Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

The large iron lock at the Xu family's gate swayed precariously in the cold wind, occasionally making a crisp "clang" sound that sent shivers down one's spine.

Zhou Jianguo led Lou Xiao'e directly out of Nanluoguxiang.

At the entrance of the alley, Lou Xiao'e suddenly stopped.

She clutched the dark red divorce certificate in her hand.

He was trembling all over; it was a physiological fear etched into his bones from being manipulated by those two old beasts from the Xu family for so many years.

"Nation-building..."

Lou Xiao'e's voice was barely audible, like a mosquito's hum. Her eyes darted around, and she didn't dare look at Zhou Jianguo. "Maybe... let it go? Da Mao's already inside, and the house's locked. If we cause any more trouble, that old fox Xu Fugui... I'm afraid..."

She is afraid.

Zhou Jianguo stopped and turned around.

"never mind?"

Zhou Jianguo chuckled and took a step forward, his tall shadow looming over Lou Xiao'e.

"Sister E, do you know why Xu Damao dared to use you as a punching bag? Do you know why those two old geezers in the Xu family dared to treat you like an ATM?"

Lou Xiao'e instinctively wanted to retreat, but Zhou Jianguo's sharp gaze kept her rooted to the spot.

"Because you are kind, because you are weak. In this cannibalistic world, kindness without teeth is just stupidity! It's like washing yourself clean and willingly lying on a beast's plate!"

Zhou Jianguo pointed to the divorce certificate in her hand, his tone low, but every word was piercing:

"Xu Damao is in jail, but his parents are still alive! Do you believe that if you show even the slightest bit of fear today, Xu Fugui can lead a bunch of thugs to your parents' house tomorrow, accusing you of killing your husband and trying to squeeze every last drop of blood from your Lou family?"

"If you want to live like a human being, if you want to completely cut this rotten rope, you have to let out this pent-up anger today!"

Zhou Jianguo reached out and helped her tidy her temples, which had been ruffled by the wind.

The movements were quite gentle:

"Take back the money that belongs to you, and smear their faces in the mud. Only when you beat them until they are hurt, scared, and traumatized will these mad dogs dare not bite you again."

Lou Xiao'e was startled.

She looked at the man in front of her, who was several years younger than her, and saw the ruthless, domineering look in his eyes.

That kind of ruthlessness isn't the ferocity of a thug, but rather absolute confidence.

There was a five-second silence.

call--

Lou Xiao'e took a deep breath, and the fear in her eyes gradually faded away.

"you're right."

Lou Xiao'e gritted her teeth and stuffed the divorce certificate into her pocket: "That was my dowry, why should it be left to these beasts!"

"Walk."

Zhou Jianguo smiled, turned around and led the way.

……

South of the city, Mao'er Hutong.

This is a cluster of tenement courtyards, where all sorts of people live together, and the environment is even worse than Nanluoguxiang.

Xu Damao's parents live here, and they live a very comfortable life thanks to the kickbacks their son smuggled from the factory.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, a strong smell of dry tobacco mixed with the smell of swill hit me.

In the middle of the courtyard, an old woman with a mean face was sitting on a small stool, cracking sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seed shells were scattered all over the ground, and those triangular eyes were staring sideways at the passing neighbors.

She was Xu Damao's biological mother, Aunt Xu.

"Oh, isn't this our wealthy lady?"

Aunt Xu spotted Lou Xiao'e immediately, and her triangular eyes widened.

She was unaware that her son had gotten into trouble; she assumed that Lou Xiao'e had run back to her parents' home after being upset and had now returned in disgrace.

"Pooh!"

Aunt Xu spat out the sunflower seed shells, dusted off her hands, and said in a sarcastic tone:

"What's this? Instead of staying home to serve Da Mao, you come here empty-handed to make a fool of yourself? I always said that capitalists' daughters can't be tamed; they're always running off outside. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were out hooking up with some random guy!"

That shout caused the curtains of several neighboring houses to be opened.

Several bored middle-aged women poked their heads out with their rice bowls in hand, their faces bearing the standard expressions of gossiping onlookers.

"Tsk tsk, Xu's daughter-in-law got scolded again."

"That's what they call 'one thing subdues another.' So what if she's a capitalist's daughter? But when she comes to our poor peasant family, she'll have to cower and submit!"

The hushed whispers buzzed into my ears like flies.

In the past, Lou Xiao'e would have already bowed her head and cried.

But today, she stood there, completely still.

Seeing that Lou Xiao'e remained silent, Aunt Xu became even more enthusiastic.

She stood up, hands on her hips, her finger almost poking Lou Xiao'e's nose:

"Are you mute? I'm talking to you! Even a hen that doesn't lay eggs knows to come back? Get inside and wash that pile of dirty clothes! Standing here like a jinx! It's bad luck!"

Spit sprayed all over Lou Xiao'e's face.

Once the cursing had gotten going, Aunt Xu reached out to grab Lou Xiao'e's ear—this was her usual way of establishing her authority.

Just then, the curtain of the east room was lifted.

A gaunt old man came out, wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, with his hands behind his back and a sinister look in his eyes.

Xu Damao's biological father, Xu Fugui.

"What's all the noise about? Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

Xu Fugui glared at his wife, then turned to look at Lou Xiao'e.

That look wasn't dissuasion, but a deeper form of oppression:

"Xiao'e, now that you've married into the Xu family, you have to abide by the Xu family rules. Da Mao works hard at the factory, so what's wrong with you being a little more tolerant? If you're so delicate, how will you carry on the Xu family line? If you continue to be so disrespectful, I'll have Da Mao divorce you!"

What a clever doubles move, the red-cop and the white-cop.

One was cursing, the other was reasoning; their teamwork was seamless.

Looking at these two ugly faces, Lou Xiao'e's mind was filled with Zhou Jianguo's words, "Kindness without teeth is just stupidity."

She suddenly realized that she had been living a ridiculous life these past few years.

Seeing Lou Xiao'e staring blankly, Aunt Xu assumed she was scared, gave a smug snort, and reached out to shove her: "I'm talking to you! Are you deaf? Get back to work!"

Just as that withered hand was about to touch it.

Lou Xiao'e moved.

They neither dodged nor retreated.

She swung her arm in a wide arc, using the strength of her waist and abdomen to pour all the resentment of her life into her palm, and slapped it hard!

"Smack—!!!"

A sharp crack rang out in the courtyard.

That slap was so hard that it made Aunt Xu spin half a circle on the spot, and she almost fell into the garbage can.

The entire room fell silent.

Those cracking sunflower seeds forgot to open their mouths, and those holding bowls forgot to swallow their rice.

Xu Fugui's gloomy old face was as stiff as a dried orange peel.

"You...you dare hit me?"

Grandma Xu, clutching her swollen cheek, froze for three seconds before reacting, letting out a pig-like scream: "Rebellion! Rebellion! That little whore is hitting her mother-in-law! Old man, beat this little beast to death!!"

She lunged at me like a madwoman, baring her teeth and claws.

Xu Fugui also lost his temper, grabbing the door jamb and charging forward: "You lawless wretch! Today I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of the Lou family, you unfilial daughter!"

Two old men, one on the left and one on the right.

Lou Xiao'e stood there, her face ashen, but her eyes were fixed on them, and she did not retreat an inch.

Just as the stick was about to fall.

A tall figure suddenly cut in.

"Bang!"