Chapter 57

He Yuzhu got off work and went to idle at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative nearby; not far away, the Courtyard House suddenly became lively, and Jia Zhangshi, who had been taken away, suddenly returned.

Of course, there's no need to think about the Second Elder; he's already gone in.

The neighbors of the Courtyard House gathered around the Jia Family, wanting to see how the miserly Third Elder was demanding money.

"Jia Zhangshi, you're an accomplice of Liu Haizhong; you also have to pay for this bicycle." San Daye sat on a chair, "You two families split it three‑to‑seven; after all these days, it's time to settle this."

Second Aunt's face looked grim; she wanted to say something but ended up saying nothing—her family's pillar had been taken away, the child was also not alright, and they had lost their voice.

She just wanted to see Jia Zhangshi's attitude; if she agreed, her own family couldn't get away with it either.

"Nonsense! Who's paying?" Jia Zhangshi jumped up, pointing at San Daye's nose and shouting, "I have nothing to do with Liu Haizhong; don't look for me."

Yi Daye stepped between them, telling them to calm down; we're just trying to resolve this, so stop arguing.

"My family has no money; we've already paid He Yuzhu. If you want money, go find him."

Jia Zhangshi started throwing a tantrum, saying her family had become something in the Courtyard House that anyone could step on; last time she let He Yuzhu beat her up so badly, why hasn't anyone demanded He Yuzhu compensate her?

"You went to steal from others' homes; you deserved to be beaten." San Daye sneered.

Jia Zhangshi shoved Yi Daye aside and lunged at San Daye. With her weight, San Daye couldn't stop her; in a few moments she was pinned beneath him.

"You old miser, I'll make you shut up." Jia Zhangshi ripped off San Daye's glasses, scratching with both hands, "I'll sit on you and crush you."

Yi Daye's face looked grim; what's wrong with Jia Zhangshi? With so many people around, she shows no shame, unaware that everyone is watching.

"Qin Huairu, hurry up and pull them apart, why are you spacing out?" Yi Daye shouted, "And you there, hurry up!"

After they were pulled apart, San Daye looked a sorry sight, while Jia Zhangshi was unharmed and still smug.

While in detention, Jia Zhangshi was bullied like this; she never expected that after returning she would use the same tactic herself.

"Yi Daye, hurry up and fetch He Yuzhu; I want to have a good talk with him." Jia Zhangshi felt she had trained enough, "The last time she hit me isn't over yet."

Knowing he lacked that standing, Yi Daye sent someone else to find He Yuzhu.

When He Yuzhu arrived, he saw Jia Zhangshi sitting there with a look that begged for a beating, while San Daye had several bloody welts on his face, hiding in the crowd to tend his wounds.

"He Yuzhu, you and your spouse beat me last time; hurry up and hand over the medical fees." Jia Zhangshi said with hands on hips, "Otherwise I won't let you off."

Has it been a few days since we last met and you're itching again?

"Are you asking for a beating or just itching?"

"I deserve a beating, I'm not just itching."

Jia Zhangshi's face turned red; she again employed the tactic of ramming San Daye, charging at He Yuzhu. She indeed had a solid build; caught off guard, He Yuzhu was also struck.

But he didn't fall like San Daye did; instead he seized the moment and drove his knee into Jia Zhangshi's belly, making her cry out like a pig awaiting slaughter.

Jia Zhangshi clung like an octopus, trying to wrap around He Yuzhu, but He Yuzhu wasn't a weakling like San Daye; he grabbed her hair with one hand and slammed her hard to the ground.

Just as he was about to kick her a few times, Yi Daye lunged again, trying to shove He Yuzhu out the door.

They hadn't done anything yet when suddenly there was a crack; Jia Zhangshi clutched her arm and wailed, while Character stood expressionless to the side.

Yi Daye suddenly recalled the humiliation of being stepped on, and silently stepped back.

"It's fine, it's fine; I just dislocated her arm." Character moved to He Yuzhu's side and whispered, "Was I too violent? I'll never do that again."

Yi Daye took two rough breaths, pointing at He Yuzhu and the two.

"Nice hit, this old fogey deserves this treatment; hurry up and pay for my bicycle, or I'll still have to beat you." San Daye suddenly jumped up, somewhat pleased.

Anyone with sense could see he was borrowing the tiger's might, and few wanted to entertain his words.

"I called you over to discuss things; why did you start fighting as soon as you arrived?" Yi Daye complained, "If I don't intervene, you three families can just brawl here."

"What does this have to do with us? Why are you dragging us in? Yi Daye, haven't you been educated properly? I think your punishment should be increased."

He Yuzhu left with Character; fighting them here would be a poor move—using his own advantages to deal with them is the smart choice.

"Sigh, why bother again?" Yi Daye sighed, "Coming here to beat you up—does it feel good? Let me say what's good about you."

San Daye didn't argue further; he simply told them the money must be paid, and it has to be given tomorrow, or he won't let them off.

Jia Zhangshi was now in so much pain she broke into a cold sweat, and she didn't dare act arrogantly anymore.

"What are you doing with this mischief? I could have settled things peacefully." Yi Daye also complained, "Now you're happy, letting someone dislocate your arm for nothing."

Isn't this just looking for trouble?

"I didn't steal the bicycle; why should I pay? And He Yuzhu hit me—why shouldn't he pay?"

"Then tell me, what are you loitering around people's doorsteps for late at night?"

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's state, Yi Daye also rose to leave; people like her, after a couple of beatings, will accept reality.

Qin Huairu followed Yi Daye's steps out; tears welled up on her cheeks, and she softly said to him, "My mother-in-law likes to stir up trouble and be unreasonable, you know that—please don't take this to heart."

Seeing Qin Huairu with tears like pear blossoms in rain, Yi Daye's heart gave a tug; the Jia Family indeed wasn't doing well, so let's forgive her this time.

"Yi Daye, let's still talk properly with San Daye; my family really is in difficulty now, and when I earn a bit more I'll repay his money."

Although Bang Geng is gone now, there are still two youngsters at home, plus the troublesome Jia Zhangshi, making life still hard; persuading He Yuzhu, Yi Daye feels powerless.

But persuading San Daye, he thinks it's still worth a try.

This is where Qin Huairu is smarter than Jia Zhangshi—sometimes being forceful backfires; saying a few kind words, lowering her attitude a bit, might just get things done.

She felt that if Jia Zhangshi didn't meddle, He Yuzhu's side wouldn't have turned out like this.