Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Banggeng came back right at mealtime.

He's at that age where he's annoying to everyone, even dogs hate him. He's clutching half a piece of wire that somehow escaped from somewhere, and he's drawing names on the cracks in the wall as he walks.

The jarring sound as he walked by made the neighbors frown, but the guy seemed oblivious.

"Hey, you kid..."

The person speaking was pulled back by a neighbor halfway through his sentence: "Don't bother with him."

"Yes, yes, their family... hehe..."

As he walked, even though Banggeng was just a child, he noticed that the way his neighbors were looking at him was a little strange, so he quickly quickened his pace and ran home.

"Mom! I'm home!"

When Banggeng entered the room, he felt a sense of oppressive atmosphere. Jia Zhangshi was leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed) with her head down and not saying a word. Xiao Dang and Huaihua were not even in the room.

"Grandma, what time is it? Why hasn't Mom cooked yet?"

As the only son of the Jia family, Banggeng didn't care whether Jia Zhangshi's expression was good or bad, and asked directly.

A cold smile appeared on Jia Zhangshi's face: "Looking for your mother to cook? Go to Xu Damao's room and tell her to go."

"oh."

Banggeng responded and ran towards Xu Damao's house.

When he arrived at Xu Damao's door, he heard Xu Damao's voice coming from inside: "...Alright, I didn't say you weren't allowed to go back today. You'd better make it clear to that kid that if he dares to bare his teeth at me, I won't tolerate it."

Immediately following was Qin Huairu's soft reply: "I know, Damao, you told me to talk to him properly, Banggeng isn't a disobedient child..."

Hearing the conversation inside, Bang Geng's mind went blank.

He kicked open Xu Damao's door.

At this moment, Xu Damao and Qin Huairu were sitting at a square table in the room. Qin Huairu was only wearing a single layer of clothing, and Xu Damao's hands were still inside his clothes.

For a moment, all three of them were stunned.

Banggeng stared wide-eyed and opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound for a long time.

"mom…"

He forced out the word through gritted teeth, his eyes reddening as he stared intently at Xu Damao.

"Banggeng, you're home from school? Listen to what Mom has to say..."

Qin Huairu's body trembled violently. She quickly put on her coat and walked over, trying to grab Bang Geng's hand, but he took a step back and dodged her.

"Bang Geng, Mom has married Xu Damao. From now on, we're family. You can call him that..."

"Shut up! I won't!"

Bang Geng let out a loud yell, startling Xu Damao, who was sitting next to him.

"You're going to marry him? Why would you marry him? I don't want to! I don't want him to be my father! I have a father, my father is Jia Dongxu!"

Xu Damao curled his lips downwards, stood up from his chair, crossed his arms, and watched Bang Geng throw a tantrum in the room without making any attempt to stop him.

Although Zhou Feng's words struck a nerve, if he never had children, it wouldn't be impossible for Bang Geng to change his surname.

This kid has a terrible temper; he needs to be disciplined.

"That's ridiculous!" Qin Huairu's voice rose half an octave, and her eyes reddened. "It's not what you think. Don't be silly."

"What is it?"

棒梗梗着脖子，指着许大茂，手指头都在哆嗦：「他就是一孙子！之前还被傻叔揍的不敢吱声，嫁他干嘛？」

"Hey! This little brat!"

Xu Damao originally wanted to stay out of it, but who would have thought that this guy would say such nasty things?

That's a direct personal attack!

If Xu Damao had lived through the short video era of later generations, he would know a popular saying: Even Dorgon couldn't handle his son from his second marriage, so what makes you think you can?

Sure enough, before Xu Damao could make a move, Banggeng suddenly rushed towards him, clenching his small fists and pounding on him, yelling, "You bastard, I'll beat you to death!"

Although Xu Damao was always suppressed when facing Sha Zhu and seemed weak, he was still an adult after all.

Bang Geng, that chubby little guy, is far from being able to fight Xu Damao.

Xu Damao didn't even bother to dodge. After letting him hit him twice, he reached out and grabbed him by the back of the neck. With a swipe of his other hand, he pinned the stick to the spot.

"A great joke!"

Qin Huairu cried out and rushed over, hugging her son tightly. She then reached out and pulled at Xu Damao's arm, saying, "Damao, let go! He's still a child!"

Seeing Qin Huairu's eyes filled with tears, Xu Damao snorted and released his grip.

After regaining his freedom, Banggeng tugged at Qin Huairu's clothes forcefully: "Mom! Come with me, tell him to get lost, don't pay any attention to him!"

Qin Huairu held the stick in her arms, her whole body frozen in place.

On one side was her son, crying uncontrollably, and on the other side was Xu Damao, standing behind her with a cold expression. She didn't know what to do.

Judging from Xu Damao's expression, he knew that the other party was also waiting for him to make a decision.

Xu Damao is different from Sha Zhu; he would never put up with the Jia family's humiliation.

With Bang Geng causing such a commotion, Xu Damao either has to leave or subdue Bang Geng.

Leaving is out of the question. They've already gotten the marriage certificate. How many more times can Qin Huairu get divorced in her life?

If we get divorced again, then I'll be no different from a used woman!

"Bang gee..." Qin Huairu gripped her son's shoulders tightly, staring into his eyes: "Your mother and your Uncle Xu have already registered their marriage, there's no going back! From now on, we're family, you have to accept that."

"I won't admit it!" Banggeng's face was covered in tears and snot, and his voice even became shrill. "I just won't admit it! Mom, come with me and tell him to get lost!"

Xu Damao tilted his head and glanced at Bang Geng, who was still raging incoherently, before turning his gaze to Qin Huairu: "Tonight, you need to handle things with the Jia family properly. Fifteen yuan a month is my bottom line. If this kid continues like this after today, I won't put up with it."

This was Xu Damao's final ultimatum to Qin Huairu. He was dreaming if he thought Qin Huairu would be like Sha Zhu, being cursed at by this idiot and still smiling at him!

He's not a scoundrel!

Qin Huairu stiffened for a moment, silently glanced down at her son, and then gritted her teeth, grabbing Banggeng's arm and pulling him outside.

Banggeng stumbled as he was dragged, but he still glared back at Xu Damao, his eyes filled with obvious hatred.

But Xu Damao didn't care, and even looked down on Banggeng's performance.

Bang Geng is still young, so it's normal for him to have some minor emotional issues. Xu Damao can understand that. He can just cut off his food supply when the time comes.

Once a person is starving enough, they stop thinking about anything else.