As Liu Lan watched Ma Hua's departing figure, tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't expected that Ma Hua, knowing her and Li Huaide's identities, wouldn't look down on her and would even think of her when she received benefits.

In fact, MCA also has its own calculations. There is a lot to learn about gift-giving. Not only do you have to choose the right person, but you also have to give the gift in advance. Moreover, you don't need those things yourself.

Liu Lan is ultimately a pitiful person. Her husband not only doesn't work, but he also drinks heavily, commits domestic violence, and indulges in a life of debauchery.

Liu Lan submitted to Li Huaide in order to support her family. She also wanted to live. What did she do wrong? In the end, Liu Lan was just a microcosm of countless women in the old society who were at the bottom of society.

Compared to the steel rolling mill, the courtyard was much more lively. The deaf old lady was a very clever person, and she had already understood Yi Zhonghai's meaning after yesterday's events.

You, Yi Zhonghai, you were so secure in your position as the powerful figure in the courtyard house, all thanks to my help. Now that you see I've lost power, you want to kick me aside? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

The deaf old lady sat on the bed with a gloomy expression. If it were before, Yang Cuihua would have come to serve her early in the morning, boiling water for her, emptying the chamber pot, and helping her wash up.

But it's already this late, and Yang Cuihua still hasn't come over. How could the old lady not understand what Yi Zhonghai meant? Was he trying to threaten her?

Yang Cuihua didn't arrive until noon.

The deaf old lady had been pampered her whole life. She originally wanted to be firm and throw away the food that Yang Cuihua brought her, but with her empty stomach, she could only swallow her anger.

Yang Cuihua looked helpless. She didn't know what was wrong. Why did her husband want her to do this? He had always told her to take good care of the old lady. Why had everything changed now?

"I'll just do whatever Yi Zhonghai says. He's my god." Yang Cuihua sighed.

After the deaf old lady finished her meal, she sat at the table with a gloomy face, pondering for a long time. "Fine," she thought, "Yi Zhonghai, you were the one who acted ruthlessly first, so don't blame me for being unjust."

Thinking of this, the deaf old woman simply pulled up her cane, moved a stool, and sat down at the doorway, pretending to bask in the sun. She was waiting.

After a long while, the old lady finally waited for Lou Xiao'e before she walked wearily into the backyard. When the deaf old lady saw Lou Xiao'e, a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes.

He quickly put on a smile and said to Lou Xiao'e, "Xiao'e, Xiao'e."

At that moment, Lou Xiao'e just wanted to go home and lie down; she was simply too exhausted. But unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the backyard, she heard the deaf old lady calling her name.

Lou Xiao'e originally wanted to leave, but she remembered her father's advice: "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan," and she had to be patient.

Thinking of this, Lou Xiao'e calmed herself down and smiled at the deaf old lady, "Grandma, have you eaten yet?"

Hearing Lou Xiao'e say this, the deaf old lady was overjoyed: "No, Xiao'e, have you eaten yet? If not, come and have some at my place."

Lou Xiao'e was devastated when she heard the deaf old lady say that; she had only been being polite.

Why ask this? And you want to eat at my place? What a load of rubbish! You act like you can cook.

"Cough cough, old lady, I've eaten. Why haven't you eaten yet at this hour?" Lou Xiao'e looked at the deaf old lady with a surprised expression. This shouldn't be the case.

Wasn't the deaf old lady always taken care of by an older woman? What happened? Did the old lady have a falling out with Yi Zhonghai and the others?

"Oh, it's a long story." The old lady looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't, which made Lou Xiao'e feel disgusted. How come she hadn't noticed before that the old lady was so scheming?

I was so stupid before. If it were before, I would have rushed to buy food for the old lady. But now, bah, she doesn't deserve it.

"Alright, you can rest now. I have something to do, so I'll head back first." Lou Xiao'e nodded and turned to leave.

"Ah!" The deaf old woman looked at Lou Xiao'e with a bewildered expression. "What's wrong with this silly girl? Why isn't she paying attention to me? That shouldn't be the case. Shouldn't she be eager to serve me? Wait, could it be that she found out about that matter?!"

"No, no!" the deaf old woman thought to herself and quickly said to Lou Xiao'e, "Xiao'e, what happened? I haven't seen you come to see me lately. Are you tired of me?"

"No, no, I just had some things to take care of at home recently. I didn't mean to offend you." Lou Xiao'e was initially surprised, but quickly waved her hand to indicate that it wasn't true.

“Oh, I knew it! Our E’zi is so kind, how could she possibly look down on an old woman like me?” The deaf old lady tried her best to put on a kind expression as she looked at Lou Xiao’e.

"I just noticed you haven't come to chat with this old woman in a long time, so I wanted to see what you've been up to. To be honest, I've been missing you a bit," the deaf old woman said slowly.

Lou Xiao'e was speechless. How come she hadn't noticed how annoying this deaf old lady was before? But she still exchanged a few pleasantries with the old lady and left in a hurry.

Lou Xiao'e still remembers the scolding her father gave her after she went home and described the courtyard house to him. He was so stupid to have believed the deaf old lady so easily.

Even if Xu Damao is no good, you can't keep urging yourself to get a divorce every day. You even said you had no money and asked me to buy you shoes, which you then gave to Sha Zhu. It's disgusting. You would never be interested in Sha Zhu.

Now that I think about it, the old lady was right to tell me about Sha Zhu, that he was honest. What honest man would be involved with a widow all the time, especially a thief?

What a nice person! Who's a nice person who fights with others every day? Pshaw!

Jia Zhangshi, meanwhile, peered through the window at the deaf old woman with a jealous expression. This old woman was truly cunning; how did she manage to get Lou Xiao'e, that big idiot, to shower her with concern and gifts every day?

And then there's Lou Xiao'e, that barren woman. I think it's your own fault you can't have children; it's your fault for not helping the Jia family.

After Lou Xiao'e left, the deaf old lady fell into deep thought. Had Lou Xiao'e found out about her plan? Why was Lou Xiao'e so cold to her just now?

No, besides Lou Xiao'e, I need to have a backup plan.