Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

He looked up and saw Yi Li standing at his door.

He Yuzhu quickly stepped forward and greeted her politely, "Hello, Aunt Yi."

"Zhu Zi, where did you get this cradle? Can you carry it? Let me help you."

Li Guihua glanced at the cradle on He Yuzhu's shoulder, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes, and then quickly spoke up.

She wasn't envious of the objects themselves.

Instead, they envied the other person for having such a capable and sensible son.

He Daqing wasn't home, so it was obvious that He Yuzhu had managed to get all these things back by himself.

Then I recalled He Yuzhu's behavior when Zhuzi's mother gave birth.

A pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

"No need, Aunt Yi, I can carry it myself."

"Quick, come inside, I'll open the door for you."

Seeing that he refused to help, Li Guihua quickly stepped forward and pushed the He family gate open completely for He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu strode into the house.

Li Guihua then gently closed the door and followed her into the house.

Upon entering the inner room, they saw He Yuzhu gently place the cradle onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

With a smile on her face, she said, "Mother, I'm back."

Chen Shuxiang was surprised to see that her son had brought back so many things.

His eyes were full of a relieved smile, yet a hint of worry lingered beneath.

"You must be exhausted after bringing back so much stuff!"

"Did you encounter any bad people along the way?"

Chen Shuxiang asked three questions in a row, her voice full of concern.

"It's okay, everything went smoothly the whole way, it's just that these things are a bit difficult to carry."

"Sister-in-law He, your son Zhuzi is really capable. Look at all the good things he brought back, all for the rain."

Li Guihua, with a hint of unspeakable bitterness, stood behind He Yuzhu and said.

Chen Shuxiang didn't seem to care at all, and replied with a gentle smile, "His father arranged all of this in advance; he just went to run an errand."

As she spoke, she winked mischievously at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu chuckled: "It's just running errands. I'm all grown up now, this little thing is a piece of cake for me."

After saying that, he carefully took the things out of the cradle one by one.

Li Guihua originally thought it would just be a cradle and a quilt.

Inside, there were brand new clothes and an adorable tiger-head hat.

They kept taking things out one after another, leaving her dumbfounded.

He kept thinking to himself, "He Daqing is really capable. Where can you get so much high-quality cotton these days?"

"The clothes and blankets are all pre-made; how much did that cost?"

"I don't know either; the Qing Dynasty has always been in charge of managing things outside."

Chen Shuxiang was also slightly surprised.

She didn't know exactly how much money her son had spent.

Judging by the thickness of the quilt and clothes, there must have been at least three or four pounds of cotton in total.

Moreover, the outer fabric looks to be high-quality pure cotton.

"The Qing Dynasty was truly capable."

Now that things have come to this, Li Guihua can only sigh with such heartfelt emotion.

Jia Dongxu had just been hit a few times and was covered in sweat. In addition, the egg liquid was sticky, making his pants extremely uncomfortable.

"Just take your clothes off. I've seen every inch of your body before, at least eight thousand times. What's there to be ashamed of?"

"Finish it quickly, or it won't wash off!"

"mother……"

Jia Dongxu, his face flushed, made a final struggle.

"Alright, alright, I'll turn my back, okay?"

After a rustling sound, Jia Dongxu's voice finally came through.

"Mom, that's enough. Could you please find me a clean pair of underwear? I really can't wear these anymore."

"Okay, okay, take off your cotton-padded coat too. It's so cold, and I still have to go through all the trouble of washing your clothes. It's all your fault!"

Madam Jia turned around and saw that her son had already crawled into bed, so she gave him instructions.

Jia Dongxu dared not talk back.

This whole thing started because he accidentally tripped and fell.

As soon as Jia Laonian stepped across the threshold, he did not go straight into the inner room.

Instead, he deliberately raised his voice and shouted towards the inner room.

"Madam, I can't go into the inner room. Could you please come out and say a few words?"

"Alright, Qing Dynasty, help me out."

He Daqing carefully helped the old lady to sit down in the main room.

He then looked up at Jia Laonian standing in front of him.

His face turned bright red.

It felt like an extremely intense struggle was churning within my heart.

He couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

The old lady didn't rush to ask any further questions.

He simply sat calmly in his chair.

He Daqing stood aside, feeling increasingly confused.

He stood there, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a muffled thud was heard.

Jia Laonian actually knelt down straight in front of the old lady.

He even raised his hand and slapped himself several times.

He Daqing was about to step forward to stop him.

But the old lady gently deflected it with her cane.

"Grandma, please be magnanimous and spare our family."

Old Jia pleaded in a trembling voice.

"I apologize to you on behalf of my unreasonable wife and children."

"Do you even have a say in how you control your wife?"

Jia Laonian hesitated for a moment.

