“Haha, you thought if you chased me away, you could get into the house, right?”
“First Master saw through your little tricks a long time ago. I’m just the first hurdle; the real one is waiting for you.”
Second Aunt stood up, patted the dust off her clothes, and burst into laughter.
A lock hung prominently on the door of the Deaf Old Lady’s room.
It was the same lock Yi Zhonghai used to lock the door yesterday.
Jia Zhangshi was dumbfounded.
Second Aunt, meanwhile, laughed heartily.
“What does this mean? Yi Zhonghai left and locked the door. What does he mean by that?”
Jia Zhangshi’s face was filled with anger.
Who was he trying to guard against?
He must have looked down on her too much.
“Haha, what do you think it means?”
“It’s a good thing First Master calculated accurately and specifically locked the main door, otherwise everything inside this house would have been ruined by you.”
Second Aunt spoke quickly and expressed herself directly.
Jia Zhangshi gnashed her teeth in anger.
First Aunt, Third Aunt, and other Old Ladys came over one after another.
Seeing Jia Zhangshi frustrated, several Old Ladys stifled their laughter, trying their best not to laugh out loud.
“Alright, alright, you’re all waiting to see my downfall, aren’t you?”
Jia Zhangshi pointed at the group of people.
She felt as if she was being played for a fool.
“Granny Jia, First Master and the others just left, and you immediately ran over to the Old Lady’s room. Is there any need to ask what your intentions are?”
First Aunt shouted loudly.
“Hmph, what intentions do I have? Nonsense!”
“I wanted to come and help, to look after the Old Lady’s house!”
Jia Zhangshi responded indignantly.
“Granny Jia treats others as fools.”
“No matter what Granny Jia says, who among us would believe her?”
“When the Chen Family’s head passed away, there were still two people from the Chen Family there. How many things did you take from the Chen Family? Do you really think we don’t remember?”
Several Old Ladys mocked her one after another.
Jia Zhangshi secretly gritted her teeth in anger, pulled Bang梗, and ran back to the Middle Courtyard.
As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands; her one mouth couldn’t out-curse several mouths.
She could only temporarily avoid the confrontation.
Most importantly, the Old Lady’s room was now locked and couldn’t be opened.
Jia Zhangshi wouldn’t gain anything by staying here, so it was better to go back first and slowly look for another opportunity.
Seeing Granny Jia flee in disarray, several Old Ladys let out cheers of victory.
“Second Aunt, you worked hard.”
“Granny Jia didn’t hurt you when she threw you, did she?”
First Aunt asked with concern.
“No, how dare she do anything to me.”
“Hmph, if she angers me, I’ll have my three sons beat her up.”
Second Aunt laughed heartily.
“You rest first; I’ll guard the main door for a while.”
“Later, Third Aunt, you can take over.”
First Aunt’s heart sank slightly, and she said with a smile.
Everyone else had sons to back them up, but she didn’t.
She didn’t even have a daughter.
Although the Jia Family had lost its pillar, at least a grandson and a granddaughter were left behind.
And Qin Huairu had another one in her belly.
“Alright then, I’ll go back and rest.”
Second Aunt happily went home.
“No problem, I’ll come to relieve you later. If I’m busy, I’ll send Xiao Li over.”
Third Aunt readily agreed.
The Three Grandpas of the Courtyard had all gone out to attend the Old Lady’s funeral, and their three wives spontaneously formed an alliance.
To prevent petty thieves in the Courtyard—bah, to prevent Jia Zhangshi from stealing things from the Old Lady’s house.
After everyone dispersed, a difficult-to-describe sense of loneliness appeared on First Aunt’s face.
Second Aunt had three sons, and Third Aunt had three sons, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law.
She had nothing.
Would she be like the Old Lady in another twenty years?
Outside the Siheyuan (Courtyard).
Chen Jianye entered, pushing his bicycle.
“Oh, Jianye is back.”
Third Aunt greeted him warmly.
“I’m back.”
Chen Jianye nodded with a smile.
“Oh my, you’re back early today. Hey, where did you go drinking?”
