"You old childless fool, I think I've given you too much face, haven't I?" Chen Mo said coldly. "Are you looking for a beating?"
"You..."
"You what?" Chen Mo retorted angrily. "What now? You donated fifty-two yuan to the Jia Family, and it’s still not enough for them to eat? If you haven't got the ability to provide for yourself, you've got your eyes on other people's money? What kind of garbage is this? Is the Jia Family really in such dire straits?"
"Brother Chen Mo, our family is truly struggling. Please, I beg you, help us out," Qin Huiru said to Chen Mo with a pitiful expression.
"Qin Huiru, stow that disgusting act of yours. That shtick only works on idiots like Shazhu, who's never been with a woman. I’m not buying it," Chen Mo sneered.
"Chen Mo, you bastard! What did you say? Say it again!" Jia Dongxu shouted in a rage.
"Jia Dongxu, what’s the matter? Want to throw hands with me? A piece of trash like you can't even support his own wife and children, always expecting others to do it for you. If I were you, I’d just find a block of tofu and smash my head into it."
Chen Mo turned his gaze back to Yi Zhonghai. "You old childless fool, don't you want Jia Dongxu to look after you in your old age? Doesn't that make Jia Dongxu your foster son? What's the matter? Your foster son's family can't make ends meet, so you want to make the whole Courtyard the patsy? Yi Zhonghai, your little scheme is quite something, isn't it?"
"You... Chen Mo, shut your mouth!" Yi Zhonghai roared.
"What? Did I hit the nail on the head? Feeling guilty? Since you have no sons and you've got an empty room in your house anyway, why not just give that room to the Jia Family? Then they won't have to keep complaining about six people crammed into one room every day."
As soon as Chen Mo said this, the eyes of Jia Dongxu and Qin Huiru lit up.
That’s right! If Yi Zhonghai wants him to provide for his retirement, then he should lend him his house. It’s going to be his eventually, right?
"Master..." Jia Dongxu said, looking at Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai was furious; he wished he could tear Chen Mo to shreds.
"Old Yi, if that's the case, then I’m not donating. You’re Jia Dongxu’s foster father, and since his family is struggling, you, as his foster father, shouldn't ignore it..." Yan Bugui said, reaching into the donation box, pulling out a ten-yuan note, and stuffing it into his pocket.
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong immediately took his money back as well.
"What do you think you’re doing? Don't touch my family's money!" Jia Dongxu immediately panicked.
"Since when is it your family's money?" The neighbors couldn't watch any longer. They had realized that there was no reason why Yi Zhonghai should have Jia Dongxu provide for his retirement while they were the ones expected to pay for it.
Seeing Jia Dongxu in such a panic, Shazhu also reached out to take back his twenty yuan. His money was meant for Sister Qin, not for a loser like Jia Dongxu.
"Shazhu, you asshole! Give that money back!"
"Dongxu!" Seeing the chaos, Yi Zhonghai shouted, "That’s enough! Everyone, be quiet!"
"Chen Mo, do you really have to turn this Courtyard into a complete hellhole before you're satisfied?" Yi Zhonghai barked at Chen Mo.
"Old childless fool, don't you dare label me. I never go looking for trouble, but I don't fear it either. You’ve come after me time and time again; do you really think I'm made of clay? Whether you want to scheme against Shazhu or the Jia Family is your own business, but don't you dare come after me. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you want a reward, you have to pay the price. You want Jia Dongxu to support you, yet you want to drag the whole Courtyard into supporting the Jia Family—do you really take everyone in this yard for a fool like Shazhu?" Chen Mo said.
"Grandson, what did you just call me?" Shazhu, hearing Chen Mo's words, was instantly unhappy.
"Brother, are you still not seeing the truth?" He Yushui asked.
"Sister Yushui, your brother is just a fool. He’s being played like a puppet and doesn't even know it. You don't need to waste your breath on him," Xu Damao said with a smirk.
"Xu Damao, shut your mouth! Zhuzi!" Yi Zhonghai snapped.
As soon as he heard the signal from Yi Zhonghai, Shazhu reflexively rolled up his sleeves and said, "Xu Damao, you're asking for a beating, aren't you? See if I don't flatten you!"
"You..." Xu Damao quickly retreated several steps, hiding behind Chen Mo.
Chen Mo said, "Damao, what are you afraid of? If he dares to hit you, don't hit back. Either he beats you to death and gets the death penalty, or if he doesn't, I’ll get you a medical injury report, and he’ll rot in prison."
When Yi Zhonghai heard this, he felt a surge of dread. This little brat didn't follow the rules of the game at all. Shazhu was also terrified by Chen Mo's words; if he really went to prison, not only would he lose his job, but he wouldn't even be able to get a wife. Last time, it was only a detention, and he had nearly cracked. If he were actually sentenced, he would be finished.
"You... Chen Mo, what does my business with Xu Damao have to do with you?"
"Heh, and what does my advice to Xu Damao have to do with you? You really think that just because you have a heavy fist and the backing of Yi Zhonghai and the Deaf Old Lady, you can run wild in this Courtyard? This is a new society, a society ruled by law. Beating people up will get you in prison, seizing someone else's property will get you sentenced, and killing someone will cost you your life."
Xu Damao felt as if Chen Mo had opened the door to a new world for him, and he immediately became arrogant.
"That's right, Shazhu! If you've got the guts, hit me! Hit me right here! See if I don't have you thrown in jail!" Xu Damao pointed to his own head, looking cocky.
"Damn you!" Shazhu, in a fit of rage, was about to rush forward.
"Zhuzi, stop!" Yi Zhonghai hurriedly grabbed Shazhu. If Shazhu really attacked and Xu Damao called the police, his backup retirement plan would be gone.
"Xu Damao, shut your mouth!" Yi Zhonghai reprimanded him.
Chen Mo alone was already a headache, and now that Xu Damao had been "enlightened," if the rest of the neighbors in the Courtyard were also "enlightened" and stopped falling for his tricks, his prestige in the Courtyard would be completely gone.
The neighbors began to murmur. Many of them had been bullied by Shazhu, and after hearing what Chen Mo said, they felt awakened. This was the new society, after all—how could people just go around hitting others?
"Oh, First Granduncle, don't even let people talk now? If Shazhu hits me again, I’m calling the police!" Xu Damao looked smug; even Chen Mo felt the urge to hit him.
Shazhu was so angry his teeth itched.
"Enough!" Yi Zhonghai shouted. "Let's put the donation matter aside. Chen Mo, Xu Damao, you two bring back plenty of good things whenever you go to the countryside, and you never finish your food rations. Fine, I've decided: you two are to give up your food rations to help Dongxu and his family."
Chen Mo walked up to Yi Zhonghai and slapped him across the face with a loud *crack*.
"Ouch!" Yi Zhonghai let out a scream, clutching his face, staring at Chen Mo in disbelief. How could this brat dare to hit him?
"You..."
"Yi Zhonghai, I think I’ve given you too much face, haven't I? 'You've decided'? Who do you think you are? Just an old childless fool. Why would my family's food rations need your arrangement? If you've got time, go to the hospital and treat your infertility instead of disgusting everyone every single day. No wonder you’re childless—it’s because you do too many evil deeds." Chen Mo scolded.
"You..."
*Slap!*
Chen Mo slapped him again.
"I... I’m calling the police!" Yi Zhonghai, remembering Chen Mo's words earlier, immediately started screaming that he was going to call the police.