Chapter 46: The Courtyard Wall Collapsed

Qin Family.

"Did you see that? If you don't study well, you'll get a beating."

Qin Huairu was giving a live demonstration, pointing toward Liu Hai Zhong's house.

Liu Guangtian's shrill cry gave Bang Geng a huge shock—turns out adults can hit kids like that, and his mom is too nice to him.

A slap, at least it's still flesh-on-flesh.

Jia Dongxu ignored Bang Geng's pleading gaze.

"Bang Geng, don't say your dad doesn't care about you—who let your mom be my wife? If I don't side with her, who do I side with?"

There was nothing else to do; Bang Geng could only apologize.

"Mom, I will definitely study hard."

"From now on I will absolutely not skip class, and I will definitely do my homework on time."

After saying that, he still gave Xiao Dang a fierce glare in secret.

It must have been her who informed on us.

Xiao Dang's status has risen, and she no longer fears Bang Geng's threats.

"Mom, I can count now—one, two, three, four, five……"

"I can count up to ten now."

Upon hearing that, Qin Huairu quickly hugged Xiao Dang and gave her a kiss.

"Xiao Dang is really smart—she can count even without going to school."

Xiao Dang received a reward and was very happy, because she knew how to make her mother like her by giving her delicious food.

Jia Dongxu was also surprised by his daughter's cleverness, snatched her from Qin Huairu's arms, and began to play with her.

This scene made Bang Geng's eyes burn with jealousy—"I'm the family's little treasure, why do you like a money-losing good-for-nothing?"

Grandma, I miss you.

No matter how Bang Geng howls in his heart, it won't change his parents' attitude toward him—perhaps this is what loving strictly means.

Qin Huairu also felt reluctant in her heart, but she had heard from others a child-rearing method: raise boys poor, girls rich.

Everyone says the rains are plentiful during the Qingming season, but this year's rain is different—it seems as if immortals are fighting in the sky, with sparks and lightning flashing, illuminating the roiling black clouds, like the apocalypse of hell.

Wave after wave of heavy thunder rumbled, now east, now west.

The knocking kept Yang Qing from sleeping peacefully.

By late night, the Thunder God and Lightning Mother had finally finished their spell.

But with a tremendous boom, the sound of something collapsing woke the dreamers.

Yang Qing shuddered, instantly losing any trace of sleepiness.

He rushed out into the rain wearing only his underwear.

Good, the Moon Gate is intact.

Yang Qing rushed back inside, turned on the light, and everything was fine.

The roof also withstood the test, showing no sign of leakage; one can only say Master Lei and his crew really know their craft.

Since it wasn't his own house, Yang Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

As for others' houses, he didn't care—better if they died.

But with such a commotion, not going out to look would be unacceptable; having finally avoided deliberate isolation, he couldn't just give up everything and let people find fault.

Otherwise, how could he infiltrate them, divide and weaken them?

Charging out of the Moon Gate, Yang Qing noticed an abnormality; in the dark night he faintly saw that a section of the north wall was missing.

At that moment the front yard also erupted in noise, and the light in Grandma Long's room was turned on.

The light streamed through the rear window, making the back courtyard a bit brighter.

Yang Qing saw clearly—some bastard had dug at the wall's base; after the rain soaked it, thirty percent of the north wall collapsed.

Not long after, the Three Elders finished inspecting the great courtyard and came all the way to the rear.

Everyone held umbrellas and flashlights, the bright light illuminating the courtyard's situation clearly.

The light even went over the courtyard wall, shining onto the gate of the rear siheyuan.

With a creak, the gate opened.

Several people also came out, holding umbrellas and flashlights.

When the two groups saw each other, they all froze for a moment.

In that rear courtyard, there were also people who had come to dig for treasure at Yang Qing's place.

Even those digging at the wall's base included their people.

Yi Zhonghai shone his flashlight on one of them.

"Liang Jin Bao, look at the fine thing you've done."

First, the First Elder said, "This is old-hand work."

Liang Elder wasn't made of paper, either; he couldn't let Yi Zhonghai frame him, and he glared and shouted.

"Nonsense."

"We don't sleep in the middle of the night just to come push your courtyard wall?"

The Three Great Elders immediately took up the reply.

"Who knows about that?"

"Your people really did dig at the wall's base, right? If nobody else is digging, why are you?"

"Didn't you foresee the rain during Qingming and prepare in advance?"

"When the rain came, the wall collapsed, and this rear courtyard got surrounded by you, didn't it?"

Old Man Liang heard this and jumped up.

You're full of shit; we are clearly being squeezed out by you.

Old Man Yi raised his hand, stopping the other's sophistry.

Let's not talk about other things for now; just say now—because of you, the wall collapsed—what do you suggest we do?

Old Man Liang was left speechless, because here they really are at fault.

But his heart also felt glad.

We don't know which little rascal came out in the middle of the night and pushed the wall down.

Now it's fine—Yang Qing's family is directly exposed before them.

No longer will we have to endure the resentment of those big compound people.

This courtyard wall must be torn down for him, so they can conveniently monitor the Yang family—who doesn't know his family used to be capitalists, surely they have good stuff, and incidentally check if anything is hidden inside the wall.

After making up his mind, Old Man Liang assumed a look of taking full responsibility.

Although this matter isn't really our concern, after all we do bear a little responsibility; when the weather improves, we'll rebuild this courtyard wall for you, Old Yi—will that do?

Yi Zhonghai had originally planned to argue a bit, but the other side simply surrendered.

Although it wasn't fully satisfying, it still counts as leading the compound to victory in a battle.

Fine, but not just this section—those wall foundations you dug up must be torn out and the foundations relaid.

Someone on the other side was unwilling.

What right…?

Liang Jin Bao blocked him.

Hey, we don't even need to buy bricks—just redo the foundation and rebuild it a bit; no problem, no problem.

Yi Zhonghai's words could be said to hit the spot.

Damn it, I'll tear down your wall completely, then make it thicker and taller; if we run out of bricks, we'll just turn it into a back door for you.

Hahaha…

Idly dropping by Yang Qing's place, if you can tear down their house, we might also gain some advantage.

Without further talk, every few days we'll go stir up trouble—should work out.

And so it was happily decided.

Yi Zhonghai didn't expect Liang Jin Bao to be so easy to talk to; it feels like they don't look like they've admitted defeat.

Yi Zhonghai furrowed his brows.

No problem, this should count as a job well done.

Liang Jin Bao feared Yi Zhonghai would change his mind, so he hastily retreated.

Ah, okay, okay—as long as no one's house collapsed, it's fine; it's getting late, hurry home to sleep, we still have work tomorrow.

Saying that, they herded the dissatisfied crowd back into the courtyard and shut the door.

Sha Zhu saw the other side leave, and also turned back.

All right, all right, go home and sleep.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at the opposite side, then said to Yang Qing, who was still standing in the rain.

Yang Qing, hurry back inside—don't let yourself freeze.

Afterward, everyone went home to warm up under the blankets.

Liang Jin Bao actually overthought it; their compound wouldn't care whether Yang Qing suffered a loss.

They only care about whether they can gain an advantage.