He then gritted his teeth and said, "I can control it."

"Can they really control it?"

"It really...it really can be controlled."

"Alright, I'll believe you this time."

"But we can't just let your family off so easily."

"Please feel free to give your orders, ma'am."

"As long as it's not a rent increase, or them kicking us out of the yard."

"I'll accept any conditions."

"In that case, I won't take any more of yours."

"Take out ten silver dollars to compensate for the things stolen from the Qing Dynasty's home."

"Make your shrewish wife and your good-for-nothing son come over and apologize."

"Let's call this settled. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Laonian's heart skipped a beat.

He had already cursed Jia Zhangshi a thousand times in his heart.

That greedy, troublesome old woman, just wait until we get back and I'll teach her a lesson.

You've corrupted my son too!

But all he could do was agree verbally.

"Okay, I accept it. I'll bring the money over in a bit."

"But the mother and daughter don't have any suitable clothes to wear, so they can't go out."

"Once I'm able to go out, I'll definitely bring them here to apologize."

"Get up, the ground is cold."

"How come you, a grown man, are so easily manipulated by someone like that?"

The old lady was unforgiving.

They rubbed salt into Jia Laonian's wound.

Jia Laonian's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

He Daqing stood to the side, looking completely bewildered.

"What's missing from my house? How come I didn't know?"

"What kind of item could be worth ten silver dollars?"

After Jia Lao left dejectedly.

He Daqing finally couldn't help but ask.

"Grandma, what kind of act are you two putting on?"

"Heh, still don't understand?"

"I really didn't understand."

"Then let me, the old lady, explain it to you slowly."

"It's like this, like this, like this!"

"Huh? How come I didn't notice that there were fewer eggs at home?"

"Was that mother and daughter really that unlucky?"

"That Jia Zhangshi is really shrewish."

"Grandma, are you alright?"

He Daqing's expression kept changing.

He secretly thought to himself that he had missed out on a huge spectacle.

"Alright, alright, with your careless nature."

"Besides, I didn't use eggs to cook tonight."

"You'd be lucky to notice."

"But you went a bit too far with that."

"Ten silver dollars can buy five old hens."

"Old Jia worked hard for two months to earn that much."

"Hmph, if we don't make them feel the pinch, will they ever learn their lesson?"

"You're complaining that the money is too much?"

"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

He Daqing nodded happily in agreement.

Then, after Jia Laonian returned home...

As soon as he entered the door, he grabbed Jia Zhangshi's hair.

He raised his hand and delivered several resounding slaps.

"You filthy woman, it's one thing for you to steal it yourself."

Why are you dragging my son into this?

"I've put up with you for far too long, today I'm going to beat you to death!"

"Clap clap clap!"

"Old Jia, I'll fight you to the death!"

Jia Zhangshi was not one to swallow her anger.

Wearing only shorts and a close-fitting undershirt, she immediately jumped out of bed.

They pounced on him, clawing and scratching at Jia Laonian.

Jia Laonian was caught off guard.

Several clear bloodstains immediately appeared on his face.

The pain made him immediately raise his arm and deliver several more heavy slaps to the face.

Jia Dongxu was incredibly timid.

So frightened, she immediately burrowed into the blankets.

When Jia Zhangshi saw her son's pathetic state, she was shocked.

He was even more furious.

"Dongxu, I've spoiled you for nothing!"

"Are you just going to stand by and watch your father bully me like this?"

"Mother, please stop making a fuss."

"Today was entirely your fault."

Jia Dongxu responded softly from under the covers.

"Dongxu's grandparents, please come back and visit!"

"Your son's gotten so big for his britches, he even dared to hit me!"

"I don't want to live anymore, I don't want to live anymore!"

"Please come back and see him soon, Grandpa and Grandma!"

"Now even your grandson is starting to look down on me!"

"Waaaaah, waaaah..."

Jia Laonian and Jia Dongxu felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.

Although the elderly couple did not have conclusive evidence to prove that Jia Zhangshi was the culprit.

But in my heart, I had already guessed it pretty much.

How could she dare, how could she dare to "bring them back to see what's going on"!

In a state of extreme fear and anger, Jia Laonian...

With a "snap".

A heavy slap knocked Jia Zhangshi unconscious.

He was originally a fitter.

Although my health has deteriorated significantly over the years.

But the force in his hands was still considerable.

"Zhang Ruhua, if you dare to call back your soul again..."

"I'll beat you to death today!"

"You still have the nerve to call my parents back."

"Aren't you afraid they'll really take you away?"

"I'm threatening you fiercely," Jia Laonian said.

"Waaaah, you just wait, Jia Laonian!"

"I'm going back to my parents' home tomorrow and having my brothers there judge the matter!"

Jia Zhangshi was startled and immediately changed her story.