Chapter 26: Beating Jia Dongxu, angrily rebuking Yi Zhonghai

"Zhuzi, Zhuzi come out a moment, I have something to find you for," Jia Dongxu shouted outside He Yuzhu's door.

He Yuzhu heard Jia Dongxu's shout outside the door, and He Yuzhu comforted himself thinking, "This short-lived guy, don't argue with him; he won't live long, don't be like him, he won't live long, don't get angry, don't be anxious, he doesn't have many years left."

He Yuzhu pushed open the door, smiling and said, "What's up, Brother Dongxu? What's the matter?"

"Ah Zhuzi, isn't my girlfriend here? I want you to help make a meal, and then I want to borrow your bicycle for a bit so I can send her home when she leaves; her house is too far away, and if she walks back it'll be dark."

After saying that, Jia Dongxu smiled, his smile obviously full of pride, as if saying, "How about it, silly Zhu? Look at how beautiful the wife I found is, piss you off."

He Yuzhu thought, "Want me to cook for you? Fine, I'll poison you; you still want to ride my bicycle? I wouldn't even let a dog ride it." Though he thought that, He Yuzhu still said with a smile.

"This matter, Brother Dongxu, why didn't you say earlier? I've taken on a banquet tonight; you see, I just came back at noon to get stuff. This time the host is in East City, I haven't even had time to eat this meal, so I have to rush off to buy ingredients."

Seeing He Yuzhu say that, Jia Dongxu quickly said, "Well then, Zhuzi, lend me your bicycle, or else Huairu will get home too late."

"Oh, Brother Dongxu, I'm not refusing to lend it to you; it's just that the place I'm going is too far. If I walk there I'll definitely delay the host's business, sorry Brother Dongxu, I have to go or I'll really be late." Saying this, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle to go out, but when he pushed it, it didn't move, and he saw Jia Dongxu grabbing the bicycle, not letting He Yuzhu go.

He Yuzhu laughed angrily, "What's the deal? Brother Dongxu, what do you mean?" After saying that, He Yuzhu looked at Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu glared at He Yuzhu and said, "Today this bicycle, you will lend it whether you want to or not; I've decided to borrow it."

Seeing that Jia Dongxu had both requests refused by He Yuzhu, his short temper flared up, thinking, "Isn't this slapping my face? Today I'll definitely give you a lesson!"

He Yuzhu still had a smile on his face as he said, "What if I don't lend it to you?" Actually He Yuzhu could no longer hold back, thinking that if this guy goes too far, I'll beat him up today.

"Am I giving you face?" Saying that, Jia Dongxu threw a punch at He Yuzhu's face; with a pa sound He Yuzhu caught Jia Dongxu's fist and kicked him to the ground. He Yuzhu didn't expect Jia Dongxu to strike first; unable to hold back any longer, He Yuzhu parked his bicycle to the side, went up and slapped Jia Dongxu twice with a pa-pa sound.

"He Yuzhu, stop." Seeing Jia Dongxu being beaten, Yi Zhonghai, who had been hiding inside peeking, couldn't stay put and rushed out to stop He Yuzhu.

"Our comrade He Yuzhu won't indulge you, Yi Zhonghai," he ignored him and slapped Jia Dongxu's face twice more with pa-pa sounds, this time breaking Jia Dongxu's nose and making it bleed.

"He Yuzhu, stop, how can you hit someone?" Saying that, Yi Zhonghai grabbed He Yuzhu's hand, preventing him from hitting Jia Dongxu further.

Hearing the commotion outside, Jia Zhangshi from the west wing room glanced out, immediately couldn't stay seated, let out a cry, and ran out shouting while running, "Dongxu, my Dongxu, what happened to you?" She ran to Jia Dongxu and helped him up.

Then she shouted at He Yuzhu, "You bastard, born of a mother but not raised by her, why are you hitting our Dongxu? This isn't over; I'll tell you, we'll go to the police station later to complain."