A gust of wind blew past, and Third Aunt smelled the alcohol on Chen Jianye, asking in surprise.
“A friend I often read with invited me to her house for dinner.”
“I had a bit to drink, so I couldn’t read at the Library. I borrowed books to read at home.”
Chen Jianye said with a smile.
“You’re truly a diligent child; you’ll definitely learn advanced Fitter Skill in the future.”
“If my children had even half of your dedication to learning, what would I have to worry about?”
Third Aunt said with great emotion.
“Brother Jiecheng, and Jie Fang, Jie Kuang, Jie Di, they are all doing well. You and Third Master definitely won’t have to worry about anything in the future.”
“You two, you’ll surely enjoy good fortune in another twenty years.”
Chen Jianye was very good with words, secretly thinking that he had actually become ‘someone else’s child’ in other people’s mouths.
It felt strange.
Third Aunt giggled as she listened.
Back home, Chen Jianye sat at the dining table reading a book.
Not long after.
“Jianye, Jianye.”
Third Aunt’s urgent voice came, and before Chen Jianye could reply, the main door was pushed open from outside.
“Jianye, the Public Security and people from the neighborhood committee are here, and there’s a reporter too.”
Third Aunt finished speaking quickly, then turned her head to look outside: “Chen Jianye’s house is right here.”
Clearly, she had taken over Yan Fugui’s job, helping to guide the people outside.
Chen Jianye quickly got up and walked towards the door.
Before he could reach the door, several people had already arrived at the Chen Family’s entrance.
Leading the group was the Old Public Security Officer who had come to investigate last night.
Next was Director Nie from the neighborhood committee.
Finally, there was a working woman, holding a notebook with a pen attached.
She looked like a reporter.
“Comrade Chen Jianye, hello.”
The Old Public Security Officer extended his hand first.
“Hello, Comrade Police.”
“Hello, Director Nie.”
After shaking hands with the Old Public Security Officer, Chen Jianye then shook hands with Director Nie.
“This is Comrade Zhao Yuan from the Four Nine City Daily. She’s an excellent writer for the newspaper. After hearing about your deeds, she specifically requested to interview you.”
Director Nie introduced the woman holding the notebook.
“Hello, Comrade Zhao Yuan.”
Chen Jianye proactively extended his hand.
“Hello, Comrade Chen Jianye.”
Zhao Yuan was poised and extended her hand.
“Please sit first; I’ll pour you some tea.”
Chen Jianye welcomed his guests.
Outside the Chen Family’s door.
The Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents gathered, standing at the doorway or outside the Chen Family’s windows, observing the situation inside.
At the same time, they quickly exchanged information.
“Jianye has really made something of himself this time; even reporters are coming to interview him.”
“That person seems to be Director Nie from the neighborhood committee. Even Lao Yi and the others have to bow when they speak to Director Nie.”
“The three of them came to find Jianye together; it must be for something good, right?”
“Nonsense, are the three of them here to play at the Chen Family’s house?”
The Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents whispered their discussions.
Their hearts were filled with envy.
Jia Zhangshi also mingled in the crowd, her eyes revealing a jealous glint.
Chen Jianye just killed someone; did it really require such a big fuss?
The Jia Family is so difficult; why don’t the Leaders come and show some concern?
They’re all no good.
Pah!
Inside the Chen Family’s house.
The only convenient place to sit and drink tea in the room was the Chen Family’s dining table.
Director Nie and the two others sat by the dining table and saw the books Chen Jianye was reading.
“Xiao Chen, do you usually like to read at home during your holidays?”
Director Nie asked with great surprise.
“Normally, I go to the Library to read, and then I borrow books to read at home.”
“Today, a friend invited me to dinner, and I had some alcohol at noon. I didn’t want to disturb others, so I borrowed books and came back early to read.”
Chen Jianye handed hot water to Director Nie while explaining.
“Live and learn; your spirit is worth emulating.”
Director Nie took the enamel cup and nodded in affirmation.
“Director, you flatter me. I just want to improve my Fitter Skill so I can earn a bit more salary at work.”
Chen Jianye said humbly.