Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"Rain, let me go! I need to teach this bastard a lesson!"

"Idiot Zhu! Let go of me! Let go!"

He Yushui practically yelled, startling Sha Zhu, who then released his grip on Zhang Dabiao's collar.

He Yushui, who has always been timid and people-pleasing, suddenly exploded at the most unexpected moment.

Perhaps it was because of the care I showed last night, and the bowl of noodles I had this morning.

"Rain, what's wrong with you?"

"What did I do wrong? Can you stop fighting all the time? What did Biao... what did Da Biao do to you?"

"He was disrespectful to the old lady! I need to teach him a lesson!"

"Who is the old lady to him? Why is he showing her such respect?"

"The old lady is the oldest person in our compound. Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is the most basic virtue of being a good person."

"Did his grandmother love children? When Master Zhang passed away, did she take care of Zhang Dabiao? Did she say a single fair word for him? And when I was hungry, did she give me a bite to eat?"

"ah?!"

The last "ah" was shouted out, and Yu Shui's eyes were red.

From last night until now, Sha Zhu hasn't asked her once if she's eaten or if she's full.

He didn't even notice the stomach pain.

He remembered the old deaf man's broken window well and called a repairman early in the morning to fix the doors and windows, but what about the rainwater?

He Yushui is actually Sha Zhu's biological sister.

"I……"

There was no way to deny it, and Sha Zhu was speechless for a moment.

Sha Zhu and Yu Shui just looked at each other in silence.

Zhang Dabiao was disappointed; the fight was off again.

When will my first show with Shazhu be able to come?

(There are only a few chapters left until the debut, there should be a debut, right? We need to have a fight to set the scene!)

However, seeing Yu Shui's current state, he still picked up the conversation. After all, they were siblings; if they fell out over this, how would He Yu Shui face Sha Zhu when they got back?

"Silly Zhu, I have no problem with you treating the old deaf man like an empress dowager, but don't drag me into it."

"Just pretend I don't exist. Ignore me. It has nothing to do with me. Don't mess with me. You have no right to lecture me or try to control me. I'm completely incompatible with your retirement gang."

"Sir, please go to the backyard to fix the doors and windows first. Come back later and replace a pane of glass here as well. I'll settle the bill with you later."

Zhang Dabiao waved his hand, signaling the carpenter who was watching the show to go to the backyard first.

Seeing that he couldn't win by fighting, Sha Zhu had no choice but to nod at Zhang Dabiao in the air as a sign of thanks before going to the backyard to help.

Seeing that Sha Zhu had left, He Yushui nodded slightly to Zhang Dabiao and went back into the house.

Given her current situation, caught between Sha Zhu and Zhang Dabiao, it's indeed very difficult for her to navigate.

Zhang Dabiao didn't say anything; I can understand.

Anyone who gets stuck with a mentally ill, delusional older brother like this is helpless (except for time travelers).

As for giving advice to the rain...

Although it's possible, there's no reason why.

Wouldn't that make her a saint?

So he could only shake his head and give up, then went back to the doorway and continued to chatter with the two unlucky Liu kids.

Days go by like this, and without internet there's nothing to do.

Why don't we trick these two unlucky kids into going back home, and I'll go back to my little apartment and watch a movie?

……

That would actually be pretty boring...

How about we get out a deck of cards and play Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game)?

That's a good option!

It's Chinese New Year, what's wrong with playing cards? As long as we don't make any money, that's fine.

------------

Yi Zhonghai witnessed their argument from inside the house, but he did not intervene.

Because no fight broke out, and even if he were to intervene, it would only be after Sha Zhu had suffered a loss or after Sha Zhu had taught the other person a lesson. Only then would he descend like a savior, acting as an "old man," and offer a few perfunctory criticisms to Sha Zhu, thus minimizing the issue and making it disappear.

Most importantly, we need Yi Zhonghai to judge right and wrong!

He was a little unwilling that a fight hadn't broken out.

However, thinking about Zhang Dabiao's crazy behavior yesterday, he felt a little guilty. Without adult supervision, sixteen or seventeen-year-old kids really don't know their own strength when they hit someone; they have no scruples whatsoever.

This is called "the barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes".

Then he thought about the several ideas the deaf old woman had given him...

He decided to hold back and see how things went.

Yi Zhonghai has been keeping a low profile lately. Today is the third day of the Lunar New Year. Starting tomorrow, he will have to carry out the punishment imposed by the street office and will have to sweep the streets before dawn every day.

