Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

He Yuanchao's words were like a depth charge dropped on a calm lake!

The courtyard house under the cover of night, which originally still retained a trace of the hustle and bustle after dinner and the idle chatter between neighbors, was now as if it had been muted, falling into an eerie and suffocating silence.

The evening breeze rustled through the old locust tree in the courtyard, a sound that was usually almost inaudible but was now exceptionally clear, as if it were the only background noise in this absurd drama.

The truth?

These three words, like three poisoned ice picks, pierced the ears of everyone present, freezing their thoughts instantly.

In front of the entire hospital, in front of these neighbors who have seen each other for decades, he spoke his most honest and undisguised views on his mother-in-law, his own son, the ambiguous relationship with Sha Zhu, the old man he had always relied on, and He Yuanchao, the turning point in his life.

This is no longer a condition; this is a trial.

This is a thousand times more vicious than stripping someone naked in public, exposing every inch of skin to the cold wind and the scornful gazes of others! Because beneath clothing lies the body, while beneath the truth lies a soul that is carefully disguised and meticulously wrapped, dirty, selfish, and full of calculation.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned by He Yuanchao's "conditions," which were unheard of and even beyond their imagination.

Xu Damao's mouth was open, and he forgot to crack the sunflower seed he had just put in his mouth, just staring blankly at it.

Uncle Yan Bugui, whose hands were always calculating petty profits, froze in mid-air, forgetting even how to use an abacus.

Uncle Liu Haizhong, who had just been trying to show off his official power, now seemed to have his throat choked and couldn't utter a single word.

Qin Huairu, at the center of the storm, was struck as if by a thunderbolt from the heavens, her entire body frozen in place, as if she had become a lifeless statue.

She stared in disbelief at He Yuanchao, at the man standing ramrod straight in front of her house, his face cold and stern. He was bathed in the bright light streaming from inside the house, while she stood in the shadows in the middle of the yard, like a rat unable to bear the light. The face that had just managed a hint of pleading and hope drained of color visibly after hearing those three words, turning deathly pale, even bluish-gray.

Should we get her to tell the truth?

In her mind, it was as if countless voices were screaming wildly. Those thoughts that she had suppressed deep in her heart and dared not even think about in the middle of the night were now surging out like a flood that had burst its banks, almost drowning her.

What did you say?

She said she wished that Jia Zhangshi, that selfish, mean, lazy old hag, would die immediately in the labor camp, and that her remains wouldn't be brought back, so as not to dirty the land at home.

She thinks that Banggeng, her biological son, has long been spoiled by Jia Zhangshi and herself into a lawless scourge? A thief who is all talk and no action, only thinking of himself? A ticking time bomb who will destroy this family sooner or later?

What did she consider Sha Zhu to be? A loyal dog she could summon and dismiss at will? A long-term meal ticket she could take from at will without having to give any genuine feelings? A tool she could use to relieve her loneliness and to be used when she needed help?

Is she saying she has feelings for Yi Zhonghai, that she despises him from the bottom of her heart for his hypocritical facade of always standing on moral high ground, and the scheming and selfishness that she can't hide behind it?

Speaking of her... in the end, speaking of her relationship with He Yuanchao?

Does she regret it?

Is it said that she regretted it so much that her intestines were tied in knots, and that she bit the corner of her blanket and wept silently every night? Is it said that on countless cold nights, she dreamed of going back to more than ten years ago, so that when that spirited young man stood in front of her again, she would not hesitate to throw herself into his arms instead of choosing that short-lived Jia Dongxu?

Each of these thoughts was like a venomous snake lurking in a dark corner. They were sinister, selfish, and filled with nauseating scheming and unbearable regret. These were the foundation of her secrets, the pillars upon which she depended for survival, and the last and most solid line of defense for maintaining her outward image of a kind, weak, and pitiful "white lotus"!

Once those words are spoken, this defense will crumble instantly. Qin Huairu will no longer be the widow who needs the sympathy and charity of the entire hospital, but will become a vicious, hypocritical, and scheming monster!

