Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 4 Don’t play by the rules
Li Hongbing is too brave!

Apart from Yi Zhonghai, who was caught in the crossfire, and the elderly couple, everyone present had the same reaction.

Even though many people gossip about this in private, to this day, no one has dared to mention the word "childless" in front of Yi Zhonghai and the old lady.

Li Hongbing not only did this, but he did it in front of so many people.

A close-range ultimate attack is like killing someone and then destroying their spirit!

Unlike the others, Jia Zhangshi was gloating.

She was originally thinking about how to deal with Li Hongbing, but he dug his own grave and planted a minefield for himself. She doesn't even need to lift a finger; there will be a good show to watch soon.

"Grandpa and Grandma, please don't be angry. I was just giving an example, not saying that you are childless."

Li Hongbing quickly explained.

That one sentence, intended to cover up the truth, put Yi Zhonghai, who was about to explode in anger, in a difficult position, instantly silencing him.

But an older woman standing nearby couldn't stand it anymore and questioned him with a dark face, "Li Hongbing, is that how you make an analogy?"

"Ma'am, you also think this is inappropriate?"

Li Hongbing asked the question knowing the answer already.

You'll never know the pain until you're stabbed yourself.

It's easy for Yi Zhonghai to talk when he's not the one suffering the consequences.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman rolled her eyes in anger and didn't even bother to reply to Li Hongbing.

Everyone was convinced.

Li Hongbing is ruthless and doesn't talk much. In just a few words, he directly pushed the usually kind-hearted middle-aged woman to her limit.

Of course he did it on purpose.

Li Hongbing had long seen through Yi Zhonghai's intention to show favoritism.

Otherwise, as the eldest elder in the courtyard, he should have stopped Jia Zhangshi when she was spouting nonsense, instead of only stepping in when she was being beaten.

The key is.

Just now, when Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu were about to attack him, Yi Zhonghai pretended to be blind and deaf. If Li Hongbing hadn't reacted in time, he probably would have suffered in silence.

As Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu fell into a disadvantageous position, he became more perceptive and began to assert his so-called "authority" as an elder.

This bias is so obvious.

Li Hongbing never imagined that in 1952, Yi Zhonghai would already be in cahoots with the Jia family.

However, it makes logical sense.

After all, Jia Dongxu had already passed away when the original story began, so Yi Zhonghai had been grooming him as the number one seed player for retirement even earlier.

By this time, Yi Zhonghai probably already knew about their infertility and that they were destined to have no offspring.

“Li Hongbing, as the third oldest man in the courtyard, I’m here to say something fair: what you just said was indeed inappropriate.”

Seeing Yi Zhonghai get the short end of the stick, Liu Hai, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, was secretly delighted. But he chose this moment to step forward, putting on the airs of an old man, and lectured Li Hongbing.

"Yes, yes, Uncle San is right!"

Seeing Liu Haizhong, who liked to flaunt his official power, step forward, Li Hongbing didn't argue with him. He simply echoed Liu Haizhong's words and then issued a disclaimer to Yi Zhonghai and the elderly couple: "Uncle, Aunt, I was just giving an example. I didn't mean any harm. Please don't misunderstand."

"Humph!"

Li Hongbing's words only made the older woman angrier, and she turned her head away from him.

Having his shortcomings exposed to his face, even considering his status as an elder, Yi Zhonghai wasn't so magnanimous.

However, he didn't want the topic of having no descendants to be brought up again, so he naturally wouldn't bring it up again. Instead, with a gloomy face, he seized the opportunity to say, "No matter what, it is always disrespectful for a junior to hit an elder. It was wrong of you to lay a hand on him."

Despite Li Hongbing's repeated use of "you" earlier, Yi Zhonghai couldn't detect any respect in him. On the contrary, it was full of provocation, and he immediately launched a "suppression."

When Li Hongbing realized that Yi Zhonghai was out of options, he actually resorted to the classic traditional approach of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, which almost made him laugh his head off.

"She's not related to our family at all, so what kind of elder is she?"

"Besides, what elder would speak ill of a junior behind their back, ruin their reputation, or even curse them to death?"

"Uncle, I don't agree with what you're saying. Jia Zhangshi has absolutely no relation to our Li family."

"If you like to claim kinship with elders everywhere, go ahead and do it yourself. Don't drag me into it. Our family doesn't allow people to pretend to be your grandsons or sons."

"..."

Li Hongbing didn't buy into Yi Zhonghai's act at all and directly retorted, leaving him speechless.

When it comes to psychological manipulation, Yi Zhonghai is still a bit green.

