The entire courtyard is full of villains

Yang Ruihua retorted, "His master is the workshop director, so what's wrong with him being a deputy director?"

"Oh dear!" Yan Bugui slapped his thigh, annoyed. "If I had known that Old Zhang had passed away, I should have gone to Zhang Erhe and bought his job! Then this deputy workshop director position would have fallen to our Jie Cheng today! A deputy director earns almost a hundred yuan a month! When Jie Cheng made money, he could have given me half... If it had really worked out all these years, our family wouldn't be living such a tight life!"

"Old Yan, it's not too late!" Yang Ruihua quickly pulled Yan Bugui, who was anxiously pacing around, "You know, now that Zhang Erhe has become the deputy director, can we buy a position from him? After all, we're neighbors in the same courtyard, he wouldn't dare to ask for a price arbitrarily, right? Once Jie Cheng takes over the position, the ration for heavy physical labor is more than 30 jin, which should be an extra 10 jin of grain per month."

Yan Bugui stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Your idea is not bad... but is Zhang Erhe willing to sell?"

“Weren’t you the third oldest in the courtyard before? Go find Old Liu and Old Yi, and you two stand up for him together. If Zhang Erhe doesn’t give face on his own, do you think he’ll dare to refuse if all three of you come to him together? Does he even want to stay in the courtyard anymore?”

Yan Bugui hesitated, rubbing his hands. "This... doesn't seem quite right. But... how about we give it a try? After all, it's an extra twenty-odd yuan a month in wages, plus ten-odd jin of grain. It wouldn't have been a big deal before, but in the current situation, ten-odd jin of grain could be a lifesaver... Never mind, I'll risk my life eating pufferfish—I have to give it my all!"

So he stopped fishing and Yan Bugui stood like a "waiting-for-husband stone," waiting at the door for Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai to get off work. Unfortunately, Yang Ruihua was so preoccupied with work that he forgot Yi Zhonghai had already gone home injured at noon.

He waited until almost the end of the workday, and then quite a while after the end of the workday, but Yi Zhonghai didn't see him. Instead, he saw Liu Haizhong hurriedly walking towards the courtyard. When he reached the alley entrance, Liu Haizhong slung his bag over his back, put his hands behind his back, and strolled into the courtyard with unhurried steps.

Yan Bugui was freezing in the cold wind. Just as he was about to go inside, he caught sight of Liu Haizhong's posture and quickly picked up a water ladle, pretending to water the flowers. He went up to him and said, "Hey, Lao Liu, you're back from get off work?"

"Yeah, Lao Yan, your school lets out for get off work pretty early."

"Well, that's the only good thing about school," Yan Bugui said, pulling Liu Haizhong to the side.

"What are you doing? In public, be mindful of your behavior!" Liu Haizhong reprimanded seriously.

Yan Bugui needed a favor from him today, so he refrained from talking back and asked in a low voice, "Old Liu, tell me, has Zhang Erhe really become the deputy director of the workshop?"

Liu Haizhong's face darkened, and he snorted an "um" through his nose, his face clearly showing his displeasure.

Seeing his reaction, Yan Bugui was secretly delighted: There's a chance! The chances of this succeeding have increased even more.

"Old Liu, how old is your son Guangtian this year?"

"Seventeen," Liu Haizhong replied, puzzled.

"Seventeen, a good age..." Yan Bugui nodded thoughtfully. "I remember that in your steel rolling mill, you could get in at sixteen, right?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Old Liu, do you want Guangtian to get a job in the factory and work for the government?"

"Yes, I want to!" Liu Haizhong blurted out. No matter how much he beat or scolded him, Liu Guangtian was still his son. Although that kid had been messing around on the streets since graduating from junior high school and deserved to be disciplined, it was naturally a good thing that he could get a job in a factory and have a proper way out.

Yan Bugui leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Look, Zhang Erhe has become the deputy director of the workshop, hasn't he? Let's ask Yi Zhonghai to help us get two positions—one for our family and one for yours. What do you think?"

Liu Haizhong nervously swallowed: "Old Yi...would he agree? This wouldn't do him any good."

"How could he refuse?" Yan Bugui said, heartbroken. "Don't we know what Lao Yi is thinking? He just wants to control the power in the hospital. If we support him and stand on his side between Zhang Erhe and him, how could he not help us?"

He lowered his voice and spoke frankly: "He's an orphan, how can he gain a foothold in the family without the support of our two families? Now that his apprentice Jia Dongxu is in jail, he knows perfectly well—if he doesn't rely on us, who else can he rely on?"

Liu Haizhong thought about it for a moment and realized that Yan Bugui's words made sense. Seeing this, Yan Bugui quickly said, "Old Liu, why don't you go back and wash up first? When Lao Yi comes back, we'll go find him together."

"Didn't Lao Yi come back at noon?"

Yan Bugui was completely baffled: "What? Yi Zhonghai came back at noon?"