How could I possibly say that?! Absolutely not!

"He Yuanchao! You...you've gone too far!"

Qin Huairu's lips trembled violently as she managed to squeeze out the words. Her voice was filled with an uncontrollable sob and extreme shame and indignation at being driven to the brink. Tears instantly blurred her vision, making He Yuanchao appear distorted and unreal before her.

"You're not helping me! You're humiliating me! You're forcing me to die!" she screamed hysterically, trying to evoke a shred of sympathy with her tragic story.

"humiliation?"

He Yuanchao chuckled softly, a laugh that, though faint, was like a cold awl, easily piercing her accusation. His gaze was colder than the late autumn night, devoid of any warmth.

"I'm giving you a chance to solve the problem, a chance to take twenty yuan. I just wanted to hear your 'heartfelt words,' how did that become an insult?" He leaned forward slightly, staring into Qin Huairu's eyes, and asked, word by word, "Is... your true feelings so dirty, so shameful?"

"you……"

Qin Huairu was speechless, her chest heaving, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal. Yes, if her true feelings were kind and selfless, then what was there to hide?

It is precisely because they cannot be seen by others that they are afraid.

She could only stand there like a child whose lies had all been exposed, helplessly and pathetically shedding tears.

"You dare not say, huh?" He Yuanchao's mocking smile deepened. He took a step back, seemingly having lost all patience. "Since you dare not say, then stop with your sympathy-seeking tricks! Don't try to play the victim in front of me! Now, immediately, disappear from my sight!"

He deliberately emphasized the last word.

"roll!"

This word, devoid of any emotion, was like a sharp blade tempered with ice, piercing Qin Huairu's heart ruthlessly and mercilessly.

The immense humiliation and utter despair of being completely abandoned overwhelmed her like icy seawater. She felt cold all over, her hands and feet were freezing. She knew it was all over. He Yuanchao was using the cruelest and most direct method to tear away all her pretenses, layer by layer, leaving her exposed before the entire hospital, trampling her last shred of dignity underfoot.

Just as Qin Huairu was about to completely break down and turn to flee this execution ground that made her feel utterly ashamed, a sudden, sharp voice shattered the silence.

"Say it! Mom! Say it!"

The sound came from behind Qin Huairu.

It's a stick-shaped pun.

Leaning on his simple wooden cane, he limped and struggled out from behind Qin Huairu. His face, which should still have some childlike innocence, was now filled with greed and ruthlessness that were completely out of character for his age. His triangular eyes, inherited from the Jia family, gleamed with the most primal and naked desire for money.

"It's just saying a few words, what's the big deal?" Banggeng's voice trembled with excitement. "I get twenty dollars for saying it! Twenty dollars! Mom! Do you know how much twenty dollars can buy? Enough for so many meals of braised pork! Enough for so many White Rabbit candies!"

He held up two fingers and waved them in front of Qin Huairu, as if they weren't fingers, but two brand-new ten-yuan bills.

"Mom! Tell me! What are you afraid of?!"

In Bang Geng's simple yet twisted worldview, this deal was incredibly lucrative. So-called dignity and face were worthless to him. To exchange a few meaningless truths and lies for twenty dollars was like a windfall!

As for the truth? What is that? Can you eat it? Can you drink it? Does it smell like meat?

"Bang! Shut up!" Qin Huairu turned around abruptly and shouted sharply. Her eyes were filled with shock, anger, and a trace of sorrow that she herself did not even realize.

"Did I say something wrong?" Banggeng shrank back at the shout, but his desire for money immediately overcame his fear. He stubbornly retorted, "Anyway, Grandma isn't home right now, and she can't hear me. What's wrong with you saying a few bad things about her? She's never been nice to you anyway!"

"And Uncle Shazhu, he's a fool, an old man who's senile, everyone in the courtyard knows that, everyone says so, why can't you say it?"

"What can't you say? Mom! Tell me! It's for twenty dollars! It's for my medical bills! Tell me!"

