Chapter 11: Jia Zhangshi Wets Her Pants

Li Mingyuan had just finished preparing dinner when he suddenly heard the courtyard gate being pounded with a loud bang-bang.

"Who is it?" Li Mingyuan frowned.

"Li Mingyuan! Open the door!" A sharp female voice came from outside; it was Jia Zhangshi.

Li Mingyuan opened the door to see Jia Zhangshi standing at the entrance with her hands on her hips, with an embarrassed-looking Jia Dongxu following behind her.

"Is there something you need, Jia Dama?" Li Mingyuan's tone was flat.

Jia Zhangshi squeezed out a smile, though her eyes were fixed on the meat on the table near Li Mingyuan, "Comrade Li, as neighbors, it's only right that we help each other out. My Dongxu has a blind date tomorrow and is short on some meat, and you seem to have bought quite a lot..."

Before she could finish, Li Mingyuan understood her intent, "Jia Dama, to be honest, that meat is my ration; the quantity is limited, and it's not even enough for me to eat."

Jia Zhangshi's expression changed instantly, "Pah! Don't give me that! I saw with my own eyes that you brought back a full five jin of meat! Eating so much by yourself, aren't you afraid of bursting?"

Hearing this, Li Mingyuan stopped being polite, "How much meat I buy, what the hell does that have to do with you? Is it your money?"

"You!" Jia Zhangshi was choked up, then glared, "Li Mingyuan, don't be ungrateful! Let me tell you, this West Courtyard was originally promised to my family, but you snatched it! You should at least show some respect!"

Seeing this, Jia Dongxu tugged at his mother's sleeve, "Mom, let's not cause a scene..."

"Shut up!" Jia Zhangshi slapped the back of her son's head, "You useless thing! You don't even dare to fight for your own territory!"

Li Mingyuan looked at the mother and son and shook his head, "This courtyard was assigned to me by my superiors; it has nothing to do with you. As for the meat, I won't give it to you. Now please leave, I'm going to eat."

Having said that, he moved to close the door.

"Stop!" Jia Zhangshi pushed the door open and stormed into the courtyard aggressively, "Don't think you're all that just because you're some expert! Let me tell you, I'm determined to get this courtyard! Either share some meat with me, or you move out!"

Li Mingyuan's eyes turned cold, "This is trespassing on private property; it's illegal."

"Illegal? Ha!" Jia Zhangshi laughed shrilly, "I, Jia Zhangshi, have lived in this Siheyuan for over a dozen years; who doesn't give me face? Who do you think you are? Just some outsider, a greenhorn!"

As she spoke, she walked toward Li Mingyuan's kitchen, clearly intending to snatch the meat.

Jia Dongxu was pale with fright, "Mom, don't do this..."

Li Mingyuan stood where he was, watching her coldly, "Jia Zhangshi, final warning: get out."

"Warning? Who are you warning!" Jia Zhangshi was so angry her face twisted; she lifted the lid of the pot in the kitchen, where a pot of meat was stewing, the aroma wafting out.

"It smells so good, let me have a taste!" Jia Zhangshi picked up a spoon from the side and reached toward the pot.

Seeing she was about to succeed, Li Mingyuan was quick-witted and fast-handed; he grabbed a kitchen knife from the cutting board and *swish*—slammed it into the wooden board right next to Jia Zhangshi's outstretched arm.

"Ah!" Jia Zhangshi was scared out of her wits; her hand shook, and the spoon dropped to the ground.

"Get out." Li Mingyuan's voice was as cold as ice, "Otherwise, next time, the knife won't be stuck in the wooden board."

Jia Zhangshi was stunned by this sudden turn of events; her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground, her pants instantly soaking through.

"I... I..." Jia Zhangshi's lips trembled, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Jia Dongxu hurried forward to help his mother up, "Mom, what's wrong with you?"

Li Mingyuan pulled out the kitchen knife and put it back on the cutting board, his expression returning to calm, "Jia Dongxu, take your mother out; I don't want to say it a second time."

Only then did Jia Dongxu see the state of his mother's pants; his face flushed red, and he stood there at a loss.

"What are you still standing there for?" Li Mingyuan said coldly, "Do you want me to help throw her out?"

Jia Dongxu finally snapped out of it and stammered, "I... I'm sorry Comrade Li, I... I'll take my mother out right now."

He hurriedly helped his mother up. Jia Zhangshi had regained her senses by now, but overcome with shame and rage, she struggled to stand, pointing at Li Mingyuan as she retreated, her lips still trembling.

"You... you just wait... this isn't over..."

Li Mingyuan watched expressionlessly as the mother and son retreated from the West Courtyard in a sorry state, then slammed the door shut.

