Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

After finishing his meal, Xu Damao felt restless and couldn't sit still.

He grabbed He Yuzhu's sleeve and pulled hard, determined to drag him out to shoot slingshots.

"Brother Zhu, come on, come on! You promised me!"

This kid seems like a different person these past two days—before, when the three kids in the neighborhood got together, he was always the unlucky one who was ostracized and bullied.

Now look what happened. Yesterday, Brother Zhu helped him build a snowman, and this morning he took sides again, and the two of them dealt with Jia Dongxu together.

This feeling of triumph made him ecstatic, and he wished he could worship He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu shook off his hand and pointed to the inner room: "What's the rush? Wait a minute. Let's take the old lady back first."

The deaf old woman had difficulty walking; her feet were bound, and she moved slowly and shakily across the snow.

He Yuzhu carefully supported her arm, his movements gentle and his steps steady, until he escorted her to the door of the back room. He watched her go inside and sit down before turning around and walking back.

When I get home, I still have to wash the dishes.

In those days, without dish soap, we relied entirely on alkaline water and a stiff-bristled brush.

He Yuzhu rolled up his sleeves and splashed water in the icy water.

Before the dishes were even washed, a sharp wail suddenly came from the inner room.

"Wow—wow—!"

It was He Yushui. The little girl's voice was incredibly loud and penetrating; it could make someone's ears ring even through two doors.

He Yuzhu sighed helplessly, stacked the bowls, and dried his hands. He picked up the millet porridge he had heated up that morning from the stove and strode into the inner room.

Xu Damao was like a shadow that couldn't be shaken off. He followed He Yuzhu everywhere, his eyes glued to the bowl in He Yuzhu's hand, and his mouth never stopped moving.

"Brother Zhu, is this rice porridge enough to feed someone? It looks so watery and bland."

Why is the little girl crying? Is she hungry?

"Brother Zhu, when are we going to go shoot slingshots? I can't wait!"

He Yuzhu's head was throbbing from his noise, so he flicked him on the forehead.

"Shut up. Can't you see your sister is crying? Come and help keep an eye on her."

"Ouch!" Xu Damao rubbed his forehead, grimaced, and went to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to curiously peek at He Yushui.

After glancing at it twice, he pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "Wrinkled...like a little old lady."

"Snapped!"

Another crisp flick on the forehead, even louder than the last one.

"Ouch! Brother Zhu, you really went too far!"

Xu Damao cried out in pain, then immediately changed his tune, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Beautiful! So beautiful! This little girl is so pretty! She's like a fairy!"

Inside the kang (heated brick bed), Chen Lanxiang leaned against the quilt, watching this scene with a smile that never left her lips.

These two boys basically grew up together, practically naked.

We were such good friends when we were kids, we were inseparable.

Ever since the Jia family moved in, her son has changed as if he's been bewitched—he no longer likes to play with Da Mao and is now focused on currying favor with Jia Dongxu.

That's understandable.

Children like to play with those who are older and more capable than themselves.

At first, in order to curry favor with Jia Dongxu, Zhu Zi saved all his snacks for him.

Chen Lanxiang didn't think much of it at the time—it's normal, why would someone play with you if you don't give them some benefits?

But later it changed.

Small snacks couldn't satisfy Jia Dongxu's appetite. At home, when they ate meat buns or dumplings, there was always something inexplicably missing.

Without a doubt, the son must have given it to that kid from the Jia family.

Chen Lanxiang assumed that the Jia family was having a hard time, and that the boy, who was only a teenager, was at the age where he could eat a lot and was very greedy.

She turned a blind eye to it.

At first, Xu Damao would sneak over to look for him, and the two boys would occasionally play with him.

Later, for some reason, every time Xu Damao came to see her, she would be bullied and made to cry.

That bastard Jia Dongxu is wicked; he always instigates Zhu Zi to take action.

They're getting increasingly ruthless.

The Xu family in the backyard searched for this countless times, and even went to the Jia family's house to scold them—but they never actually did.

Jia Zhangshi's mouth is foul and stubborn; she keeps repeating the same few fallacies, enough to drive anyone crazy.

After that, Xu Damao stopped playing in the yard.

Zhao Cuifeng dotes on her son and takes him to work whenever she can.

Chen Lanxiang had told her son several times not to follow Jia Dongxu's bad example.

Do not listen.

He even argued vehemently, "Mom, you don't understand! Brother Dongxu said Xu Damao is bad! He's a bad boy! We don't play with bad boys!"

Chen Lanxiang once wondered if she had raised a fool who couldn't distinguish between good and bad people.

