Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

"Mom, what about you?"

"Today I'm also benefiting from Da Mao's success."

"Give me a bowl of cabbage and ham soup too."

Chen Shuxiang smiled and echoed,

He was clearly very satisfied with the meal.

"Okay!"

Xu Damao ate until his belly was round and full.

I simply couldn't swallow the second steamed bun made from the two-ingredient dough.

My stomach was already completely filled with those delicious soups and broths.

For him, this kind of life was no different from that of a god.

After the meal, Xu Damao was extremely excited.

He insisted on dragging He Yuzhu to the yard to play with a slingshot.

This kid seems to have completely let loose lately.

You know, back then, those three teenagers in the courtyard would get together...

He was always the one who got bullied.

But now the tables have turned.

Yesterday, Brother Zhu helped him build a snowman.

This morning, He Yuzhu was clearly on his side again.

The two of them teamed up and gave their annoying rival, Jia Dongxu, a good beating.

Xu Damao was overjoyed.

It felt like I was living in a dream.

He Yuzhu told him not to rush.

First, take the deaf old lady back to the back room.

He then turned back to clean up the pots and pans and wash the dishes.

The dishes weren't clean yet.

Suddenly, the sound of a baby named He Yushui crying came from the kang (a heated brick bed).

He Yuzhu had no choice but to put down his work.

I reheated the rice water that was still warm in the pot.

He carefully brought it over and fed it to his younger sister.

Xu Damao is like a little tail that you can't shake off.

He followed closely behind He Yuzhu, watching him bustling about.

This kid's mouth never stopped.

He kept asking all sorts of questions.

When his gaze swept over He Yushui, who was crying and making a fuss,

A hint of disgust unconsciously crept onto his face.

As a result, He Yuzhu flicked his forehead without any hesitation.

He winced in pain.

He immediately changed his tune and praised the little girl for being very pretty.

Chen Shuxiang leaned against the bedside.

Watching the two boys bustling around,

The smile on his face never disappeared.

These two kids were practically inseparable, having grown up together since they were little kids.

But ever since the Jia family moved into the courtyard,

My son is acting like he's possessed.

I gradually stopped enjoying playing with Da Mao.

This is not hard to understand.

Kids always like to find playmates who are a little older than themselves.

at the very beginning,

He Yuzhu wanted to curry favor with Jia Dongxu.

She even saved the little snacks she secretly kept for that kid to eat.

Chen Shuxiang didn't take it to heart at the time.

I think this is quite normal.

After all, you want someone to guide you through the fun.

There has to be some benefit given; it's just a matter of reciprocity.

But then things started to go wrong.

Snacks are no longer enough to satisfy Jia's son's appetite.

If you make meat buns or meat dumplings at home,

There are always a few that inexplicably go missing.

Without a doubt, it must have been his own son who secretly took it to give to Jia Dongxu as a gift.

Chen Shuxiang thought to herself, "I'll just have to put up with this."

After all, the Jia family was living in poverty.

Teenagers are at a stage where they are growing and eating well.

It's understandable to crave a bite of meat when you're feeling peckish.

At first, Xu Damao would often come over to play with them.

Although He Yuzhu's attitude was somewhat cold,

But out of politeness, I'll bring him along.

But I don't know when it started,

Xu Damao came to see them every time.

They would all be bullied to tears by these two boys working together.

And each time they went to extremes.

Because of this incident, the Xu family from the backyard came to argue with us quite a few times.

He even pointed at the Jia family's nose and cursed them.

Of course, Jia Zhangshi's mouth was notoriously foul and fast-talking.

When they start cursing, they can talk a living person to death and a dead person back to life.

The Xu family doesn't gain any advantage at all.

As time went on, Xu Damao stopped showing up in the yard as often.

Zhao Cuifeng went to work, as long as she could take him with her.

They would almost always keep him by their side, never leaving his side.

Chen Shuxiang had also tried to persuade her son with earnest words.

But that kid wouldn't listen at all.

He even said with righteous indignation:

"Brother Dongxu said that Xu Damao is a bad boy, and you can't play with bad boys."

Hearing this, Chen Shuxiang began to wonder if she had given birth to a mentally challenged son.

He Daqing beat He Yuzhu quite a few times for this matter.

But corporal punishment is completely ineffective.

Chen Shuxiang could only hope that her child would grow up a bit more.

When you grow up and become sensible, you'll naturally be able to distinguish who's good and who's bad.

Unexpectedly, during the period when she gave birth to He Yushui,

My son seems to have suddenly become enlightened and has become smart and sensible.

Not only did he know to actively seek out a doctor to save himself,

Even when fighting, they know how to use their brains and be cunning.

Today, he even saved Zhao Cuifeng's life in the backyard.

Chen Shuxiang knew exactly what was going on.

If it weren't for this incident

Given Zhao Cuifeng's stingy and miserly nature,

I won't even let you see my good stuff, let alone take it out.

Ever since her son, Da Mao, was bullied...

He basically never ate a proper meal at the Jia family's house.

This bowl of ham soup for lunch today

It was clearly Zhao Cuifeng taking this opportunity to express her gratitude and goodwill.

I was thinking about these things,

Chen Shuxiang fed her daughter warm rice porridge.

Then I heard a series of urgent knocks on the door:

"Is Sister-in-law He home? I'm Cuifeng from the backyard. Is my son Damao here with you?"

"Hey, Wangcai's family, come in and talk to me."

Chen Shuxiang quickly responded from inside the house.

With a creak, the door was gently pushed open.

Zhao Cuifeng walked in sideways.

He closed the door behind him and walked straight into the inner room.

She didn't speak to Xu Damao first.

Instead, he went to Chen Shuxiang's side first.

Looking down at He Yushui on the kang (heated brick bed), he smiled and praised her:

"Sister-in-law He, you're getting prettier and prettier the more I look at you."

Her features are delicate; she'll surely grow up to be as beautiful as you.

"What good could someone like me possibly have?"

"I'd be so grateful if she didn't have a face like her father."

Chen Shuxiang said with a smile, making a joke.

"Hehehe, sister-in-law, you really know how to talk!"

Zhao Cuifeng gazed at the little girl sleeping soundly on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Then I remembered He Daqing's usual serious and upright appearance.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Are you here to pick up Damao and take him back?"

Following up on the previous conversation, Chen Shuxiang casually asked a question.

"No, that's not it."

Zhao Cuifeng rubbed her hands together somewhat embarrassedly.

"I need to go to the Lou family's place this afternoon to take care of some things."

I was thinking of letting Damao and Zhuzi go out and have some fun together.

"Could you please look after this for a while, sister-in-law?"

A few days ago, the two families had an unpleasant argument over the children.

Since then, we've barely kept in touch.

At most, we'd bump into each other on the street and exchange a nod or a greeting.

Chen Shuxiang did not agree immediately.

Instead, he turned to look at He Yuzhu, who was wiping the table, and asked:

"Zhu'er, would you like to take Da Mao out for a walk?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's little face instantly lit up with anticipation—

If He Yuzhu doesn't agree, his mother will definitely lock him in the house again, and he won't be able to go anywhere.

"Sure, why not?"

"As long as Damao is willing to follow me, that's fine."

He Yuzhu agreed very readily.