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

The entire courtyard, except for the Xu family in the backyard and the deaf old woman, was packed with people, almost everyone was there, crowding the central courtyard. It was quite a spectacle!

Despite being blocked at home, He Ping'an didn't seem worried at all. Instead, he acted like an outsider, pulling Bai Ling back from going forward and watching the show from the back of the crowd.

I also whispered a few words to her about the main residents of the courtyard house and their character. Consider it a lesson in human nature, to show her the wickedness of people so she won't suffer losses later.

"Peace!" Bai Ling shook He Ping'an's arm, her clear voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic.

The story of Ma Hanshan is still fresh in our minds—his entire family was slaughtered, which shows how protective He Ping'an is of his own. If these residents had truly harmed the He family, things would certainly not have ended well. But the people in the courtyard are fundamentally different from Ma Hanshan…

They are poor, they are the proletariat! The Party has policies in place, in case a conflict breaks out...?

"rest assured!"

He Ping'an was aware of Bai Ling's worries and gently comforted her. It wasn't just a perfunctory reassurance; he genuinely wasn't angry, and even felt a little anticipation. After all, this was a courtyard house where demons and monsters from all the realms gathered; it would be so boring if it were always so bland!

These past two years have been filled with constant intrigue and scheming, keeping my mind on edge and affecting my physical and mental health. Oh no! A place to find enjoyment and unwind, one after another, is naturally… a sustainable source of income!

Of course, it's just chives! As long as the roots aren't damaged and they're not allowed to lie flat, we can't hesitate to harvest them!

He raised his hand and beckoned to an inconspicuous spot behind him, gesturing for the boy who had been watching the commotion to come over. It was none other than… Xu Shi Da Mao, a man of clear mind, a master of first blood, and one of the representatives of the "Extinction" faction.

Um... now he's called Sha Mao!

"Here's a silver dollar. Go out on the street and call over a few thugs!"

"Uncle He, don't worry, I'll definitely call all the thugs on the street for you!"

Xu Damao originally didn't want to get involved. Firstly, he didn't get along with He Yuzhu, and he would be happy if the He family suffered misfortune. Secondly, running errands was no problem, but the person he hired, Hei Pi Gou, was extremely annoying. He might incur people's resentment.

But when he met He Ping'an's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, his heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out an agreement. Helpless, he could only put on a smile and run out to call for help.

After sending Xu Damao to fetch someone, He Ping'an continued to leisurely watch the show...

In addition to Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai, whom he had dealt with last time, there was also Liu Haizhong, and a few other families who looked unfamiliar, probably new residents.

It was the same old routine: Jia Zhangshi took the lead, Yi Zhonghai chimed in, and He Ping'an, unfamiliar with the extra households, didn't know their methods. He seemed a bit foolish, being used as a pawn by that despicable couple without realizing it.

As for Liu Haizhong, he can only hum and groan for a long time without being able to utter a complete sentence; he's just a filler!

"Brothers, a week ago last night, I personally watched you two carry half the night's worth of grain home! That's so much grain, it's all from our neighbors, we see each other all the time, what's wrong with sharing it with everyone?"

Perhaps emboldened by the large crowd behind her, Jia Zhangshi spoke with unwavering conviction. Yi Zhonghai, standing close behind, echoed her sentiments even more forcefully, his words carrying a subtle threat:

"Yes, Lao He! I've always said that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Living in the same courtyard, sticking together for warmth and helping each other, is the only way to get by. Don't you all agree?"

"yes!"

"Brother Yi is right..."

Hearing the echoes of the crowd, Yi Zhonghai mimicked the smug look of the factory leaders, gesturing with his hand. He then glanced smugly at He Daqing:

"Old He, you have plenty of grain. Sharing some with the families in the yard who are starving would be a great act of kindness... If you lend a hand to them today, they'll be more willing to help you when you're in trouble in the future!"

As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, the families, as if they had planned it, stepped forward all at once. The children cried and shouted that they were hungry, the women knelt down and kowtowed for food, and the men, with red eyes, took another step forward.

One of the men, a slightly burly fellow who appeared to be the leader of several households, confronted He Daqing directly, his menacing expression revealing itself.

"Brother He, I, Li Dagang, apologize to you first! My family is truly destitute, otherwise I wouldn't have done such a shameful thing. Please, Brother He, have mercy and give me a way out! Otherwise..."

"Or... what should we do?"

A lazy voice rang out from behind the group, not loud but clear enough to reach everyone's ears.

When everyone turned around and saw it was He Ping'an, they quickly moved aside, making way for him. They weren't stupid; they wanted to follow him and take advantage of the situation. But He Ping'an's status as a Peking University student was undeniable. That was enough to calm down those beasts in power!

He Ping'an wasn't intimidated. He brazenly led Bai Ling through the crowd and confronted Li Dagang, who had made threatening remarks. He reached out and grabbed Li Dagang by the neck, slowly lifting him up with one hand.

Li Dagang, a rather burly strongman, frantically kicked his legs back and forth, desperately trying to pry He Ping'an's hands open. But the hands were like iron clamps, refusing to budge no matter how hard Li Dagang tried!

He Ping'an maintained a kind smile on his face, his tone neither warm nor cold:

"What do you want? Hmm?"

This move shocked Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi, causing their pupils to shrink. They knew He Ping'an was a good student and cultured, always smiling at everyone, and simply regarded him as a pale-faced scholar. Who would have thought he was also a capable fighter, lifting someone up with one hand? How much strength did that take?

"Peace...that's enough!"

Seeing Li Dagang's face turn red and his resistance weaken, He Daqing quickly tried to persuade him. In his heart, his own brother was a precious porcelain doll; it wasn't worth sacrificing his future for a laborer like Li Dagang!

He Ping'an smiled and shook his head until Li Dagang's eyes became bloodshot, then he let go and threw him to the ground.

Ignoring Li Dagang, who was slumped on the ground, struggling to breathe, He Ping'an's gaze shifted to Yi Zhonghai, his smile still warm.

"Yi Zhonghai, you've been to the hospital for a checkup, haven't you? You know it's your problem that makes you unable to have children, right? You keep saying that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, are you worried that someone will eat your children's bloodline?"

"You...you're talking nonsense, it wasn't me, I didn't!" Yi Zhonghai stammered, his old face turning a deep purplish-red.

This reaction was tantamount to admitting guilt without being asked!

He Ping'an took a step forward, which startled Yi Zhonghai, who then stumbled backward and bumped into the crowd behind him before stopping.

"Heh..." He Ping'an scoffed, "Yi Zhonghai, actually I quite support your point of view. Everyone needs to help each other and stick together for warmth; that's how we survive. Why don't we do it your way..."

He Ping'an pointed to the few households that had come out to stand out.

"After deducting your own expenses, give all your monthly salary to them to buy food. Anyway, you're an orphan, you won't spend that much money. In the future, when you get old, let those families take care of you in your old age, how about that?"