He Daqing beat Zhu Zi a few times for this—spare the rod and spoil the child—but this method didn't work on Zhu Zi, and he turned around and went back to hanging out with Jia Dongxu.

She felt that the child was still young and his values ​​were not yet fully developed; he would be able to understand good and bad people when he got older.

Unexpectedly, in the short time it took to give birth to my son, he seemed to suddenly become smarter.

He's not just smart, he's exceptionally clever.

He sought medical help for himself, knew how to cause trouble in a fight, and even saved Zhao Cuifeng's life today—otherwise, given Zhao Cuifeng's protective nature, she would never have taken that plate of ham out at noon.

Ever since her son, Da Mao, was bullied, he has basically not eaten at any of these restaurants.

The ham they gave her at noon was a gesture of goodwill. She should remember that favor.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Sister-in-law He, are you home? It's me, Cuifeng from the backyard."

The voice was soft, and it carried a hint of probing.

"Yes, I'm from the Fugui family. Come in," Chen Lanxiang called out.

The door opened, and a blast of cold air rushed in. Zhao Cuifeng, wrapped in a cotton-padded coat and carrying a small cloth bag, walked in, closed the door behind her, and went straight into the inner room.

She ignored Xu Damao and quickly walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to look at He Yushui.

"Wow, this little girl is really pretty!"

Zhao Cuifeng smiled and spoke very softly.

"Those eyebrows, those noses, she'll definitely look like you in the future, a real beauty."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Chen Lanxiang smiled and said, "As long as it doesn't look like my husband's donkey face."

"Hehehe..."

Zhao Cuifeng couldn't help but laugh when she thought of He Daqing's always stern face.

After laughing, she turned to look at Xu Damao, who was huddled in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), and glared at him with annoyance.

"You heartless bastard, you've eaten and drunk your fill and already forgotten about your mother?"

Xu Damao chuckled but didn't reply.

"Are you here to take Da Mao back?" Chen Lanxiang asked.

"no."

Zhao Cuifeng rubbed her hands together, a troubled look on her face.

"Sister-in-law, here's the thing. I'm going to the Lou family this afternoon; there's some work to do there. It's inconvenient to take the child with me, so I was thinking... could he play with Zhuzi for a while? Could you please keep an eye on him for me too?"

She sounded a little embarrassed.

The two families had a falling out over the children and barely interacted; when they met, they would just nod and say hello.

Now, suddenly asking for a favor, even someone with the thickest skin would feel a little embarrassed.

Chen Lanxiang didn't reply directly, but turned to look at He Yuzhu, leaving the decision to her son.

"Zhu'er, are you free this afternoon? Would you like to take Da Mao out to play?"

Xu Damao's little face instantly filled with anticipation, his eyes sparkling as he stared at He Yuzhu.

If He Yuzhu doesn't agree, he'll probably be locked up at home by his mother again, which won't be a pleasant experience.

"sure."

He Yuzhu nodded.

"Anyway, I'm free this afternoon, so as long as Damao is willing to come with me, that's fine."

"Yes! Yes! Absolutely!"

Xu Damao shouted anxiously, afraid that his mother would change her mind.

"Mom, you should go quickly! Brother Zhu has already agreed! I promise I'll be obedient!"

Zhao Cuifeng poked her son's forehead hard, scolding him with exasperation, "You heartless little brat! We just made up, and you're already kicking your mother out? I've raised you for nothing!"

"Then I'll trouble you, sister-in-law," Zhao Cuifeng said politely to Chen Lanxiang.

"No trouble at all. They're just kids, tough as nails, I don't need to keep an eye on them."

Chen Lanxiang waved her hand.

"That... pillar."

Zhao Cuifeng then turned to He Yuzhu, her expression becoming serious.

"You're the older brother, you have to set a good example. Take good care of Da Mao and don't bully him anymore, understand?"

"Don't worry, Auntie."

He Yuzhu looked very serious.

"I will definitely protect him."

Seeing He Yuzhu's sincere expression, Zhao Cuifeng felt slightly relieved. She then bent down and gave her son some more instructions.

"Da Mao, you and your brother Zhu Zi play together, don't run around, and don't leave the yard, you hear me? It's not safe outside."

"Okay, Mom!" Xu Damao waved his hand impatiently—he couldn't wait for his mother to leave so he could go play with his slingshot.

"You child, do you wish your mother would leave?" Zhao Cuifeng's face darkened, and she made a move to hit her.

"No, no! Absolutely not!"

Xu Damao darted behind He Yuzhu, peeking out, "Mom, didn't you have something to do? Hurry up and go! Don't be late!"

