Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Jia Dongxu quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly to Wei Chen and Wang Xiulan, and forced an awkward smile: "Brother Wei Chen, Aunt Wang, I'm so sorry, so sorry! My mother is getting senile and can't speak properly. I apologize to you on her behalf! Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart. I'll definitely talk to her properly when I get back! Let's just let this matter go, shall we?" He spoke quickly, revealing his guilt and urgency.

Yi Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction, feeling that his words were reasonable and well-founded. They gave the Jia family a way out, pointed out that Wei Chen's "hitting people was wrong," and maintained the "harmony" in the courtyard. He believed that no matter how arrogant Wei Chen was, he would still have to give him, an elder, some face, after all, "respecting the elderly and caring for the young" and "neighborly harmony" were fundamental principles.

Wang Xiulan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she looked at her son and held back. She knew her son had an idea.

Wei Chen listened quietly, his face expressionless. Only after Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu finished speaking did he put down his cup, raise his eyes, and calmly look at Yi Zhonghai:

"Sir, are you finished speaking?"

Yi Zhonghai felt a little uncomfortable under his calm gaze, and nodded: "Well, what I mean is that I hope your two families can be understanding of each other and value harmony. After all, you live in the same courtyard."

Wei Chen smiled slightly, but there was little warmth in his smile: "Uncle, you're right. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Harmony is the most important thing."

Yi Zhonghai felt relieved, thinking that Wei Chen had taken his words to heart.

But Wei Chen's next words caused his expression to change slightly:

"But, sir, some things can't just be about 'harmony,' we also have to consider 'reason.'"

"Aunt Jia is old, and I, Wei Chen, used to respect her. But what she did today, is that something an elder should do? While I was away, she spread rumors that I had died out there, cursing me to be left without a trace. Is that 'inconsiderate'? That's malicious! That's a curse!"

"My mother is in poor health and lives in constant fear at home alone. Aunt Jia threw a tantrum in public, every word piercing my heart, almost driving my mother to suicide! Is this 'too harsh'? This is bullying! This is pushing someone to the brink! Besides, my family are martyrs' families, and I haven't even pursued this matter yet!"

"I'm working my butt off at the factory, and my mother is being humiliated like this at home. When I came back and saw my mother being wronged, it would be unfilial of me not to take action! I hit her, I'll never deny that. But sir, you only saw me hit her, but didn't you see what Aunt Jia did first? If it was just a normal argument, I, Wei Chen, would never have gone this far! But she was trying to drive my mother to her death!"

Wei Chen's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying an undeniable power:

"As for Brother Jia apologizing on behalf of his mother... Uncle, forgive my bluntness, but whoever did this should take responsibility. When Aunt Jia was spreading rumors and deceiving people, she was full of energy. How come she's 'senile' now that she needs to admit her mistake? And her son has to do it for her? There's no such logic in the world."

He glanced at Yi Zhonghai, whose face was growing increasingly pale, and spoke in a calm yet resolute tone:

"My demands are simple, and have been made clear long ago. Jia Zhangshi must personally come to my mother's house and publicly and sincerely apologize for today's slander, curses, and malicious bullying! Everything else is off the table."

"If you can't do that," Wei Chen paused, his gaze sweeping over Jia Dongxu's instantly pale face before finally settling on Yi Zhonghai, "tomorrow morning, I will go to the factory security department and the street office to truthfully report the situation. I believe that the organization and leaders will give me and my mother a fair resolution."

"As for 'neighborly harmony' and 'forgive and forget,'" Wei Chen looked at Yi Zhonghai with a hint of mockery in his eyes, "Uncle, harmony isn't something you get by swallowing your anger, and you have to consider who you're forgiving. If you forgive someone like Aunt Jia today, she'll dare to be even more unreasonable tomorrow. We can't set that precedent."

His words were reasonable, well-founded, and neither humble nor arrogant. They directly exposed Yi Zhonghai's attempts to smooth things over and use moral blackmail, tearing away his fig leaves of "elders," "face," and "amiability."

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened completely. He hadn't expected Wei Chen to be so unyielding, showing no respect whatsoever, and even calling his mediation "muddying the waters." In particular, Wei Chen's last sentence, "This precedent cannot be set," subtly implied that the superficial "harmony" he was trying to maintain was actually an indulgence of wrongdoing.

"Wei Chen! You... how can you be so insensible!" Yi Zhonghai was somewhat embarrassed and angry, habitually putting on the airs of an elder and a senior figure. "I've already come to your door to mediate, and Dongxu has apologized. What more do you want? Do you have to cause trouble throughout the entire hospital? Do you have to drive an old lady to her death before you're satisfied? Can't you have a little sense of the bigger picture? Have some decency for your mother?"

These words were quite harsh, carrying an accusatory and threatening tone.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chen smiled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Uncle, I wouldn't dare accept the label of driving the old lady to her death. Everyone in the courtyard can see clearly who truly drove her. As for the bigger picture? I, Wei Chen, only know that one should be reasonable and act according to right and wrong. Whoever bullies my family, I will never forgive them! That's my bottom line."

He stood up, gesturing to see them out: "Sir, I've made myself perfectly clear. Apologize, or report it—the choice is yours. It's getting late, and my mother isn't feeling well; she needs to rest. I won't keep you two any longer."

This is basically kicking people out.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen with rage. He pointed at Wei Chen, his finger trembling slightly, but ultimately he couldn't utter anything more compelling. He understood that Wei Chen was determined and possessed sufficient "reason" and "power." Continuing the stalemate would only make him lose face further.

