Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Sun Jingyuan stood at the front of the crowd, arms crossed, his expression calm and somewhat nonchalant. Looking at the tense situation before him, he slowly broke the noise, saying, "Qin Huairu, haven't you grasped the most crucial thing yet?"

Qin Huairu looked aggrieved, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked up blankly at Sun Jingyuan's words, not understanding what he meant at all.

She felt she had suffered endless torment in the Jia family, and now that her family was backing her up, she had no other way out but to get a divorce and return to her hometown. She was filled with helplessness and confusion.

Sun Jingyuan spoke calmly and clearly throughout the courtyard, ensuring everyone present heard him clearly: "No matter how bad Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu are, they can't just abandon their son, can they? He's the only heir the Jia family cherishes, their hope for carrying on the family line..."

These words struck Jia Zhangshi squarely at her Achilles' heel. She had been struggling and throwing a tantrum, but her face instantly changed. Forgetting her cries, she yelled at Sun Jingyuan in a shrill voice, "You little brat surnamed Sun, stop spouting nonsense and sowing discord! Shut your mouth and stop causing trouble!"

Sun Jingyuan was not annoyed at all. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he turned to look at the Qin family woman who was holding down Jia Zhangshi. He said calmly, "Sister-in-law, this old woman is talking nonsense and it's really annoying. Please slap her to shut her up. I will then show you a way to completely resolve this matter and you will never have to suffer from the Jia family again."

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap rang out, clean and decisive.

The Qin family woman already hated Jia Zhangshi for bullying her daughter. Hearing Sun Jingyuan say this, she didn't hesitate at all and slapped Jia Zhangshi hard across the face.

Jia Zhangshi was hit so hard that her head turned to the side, and blood instantly appeared at the corner of her mouth. She was completely stunned and for a moment forgot to throw a tantrum, sitting blankly on the ground.

"Jia Dongxu, don't glare at me like that." Sun Jingyuan turned to look at Jia Dongxu, who was being held back, his tone full of sarcasm. "I'm not trying to harm you, I'm genuinely showing you a way out so you don't make a mistake and ruin your own family."

"Stop pretending to be a good guy! Get out of here!" Jia Dongxu's eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his neck were bulging. He roared at Sun Jingyuan with his neck stiff, his face full of resentment and ferocity, wishing he could rush up and fight Sun Jingyuan to the death.

"I told you to behave yourself, didn't you hear me?" Qin Huairu's older brother, Qin Zhijun, stepped forward and slapped Jia Dongxu hard across the face.

The slap was extremely hard, and Jia Dongxu's head jerked to the side. The ferocity in his eyes instantly dissipated, and his previously muddled mind cleared up considerably. He no longer dared to shout recklessly.

Sun Jingyuan then continued, his tone still calm, but every word piercing: "The current household registration policy is clearly stated: unmarried children's household registration follows their mother's. This is an indisputable rule. Qin Huairu, you haven't even understood this most crucial policy?"

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu, whose faces had turned deathly pale, and continued, word by word, "Once you and Jia Dongxu complete the divorce proceedings, Qin Huairu will have a rural household registration, and Banggeng's household registration will have to follow his mother. At that time, not only will he not be able to stay in Beijing and attend Hongxing Primary School, but he won't even have a place to stay in the city. He will have no choice but to go back to the countryside with Qin Huairu and spend his whole life toiling in the fields."

"My dear grandson! My beloved grandson!"

Jia Zhangshi instantly lost her composure. Ignoring the pain on her face, she collapsed to the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing. Her previous arrogance vanished, leaving only fear and despair on her face.

All her hopes and dreams were pinned on Banggeng. She would never allow her precious grandson to suffer in the countryside, nor could she let the only son of the Jia family leave her sight.

Jia Dongxu froze on the spot, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Yesterday, he was easily fooled by Yi Zhonghai's few words, and all he could think about was getting a divorce from Qin Huairu as soon as possible, getting rid of this burden, and living a peaceful life. He didn't even think about the household registration issue. Now that Sun Jingyuan had exposed him, he panicked instantly and started trembling uncontrollably.

"So, if you still want to keep Banggeng by your side, to let him study and live in the city, you must make sure Qin Huairu's future is secure." Sun Jingyuan's tone was calm, but every word was like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of the Jia family mother and son. "As long as Qin Huairu doesn't have a stable place to stay or a stable livelihood, you can forget about keeping Banggeng. To put it bluntly, you may never have the chance to see your precious grandson again in this lifetime."

Qin Huairu stood to the side, her eyes filled with tears as she stared blankly at Sun Jingyuan, then quickly lowered her head, a blush creeping up her ears.

She knew perfectly well that Sun Jingyuan, though seemingly watching the show and making sarcastic remarks, was actually supporting her with every word he uttered. He had accurately grasped the Jia family's Achilles' heel and helped her completely reverse the passive situation.

