Courtyard House: The Frog Boy Brings Back a Genetic Potion at the Start

He was so anxious, as if his own money was about to fly away, and felt a pang of heartache for Hao Jianguo.

Madam Jia was so angry that her teeth itched.

She was already frustrated enough by being silenced by Yu Li, but now hearing that Hao Jianguo wanted to buy a new car felt like a knife to her heart.

Thinking about all that the Jia family had recently suffered, she felt an urge to pounce on Hao Jianguo and bite him.

"That bicycle should have been mine!"

Qin Huairu murmured to herself.

Regret was like a fine needle, pricking her heart again and again.

Qin Huairu thought to herself that if she hadn't broken off that engagement back then, her life would probably be completely different now.

Not only did they have meat at every meal, but they could also ride bicycles in and out, and they didn't have to deal with a difficult mother-in-law like Jia Zhangshi.

That kind of life was almost perfect.

But what about now? All of this has been ruined because of my narrow-mindedness and vanity.

When she looked at Yu Li, her eyes almost blazed with fire—as if everything she had lost had been taken away by the person in front of her.

Some people are like that; they never reflect on their own mistakes, but only vent their resentment on others.

Yu Li frowned slightly.

Hearing the surrounding chatter about how much money Hao Jianguo had, she immediately spoke up to refute, "You're all mistaken. Jianguo's money is all earned by himself, bit by bit. It didn't come out of thin air."

He treated me very well, but from now on, I will not be polite to anyone who speaks ill of me behind my back—such behavior is truly disgusting.

When she spoke, she acted as if she were Hao Jianguo's spokesperson, every word she uttered was meant to vindicate him.

When his gaze swept over Jia Zhangshi, it was filled with even more disgust, making the old woman's face turn pale.

"I will remember the kindness that Jian Guo has shown me for the rest of my life."

Unlike some people who don't know how to cherish things!

These words were like a blunt knife, cutting into Qin Huairu's heart, causing her so much pain that she could barely breathe.

As for Jia Zhangshi, she was a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. After being rebuked by Yu Li to her face, her arrogance immediately diminished.

Seeing this, the onlookers also spoke up for Hao Jianguo and criticized Jia Zhangshi.

"Jia Zhangshi, you really can't stay quiet for more than a few days! You've only been out for a short time, and you're already causing trouble again?"

"It's almost Chinese New Year, can't you just stay quiet? How can you bear to slander such a good person as Hao Jianguo?"

"That young couple is a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

Isn't it shameless of you to cause trouble like this?

Yu Li suddenly understood when she heard this.

"So you're that Jia Zhangshi, no wonder."

I was wondering just now how an old person could have such a foul mouth.

Since it's you, that makes sense, after all...

Yu Li was not the type to swallow her anger, especially not to hear anyone say a bad word about her partner.

As she spoke, she glanced toward the courtyard gate.

Following her gaze, everyone immediately understood.

Yan Jiecheng then squeezed forward to join the fun: "That's right! Jia Zhangshi's mouth is notoriously foul—after all, she's fallen into a latrine and eaten excrement!"

Bringing up the old story made Jia Zhangshi's face burn with embarrassment.

She's always been known in the area as a feisty woman; she'll stir things up even when she's wrong.

"You're talking nonsense!"

She immediately started throwing a tantrum again, "That's just how Hao Jianguo is in my eyes, what's it to you? I'm going to say bad things about him, who do you think you are to tell me what to do? Get out of my way!"

Despite her frantic shouting and yelling, Jia Zhangshi's actions were not as defiant as her words suggested; she turned and tried to hide inside the house.

She couldn't stay in that courtyard for another second; she looked utterly disheveled.

however--

"Ouch!"

A scream suddenly rang out.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

As Jia Zhangshi ran, she didn't notice that she had stepped on a patch of moss, slipped, and fell face-first into the mud.

She also accidentally cut her lip, causing it to bleed profusely and making her scream in pain.

"Pah, serves you right!"

"I'd heard that gossiping behind someone's back will ruin your mouth, and today I've finally seen my karma come true."

A burst of laughter immediately filled the courtyard; everyone treated it as a farcical spectacle.

"Someone help me... I've twisted my back and can't move!"

"Oh, my poor soul... Old Jia, open your eyes and see! You left us too soon, and now this whole courtyard is humiliating me!"

