After Lou Xiao'e left, Ma Hua felt a cold wind blow by. This damn weather was so cold that it was impossible to get through the house without lighting the stove.

Ma Hua isn't familiar with the people in the backyard, so he wouldn't be so shameless as to exchange coal for them. Exchanging coal is a normal thing between neighbors; usually, you bring a new piece of coal and exchange it for the one burning in their stove.

Too lazy to light a fire, Ma Hua simply closed the door from the inside and went into the small courtyard that the system had rewarded him with.

Ma Hua placed a honeycomb briquette on the kitchen gas stove. Wow, technology changes lives! This is great—fast and clean.

Once the stove in the MCA's house was lit, the house immediately became warm.

There was a rapid knocking at the door. Knock, knock, knock.

Ma Hua looked at the door with some surprise, wondering who it was that was being so unreasonable. She immediately called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me. There's a meeting in the courtyard later, remember to go." The person outside the door called out immediately upon hearing Ma Hua's voice.

Ma Hua was speechless. The Yan family had really gone too far. Usually, when Yan Jiekuang came to call for a meeting, he would knock on the door properly and speak politely.

Good heavens, things are really going well now. So arrogant! I thought you came to deliver the bad news—that Yan Bugui was gone.

Well, I'm bored, so I'll go see what kind of trouble these beasts are up to this time.

When MCA arrived at the front yard, it was already packed with people. Originally, there were three people at the square table in the middle, but now only Yan Bugui remained.

Ma Hua glanced around and thought, "Oh, there's even a deaf old lady here! Tsk tsk, what a rare guest! What kind of trouble is this old woman up to now?"

Yan Jiekuang raised his chin and arrogantly surveyed the crowd. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, he ran to his father and said, "Dad, everyone's here."

Sha Zhu said with some disdain, "Oh, Uncle San, what's the matter with calling us over so late? What's wrong? You've become a big shot now, are you going to treat everyone in the courtyard to dinner?"

"What 'Third Uncle'? My dad is the only 'big uncle' in the whole compound now," Yan Jiekuang immediately objected. His dad wasn't the 'Third Uncle' he used to be.

"Yes, yes, yes, you're right, you bastard," Sha Zhu said nonchalantly.

As soon as Sha Zhu said that, the previously lifeless crowd burst into laughter. Sha Zhu was truly too witty.

Upon seeing this, Yan Bugui's previously cheerful face immediately darkened. No wonder Old Liu had always told him how terrible Sha Zhu was.

"It seems that's true today," Yan Bugui snorted coldly. "Alright, just call me Uncle Yan. We're having this meeting today about the deaf old lady."

Now, let the old lady tell us what she has to say.

The deaf old lady glared at Yan Bugui with some resentment. This old man Yan, how could he be so unreliable?

I thought Yan Bugui would stand up for me, but it turns out he just called a meeting for me.

Forget it, forget it, I'll do it myself, you old woman.

"Well, as everyone knows, this old woman is so old, and I just want to find someone to take care of me in my old age and see me off in my final days. I've been all alone my whole life,"

The old lady spoke with such deep affection.

"Pfft, hahaha." Ma Hua was so touched by what she heard; it sounded just like a contestant's speech on a talent show. Was it because my mother always told me that poor children learn to be independent early?

"Ma Hua!" The deaf old woman stared intently at Ma Hua. What was that damned Ma Hua doing laughing?

"Ahem, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have laughed. I've received training from the neighborhood committee. I'm so sorry," Ma Hua said apologetically.

"Cough cough, oh dear, I've always been all alone, all by myself," the deaf old woman said after a moment's pause, her eyes filled with tears.

"Pfft, hahaha, this is hilarious!" Ma Hua couldn't help but laugh. If this old lady were on Douyin (TikTok) in later generations, she would definitely be able to beg for food.

"Ma Hua, what are you laughing at?" The deaf old woman was truly angry this time and directly rebuked her.

Seeing this, Sha Zhu hurriedly and angrily shouted at Ma Hua, "Ma Hua, what do you mean? Are you looking for trouble? If you want to die, just say so!"

"Tsk tsk, what a big hat! I, Ma, dare not wear it. I think you and the old lady want to die, don't you, Sha Zhu!" Ma Hua glanced at the two of them disdainfully.

With everyone else acting like this, MCA couldn't hold back any longer. He stood up and shouted, "Do you all remember the incident where the neighborhood committee criticized and denounced the old lady last time?"

"I remember, it hasn't been that long."

“What does MCA mean by this? What does it have to do with the criticism and denunciation a few days ago?”

The people in the courtyard were discussing it animatedly.

Seeing this, Yan Bugui banged on the table and shouted at MCA with some displeasure, "MCA, what do you mean by this!"

"What do you mean by that, Yan Bugui? I'm asking you, what are you planning to do by holding this meeting? The neighborhood committee already exposed the old lady's entire background a few days ago, so what?"

Now you're trying to play the victim again? How could I not know that the remnants of the Qing dynasty were all alone and destitute? You've been all alone since childhood, what nonsense are you spouting?

Ma Hua said with some disdain, "Even now, they're still trying to play the victim and gain sympathy."

It's really speechless that the people in the courtyard still have faith.

Upon hearing Ma Hua's words, everyone in the courtyard immediately realized, "Yes, the old lady is a descendant of the Manchu Qing dynasty."

How could I have been all alone since I was little? Damn it, that old hag is lying to me again.

I'm so glad I fell for it just now. It's like I'm being tricked every day, and every time it's different.

Some hot-tempered men even started cursing Yan Bugui: "Old Yan, you bastard, do you want to be like Yi Zhonghai, trying to control everything in the courtyard? Let me tell you, it's impossible!"

These words startled Yan Bugui; he certainly didn't want to do that.