Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Why spend a fortune to get a "ready-made" child? Is it to cause yourself trouble? Or to invite gossip and criticism from the neighbors?

"Boss, I... I'll head back now. I need to think this over carefully..."

Before Li Degan could finish speaking, he had already gotten up and started to leave. Deputy Director Zhang quickly waved and called out, "Hey, once you've thought it through, send me a message! The sooner it's decided, the better!"

He turned his head and nodded toward the door, then slipped out as if his feet were greased.

The room suddenly became so quiet you could hear the clock ticking. The air also cooled down.

An older woman spoke up directly: "Director Zhang, I want to divorce Yi Zhonghai. Could you please have the neighborhood committee process the paperwork?"

"This... Comrade Zhang Shufen, you've been partners for decades, why did things come to this? What's the problem? Can't you just sit down and talk it out?"

Deputy Director Zhang wanted to offer further advice. Although divorce is now permitted, their neighborhood office had only handled three cases in all these years—all involving husbands who were scoundrels and physically abusive, leaving women unable to endure it any longer, requiring intervention from the Women's Federation. Ordinary couples don't break up so easily.

The middle-aged woman shook her head, her voice crisp and clear: "Director, don't try to persuade me anymore. Just process the paperwork directly. As I said before, I haven't touched a single grain coupon or penny of Yi Zhonghai's money since Zhiliang came in; and even after he came back, I still haven't benefited from him. We've been sleeping in separate rooms for a long time now, each living our own lives. Besides... he despises Zhiliang from the bottom of his heart. Forcing them together like this will only hurt him."

She was determined. Over the years, she had come to see through Yi Zhonghai—Li Degan was probably secretly invited by him, just to get rid of Zhiliang.

The two have been living separately for almost half a year, keeping to themselves. She takes care of everything, from changing his clothes to cooking his meals. But even so, he's still not satisfied and insists on ruining their marriage.

The older woman knew perfectly well: if she let this matter slide today, who knows what kind of trouble another Wang Degan or Zhao Degan might cause tomorrow. For Zhiliang's sake, she had to cut ties cleanly.

"Comrade Zhang, please think about it again..."

"No need to think about it, Director." The middle-aged woman said decisively, "Divorce, it has to be divorced. Zhiliang belongs to me. Yi Zhonghai has never supported him for a single day, so from now on he will take my surname, Zhang."

Her gaze was unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation.

Yi Zhonghai's face was ashen, his lips were pale, and he couldn't utter a single word. Deputy Director Zhang gave him two meaningful glances, hoping he would speak up and slow down, but he just clenched his fists tightly and buried his head almost in his waistband.

He's completely lost face. Before, even if his reputation was ruined, he could still walk with his head held high in the alley; but now, even the last shred of dignity has been torn away—Nanluoguxiang, the steel mill, from now on, Yi Zhonghai will be the laughingstock of everyone.

But what if she refused? There was nothing they could do. Deputy Director Zhang could tell that there was no room for negotiation in the old woman's words; Yi Zhonghai understood even better—if he stubbornly refused to divorce her, she could really make a scene at his workplace, at the factory, and at the Women's Federation. At that point, he would lose more than just face; he would lose his dignity.

Besides, He Yuzhu is also standing here.

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai felt a pang of unease. He had intended to use Li Degan as a tool to quietly send Zhiliang away, thus dispelling the tension within the family. However, He Yuzhu intervened, ruining the entire plan, and even Zhang Shufen turned against him.

He Yuzhu then spoke up: "Director Zhang, let's check Yi Zhonghai's bank accounts. Aunt Zhang said that since he started supporting the Northwest, she hasn't used a single penny of his money. This is no small matter. Let's check it to avoid a falling out, and it would be difficult to explain to you in your work."

He then turned to an older woman: "Aunt Zhang, you can also ask the Women's Federation to come and uphold justice. Although you don't receive a salary, you've served the Yi family for decades, even feeding that deaf old lady in the backyard. If you're kicked out at the end, what will outsiders think? What will they say?"

Deputy Director Zhang sighed inwardly. He had only intended to mediate a child custody dispute, but instead, he had stumbled upon a divorce case. But it was too late now; He Yuzhu had already made his point, and if he tried to stop him, it would only make him seem like he was siding with the outsider.

In the end, he had no choice but to follow He Yuzhu's instructions and invite women's federation cadres to complete the divorce procedures for Yi Zhonghai and Zhang Shufen on the spot.

The old woman's only request was to find a place to stay as soon as possible.

He Yuzhu originally intended to persuade her to take a larger share of the money—the Women's Federation also supported this, after all, she had been taking care of the household chores and the elderly for decades, so it was only right that she received a larger share.

But the woman just wanted a quick fix. She had saved up more than thirty yuan and had recently taken on odd jobs such as sewing and washing, which provided a more stable income, enough for her and Xiao Zhiliang to live a peaceful life.

I don't want a single penny from Yi Zhonghai; I just want to have a clean and honest record and avoid any further disputes with him.

Upon hearing that no money would be split, Yi Zhonghai felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. He was indeed short of money lately: he had to support the Jia family, buy meat for the deaf old lady, and give Li Degan a "running fee." If he were to give Zhang Shufen another sum, he feared he would be too heartbroken to sleep at night.

Therefore, when Deputy Director Zhang and the Women's Federation cadres took turns persuading him, he almost immediately nodded.