"Fine! Fine! Wei Chen, you've got guts!" Yi Zhonghai stood up, glaring fiercely at Wei Chen, then glanced at Jia Dongxu, whose face was ashen. "Dongxu, let's go! They're not appreciating our kindness, so let's not get in their way!"

After saying that, he walked out without looking back. Jia Dongxu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Wei Chen's cold gaze, he ultimately said nothing and dejectedly followed Yi Zhonghai away.

After seeing the two off, Wang Xiulan closed the courtyard gate. Looking at her son with concern, she said, "Chenzi, you've offended Grandpa like that, won't you...?"

"Mom, it's alright." Wei Chen helped his mother sit down, his tone firm. "Yi Zhonghai wants to smooth things over, trying to use his 'respect for elders and care for the young' and 'consider the bigger picture' principles to pressure me and make me suffer in silence. Unfortunately, I won't fall for that. Today, we must make Jia Zhangshi bow her head. Otherwise, anyone will dare to ride roughshod over our family."

Looking at her son's steady and determined profile, Wang Xiulan's worries gradually dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented sense of peace and pride. Her son had truly grown up and could now support the family.

Yi Zhonghai returned to the Central Court with a belly full of anger, with Jia Dongxu following behind him like a wilted eggplant.

"Master, what... what should we do?" Jia Dongxu was almost in tears.

"What should we do? Go back and talk to your mother!" Yi Zhonghai said irritably. "Wei Chen is a big shot in the factory now, and his family is a martyr's family! If things really get out of hand, no one can protect you! Tell your mother to go apologize quickly and be sincere! Don't try any useless tricks!" He finally understood that Wei Chen was impervious to both soft and hard approaches, and the only way to get Jia Zhangshi to back down was to make her give in.

Jia Dongxu returned home dejectedly and recounted Yi Zhonghai's words and Wei Chen's attitude in detail.

Finally, with red eyes, he almost pleaded with Jia Zhangshi, "Mom! I'm begging you! Go apologize to Aunt Wang! Lower your head, admit your mistake, and this will be over! Otherwise, I'll really lose my job! Our whole family will starve!"

When Jia Zhangshi heard that she was to apologize again, she immediately flew into a rage, pounding on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and wailing, "I won't go! I'd rather die than go! I'm so old, how can I bow down and apologize to a junior? How can I face people in the courtyard after this?"

"That old bastard Yi Zhonghai, isn't he the old man of the compound? Why doesn't he speak up for us? Instead, he's helping outsiders bully our family! He just thinks I'm an orphan and a widow, easy to bully! Why is my life so miserable..."

She started throwing a tantrum again, crying and wailing, cursing Wei Chen, Yi Zhonghai, and her son for being useless.

Seeing his mother's unreasonable behavior, Jia Dongxu felt a surge of anger rising within him, and all the fear, pressure, and resentment he had been holding in for days exploded out. He suddenly kicked over a nearby stool with a loud bang, startling both Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

"Enough!" Jia Dongxu's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Jia Zhangshi, his voice hoarse as he spoke each word clearly, "Mom, I'm telling you this now! If you don't apologize and settle this matter, I'll send you back to your hometown in the countryside after the New Year! You'll just stay there from now on, and don't expect me to bring you back! Just consider me your son dead!"

These words struck Jia Zhangshi like a bolt from the blue, leaving her completely stunned. Send her back to her impoverished hometown in the countryside? That place where people couldn't even get enough to eat? Let this old woman, an old woman, go back to fend for herself? This was worse than death for her!

She stared in horror at her son's contorted face, knowing he wasn't joking. Her son was her only support in this city; if even her son abandoned her…

The tantrum stopped abruptly. Jia Zhangshi, as if her spine had been ripped out, slumped onto the kang (heated brick bed), her face ashen, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. For the first time, the usual arrogance and resentment in her eyes were replaced by immense fear and despair.

In the end, under Jia Dongxu's cold gaze and Qin Huairu's silent sobs, and under the deadly threat of being "sent back to the countryside," all of Jia Zhangshi's arrogance was completely extinguished. Filled with resentment and bitterness, she could only let out a resigned sob.

The next morning, the sunlight was bleak.

With Jia Dongxu half-helping and half-dragging her, Jia Zhangshi was shuffled to the entrance of the east courtyard as if she were going to her execution. The redness and swelling from yesterday still lingered on her face; her eyes darted away, avoiding eye contact. Urged sternly by her son and watched openly and secretly by all the neighbors, she spoke in a barely audible, dry voice to Wang Xiulan, who opened the door, those words that almost killed her: "I'm sorry, this old woman is confused and said something foolish, you...you don't need to take it to heart."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly in the quiet courtyard.

Looking at the old woman before her, who was no longer as arrogant as before, Wang Xiulan felt a mix of emotions. In the end, she simply said, "Let bygones be bygones," and closed the door.

Wei Chen stood behind his mother, observing the entire process coldly without uttering a word. This was the attitude and the result he wanted.

After apologizing, Jia Zhangshi deflated like a punctured balloon and was practically dragged back to the Central Courtyard by Jia Dongxu. This incident, which she had instigated in an attempt to bully the widowed and orphaned, ultimately ended with her being publicly humiliated and forced to bow her head.

The courtyard house seemed to have returned to its former tranquility. But everyone knew that some things had changed forever.

Wei Chen's name and his ruthless methods were deeply etched in everyone's minds. As for the Jia family, they lost face and their status in the courtyard underwent a subtle change after this incident.

Yi Zhonghai's philosophy of "moral blackmail" and "playing it safe" met its first setback with Wei Chen, revealing its pale and powerless nature.