The entire courtyard is full of villains

"I...didn't find it."

"Shut up if you haven't found it! We'll talk when we find it!" Yan Bugui slammed his hand on the table.

Yan Jiecheng also got angry, slammed his chopsticks on the table, and said: "Fine, I'm not eating!"

"If you're not going to eat, then get out!" Yan Bugui roared in anger. "You're such a grown man, and you can't even earn money, yet you're still complaining at home!"

"Dad!" Yan Jiecheng jumped up. "Are you really going to force me like this? Aren't you afraid...aren't you afraid that in a fit of anger I'll actually become someone's live-in son-in-law?!"

"Go ahead!" Yan Bugui was furious and blurted out, "I'd love to! We need one less mouth to feed! I have three sons, do you think you, Yan Jiecheng, will run away? Go if you want, don't go if you don't!"

"Fine! You said it!" Yan Jiecheng trembled with anger. "Don't push me! Let me tell you, I used to have a female classmate whose family had a leg problem, and they were really looking for a son-in-law to live with them! I..."

"Get out! Get out!" Yan Bugui waved his hand impatiently to interrupt. "With your looks, do you think anyone would want you? Dream on!"

With a bang, Yan Jiecheng slammed the door and left.

Walking on the deserted street, the evening breeze blew, and the anger dissipated, leaving only confusion and discomfort.

Where could he go so late at night? He couldn't bring himself to go back. So he wandered aimlessly through the streets, and before he knew it, his legs had led him back to a familiar place—near Cui Yingying's house.

"Sister Yingying must be working the night shift tonight..." He was thinking randomly when he took a few steps forward and suddenly noticed what looked like a figure curled up on the ground at the entrance of the alley ahead.

His heart tightened, and he quickly took a few steps closer to take a look—sure enough, there was a person lying on the ground, and judging from the figure, it was a woman.

“Comrade… female comrade?” Yan Jiecheng patted the woman on the ground on the shoulder and gently shook her arm, but she did not react.

Huh? Why does that back view look so familiar? His heart skipped a beat, and he carefully turned the person over—it was Cui Yingying!

"Sister Yingying! Sister Yingying! What's wrong with you?!" Yan Jiecheng was so frightened that his voice changed, and he shook her vigorously.

After a long while, Cui Yingying slowly opened her eyes, her gaze unfocused: "Where...where am I? Jiecheng? You...how did you get here?"

"Sister Yingying, what's wrong with you?" Yan Jiecheng asked anxiously, his forehead covered in sweat.

"I...I..." Cui Yingying said, tears streaming down her face.

"Hey, Sister Yingying, don't cry! Tell me what's wrong!" Yan Jiecheng panicked even more.

"Jiecheng... Sister's life is so hard... Please... Please let me cry for a while..." After saying that, Cui Yingying grabbed his arm and tried to stand up with difficulty, but her body involuntarily leaned into Yan Jiecheng's arms.

boom--!

Yan Jiecheng's heart pounded like a drum, the thumping so loud it made his eardrums ring. A faint fragrance wafted from Cui Yingying's hair, and he felt his whole body stiffen, forgetting even to breathe, his heart burning as if it were about to explode.

Cui Yingying sobbed softly in his arms for a while before her crying gradually subsided.

"Sister Yingying, what's wrong with you? Tell me." Yan Jiecheng's voice unconsciously became very soft.

"Jiecheng...do you know what it means to be heartbroken by your family?" Cui Yingying continued speaking before he could answer, her voice trembling, "My mother died when I was little, and my father raised me alone. Life was hard, but he loved me. Until...until someone introduced him to a widow."

She sniffed: "I know I can't stay with my dad forever, and he needs someone to care for him... so I didn't object. But I never expected that this widow would come into the house and become my stepmother, and that's when my hard times began."

“There’s an old saying that once you have a stepmother, you’ll have a stepfather… I didn’t believe it before.” She gave a bitter smile. “But as I grew older, life at home became increasingly difficult. After my stepmother gave birth to my younger brother… it became even harder for me at home. I can endure all this hardship… but they shouldn’t have sold me to that idiot!”

Her voice trembled: "Jiecheng, do you know? That idiot... he can't even take care of himself! But my parents insist that I marry him, just because that family can offer a high dowry..."

