He's gotten so used to beating his child every night that if he doesn't do it for three days, Liu Haizhong's hands will itch and he won't know what to do!
He cursed the old woman for meddling too much, but he couldn't show it on his face.
Liu Haizhong frowned, his hands behind his back, as he walked towards the front yard, deep in thought.
Last night, Wang Dabao suggested that Yu Li roast sweet potatoes, and Liu Guangtian helped out as well. I don't know how it went.
There was still some time before lunchtime, so he decided to stroll over and take a look.
Passing by the Intermediate People's Court, Liu Haizhong saw Qin Huairu lighting a fire on a makeshift stove that had just been set up.
This stove was originally intended for brewing tea tonight. It was hastily built up yesterday with bricks and mud. Qin Huairu is lighting a fire now to dry the mud and remove the moisture from the stove.
"Huai Ru, didn't Guang Tian come to help you?"
Liu Haizhong, with his protruding belly, walked over and pointed to the large iron pot next to him. "When you're putting the pot on the stove later, don't try to lift it up yourself. Be careful not to hurt your back. This whole family is counting on you. I saw Guangtian and asked him to come and help you."
Qin Huairu was sweating profusely from the work.
Living in the Jia family before was tiring, but not only was it tiring, but you also had to endure Jia Zhangshi's scolding.
Things are different now. With Jia Dongxu paralyzed, Qin Huairu is the only one managing the household, and Jia Zhangshi knows that the family cannot do without Qin Huairu.
Although remarriages are not common these days, there are still examples of this in the neighborhood.
Madam Jia was also afraid that if Qin Huairu had such thoughts, the whole family would be in dire straits.
She was very self-aware; asking her to go out and find work to earn money to support her son, grandson, and granddaughter would be worse than starving to death together.
Therefore, Qin Huairu gradually gained a voice in the family, and Jia Zhangshi no longer dared to scold her at the drop of a hat. She even had to ask Qin Huairu for her opinion on some things.
"He's an old man. He just left here yesterday. He helped me a lot. He's the one who helped me carry this pot back from the pool."
Qin Huairu looked up and saw that it was Liu Haizhong. She quickly stood up and replied with a smile, "Uncle, I'll be done in a bit. My mother-in-law can help me out. There's no need to call Guangtian. He has his own things to do."
Unlike Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu was grateful for the help she received from Liu Haizhong and others.
Madam Jia Zhang would only think that these were people from the compound, and that they were supposed to make sacrifices for the Jia family.
"Alright, you're such a sensible child. Just don't do it all by yourself."
Liu Haizhong nodded in satisfaction, but in his heart he was thinking that if Qin Huairu twisted her back again, he would definitely have to organize a donation, and then the whole compound would be full of complaints.
"Then you go ahead with your work, I'll go check the front yard."
After giving Qin Huairu a few words of advice, Liu Haizhong turned to leave when he saw Sha Zhu walking over with a steaming bowl of noodles.
"Oh, it's Uncle Er... you're on an inspection tour, aren't you?!"
Sha Zhu walked up to Qin Huairu and said, "Sister Qin, I made an extra bowl. We can't finish it with the rainwater. Give it to Banggeng Xiaodang."
Qin Huairu quickly waved her hand, "Zhuzi, I can't accept this."
"Take it." Sha Zhu insisted on putting the bowl in Qin Huairu's hands. "Sister Qin, don't be so polite with me. It's only right for neighbors to look after each other."
Qin Huairu reluctantly accepted the noodles and took the bowl into the house.
Liu Haizhong stared at Sha Zhu, and only after Qin Huairu disappeared did he let out a long breath and said with a stern face, "Sha Zhu, come with me."
Last night I told Sha Zhu not to have any improper thoughts about Qin Huairu, and he agreed. But today Sha Zhu came over to fawn over me right in front of Liu Haizhong. This is simply double-dealing.
The two arrived at the brick pile by the moon gate. Liu Haizhong pointed at Sha Zhu's nose and began to scold him: "Sha Zhu, what's wrong with you? You agreed on everything yesterday, why have you changed your mind today? If you continue like this, I will definitely unite everyone in the compound to condemn you!"
"I'm not kidding you, this is very serious!"
Seeing that Sha Zhu didn't seem to be listening, Liu Haizhong added one last sentence.
Sha Zhu shrugged: "Hey, old man, don't think of people so badly, okay? I did cook too much at noon, but Yu Shui found out about the Jia family's situation and asked me to deliver it. So you're blaming Yu Shui for this? She's eating at my place. Why don't you go over there and give her a good scolding?"
Liu Haizhong's lips trembled, and he couldn't get a word out. He then flung his hand away and said, "Then the rainwater should have been delivered. What are you so smug about? Don't let me see this happen again."
“Shazhu, listen to me carefully. The Jia family is in a difficult situation right now, so don’t cause trouble.”
"How am I meddling? You're really looking down on me, old man."
Sha Zhu immediately became annoyed and retorted, "We all live in the same courtyard, so why can you help Sister Qin but I can't?"
"You just can't."
Liu Haizhong glared at him, his temper rising. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Let me tell you, give up on that idea now. As long as I'm still the boss of this place, I won't let you succeed."
"Hey Liu, I'm talking to you about serious business, don't try to steer the conversation away from other things..."
Before Sha Zhu could finish his sentence, Liu Guangtian rushed over and grabbed him by the collar. "Sha Zhu, how dare you talk to my dad like that? I'll beat you up!"
It turned out that the argument between Liu Haizhong and Shazhu had reached the front yard. Liu Guangtian took a few steps over and saw Shazhu arguing with his father from afar, so he ran over to teach Shazhu a lesson.
Although Liu Guangtian had just been disciplined by his father last night, he was still his father, and it's only natural for a father to beat his son in this day and age.
Seeing Sha Zhu yelling at Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangtian's temper flared up instantly.
"Hey, Liu Guangtian, let me tell you, you're no match for me. Let go of me right now!" After his initial shock, Sha Zhu gripped Liu Guangtian's hand tightly and said.
However, Sha Zhu didn't scare Liu Guangtian, after all, the title of War God of the Compound wasn't given for nothing.
Originally, Wang Dabao, Xu Damao, Yan Bugui, Master Qian, and Liu Guangtian were sitting on stools under the window of Old Yan's house, chatting and sunbathing, waiting for Yan Jiecheng to come back and test the stove.
As a result, when Liu Guangtian heard a commotion coming from the Intermediate Court, he went to check but never returned.
The sound also suggests that they've joined the battle.
Yan Bugui's little head spun around, and with a cry of "Ouch!" he stood up and strode towards the central courtyard. The others behind him exchanged glances and followed him.
When the group arrived, they saw Liu Guangtian grabbing Sha Zhu by the collar, the atmosphere tense and ready to fight.
Liu Haizhong stood beside him, glaring angrily.
Yan Bugui's kind-hearted nature kicked in again, and he quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Oh dear, you're all neighbors in the same courtyard, what are you doing? Why make such a fuss?"
Liu Guangtian snorted, released his grip, but still glared fiercely at Sha Zhu.
Sha Zhu straightened his cotton-padded coat, looking unconvinced.
When Xu Damao saw Sha Zhu, he immediately perked up. Sha Zhu had given him a hard time that morning, and now his nose was still twitching from the cold.
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