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

He was happily calculating in his mind: he could at least pocket fifty yuan on this trip, give it to Sister Qin, and wouldn't that make her very happy? Then he could hold her hand, put his arm around her waist, and everything would be fine. Thinking this, Sha Zhu almost laughed out loud, then muttered to himself, "I can't give it to her all at once, I have to give it to her in five installments. I'll also sneak some while cooking and bring it to Sister Qin..."

Yan Bugui, standing nearby, watched with bloodshot eyes, like a mangy dog ​​that hadn't eaten for days, and urged impatiently, "Li Weidong, hurry up and pay up!"

Li Weidong said calmly, "Wait, there's something I don't understand—when did I say I was going to hold a banquet?"

Yan Bugui was frantic. If the banquet wasn't held, where would his family get a treat? Where would they get any money from? He could at least squeeze out three or five yuan from them! "That's not right of you. Arranging your parents' funeral is a son's duty of filial piety. Don't you even understand that?"

"Tsk tsk, Li Weidong, this won't do."

With his hands behind his back and his large belly protruding, Liu Haizhong adopted the air of a serious person, saying, "You're rarely in the yard, so this is a chance for you to get along well with your neighbors."

Li Weidong came from the future, so he knows exactly how to deal with this kind of person.

"The country is now calling for thrift and frugality, and discouraging extravagant celebrations."

He spoke calmly, "What's wrong, Teacher Yan? Are you going against the country?"

Li Weidong said coldly, "My father was cremated a long time ago, and his ashes were buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery. You don't need to worry about that."

His father was on his way home from get off work that day when he witnessed two enemy agents attacking a public security officer. Without saying a word, he rushed to help. However, he was too badly wounded and died the next day. After learning of the situation, the higher authorities immediately posthumously granted him the title of martyr.

Not to mention his grandfather, eldest uncle, and second uncle, all of whom were martyrs. His grandfather died on the battlefield during the War of Resistance against Japan, and his eldest and second uncles were buried in the icy snow of a foreign land.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui and his companions were so frightened that their legs went weak.

"No, no, no, we're just worried you're too young and want to make a decision for you. How could we dare to go against the country!"

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly waved his hand, his voice almost trembling.

If this hat is fastened securely, then we'll be in big trouble.

Li Weidong sneered, "I'm young? I'm twenty, an adult, right? Who gave you permission to make decisions for me? What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"

He glanced around and said, "Just because you're the ones in charge of the compound?"

"The neighborhood committee asked you to mediate neighborhood disputes, but it's just a job of relaying messages and running errands."

"You're here to do things for others, not to act arrogantly and meddle in other people's family affairs!"

"You're not convinced? Then let's go find Director Wang and ask him for clarification."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui shrank back and took two steps back. This matter had nothing to do with him anymore.

Yi Zhonghai was practically grinding his teeth to powder, but he still forced a smile: "No need, no need, we just wanted to remind you and discuss it with you. If we're not going to do it, then we're not going to do it! Zhu Zi, sit down!"

Sha Zhu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he stared intently at Li Weidong. The money he'd almost gotten was gone; he was itching to attack.

"You idiot Zhu, if you dare ruin my house, I'll beat you to death!"

Madam Jia's face was swollen like a pig's head, all the fat on her face twisted together: "We're talking about my house, what are you talking about, a banquet?"

Yi Zhonghai slapped the table: "Quiet down, this time everyone doesn't have to pay."

He turned to Li Weidong: "Your father was a martyr, shouldn't you be more aware of that? You received 1,200 yuan in compensation, and donated 300 yuan to the Jia family. They will remember your kindness."

"Three hundred isn't enough! Give me five hundred!"

Jia Zhangshi's eyes were bloodshot, and her gaze at Li Weidong was like a knife: "Hurry up and pay up, the old man has spoken..."

Li Weidong sneered, "Who does Yi Zhonghai think he is? Giving orders? What right does he have to give commands?"

"Does being a martyr's family mean you have to be highly conscious of your actions? Do you have to give away all your savings to be considered worthy?"

"Okay, then I'll go and talk to Director Wang right now."

"Snapped!"

A resounding slap echoed in the courtyard.

Everyone was stunned.

No one expected that Li Weidong would actually dare to make a move, and that he would hit Jia Zhangshi.

Like a spinning top that had been whipped into the air, Jia Zhangshi spun around in place several times, her plump body swaying back and forth.

Li Weidong felt incredibly satisfied. He had thought about it before when he watched TV, and how it would be truly satisfying to teach this troublemaker a lesson.

After spinning around a few times, Jia Zhangshi finally managed to stand still. Her eyes widened in disbelief: "You little bastard, the jinx who killed your parents, why don't you go—"

"Snapped!"

Another slap.

This time it's even more ruthless.

Jia Zhangshi spun around twice before collapsing onto the ground.

"Old Jia! Come quickly and take this brat away! He's bullying us, a widow and her child—"

Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh and started howling at the top of her lungs, like she was performing in an opera.

Jia Dongxu initially wanted to rush forward, but upon seeing Li Weidong's nearly 1.9-meter height and fierce expression, he shrank back in fear and shouted to Qin Huairu, "You hurry up and stop him! We can't let him hit my mom again!"

Qin Huairu was completely bewildered, knowing full well that her husband was a bully at home but a coward at heart. He seemed intimidating on the surface but was actually quite timid.

Sha Zhu felt a surge of satisfaction. He'd been wanting to beat that old hag for a while now.