An older woman also received a subsidy, and the room she lived in, along with all her belongings—pots, pans, tables, chairs, and benches—was all transferred to her name.

That house, in the end, belonged to the steel mill. But Yi Zhonghai was divorced, and as a single man, how could he be entitled to occupy two rooms? According to the rules, the factory should definitely take one of them back.

Fortunately, the neighborhood committee stepped in to coordinate and officially assigned the room to the elderly woman.

The mediation was completed at noon, and the formalities were finalized in the afternoon.

As the woman stepped out of the neighborhood office, her divorce certificate was already securely tucked into her hand...

Yi Zhonghai also took one, casually stuffed it into his pocket, and as he passed by her, he snorted heavily, "You'll regret this sooner or later!"

Before he finished speaking, he dragged his lame leg and limped away.

He Yuzhu heard this, a smirk playing on his lips. He chuckled, "Aunt Zhang, what trouble can a lame man like him cause without your help? But you're actually at a disadvantage—I already calculated Yi Zhonghai's birth chart; he's destined for a short life, won't last ten years. Once he's gone, the house and savings will be yours sooner or later. But right now… it'll probably end up benefiting the Jia family!"

"Forget it, I don't care about those things." The middle-aged woman waved her hand. "Zhiliang is smart and upright, he'll be successful in the future. I'll do everything I can to help him..."

She had barely finished speaking when she frowned again, hesitatingly asking, "Zhu Zi, you mean that Li Degan...?"

"Don't worry about him anymore, he's probably already run back to the village."

He Yuzhu waved his hand dismissively, "It takes you a month to make a trip to the black market. The countryside is even worse off than the city these days. How is he going to scrape together the food? Besides, you've already divorced Yi Zhonghai. Why would he pay to help someone snatch a child? He wouldn't even give you a penny!"

This statement is absolutely true—after leaving the subdistrict office, Li Degan didn't return to the guesthouse at all; instead, he took a car back to his hometown.

After a whole day of work, he earned fifty yuan, and he was already ecstatic!

As for bringing his nephew back? Upon hearing that they needed to gather 800 catties of grain, he immediately deflated – that number was so large that even selling his own son wouldn't be enough to fill the hole.

Back in the compound, an older woman immediately took Zhiliang to change his household registration, changing his name to Zhang Zhiliang. Fortunately, his household registration remained unchanged; he was still a city resident, and his grain ration was still in full.

After returning, Yi Zhonghai went straight to the backyard.

An elderly woman witnessed this scene. Her heart skipped a beat: Could it be that the deaf old lady was also involved in sending Zhiliang away? Otherwise, why would he rush straight to the backyard without even entering his own home after his divorce?

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

She had served the deaf old lady for so many years, only to be used as a pawn in the end, to help Yi Zhonghai deal with her...

The news spread like wildfire throughout the courtyard.

Someone in the courtyard called out "Auntie Zhang," and she just smiled faintly, polite yet distant: "Just call me Auntie Zhang. Yi Zhonghai and I are living our own lives now."

Previously, she and Zhiliang moved to the next room, saying they wouldn't disturb Yi Zhonghai's recovery; but this time she admitted it herself—even the way they address each other has to be completely cut off, what else could it be but divorce?

The deaf old lady was the first to arrive. She sat in the room that had been given to an older woman for a long time. When she left, her face was ashen and her steps were unsteady.

From then on, no one cooked for her, swept the floor, or did her laundry anymore. Actually, it should have been like this a long time ago—Yi Zhonghai didn't give her a single penny before, and rice, flour, oil, and salt were all rationed per person. The old woman had to take on odd jobs to make ends meet, and she also took on the deaf old lady's chores. She was so busy that she didn't even have time to catch her breath.

Now that she's rid herself of that burden, the older woman has free time to take on jobs that Lou Xiao'e recommends—the pay is high and the work is quick.

With Zhang Zhiliang being raised by one person, how could she have time to do chores for free? Unless the deaf old lady actually paid her money.

After returning to her room, the old lady sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) for a long time without moving, feeling a tightness in her chest: she was afraid she would have to do the laundry and empty the chamber pot herself from now on.

With her small feet, she could barely move with the help of crutches. She was slightly more agile than Yi Zhonghai, but she would wobble if she walked too fast. As time went on, just washing a few clothes and heating up a meal would leave her with a sore back.

That evening, the news spread throughout the entire hospital.

When Yi Zhonghai returned from the factory, he noticed that everyone's eyes were strange as soon as he entered the courtyard. His face turned pale and then red, looking quite unpleasant.

He didn't linger, only nodding to Qin Huairu: "Huairu, thank you for your trouble." After saying that, he went to the backyard without looking back.

Passing by the He family's door, he saw Lou Xiao'e wearing an apron and cooking, while He Xiao sat on a small stool reading a book. He felt a tightness in his chest, and jealousy surged up.

He should have been a respected level eight fitter, a prominent figure in the courtyard; but all his life was ruined by Sha Zhu, which is why he ended up in this state.

Now that he's divorced, no one cooks for him, so he has no choice but to shamelessly ask Qin Huairu for help.

"Okay, sir, I'll go home and tell my family, and I'll buy it for you right away."

After Qin Huairu finished speaking, she turned and went inside. Seeing the empty table, she immediately felt a surge of anger and turned to Jia Zhangshi, yelling, "Mom, can't you make something to eat first? I have to go out and won't be back until seven or eight o'clock. If you don't want to cook, then go hungry!"