Back in the kitchen, Li Mingyuan shook his head, "This happens on the very first day; it seems life in the Siheyuan won't be peaceful."

But this was also within his expectations.

In the TV series, Jia Zhangshi was a cunning shrew; he didn't expect her to be this arrogant when she was younger. If he didn't teach her a lesson, she would likely only get worse in the future.

And with these animals, it seemed impossible not to use force.

He would see tomorrow if there were any self-defense skills he could learn.

He sat down to eat, but his mind was already thinking about how to deal with the trouble ahead. People like Jia Zhangshi would never let it go after suffering a loss; she would definitely find someone to deal with him.

……

Just as Li Mingyuan expected, while he was eating, Jia Zhangshi had already begun.

At Jia Zhangshi's home, she had changed into dry pants, but the shame and rage had not dissipated. After dragging Jia Dongxu home, she started punching and kicking him without a word.

"Useless thing! You couldn't even protect your own mother! Standing there like a piece of wood!" Jia Zhangshi grabbed a broom and started swinging it at Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu huddled in the corner, not daring to resist, only begging for mercy in a low voice, "Mom, I was wrong, I really didn't dare... that Li Mingyuan's gaze was too terrifying..."

"Terrifying? You coward!" Jia Zhangshi grew angrier as she scolded, "If your father were still here, could anyone bully us mother and son like this?"

After scolding for a long while, Jia Zhangshi finally stopped, her eyes rolling, "This can't just end like this! Let's go, find Old Yi! He's the head of the courtyard; he has to back us up!"

Jia Dongxu dared not object and could only follow his mother to Yi Zhonghai's house.

Yi Zhonghai was reading the newspaper in his room. Hearing the knock, he opened the door to see Jia Zhangshi and looked puzzled, "Sister Zhang, what's the matter?"

As soon as Jia Zhangshi entered, she started crying, "Old Yi, I've been bullied! Right here in our courtyard!"

Yi Zhonghai hurried them into the room and poured tea, "Who would dare bully Sister Zhang? Tell me, and I'll judge the situation for you!"

Jia Zhangshi wiped her tears and recounted the story with added embellishments.

She only said that she went to visit Li Mingyuan's house and was driven out by him at knifepoint, which scared her so much her legs went weak, but she didn't mention at all that she had broken into his home to snatch meat.

"That kid is too arrogant!" Jia Zhangshi said indignantly, "Old Yi, you're the head of the courtyard, you have to back me up! This West Courtyard was originally supposed to be mine; why was it given to him!"

Yi Zhonghai listened and pondered for a moment, "Sister Zhang, you can't say it like that. The West Courtyard was assigned to Li Mingyuan by the superiors; we can't do anything about that. As for him pointing a knife at people, that is indeed wrong; I'll go talk to him."

"Right, he should be taught a good lesson!" Jia Zhangshi's spirits lifted immediately, and she grabbed Yi Zhonghai, wanting to go find Li Mingyuan.

"Don't be impatient, Sister Zhang," Yi Zhonghai soothed, "I'll go myself; you two go back first. Leave this matter to me to handle."

Jia Zhangshi wanted to follow and watch the excitement, but seeing Yi Zhonghai's firm attitude, she had to return home with Jia Dongxu, not forgetting to urge him before leaving, "Old Yi, you must give him a taste of his own medicine!"

After Jia Zhangshi left, Yi Zhonghai sat back in his chair, his brows furrowed. He didn't believe Jia Zhangshi's one-sided story; with her personality, she must have been the one to provoke him first.

However, this Li Mingyuan is indeed somewhat special.

During the day he was indifferent to me, and today he caused a scene by threatening people with a knife; it seems he is not an easy person to get along with.

Yi Zhonghai rubbed his Taiyang and muttered to himself, "What exactly is Li Mingyuan's background? How can a young man be so confident?"

After pondering for a moment, he decided to go meet Li Mingyuan in person, both to handle Jia Zhangshi's complaint and to test Li Mingyuan's attitude once again. If Li Mingyuan was reasonable enough, perhaps he could be won over for his own use.

"In any case, that kid He Yuzhu is good for nothing; this Li Mingyuan is actually a decent choice." Yi Zhonghai muttered to himself, straightened his collar, and walked toward the West Courtyard.

At the entrance of the West Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai hesitated for a moment, but ultimately knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Li Mingyuan's voice came from inside.

"Comrade Li, I am Yi Zhonghai; I have something I would like to discuss with you." Yi Zhonghai tried his best to make his voice sound gentle yet authoritative.

The door opened, and Li Mingyuan stood at the entrance, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, "Master Yi, what is it?"