Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

The news of Jia Dongxu's paralysis caused a huge uproar in the courtyard.

Although everyone was privately discussing that the Jia family had suffered retribution.

But it's a human life after all!

Moreover, the pillar supporting the family had collapsed, which meant the Jia family was completely finished.

That very evening, the newly appointed Uncle Liu Haizhong couldn't wait to convene a general meeting of the entire hospital.

This is the first major event since he took office.

He had to make it look perfect to demonstrate his leadership and benevolence as an old man.

In the middle courtyard, beside the octagonal table.

Liu Haizhong sat imposingly in the top seat in the center, his large belly protruding, and his face serious.

But in reality, he was incredibly pleased with himself, feeling like a real cadre.

Yi Zhonghai sat in the seat that used to belong to the second uncle, his face extremely grim.

But I forced myself to stay alert.

Yan Bugui then took a pen and notebook, preparing to keep accounts.

Qin Huairu cried until her eyes were red and swollen, looking like a tearful person.

Jia Zhangshi collapsed to the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing in despair.

"Ahem!"

Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and adopted an official tone:

"Neighbors, please be quiet!"

"There is only one main topic for today's emergency hospital-wide meeting!"

"That concerns the assistance provided to Comrade Jia Dongxu after his work-related injury resulted in disability!"

"The Jia family is in dire straits. They have elderly parents to care for and young children to raise, and Huai Ru is pregnant with another child."

"I really can't go on like this anymore."

"As a model courtyard house in our neighborhood, we can't just sit idly by!"

"I propose that our entire hospital, embodying the spirit of 'when one is in trouble, all lend a hand,' donate money to the Jia family!"

After saying that, Liu Haizhong, to set an example, took out a ten-yuan note from his pocket.

Then, with extreme pain, he slammed his hand on the table and shouted:

"As an elderly man, I'll set an example and donate ten yuan!"

He really wanted to be an official, but he was even more of a money-grubber; ten yuan was his limit.

Yi Zhonghai watched from the side, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Even though he's stepped down, he still has to make a show of things at times like this!

Moreover, he also had to outshine Liu Haizhong in order to win back some public support.

"Old Liu is right."

Yi Zhonghai stood up and pulled out two ten-yuan bills with a sorrowful expression.

"Dongxu is my apprentice. I am heartbroken that he has suffered such a calamity."

"I'll donate twenty!"

"Wow! Old Yi is still a man of principle!"

People below were whispering among themselves.

His face darkened as he looked like he'd been overshadowed.

But reluctant to spend any more money, he could only turn to Yan Bugui and ask, "Old Yan, what about you?"

Yan Bugui's hands trembled as he reluctantly pulled out a one-yuan coin.

"It's a small gift but a big sentiment; I...I'll donate one yuan."

With the three old men taking the lead, the other neighbors could curse in their hearts.

But they could only reluctantly pay three or five cents, just to buy some peace and quiet.

However, this amount of money was simply a drop in the ocean for the Jia family's bottomless pit.

Liu Haizhong felt that this achievement was not significant enough, and if the donation amount was too small, it would be embarrassing for the neighborhood office.

So, his beady eyes scanned the crowd.

Finally, he looked at Li Xuan, who was standing on the periphery of the crowd, hands in his pockets, watching the show.

This is a real fat sheep!

"Li Xuan!"

Liu Haizhong adopted a leader's air and pointed at Li Xuan.

"Everyone else has donated; as the family with the best conditions in the compound, shouldn't you also do something?"

"Dr. Su has a high salary, and you have some connections, so your family often has big meals of fish and meat."

"I think... to demonstrate the excellence of our institute, your family should donate one hundred!"

Although it was with Li Xuan's help last time that Liu Haizhong was able to become an old man.

Liu Haizhong also promised that once he became a senior official, he would listen to Li Xuan in everything.

But in reality, it's all nonsense!

In Liu Haizhong's view, he was already a senior figure, so Li Xuan, as a junior, naturally had to listen to him!

"yes"

Yi Zhonghai immediately chimed in, "Xiao Xuan, with great power comes great responsibility."

"The Jia family is really struggling to make ends meet right now. As their neighbor, it's only right that you lend them a hand."

The two of them, working in unison, instantly ensnared Li Xuan in a web of moral blackmail.

"one hundred?"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

This guy's bangs are even more ruthless than Yi Zhonghai's!

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately stopped wailing and stared greedily at Li Xuan.

"Yes! We must donate one hundred!"

"Your family eats meat every day, you certainly won't be short of one hundred yuan!"

Qin Huairu also raised her head, her peach blossom eyes filled with tears, looking at Li Xuan pitifully.

"Xiao Xuan...please, help your sister..."

Faced with this overwhelming pressure to donate, Li Xuan smiled.

"Liu Haizhong, you're really putting on a show of official power."

Li Xuan was not surprised at all by Liu Haizhong's ungrateful behavior.

He stepped forward, looked around, and said coldly, "Donate? On what grounds?"

"Jia Dongxu was injured at the factory; it was a work-related injury!"

"The factory has a comprehensive compensation system, including medical reimbursement and disability allowances!"

"This money is enough for their medical treatment and living expenses!"

"What business is it of ours, the factory's responsibility?"

"Did we harm Jia Dongxu?"

