Uncle Shazhu, a simple-minded man in a courtyard house, persuades people with reason.

Just as dawn was breaking, in the backyard of the deaf old woman's house, the elderly woman, who didn't need much sleep, saw Li Guifen cleaning the house as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Waking up so early, why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

Li Guifen, who was cleaning, stiffened upon hearing this, then relaxed and replied with a smile:

"I usually wake up around this time, I'm used to it. Grandma, you rest for a bit, I'll go cook right away!"

Li Guifen spoke lightly, but living in someone else's house and being treated as an unknown "big shot," coupled with her physical pain, meant she couldn't sleep at all last night.

Li Guifen's words couldn't escape the notice of the shrewd, deaf old woman, who didn't bother to point it out. Watching Li Guifen work efficiently, the old woman nodded slightly; having someone like her around at her age was indeed comforting.

"snort……"

The deaf old woman coughed lightly, calling the person over:

"No need to cook! Let's eat out. My grandmother is paying for it, it's a reward for you! After dinner, we'll go to the hospital for a checkup!"

"Grandma..." Tears streamed down Li Guifen's face as she was overcome with emotion and could not speak.

While Yi Zhonghai was fast asleep, Li Guifen had already helped the deaf old woman leave the courtyard together.

Early morning, Yi family

Yesterday, Yi Zhonghai was stripped of his dignity by He Ping'an. He didn't even eat dinner when he got home, and after venting his anger, he went straight to bed. Little did he know that his seemingly useless wife had already found a new backer.

After waking up, Yi Zhonghai ordered Li Guifen around as usual, calling her several times without getting a response. Then he remembered that last night, in a fit of anger, he had locked the door, intending to teach Li Guifen a lesson.

"You know... huh..."

When the door opened, Yi Zhonghai was still lecturing with an air of self-importance. The imagined scene of Li Guifen huddled pitifully at the doorway, apologizing, never materialized. There wasn't a soul in sight, not even a shadow.

He remained unperturbed, assuming Li Guifen had simply found someone in a courtyard house to stay with. He thought to himself that this woman had actually exposed her family's shameful affair to the neighbors for all to see; he would definitely teach her a lesson when she returned.

But he searched the entire courtyard... and found nothing, nor was there a soul around the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai became anxious, not so much because he was worried about Li Guifen, but mainly because he was worried that as a widower with no heirs, it would be difficult for him to find a good family to marry into.

In the end, Yi Zhonghai could only ask his neighbors in the courtyard to help him ask for leave, while he himself rushed to Li Guifen's parents' home.

On the other side, Li Guifen helped the old lady leave the courtyard. Once they were on the main street, the deaf old lady hailed a rickshaw. First, they ate, and then the old lady took Li Guifen straight to the hospital.

In the examination room, Li Guifen stared intently at the report in the doctor's hand, her hands sweating profusely. She wanted a result, but was also worried that it really was her problem.

"You've been blamed for not being able to have children for ten years, what are you afraid of now?"

Yes, is there any difference? Anyway, I've carried it for ten years, how much worse can things get in the future! With these words of enlightenment, Li Guifen nodded gratefully to the deaf old woman and whispered her thanks.

Since getting married, no one has spoken up for her like this anymore, and at this moment she truly regarded the deaf old woman as an elder.

"Madam, after a doctor's examination, there is nothing wrong with your health, and you are perfectly capable of conceiving." The doctor put down the report and congratulated her with a smile.

An excited Li Guifen stared intently at the doctor. "Doctor, do you mean I can have a baby?"

"Yes, but if you want to have children, you should hurry up. After all, you're not young anymore, and childbirth carries risks; the older you get, the greater the risks!"

Li Guifen snatched the report from the doctor's hand, repeatedly saying things like "I can have children." After a long while...

With a loud "Wah!", he hugged the deaf old woman beside him and wailed, "Madam, I can have children! I'm not a barren hen! Waaah..."

After a while, the distraught Li Guifen recovered with the comfort of the deaf old woman, thanked the doctor, and left the hospital.

On the way, compared to the happy Li Guifen, the deaf old lady was not in a good mood, but Li Guifen, who was in a great mood, did not notice.

This time, the deaf old woman didn't rush to flag down a rickshaw. After walking for a while, she slowly began to speak:

"Stop laughing like that, let's think about what to do next."

"From now on..." Li Guifen looked at the deaf old woman, not understanding what was going on.

"Yes, in the future! It's true you can have children, but with whom? Yi Zhonghai? You two haven't had children all these years, so one of you must be infertile. You're right, it'll be him!"

After saying that, the deaf old woman felt she had fulfilled her duty and stopped talking.

The deaf old woman's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Li Guifen's head, chilling her to the bone. Yes, so what if she could have children? Could she find someone else? She was almost 30 this year, and in this day and age, 50 and above is considered old age. She had already lived more than half her life.

Divorce? There are plenty of women who can have children; who would want a middle-aged woman like her? If she marries an unemployed, homeless old bachelor, who will raise the child?

Not leaving? Then what's the point of all she's doing? Just to vent her anger?

"Have you thought it through?"

At the entrance of the courtyard house, the deaf old woman tilted her head and looked at Li Guifang beside her.

"No, I don't know what to do either. But I know that without you, I would be talked about behind my back for the rest of my life, like a barren hen that never lays eggs. You are like my second parents. If you don't mind, I will treat you as my own mother from now on!"

Li Guifen really didn't know what to do, but she felt she had to repay the kindness.

"You little brat, you've got a conscience! I, this old woman, will take care of the rest!"

Knowing she could become pregnant, the deaf old woman didn't abandon her benefactor. Li Guifen's answer pleased the old woman greatly. In her words, she essentially accepted her as a goddaughter.

With the old lady taking care of her, Li Guifen was finally able to walk with her head held high in the courtyard house, which could be considered a blessing in disguise!

At noon, Yi Zhonghai returned to the courtyard house dejectedly. His wife's family was nowhere to be found, and he truly didn't know where to turn.

Yi Zhonghai made quite a commotion this morning. As soon as he returned, a swarm of gossipy women rushed forward, chattering about Li Guifen's situation.

Upon hearing that his wife had returned, Yi Zhonghai was initially overjoyed. However, when he learned that she had returned with the deaf old woman, his heart sank.

Everyone knows that the deaf old woman in the backyard is a taboo in the courtyard. How could a laborer like him afford to offend her? Although he couldn't figure out why these two people who were completely unrelated had come together, since Li Guifen was there, how could he possibly go there?

"What?! Impossible... This is fake! You forged it! You infertile good-for-nothing, how dare you lie to me!"

As soon as Yi Zhonghai entered the room, Li Guifen slapped the hospital diagnosis report onto his chest. Yi Zhonghai glanced at it casually, then his face contorted and he raised his arm to strike.