Chapter 153: Courtyard Solidarity

Cui Xiu sneered, "If you have the ability, then try it?" Before her voice had even faded, she opened her throat and screamed, "Help! Catch the hooligans! Help, help!"

Her voice grew louder with each cry, sounding exceptionally piercing in the silent courtyard.

Xu Damao was startled by his mother's sudden cries for help, but he immediately reacted, following her lead and shouting, "Help, murder, murder..."

Even the families in the courtyard who usually had complaints about the old Xu Family could not sit idly by when hearing such miserable cries for help.

Soon, the men and boys of the courtyard poured out of their homes, carrying sticks, rolling pins, and even kitchen knives, quickly surrounding the tightly shut door of Xu Damao's house.

Cui Xiu was deep in schemes; hearing the clamor outside, she knew reinforcements had arrived.

A flash of resolve crossed her eyes as she suddenly raised her hands to tear apart her hair bun, letting her hair hang loose, then forcefully tugged at the collar of her shirt, instantly revealing a patch of fair skin on her chest.

Seeing his mother so willing to go to such lengths, Xu Damao hardened his heart and followed the Gourd's pattern.

He raised his hands and slapped himself hard on both sides of his face, wailing incessantly, "Stop hitting, stop hitting, if you hit any more, someone will die!" His cheeks quickly became red and swollen, and he looked miserable beyond compare.

Zhang Shan was stunned by this sudden turn of events, and he cursed in exasperation, "You stinking bitch, you're framing us! See if I don't kill you all!"

To the surrounding neighbors, their threatening roars were like mud falling into one's trousers—if it wasn't shit, it was still shit; their evil deeds were confirmed.

The men in the courtyard were even more incensed upon hearing these foul words.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong exchanged a glance and took the lead, kicking the door open with one strike.

The moment the door opened, Zhang Shan subconsciously turned his head toward the entrance.

Seizing this opening, Cui Xiu raised her foot and kicked Zhang Shan hard in the crotch!

"Ouch!" Zhang Shan let out a painful cry, then clutched his lower body tightly with both hands and curled up on the ground.

Seeing this, his few brothers rushed up to grab Cui Xiu's hair, but they were blocked by Liu Haizhong, who had just rushed in with his burly frame.

Yi Zhonghai grabbed Zhang Shan, who had just stood up and wanted to hit Xu Damao, from behind, rendering him unable to move.

Xu Damao took the opportunity to pounce on Zhang Shan like a provoked little beast, kicking and hitting his vital parts with all his might.

Cui Xiu was not idle either; like a provoked mother monkey, her sharp nails scratched mercilessly at the faces and bodies of Zhang Shan's brothers.

At this moment, seven or eight more men holding kitchen knives and rolling pins surged in from outside, using their numerical advantage to control the other three men as well.

Cui Xiu remained relentless, scratching at the faces of Zhang Shan's brothers with all her might, leaving trails of blood.

Seeing that they could not win today no matter what, Zhang Shan and his men had to swallow their pride, begging for mercy with crying voices: "Big brothers in the courtyard, don't believe this stinking woman's words! We really didn't lay a hand on them; they are all acting, hitting themselves! Please, everyone, show mercy and let us go!"

Xu Damao immediately began to wail loudly, his voice filled with grievance and indignation: "They laid hands on my mother and even threatened to sell my sister to a brothel! Uncles and elders, you must uphold justice for us orphans and widows!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhifu, who was standing to the side, was instantly furious and cursed, "Bastard! Doing such a wicked thing, I'll beat you to death!" After cursing, he swung his arm and gave Zhang Shan a loud slap.

Zhang Shan was hit until he saw stars, yet he still stubbornly cursed, "Screw your grandfather, you dare hit me!"

Wang Zhifu's anger grew even more, and his fan-like palms slapped Zhang Shan's face repeatedly as if they cost nothing.

Before long, Zhang Shan's face was swollen, looking just like a pig's head.

Seeing that the timing was right, Xu Damao quickly opened his throat and shouted to the crowd: "Everyone, judge for yourselves! Their brother is named Zhang Jin, formerly a security guard at the Rolling Mill and a friend of my father's who often borrowed money from him. A few days ago, he borrowed over a hundred Big Ocean from my father again. My father was in urgent need of money and went to ask for it, but he wouldn't pay it back, so my father had no choice but to keep following him. Last time, they happened to run into Zhang Jin while he was on duty, and my father was unlucky enough to be beaten to death along with him. Now that Zhang Jin is dead, these brothers have lost their support and came to demand money from us orphans and widows! Tell me, aren't they ungrateful wretches? This is simply against heaven's principles; there's no such thing as bullying people like this!"

Xu Damao's words were extremely clever; they both explained to his mother, Cui Xiu, where the family's money had gone—that Xu Fugui had lent it to Zhang Jin—and skillfully cleared his father and himself of any potential suspicion, showing a heart as clear as seven apertures.

Xu Damao was indeed very familiar with Zhang Jin, especially after Zhang Jin became a Police officer.

It was also true that Zhang Jin's family background was poor, and Xu Fugui did indeed often lend him some money for emergencies.

Yi Zhonghai also knew Zhang Jin and knew that he and Xu Fugui had a good relationship; whenever the two had spare money, they would go to brothels together.

After Xu Damao's emotional and vivid account, it indeed largely cleared his father, Xu Fugui.

The people in the courtyard who originally had various guesses about the cause of Xu Fugui's death mostly believed this explanation now.

Seeing that Zhang Shan and his men had been beaten enough, Yi Zhonghai stepped out to mediate: "Brothers, since brother Zhang Jin and the Xu Family were friends, I think we should each take a step back today. It was wrong for you to harass the sister-in-law of the Xu Family, but now that you've been beaten, let's call it even. What do you think?"

"Screw your grandfather! You've said all the good and bad things! Just you wait, I've remembered this courtyard of yours; there isn't a single good person here!"

Enduring intense pain, Zhang Shan left behind these harsh words and, supported by his brothers, walked out of the courtyard in a sorry state.

Xu Damao jumped and cursed at their backs: "Bastards! When I, your young master, grow up, I will definitely kill you!"

At this time, Cui Xiu knew when to stop; she stopped crying and making a scene and began to play the role of a weak woman, squatting in the corner, covering her face with both hands, and emitting suppressed "woo-woo" sobs.

Xu Xiaoyun held her mother's arm and also kept shedding tears.

Four-year-old Xu Xiaoling was crying so hard that snot bubbles were coming out, her little face dirty.

A group of grown men saw this scene and didn't know how to comfort them.

A group of enthusiastic aunties drove all the men out, and they stayed in the Xu house, surrounding Cui Xiu and her daughters, offering comfort in a cacophony of voices.

Xu Damao walked alone into the courtyard, picked up a thick wooden stick, and beat an old tree in the courtyard with all his might, using this to vent the resentment and humiliation in his heart.