The entire courtyard is full of villains

Xu Fugui sighed deeply, looking as if his bones had been removed: "Just tell me, how much money will it take to settle this matter?"

“I estimate… it’ll be close to a hundred thousand, plus interest…” Xu Damao paused, then suddenly perked up again, “Dad, don’t worry, as long as you take out your retirement savings and help me borrow some more, with this money I’ll definitely be able to make a comeback! You’ll enjoy endless happiness then!”

He spoke with great passion, as if he himself believed it. But Xu Fugui remained silent. Xu Damao turned his head, his pupils suddenly contracting—

Xu Fugui sat there, his eyes squinting, his mouth crooked, and a trickle of white foam slowly dripping from the corner of his mouth. He was frozen on the stool, completely motionless.

"Dad!" Xu Damao panicked and rushed over to support him. "Dad! What's wrong, Dad—!"

Chapter 556: An Eye-Opening Experience

In Sha Zhu's restaurant, Zhang Erhe tossed in a peanut, chewed it, and asked, "What happened to Xu Damao afterward?"

"I don't know." Sha Zhu wiped his hands. "Xu Damao ran into the yard, knelt down and kowtowed to everyone, begging them to take Xu Fugui to the hospital. They had no choice but to carry him there. The doctor said it was a stroke and he needed to be resuscitated. Xu Damao said he left in a hurry and didn't have any money with him, so he told the doctor to treat him first and he would go back to get it right away—but he never saw him again."

"What then?"

"Later, there was no other way, so the neighborhood committee brought Xu Xiaomao over. But this back-and-forth delay caused Xu Fugui to completely miss the best time for treatment, and he became completely paralyzed."

"Good heavens," Zhang Erhe clicked his tongue, "Is Xu Fugui really Xu Damao's biological father?"

Sha Zhu lowered his voice: "I asked my dad, and he said that when Xu Fugui's wife was pregnant with Xu Damao, Xu Fugui was sent away to another place by Master Lou. Maybe—Xu Damao isn't his biological son."

"But their long faces are exactly the same."

"I don't know."

"What about Xu Fugui? Who's supporting him now?"

"What else can we do? We can only let Xiao Mao take him back to raise." Sha Zhu sighed. "Xu Xiao Mao is pitiful enough. He already had a sickly Liu Suying to raise, and now he has to deal with a paralyzed Xu Fugui. His life is over."

Zhang Erhe silently took a sip of his drink.

Sha Zhu continued, "Uncle Erhe, I saw Xiao Mao a couple of days ago. He watches cars during the day and collects scraps at night. I told him that after he finishes this busy period, I'll let him come work at my shop from 5 pm to 10 pm. I'll pay him a little money each month and let him bring some food home."

"Good job, Shazhu," Zhang Erhe nodded, "You handled this matter with style. Uncle Erhe was right about you!"

"Hey, Uncle Erhe, I do have a grudge against the Xu family, but not against Xu Xiaomao. This kid—it's such a pity." Sha Zhu picked up his wine glass, gently touched Zhang Erhe's glass, and said nothing more.

Xu Damao's disappearance left the creditors completely bewildered. They made a ruckus in the courtyard every day, and the residents, tired of the spectacle, were left with nothing but trouble. Finally, having exhausted all other options, they had to send them all to the local street office. The street office was also powerless—to resolve the matter, they needed to find Xu Damao first. But Xu Damao had vanished without a trace.

What's even more outrageous is that as more and more creditors flocked to the neighborhood office, everyone realized that Xu Damao was truly rotten to the core. No one else was as bad as him—he mortgaged just two houses four times.

The four creditors each carried a property deed, but they were all fake. The people in the courtyard all gave a thumbs-up, clicking their tongues and saying, "If we're talking about bad guys, Xu Damao is the worst!"

Just when things had finally calmed down in the backyard, chaos erupted in the front yard.

When Liu Guang came home from work, he saw Yan Jiefang humming a tune as he tidied up the house outside. He ignored him—the Yan family and the Liu family had completely stopped speaking to each other.

But then, a woman came out of Yan Jiefang's house. Liu Guangtian recognized her at a glance, and his anger surged to his head.

"Yu Li! What are you doing?!"

Before Yu Li could speak, Yan Jiefang leaned over smugly and asked, "What's up, Liu Guangtian?"

"What the hell is Yu Li doing here?!"

"Don't you understand?" Yan Jiefang grinned, his face crinkling with wrinkles. "Yu Li left my house, so she must have married me."

"You married me?" Liu Guangtian's eyes widened, and his voice suddenly rose. People in the yard heard the commotion and peeked over, eager to see what would happen next.

"Yan Jiefang, say that again?"

“I said—I married Yu Li.” Yan Jiefang gestured towards the house, “Yu Li, go in and get our marriage certificate so our good neighbor Liu Guangtian can see it.”

Yu Li indeed turned and went inside, and when she came out, she was holding the red marriage certificate in her hand, giving Liu Guangtian a provocative smile. Yan Jiefang took the marriage certificate and spread it out in front of him: "See this? Liu Guangtian, my name, Yu Li's name—you should be familiar with this, right? After all, you and Yu Li got married once."