"Yeah, I heard he hurt his foot again in the workshop today. The workshop foreman had no choice but to give him another week off." Liu Haizhong's tone was blatantly gloating. "Old Yan, do you think Old Yi has been cursed lately? Why is he so unlucky?"

"Shh!" Yan Bugui quickly put his finger to his lips. "Old Liu, what era are we living in? Feudal superstition is unacceptable! Do you want to live in a cowshed?"

Liu Haizhong then realized he had misspoke and hurriedly said, "Old Yan, I was just saying it offhand, please don't tell anyone."

"I know, I know. Okay, Lao Liu, shall we go check on Lao Yi now?"

Chapter 69 Brother's Three-Pronged Plan

In the east wing, Tan Saihua had specially bought some braised meat, intending to nourish Yi Zhonghai's body. The two quietly bolted the door while eating, and just as they set out their bowls and chopsticks, a knocking sound rang out at the door.

"Who is it?" The couple exchanged a glance, and Yi Zhonghai raised his voice, his tone tinged with displeasure—coming at mealtime was really disrespectful.

Liu Haizhong's voice came from outside the door: "It's me, Lao Liu, and Lao Yan!"

Yi Zhonghai was puzzled—why did these two end up together looking for him? He quickly gestured for Tan Saihua to hide the meat and vegetables, leaving only a plate of stir-fried shredded radish on the table, before getting up to open the door.

"Hey, Lao Liu, Lao Yan, what brings you here?"

Yan Bugui sniffed as soon as he entered; the aroma of braised meat hadn't faded yet. He glanced at the meager shredded radish on the table, chuckled inwardly, but didn't say anything.

Liu Haizhong was a straightforward person, and he got straight to the point: "Old Yi, we need to talk to you about something."

"Sit down, sit down and talk," Yi Zhonghai said. "Saihua, pour a glass of water for Lao Liu and Lao Yan."

After the two sat down, Liu Haizhong, knowing he was bad with words, quietly nudged Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui didn't want to speak up, but this matter concerned his son's job and the extra ten or so kilograms of grain each month, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask, "Old Yi, I heard Zhang Erhe has become the deputy director of the workshop?"

Yi Zhonghai gave a curt "Hmm": "You've heard about it too?"

"Old Yi," Yan Bugui leaned forward, "do you think Zhang Erhe has a couple of vacant positions under him right now?"

“That’s possible,” Yi Zhonghai said thoughtfully. “Back when Guo Da Piezi was the deputy director, he brought a quota with him.”

"That's right!" Yan Bugui's eyes lit up. "Could we get together with the people in the institute and get Zhang Erhe to keep this position in the institute? We could give him some compensation too!"

Yi Zhonghai frowned upon hearing this—this was clearly trying to snatch a job from Zhang Erhe, a task that was bound to offend him. The position was in Zhang Erhe's hands; it was a favor if he was willing to give it to him, but if he insisted, it would create a grudge. Zhang Erhe was never a good person to begin with, and now that he was a leader, no one dared to mess with him.

“Old Yi, you’re the oldest man in the courtyard, you should take the lead on this matter!” Yan Bugui quickly added.

"No, no, no," Yi Zhonghai waved his hands repeatedly, "I was dismissed a long time ago, what kind of old man am I?"

“You can’t say that!” Yan Bugui exclaimed anxiously. “Everyone knows what’s right! Back when you were an old man, our courtyard was united and friendly, and it was even the neighborhood’s model courtyard. And now?”

These words struck a chord with Yi Zhonghai, but he still declined on the surface: "Old Yan, you're pushing me into a fire pit. Don't you know what kind of temper Zhang Erhe has? This position is practically his prize. If we go and ask for it, won't we make enemies? No way, no way."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Yan Bugui had no choice but to give Liu Haizhong a meaningful look. Thinking of his son's job, Liu Haizhong steeled himself and said in a gruff voice, "Old Yi, I rarely admire anyone, but I truly admire you! You're a senior worker in the factory, and in the compound... you... you have absolute power!"

“That’s called prestige!” Yan Bugui quickly corrected.

Yi Zhonghai knew Liu Haizhong was bad at talking, so he didn't mind: "Old Liu, do you think so too?"

“Old Yi, this is how I see it,” Liu Haizhong said, sticking out his neck, “Zhang Erhe might dare to mess with just one of us, but the three of us combined—two senior technicians and one teacher—would he dare to disrespect us? As long as we unite and subdue him, this courtyard will still be ours to call the shots!”

Yi Zhonghai licked his lips, his heart stirred—Liu Haizhong's words, though rough, were not without merit. If he could really suppress Zhang Erhe, wouldn't he regain the face he had lost before? He tentatively said, "Then... let's give it a try?"

"Let's give it a try!" Yan Bugui quickly chimed in. "Old Yi, I'll keep watch in the front yard. As soon as Zhang Erhe returns, I'll have my son come and tell him. The three of us will go together and talk to him properly. He'll have to give us face."

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai had agreed, the two inquired a few more questions about his "injuries" before tactfully taking their leave.

