And so, Benleihu also settled down in Fatty's courtyard.
Whenever Shi Bowen arrived, Chen Yan would always linger near him.
The fat man looked ridiculous, and Yu Li found it amusing. She couldn't help but tease him, saying, "He looks like he's only two years younger than Chen Yan?"
The fat man grunted, "Hmm?"
Yu Li whispered, "Don't you think they're a good match?"
The fat man got impatient as he spoke: "A good match for you, my foot!"
Yu Li covered her mouth and kept laughing: "He's never been married before, and his family is small, so it's fine as long as he's good enough."
The fat man shoved her head aside in a fit of rage: "Him? His family is dirt poor, they're drowning in debt. My second sister is going to starve if she marries him?"
Yu Li rolled her eyes: "I can't argue with you, you just don't want Chen Yan to get married."
The fat man glanced guiltily at Chen Yan and explained in a low voice, "You know my second sister's personality, don't you?"
It was precisely because she understood her that Yu Li felt helpless: "She's like a block of wood, clumsy with words, and easily swayed. Someone like her can't be in charge or make decisions. It's rare that she's living a happy and carefree life now, so be it..."
As the saying goes, every family has its own troubles.
Take Fatty's family for example. The eldest sister, Chen Rong, took on family responsibilities early on, sharing household chores and taking care of her younger siblings; the third sister, Chen Fang, was clever and quick-witted, and was loved by her parents from a young age; not to mention Fatty, the youngest son, who was the apple of his parents' eye...
Only Chen Yan, the second child, was caught in the middle, unloved by her maternal grandparents and uncles, and gradually became a nobody.
Otherwise, why would she like Xiao Dang so much? It's probably because they share similar fates.
Having been an invisible figure for so long, Chen Yan became increasingly timid and indecisive; yet, she was also kind-hearted by nature, never competing or fighting, and was unbelievably Buddhist-like.
The fat man said she was "stopping evil and cultivating goodness" and "not resentful of being insulted," which simply means she buried her head like an ostrich so that she wouldn't bother others, right?
So she listened to her parents at home since she was little, and now that she's finally been brought out by the fat man, she naturally listens to him.
Chen Yan knew that the fat man felt sorry for her, so she was very content and lived a quiet life.
However, she was not heartless and had her own thoughts.
Everyone else thought she was dull and dispensable, but Shi Bowen liked to talk to her.
Such a capable person, who is usually brave and fierce, is always gentle and docile in front of her, like a little kitten.
This kind of respect is something I've never felt from anyone else.
What Chen Yan didn't know was that, besides Shi Bowen, Sha Zhu would also steal glances at her from time to time.
What a wonderful girl! She's as gentle as water. A woman like that is perfect to marry.
What a pity! Such a good person, how come she has to be the fat man's sister?
Sha Zhu's desire to marry her is just like Xu Damao's desire to marry He Yushui—a pipe dream!
Shi Bowen couldn't stay idle at all; once he had settled his mother in, he wanted to get things done.
The fat man pressed him down to sit properly: "Stop busying yourself, there's nothing to do for now. By the way, how's the situation on the street?"
Shi Bowen couldn't help but say, "You guys were really prescient. This is the only place on this street with a shed set up. I saw everyone getting soaked in the rain as I walked here. It's so pitiful."
The third uncle, beaming with pride, couldn't resist taking credit for himself, and said in a literary tone, "Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure."
Just then, his family members Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, and Yan Jiedi all arrived at his door with their men and women.
There were seven or eight of them, all looking menacing.
As soon as Yan Jiefang entered the door, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "What did I tell you? They used all the timber we got in '69!"
"I have to say, you guys are really something, earthquake shelters... Do you know how we survived?"
Before he could finish speaking, the fat man interrupted him: "Wait a minute, this earthquake shelter has nothing to do with you, and it doesn't use any of your wood."
Yan Jiefang was like someone who had been awarded the title of "Top Student" in the city, standing excitedly in front of so many people in the auditorium, ready to give a passionate speech, only to be kicked off the stage by the principal...
Yan Jiekuang, standing to the side, was furious: "Bullshit!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the fat man, Yu Li, and Chen Yan all turned pale.
Shi Bowen was even faster! Before anyone could see him clearly, he was already in front of Yan Jiekuang, holding a knife in his hand: "You son of a bitch, are you tired of living?"
Yan Jiekuang was so frightened that his face turned completely pale, and he unconsciously repeated, "What are you doing? What are you going to do!"
Yan Jiefang recognized him too. His hair stood on end, and his eyes were bloodshot: "It's you, you son of a bitch! Ben Lei Hu, the humiliation you caused us brothers back then, today I'll make you pay double!"
Want to fight? Thunder Tiger has never backed down!
Just then, a weak voice called out from behind: "Bowen, you can't fight with people, come back quickly..."
Many people present turned their attention to the emaciated old woman next to the earthquake shelter.
Just as everyone was speculating what Shi Bowen would do, he obediently took a few steps back and gently placed the cleaver on the cutting board with both hands.
Then, she actually went back to her mother's side, squatted down, and said aggrievedly, "Mom, they're the ones causing trouble."
Without the threat of the Thunder Tiger, Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang became arrogant again: "Listen up, you two! I know all of these logs! We, along with my sister, stole them one by one late at night!"
The fat man asked sarcastically, "What do you guys want to do now?"
"What do you want? We're returning it to its rightful owner, of course! All of you, come out here, we're going to tear down this earthquake shelter!"
In the crowd, the old man looked shocked, his lips moved a few times, but he couldn't say anything.
Sha Zhu, however, gloated and mocked him, saying, "Third Uncle, you really are a teacher! See? This is the good son you raised!"
Of all these people, Yan Jiecheng was the one who felt most embarrassed, and couldn't help but stand up with his arms crossed and say:
"What are you three trying to do? Let me tell you, the wood you smuggled from outside Dongzhimen back then is still safely under the bed! You can take it, but this earthquake shelter is made from the wood from Fatty's house. What does it have to do with you?"
Yan Jiefang's face was full of disdain: "Who would believe that? Dad taught us from a young age to be independent. Now that we're independent, you're just sitting back and enjoying the fruits of our labor?"
After saying that, he took two steps forward and patted Yan Jiecheng's shoulder with the back of his hand: "I say, my dear brother, the law of life is to enjoy wealth and honor, accumulate wealth first and enjoy it later. Do not covet other people's money, and do not give your own wealth to others!"
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