"I'm going to your mother!"

As soon as Yan Jiefang said that, Liu Guangtian completely exploded. He kicked Yan Jiefang to the ground and then pounced on him, punching him repeatedly. Yan Jiefang should have developed some strength from years of shoveling night soil, but unfortunately, he inherited the glorious tradition of the Yan family – stinginess.

Not only was he stingy with others, but he was also stingy with himself, eating cornmeal porridge and cornbread every day, which made him very weak. He couldn't withstand Liu Guangtian's beating and was soon pinned to the ground, unable to move.

"Stop hitting him! Stop hitting him!" Yu Li screamed from the side. "Liu Guangtian, you convict, why are you hitting my husband?"

Upon hearing the words "ex-convict," Liu Guangtian abruptly turned around and slapped Yu Li across the face, causing her to stagger several steps. "Yu Li, I don't say anything when others laugh at me for being an ex-convict. But have you cleaned up the shit on your ass, Yu Li? You've only been out for a few days! Haven't you ever been to prison? Haven't you ever been to a labor camp?" He then slapped her again.

Taking advantage of the moment when Liu Guangtian turned around, Yan Jiefang scrambled to the side and shouted at the top of his lungs to the crowd: "Neighbors! Liu Guangtian is going to kill me! Please call the police!"

In the crowd, including Nan Yi, everyone kept their eyes down, seemingly oblivious to the chaos. They were happy to watch the spectacle, but no one wanted to get involved in the mess these two families were in. Yan Jiefang shouted for ages until his voice was hoarse, but no one responded.

After Liu Guangtian finished hitting her, he slapped Yu Li several more times, leaving her face red and swollen. Turning around, Yan Jiefang was so frightened that he backed away, shouting, "Liu Guangtian, don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll call the police!"

"You report it!" Liu Guangtian had barely finished speaking when the door creaked open and the police station chief led his men in. Upon seeing the scene, his face darkened. It was that courtyard house at number 95 again!

When he first started working in this area, the old director, He Bing, told him that No. 95 had calmed down considerably. Calm down my ass! He Bing, who was retired in another city, suddenly sneezed a few times and muttered to himself who was talking about him.

"What are you all doing?" the director asked in a deep voice.

When Yan Jiefang saw the police, he rushed over as if he had seen a savior: "Officer, I'm reporting a crime! This guy surnamed Liu beat me, and not only me, but also my wife!"

The director glanced at Liu Guangtian: "Liu Guangtian, is it true?"

"Yes! But they provoked us first!"

"How did you provoke us?"

Liu Guangtian was filled with grief and indignation: "Yu Li used to be my wife, but we divorced..."

"Wait, you're divorced?"

"Correct."

The director frowned and turned to Yan Jiefang: "You're really something. Even rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrows, but you're the one who keeps picking up the grass near the burrow and marrying someone's divorced wife. Isn't that just disgusting? You deserved this beating."

But resorting to violence was ultimately unjustifiable, so the director told Liu Guangtian, "Alright, apologize to them, and that's the end of it."

Yan Jiefang looked on in disbelief: "Officer, are you speaking human language?"

The director turned around and said, "Why did I say something inhuman? Of all the people you could marry, why did you have to marry someone who's divorced?"

"We are true love!" Yan Jiefang said, his neck stiff.

As soon as he said that, everyone in the courtyard burst into laughter. Sha Zhu leaned over and said, "Yan Jiefang, have you no shame? You really love him? Officer, this guy's not honest. It's true Yu Li divorced Liu Guangtian, but she was seduced by her brother, Yan Jiecheng, the whole time!"

"There's not a single good person in the Yan family. Yan Jiecheng broke up someone's marriage and was eventually sentenced. Yan Jiefang, a latrine cleaner, really doesn't care about anything—he even took on a woman like Yu Li, who had an affair with his brother!"

Upon hearing this, the director's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but click his tongue—it was truly an eye-opener!

Chapter 557 The Old Child

Time flies, and it's now 2015. Zhang Erhe moved back to the courtyard house at the end of last year. Gou Dan'er didn't get married until 1995. His wife was introduced by his senior, and the two were alumni of the same school.

Gou Dan'er was already quite busy, but his wife was even busier. It wasn't until 1997, under pressure from the elderly couple, that they finally had a child. Just three months after the baby turned three, the busy couple left the child behind and threw themselves back into their demanding work.

Zhang Erhe could only grumble and curse as he helped raise his grandson. Until last year, when his grandson was admitted to university, Zhang Jiao wanted to bring the elderly couple to live with her, but Zhang Erhe was absolutely unwilling. "After I raised my grandson, do you expect me to take care of your grandson too?" So, he had a big fight with Zhang Jiao, and then took Guan Xue back to the small courtyard.

In this courtyard, He Daqing passed away in 1999. After his death, Liu Haizhong was the only remaining elderly man in the courtyard. In 2001, Beijing won the bid to host the Olympics, and Liu Haizhong drank a few extra glasses of wine in his excitement that night, which led to a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and his death.

