The Beginning of a Courtyard House: Sixty Years of Internal Strength

"It's possible. Think about it yourselves."

Li Cuilan got the answer and was too lazy to pay attention to Yang Ruihua. She was very uneasy. Could it really be the old lady who did it?

She found Jia Dongxu again.

"Dongxu, there's a guy in your workshop named Xiao Wang. It's not that he's unwilling to help you, but the master is suppressing him."

Your mentor suspects that he was responsible for this incident and wants you to inquire about the situation at the factory.

While we're at it, let's find out where he lives and see if he really was behind it.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu immediately became indignant.

"What! Don't worry, Master's wife, I'll investigate thoroughly. If it really is him, you'll see how I break both his legs."

Seeing Jia Dongxu's excited expression, Li Cuilan nodded in satisfaction.

She then went to the backyard and chatted with the old lady.

The old lady was a shrewd and experienced woman. She had already heard about Yi Zhonghai from Yang Ruihua and had been secretly pleased for a long time.

As soon as Li Cuilan arrived, she knew what her purpose was, and after rambling on for a long time, she still couldn't tell the truth.

The old lady did indeed send someone to teach Yi Zhonghai a lesson, but she only had one of his hands crippled; she didn't have his legs broken or him drugged. It seems it was someone else's revenge.

That evening, Xu Damao and Yan Jiecheng came to Li Jian's house again.

"Jiecheng, Damao, what brings you two here?"

"Sigh, haven't we had a proper drink together since Yi Zhonghai got into trouble?"

Now that Sha Zhu's backer has fallen, we must celebrate!

"Okay, let's have a drink together."

He asked Wang Yao to go to the kitchen to fry some peanuts, and then brought out two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Xu Damao also took a bottle of wine and a paper package. When he opened the paper package, he found that it contained braised beef.

"Da Mao, you've really gone all out today, even serving braised beef."

Li Jianguo said in surprise.

"That's right, there are two things I'm very happy about. The first is that Yi Zhonghai is a beast."

Secondly, I have already learned projection technology, and next year I will be able to become an apprentice in a steel rolling mill.

After working as a formal apprentice for a year or two, I can become a formal projectionist.

"Da Mao, how old are you next year? Can the steel rolling mill take you on as an apprentice?"

"Why not? I'll be 17 next year, and you can become a full-fledged apprentice at the factory at 16."

"Oh, I see. I thought I had to wait until I was 18."

"Hey, Brother Jianguo, that's not how it is. Everyone says it's three years of apprenticeship followed by two years of service."

If you really wait until you're an adult to become an apprentice, how old will you be in 5 years?

Take Sha Zhu for example. He started his apprenticeship at an even younger age, and apprentices only received a meager stipend, hardly any money at all.

"Oh, I see. Well, you've officially entered the steel rolling mill now, you should definitely celebrate. By the way, how's Yi Zhonghai's injury?"

Speaking of this, Yan Jiecheng got excited. His father had been to the hospital several times in the past few days and knew very well.

"The doctor said that Yi Zhonghai will definitely be crippled in the future, and that's assuming he doesn't get infected. If he does get infected, his right leg will have to be amputated."

He'll have to use a cane from now on, but he's starting to suspect the old lady was responsible. Today he even asked my mom if any outsiders had seen the old lady.

Yes, there is. It's said to be the old lady's nephew. Do you think it's possible the old lady did it?

Upon hearing this, Li Jianguo realized that someone had come to take the blame, so he quickly pushed the blame onto the old lady.

"That's quite possible. You all know the old lady; she has some connections and is also petty."

Think about it, she was starved for a meal, and then he was left soaking in feces and urine all day.

The house smelled terrible! Do you think the old lady wouldn't hate you? And if she hates you, she might take revenge.

Yi Zhonghai, who has no descendants, actually told the police that it was possible I was the one who did it.

This guy really seems to be a bad seed; he even suspected the old lady but didn't call the police.

The old lady probably has something on him.

Xu Damao also became angry at this point.

"That's right, the police even asked my dad. I guess it was Yi Zhonghai who reported him. That guy is really wicked."

However, what you said about the old lady is indeed true. The old lady used to hang out with Yi Juehu all the time, so she definitely knows all about his shady dealings.

"Sigh, but looking at the old lady like this, so paralyzed, I guess he won't live much longer."

After all, it's said that the higher the paralysis point, the faster the death; this old lady's paralysis reached her neck.

She can't even move her hands; it would be a miracle if she lived for another six months. It seems this will be the old lady's last Spring Festival.

Li Jianguo sighed. He never expected that the dignified ancestor of the Siheyuan would be so fragile and about to die. It was too easy; the story hadn't even begun.

"That old bastard should have died long ago. He used to live nearby and would often knock on our window, cook something nice, and then come begging for food."

It's absolutely disgusting! She's paralyzed, and I'm practically ready to set off fireworks to celebrate.

"With Sha Zhu losing his two big backers, if he dares to mess with me again, the rest of us will go and beat him up."

Yan Jiecheng promoted Li Jianguo.

"I doubt anyone in our compound can rival Brother Jianguo."

Back in the day, he single-handedly swept through a huge area.

Xu Damao's eyes lit up.

"Yeah, Jianguo, you're really amazing. You'll have to look after your little brother from now on."

Hehe, Li Jianguo was speechless. Back when Sha Zhu rushed up, it was Da Mao, that bastard, who ran away the fastest.

Now he has the nerve to ask me to protect him? Although I'm not happy about it, I just give him a perfunctory answer.

After all, they were brothers, and Li Jianguo was quite adept at stabbing his brother in the back.

"Da Mao, it would be alright if Sha Zhu were a bit older, but I'm much older than him."

It wouldn't be appropriate for me to directly attack him. I'll stop Jia Dongxu and prevent the Jia family from interfering. The two of you should have no problem dealing with Sha Zhu.

"Brother Jianguo, speaking of the Jia family, you were quite something that day, you even hit Qin Huairu."

"Don't you dare hurt Qin Huairu's little face, or we brothers won't have any fun anymore."

Xu Damao wore a sly expression, and his eyes became lecherous.

"In my opinion, Qin Huairu is not a good woman at all; she's always seducing people."

Just you wait and see, Jia Dongxu will definitely become Jia Donglu (a derogatory term for a cuckolded man).

Li Jianguo didn't want to reveal her relationship with Yi Zhonghai yet, waiting until Banggeng was older.

It would be more interesting to say it directly to Jia Dongxu's face; it's pointless to talk about it now.

Xu Damao chuckled slyly.

"Jia Donglu, if Qin Huairu were to cheat on me, that would be wonderful! Wouldn't that mean I could also have a taste of it?"

At this moment, Yan Jiecheng started daydreaming.

"That's right, that's right, Damao, you're right. If there really is such an opportunity, everyone can try it out."