As soon as they left, Tan Saihua brought out the meat she had hidden and asked worriedly, "Zhonghai, are you really going to get involved in this? They're doing this for their own son, what are we after?"

"What do you know!" Yi Zhonghai picked up a large piece of meat, his eyes shining. "On the surface, it's about helping them get jobs, but in reality, it's about fighting for a voice in the compound! Jobs at the steel mill! If this is done, all the unemployed young people in the compound will owe me a favor, and who will dare disobey me after that?"

He put down his chopsticks and said firmly, "Zhang Erhe is the deputy director in the factory. Once he's back in the compound, he has to listen to us! That's called controlling the overall situation! Now that Jia Dongxu is in jail, and Sha Zhu has become distant from me, if we don't have some authority, we'll be trampled on sooner or later!"

Tan Saihua wanted to persuade him further, but seeing her husband's calculating expression, she swallowed her words and silently began to clear the dishes.

Meanwhile, in the east wing of the front yard, a bowl of glistening braised pork sat on Zhang Erhe's dining table—something Zhang Erhe had specially asked someone to bring back. He also said he wouldn't be home for dinner, but was going to his master's house for drinks.

At the dinner table, Zhang Jiao buried her head in her bowl and ate rice at an astonishing speed.

"Jiaojiao, eat slowly, no one will take it from you," Guan Xue gently advised.

"Mom, the meat smells so good!" The little girl's mouth was stuffed full.

"Alright, alright, you can have this bowl of meat."

"No, Mom, one slice for me, and two slices for Dad!" Zhang Jiao carefully picked out two pieces of meat and placed them in the small bowl next to her, her eyes full of reluctance.

Guan Xue paused for a moment, then casually asked, "Jiaojiao, weren't you most afraid of Dad before? Why are you so attached to him now?"

"I don't know either," Zhang Jiao blinked her big eyes. "Dad used to always frown, and I felt like he didn't like me. But after he woke up in the hospital, he changed. I no longer feel like he doesn't like me, so I like Dad now."

"So, do you like Dad or Mom more?" Guan Xue teased her.

"I like them all!" the little girl answered crisply.

"You little ingrate, you used to love your mom the most." Guan Xue gently tapped her nose.

“But Daddy has changed for the better!” Zhang Jiao said, clinging to her mother’s arm affectionately.

Guan Xue didn't say anything more, but gently patted her daughter's head, and Zhang Jiao giggled.

After dinner, Guan Xue cleaned up the dishes and washed Zhang Jiao's feet. The mother and daughter had just lain down when the door was pushed open. Zhang Erhe walked in, reeking of alcohol.

"Erhe, why did you drink so much?" Guan Xue quickly got out of bed, her voice full of concern. "Wait, I'll go make some hangover soup."

"No need," Zhang Erhe waved his hand.

He looked at his daughter on the bed and grinned, "You little money-loser, did you like the meat tonight?"

"Delicious! Dad, I ate a whole big bowl!" Zhang Jiao's eyes lit up. She jumped off the bed, ran to the table, and struggled to pick up the teacup. "Dad, I've made you some tea. Drink up!"

Zhang Erhe took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a loud burp.

"How much did you drink?" Guan Xue frowned and stepped forward to help him.

“There’s nothing I can do.” Zhang Erhe rubbed his temples. “My appointment as deputy director came out of nowhere. I used to spend most of my time loafing around in the workshop, and now a lot of people are resentful. That’s why they’re trying to get me drunk at the dinner table.” He changed the subject, with a hint of smugness. “Luckily, I can hold my liquor. Anyone who dared to get drunk on me, I knocked them all out! My boss is worried about how to get a whole room full of drunkards home.”

As he spoke, he bent down, picked up his daughter, and lifted her high, making Zhang Jiao giggle.

"Come on, you good-for-nothing, Daddy will sleep with you tonight!"

“Okay!” Zhang Jiao hugged her father’s neck and happily agreed.

Chapter 70 Fierce Battle

Knock knock knock knock—the door was knocked on.

Guan Xue's heart skipped a beat, a hint of worry creeping in. Zhang Erhe, however, remained unconcerned, not even raising his head.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Erhe."

Zhang Erhe recognized the voice, and Guan Xue, who was next to him, lowered her voice and said, "It sounds like Yi Zhonghai from the Intermediate People's Court."

Zhang Erhe put his daughter on the bed and said, "You good-for-nothing, you stay with your mother for now." He turned and strode to the door, then pulled it open.

Oh, there were three people standing in a row outside the door. When Zhang Erhe opened the door, they instinctively tried to go in, but Zhang Erhe stood firmly in the doorway and showed no intention of moving aside. The three of them froze on the spot.

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened, and he was about to speak when Zhang Erhe spoke first, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"Yi Zhonghai, what are you doing here in the middle of the night... is your butt itchy? If it is, go to Pitiao Hutong, they specialize in that. What are you doing at my house?"

His gaze shifted, sweeping over the other two:

"And you, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui—are you two itching for a fight too? How about the three of you make do and settle for each other?"