Every word Bang Geng uttered was like a heavy hammer blow, slamming into Qin Huairu's already crumbling psychological defenses.

Especially the last sentence, "for my medical expenses."

Yes... medical expenses...

Looking at her son's face, which was distorted by greed, and listening to his inhuman, even excited, encouragement, the last bit of "persistence" and "shame" in her heart was finally utterly crushed by his extreme desire for money and his bottomless despair for the future.

She was like a drowning person grasping at a poisonous straw.

Face... how much is face worth?

Dignity... Can dignity buy Banggeng's medical expenses? Can it buy back the nearly empty rice jar at home? Can it buy back the patched old clothes worn by Xiaodang and Huaihua?

No.

But money, I can.

Qin Huairu took a slow, deep breath, the icy air seeming to chill her to the core. As if she had made a decision to perish together with him, she slowly raised her tear-streaked, utterly desolate face and looked at He Yuanchao, who appeared like a god or demon under the lamplight.

Her voice was hoarse and dry, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"Okay... I'll talk..."

These two words seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

The courtyard instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath, their ears perked up, and their necks craned. Their faces were filled with excitement, curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of reluctance. They knew that an unprecedented and cruel "Truth or Dare" game, a public execution of the soul, was about to unfold before their eyes.

Looking at Qin Huairu's desperate and resigned demeanor, He Yuanchao felt no pity, only a cold mockery.

Very good, the fish has finally taken the bait.

He leisurely took out another piece of chewing gum wrapped in an exquisite candy wrapper from his shirt pocket, unhurriedly peeled off the silver wrapper, tossed the white chewing gum into his mouth, and chewed it slowly, with a sense of complete control.

Qin Huairu looked at him, at his leisurely and carefree demeanor, and felt a surge of hatred welling up inside her. She gritted her teeth tightly, as if she wanted to shatter them. Then, she slowly closed her eyes, like a condemned prisoner about to be executed, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"My mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi... she... she's lazy, selfish, mean, and sharp-tongued—just a... old hag! I've been waiting for her for so long..."

Before she could finish speaking, and was about to continue according to her own carefully crafted script—a script that was seven parts truth and three parts falsehood—He Yuanchao suddenly raised his hand and interrupted her.

"etc."

He Yuanchao spat out the chewing gum that had lost its flavor, then took out another piece from his pocket, doing the same thing as before. But this time, instead of eating it himself, he handed the piece of chewing gum to Qin Huairu.

He wore a faint, enigmatic, and amused smile.

"Talking is no fun, is it? Look at you, your voice is hoarse. Here, have some gum to soothe your throat, speak slowly, no rush, I have plenty of time."

The wrapper of that piece of chewing gum was pink, and it shimmered faintly under the dim yellow light in the courtyard, looking exquisite and tempting, exactly the same as the one He Yuanchao had just eaten.

Qin Huairu was stunned. She stared at the piece of chewing gum that had suddenly appeared in front of her, her eyes instantly filled with vigilance, suspicion, and unease.

What is He Yuanchao trying to do?

"What? You're afraid to eat it?" He Yuanchao raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Afraid I'll poison it? Qin Huairu, what kind of person do you take me for? If I wanted to deal with you, would I need to resort to such underhanded methods?"

He paused, then his tone became unquestionable: "Don't worry, it's just ordinary fruit candy, something to perk you up and calm your nerves. If you don't want it, then just pretend I never said anything about the twenty yuan."

Twenty yuan.

These four words, like a curse, struck Qin Huairu's weak spot once again.

The temptation was too great.

It was big enough for her to suppress all her doubts.

Qin Huairu stared intently at the piece of chewing gum, then looked up at He Yuanchao's deep, cold eyes, where there was no hint of a joke. She hesitated, struggled. In the end, her desire for money overwhelmed everything.

She gritted her teeth, extended her slightly trembling hand, and took the piece of chewing gum from He Yuanchao's fingers. She quickly unwrapped the gum, and without even looking at it, stuffed the piece of gum, which smelled faintly of fruit, into her mouth.