Jia Dongxu was completely at a loss, panicked and helpless. He turned to Yi Zhonghai beside him, pleading with a tearful voice, "Uncle, you're my master, the backbone of the courtyard. Please help me think of a solution! If this continues, Banggeng will really be taken away!"

Yi Zhonghai frowned, his brows furrowed, and after racking his brains for a long time, he couldn't come up with a good solution. He could only come up with a ridiculous idea: "Dongxu, if all else fails... just remarry Qin Huairu. As long as you don't get divorced, Banggeng's household registration can't be changed, and this matter can be fooled."

He knew in his heart that this matter was not so easy to resolve. Finding Qin Huairu a formal job? That was simply a pipe dream. Qin Huairu was from a rural area, uneducated, unskilled, and barely literate. These days, even formal jobs in the city were highly coveted by local young people; there was no way she would have a chance.

Take Yan Jiefang from the family of Uncle Yan Bugui, for example. He is a 20-year-old young man who graduated from high school properly, but he is still unemployed at home and has not been able to find a proper job. This is even more true for rural women like Qin Huairu.

"I will never remarry."

Qin Huairu suddenly raised her head, her eyes firm, her tone resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

Since her encounter with Sun Jingyuan, she has completely seen through Jia Dongxu's cowardice and incompetence. Compared to the capable and confident Sun Jingyuan, Jia Dongxu is utterly insignificant. She never wants to return to the Jia family and continue living that kind of tormented and wronged life. Even if she is alone, she will never turn back.

Qin Zhenbang and Qin Zhijun exchanged a glance and hesitated.

They came to Qin Huairu's door today to stand up for her and vent their anger, but deep down they didn't want her to go back to the countryside. Life in the city is already tough enough, and life in the countryside is even worse—people are starving and struggling to survive. If they can stay in the city, no one wants to go back to the countryside to suffer.

Looking at the stalemate before him, Sun Jingyuan's mocking smile deepened. He turned to Jia Zhangshi, who was slumped on the ground, and slowly said, "Jia Zhangshi, if you're willing to call back the spirit on the spot and offer a sacrifice to Old Jia, I'll give you a solution that satisfies both parties. It will both keep Banggeng and put this matter completely behind us. What do you say?"

"Sun Jingyuan, you little beast! Stop pushing your luck!" Madam Jia instantly lost her temper, trembling with anger, and pointed at Sun Jingyuan while cursing loudly.

She hated Sun Jingyuan to the core. Ever since that brat moved into the courtyard house, he had been going against the Jia family at every turn, making them lose face time and time again. Now he wanted her to publicly call back her soul and embarrass herself. How could she possibly agree to that?

"Since you won't agree, then forget it. I'm too lazy to deal with this anymore." Sun Jingyuan shrugged indifferently, turned around and pretended to leave, his steps slow and leisurely, without any hesitation.

"etc!"

Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai spoke almost simultaneously, urgently calling out to Sun Jingyuan.

The matter of Bang Geng is of utmost urgency. They can no longer care about saving face. As long as they can keep Bang Geng, they can agree to any conditions.

Sun Jingyuan paused, glanced back at Jia Dongxu, and said with disdain, "What are you in such a hurry to shout? Do you want to perform a soul-calling act for your mother? I have no interest in watching."

These words immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding neighbors, who began to whisper and murmur amongst themselves, their eyes filled with mockery.

"There's a hidden meaning in those words. Is Jia Dongxu being subtly referred to?"

"Keep your voice down, don't talk nonsense, there's an old man right here!"

"I'd heard before that Madam Jia and Uncle Yi had an unusual relationship. This is going to be quite a show."

Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai's faces instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. They were so angry that they trembled all over, but dared not speak out.

Keeping Bang Geng is the top priority right now, so they can only suppress their anger and secretly vow to find a chance to take revenge on Sun Jingyuan in the future.

"Do you really have a way to completely resolve this matter?" Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger and humiliation, and asked in a deep voice.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you. I have no reason to lie to you." Sun Jingyuan put his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent and unconcerned.

Yi Zhonghai leaned close to Jia Dongxu and whispered, "Dongxu, agree to his request first. He's the only one who can solve this problem right now. He looks young, but he's shrewd and capable. He might really have a solution."

Jia Dongxu's face turned pale and then red. After struggling for a long time, he finally couldn't resist his worry for Banggeng. He turned to Jia Zhangshi and pleaded, "Mom, please just do as he says. It's all for Banggeng. We can't just watch him be taken back to the countryside."

Upon seeing this, Sun Jingyuan couldn't help but chuckle, and the surrounding neighbors also burst into laughter, their eyes filled with amusement as they looked at Jia Zhangshi.

Qin Huairu stood aside, feeling both annoyed and amused. She secretly glared at Sun Jingyuan, but she was becoming increasingly clear that this man could always easily grasp everyone's weaknesses.

Looking at her son's pleading eyes and thinking of her beloved grandson, Jia Zhangshi felt humiliated and resentful, but in the end she still gave in.