“Over the years, I’ve worked my butt off, and every month after keeping just enough for basic living expenses, I give all my wages to my family… but they’re still not satisfied! They even want to sell me off and take my job… This job was something my uncle managed to get for me with great difficulty, because of my mother…”

"Jiecheng, I'm really... so tired..."

Listening to Cui Ying's intermittent sobs, Yan Jiecheng felt a pang of pain in his heart. A surge of emotion welled up within him, and he mustered his courage to gently embrace her trembling shoulders.

“Sister Yingying… since you’ve told me the truth, then… then I’ll tell you about my situation too.” He chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I do have my own parents… but sometimes, they’re not as good as yours. At least you have a loving uncle… my family?” He paused, his voice lowering, “even my own parents have to scheme against you.”

Chapter 121 Not as good as a good old woman

Yan Jiecheng shook his head with a wry smile: "My dad always told us: 'You won't go poor from eating or dressing, but you will if you don't manage your money.' Ever since I started school, he kept a detailed account book for me, recording every single tuition fee and expense. When I graduated from middle school and started doing odd jobs, most of my monthly earnings went to him to 'pay off his debts.' The rest went to living expenses, and that was my own money—how many coins were left?"

"Oh," Cui Yingying covered her mouth, "Jiecheng, is it possible that your father is deliberately testing you?"

“I used to think so too,” Yan Jiecheng said, his smile growing even more bitter. “After all, I’m his eldest son, so I should have some hope, right? But ever since the money in our house was stolen during the New Year, I’ve realized… he didn’t have any of those thoughts at all. He’s just trying to squeeze the money back from us siblings.”

He looked at Cui Yingying and lowered his voice: "Sister Yingying, do you know why I ate so much at your house yesterday... and today? Because... because this is the second time I've had a full meal since the New Year. You're familiar with the first time, it was at the braised pork shop."

"No way, Jie Cheng? You're just doing odd jobs, the emperor doesn't need starving soldiers, he..."

"Sister Yingying, do you know what we ate last night? Cornmeal porridge. Other people's porridge is thick and mushy, but our bowl was watery and runny. To put it bluntly, if you left it for a while, you could use the top of it as a mirror."

“This… your dad is a bit…” Cui Yingying didn’t know what to say for a moment.

"So, Sister Yingying, you're much better off than me. At least you have your own job, your own house, and a loving uncle. What about me? I have nothing. I don't have a job, the house belongs to my family, and tonight... I was even kicked out by my dad."

"Ah? Jiecheng, this..." Cui Yingying listened with a complicated expression, "After hearing about your experience, I suddenly feel... that my own situation doesn't seem so difficult after all."

"Right?" Yan Jiecheng tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace. "That means I'm still somewhat useful. My miserable state can at least make things a little easier for you."

“Jiecheng, you…” Cui Yingying reached out and gently touched his cheek.

Yan Jiecheng's heart started pounding again.

"You've really suffered, Jiecheng."

"It's okay, sis, I... I'm used to it."

"So where are you planning to go tonight?"

"I was thinking of sneaking over to the train station. They have heating at night, so I could manage to sleep there for the night."

"Huh? There are so many bad people and pickpockets at the train station..."

“Hey, sis,” Yan Jiecheng patted his thin chest, “What can bad guys do to me if they kidnap me? Thieves would probably give me a couple of cents if they saw me.”

"Pfft—" Cui Yingying laughed at his words. "You're just talking nonsense." She paused, a blush rising on her face. "How about... Jiecheng, you come home with me tonight? I have a small cubicle with a few stools. If we put them together, we can at least lie down for the night."

"Is this...is this okay, sis?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Sister...aren't you supposed to be at work tonight?"

Hearing this, Cui Yingying's face darkened again: "My father and stepmother... came to the factory and made a scene. The factory leaders had no choice but to let me come back first. I was angry all the way, and the more I walked, the more frustrated I became... and then I fainted at the alley entrance." She looked at Yan Jiecheng, her eyes filled with gratitude, "It's all right now, thanks to you... Jiecheng."

“Sister, listen to me,” Yan Jiecheng awkwardly comforted her, “Don’t be angry, it’s not worth ruining your health.”

"Alright, that's enough. Jiecheng, it's cold outside, come back with me." Cui Yingying wrapped her coat tighter around herself. Yan Jiecheng followed with his head down.

Cui Yingying opened the door and gestured "shh" to Yan Jiecheng. "Sister-in-law Hu and Aunt Ma are asleep, so please keep your voice down."