The moment the gum entered her mouth, a sweet and refreshing fruity flavor she had never tasted before instantly filled her mouth. The taste... was surprisingly good. Qin Huairu subconsciously chewed it a couple of times; the gum was soft and elastic, and the sweet juice moistened her dry throat.

My guard involuntarily relaxed a little. Perhaps it really was just ordinary candy?

"Alright, we can continue now." He Yuanchao crossed his arms, took a step back, and resumed his leisurely spectator posture.

Qin Huairu chewed her gum, the sweet taste seemingly giving her a false sense of strength. She composed herself, preparing to continue her prepared "accusation," half-truthfully and half-falsely, in a way that would satisfy He Yuanchao without completely ruining her reputation.

However, when she opened her mouth again, the sound that came out of her throat and the words that came out terrified even herself!

"My mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, is a despicable old hag who deserves to be torn to pieces! A parasite that sucks the blood of our whole family! A lazy and greedy venomous snake! I wish she were dead in a labor camp right now, eaten by wolves, gnawed by dogs, and never to come back! As long as she lives, our Jia family will never have a peaceful day! She's a scourge! The most vicious old hag in the world!"

The voice was shrill and high-pitched, filled with deep-seated resentment! Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, carrying a bloody stench!

The voice was so unfamiliar, yet so familiar! It was the truest voice from the depths of her heart!

How...how did it get out of control?!

Qin Huairu suddenly covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide open, almost bulging out of their sockets! They were filled with extreme, indescribable terror!

What...what did I just say?!

The courtyard erupted in an uproar! Just moments ago, everyone was merely watching the spectacle, but now they were all stunned by Qin Huairu's extremely vicious curse!

"My God! Is she crazy?! She really dared to say that!"

"This...this is too vicious! That's her own mother-in-law! Even if she's not a good person, you can't curse her to death like that!"

"Qin Huairu usually seems so gentle and weak, how can she be so cruel?"

He Yuanchao ignored the surrounding whispers, but the smile on his lips deepened as Qin Huairu's terror appeared. He looked at the terrified Qin Huairu as if admiring a perfect work of art, and continued to ask coldly:

"Well said. Next, where's your son, Bang Geng?"

Qin Huairu shook her head desperately, covering her mouth tightly with both hands, making muffled sobs. She wanted to shut up; she didn't want to talk; she begged herself not to say anything more!

But that irresistible, eerie force once again took control of her tongue and her vocal cords! Her words broke through the barriers of her teeth and fingers, resounding clearly throughout the entire courtyard!

"Bang Geng? He's just a good-for-nothing spoiled rotten by that old hag Jia Zhangshi! A thief! An ingrate! Sometimes I really doubt if he's even Jia Dongxu's son! How come he's exactly like his dead grandmother, selfish, ambitious but incompetent! Sooner or later he'll completely destroy this family! I really regret it! I really regret giving birth to such a debt-collecting wretch!"

"Wow--!"

Bang Geng, who had been standing by, waiting to get the money to buy meat, was struck dumb by these words! The greed on his face instantly turned into blankness, then into disbelief and shock, and finally, he burst into a heart-wrenching wail.

The courtyard erupted in chaos!

"She's gone mad! Qin Huairu has truly gone mad!"

"Even tigers don't eat their cubs! She's even cursing her own son like that!"

"My God, what kind of talk is this...?"

He Yuanchao ignored Banggeng's cries; his voice, like a devil's whisper, was cold and clear as he continued to press:

"Where's Sha Zhu? Tell me about Sha Zhu."

Sha Zhu, standing at the back of the crowd, felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

"Shazhu?" Qin Huairu's body trembled violently, her expression a mixture of pain and resentment. "He's just a complete idiot I've played for fools! A backup plan I can summon and dismiss at will! A sucker who willingly serves my family like a slave, bringing them food and drink! I just kept him hanging on, using him, squeezing every last drop of value out of him! I've never had a liking for him! With his pathetic appearance, he's not even worthy of carrying He Yuanchao's shoes!"