At this point, only Jia Zhangshi remained of the older generation. Jia Zhangshi is now thriving; she not only raised her great-grandson Liangliang, but also helps Liangliang's wife with childcare.

Over the years, she had finally made it through. Although Liangliang hadn't become rich and powerful, he was exceptionally filial to her, which made Jia Zhangshi very content. Her personality had also improved a lot; she no longer jumped up and down and yelled at people like before, and could even get along normally with the people in the courtyard, which Guan Xue found quite surprising.

Sha Zhu and Nan Yi were no longer involved in the restaurant's management and were now living a life of leisure. Every morning, the two brothers would go out for a stroll around the outskirts of town and return in the evening, leading a carefree life. As for Xu Damao, there had been no news of him for years, and everyone in the compound thought he was probably long dead.

Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiefang, who lived in the front yard, would still clash every now and then, but it was usually Liu Guangtian who would unilaterally "gang up" on the couple. After Yan Jiefang called the police, Liu Guangtian would always say the same thing: "I have no money, but you can take my life."

The police took Liu Guangtian away for education countless times, but he never changed his ways. Over time, Yan Jiefang and Yu Li got tired of calling the police, since they had to go to the police station to cooperate with the investigation every time Liu Guangtian was arrested. Eventually, this became a common sight in the courtyard; if they didn't see Liu Guangtian causing trouble for Yan Jiefang and his wife for a long time, everyone would find it strange.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Zhang Jiao was scolding Zhou Yuan: "I asked you to come and see my dad, but you're always saying you're busy, busy, busy. You finally came, and you're carrying a stack of documents! Let me tell you, Zhou Yuan, if you dare to bother my dad with your nonsense again today, I'll kick you out before he even scolds you!"

Zhou Yuan gave a wry smile: "I really had no other choice..."

"Alright, come in." Zhang Jiao turned and knocked on the door. Zhang Erhe's voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

Zhou Yuan smiled at Zhang Jiao and lowered his voice: "Jiaojiao, listen to the confidence in Dad's voice, he's very confident."

Zhang Jiao couldn't help but laugh: "Everything is fine, it's just that the old man is getting old and going through a rebellious phase, he insists on doing the opposite of everything I do."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhang Erhe shouted from inside the room: "Don't think I can't hear you two talking behind each other's backs!"

"Dad, how could I dare!" Zhang Jiao quickly pushed open the door and went inside. Zhang Erhe was sitting in the room with a sour face. Zhang Jiao hurried over: "Dad, look, I brought you your favorite food..."

Zhang Erhe snorted and turned to walk into the inner room. The two men exchanged a glance and both shook their heads—they really were like old children.

Upon entering the house, Guan Xue greeted him: "Jiaojiao, Zhou Yuan is here? Please have a seat." Zhou Yuan quickly put down what he was carrying: "Mom, I went to the south for research the other day and bought some oranges. Please have a taste."

"Okay, I'll try one." Guan Xue took one and handed it to Zhang Erhe, "Old man, you try one too."

"You're the old man! I'm still young!"

"You're still young?"

"You're two years older than me, it's like an old cow eating young grass!"

"Zhang Erhe, are you ever going to stop?" Guan Xue raised her eyebrows, and Zhang Erhe shrank back and fell silent.

Guan Xue realized that Zhou Yuan had something to discuss with Zhang Erhe, and winked at Zhang Jiao: "Jiaojiao, come with me to the kitchen and make some dishes. You two can eat here tonight."

"Okay, Mom." Zhang Jiao followed her into the kitchen.

As soon as the mother and daughter left, Zhang Erhe casually crossed his legs and gestured with his chin towards Zhou Yuan: "Take out the cigarettes."

"Dad, the doctor said you can't have it anymore..."

"Listen to the doctor, I'm fucking dead already!" Zhang Erhe glared. "I'll just ask one question: will you give it to me or not?"

Zhou Yuan then carefully took out a cigarette and handed it over. Zhang Erhe took it, glanced at it, and his face fell: "Zhou Yuan, you son of a bitch, this is my cigarette! When did it get to you?"

"Dad, you can't smoke now..."

"Even if I can't smoke, I have to keep it! Damn it, you can guard against anything, but it's hard to guard against a thief in your own house!" Zhang Erhe shouted towards the kitchen, "Zhang Jiao, if you come and steal my cigarettes again, I'll cripple your leg!"

Zhang Jiao's laughter, muffled by her covering her mouth, came from the kitchen.

Seeing that Zhang Erhe still knew how to joke, Zhou Yuan knew he was in a good mood today, so he cautiously began, "Dad, I encountered a difficult problem today..."

"What's the problem?"

“Dad, as you know, I’m currently in charge of the Ministry of Energy, but…” Zhou Yuan looked troubled.

Zhang Erhe glanced at him, then gestured with his chin toward the courtyard: "Come on, let's talk outside."

Once outside, Zhou Yuan began to complain: "Dad, you know how tempting our work at the Ministry of Energy is. But those people from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Supreme People's Procuratorate are really awful. They dare to treat our Ministry of Energy like weeds, harvesting one crop after another! Last time I went to a meeting at Haizi, someone tried to provoke me about this."