Chapter 1077: A Bloody Disaster

He Daqing's ninetieth birthday arrived as scheduled, and the entire Nanluoguxiang was like it was during the Lunar New Year.

At the entrance of the Ninety-five Courtyard, red silk hung high and lanterns were strung in rows; two men performing a lion dance tumbled and leaped before the gate, the gongs and drums thundering, while the onlookers, young and old, cheered in wave after wave.

The firecracker debris carpeted the ground in red, feeling soft underfoot, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder mixed with the aroma of prepared dishes—it was truly lively.

As one of the main receptionists, Xu Damao had dressed up specially for the day.

He wore a dark gray Armani suit that was perfectly pressed, the trouser creases sharp enough to cut paper, a red silk flower pinned to his chest, and his hair slicked down so shiny that a fly would have to do the splits if it landed on it.

He stood at the main gate greeting guests, a smug smile on his face and his mouth as if smeared with honey, chatting with everyone he saw; those who didn't know better would have thought he was the groom.

Hu Bayi, Wang Pangzi, and Dajinya were also key receptionists, specifically responsible for the people from He Yuzhu's business circles—the bigwigs of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, tycoons from the building materials industry, and chamber members were all handled by them.

The people arriving here were all prominent figures who spoke politely, and after presenting their gifts, they were ushered into the inner courtyard's private rooms to drink tea.

He Yushui and He Yulu, the two sisters, were in charge of the He Family's relatives and friends, and this group was quite boisterous.

As more and more people arrived, those who had come early, like Chen Daya and Ma Yan, saw that things were getting busy and rolled up their sleeves to help organize.

He Yushui's group of best friends—Dahua, Xiaomi, Xiaoqi, and Ding Li—stood there without moving, chattering away endlessly as if they were holding a tea party.

If one had to name the loudest and most boisterous, it would have to be Xu Damao's side.

His foul mouth never rested, cracking jokes and hurling insults, his voice so loud that half the alley could hear him, and the old neighbors gathered around him, laughing until they doubled over.

Just as he was talking, a shiny black Cadillac sedan pulled slowly to a stop at the gate.

As the door opened, Jia Zhangshi climbed out—her round body wrapped in a new floral qipao, she looked like a rolling ball as she walked, and the gold chain hanging around her neck was thick enough to tether a dog, swaying and particularly eye-catching.

Ever since Bang Geng made a fortune doing business with He Zheng, Jia Zhangshi's status had risen with the tide; she changed her clothes every day, and if it wasn't fabric from Ruifuxiang, she wouldn't even bother wearing it.

Jia Dongxu and Bang Geng reached out from left and right to help her, but Jia Zhangshi flicked her hand away: "I don't need your help, I can walk myself!"

Bang Geng coaxed her with a grin: "I know you can walk, Grandma, but there are so many people in the courtyard, I'm afraid they might bump into you."

"I've lived in this courtyard for decades, I could walk it with my eyes closed, you think I'd fall?" Jia Zhangshi curled her lip, her face full of disdain.

Jia Dongxu chimed in from the side: "You don't know, this courtyard has changed a lot over the years! Last time I came, I didn't even dare walk inside."

Xu Damao had spotted them long ago, and he leaned in with a mocking smile, bowing and scraping, his mouth running loose: "Oh my! Auntie Jia, you've really got a grand display! Like a dung beetle on a plane—you've really taken off!"

Jia Zhangshi had been putting on airs, but upon hearing this, she spat on the ground, the flesh on her face quivering, though her spirit remained strong: "You little bastard! Haven't seen you in so many years, and your mouth is still as foul as ever! What's the matter? Heard your stepfather died? Has your mother remarried yet?"

Over the years, Xu Damao had cultivated the thick-skinned attitude of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water; he wasn't the least bit annoyed, leaning in closer with a cheeky grin and rolling his eyes: "Old lady, your mouth is much fouler than mine. I heard, though, that your daughter-in-law—my junior sister—has been at odds with you lately? Did you start calling for Lao Jia in the middle of the night again? Why don't you shout a few times today while there are so many people? Haven't heard it in decades, I actually kind of miss it!"

"Little bastard, just like your dead father, I can't be bothered with you." After her retort, Jia Zhangshi, supported by Jia Dongxu and Bang Geng on either side, strode into the courtyard with a pompous gait.

Once inside, she looked around, clicking her tongue: "I have to say, the He Family has really fixed this place up nicely. Look at these flowers, this corridor, it's like the Imperial Garden!"

Bang Geng quickly chimed in: "Grandma, what are you saying? Do you know who my Siqiang is? He's the richest man in the world!"