Many of the onlookers who were watching the spectacle understood the underlying meaning in Li Hongbing's words and almost gave him a thumbs up in admiration.

Look at what Li Hongbing is saying; he's using veiled insults to criticize others. He's definitely been to school.

Swear without using any dirty words!
Yi Zhonghai was so angry that his face turned blue.

But Li Hongbing had already made his point so clear, so he couldn't very well force the other party to have an elder relative for him, could he? Not to mention that the relationship between Jia Zhangshi and the Li siblings had never been harmonious.

"Li Hongbing, is that how you talk to an old man?"

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to score his second goal, Liu Haizhong stepped up again.

This time, Liu Haizhong wasn't protecting Yi Zhonghai, but rather the dignity of these senior officials in the management department.

In Liu Haizhong's view, Li Hongbing's actions were a typical example of an inferior insubordination.

In the past, this would have resulted in being punished with a beating.

Of course.

Liu Haizhong could only think about it in his heart and didn't dare to say it out loud.

But the authority of the caretaker cannot be offended.

"Uncle, I'm just stating the facts."

Faced with Liu Haizhong's challenge, Li Hongbing remained calm and showed no fear.

I just went along with him and actually thought he was afraid of that fat bastard Liu Haizhong.

"This is outrageous! Committing violence in broad daylight and daring to argue back! This is utterly unreasonable and lawless!"

Liu Haizhong, who prides himself on graduating from elementary school, felt offended and became so angry that his stomach trembled, and he blurted out four idioms in a row.

Of the three old men in the courtyard, only Xu Fugui, the second oldest, hadn't yet joined the fray. He watched the spectacle while his gaze darted back and forth between Li Hongbing, seemingly lost in thought.

"Li Hongbing, since you're not convinced, let's hold a college-wide meeting today while everyone's here, so that everyone can judge and properly study your case."

Originally, they thought the matter was a bit tricky, but Li Hongbing was young and impetuous, and one sentence made Liu Haizhong jump up and down. Seeing the opportunity, Yi Zhonghai directly launched the skill of the whole college meeting.

on the surface.

Yi Zhonghai wanted everyone to judge and decide, but in reality, he had already determined the nature of the matter and directly addressed the issue of Li Hongbing.

"Yes! Punish them severely!"

Seeing this, Jia Dongxu excitedly chimed in, "Master, Li Hongbing must be severely punished! We can't let him get away with this!"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai was speechless and wanted to flick Jia Dongxu on the head.

idiot!

Pig mate!
The mere mention of the word "master" can raise suspicions of retaliation, even if there's nothing inherently wrong with it.

as predicted.

Many people in the courtyard immediately changed their tone when they looked at him and Jia Dongxu.

Fortunately, Jia Zhangshi wasn't stupid. She immediately sat down on the ground and started crying loudly, "Uncle, Uncle, Uncle, and Uncle, you all have to stand up for me! Look at my face, look at my body! Li Hongbing hit me so hard, look what he's done to me... You must stand up for me, or I won't rest in peace! Ah~, that damned Li Hongbing..."

As Jia Zhangshi cried and made a fuss, attention shifted back to her.

However, not many people sympathize with her.

Instead, the sight of the two bright red handprints on Jia Zhangshi's face made everyone glance at Li Hongbing a few more times.

Cruel!

With so many people in the courtyard, everyone usually manages to avoid each other. Who has ever made Jia Zhangshi suffer such a loss?
It wasn't that everyone was truly afraid of Jia Zhangshi, but being entangled with someone like Jia Zhangshi who liked to throw tantrums was like getting a whole lot of mutton without even eating it; it would make life uneasy from then on.

The current situation has made many people realize that Jia Zhangshi has really gone too far this time.

Otherwise, how could Li Hongbing, who is usually such a civilized person, have been so ruthless towards her?

at the same time.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi singing in unison, even cooperating with each other, Li Hongbing was extremely disdainful.

A general meeting of the entire college?

What kind of meeting are you talking about!
"Yi Zhonghai, you are being unfair! Jia Zhangshi is openly promoting feudal superstition, and as the head of the school, you not only do nothing but also condone and protect her. I'm going to the police station to find Officer Yang and have him judge this matter!"

After saying that, Li Hongbing took off running.

As soon as these words came out.

Not only did Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong's expressions change, but even Xu Fugui, who was originally enjoying the show, panicked.

"quick!"

"Go and bring him back!"

"Stop him! You must stop him!"

"How could we possibly bother Officer Yang with such a trivial matter in our institute?"

"That Li Hongbing is just causing us trouble!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)