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

"Liberation, you're back?"

Yan Bugui was tending to his flowerpots at the door when suddenly the light and shadows in front of him changed. He looked up and saw Yan Jiefang carrying a satchel.

Yan Jiefang nodded to him and then went into the house.

It was already late September, and the temperature in the 49 cities had dropped considerably, so it was no longer hot.

By evening, it was time to cover ourselves with blankets.

The phrase "autumn is crisp and clear" perfectly describes this time of year.

As evening fell, the six members of the Yan family sat around the table in the house for dinner.

Yan Jiekuang frequently asked Yan Jiefang about information regarding the vocational school, showing great interest.

The others also perked up their ears.

Yan Jiefang answered the questions he could.

When Yan Bugui and his wife heard Yan Jiefang mention that they received a monthly living allowance of 13 yuan, their eyes lit up.

How could anyone possibly spend so much money on living expenses in a month?

It's not quite the life of a god, but it's pretty close!

I wonder if we can squeeze some out from the secondhand stores?

But considering the second son's intelligence, this matter is not easy to handle. He can see through the ordinary methods at a glance, and good methods are not so easy to come up with.

Yan Bugui scratched his head.

Yan Jiecheng was also very envious when he heard the news.

Although he earns 32.5 yuan a month, after handing over 27 yuan, he only has 5.5 yuan left for daily expenses and lunch.

His gaze toward his second brother involuntarily took on a calculating glint.

This is a sign of the awakening of the Yan family's genetic talent.

Yan Jiedi was young and didn't understand these things; she just kept her head down and ate her cornbread.

Only the third brother, Yan Jiekuang, was genuinely happy for his second brother.

He secretly made up his mind that he would also get into a vocational school and prove himself!

Since following his second brother in the first half of the year, his mind has become much more pure, and with the improvement of the family's meals, his academic performance has improved dramatically.

Now he consistently ranks among the top three in his grade at Black Sesame Primary School and has received praise from his homeroom teacher.

Just as the family was having dinner and chatting, Yan Jiefang suddenly noticed a gaunt figure slowly passing by in the front yard.

He recognized He Yushui at a glance.

Her clothes were relatively clean, but there were several more patches on them.

It hangs on your body and swings back and forth.

Moreover, her cheeks were noticeably thinner, completely different from when I saw her during the summer vacation.

Yan Jiefang wondered: What's going on?

"This child is pitiful!"

Yang Ruihua also saw He Yushui outside and shook his head with a sigh.

"What's going on? Isn't Shazhu going to take care of her?"

Remembering the help He Yushui had given him, Yan Jiefang quickly inquired about the details.

"Ha! Sha Zhu? That idiot can't even take care of himself, how can he take care of his sister?"

Yan Jiecheng chuckled.

He originally didn't want to talk about it, but seeing his second brother's questioning gaze, he still spoke up to explain:

"I heard that as soon as Sha Zhu gets his monthly salary, before he can even enjoy it, Qin Huairu 'borrows' it. That idiot is so happy, thinking he's done something great."

In addition, there are no banquets to be held in this year, and that guy is now penniless every day, with even less money in his pocket than I am.

As for the lunchboxes you brought back, you know the Jia family is keeping an eye on them every day!

He Yushui hadn't had a proper meal in ages!

"meal?"

Yang Ruihua rolled her eyes at her eldest son.

"In the courtyard, I only saw He Yushui, who was so hungry that she had to go outside the city to dig for wild vegetables to eat!"

Yan Jiefang was genuinely shocked to hear these words.

He knew that Sha Zhu was unreliable, but even in the original drama or the derivative novels, he wasn't this unreliable!

Yan Jiefang immediately put down his chopsticks and chased after him.

"Jiefang, you haven't finished eating yet! Where are you going?"

Yang Ruihua asked another question.

"Let Jie Kuang eat it, I'm full."

Yan Jiefang's voice came from afar.

The middle courtyard has the fewest residents among the three courtyards (front, middle, and back), and it looks rather deserted at this time.

Surprisingly, the laundry girl didn't lie down by the pool either.

At that moment, he vaguely sensed three or four gazes falling on him.

Looking in the direction I sensed, I saw several figures standing behind the window.

They came from the east and west wing rooms of the Intermediate People's Court, respectively.

It turns out they were the so-called "auntie" Li Cuilan, "uncle" Yi Zhonghai, the necromancer Jia Zhangshi, and the "white lotus" Qin Huairu.

Yan Jiefang shook his head. As long as they didn't bother him, he would just pretend he didn't see them.

Continuing onward, they soon arrived at the door of the side room next to the east wing.

He Yushui has returned to her room.

Her door was open, and Yan Jiefang could vaguely see her with her back to the door, seemingly squatting on the ground, doing something.

"Bang~ Bang~ Bang~"

Yan Jiefang knocked on the door several times.

"Who?"

He Yushui turned her head to look outside the door like a startled little animal.

Light green plant sap dripped down her pale lips.

She was quite surprised to find that the person standing outside was Yan Jiefang.

She still harbored her inherent prejudices against the Yan family.

That's not quite right. If it were in the past, this wouldn't be considered prejudice, but rather insightful observation.

She assumed that Yan Jiefang had just returned from vocational school and was in high spirits, so he came here to mock her.

Then, with a cold rebuke:

"Yan Jiefang, did you come here to laugh at me? Now you've seen it, are you satisfied?! Please leave now!"

As she spoke, she slowly stood up, walked to the door, and was about to close it.

Yan Jiefang reached out and gently pressed on the door panel, and the door could no longer be moved.

He stood outside the door, not going any further. He glanced at He Yushui's dry, yellow hair, then stared at her sunken eyes, his voice low and somber:

"I can't believe you've changed so much in just one month. Do you remember that sweet potato?"

"What sweet potato?"

He Yushui shook her head blankly, clearly having long forgotten about it.

Since she had forgotten, Yan Jiefang didn't continue the topic. Instead, he took out a large, still steaming meat bun, took her withered hand, and placed it on it.

"Eat up, we'll talk after you finish."

Looking at the large, white, soft steamed bun in her hand, He Yushui felt an intense longing well up inside her.

But she managed to suppress this desire.

Offering unsolicited favors is either a sign of malice or theft.

Although she has nothing now, she still has her own integrity and principles.

He Yushui shook her head and pushed the steamed bun over.

"I can't accept it!"

Faced with this stubborn fellow, Yan Jiefang had no choice but to recount the incident that occurred in March.

He Yushui was shocked when she heard this, she hadn't expected it to be like this.

She herself had long forgotten, but the shrewd son remembered it very clearly and came specifically to repay the favor.

She looked closely at the person in front of her, and an absurd thought popped into her mind:

Is Yan Jiefang the biological son of Yan Laoxi?