Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Thanks to Yan Bugui's efforts, the entire courtyard meeting was finally convened.

Almost everyone in the courtyard had arrived.

He Yuzhu, wanting to watch the excitement, didn't refuse.

This meeting was originally convened by Yan Bugui. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Spring Festival couplets, but it was ultimately sabotaged by Xu Damao.

Xu Damao did it on purpose. He knew he would become the vice chairman of the steel rolling mill's song committee that day.

He specifically asked Yan Bugui to gather everyone together and then announce it in front of everyone.

In this life, Xu Damao became the vice chairman of the song committee early on, so there was no need to use that trick.

Hearing that He Yuzhu had agreed to participate, he prepared to join in and watch the excitement.

There was only one person who didn't participate, and that was Second Uncle Liu Haizhong.

Since stepping down, he has had no standing. He was bullied by the workshop director at the factory, ignored by his neighbors in the courtyard, and was scolded by his children and daughter-in-law when he got home.

He didn't want to embarrass himself by going out.

The three old men have fallen from power, but their airs haven't completely disintegrated.

The arrangement remained the same, with Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui seated on the dais.

Since Liu Haizhong was absent, Yan Bugui attended the opening ceremony.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Meetings before the New Year are important meetings; that's the rule of our institute."

Our department hasn't had a meeting in a long time, and the Spring Festival is just around the corner. The three of us old men discussed it and decided to hold this meeting to discuss New Year's arrangements.

“Three old men? You’ve been dismissed long ago,” Wu Tiezhu shouted from the back.

Yan Bugui looked over and said, "Wu Tiezhu, you've caught us. The street office is removing our liaison officer positions."

All the liaison officers on the street were removed; it wasn't just us who were removed.

However, the neighborhood committee has not and cannot remove our status as elderly men.

The three of us were the most respected and oldest in the compound.

He Yuzhu said impatiently, "If you have something to say, say it. If not, the meeting is adjourned. It's freezing cold, who wants to listen to this nonsense?"

I told you long ago, I have no desire to play with you three old bastards anymore.

Don't act like some big shot in front of us.

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui's faces turned bright red, but they dared not refute.

Yan Bugui took a deep breath before continuing, "Then let's get down to business."

The most important thing during Chinese New Year is writing couplets. This year, the couplets can't be the same as before. Phrases like "May your happiness be as boundless as the Eastern Sea" and "May your wealth flow in from all directions" are no longer allowed.

I've come up with a lot of words that fit the current situation.

I'll provide the ink, and you all provide the paper.

New situation, new practices.

This year, I won't be taking any money from you.

However, we could have bought peanuts and melon seeds as our side dishes.

If you feel sorry for how hard I work, just send me some of that.

The three aunties were also shouting and hawking from below.

Xu Damao was about to stand up when He Yuzhu stopped him.

"Why are you pulling me along? To put it bluntly, he's just using this opportunity to make money."

He Yuzhu said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Everyone knows what Yan Bugui is thinking. There's no rush."

Don't forget, this conference was convened by Yi Zhonghai and him.

Yan Bugui had finished speaking, but Yi Zhonghai's purpose remained unsaid.

If you stand up, this conference will lose its meaning.

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, Xu Damao sat down again.

Without Xu Damao's interference, Yan Bugui's goal was achieved.

He stood there smugly: "Now, let's have Uncle Yi Zhonghai talk about other things."

Yi Zhonghai stood up and first scanned the courtyard.

The fence-sitters in the yard, just like before, kept their eyes fixed on him.

Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had the entire courtyard house under his control. However, when his gaze fell upon He Yuzhu and Xu Damao, he couldn't help but frown.

He took a deep breath and suppressed the discomfort.

"There are two things to discuss in today's meeting. One of them is about the deaf old lady."

As you all probably know, the old lady passed away recently. I visited her on everyone's behalf.

Even on her deathbed, she was still thinking about the people in our compound.

Xu Damao turned to look at He Yuzhu: "I bet he's got his eye on you."

He Yuzhu knew this, but he didn't believe Yi Zhonghai's words.

"You believe that old man's nonsense? He hasn't visited the deaf old lady in ages."

After he left, the deaf old woman died; he might have killed her.

Xu Damao chuckled: "You know what, it's actually possible."

Yi Zhonghai's purpose in mentioning the deaf old lady was certainly not to reminisce about her. Nor would he dare to do so.

His purpose was to use the deaf old lady to promote the theory of respecting and caring for the elderly in the nursing home.

He Yuzhu and Xu Damao chatted for a while, before Yi Zhonghai could finish speaking.

"...Respect for the elderly is a constant principle, no matter the time. In the past year, many children have published statements in the newspaper saying they want to sever ties with their parents."

They severed ties for the sake of their revolutionary cause…

He Yuzhu thought to himself that Yi Zhonghai had made progress. He had worked with Liu Haizhong in the workers' picket team for a few months and had even learned about revolutionary stances.

Yi Zhonghai continued, "On matters of principle, their approach was correct."

I fully support their approach.

However, you shouldn't just blindly follow along.

Your parents raised you to adulthood; even if they didn't do anything special, they certainly worked hard.

If you are not filial, are you even human?
And also, you will get married and have children in the future. Do you really want your children to follow suit?

I still maintain that there are no bad elders in the world, as for children who are not considerate.

Before you feel that your parents are treating you badly, think about whether you've done everything right.

It still has the flavor of a hypocrite.

By creating panic about something that may not even happen, one can achieve their own goals.

And you know what? People in the courtyard fell for this trick.

Especially given that Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui's sons are unfilial.

Now, people no longer hear Liu Haizhong hitting the child; instead, they hear Liu Guangtian scolding Liu Haizhong.

People usually feel relieved when they see it.

But hearing Yi Zhonghai say that made them very worried. They were afraid that their son would become like that in the future.

Nobody wants to be scolded by their son when they get old.

Many people look at their own children with a warning in their eyes.

Xu Damao looked around and found that no one in the courtyard had a good memory, which made him a little angry.

"Are these people stupid? They believe whatever others say."

He Yuzhu also thought they were foolish.

There are still people who believe this utterly nonsensical logic.

He Yuzhu really couldn't understand it.

Why don't they think about how Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui treat their children?

Liu Haizhong treated his two sons like enemies; it would be truly bizarre if Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu were to be filial to him.

And then there's Yan Bugui. Yan Jiecheng's side has already found out.

The couple lacked nutrition, which made it impossible for them to conceive.

He even schemed at home for those few measly coins.

Yan Jiecheng was almost driven to extinction by him, so beating him a few times was considered filial piety.

And Yi Zhonghai.

The children of the Liu and Yan families were unfilial, and he certainly played a part in stirring things up.

All of this had nothing to do with He Yuzhu. He kept Yi Zhonghai around as a way of turning the tables on him.

In another twenty years, he will see Yi Zhonghai's fate.

Let him taste what it's like to be kicked out of his home.

He Yuzhu continued watching the performance in the courtyard. (End of Chapter)