The entire courtyard is full of villains

"I was just trying to cheer you guys up..."

"Instead of wasting your time, you should figure out how to properly care for film!" Xu Fugui raised his voice. "The film you borrowed from me last time was a terrible mess when you brought it back! I had to carefully salvage it. If you do this again, don't even think about borrowing film from me next time!"

"No, Dad!" Xu Damao cried out anxiously—he was hoping to get some films from his father to curry favor with his colleagues at Corey.

Mrs. Xu was still interested in the gossip in the courtyard. If her husband hadn't insisted on moving out back then, she thought the old courtyard was actually quite nice.

"Da Mao, how's Yi Zhonghai's new widow?"

"Anyway, she's better than Tan Saihua." Xu Damao curled his lip.

"What's your surname?"

"His surname is Hu."

"Surname Hu?" Xu Fugui suddenly perked up his ears. "Where...where are you from?"

"It seems to be from Panggezhuang. I heard Yi Zhonghai's second uncle bragging about it the other day..."

"Panggezhuang?" Xu Fugui unconsciously swallowed.

"I think so..." Xu Damao said uncertainly, "Anyway, he doesn't seem like a decent person to me."

"How do you know he's not a decent person?" Xu's mother immediately became wary. "You're so young, you can't get involved with people like that! Let me tell you, your father and I are looking for a marriage partner for you."

"Who is it?" Xu Damao perked up.

"I can't say for now. Once it's done, you'll be set for life, rich and powerful!"

Seeing that his mother was tight-lipped, Xu Damao didn't ask any more questions and continued to gossip about the courtyard: Zhang Erhe had another son, Sha Zhu got punished...

Xu Fugui, however, was restless. After thinking for a while, he suddenly stood up: "Da Mao, do you have your bicycle?"

"Yes, Dad. What's wrong?"

"I...I suddenly remembered that I hadn't stored away a roll of film properly at the factory!"

"Then go ride it, but come back early, or I'll be late getting back to the yard."

"It's okay, I'll be back as soon as I'm done."

Xu Fugui grabbed his keys, pushed his bicycle out of the alley, and as soon as he turned the corner, he hopped on and rode furiously toward the courtyard house.

After finally reaching the courtyard gate, panting heavily, Xu Fugui saw Yang Ruihua struggling to help Yan Bugui onto a small wooden cart. Xu Fugui quickly stepped forward to lend a hand.

"Old Yan, what's wrong with you...?"

Yan Bugui smiled wryly: "Old Xu, you're back?"

"Da Mao left something at home, I'll help him get it," Xu Fugui said, glancing into the yard.

As they were talking, Hu Tiehua walked in through the main gate, arm in arm with Yi Zhonghai.

When Xu Fugui saw Hu Tiehua for the first time, his pupils suddenly contracted—it really was that woman.

Hu Tiehua also saw Xu Fugui and tightened her grip on Yi Zhonghai's hand.

Yi Zhonghai thought she was nervous, so he patted her arm and came over to greet her: "Old Yan, you weren't there for the wedding banquet the other day, let me introduce you—this is Tiehua, my wife." Then he turned around and said, "Tiehua, this is Teacher Yan from the courtyard."

Hu Tiehua quickly nodded: "Hello, Teacher Yan."

"This is my old neighbor, Xu Fugui."

Hu Tiehua smiled and said, "Hello, Projectionist Xu."

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback: "Tiehua, how did you know that Lao Xu is a projectionist?"

Hu Tiehua felt a pang of panic, but a quick thought struck her: "It's not Da Mao... wasn't it what you said before? Da Mao and his son are both movie projectionists. This one's surname is Xu, and I guessed he was Da Mao's father as soon as I heard that. Isn't he also a projectionist?"

"Oh dear! Look at my memory!" Yi Zhonghai slapped his forehead.

Xu Fugui gritted his teeth and managed to squeeze out a few pleasantries. Taking advantage of Yi Zhonghai's inattention, he winked at Hu Tiehua and slightly turned his head to look outside.

After exchanging a few more words, Xu Fugui pretended to go to the backyard to get something, and then pushed his bicycle to the entrance of the alley.

Sure enough, a short while later, Hu Tiehua came out of the courtyard, panting.

Xu Fugui stepped forward, grabbed her, and dragged her straight into a back alley.

"What are you doing?!" Hu Tiehua broke free of his hand. "I'm telling you, Xu Fugui, if you dare touch me again, I'll scream for help!"