Jia Zhangshi curled her lip, "What's the use of having that much money? It's better like our family, three generations living together and living a warm, happy life."

The sound of their voices was drowned out by the roar of his motorcycle.

A Harley heavy motorcycle pulled up to the gate with a drift, the buzzing roar of the engine causing everyone nearby to cast glances.

Yan Jiefang stepped off the bike, wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of large toad-eye sunglasses, while Xiaomei sat on the back seat, dressed fashionably—though Xiaomei was over sixty, she was well-preserved and knew how to groom herself, looking barely over forty at a glance.

Xu Damao had sharp eyes; he darted over in two or three steps and reached out to snatch the sunglasses off Yan Jiefang's face: "Yo! CK, right? I was just thinking about getting a pair! They're mine now!" He perched the sunglasses on his own face, his mouth still running, "Jiefang, you haven't been in touch with me for how many years? What's the matter, now that you've made it, you don't recognize your old neighbors anymore?"

Yan Jiefang chuckled, glanced at Xiaomei who was heading over to talk to He Yushui, and lowered his voice: "Xu Damao, do you think our relationship is suitable for frequent meetings?"

Xu Damao followed his gaze to Xiaomei, his eyes darting around, and he leaned in with a cheeky grin: "It's been so many years, I've long forgotten that she's my ex-wife! Don't overthink it, Jiefang!"

Yan Jiefang didn't take the bait; he didn't even want his sunglasses back, simply tossing the bike keys to a security guard responsible for parking and striding into the courtyard.

Xu Damao turned and sidled up to He Yushui's group, looking at Xiaomei with a sleazy expression: "Xiaomei, I heard you're still working as the General Manager at Xueru Fashion Group? Why haven't you retired yet? You're at such an age, you should be enjoying your golden years!"

Xiaomei glared at him: "Is that any of your business? Don't go showing off just because you have a little stinking money! Aren't you still just living off of Zhuzi?"

Xu Damao grinned shamelessly: "So what? Let's not mock each other! You're with Jiefang, I'm with Zhuzi, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other!"

Xiaomei's face darkened; she couldn't be bothered to bicker with him and turned to chase after Yan Jiefang.

Xu Damao stood where he was, watching their backs, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Jiefang! Let's have a couple of drinks later! It's been years since we sat down together!"

Yan Jiefang waved his hand without even turning his head.

Xu Damao chuckled, took off the toad-eye sunglasses, and thought about throwing them on the ground, but couldn't bear to, stuffing them into his pocket instead, muttering to himself: "Still just picking up my leftovers..."

People kept filing in, and Xu Damao continued to crack jokes with the old neighbors, his mouth having no filter, that shameless energy of his remaining the same for decades.

Yet at the same time, the monitoring room in the Houyuan was in a state of utter chaos.

Ershuan leaned in close to He Yuzhu and asked in a hushed voice: "Zhuzi, if you're so worried about the family's safety, why did you let the old man throw such a big party?"

He Yuzhu sighed and rubbed his temples: "It's a long story. My dad has been talking about his ninetieth birthday for almost a year. I don't know which fortune teller he had read his horoscope, but they said ninety was a hurdle for him."

Ershuan shook his head from the side: "The old man is in such good health, how could anything happen? I think that fortune teller is mostly just a scammer."

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "Once the old man has his mind set on something, nine oxen couldn't pull him back. He said he had a 'bloody disaster' on his birthday, and if he could just get through this day safely, he'd live another twelve years. So I suggested he hold a big banquet to see who was so blind as to try something. I was just saying it at the time. He took it seriously."

Ershuan's expression tightened: "So you're worried someone might cause trouble this time?"

He Yuzhu nodded, his voice dropping even lower: "I received news that those big pharmaceutical companies are planning to make a move..."

Ershuan frowned: "But people without invitations can't get in today. Unless it's those prominent guests who might show up uninvited. They wouldn't do anything low-class, would they?"

"What I'm afraid of is someone bringing others in." He Yuzhu's gaze darkened, "For example, someone bringing a boyfriend or girlfriend; those unfamiliar faces are easy to sneak in."

"Uncle He, look at this person." Ershuan's son, Xiaoquan, suddenly pointed at the screen and shouted.

He Yuzhu followed his finger—on the monitor, a middle-aged man in his forties was walking in, arm-in-arm with a young, beautiful woman, the two of them chatting and laughing, looking perfectly normal.

Ershuan immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and lowered his voice: "Zhao Jian at the gate, check on that man in the gray jacket and his girlfriend who just walked in."