"Yes," Yan Jiecheng responded softly, as if he had done something wrong.

Once inside, Cui Yingying lifted the lid of the stove, which had been sealed. "Jiecheng, you probably didn't eat anything tonight, did you? I have some leftovers here, if you don't mind..."

"No problem at all, sis!"

"That's fine then." Cui Yingying heated up his food and then brought out a plate of peanuts. "Jiecheng, can you drink? Have a drink with me, I'm feeling really down today."

"Okay, sis, I can drink."

"That's good." Cui Yingying set out the bowls and chopsticks. "Come on, Jiecheng, let's have a toast. To... our not-so-happy families."

After one cup of wine, Cui Yingying thought that Yan Jiecheng, being a man, could at least drink four or five ounces. But Yan Jiecheng was all show and no substance; after less than two ounces, he started talking nonsense.

"Sister Yingying, you are so beautiful."

"Really? I understand."

"Sister Yingying, I...I want to marry you." Yan Jiecheng, having drunk some alcohol, grew bolder and could no longer hold back his true feelings.

"Huh?" Cui Ying covered her mouth. "Jie Cheng, don't talk nonsense. I'm already twenty-three."

“Sister Yingying, when you stand next to me, you don’t look twenty-three at all. You look... at most eighteen.”

"Jiecheng, have you said this to a lot of young girls?"

"No! Sister, you...you're the first. Sister, I like you, marry me. After you marry me, we'll face everything together! I'll be there for you to face your parents' difficulties, and you'll be there for me to face my parents' schemes, okay?"

"This... Jie Cheng, I'm older than you."

"I don't care! Sister Yingying, I like... I like you as a person, not your age." Yan Jiecheng spoke faster and faster. "Sister Yingying, will you marry me? Don't worry, if you marry me, I will definitely treat you well... I will find a job to support you!"

"Jiecheng, I..."

"Sister Yingying!" Yan Jiecheng stood up abruptly, grabbing Cui Yingying's hand. "Give me a chance, and give yourself a chance too!"

"This... can be interpreted as..."

"Sister Yingying, please say yes!"

“It’s not that I can’t agree to it…” Cui Yingying said in a low voice, feigning shyness, “but you have to promise that you’re speaking soberly now. Don’t come back to deny it when you’re sober tomorrow. Tell me when you’re clear-headed.”

"How could I get drunk on this little bit of wine?" Yan Jiecheng filled the glass with a "smack" and gulped it down in one go. "Look, this is nothing..." But before he could finish speaking, he swayed and fell to the ground.

"Jiecheng? Jiecheng?" Cui Yingying pushed Yan Jiecheng several times, but found that he didn't react at all.

“What a…” she shook her head and chuckled softly, “What a hypocrite.”

After saying that, she called out to the outside, "Aunt Ma?"

"Hey!" Aunt Ma answered as she came in from outside. "Miss Yingying, how are you?" She glanced at Yan Jiecheng on the ground with a look of disgust. "A grown man, he can't even handle two ounces of alcohol. He's not even as good as a decent old woman."

Chapter 122 Eight hundred it is eight hundred

"Alright, Aunt Ma, help me carry him to the bed. Pull down his pants, that pigeon blood sac..."

"It's kept at my house, Miss Yingying. I'll go get it right away."

"Go get it for me quickly. That's all for tonight. Tomorrow morning... are the actors playing my parents already arranged?"

"It's all arranged. The actress who plays your stepmother is someone I found a long time ago; she's known for her fiery temper."

"That's fine then. Tomorrow... tomorrow we have to tie Yan Jiecheng up."

"Don't worry, Miss Yingying, I will definitely arrange everything perfectly."

"That's good. Bring me the pigeon blood pack, then go to sleep. Come in when you hear me calling tomorrow morning, understand?"

"Okay, I understand," Aunt Ma replied and went out. After a while, she returned with a blood bag made from a urine bladder. "Miss Yingying, here you go."

“Alright. Aunt Ma, you should go to sleep first. Tonight... I'll just splurge a little and sleep with that drunkard Yan Jiecheng for one night, so he won't wake up in the middle of the night and find something's wrong.”

The next morning, Yan Jiecheng woke up groggily from his drunken stupor.

"Ah..." Before even opening her eyes, she raised her hand to rub her head. "It hurts so much... How much did I drink last night..."