Chapter 44: The Unlucky Xu Damao

Upon seeing this gesture, Xu Damao understood immediately; he had never expected to win over Zhao Gangzi with just a single chicken anyway.

But after all, he was the one asking for a favor, and if he could gain the favor of the Lou Family, he would be able to rise rapidly and soar to the skies!

He gritted his teeth and pulled several large bills from his pocket—two full "Great Unity" notes, which was nearly a month's salary for him!

"Gangzi, take this 20 yuan, and you must lend me your house for two days!" Xu Damao said through gritted teeth.

At this moment, he felt as if his heart were bleeding.

Seeing Xu Damao being so generous, Zhao Gangzi did not hesitate; after all, there was no reason to refuse 20 yuan. However, he still kindly reminded him: "I can lend it to you, but you must be careful these next two days; there is no telling what might happen..."

Xu Damao did not catch the implication in Zhao Gangzi's words, thinking instead that he was worried about him damaging things in the house, so he hurriedly patted his chest and promised:

"Don't worry! If anything happens, it's on me! I definitely won't treat you unfairly!"

And so, the matter was settled.

Zhao Gangzi lent the large room in the Middle Courtyard to Xu Damao, while Zhao Gangzi would stay at Xu Damao's place first.

Originally, it was agreed that he would lend it to him tomorrow afternoon, but after Xu Damao went home and lay on his bed, he felt a wave of discomfort while thinking it over.

Having spent nearly a month's salary, he felt he might have gotten the short end of the stick, so he went to Zhao Gangzi's door again that very evening, demanding to move in tonight.

"Gangzi, I have to stay at your place tonight, otherwise I'll feel terrible about spending this 20 yuan," Xu Damao said with a dejected look on his face.

"This..."

"It's not impossible, but you'll have to get me two front-row tickets when you show movies," Zhao Gangzi stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and finally agreed.

"Fine! It's just a ticket, isn't it? I can get that for you easily!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Damao urged Zhao Gangzi to hurry over to his house.

Zhao Gangzi thought that he didn't have anything valuable at home, and even if he did, this kid wouldn't dare touch it, so he took two changes of clothes and left.

Standing alone in Zhao Gangzi's house, Xu Damao felt incredibly comfortable; it was indeed a luxury home second only to He Yuzhu's!

And there was so much furniture.

Even if he worked diligently for two years, he might not be able to earn enough money to get all these things back!

"I'm sleepy so soon, better get to sleep and wake up early tomorrow to tidy up!"

A lewd smile appeared on the corner of Xu Damao's mouth.

He thought that once he climbed the high branch of the Lou Family, who in the entire Siheyuan would dare look down on him, Xu Damao? After all, they were shareholders of the Rolling Mill; who knows, he might even land a position as a director.

He then dove into the quilt, and before long, the sound of snoring began.

Not long after Xu Damao fell asleep, a pair of sneaky little eyes suddenly appeared at the window.

"This Zhao Gangzi actually went to sleep so early today, but that's good; it'll be easier to get things done later!"

Shazhu crawled in front of the window of Zhao Gangzi's house, looking straight inside, where he could just see their bed.

At this moment, he saw Zhao Gangzi sleeping soundly.

The snoring was especially loud.

After scouting the location, Shazhu tiptoed to the Back Courtyard.

He arrived at Yi Zhonghai's house, where Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu were both present, and Yi Zhonghai was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

Upon seeing Shazhu return, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly asked: "How is it, Pillar? What is Zhao Gangzi doing at home now?"

"Don't worry, First Uncle, that kid is sleeping like a dead pig; it's the perfect time to strike, we'll catch him off guard!"

Shazhu rubbed his hands together with a lewd grin.

Hearing this, the First Uncle felt relieved and hurriedly told Qin Huairu to prepare in advance.

Since the others couldn't bring themselves to do it, they had Jia Dongxu do it himself, tearing the clothes until they were tattered and then putting on an outer garment.

He even smeared something on her face; at this sight, not only Shazhu but even the First Uncle couldn't help but swallow hard.

She was indeed the prettiest widow in the entire Siheyuan; even an old eunuch like Yi Zhonghai felt a stir, and Shazhu, in particular, was instantly reminded of Qin Huairu's charms.

"Stop looking, you bastards, that's my wife."

Jia Dongxu felt extreme grief and indignation; he was stuck with such a beautiful wife every day but couldn't touch her—who could understand that feeling?

Every day he feared other men would covet Qin Huairu, and day after day, it was driving Jia Dongxu's psychological defenses to the brink of collapse.

"Dongxu's wife, remember, once you enter Zhao Gangzi's house, if that kid dares to touch you, you scream,

and then we'll bring people in to catch him; then you'll be able to get your house back!"

Yi Zhonghai warned cautiously, not missing a single detail.

However, it was not yet time; they would wait until it was darker at night to begin the operation.

It wasn't until eight or nine o'clock in the evening, when almost all the residents had turned off their lights, that the group tiptoed out of the Back Courtyard.

Shazhu and Jia Dongxu laid an ambush on the path from the Back Courtyard to the Middle Courtyard, while Yi Zhonghai prepared to raise his arms and shout once the incident occurred to make the matter a reality.

That night, even the moon and stars were hidden in the sky, and the entire Siheyuan was pitch black; Bang Geng and Huaihua had also been coaxed to sleep early.

Shazhu was just about to say something when he turned his head and suddenly saw green light glowing in Jia Dongxu's eyes, which startled him: "Brother Jia, what's wrong with your eyes? Why are they glowing green?!"

"I don't know either, but everyone in our family has this trait; at night, the darker it is, the more clearly we can see!"

This was something probably only Jia Zhangshi knew about.

After all, this was their family's inherited bloodline; the Thief Saint Sect had a long history, and its greatest characteristic was that their eyes would glow green at night, allowing them to see other people's belongings with extreme clarity.

And Qin Huairu was already used to it.

"Dongxu, Pillar, I'm a little scared; after all, this is my first time," Qin Huairu said, her voice trembling as she draped the garment over herself.

"Don't be afraid, victory or defeat hinges on this! We must take back our house, otherwise where will Bang Geng live when he grows up?"

Jia Dongxu kept comforting Qin Huairu.

Thinking of Bang Geng's future, Qin Huairu nodded firmly.

She then walked over without looking back; seeing Qin Huairu go to another man, for some reason, Jia Dongxu actually felt a little excited.

Beside him, Shazhu was also fully prepared, even hiding a wooden club in his clothes.

This time, I will definitely take revenge for the grudge from back then!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Is anyone home?"

Qin Huairu pinched her voice and called out through the door crack in a soft, gentle whisper.

Upon hearing this voice, Xu Damao, who had been sleeping soundly, instantly jolted awake and sat straight up.

"Who is this, knocking on the door in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Though, it sounds like a woman."

"Could it be the widow Liu from the Front Courtyard coming to find me? In the dead of night, she's been getting more and more desperate these past few days..."

Xu Damao had completely forgotten that he was currently at Zhao Gangzi's house, and thinking it was the widow Liu coming to find him, his eyes lit up immediately.

He quietly opened the door, and taking this opportunity, Qin Huairu slipped right in with a swoosh.

Although it was late at night, the general lines of Qin Huairu's figure could still be made out, and Xu Damao's eyes went straight instantly.