Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

The two workers who carried Jia Dongxu back had long since reached their limit. As soon as they entered the yard, they tilted the wooden plank, threw him to the ground with a thud, and ran away without looking back.

"Oh my god! What's going on? What's going on?!?"

Hearing the commotion, Jia Zhangshi rushed out of the house. Upon seeing the dark, foul-smelling mass on the ground, she was so terrified she stumbled and nearly fainted on the spot.

"He fell into the latrine. Quickly carry him inside and change his clothes."

Yi Zhonghai gave a brief explanation, then called to Jia Zhangshi and helped the unconscious Jia Dongxu back into the house.

Jia Dongxu was carried into the Jia family home. Qin Huairu hadn't finished get off work yet, and only Jia Zhangshi was there. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and undress and wash her own son.

Even though it was her own child, the pungent, pickled smell made Jia Zhangshi gag as she worked. She almost vomited up her bile.

To save trouble, Yi Zhonghai simply brought Sha Zhu to the Jia family as well.

Now, the entire Jia family house has instantly become a giant, foul-smelling latrine. Even with all the windows open to air it out, it would take at least ten days to two weeks to get rid of the stench.

With the help of Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu also changed into a clean set of clothes.

As for those that I've taken off... no matter how poor I am or how reluctant I am, I would never wear them again.

Yi Zhonghai simply lit a fire in the yard and burned the tattered clothes covered in filth.

Flames rose, and thick smoke billowed. Accompanied by an even more complex and nauseating odor, it quickly permeated the entire courtyard. The stench forced every household to keep their doors and windows tightly shut, causing unbearable suffering.

After recovering, Sha Zhu sat on the edge of Jia's bed, his face so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

This humiliation is worse than death for him.

He turned his head and looked at Jia Zhangshi, who was jumping up and down cursing beside him. His eyes lit up and an idea came to him.

"Aunt Zhang, today's incident is all that little bastard Li Jianguo's fault!"

Sha Zhu spoke, his tone filled with righteous indignation and hatred, as if Li Jianguo were his mortal enemy.

"If it weren't for him, would Brother Dongxu have fallen into a cesspool and been suffocated by the stench?!"

"It was that brat Li Jianguo who did it again?!"

Jia Zhangshi already harbored some distrust towards Sha Zhu. But when this conversation involved Li Jianguo, her stance immediately shifted. Compared to Li Jianguo, Sha Zhu was at least "one of their own."

"That's right! We were doing just fine at the factory, nothing ever happened before! Ever since this guy surnamed Li came, there hasn't been a moment of peace in our compound, and our lives at the factory are getting worse every day!"

Sha Zhu sighed and described the events of the day at the factory in embellished detail. He told it in a vivid and detailed way.

"Dongxu was doing just fine in the workshop, it was warm and easy, how could he suddenly have an upset stomach?"

Sha Zhu analyzed the situation meticulously and logically. The last vestiges of doubt in Jia Zhangshi's heart vanished.

"That bastard Li Jianguo used his position to settle personal scores, sending us to move those freezing iron ore! In this freezing weather, standing in the wind with the cold draft blowing in and swallowing a bellyful of cold air, even the strongest body couldn't withstand it!"

Hearing Sha Zhu's accusations, Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh and jumped up from the bed.

"That little bastard! Is he never going to stop?! Does he think the Jia family has no one left to rely on?!"

Jia Zhangshi's eyes were bloodshot, and her face was contorted in a ferocious expression.

"He got my son into juvenile detention because of him, and now he's ruined my son! Today, I'm going to risk my life to fight him!"

Sha Zhu looked at Jia Zhangshi's furious, murderous expression and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.

He continued to fan the flames, determined to make the fire burn as brightly as possible.

"Aunt Zhang, he's the director, and with Director Yang backing him up, what can we do? We can only swallow our pride and accept this loss."

"Admit it?! That's bullshit!"

