The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

Yang Ruihua's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "Old Yan, what's wrong with you?! What does He Daqing's blind date have to do with you?!"

Yan Bugui was stunned for a few seconds before he realized he had lost his composure. He buried his face in his hands and sighed deeply. He had schemed so much, even squandering all his family ties. In the end, it all came to naught. Yang Ruihua understood Yan Bugui's state of mind and comforted him, "Old Yan, those things were never really ours to begin with. They're gone, they're gone. As long as you're still alive, we can slowly rebuild."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui's previously dim eyes gradually brightened. He said, "Ruihua, we need to be even more careful with our money from now on. I'll also try to find some side jobs to try and make up for the losses as soon as possible."

Yang Ruihua knew in his heart that even if he and Yan Bugui saved for ten or twenty years without eating or drinking, they might not be able to recover what they had lost today. But at least Yan Bugui wouldn't keep dwelling on the past and would have the motivation to live.

"Mom!" Yang Ruihua had barely finished speaking when Yan Jiecheng walked in with Yan Jiefang. Seeing his father's expression, as if someone owed him millions, Yan Jiecheng asked, "Dad, what's wrong?! Who made you angry?!" Then, the more Yan Jiecheng looked, the more something seemed off, and he pressed on, "Dad, why is your face swollen?!"

Seeing that Yan Bugui remained silent, Yang Ruihua hesitated for a moment before asking, "Where did you go this morning?!"

Yan Jiecheng replied, "Didn't Dad tell me to go out and do odd jobs on my days off to experience life?!"

Yang Ruihua asked, "How much did you earn today?!"

Yan Jiecheng replied, "I've been looking for work all day, but I haven't found anything."

Yang Ruihua said, "If I'd known you wouldn't have found any odd jobs, you might as well not have gone out at all! Your uncle and the others are coming over."

Yan Jiecheng asked with a puzzled look, "Didn't we already cut off all contact with them?! Why are they coming to our door again?!" Then he asked, "Did they beat up my dad?!"

Yang Ruihua said, "They not only beat your father, but they also took away the family fortune that your grandfather had given your father as compensation!"

"What?!" Yan Jiecheng jumped up immediately, angrily saying, "Dad, how could you let them take the things?! What are we going to do if they take the things?!"

Yan Bugui roared, "There are three of them and I am one. How can I possibly defeat them?!"

Yan Jiecheng said, "Why didn't you ask someone from the hospital for help?!"

Yan Bugui sneered, "They threatened me with your lives. How could I not compromise?!" In truth, Yan Bugui didn't dare tell the truth. In his heart, being adopted twice was a stain on his life, a scar. This scar could be reopened by any outsider, but not by his family.

Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng asked, "What should we do now?!"

Yan Bugui suddenly gave a wretched smile and said, "What else can you do?! Just accept your bad luck! Live your life the way you always have. As for wanting to buy big-ticket items or find a job, you'll have to figure that out yourself. Your family can't help you."

Yan Jiecheng was dumbfounded. He knew his own situation; with his current grades, it would be good enough if he could even graduate. He sighed inwardly and could only resign himself to his fate.

Although Yan Bugui had resigned himself to his fate, he wasn't entirely without hope. He figured He Yuzhu wouldn't tell He Daqing about his situation. Yan Bugui planned to see He Daqing the next morning and try to extort a large sum of money from him, at least to recoup some of his losses. After sending his two sons away, Yan Bugui said, "Old woman, it's getting late. Go wash up and go to bed!"

"Yes!" Yang Ruihua responded, and was about to go back into the inner room when she suddenly remembered something and stopped. Yan Bugui asked, "What's wrong?!"

Yang Ruihua said, "Old Yan, I might be pregnant again."

"What?!" Yan Bugui was struck dumb by the news. It was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly. When you're down on your luck, bad news just keeps piling up. However, Yan Bugui quickly composed himself and said, "I'll come home from get off work tomorrow afternoon and go to the hospital with you. If you're really pregnant, we'll have the baby. After all, it's a life."

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, He Daqing returned from the public restroom. Hearing the commotion, Yan Bugui immediately ran out of his house, grabbed He Daqing, and said, "Old He, you have to give me an explanation!"

He Daqing was somewhat bewildered by Yan Bugui's actions. He Daqing asked, "What explanation do you want from me?!"

Yan Bugui said, "If it weren't for your son meddling, my 'poor' relatives wouldn't have come looking for me, causing me huge losses!"

If He Daqing hadn't known about Yan Bugui's embarrassing antics, he might still have been completely bewildered. He might even have been led by the nose. But after He Yuzhu returned that day, he told He Daqing about what Yan Bugui had done. When He Daqing heard Yan Bugui say that poor relatives had come knocking, he instantly understood what was going on. He Daqing wasn't going to tolerate Yan Bugui's behavior and said, "You, surnamed Yan! You want me to give you an explanation?! Fine! I'll give you one!" With that, He Daqing glanced around. It turned out that the neighbors had all gathered to see what was happening.

He Daqing glanced at Yan Bugui again, and with a hint of pity, whispered a reminder: "Yan Bugui, I already know about your adoption when you were a child. And I also know about how you took the family fortune with you when you divided the inheritance. I've been trying to get rid of you, Old Yan. I didn't expect you to be so ruthless! Compared to you scholars, we roughnecks are ashamed of ourselves."

Yan Bugui gasped, thinking to himself, "How can He Yuzhu's mouth be looser than his belt?!" Then, a smile immediately spread across Yan Bugui's face as he said, "Old He, I made a mistake! I'm sorry! I have class tomorrow morning. I'll go home first." With that, Yan Bugui turned and ran home without hesitation.

Seeing Yan Bugui's disheveled appearance, He Daqing chuckled and muttered, "Little brat, you think you can mess with me?! You're still too green!" Then, He Daqing greeted his neighbors as he walked towards the central courtyard.

After He Daqing left, the neighbors who had come to watch the commotion looked at each other, and then all glanced at the Yan family before dispersing.

When He Daqing entered his kitchen, He Yuzhu had already placed breakfast on the table. He Yushui was also waiting there. After He Daqing sat down, he said, "Zhuzi, you and Yushui should come back from the Lou family early on Sunday."

"Got it!" He Yuzhu replied, winking at He Yushui. Then, pretending to be nonchalant, he sat down opposite He Daqing.