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

The winter of 1958 was exceptionally cold.

The north wind howled through Nanluoguxiang, taking away the last bit of warmth from the courtyard house.

Compared to the thriving business of the Li family in the backyard.

The Jia family in the Zhongyuan Court lived a life that was like being tortured in hell.

Jia Dongxu suffers from high-level paraplegia and is incontinent.

He lay in bed all day and became increasingly irritable and eccentric.

If anything went wrong, he would grab a back scratcher from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and hit Qin Huairu with it.

He was constantly cursing under his breath.

It was as if only by doing this could he vent his resentment as a useless person.

"Qin Huairu! You dead person! Can't you see I'm thirsty?"

"Where's the water? Are you trying to scald me to death?!"

"Snapped!"

An enamel mug smashed into Qin Huairu, drenching her with scalding hot water.

Qin Huairu endured the pain, not daring to utter a sound, silently picked up the cup, tears welling up in her eyes.

She not only had to take care of her paralyzed husband, but also Bang Geng and her newborn son, Xiao Dang.

She even had to endure the verbal abuse from her mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi.

The family's savings had long been exhausted.

They are now only surviving on the 18.5 yuan monthly pension that Jia Dongxu receives.

Now, even corn noodles are becoming increasingly unaffordable.

"Mom, we're out of food. The corn cobs are still growing..."

Qin Huairu looked at the empty rice jar and said in despair.

"If you're out of food, go find Sha Zhu!"

"What are you standing here for?"

Jia Zhangshi sat cross-legged at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), rolling her eyes as she sewed shoe soles.

"Isn't that silly Zhu the one who listens to you the most?"

"Let him bring his lunchbox! Borrow money from him!"

Qin Huairu sighed, wiped away her tears, and turned to walk out of the house.

Her only hope now is Sha Zhu.

......

evening.

Sha Zhu, carrying his signature mesh lunchbox, hunched over and returned to the courtyard house.

He's not having an easy time either.

Since Liu Haizhong became the second uncle, and Xu Damao has been reporting to the security department from time to time, the management of the canteen has become much stricter.

He used to be able to cook special meals for the leaders and save the best dishes for them.

Now we can only bring leftover soup from big pot dishes, and sometimes it depends on luck.

"Pillar..."

As soon as I entered the courtyard, a plaintive voice came from the corner of the wall.

When Sha Zhu looked up, he saw Qin Huairu standing in the cold wind, shivering, wearing only a thin cotton-padded coat.

Her peach blossom eyes were red and swollen, and she was looking at him pitifully.

"Oh, Sister Qin!"

"Why are you standing outside in this cold weather?"

Sha Zhu is the kind of person who only remembers the good times and never learns the bad ones.

Upon seeing Qin Huairu's appearance, he immediately lost half his soul.

He quickly moved closer, "Did Dongxu throw a tantrum again?"

"Pillar... I'm suffering inside..."

Qin Huairu's tears came easily, and she leaned against Sha Zhu, sobbing softly.

"There's no rice at home, Banggeng is crying from hunger, and Dongxu is going to hit me..."

"I'm really at my wit's end..."

"Don't cry, don't cry! I'm here!"

Sha Zhu was heartbroken and quickly handed over the lunchbox in his hand, saying, "This is what I just brought back."

"Although there's not much meat, it's still quite juicy. Quickly take it to the children."

Qin Huairu took the lunchbox as if it were a lifeline.

"Pillar, thank you..."

"If it weren't for you, I really don't know what I would do."

That "thank you," coupled with that adoring and dependent look, greatly satisfied Sha Zhu's vanity.

however.

When Qin Huairu entered the house with the lunchbox, Jia Zhangshi's angry roar came from inside.

"What? Another cabbage soup? Not even a piece of meat?"

"That piece of trash, Sha Zhu!"

"They used to eat meat and fish every day, how come they're trying to fool us with this pig swill now?"

"Is he looking down on us because our Dongxu is paralyzed?"

"Mom, please keep your voice down..."