What she values ​​most in her life is her grandson's future; even if it's embarrassing, she won't let it ruin his prospects.

The surrounding neighbors all stared intently at Jia Zhangshi, waiting to see her make a fool of herself, and the entire courtyard instantly fell silent.

After a long while, Jia Zhangshi finally resigned herself to her fate, collapsing to the ground with her slaps on her thighs and wailing at the top of her lungs, "Old Jia! Open your eyes and see! Our family has been bullied to the point of desperation by this little beast Sun Jingyuan! Come and take him away! Don't let him harm us orphans and widows anymore!"

"That was a good shout, but the wording could be changed." Sun Jingyuan interrupted with a smile, pointing to Yi Zhonghai, whose face was ashen, "How about adding a line, telling Lao Jia to take Yi Zhonghai away with him? You helped him a lot back then, but now he just watches you get bullied without offering any help."

"Sun Jingyuan! You've gone too far!" Yi Zhonghai was so angry that his beard stood on end, his whole body trembled, and he shouted sternly, but he no longer had his former dignity.

Jia Zhangshi stopped wailing and confidently stretched out her hand to Sun Jingyuan: "If you want me to change the lyrics, that's fine, but you'll have to pay extra. Calling back the soul takes a lot of effort, I can't work for nothing."

"No problem." Sun Jingyuan readily took out a dollar and handed it over.

Upon receiving the money, Jia Zhangshi immediately perked up, slapping her thigh and wailing again. Her words were completely different now, her sobs heartfelt and genuine, and she even managed to squeeze out a few tears: "Old Jia! Take Yi Zhonghai with you! You helped him in every way back then, and now he's ungrateful, watching us being bullied without lifting a finger. We, a widow and orphan, simply can't go on living like this!"

She was already skilled at making a scene and calling out to the dead, and after receiving the money, she put on an even more enthusiastic show, crying her heart out, which made the neighbors laugh so hard they were doubled over. They no longer held back their usual restraint and just found the farce particularly entertaining.

Only Yi Zhonghai was pale as a sheet, trembling with anger. If it weren't for an old woman supporting him, he would have fainted on the spot, completely losing face.

"Enough! Stop howling!" Jia Dongxu couldn't bear the humiliation any longer. He roared at Jia Zhangshi, then turned and glared at Sun Jingyuan, gritting his teeth as he said, "My mother has already done as you said. Now tell me, how exactly should this be resolved!"

"What's so difficult about that?" Sun Jingyuan said calmly and casually. "It's very simple. Jia Dongxu, you take out a sum of money to compensate Qin Huairu for the grievances she has suffered over the years, so that she can rent a house in the city and settle down. Also, find her a stable job. That will be the end of this matter, and you will have nothing to do with each other from now on."

"I thought it was some great idea, but it's utter nonsense!" Yi Zhonghai immediately jumped in to retort, his tone full of disdain. "Jobs in the city aren't easy to find these days. Yan Jiefang graduated high school and is still unemployed at home. For a rural woman to think she can find a decent job is simply wishful thinking!"

"Uncle, don't drag my child into this. Liberation just didn't have the right opportunity." Yan Bugui immediately objected, frowning as he retorted, not wanting his son to be used as a negative example.

"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't." Sun Jingyuan glanced at Yi Zhonghai indifferently, his disdain evident in his tone.

Just as he was about to take out a cigarette, Yan Bugui immediately came over, looking at him expectantly. Sun Jingyuan casually handed him one, lit one for himself, and slowly smoked it with a calm expression.

Qin Huairu stood to the side, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She had initially thought Sun Jingyuan's previous words were just casual remarks, but she hadn't expected him to actually intend to help her secure her future. She was filled with mixed feelings, yet dared not show them at all.

"You...you really can help her find a good job?" Jia Dongxu asked suspiciously, his eyes darting back and forth between Sun Jingyuan and Qin Huairu, sensing that there was something more between the two.

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap rang out as Sun Jingyuan raised his hand and slapped Jia Dongxu, causing him to stagger and almost fall to the ground.

"You're dreaming! When did I ever say I'd help her with any of this?" Sun Jingyuan's face turned cold, his tone stern, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Sun Jingyuan, you broke your promise! You clearly promised to resolve the matter with us!" Madam Jia Zhang immediately got up from the ground and shouted angrily.

"Did I say that?" Sun Jingyuan frowned, pretending to think seriously, his face full of doubt.

"You said it! You definitely said it!"

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu immediately shouted in unison, insisting on Sun Jingyuan's promise, fearing that he might go back on his word.

Qin Huairu watched the farce unfold before her, understanding the situation perfectly. She glanced at Sun Jingyuan with a hint of unspoken emotion in her eyes.

She knew that Sun Jingyuan had been scheming all along, helping her get rid of the Jia family and securing her future, while leaving no evidence to the contrary. He had the Jia family mother and son, as well as Yi Zhonghai, completely outmaneuvered them, leaving them no choice but to compromise and never cause any more trouble.