Jia Zhangshi collapsed to the ground, wailing incessantly, her hands pounding the ground with a loud thud.

But her tantrum didn't elicit any sympathy, and no one came forward to help her up—her daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu, had already turned red with embarrassment and gone home.

"Now you're thinking of asking for help? I wouldn't dare, who knows if you'll turn around and bite me?"

Xu Damao curled his lip in mockery, adding fuel to the fire.

Liu Guangfu also put on a serious face and said, "Everyone should be careful. The Jia family is now trying to extort money from you at any opportunity. Don't mess with them."

"Besides, didn't she previously say that we didn't need to care? If we don't care, then we don't care."

A chorus of agreement immediately arose from all around.

Seeing this scene, Yi Zhonghai shook his head helplessly and turned to leave this troublesome place quietly.

No sooner had I taken a step than I heard Xu Damao shouting at the top of his lungs from behind:

"Oh, Uncle Yi, aren't you here? Given your relationship with the Jia family, you can't just stand by and watch them die, can you?"

Xu Damao was a wicked man, and Yi Zhonghai had often helped Sha Zhu suppress him in the past. Now he finally had the chance to kick him while he was down.

Liu Guangfu's eyes darted around, remembering that his father had always wanted to bring down Yi Zhonghai. If he embarrassed Yi Zhonghai now, he would surely be praised when he got home.

"That's right, you're in charge of the hospital, how can you just stand by and watch someone lie on the ground and do nothing?"

The two sang in harmony, drawing laughter from those around them.

Yi Zhonghai felt stifled, and his eyes glared at the two men as if they were about to burst into flames.

Although their words were harsh, their reasoning was sound—as the steward of the compound, ignoring Jia Zhangshi in front of everyone would inevitably lead to gossip.

Moreover, this is completely contrary to the kind and generous image he has always maintained.

After much hesitation, Yi Zhonghai finally mustered the courage to step forward and reach out to pull Jia Zhangshi.

Unfortunately, the old woman was heavy. He tried to pull her up, but instead of lifting her, he slipped and fell with a "plop."

He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The courtyard erupted in even louder laughter.

…………

Hao Jianguo never showed himself, but his keen hearing had already made full use of the commotion outside the door.

At first, he wanted to rush out and slap that gossipy old woman twice, but then he heard Yu Li's clear voice—

She actually protected herself like that.

Thinking of this, Hao Jianguo felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Laughter filled the house during dinner time, bringing back that long-lost feeling of "home".

The warm air quietly spread.

On the way back to Yu Li, Hao Jianguo slipped a bicycle ticket into her hand.

"I'll go with you to pick out a bicycle tomorrow."

Yu Li looked down at the ticket, her eyes brimming with bright joy.

She didn't need to pretend to be reserved in front of Hao Jianguo.

"Jianguo, you've been so good to me."

She couldn't help but lean forward and quickly kiss him on the cheek.

When she came to her senses, Yu Li felt her cheeks burning and lowered her head in embarrassment.

…………

The next day, the news that Hao Jianguo had found a girlfriend had spread throughout the compound.

Many people are still talking about the scene yesterday when Yu Li confronted Jia Zhangshi. Every time they mention the old woman's disheveled appearance, it brings a burst of hearty laughter.

"What? That kid Hao Jianguo... he's actually got a wife?"

As Sha Zhu stepped into the courtyard, a bitter jealousy welled up from the bottom of his heart.

I wasn't in the courtyard yesterday and missed what happened between Yu Li and Hao Jianguo.

Upon hearing this, he felt as if a handful of dry grass had been stuffed into his chest, making him feel hot and restless all over.

He turned around and asked Qin Huairu for details, just as He Yushui returned from outside.

"Is Hao Jianguo's girlfriend really that beautiful?"

Sha Zhu snorted, "Isn't it just because he has some money? What good can a woman who gets something with money be? Yu Li is probably after his family's wealth."

Jealousy gnawed at his reason, making him speak harshly.

He straightened his back, as if encouraging himself, and muttered, "I'm not much less attractive than Hao Jianguo. I'll find a pretty wife someday... no, I need to find someone even more outstanding than Yu Li!"

Only in this way could he feel that he had surpassed Hao Jianguo.

Qin Huairu listened from the side, feeling as if she had been pricked by a needle in her heart, a faint bitterness rising within her, but more than anything, a sense of panic.