Behind the crowd, the man who usually went hungry himself to deliver lunchboxes to Qin Huairu's family, Sha Zhu, was struck dumb the moment he heard these words! The color drained from his face in an instant, turning him deathly pale. He felt the world spinning, his ears ringing, his body swaying, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

"Where's the old man?" He Yuanchao's question was like a countdown to death, merciless.

"Yi Zhonghai?" Qin Huairu let out a hysterical laugh. "A hypocritical old man! A lecherous old devil with a heart full of tricks! He's had those kinds of feelings for me for a long time, using the guise of helping our family to take advantage of me countless times! He dreams of me becoming his second wife, taking care of him in his old age! Dream on! Even if I die, even if I have to beg for food, I will never be with such a hypocritical, calculating, disgusting old bastard!"

In the corner, Yi Zhonghai, who had just been helped back to his senses by Sha Zhu, felt a sudden darkness engulf him upon hearing these heart-wrenching comments. His old face turned a deep purplish-red. He felt a rush of heat to his throat, as if the blood that had just stopped was about to gush out again!

Finally, He Yuanchao looked at Qin Huairu, who had completely collapsed, was in tears, and was mentally unstable, and asked her the last, and most fatal, question:

"And what about me? Qin Huairu, tell me about yourself."

This question was like a key that unlocked the Pandora's box in Qin Huairu's heart, a box filled with the deepest regrets and hatred!

She abruptly raised her head, her eyes, completely overwhelmed by tears and despair, fixed intently on He Yuanchao with an almost frantic regret and a morbid longing. With all her might, she screamed uncontrollably:

"You?! He Yuanchao! I regret it! I regret it so much I could die! I must have been blind to choose that useless, short-lived Jia Dongxu! I should have chosen you! I should have chosen you a long time ago!"

"If you had come to my house to propose earlier, I would have married you long ago! Now I would be living in a big house, riding a bicycle, eating and drinking well, and watching TV all day long! I would be Qin Huairu!"

Her voice became sharp and distorted, filled with resentment and bitterness.

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault for being so weak back then! It's also your fault for not taking the initiative! If you had been as capable and assertive as you are now, how could I have ever looked down on you! I hate you! I hate that you ruined my life! I want you even more! I want to be your wife, I want to have your children, I want to live a life of luxury!"

This earth-shattering, mind-blowing "heartfelt confession" was like an atomic bomb detonating in the center of the courtyard!

Wherever the shockwave reached, everyone was stunned, speechless, and their minds went blank!

"thump!"

Sha Zhu, standing at the back of the crowd, could no longer hold on. His last shred of hope and strength was completely drained, and his body slumped down silently, unconscious.

"puff--"

Yi Zhong-hai, who was in the corner, felt a sweet taste in his throat. He could no longer hold back the mouthful of pent-up blood and vomited it out, staining the ground in front of him red. His eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Xu Damao's mouth gaped open, his jaw almost dislocated, and the melon seeds in his hand had long since fallen to the ground.

He Yushui and the Yan brothers were so shocked that they were speechless, as if they were meeting everyone in the courtyard for the first time.

He Yuanchao quietly watched the chaotic and messy scene of the "Truth or Dare" game, and saw Qin Huairu, who had collapsed to the ground like a walking corpse after screaming. The curve of his lips finally turned into a cold, emotionless mockery.

He took out the twenty yuan he had prepared from his pocket, and with a flick of his fingers, the two brand-new ten-yuan bills fell like two fallen leaves, lightly and ironically, into the dust in front of Qin Huairu.

"I've given you the money. Your honest opinion was quite insightful."

After saying that, he didn't look at anyone again, turned around, and slammed his front door shut with a "bang" amidst the horrified gazes of everyone in the courtyard, who looked as if they had seen a ghost.

All that remains is a dilapidated courtyard house, stripped bare of all pretense, its filth, ugliness, and unbearable nature exposed to the light of day.