Jia Zhangshi jumped three feet high, spitting everywhere:

"Nobody can bully my son! Not even the King of Heaven himself! If anyone dares to touch my son, I'll fight them to the death!"

His imposing manner made it seem as if he was about to chop Li Jianguo into eight pieces with a cleaver at any moment.

Seeing this, Sha Zhu leaned against the headboard with satisfaction.

He had witnessed Jia Zhangshi's talent for making unreasonable demands many times before. Today, it was time for Li Jianguo to experience it for himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to quell his resentment.

Just then, it was time to leave work.

As usual, Li Jianguo leisurely rode his bicycle back home.

Before returning home today, he made a special trip to the department store. He used his watch receipt to buy himself a Shanghai brand watch. These days, watches have an old-fashioned style, but they are sturdy and durable.

He definitely needs a watch to tell the time.

Passing by the supply and marketing cooperative, he stopped again and went in for a quick look. He bought some fresh vegetables, meat, and a few bright red apples. Nowadays, fruits and vegetables aren't treated with as many pesticides and fertilizers, so their taste is exceptionally pure.

With two large bags of goods hanging on the handlebars, Li Jianguo returned home fully loaded.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard gate, a figure with red eyes rushed out of Jiajia Village and headed straight for him.

"Li Jianguo! I'm not finished with you!!!"

Holding a rolling pin in her hand, Jia Zhangshi's face was contorted with rage, like an enraged female beast, as she lunged at him.

With Li Jianguo's current reaction speed, even three or five strong men couldn't get close to him, let alone an old lady over fifty years old.

He didn't even lift his eyelids. He simply turned to the side, reached out, and precisely grabbed the rolling pin that Jia Zhangshi was swinging at him. Then he gave it a gentle tug.

The rolling pin slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a thud.

Li Jianguo lowered his eyes, coldly staring at the panting old woman before him. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling undercurrent:

"You've picked a fight with me time and time again. Do you really think I'm easy to bully?"

Madam Jia was a notorious shrew. Relying on her age, she felt no one would dare to really do anything to her. She had used this tactic for half her life, and it always worked.

Today is no exception.

The moment the rolling pin was snatched away, she was indeed startled by Li Jianguo's cold gaze. But the next second, she immediately composed herself, slumped to the ground, kicked her legs wildly, and screamed at the top of her lungs:

"Everyone come quick! The steel mill engineer is assaulting someone! He's bullying an elderly person! This is outrageous!"

Her cries were melodious and varied, with highs and lows, carrying her unique rhythm and cadence. It was truly exceptional.

Li Jianguo glanced at her with disgust, too lazy to even acknowledge her. He turned the car around, intending to drive past her on his way home.

Instead of wasting time with this crazy woman, I'd rather go back and cook myself a nice meal to soothe my stomach that's been nauseous all day.

As soon as he lifted his foot to walk towards his own home, an indescribable stench wafted from the Jia family's house next door and entered his nostrils.

Li Jianguo frowned and quickened his pace.

When Jia Zhangshi saw that he wasn't responding, her howling stopped. She nimbly got up from the ground, rushed to Li Jianguo in a few steps, and spread her arms to block his way.

"What are you doing?"

Li Jianguo stopped in his tracks, his eyes as cold as frost, looking down at her condescendingly.

That gaze was so cold. Cold as the frost of December, even carrying a faint hint of murderous intent.

When Jia Zhangshi was swept by that gaze, her heart clenched and she shuddered.

"You...you damned little beast! How dare you, an engineer, harm my son?!"

Jia Zhangshi, with her neck stiffened, shouted in a fierce but inwardly weak voice.

Li Jianguo raised an eyebrow, feeling utterly bewildered. Then, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"What, you think I was the one who pushed him down into the latrine?"

Jia Zhangshi choked.

It seems that Li Jianguo really can't be blamed for his son falling into the latrine.

But... but he made his son run outside from the warm workshop to move ore, and this needs to be addressed!

