He Daqing, do you know how I've lived these past years?

"Cuilan, carry the rainwater back inside, cook some vegetables, and I'll go buy some prepared groceries."

Looking at He Daqing's house, where no candles were lit, Cuilan hesitated and said:

"He Daqing hasn't returned yet. Should I wait until he comes back before taking the child over?"

Yi Zhonghai's face, which had been flushed, immediately darkened.

"Cuilan, have you been having an affair with He Daqing behind my back?"

Upon hearing this, Cuilan was startled and immediately let go of Yushui's hand, hurriedly shouting:

"I didn't, don't talk nonsense. I belong to you in life and in death."

Yi Zhonghai also softened his tone and said:

"I'll go out first, but I don't want to see this child when I come back. If you like children, have your own."

With red eyes, Cuilan watched Yi Zhonghai walk away and couldn't help but shed tears as well.

"Rain, you can walk now!"

Then a gasp of surprise rang out from the side.

He Yuzhu was shouting loudly, his face covered in soot, and his hair looked like it had been singed.

Cuilan wiped away her tears and pulled He Yuzhu close, saying:

"You silly child, did you go play with coal? Your hair is all burned."

He Yuzhu scratched the back of his head and said:

"Auntie, I was trying to put the salt on the stove, but I accidentally spilled it inside."

Cuilan pointed her index finger at his forehead and said:

"You, a child this big, how can you still be so immature? Go to the well and fetch some water to wash up. Why hasn't your father come home yet today?"

He Yuzhu shook his head, admitting he didn't know. He explained that he had come back today to get some money to treat his fellow students to a meal.

Cuilan looked around, then took a handkerchief from her inner pocket.

They peeled it open like an onion, stuffing the four silver dollars inside into He Yuzhu's hand.

"Zhu Zi, take this money and treat your fellow disciples to a meal. Your father might not be back for a while, so don't let it interfere with your plans."

He Yuzhu also clung to Cuilan's leg and cried his heart out.

Urged by Cuilan, He Yuzhu washed his face and hurriedly ran out.

Yi Zhonghai also returned carrying two bags of paper. Seeing Cuilan still holding He Yushui, he quickly stepped forward and threw a large nose bag at her.

Cuilan was thrown to the ground, rainwater dripping from her arms, and she burst into tears.

"It's so noisy!"

Yi Zhonghai cursed angrily and kicked the two-year-old Yu Shui more than a meter away.

Seeing this, Cuilan hurriedly tried to hug Yushui, but before she could even touch her, her hair was grabbed.

Then, their cheeks were hit by a big nose bag.

A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, and Cuilan collapsed weakly to the ground, gazing at the weeping rain in the distance.

Yi Zhonghai spat on the ground and dragged Cuilan back home.

"Break this medicine and drink it yourself,"

He threw a paper package at Cuilan's head, then took a bottle of liquor from the cupboard, opened another paper package, revealing peanuts and pork head meat inside.

Outside the door, the raindrops seemed to rise from the ground, crying as they looked around. Their sobs grew louder.

"father"

"father"

Just then, a boy of about ten years old ran out from the corridor between the middle and back courtyards, scooped up the rainwater, and ran towards the back courtyard.

"Dad, look at Yushui. She was kicked by Yi Zhonghai from the Central Court and she keeps crying."

Xu Wude propped one leg up on the long bench, ate a piece of fatty meat, and asked Xu Damao to bring the rainwater over. Then he lifted his clothes and took a look.

Xu Damao was furious to see a large, dark bruise on his lower abdomen.

"That scoundrel Yi Zhonghai kicked me so hard even though the rain was so light, Aunt Cuilan was even bleeding from the blows."

Xu Wude shook his head, downed a cup of rice wine, and said:

"Da Mao, later give half of Lingling's meat and rice porridge to Yushui, then take her to see Old Man Wei at the end of the alley."

As he spoke, he pulled a silver dollar from his pocket and threw it on the table.

