I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

Yan Jiefang was slightly taken aback. Skills could be learned through long-term observation?

This is indeed a new way to learn skills.

He opened the panel and took a look.

[Acting Skills: 20/100]

Since they weren't starting from scratch, he figured that he might need to reach a certain level to learn the skills on his own.

The panel displays 20 proficiency points.

Furthermore, through this period of study, all of my junior high school courses except for music and painting have achieved a perfect score of 100%.

I have also made considerable progress in writing, and now I am at [Writing: 60/100].

Yan Jiefang knew in his heart that this level was already considered very good by today's standards.

Now, organizing stories is effortless for him. Whether it's the main plot and subplots of a novel or a short story, or the highlights, overall outline and sub-chaps of the article, he can build them with ease.

The thoughts in my mind can be expressed in words very accurately and fluently.

As for disassembling and analyzing other people's works, it's a piece of cake for him, nothing difficult at all.

He secretly made up his mind that once his writing proficiency exceeded 90 points, he would officially begin writing his first full-length novel on the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japan.

When conceiving the villain's image, he simply used what was available, taking the immoral beasts in the courtyard as the prototype.

The guy in front of me is perfect for being portrayed as Captain Jia in the novel.

Bang Geng was born in 1952, one year younger than Yan Jiekuang, and is currently in the second grade of elementary school.

This child is clever, but his mind is not on his studies at all. His grades have been consistently among the worst in the class for years. He spends all his time thinking about playing around and stealing things.

He had been playing outside until it was almost dark before finally dawdling back into the yard.

As soon as he stepped into the front yard, Yan Jiefang saw him and immediately decided to make him the young prototype of the villain in the novel.

Banggeng, who was hopping and skipping along on his way back to the Central Court, suddenly met Yan Jiefang's gaze. He noticed that Yan's eyes held a hint of ill intent, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew all along that Yan Jiefang was not someone to be trifled with, so he quickly restrained his usual unruly and arrogant behavior, quickened his pace, and ran towards the Central Court, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Banggeng rushed back to the central courtyard. As soon as he stepped into the house, he bumped into Jia Zhangshi, who was leaning against a chair and resting.

The old lady didn't notice the panic in his expression. She pointed to the steamed buns made from two kinds of flour and the lunchbox on the table, and affectionately patted her grandson's head.

"My dear grandson, Grandma has saved some food for you. Sit down and eat it while it's hot."

Banggeng's stomach was growling with hunger, and upon hearing this, he immediately sat down at the table and replied:

"Okay, Grandma."

He expertly lifted the lid of the lunchbox, but found only a few specks of oil and very little food inside. His face immediately fell, filled with displeasure.

"Grandma, why is there so little food today?"

Jia Zhangshi's heart skipped a beat, and her expression instantly became somewhat unnatural.

Just now, Jia Dongxu had specially left half a box of meat and vegetables for her grandson. She was waiting for Banggeng to come back, but she couldn't resist eating most of it secretly. Now there's hardly any left.

Just as she was figuring out how to make an excuse, Banggeng started guessing to himself:

"Did Shazhu not pack much food in his lunchbox today?"

Madam Jia nodded repeatedly, secretly pleased with herself: "As expected of my good grandson, he knows how to smooth things over for his grandmother at such a young age."

Banggeng kept eating while his mouth was constantly moving.

"That stupid Zhu is so wicked, he's practically childless!"

Tomorrow, I'll go to his house and bring back all the grain in the kitchen, the half-bottle of wine in the cupboard, and the fried peanuts!

"Let's make sure that good-for-nothing He Yushui has nothing to eat!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia felt immediately gratified:

"Yes, let him shine on everything!"

In the next room, Qin Huairu, who was putting Xiaodang to sleep, heard the conversation between the grandmother and grandson but remained completely unmoved.

She had heard those words countless times before.

She also tacitly approved of her son's actions.

She had utter contempt for Sha Zhu, that simp.

She wouldn't have paid any attention to him if he wasn't still of some use to her.

...

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

A strange thing happened in the backyard these past few days. Liu Haizhong, who used to beat his son every few days, suddenly went crazy and started beating him every day.

The Liu brothers, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, were beaten so badly that they had to run away every day.

After Yan Jiefang returned home, he heard from his third brother, Yan Jiekuang:

Liu Guangfu hasn't been to school for two days, and neither of the two brothers has gone home from last night to today.

When Uncle Liu Haizhong got home in the afternoon, he took out his belt to hit someone, but found that he didn't have a son to hit, which made him furious!

This guy immediately called a hospital-wide meeting, saying there was something important to announce.

The meeting for the entire college was held in the front yard.

After dinner, all the residents of the compound gathered in the front yard.

After all the equipment was set up, Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, and Yi Zhonghai took their seats in turn.

Liu Haizhong was the first to speak:

"Today's hospital-wide meeting has only one agenda! Ah, it's to help me find my two little rascals back home!"

"Empty~"

"Pfft~"

"Haha~"

The entire resident burst out laughing on the spot.

Yan Jiefang, standing under the eaves of his own house, couldn't help but chuckle.

"Snapped!"

Yi Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table, the crisp, loud sound instantly drowning out the laughter and chatter in the courtyard.

Under his management over the years, this courtyard house had almost become his own little kingdom, and everyone immediately fell silent upon seeing this, no one daring to make any noise.

"As you all probably know, Old Liu's two children haven't been home for almost two days, and Old Liu and his wife are extremely worried."

Yi Zhonghai looked around at everyone, his tone solemn.

"The reason I've called this meeting today is to ask for your help in finding this person."

Our courtyard was recognized as a model of civilized courtyard by the community. This honor is not only a matter of pride, but also a responsibility.

We've all benefited from this title in the past, so now we should help each other out.

My second uncle's child has gone missing. We hope everyone can lend a hand.

If any family encounters difficulties in the future, the Liu family will certainly not stand idly by.

As soon as he finished speaking, he took it upon himself to make arrangements:

"I will assign tasks now. After the meeting, we will divide into three search teams based on the front, middle and back yards. Each of us three old men will lead one team and search our respective areas."

"Third Uncle, take your men and search south of Nanluoguxiang..."

Yi Zhonghai is always decisive and efficient, and he quickly arranged the division of labor clearly.

Before long, the three teams, led by the three old men, walked out of the courtyard and went off in different directions to search.

After observing the entire process of handling the matter, Yan Jiefang nodded in approval: To be honest, Yi Zhonghai is quite capable in his words and deeds; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to manage this courtyard so well.