Xu Fugui ignored him, his eyes red as he pressed, "What exactly do you want? Why did you have to chase me into the yard?!"

"Hmph!" Hu Tiehua sneered, "Did I come here chasing after you? I came here to marry Yi Zhonghai! Don't think too highly of yourself!"

"Marry Yi Zhonghai? Humph, if he knew you were carrying a bastard child, he'd kill you!"

"Fine, Xu Fugui, now you're telling the truth? Is the child in my belly a bastard?" Hu Tiehua sneered. "Could this bastard be conceived by me alone? Didn't you, Xu Fugui, contribute anything?"

Xu Fugui turned his face away guiltily: "I did contribute my time and effort... but I've only had one son, Damao, all these years. How can I believe you if you insist that this child is mine?"

"According to you, Xu Damao isn't your biological son either; he's the child your wife had through a second marriage, right?" Hu Tiehua mocked.

Xu Fugui's face flushed red, and he raised his hand to slap her. Hu Tiehua, on the contrary, leaned closer and said, "Come on! Slap me! If you dare to lay a hand on me, I'll scream for help right away. When Yi Zhonghai arrives, he'll definitely drag you to the police station!"

"Send me to the police station? Then I'll expose you too!"

"Go ahead and pay up!" Hu Tiehua straightened her back. "Let me tell you, Xu Fugui, my marriage to Yi Zhonghai was arranged by Zhang Erhe!"

"Zhang Erhe made the arrangements?" Xu Fugui was stunned.

"Yes! Zhang Erhe knew I was pregnant... He just wanted to get revenge on Yi Zhonghai!"

Xu Fugui suddenly realized—his foolish son had said that Zhang Erhe "didn't hold grudges," but this was clearly a scheme to ruin Yi Zhonghai!

"Tiehua, is the baby in your belly... really mine?"

"Bullshit! You were the one who came most frequently during that period, messing with me three or four times a night, each time for only a few minutes. Who else could it be but you?" Hu Tiehua's face turned red. "I remember it all clearly!"

"Then, why didn't you say so back then..."

"Say something? I've been looking for you countless times, and you've been hiding far away! What am I supposed to say?"

"What...what do we do now?"

"What else can I do? I'll give birth to the baby and let Yi Zhonghai be the father."

Xu Fugui felt very uncomfortable after hearing this—his own child had to call someone else "father."

Hu Tiehua seemed to see through his thoughts: "Then why don't you divorce your husband and marry me?"

Xu Fugui was speechless.

Hu Tiehua's face turned cold: "As expected, men are all unreliable. Xu Fugui, get out of here!" After saying that, she pushed him away and went straight back to the courtyard.

Xu Fugui rode home in a daze. Xu Damao was still complaining, "Dad, why did it take you so long to get the film?"

"Oh, I forgot, I just remembered... Weren't you going to ride your bike back to the yard? Hurry up, it's getting dark."

Xu Damao was about to pedal away when he suddenly stopped, put one foot on the ground, and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"

Xu Fugui walked over and lowered his voice: "Da Mao, remember this when you go back to the courtyard—whatever you do, whatever you do, don't offend Zhang Erhe."

"What's wrong? I have a decent relationship with Zhang Erhe, why would I want to offend him for no reason?"

"That's good... Anyway, remember this: never offend him."

"Okay, I got it!" Xu Damao replied, riding his bicycle into the twilight.

P.S.: Please... please... please... encourage me to keep updating!

Chapter 175 Dog Egg

Two days later, in the afternoon, at the hospital entrance, Guan Xue was wrapped in a thick headscarf and scarf, only her eyes showing. Zhang Erhe carried large and small bags, and Guan Baishi followed behind, tightly holding the swaddled baby in her arms.

Walking to the jeep, Guan Xue asked in a low voice, "Erhe, why did you drive the factory car out again? Will the factory leaders say anything to you?"

Zhang Erhe put the things in the trunk. "Don't worry. I'm the head of the purchasing department. What's wrong with me driving the factory's car when I'm out negotiating purchases? It's perfectly reasonable. Besides, this car is assigned to Lao Li. He hasn't complained, so what can others say?"

"Okay, sure," Guan Xue replied, her heart filled with sweetness. Her husband cared so much about her, worried that she might catch a cold during her postpartum period; this thoughtfulness warmed her more than anything else.

