"Shazhu, you did a very good job. People in this courtyard should look out for one another, especially since you are all neighbors."
Yi Zhonghai was quite satisfied with Shazhu's actions.
"Alright, that’s enough talk for now. Goodwife Jia, you stay here and look after Jia Dongxu. We are going back to prepare for the meeting."
As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking and turned to leave, Mrs. Jia called out to him.
"Wait! I'm going back too. Jia Dongxu isn't going to wake up anytime soon anyway."
Mrs. Jia had no desire to stay behind. She didn't want the burden of caring for Jia Dongxu, so she simply followed the others back.
"..."
Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai was speechless. She didn't even want to take care of her own son? It was a damn shame.
...
Soon, it was time for the afternoon shift to end. People from the courtyard trickled back, exhausted after a long day of work.
Back in the rear courtyard, Li Jianjun had already woken from his nap. He stood at his doorway, idly cracking melon seeds and eating fruit, living a life of utter contentment. He didn't even need to cook dinner tonight; there was plenty of food left over from earlier that he could just heat up.
"Hey! Li Jianjun, I heard you went on a blind date today? You look so happy—did it go well?" Xu Damao asked with a grin as he passed by.
"Naturally, it was a success," Li Jianjun replied with a smile. "Xu Damao, you should try a little harder. Soon, you'll be the only bachelor left in the rear courtyard."
Xu Damao just chuckled. "Don't you worry about me. I’m a man of means. Before long, I’ll be going on a date with a daughter of a wealthy family. Don't go getting too jealous of me then!"
He had heard from his family today that Director Lou and his wife had finally agreed to let their daughter meet him. How could he not be thrilled?
"Hm? A daughter of a wealthy family? Could it be Lou Xiaoe?" Li Jianjun paused, realizing the inevitable had arrived.
He always felt the greatest tragedy for Lou Xiaoe was marrying Xu Damao. That man was no saint, and worse, he had underlying health issues. After years of marriage, they hadn't produced a single child, and while it was clearly his own fault, he always blamed it on Lou Xiaoe. The most despicable part was that, later on, Xu Damao would betray the Lou family to advance his own career—a truly heartless act.
Should I try to stop this tragedy? Li Jianjun wondered to himself, turning his gaze toward Xu Damao.
"Xu Damao, I suggest you stop pestering decent women. Shazhu is right—if you keep going like this, you’ll end up alone for the rest of your life."
"Shut your mouth! You actually believe what Shazhu says? I’m done talking to you."
With that, he headed off to get some rest. He had spent all night showing movies and was bone-tired.
Just then, Yi Zhonghai returned with Qin Huairu and the others, immediately sending word for everyone in the courtyard to gather for a meeting at eight o'clock sharp.
"A meeting? What meeting?"
Many were confused, including Xu Damao and Li Jianjun, but they all headed home to eat first. There was still plenty of time before eight.
...
At eight in the evening, the residents of the courtyard gathered. Since there was nothing else to do, everyone came out to watch the spectacle.
The three Uncles were already seated at the front. Li Jianjun grabbed a handful of seeds, found a corner in the back, and settled in to enjoy the show.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat.
"Everyone, settle down. We’ve called this meeting for one reason: today, Jia Dongxu was working hard when he was unfortunately crushed by a machine, leaving him paralyzed. He can no longer move."
As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished, a wave of shock rippled through the crowd. They couldn't believe it—he was fine yesterday, and today he’s paralyzed? How could Jia Dongxu be so unlucky?
"First Uncle, is that true? Is he really paralyzed?"
"Yeah, I find that hard to believe."
"Hmph! Why wouldn't it be true? We all heard the noise; it was loud enough to be heard from far away."
"Really? That's just terrible luck."
...
People whispered among themselves.
*So, he really is paralyzed. Jia Dongxu, you couldn't escape your fate after all,* Li Jianjun thought, smiling to himself. This was exactly what he wanted to see. *Wasn't Jia Dongxu so arrogant? What about now?*
Seeing the murmurs, Yi Zhonghai spoke up loudly. "Everyone, please be quiet. The purpose of this meeting is to ask for your help in getting the Jia family through this crisis. The Jias are truly in a pitiful state. With Jia Dongxu paralyzed, Qin Huairu pregnant, and an elderly woman and young children at home, it is a very difficult time for them. Please, help share the burden of the medical expenses. Two hundred yuan is a lot of money—everyone, please, donate what you can!"
When Yi Zhonghai finished, everyone went silent. It was a donation drive again; truthfully, they were tired of donating. They had lost count of how many times they’d been asked over the years.
"First Uncle," someone asked, "you said all that just to ask us for money, right?"
"Yes," Yi Zhonghai said. "Consider it an act of charity."
"That’s right, everyone, just help out! I’ll go first." Shazhu suddenly stood up, pulled out five yuan with a grand gesture, tossed it into the donation box, and sat back down.
"Well done, well done." Yi Zhonghai was very pleased. Shazhu certainly knew how to conduct himself.
In reality, Shazhu didn't care about the Jia family at all. If it weren't for Qin Huairu, he wouldn't give a damn about their lives. He was donating purely for her sake. Sure enough, he glanced at Qin Huairu and saw her smiling at him, which made his day. It seemed the donation was worth it.
"Ha! Shazhu, you really are generous. Donating five whole yuan just to earn a smile from Qin Huairu?" Xu Damao’s voice suddenly rang out.
He understood Shazhu’s motives perfectly; after all, they had been feuding for nearly twenty years. He could see the way Shazhu’s eyes lit up as he stared at Qin Huairu.