Zhao Cuifeng was both annoyed and amused.

When did my son become so close to Zhu Zi? It seems like only yesterday that Zhu Zi helped him build a snowman, and today he helped him vent his anger.

This child is truly loyal to whoever treats him well.

But this is a good thing.

She took him to work, but her son had no one to play with and got bored. When she locked him at home, he played by himself, but he became increasingly quiet. She even wondered if he was going crazy from being cooped up and was on the verge of becoming autistic.

Now that Zhu Zi is willing to play with him, the kid has immediately become a tagalong, talking more and his eyes have lit up.

"Sister-in-law, I'm leaving now. I'll pick up Damao when I get back tonight."

"Alright, go ahead. Drive carefully and don't delay your employer's business."

"Da Mao, remember to be good!" Zhao Cuifeng patted her son's head one last time before turning to leave.

"Okay, Mom! Be careful on the road!"

This time, Xu Damao wasn't impatient; he shouted loudly.

After Zhao Cuifeng left, Xu Damao immediately crawled out from behind He Yuzhu and eagerly grabbed him.

"Brother Zhu, let's go! Let's go shoot some slingshots!"

Before leaving, Chen Lanxiang, still worried, added, "Zhuzi, just play in the yard, don't go out on the street, it's dangerous outside."

"Yes, Mother!"

The two boys had just stepped out when they saw a person squatting at the gate of the Jia family's house.

Jia Dongxu.

He stood like a vicious guard dog, his arms wrapped around his knees, his eyes fixed on the He family's side, his gaze sinister.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu and Xu Damao emerge, he jumped up, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

"Xu Damao!"

Jia Dongxu shouted, his voice hoarse, "You come here!"

Xu Damao shuddered in fright and instinctively shrank behind He Yuzhu.

Jia Dongxu took two steps forward, pointed at Xu Damao, then at his own pants, and a lewd smile appeared on his face.

"Come here, let me steal one too! Let me have some fun!"

This is what Xu Damao did to him this morning; he's trying to get revenge.

"Only a fool would go there!"

Xu Damao hid behind He Yuzhu, poked his head out, and made a face at Jia Dongxu.

"Hehehe! You big idiot!"

"You little bastard!" Jia Dongxu's face contorted with rage. "Today I'm going to cut off your manhood!"

He walked towards us while cursing, his steps carrying a fierce intensity.

Xu Damao's voice trembled as he gripped He Yuzhu's clothes tightly: "Brother Zhu... he... he seems to have gone mad. Should we go back inside?"

"It's okay." He Yuzhu stopped and patted Xu Damao's hand. "I'm here, don't be afraid."

"Zhu Zi." Jia Dongxu stopped two steps away, staring intently at He Yuzhu, his eyes filled with incomprehension and anger.

"Are you really going to protect this little bastard today? Have you forgotten how good I was to you? We used to be so close, how did you end up hanging out with him?"

"laugh."

He Yuzhu laughed, his laughter filled with disdain.

"Be good to me? Do you mean you teach me to bully people every day, or you mean you trick me into eating? Jia Dongxu, I was blind before, I treated a wolf like a dog."

"nonsense!"

Jia Dongxu panicked and argued vehemently, his face flushed.

"You gave it to me willingly! I didn't force you! And Xu Damao, you hit him yourself, what does that have to do with me? He's the one who's annoying!"

"Just like your mother."

He Yuzhu shook his head, his eyes filled with even more disgust.

"They refuse to admit their mistakes and spout nonsense. They're a classic case of 'if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too.'"

"You're asking for it!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu instantly exploded.

You can say he's bad, but if you say his mother is bad, that's touching his sore spot.

He roared and, disregarding the fact that He Yuzhu was taller and stronger than him, charged forward, swung his arm, and punched He Yuzhu in the face.

The punch was accompanied by a whistling sound; if it landed, the person's nose would be split open.

He Yuzhu stood still, without moving an inch.

Just as Jia Dongxu's fist was about to touch his nose, he threw a punch in return.

There are no fancy tricks, it's just straightforward.

"Bang!"

Fist against fist.

A muffled thud.

"ah--!!!"

A piercing scream instantly rang out, echoing throughout the entire courtyard.

As if struck by a hammer, Jia Dongxu clutched his right hand, staggered back several steps, and finally sat down on the snow.

He was in so much pain that his whole body convulsed, his face turned deathly pale, and fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. He stared at He Yuzhu in disbelief.

He couldn't believe it.

How come that silly Zhuzi who used to obey him so easily has suddenly become so hard?