When the group returned to the courtyard, Guan Linpeng was already waiting there. He had taken a day off to come. In April in Beijing, the mornings and evenings were still chilly, but the stove inside was burning brightly, providing warmth.

Zhang Jiao and Xiao Yu from the back room were squatting under the eaves, their two little heads huddled together, whispering to each other. Every now and then, Zhang Jiao would take out some snacks from her small pocket and stuff them into Xiao Yu's mouth.

In the front yard, many women gathered together, sewing shoe soles and chatting idly, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the door.

Zhang Erhe parked the car and got out carrying large and small bags. Guan Baishi carried the child, and Guan Xue followed Zhang Erhe. As soon as they entered the courtyard, the eyes of the group of chatting women immediately focused on them.

Liu Haizhong's wife pursed her lips, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for those around to hear: "Look at Zhang Erhe, he's really something. The factory's cars are practically his personal vehicles. He drives them around every few days to do his own errands."

“Exactly, it’s too flashy,” several women nearby echoed.

At this moment, Widow Wang, who lived in the main hall of the courtyard, frowned and said loudly, "Liu family, I don't like hearing what you're saying. Zhang Erhe is a cadre, doing errands for the factory, and he's just picking up his wife on the way. What's wrong with that? Are you just jealous? If you're so capable, why don't you make your old Liu a cadre too!"

"Pah! Me, jealous of him?" Liu Haizhong's wife retorted, as if her tail had been stepped on. "Our Lao Liu is a dignified level seven blacksmith! He earns nearly ninety yuan a month! How much can Zhang Erhe, a section chief, make? He probably doesn't even earn as much as our Lao Liu!"

Widow Wang was speechless for a moment. In terms of official salary, Liu Haizhong was indeed the highest in the courtyard.

Just then, a young woman standing nearby spoke up quietly: "Aunt Liu, I don't know how much Zhang Erhe earns. But I do know how well Guan Xue is doing during her postpartum period... tsk tsk, look at her." She gestured with her lips.

Following her gaze, everyone saw Zhang Erhe put down what he was holding, turn around, and bring two plump hens into the car outside!

"Two chickens..." the young woman said with even more resentment, "When I was in confinement after giving birth, I didn't even see a chicken leg. I was lucky if I drank a few sips of brown sugar water."

Her words stirred a bitter feeling among the other women in the courtyard who had also given birth. They exchanged glances, then looked in their own direction, and couldn't help but complain about their husbands. They were all women, all giving birth, but look at Guan Xue—a private room in the hospital, chauffeured around, and chickens waiting for her at home. And what about themselves? Most of them had hired midwives to give birth at home, and were lucky to even have brown sugar and eggs during their postpartum period. Truly, different people have different fates.

Zhang Erhe paid no heed to the gossip and stares. He called out into the house, "Brother-in-law! Come out and lend a hand!"

"Hey, brother-in-law, you're here!" Guan Linpeng responded and quickly came out of the house.

"Go, clean these two chickens, and give them to your mother-in-law later." Zhang Erhe handed over the chickens. "Slaughter one today and cook it for your sister."

"Alright, brother-in-law!" Guan Linpeng quickly took the chicken, tied it up, and turned to get the kettle of hot water from the stove to scald the chicken feathers.

Zhang Jiao pulled Xiaoyu closer, looking at her expectantly: "Uncle, Uncle! Can you take some chicken feathers off for Xiaoyu and me? Grandma can sew a shuttlecock for us!"

“Okay,” Guan Linpeng replied with a smile, then added, “Jiaojiao, take Xiaoyu to the back of the stand, so she doesn’t get splashed by the hot water.”

Zhang Jiao obediently pulled Xiao Yu back a few steps, her eyes still fixed on the two chickens.

Once inside, Guan Baishi followed her in, looking at her son-in-law with some hesitation: "Son-in-law, should we kill both of them? That's a bit too much... The weather is still cool, but it's not good to leave them for too long, is it? How about... we kill one first? And keep the other one for a couple of days?"

Guan Xue leaned against the headboard and said, "Yes, Erhe, why don't we keep one to raise for now?"

Zhang Erhe laughed: "Mom, Xue'er, you know how many pickpockets there are in this yard. If we keep these chickens here, who knows who they'll end up in. Let's kill them all. After we've eaten them, I'll figure out what to do with them. I need to take good care of myself during my postpartum period and make sure I get the nutrition I need."