Siheyuan: Revenge of the Stupid Pillar

"I heard that Xu Damao divorced Lou Xiao'e because she couldn't have children."

"I heard that Xu Damao was infertile and that was why he had no children. But Xu Damao was afraid of gossip, so he put the blame on Lou Xiao'e."

"So, Xu Damao and Yi Zhonghai are of the same character, both irresponsible cowards."

"I heard that Xu Damao divorced Lou Xiao'e because he disliked her poor family background and it prevented him from getting promoted."

"People just follow what the crowd says, and no one knows the real situation except themselves."

"What kind of punishment will Xu Damao receive this time?"

"I think Xu Damao will be fired. After all, this incident is too bad."

"Such scum should be fired."

When He Yuzhu got home from get off work and saw Lou Xiao'e, he couldn't wait to say:

"Lou Xiao'e, I have good news for you. Xu Damao is going to be fired."

Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said excitedly:

"Zhu Zi, please tell me in detail why Xu Damao was fired?"

He Yuzhu said calmly: "At lunch today, Xu Damao harassed a female employee and asked her to spend five yuan to sleep with him for one night..."

After listening to this, Lou Xiao'e gritted her teeth and said:

"This bastard is so shameless that he can do such a shameless thing. I was so blind that I married such a bastard."

The deaf old lady patted her chest and said with a smile:

"Xiao'e, it's a good thing that you and Xu Damao are divorced, otherwise you would be so embarrassed this time."

Lou Xiao'e secretly exclaimed that she was lucky, and gloated:

"Zhu Zi, did Xu Damao really have his pants stripped off by a few old ladies?"

He Yuzhu couldn't help laughing and said, "Xu Damao's pants were indeed taken off. Everyone in the cafeteria saw it. Xu Damao looked as miserable as he could be at that time!"

"By the way, the person who took off Xu Damao's pants was Aunt Cui, the one he accidentally took off someone else's pants. It can be considered as a tit-for-tat!"

"Zhu Zi, will Xu Damao really be fired?"

"Why? Are you still worried about him?"

"I'm worried about him. I'm worried that he won't be fired."

"Don't worry! If nothing unexpected happens, Xu Damao will definitely be fired."

"Hearing you say that, I feel relieved!"

The next day, when He Yuzhu came to the steel rolling mill, he heard bad news. Xu Damao was not fired, but his employee grade was downgraded to an apprentice, and his salary was confiscated for half a year.

He Yuzhu was very surprised. Logically, Xu Damao should have been fired for making such a mistake, but why was he still able to keep his job?

In order to get the answer, He Yuzhu went to ask Li Huaide.

Li Huaide told him that Xu Damao was originally going to be fired, but Yang Xinmin owed a favor to Xu Damao's father Xu Fugui, so Yang Xinmin took action to save Xu Damao's job.

He Yuzhu was unwilling to hear this, but he could do nothing about it.

……

The days passed one by one, and soon it was the end of the year.

The courtyard became full of joy, every household hung up lights and decorations, put up couplets, cut window flowers, the sound of firecrackers rang out one after another, and the scene was full of joy everywhere.

However, there were two families in the courtyard that were out of tune with this festive atmosphere. These two families were the Yan family and the Jia family.

Because of his ruined reputation and his son's imprisonment, Yan Bugui no longer had the face to write couplets for everyone and ask for payment.

Because Yan Bugui lost his job, life became extremely difficult. Even during the Chinese New Year, his family did not sell meat.

The three children were skinny and looked at Yan Bugui and his wife with resentment in their eyes.

Yan Jiefang said in a reproachful tone: "Dad, I wouldn't say anything if you didn't sell meat at other times, but you don't even sell meat during the Chinese New Year. How can we live like this?"

Yan Bukuang echoed, "Dad, Mom, look at how thin we have become?"

"I can tolerate not having any oil or water on weekdays, but why don't you let us eat meat even during Chinese New Year? Can you see which family doesn't eat meat during Chinese New Year? Are there any parents like you?"

Yan Jiedi said with tears in her eyes: "Dad, Mom, I want to eat meat, please buy some meat back!"

Yan Bugui said with a sullen face: "Do you think I don't want to eat meat? But there is no money at home, what can I use to sell meat? Should I rob?"

Yan Jiefang said indignantly, "I just don't believe it. My family is so poor that they don't even have money to buy a pound of meat."

Yan Jiekuang said angrily: "Dad, don't you pick up trash every day? Mom, don't you sweep the yard and paste matchboxes every day? Where does the money you earn go?"

Yan Bugui scolded: "You three ungrateful bastards, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are if you don't run the household. Eating, drinking, defecating and urinating all cost money, and you still have the nerve to ask us where the money goes. Basically, all the money is spent on you."

"If you want to live a better life, there is a way. Just one of you three can drop out of school and accompany me to pick up trash to reduce the burden on the family."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiekuang's eyes lit up and he said without hesitation:

"Brother, so that my sister and I can eat meat, you should drop out of school and help dad pick up trash!"

Yan Jiefang immediately retorted: "Why did you drop out of school to help your father pick up trash?"

Yan Jiekuang said confidently: "The eldest brother is like a father. My eldest brother is in jail. You are the eldest in our family. You should support this family."

Yan Jiefang said sarcastically, "I told you to study hard, but you ran off to feed pigs. The saying 'eldest brother is like a father' means that after the parents die, the elder brother has to shoulder the responsibility of educating and nurturing his younger siblings. Our parents are still here, so why should I sacrifice myself to help you?"

"I don't care. I'm the younger brother and you're the older brother. You should give in to me."

"Tsk, who says that an elder brother must give in to his younger brother? What's more, my grades are good and yours are bad, so it's a waste of money to support you in school. You might as well go out into society earlier and learn a skill so that you won't starve to death in the future."

Yan Jiekuang was so angry that his face turned blue, and he wanted to curse Yan Jiefang, but Yan Bugui shouted:

"Shut the fuck up, if you keep arguing, you won't have to go to school next year."

"I can see that you two are selfish bastards. You only think about yourselves and never consider others."

"I work so hard every day picking up trash to feed you, to clothe you, and to send you to school, but in the end I get nothing in return but complaints from you."

"Why did I give birth to two beasts like you? If I had known, I should have strangled you both to death the moment you were born."

"If you two really can't stand the hard life at home, you can get out now, and I will pretend that I never gave birth to you."

Yan Bugui's sudden outburst frightened his three children so much that they trembled all over.

Seeing this, Yang Ruihua said coldly: "What are you all doing here? Go out and play, don't get in our way."

Yan Jiefang and the other two felt as if they had been pardoned, and they rushed out of the house one after another.