Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

When Xie Weihong returned to the courtyard house, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon.

The jeep stopped at the entrance of the alley, and he got out and walked in. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he heard a neat "one, two, three, four" chant coming from the middle courtyard.

He walked over and took a look, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Sha Zhu was leading those people in doing push-ups.

No, it's not "leading" others along, it's "doing it with great enthusiasm while others suffer as a result."

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, his face turning purple, pausing for three seconds after each movement.

Liu Haizhong's injured leg dragged on the ground, and he was crooked and twisted.

Only Sha Zhu did it incredibly fast, one after another.

As he worked, he muttered something under his breath. It was too far away to hear clearly, but judging from his lip movements, it seemed like he was reciting a mantra.

Xie Weihong stood under the moon gate for a while, then turned and walked towards the backyard.

Sha Zhu caught a glimpse of his back out of the corner of his eye, paused for a moment, then moved even faster.

Yi Zhonghai took the opportunity to stop and catch his breath, but his eyes were fixed on Sha Zhu, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

That silly Zhu has really changed.

Yi Zhonghai has been observing Sha Zhu for several days.

From the day Sha Zhu came out of Xie Weihong's house, he seemed like a completely different person.

In the past, Sha Zhu did the training, but he was forced to do it, and his eyes were full of numbness and resignation.

And now? He's more proactive and works harder than anyone else, his eyes are full of light—a light that Yi Zhonghai has seen before, the light in his eyes when he was young and wanted to climb the ladder.

But what does Sha Zhu want to climb up? Where can he possibly climb to?

What made Yi Zhonghai even more uneasy was that Sha Zhu was ignoring him.

In the past, when Sha Zhu saw him, he would at least call him "Grandpa".

Although they weren't close, there was still some respect between them. Sometimes, when Yi Zhonghai said something, Sha Zhu would listen, after all, Yi Zhonghai had watched Sha Zhu grow up, and Sha Zhu's mother had entrusted him to take care of Sha Zhu before she passed away.

But now?

Yi Zhonghai tried to get closer to Sha Zhu, but was met with Sha Zhu's cold indifference.

After training that day, Yi Zhonghai went over to talk to Sha Zhu.

"Hey, you've been training really hard lately, haven't you? Do you have something on your mind?"

Sha Zhu glanced at him, his eyes as cold as well water in winter.

"I don't have any particular thoughts."

He said just four words, then turned and left without saying another word.

Yi Zhonghai stood there, stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

The next day, he tried again.

"Shazhu, has something been bothering you these past few days? Tell me, and I'll help you figure something out."

This time, Sha Zhu didn't even look at him, and walked right past him as if he hadn't heard anything.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned bright red.

Who is he? He's the eldest man in this courtyard, a highly respected elder, someone who watched Sha Zhu grow up. How dare Sha Zhu treat him like this?

But after the anger came a deeper panic.

Sha Zhu is his only hope for retirement!

Yi Zhonghai has no children; he will rely on Sha Zhu to take care of him in his old age and see him off in his final days.

Although Sha Zhu was a bit of a rascal in the past, he would still listen to him if he asked. After all, he had helped Sha Zhu a lot, and Sha Zhu's mother had entrusted him with important matters before she passed away.

But now, Sha Zhu is ignoring him.

If Sha Zhu doesn't take care of him, what will happen to him when he gets old? What if he becomes paralyzed? Who will collect his body when he dies?

The more Yi Zhonghai thought about it, the more frightened and panicked he became.

These past few days, he hasn't been able to sleep well, tossing and turning in bed thinking about how to bring Sha Zhu back.

But no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't come up with a solution.

That evening, Yi Zhonghai sat in a daze at his doorstep.

As the sun set, it bathed the courtyard in gold. Sha Zhu walked past him without glancing at him, as if he hadn't seen him at all.

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, wanting to call out to him, but ultimately didn't.

He lowered his head dejectedly, looking at his hands.

These hands are old, covered in age spots. These legs are old too; he gets breathless after just a few steps. How many years can he live? Ten? Twenty? If Sha Zhu doesn't care for him, how will he get through his last ten years or so?

"Master Yi."

A voice came from the side.

Yi Zhonghai looked up and saw Xie Weihong standing under the moon gate, looking at him.

Yi Zhonghai's heart tightened. He both feared and hated Xie Weihong; every time he saw her, he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Thank you... Captain, is there something you need?"

Xie Weihong walked over and sat down next to him.

Yi Zhonghai became even more nervous. Xie Weihong never chatted with him casually; every time she approached him, it was never anything good.

"Master Yi, I've noticed you've been quite worried lately," Xie Weihong said calmly.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Xie Weihong continued, "Shazhu is ignoring you, and you're worried he won't take care of you in your old age."

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale. He wanted to deny it, but when he met Xie Weihong's calm eyes, he couldn't utter a single word.

"I have an idea," Xie Weihong said.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

"What...what method?"

Xie Weihong looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"The only thing Sha Zhu is focused on right now is cultivation. He's reached the point of obsession; his mind can't hold anything else but cultivation."

Yi Zhonghai nodded. He had noticed this too; Sha Zhu was now talking about "qi sensation," "meridians," and "dantian" like a madman.

"And if," Xie Weihong paused, "a reclusive master appeared before him, offering to guide his cultivation, what would he do?"

Yi Zhonghai blinked, not understanding.

Xie Weihong continued, "Go and pretend to be this expert."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes widened.

"Me? Pretend to be an expert? I don't know anything, how can I pretend?"

"You don't need to understand," Xie Weihong said. "You just need to say a few words and pretend. Sha Zhu is obsessed now; he'll believe anything you say."

Yi Zhonghai remained silent.

His mind raced.

Will this work?

What if Sha Zhu sees through it?

but……

But what if it succeeds?

If successful, Sha Zhu will regain his trust, listen to him, and continue to support him in his old age!

Yi Zhonghai's heart began to race.

"Captain Xie," he swallowed hard, "why are you helping me?"

Xie Weihong looked at him calmly.

"I'm helping myself."

Yi Zhonghai didn't understand.

Xie Weihong turned to leave, but stopped after taking two steps and said without turning her head:

"Tomorrow morning, Sha Zhu will be practicing under the old locust tree in the backyard. Find an opportunity to go there and do as I say. Remember, you have to act convincingly."

After saying that, he went into the backyard and disappeared behind the moon gate.

Yi Zhonghai sat there, staring in that direction, without moving for a long time.

That night, Yi Zhonghai didn't sleep a wink.

He lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking about what Xie Weihong had said.

Pretend to be an expert? How? What should I say? What if I get caught?

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was his only chance.

Sha Zhu is ignoring him now; if he doesn't take action soon, his hopes for retirement will be completely dashed. Xie Weihong, though terrifying, seems to be genuinely helping him this time?

No, that's not right. Xie Weihong said she was helping Sha Zhu. But helping Sha Zhu is helping him, isn't it? If Sha Zhu has motivation, he'll continue cultivating, he'll become stronger, he'll...

Yi Zhonghai couldn't understand it, but he knew he had to try.

As dawn approached, he finally drifted off to sleep. In his dream, Sha Zhu respectfully called him "Master," bringing him tea and water, and caring for him until his death. He couldn't stop smiling.

Then he woke up.

It was already bright outside the window.

Yi Zhonghai jumped up, quickly washed up, and headed to the backyard.