Then he looked at Da Mao and said:

"Don't mess with Yi Zhonghai. Stay away from him next time you see him. He's not a good person. If you have this silver dollar left, buy some food for Yushui. Her mother's family is considered a prominent clan in Tianjin."

Xu Damao hurriedly grabbed the silver dollars, carried Yushui to the kitchen, and scooped some meat porridge from Xu Ling to feed Yushui.

The rainwater stopped crying after it had eaten something.

A moment later, Xu Damao took Yushui to Old Man Wei to have his injuries treated.

Half an hour later, Xu Damao returned carrying a bag of medicine and a string of candied hawthorns, teasing Yushui.

Rainwater couldn't get the gourd no matter how hard it tried, and it cried out in frustration.

The crying attracted He Yuzhu, who had just returned from dinner.

He Daqing ignored him now. That night, this grown man drank several bottles of baijiu with his fellow apprentices. He'd finally had his fill of alcohol; his life was complete.

Upon seeing the candied hawthorn in Xu Damao's hand and the wailing rain, he also shouted angrily:

"You dare bully my sister and steal her candied hawthorn? You're asking for it!"

He then rushed forward and punched Xu Damao.

Before he could react, Da Mao was knocked to the ground, and blood immediately started flowing from his nose.

Xu Damao covered his nose and roared:

"What are you doing? I bought these candied hawthorns."

“Zhu Zi, look at your sister’s belly,”

As he spoke, he lifted his rain-soaked clothes, revealing dark bruises.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu roared in fury:

"You little bastard, you kicked and injured my sister, and then you dared to molest her! I'll beat you to death today, or I'm not a He!"

After finishing his sentence, he jumped and sat on Xu Damao, punching him repeatedly with both fists until Xu Damao cried out in pain.

"You fucking idiot Zhu, your sister was kicked by Yi Zhonghai, and even Aunt Cuilan..."

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, the drunken He Yuzhu also shouted:

"How dare you talk nonsense? You dare to slander Aunt Cuilan, such a good person!"

As he spoke, he stood up and stomped down. Xu Damao also hurriedly got up.

In the ensuing chase, Xu Damao was kicked to the ground again by He Yuzhu. In the chaos, Damao was struck hard in the groin by He Yuzhu.

After letting out a huge scream, Da Mao remained motionless.

Startled, He Yuzhu sobered up and shakily reached out to check his breath.

"Phew, thank goodness, he just fainted,"

Then he hurriedly picked up the crying Yushui and ran home.

A short while later, He Daqing, who had come running back, noticed Xu Damao lying on the ground not far from the courtyard gate and hurriedly ran over.

After checking its breathing, I breathed a sigh of relief, then picked it up and carried it to the backyard.

"Wood, has your son offended someone? He's lying outside, not moving at all."

Xu Wude also hurriedly checked and said:

"My son is incredibly well-behaved, it shouldn't be like this. But Daqing, not to criticize you, but you either need to take your daughter with you or send her back to your wife's family."

"If it weren't for Da Mao, your daughter would have been in big trouble today."

He Daqing was also startled and hurriedly inquired about the situation.

A moment later, he pulled out five silver dollars from his pocket and said:

"Thanks, Wood. That Yi Zhonghai deserves to die a horrible death. Just wait and see how I deal with him later."

Xu Wude, also taking care of the Qing Dynasty, sat down, poured a cup of yellow wine, and asked:

"Over the years, apart from that old lady in the backyard, you're the only one who's really someone important. Yi Zhonghai is nothing but a dog. Enough said, let's have a drink first."

He Daqing downed a cup in one gulp, then picked up a piece of meat with his hand and said:

"Sigh, it wouldn't be good to trouble Cuilan if I took my daughter to the steel factory in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xu Wude chuckled and said:

"You bastard He, still calling yourself Cuilan? Tell me, is Jia Zhangshi more comfortable or Cuilan? The last few times I've seen you, you always smell like rouge. What, are you keeping someone on the side?"

He Daqing, upon hearing this, also thought of the White Widow.

He chuckled silently...

……