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

Jia and Yi left one after the other. The He family's door closed, and the residents, disappointed at the lack of excitement, pursed their lips and dispersed in twos and threes. However, entertainment was scarce in those days, and the departing crowd continued to whisper amongst themselves.

People say He Ping'an is quick-witted and scolds Jia Zhangshi for being shameless, but the discussion focuses more on Yi Zhonghai—after all, having no heir was a big deal in those days!

Some glanced maliciously in the direction of the Yi family, trying their best to hide the greed in their eyes. A few others, thinking themselves clever, saw that He Ping'an could even get his hands on milk powder that foreigners drank, and couldn't help but have the same thoughts as Jia Zhangshi.

Such people are ultimately a minority; most people just watch the spectacle, have a laugh, and then go back to working hard to make a living. In short, this farce involving the three families today has dominated the headlines of today's courtyard news.

In the Jia family home, Jia Zhangshi was dragged back into the house by her son. Her face was a mixture of shame and anger. She slapped her thigh and began to berate him:

"All this trouble I've gone through is for you, for the Jia family! Why are you dragging me into this? The He family is so rich, that short-lived money-loser's monthly milk powder expenses are enough for our two children to live on for a year!!"

The implication was clear: she still wanted to go. Jia Dongxu blushed deeply, feeling both ashamed and angry.

"Mother! Please don't embarrass yourself like that! I'm so old already, if you go and become someone's maid, I won't be able to hold my head up in the yard. How will I ever get married?"

Jia Dongxu not only complained about his mother, but also harbored resentment towards He Ping'an. If He Ping'an hadn't deliberately stirred up the conversation, he wouldn't have been in such an embarrassing situation.

After a long day of trouble, seeing that Jia Dongxu was still stubbornly refusing to admit his mistake, Jia Zhangshi's temper flared up.

"What mother? Go be that wretched son of a family, and live a life of filial piety in his old age! All you do is call him 'Grandpa' this and 'Grandpa' that, all you want is for that old dog to get you into the factory. You're a fool to waste the rest of your life on a job that requires manual labor!"

Having all lived through war-torn times, which of the beasts in the courtyard couldn't see through Jia Dongxu's self-righteous petty schemes? Let alone Jia Zhangshi…

A widow struggling to raise a young child, trying to make a living in a courtyard house. If she didn't have a sharp mind and resourceful methods, relying solely on tantrums and sulking would have sent the Jia mother and son to join the mass graves long ago.

Originally, Madam Jia thought that He Daqing had a high income and He Ping'an had a wide network of connections. As long as they could get in touch with the He family, the Jia family would be able to relax a bit. In a couple of years, they could find He Ping'an an easy and stable job, and the Jia family would be completely secure!

"Sigh..." Madam Jia sighed, comforting the dejected Jia Dongxu, "Alright, if the He family doesn't want to go, then they don't want to go! The second son of the He family isn't someone to be trifled with either. Judging from the situation just now, even if you don't cause trouble, your scheme today probably won't work!"

Unable to think of a solution, Jia Zhangshi muttered a curse at Yi Zhonghai and got up to prepare dinner.

"You old bastard, trying to steal my son? Dream on!"

When Yi Zhonghai returned home, his face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and his hand trembled as he held up his teacup. "Outrageous! Outrageous! This He Ping'an! He… he's talking nonsense!"

His most cherished pride and most sensitive wounds were brutally exposed in public by He Ping'an, who even stomped on them. It was no different from a public execution!

As for seeing a doctor, he would never do it, even if you beat him to death. Going to the hospital now would only give others ammunition to accuse him of spreading rumors and confirm He Ping'an's lies.

Yi Zhonghai's wife, Li Guifen, stood by, trying to soothe him while expressing her concern: "Old Yi, don't get sick from all this anger... He's just a kid, he doesn't know his own strength when he speaks... Should we...should we really take him to a big hospital to get him checked out?"

Li Guifen spoke her last words very softly, yet they pierced Yi Zhonghai's heart like needles. He completely tore off his mask of hypocrisy and slapped Li Guifen hard across the face:

"What are you looking at? What's so interesting? I'm not sick. It's all because of you, you good-for-nothing who couldn't even give birth to a child, that I have to suffer He Ping'an's bullying for nothing... Get out!"

Yi Zhonghai beat and kicked Li Guifen mercilessly until she ran out of the house, bruised and battered, before reluctantly stopping. His violent outburst stemmed largely from fear…

He was afraid that he really had a problem, afraid that he would really have no descendants!

To be honest, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi, these two scourges, are quite a perfect match; birds of a feather flock together. Having failed to gain favor with the He family, Jia Zhangshi turned her attention to Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai, worried that he might actually be ill, also turned his attention to Jia Dongxu, standing at the door staring in the direction of the Jia family for a long time!

As for Li Guifen, who had run away, Yi Zhonghai didn't care at all...

Where can a hen that can't have children go? It'll just run off to some secluded corner to secretly wipe away its tears, like it has done countless times before, and then obediently come back to bow its head and admit its mistake.

Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes...

This time, Li Guifen didn't swallow her anger like usual. She nervously approached the taboo figure in the courtyard... the widowed old woman in the backyard, who later became the deaf old woman.

As for why deaf old women have become a taboo in courtyard houses?

Even in the 21st century, a poor, widowed old woman with bound feet wouldn't have an easy life, let alone during times of war. Not to mention the petty thieves on the streets, how many people coveted her courtyard house?

But she continued as before, while those who coveted her rent disappeared one by one. Over time, everyone kept their distance from this old woman with bound feet in the backyard.

Li Guifen's outburst this time was thanks to He Ping'an's words.

To paraphrase a famous saying from later generations—why help someone up if you didn't hit them? In her mind, if Yi Zhonghai really wasn't sick, why didn't he dare go to the hospital? She said a few words to him, and he even hit her? Could it be… that she really saw right through him?

But what could a naive and ignorant woman like her do? A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; her own family is no longer an option, and she doesn't know anyone outside the family. She can only search around the courtyard house.

The He family? They just had a fight!

After much deliberation, Li Guifen made a difficult decision and approached the old lady. Her thinking was simple: the old lady was powerful and could help her.

"Knock, knock, knock! Grandma, are you asleep? This is Li Guifen from the Yi family of the Intermediate People's Court..."

After a long while, just as Li Guifen was about to leave, a slightly aged voice finally came from inside the house: "Come in!"

Without hesitation, Li Guifen took a deep breath, went inside, carefully approached the deaf old woman, and poured out her plans.

The terms were simple: Li Guifen did hard labor to care for the deaf old woman, who in turn became her protector. It was practically a self-initiated act of servitude!

The deaf old woman, leaning against the bed, quietly watched Li Guifen without saying a word. After an unknown amount of time, seeing Li Guifen's legs trembling and her about to fall, she finally spoke slowly and deliberately:

"First, wipe the blood from the corner of your mouth!"

Li Guifen's eyes lit up with surprise:

"Thank you, ma'am!"