If it weren't for this old man getting in the way, he could have touched Sister Qin's little hand a few more times.

None of the other residents in the courtyard stepped forward to mediate the fight; they were all secretly pleased.

"Li Weidong! You even dare to hit an old man?"

Yi Zhonghai stared wide-eyed, as if he had witnessed something utterly outrageous.

He usually preaches respect for the elderly and care for the young in the courtyard, emphasizing that one should not only think of oneself, all to pave the way for his future.

"An old person? That has to be a person."

Li Weidong sneered, "Only in his forties, what kind of old man is that?"

"Besides, can't we hit an elderly person? Just because he's old?"

"Yi Zhonghai, there's something wrong with your thinking; you're a typical feudal remnant. Ask the transport captain if he's considered an elder. According to your logic, shouldn't he be treated like royalty?"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless.

Once this label is attached, it's no longer a contradiction among the people, but a struggle between the enemy and ourselves.

"Li Weidong, stop labeling me! We're talking about the incident where you assaulted someone!"

Yan Bugui's eyes darted around. "If we call the police, you'll be in jail for a few days."

Jia Zhangshi yelled at the top of her lungs, "Pay up! You have to pay up! One thousand two hundred yuan, not a penny less! Otherwise, I'll call the police and you'll regret it—"

She meant to say "brat".

But when she met Li Weidong's gaze, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Li Weidong sneered: "Call the police? Sure. I want to see how the police will judge someone who insults and curses a martyr. Even if they don't get shot, they'll still have to spend a few years in jail."

"Who said we were going to call the police!"

Yi Zhonghai immediately jumped in, "This is a matter for the institute; the institute will handle it—"

"fart!"

Li Weidong roared, "Resolve this in the courtyard? Who do you think you are, Yi Zhonghai? You think you can handle this? Do you think this is just a neighborhood squabble? You want to protect her? Fine, let's see how you cover it up!"

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong shrank back, looking like terrified turtles.

An old woman, leaning on a cane, slowly walked over: "Young man Li, for my sake, I'll let this go. I'll give that Zhang girl a good beating later to get revenge for you."

The old lady's hair was neatly combed, and her clothes were clean, but her eyes, like those of an owl, were fixed on Li Weidong.

This old woman was the oldest one in the courtyard—the deaf old lady. To others, she was like an ancestor, but Li Weidong knew that this old woman was the most cunning. She was the one who broke up Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e, pushing Lou Xiao'e into that hellhole of a idiot Zhu.

"Grandma, you're old, so I'm showing you respect. But please don't keep calling yourself my ancestor."

Li Weidong said in a nonchalant tone, "My Li family ancestors are all lying underground."

"Your surname is Long, and mine is Li; we're completely unrelated."

"I'll give you face—have Jia Zhangshi apologize to me, and we'll call it quits. But remember, there won't be a next time."

Li Weidong didn't want to argue with her, but the deaf old woman started acting like an ancestor the moment she opened her mouth, and he couldn't stand it.

He kept wondering: that group wearing red star-studded hats had never even entered Beijing. The deaf old woman had never left the city in her entire life—what kind of shoes had she made for the group?

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned, staring wide-eyed at Li Weidong. No one could believe he could say such a thing.

Over the years, thanks to Yi Zhonghai, everyone has treated the deaf old woman like an ancestor or an empress dowager, and whatever she says goes.

But Li Weidong's words made many people think – why should she? Isn't she just an old woman receiving government assistance? She's supposedly made shoes for the most beloved people, that's all? Just because of that, she has to be the matriarch of the whole neighborhood? Every household has to save up their best food and serve it to her first?

Yi Zhonghai's face contorted in anger: "Li Weidong, do you even know what you're saying? Are you talking to our ancestors? To a family member of a martyr?"

"That's your ancestor, he has nothing to do with me. We're just neighbors at most, that's all!"

Li Weidong said in a calm tone, "Also, don't bring up the fact that she made shoes for the army."

"There are plenty of people who make shoes for the team, but I've never seen anyone show this off everywhere."

"Besides, Beijing was peacefully liberated; our troops never even passed through here before. I really want to find out how these shoes were made."

"As for the families of martyrs, that's even easier to verify. It's not something that can be done with just a few words; you need a certificate of being a family of a martyr."

"My family has four books. Does your grandmother have any?"

Sha Zhu suddenly jumped over: "Hey Li, how dare you talk like that? Don't blame me—"

Li Weidong looked at Sha Zhu's old face, spitting everywhere, and sneered: "Hey, your nickname is really well-deserved, you really are a fool."

"Zhu Zi, get out of the way. The Li family kid has already given us face."

A flicker of panic crossed the deaf old woman's eyes. "Oh dear, I'm dizzy. Can you help me to sit over there for a while?"

Sha Zhu quickly helped the deaf old woman to the rattan chair behind Yi Zhonghai.

The deaf old woman initially thought of simply leaving, but then felt that leaving would make her feel guilty, so she reluctantly sat down.

"That little brat knows a lot; we need to find a way to get rid of him."

The deaf old woman secretly vowed, "Otherwise, he'll turn this compound upside down. What am I supposed to do with my retirement?"

"Alright, Sister-in-law Jia, apologize right now!"

Yi Zhonghai was also feeling uneasy and just wanted to get over the deaf old woman as soon as possible.

"Old Jia, come up here and take them away! Your good brother Yi Zhonghai is bullying us orphans and widows..."

Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh and started singing at the top of her lungs.