If Sha Zhu really gets married, who will she be able to rely on for support in the future? This money tree can't be uprooted.

He Yushui glanced at Qin Huairu, and perhaps noticing something, suddenly interjected crisply, "Oh, you want a pretty wife, huh? There's Qin Huairu right here in front of you, don't you want her?"

Sha Zhu felt a flush rise to his ears from what she said, chuckled dryly, and his mind began to race.

He naturally liked Qin Huairu, but most of his attention was drawn to her voluptuous figure.

Sha Zhu was somewhat reluctant to actually marry her—it was his first marriage, while she was a second.

But... what if she herself is willing?

The thought flashed through his mind and made him feel a little itchy.

"Hahaha! That makes sense! Jia Dongxu is useless anyway, and Qin Huairu is practically a widow. You might as well marry her!"

Xu Damao's hoarse voice suddenly came from the base of the wall.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's anger flared up.

A thought flashed through his mind: "Xu Damao, you're asking for it!"

He clenched his fist and was about to pounce, but Xu Damao had anticipated this and had already run far away before he finished speaking.

Sha Zhu chased him for half the alley, but couldn't even touch a piece of his clothes. He could only pant and stomp his feet, cursing.

"Just you wait! I'll marry someone even better than Hao Jianguo's wife!"

He raised his voice and roared, as if he wanted the whole hospital to hear.

Aunt Er and Aunt San, who were doing needlework in the yard, exchanged glances, then shook their heads with pouts.

"Is Sha Zhu dreaming? Qin Huairu has almost emptied his family's coffers, and he still wants to find a good wife?"

"That's right, if we can find someone with all four limbs intact and good hearing and sight, then we can consider it a miracle from the ancestors of the He family."

Still dreaming of surpassing Hao Jianguo? What a pipe dream.

Sha Zhu, oblivious to what others were saying, happily went to find matchmaker Aunt Liu and stuffed the money he had borrowed from Yi Zhonghai into her hand: "Auntie, you absolutely must find me a handsome one! I'm entrusting this whole matter to you!"

The matchmaker, clutching the money, grinned so broadly her face was crinkled with wrinkles, repeatedly assuring everyone, "Don't worry, you'll be satisfied!"

Sha Zhu then sauntered off to the steel rolling mill.

Thinking about Aunt Liu's promise all the way, his feet felt like they were walking on cotton. When he entered the kitchen, he couldn't help but boast that he was about to marry a girl who was as beautiful as an angel, a hundred times prettier than Yu Li.

The more he thought about it, the smuger he became, his smile almost reaching his ears.

Hearing this, Ma Hua's apprentices, who were chopping vegetables nearby, gathered around curiously and asked, "Master, which family does this pretty girl you're talking about belong to? When are you bringing her over for us to see?"

He Yuzhu crossed his legs and leisurely gave Ma Hua a light kick, saying, "You'll understand in time."

Remember, that's your teacher's wife; don't forget to give her a gift then.

The wedding was still just a pipe dream, and he hadn't even seen a single person yet, but he was already calculating the wedding gifts from others.

When a person has something to look forward to, they will feel particularly cheerful, even if that joy is still uncertain.

He Yuzhu felt that the day had flown by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already time to get off work.

Just then, his eyes suddenly lit up—he finally spotted Xu Damao, who had slipped away that morning.

Xu Damao reeked of alcohol, walked unsteadily, and swayed from side to side as if he were about to fall over.

He must have encountered something wonderful, because he was humming a little tune, looking completely carefree.

"Good lad!"

Seeing this, He Yuzhu was furious and rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach him a lesson.

Last time, the whole courtyard witnessed his embarrassing state of being chased and beaten by Xu Damao, and he still feels humiliated when he thinks about it; this morning, this person even dared to mock him in the courtyard, he was simply asking for trouble.

Just as he was about to make a move, He Yuzhu's eyes lit up, and a wicked idea suddenly popped into his head.

He quietly approached and knocked the drunken Xu Damao to the ground with a single blow.

He Yuzhu was so focused on Xu Damao that he was completely unaware that a figure was standing quietly in the shadows not far away, silently watching everything.

"Hmph, aren't you smug? Today I'll let you smug to your heart's content!"

He Yuzhu dragged Xu Damao into the kitchen and quickly ripped off his outer pants.

He has always loved playing pranks, and this is not the first time he has done such a bad thing.