As for the rest, we'll have to wait until the steel rolling mill resumes operations.

The elderly woman, Liu Cuilan, was persuaded by the deaf old lady. Indeed, in this day and age, if she left Yi Zhonghai and didn't have a job, she definitely wouldn't be able to survive in Beijing.

As for going back to his hometown?

These days, going back to the countryside...

That's tantamount to a death sentence.

So even though she harbored resentment, Liu Cuilan could only suppress it, which is why she never gave Yi Zhonghai a friendly look.

The two continued their cold war, and there was no good solution for the time being. As for Yi Zhonghai humbly begging Liu Cuilan...

That's even more impossible.

Looking at Yi Zhonghai, who was still peeking out the window, Liu Cuilan had a sudden thought—it would be better if this man were dead.

But it was only for a fleeting second.

------------

In no time, Zhang Dabiao had managed to get a deck of cards and cut up a lot of strips of paper from his little hole, and he was having a great time playing with the two unlucky kids from the Liu family.

Using saliva to stick notes together, that's disgusting...

As a result, a commotion came from the front yard, and it grew louder and louder.

"Hey, who are you? Who are you looking for? Why are you rushing in?"

"I'm telling you, this constitutes trespassing..."

"Get out of here!"

Where is Yi Zhonghai?

"Is that Yi Zhonghai?!"

"Yi Zhonghai! Get out here!"

When everyone looked towards the main hall, a group of people rushed in, cursing and swearing, and Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng couldn't stop them.

"Who is this?"

Nobody recognized them and stared blankly at the newcomers. The four young men were all tall and strong, but they all had fierce expressions. Anyone who didn't know them would think that Yi Zhonghai owed them millions.

The group rushed straight up to Zhang Dabiao and his men. Why were they playing cards outside in the freezing cold instead of staying indoors?

And his face was covered in paper strips—he was so damn conspicuous.

"The two side rooms in the central courtyard are yours—"

"Hey kid, which one of you is from Yi Zhonghai's family? Which one is his child?"

Guang Tianfu shook his head frantically, while Zhang Dabiao cursed, "You motherfucker are the real children of Yi Zhonghai! You're all Yi Zhonghai's sons!"

The man in the lead was so frightened by Zhang Dabiao's scolding that he took a step back.

"Why are you swearing at me when I'm just asking you something?"

"You started it by swearing!" Zhang Dabiao fiercely protected the cards in his hand, preventing Guang Tianguangfu from seeing them. He had finally managed to accumulate two bombs!

"How did I swear?"

"Yi Zhonghai is an old man without descendants. You're saying I'm from his family, his child? What do you mean?" Zhang Dabiao rolled his eyes. This was like calling me a nobody, an extremely vicious insult!

Of course I'd talk back.

"..."

"Is Yi Zhonghai an old man without descendants?" The man fell silent, then turned to ask the brother following him.

"Brother, yes, I heard that Yi Zhonghai is an old man without children. Because he couldn't have any, he plotted against the two siblings in the courtyard."

"...Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"As soon as you came in, you specifically looked for two side rooms in the central courtyard, and I didn't stop you."

The man slapped his forehead, realizing he'd been so focused on the two side rooms in the central courtyard that he'd forgotten to check the east and west directions.

The entire courtyard gate was closed, except for Zhang Dabiao and his two companions playing cards. It was a two-room house with one door to each household, so subconsciously, people assumed it was this house.

"This has caused quite a stir... I'm sorry, kid, I misunderstood."

"That old man Yi Zhonghai, who has no descendants..."

"The Intermediate Court only has two rows of side rooms. Since mine isn't one, you'll have to figure it out yourself." Zhang Dabiao didn't even look up. What business was it of his?

Then everyone immediately turned their heads and looked at the other side.

At that moment, Yi Zhonghai opened the curtain, preparing to come out and take a look.

Firstly, strangers came to the courtyard, and Yan Bugui couldn't stop them; they all headed towards Zhang Dabiao. As the former uncle, he had to show his presence.

Secondly, why did I just hear someone call my name?

He still had a big bump on his head from being bumped by Jia Zhangshi last night, and he was still a bit dazed, so he couldn't hear very well inside the house.

"So your name is Yi Zhonghai, right?"

Wait, shouldn't it be Charlotte?