Jia Zhangshi didn't care about anything else. Seeing that she was going to be at a disadvantage in a standoff with Li Jianguo, she became anxious and simply opened her mouth and started yelling again:

"Help! Come quick, look!!!"

"The engineer is using his position to settle a personal score and get revenge on my son!!!"

"This kind of person doesn't deserve to be an engineer? Shameless bastard! How dare you?!"

Her voice was sharp and high-pitched. Her howl startled the entire courtyard.

The doors of every household creaked open. People who had just returned from get off work peeked out and then gathered in this direction as if by unspoken agreement.

The small courtyard house was bustling with excitement once again.

Jia Zhangshi felt that no matter how domineering Li Jianguo was, he wouldn't dare to really do anything to her, as she was an old woman with gray hair.

She's used to throwing tantrums. This method has never failed her. Today, she's just as confident.

More and more people gathered in the courtyard. Far from being afraid, Jia Zhangshi became even more excited. Like a leading actress on a stage, the brighter the lights, the more enthusiastically she performed.

"Since everyone's here today, let's all give our opinions and judge this matter!"

She pointed at Li Jianguo with one finger and jumped up and down, cursing:

"He used his position to settle personal scores and tried to kill my son! Tell me, is he even human?!"

"We must hold a hospital-wide meeting today and kick him out! Ever since that little bastard came, we haven't had a single peaceful day! Now he's ruined my son—my poor son!!!"

She sobbed uncontrollably—but it was just dry wailing. Not a single tear came out.

Looking at her unbridled shrewish behavior, Li Jianguo sneered.

The Jia family is a classic example of someone who forgets the pain once the wound has healed. They only remember the good times, not the bad ones.

It's certainly not a good look to attack an elderly person in front of so many people. The deaf old woman was an exception because she had no children and no one to take the blame for her.

But Jia Zhangshi was different.

What she cares about most is her precious son, isn't it?

To teach her a lesson, you have to hit her where it hurts. Make it so painful that she'll remember it for life.

Li Jianguo ignored her. He turned around and walked straight towards the Jia family's house next door.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, neither too hard nor too soft.

"Jia Dongxu, if you don't want your mother to die here today, then get out here yourself."

Inside the room, Jia Dongxu, who had already woken up, was lying on the bed, listening intently to the sounds outside. He had thought he was going to see his mother tear Li Jianguo apart, but in less than two minutes, the fire had spread to him.

His first reaction was to play dead. He pulled the blanket over his head and refused to make a sound.

Li Jianguo waited for five seconds. Nothing happened.

His patience wore thin, and he reached out to push the door open—a stench assaulted his nostrils. He frowned and stopped.

He then walked to the window, placed his palm on the window frame, and exerted force.

click-

The latch in the window snapped open. He pushed the entire window open.

Jia Dongxu's terrified face was thus exposed to him without any cover.

"Are you going to come out by yourself, or should I go in and drag you out?"

Li Jianguo's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure.

Jia Dongxu had witnessed his strength and knew his own frail body couldn't be easily squeezed by the man's single hand. His face turned pale, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Come...come out! I'm coming out! You...you mustn't do anything!"

A short while later, Jia Dongxu, dressed neatly, stood in the yard, looking dawdling with his head down, like a frightened quail.

"Son! What are you doing out here! You're still too weak!"

Upon seeing her son emerge, Jia Zhangshi immediately tensed up. She rushed forward to shield him, turning to glare fiercely at Li Jianguo.

"How can you be so heartless! My son just suffered so much, and you still torment him! How can you be so vicious..."

Li Jianguo glanced at her with disgust, completely ignoring her. His gaze passed over her and landed on Jia Dongxu.

"You said it was my fault you fell into the latrine?"

That gaze was calm as still water, yet it sent chills down Jia Dongxu's spine.

He subconsciously swallowed, wanting to back down. But when he caught a glimpse of so many people around him and remembered what Sha Zhu had said, a surge of anger rose within him again.