"You old hag, say another word and I'll tear you apart." He Yuzhu, hearing the old woman talk like that, glared at Jia Zhangshi and said, seeing He Yuzhu's murderous gaze, Jia Zhangshi trembled and dared not speak.

"He Yuzhu, have you rebelled? After hitting someone you're still so arrogant," Yi Zhonghai said while holding He Yuzhu's hand.

"Yi Zhonghai, give me face and call me 'big brother'; don't give me face and you're nobody. Taking sides isn't something you do like that," He Yuzhu glared at Yi Zhonghai, who then hurriedly released He Yuzhu's hand.

Because it was Sunday, many workplaces were off, so the courtyard was still fairly full; hearing the noise, basically everyone in the courtyard came out. Seeing the crowd gathering, He Yuzhu said.

"Neighbors, everyone judge for me," He Yuzhu then recounted what just happened. The crowd murmured, "Jia Dongxu is unreasonable; why should we lend him our own bicycle when he still has business to attend to?"

Hearing the neighbors say that, He Yuzhu added, "You don't know, but our courtyard's 'big brother' Yi Zhonghai, who is also Jia Dongxu's master, is how he's showing favoritism." He Yuzhu deliberately emphasized Jia Dongxu's master's actions.

"Just now when Jia Dongxu was about to hit me, our 'big brother' hid inside and didn't come out; seeing his disciple get beaten, he then appeared— isn't that blatant favoritism? This is two families teaming up to bully me, an orphan." He Yuzhu thought, "You old meddler, didn't you used to like morally blackmailing people? Today I'll let you taste being blackmailed."

"He Yuzhu, don't spout nonsense," Yi Zhonghai was about to continue, but He Yuzhu didn't give him a chance, saying, "If I'm spouting nonsense, big brother, then why didn't you come out when Jia Dongxu hit me, and why did you only appear when Jia Dongxu got hit?"

"I, I," Yi Zhonghai had just uttered two "I"s when He Yuzhu interrupted, "What are you, Yi Zhonghai? You can't even make up an excuse."

"He Yuzhu, I tell you, hitting people is wrong; we're all in the same courtyard, how can you hit someone?" Yi Zhonghai said, his face flushed.

"Then is it okay for your disciple to hit people? Just now it was your disciple who struck first; I was acting in self-defense. Wasn't that old hag wanting to go to the authorities? Come on, let's go to the police station to see whether they arrest Jia Dongxu or me, He Yuzhu."

Saying that, He Yuzhu took out two mao and said, "Whoever helps me run a trip to the police station, these two mao are theirs."

"Wait a moment," a voice came from the back courtyard; everyone looked toward the back courtyard and saw Old Lady Rong leaning on her cane walking over from the back courtyard, coming before the crowd and saying, "I heard everything just now; Xiao Yi, you should apologize to Zhuzi, this matter is your fault."

"Old Lady, it's me who got hit; why should my master apologize?" Yi Zhonghai hadn't even spoken when Jia Dongxu stepped forward and said.

"Shut up, Xiao Yi, apologize," Old Lady Rong said, then looked at Yi Zhonghai.

"Old Lady, I," Yi Zhonghai was about to say more when they heard Old Lady Rong tap her cane with a pa sound, "Xiao Yi, apologize."

Yi Zhonghai helplessly said to He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, sorry for today's matter; don't take it to heart."

After Yi Zhonghai finished, Old Lady Rong interjected, "Zhuzi, you still have things to do, right? See, Xiao Yi has already apologized to you; hurry up and get busy, don't dwell on it." Then she told the neighbors, "Everyone go back, don't stand here gawking." Hearing Old Lady Rong's words, everyone, out of respect for her age, dispersed.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu said, "Alright, I'll give you face today, Old Lady; I'm leaving first." After saying that, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle and left the courtyard house.

Just as He Yuzhu left, Jia Zhangshi said to Old Lady Rong, "Old Lady, our Dongxu's beating shouldn't go unanswered; you just let him walk away like that?"

"Shut up, Xiao Yi, come with me to the back courtyard." Saying that, she leaned on her cane and walked toward the back courtyard.