

Rong Xinrui stared at him for a long time, then recalled her reaction a few days ago, and her face suddenly darkened.