"What...what kind of talk is that! This is about collective honor!"

Liu Haizhong slammed his hand on the table, adopting an old man's air, "I'm telling you to show some style!"

"This is the organization's decision!"

"A decision by the organization? Which organization? The neighborhood committee or the steel mill?"

Li Xuan retorted without hesitation, "If it's an official document from the neighborhood committee, show it to me!"

"If you made this decision on a whim, then you're just assigning it to someone else!"

"That's against the rules!"

"Also, what kind of relationship do our family have with the Jia family?"

Li Xuan pointed at Jia Zhangshi, "Is it because she came to our door cursing and forcing us to vacate that we felt indebted?"

"Or is it because Qin Huairu broke into my cellar and stole my grain that I feel indebted to her?"

"Or perhaps Jia Dongxu paid someone to break my leg out of a sense of obligation?"

"Liu Haizhong, Yi Zhonghai, are you two getting senile?"

"You want me to donate money to my enemy? I didn't even set off firecrackers to celebrate; that's already giving them plenty of face!"

"You want money? Not a penny!"

Li Xuan's words were like knives!

They stripped Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai of their faces completely.

Upon hearing this, the neighbors realized what was going on.

Yup!

The factory is offering compensation, why are we just blindly joining in?

Besides, the Jia family usually behaves so badly, why should they help them?

Many people quietly put the money they had just taken out back into their pockets.

"Li Xuan! You're so cold-blooded! You're so selfish!"

Just as Liu Haizhong was in an awkward position, Sha Zhu suddenly jumped out.

He pointed at Li Xuan's nose and yelled, "Sister Qin is already in such a miserable state, and you're still making sarcastic remarks!"

"Are you even human? You have money but don't donate; that's being rich but heartless!"

"I'll donate!"

Sha Zhu wanted to impress Qin Huairu and also to suppress Li Xuan's arrogance.

He pulled a cloth bag from his pocket and slammed it onto the table.

"This is my savings for getting married, accumulated over three years! It's only three hundred yuan! I'm donating it all!"

"Sister Qin! Don't be afraid! With me, Shazhu, here, you won't go hungry!"

Three hundred yuan!

The entire audience was shocked.

Even Qin Huairu was stunned.

Immediately, his eyes blazed with ecstatic joy.

That silly Zhu is a real gem of a blood pack!

But just as Shazhu looked smugly at Li Xuan, preparing to receive everyone's praise...

A scream, trembling with sobs, suddenly rang out:

"Brother! Are you crazy?"

Everyone turned around and saw He Yushui standing at the back of the crowd, her face pale and her whole body trembling.

His eyes were filled with despair and disbelief.

"That money...was left by my father."

"It's to save money for my college education! And for my dowry!"

"Why should you donate it all to the Jia family?"

Sha Zhu was stunned when he saw his sister.

Then, nonchalantly, she said, "Rain, how can you be so inconsiderate?"

"Sister Qin's family is in trouble now, let's help them if we can."

"We'll talk about your college education later; I can earn the money later!"

"Later? Again, later!"

He Yushui, tears streaming down her face, shouted, "From childhood to adulthood, your lunchbox has been Qin Huairu's, your salary has been Qin Huairu's..."

"Now you're even going to give my tuition and dowry to Qin Huairu!"

"Am I really your biological sister? What am I in this family?"

"Am I not even as good as a dog in the Jia family?!"

"Silly Zhu! Is your heart black?!"

"How dare you talk to me like that! I'm your brother!"

Sha Zhu felt he was losing face and raised his hand to hit someone.

"Go ahead and hit me! Go ahead and kill me!"

He Yushui stiffened her neck, her eyes filled with determination.

She saw through it all.

In this older brother's eyes, Qin Huairu is ten thousand times more important than his own sister!

As long as Qin Huairu is around, He Yushui will always be an outsider and a burden!

"well..."

He Yushui wiped away her tears, her eyes turning cold.

"Since you're so eager to support the Jia family, then go and be their son!"

"From today onwards, I, He Yushui, no longer consider you my brother! We sever all ties!"

"I'm not going back to that house anymore! It'll only be an eyesore for you!"

After speaking, He Yushui turned around and looked at Li Xuan, who had been standing by and watching coldly.

She walked up to Li Xuan, bowed deeply, her voice choked with emotion yet resolute:

"Brother Li Xuan...Aunt Su...Can I stay at your house?"

"I can sleep in the living room, I can work... I can do any kind of work."

"All I need is a place to sleep..."

Li Xuan looked at the pitiful girl in front of him and sighed inwardly.

Silly Zhu, you've pushed away your only family member with your own hands.

You're destined to be childless!

"Silly girl, what are you saying?"

Li Xuan reached out and gently patted He Yushui's head, his tone gentle, "I told you a long time ago, just treat my home as your own."

"Let's go home and have dinner."

"I made dumplings tonight, pork and scallion filling, and there's plenty to go around."

"Um!"

He Yushui nodded emphatically, tears streaming down her face.

But these were tears of liberation.

Li Xuan, with He Yushui in tow, left the central courtyard without looking back.

Only Sha Zhu was left standing there, staring at the empty doorway.

Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai watched this farce with increasingly grim expressions.

This entire college meeting was a complete disaster again!

......