"Why should I be whispering! He's heartless!"

Outside the door, Sha Zhu, who hadn't gone far, heard these words and suddenly stopped in his tracks, his face turning ashen.

He almost starved himself trying to help the Jia family!

He lent most of his salary to Qin Huairu, and sold off all the valuables in his home.

Even my younger sister ran away.

His reputation is absolutely rotten.

The results of it?

All I got in return was a "useless piece of trash"?

The phrase "pig swill"?

"Bang!"

Sha Zhu kicked open the Jia family's door, rushed in, pointed at Jia Zhangshi's nose, and cursed:

"You old hag! Who are you calling a jerk?"

"I kindly brought you food, but I wouldn't even eat a bite myself, and you're still being picky?"

"If you don't want to eat, then don't! Feeding it to a dog is better than feeding it to you!"

Sha Zhu was truly heartbroken this time and reached out to snatch the lunchbox.

"Ah! Someone's being hit! Sha Zhu's hitting someone!"

Although Jia Zhangshi was slumped on the ground, her voice was still loud, and she clung to the lunchbox tightly, refusing to let go.

"You're bullying us...you're not human!"

Jia Dongxu, lying on the bed, glared angrily at Sha Zhu: "Sha Zhu, do you want me to die so you can take my wife?"

"You...you guys..."

Sha Zhu was so angry that he trembled all over. Looking at this room full of ungrateful wretches, he suddenly felt a sense of utter boredom.

"Fine! I'll be a jerk!"

"If I ever meddle in your family's business again, I'll be a coward!"

After saying that, he turned to leave.

"Pillar! Don't go!"

Qin Huairu panicked when she realized her long-term meal ticket was about to leave.

She rushed forward without hesitation and hugged Sha Zhu tightly from behind.

She pressed her face against his back and cried her heart out.

"Zhu Zi, don't be angry!"

"Mom's getting senile! Dongxu's getting delirious from illness!"

"In this courtyard, you're all I have!"

"If you don't care about me either, I'll take the child and die!"

Feeling the warmth and wet tears behind him, Sha Zhu's hardened heart softened instantly.

"Sister Qin...why are you doing this to yourself?"

Qin Huairu pulled him to the cellar in the corner of the yard.

"Zhu Zi, I know you're feeling wronged."

"Sister Ke had no choice."

Qin Huairu held Sha Zhu's hand, placed it on her heart, and looked at him with teary eyes.

"You saw Dongxu's condition; he's a useless person."

"This family depends entirely on you to hold it together."

"In my heart, you are ten thousand times more important than Dongxu! Really!"

"When things get better in the future, I'll definitely repay you properly..."

After this combo, how could Sha Zhu possibly withstand it?

All the grievances and anger were thrown to the winds.

He looked at Qin Huairu's still charming face...

Only one thought remained in my mind—Sister Qin is suffering too much, I have to save her!

"Sister Qin, please stop talking."

Sha Zhu sighed and took out his last five yuan from his pocket.

"Take this money and buy something nice for Bang Geng."

"About the lunchboxes... I'll figure something out. I'll try to get you some meat tomorrow."

"Zhu Zi, you're so kind!"

Qin Huairu took the money, her tears turning into a smile, a glint of triumph flashing in her eyes.

In the backyard.

Li Xuan lay leisurely in the chair, coldly watching this scene through his mental power.

"Wow, this tea ceremony is truly masterful."

"Shazhu's life is completely ruined."

Being drained of all your blood and still having to help them count their money—that's what happens to a simp.

However, this is exactly the result Li Xuan wanted.

As long as Sha Zhu continues to provide financial support to the Jia family, he will never be able to save any money and will never be able to get married!

In the end, he could only suffer the fate of having no descendants and die a miserable death!

"Evil people will be punished by other evil people."

Li Xuan withdrew his gaze and stopped paying attention to the two of them.

He has more important things to do.

For example, how to deal with that third uncle, Yan Bugui, who is still plotting against him.

......