Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

"What's so arrogant about a jobless, worthless man?"

Madam Jia didn't take Jia Gui's departure seriously. If it were before, when she relied on Jia Gui's salary to live, she might have panicked when he left, but not now, as she also had a job.

Jia Gui will definitely come back!

Looking at the unfinished clothes in the basin, Jia Zhangshi kicked the basin... Since Jia Gui wasn't washing them, she wasn't going to either. Didn't Yi Zhonghai's family have a goddaughter who was so efficient at doing chores? Let her do it.

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Gui are both unemployed now, and they will have to rely on me to take care of them in the future.

So it's reasonable for his goddaughter to help him with some chores, right?

She can wash clothes for Sha Zhu, He Daqing, and Yu Shui, but not for her own family.

Besides, when Dongxu grows up and marries Chunxi as his concubine... wouldn't he be living a life of luxury with his family?

"Chunxi? What's Chunxi doing?"

Standing in the courtyard, hands on hips, Jia Zhangshi said with an air of authority, "Come here and wash my clothes. From now on, you'll be Dongxu's concubine..."

Chunxi, who was inside the house, was extremely embarrassed. When did she agree to become Jia Dongxu's concubine?

Wang Xiulan, an older woman, also looked displeased. No matter how bad Chunxi's past was, she was now her goddaughter. Moreover, she was usually quiet but very diligent, and everyone liked her.

Why should Jia Zhangshi allow our daughter to work for your family?

Yi Zhonghai was an honest man, but he couldn't stand it anymore. He had told the people in the courtyard about it when he took in his godson and goddaughter.

Anyone who dares to gossip will be punished for not caring about neighborly relations!

Yi Zhonghai had no intention of holding back. He flung open the door and went straight to Jia Zhangshi: "Zhang Juhua, what are you saying? Chunxi is our daughter, not someone's concubine!"

"What? Your daughter? She's a bastard!"

Now working under the leadership of the cadres in charge of the takeover, Jia Zhangshi was full of confidence. Even when faced with the honest man's anger, she didn't take it seriously: "Let me tell you, it's your good fortune that my Dongxu has taken a liking to your daughter! You're just a capitalist's lackey! Let me tell you, I'm a cadre in the street office now! Do you know what a cadre is? It's... wait, Cadre Chang? Cadre Pan? What brings you here?"

As they were talking, Jia Zhangshi suddenly caught a glimpse of Chang Zhen and Pan Songnian standing at the entrance of the central courtyard.

Madam Jia's expression changed, and she immediately ran to the two of them with a fawning smile.

Chang Zhen and Pan Songnian had been there for a while, having heard it since Jia Zhangshi started bossing Chunxi around to do the laundry.

He even said he wanted to find a young wife for his son!

This isn't just about disobeying rules; it's about not understanding any rules at all.

Moreover, Jia Zhangshi deceived her comrades, not even telling them her real name.

Pan Songnian already had a problem with Jia Zhangshi because of the door-to-door survey, and now hearing what she said, his objections were even stronger: "Comrade Zhang Huaju, is your name Zhang Huaju or Zhang Juhua? This will be recorded in your file, you can't deceive the organization."

"I……"

Before Jia Zhangshi could speak, Chang Zhen continued her criticism: "Auntie, we practice a monogamous policy, and it's absolutely forbidden to take a concubine. Your thinking is seriously flawed! And you just said that the neighbor is a lackey of the capitalists, which is completely wrong. Comrade Yi Zhonghai is a worker, and workers and peasants are our brothers and sisters!"

Jia Zhangshi was a mistake from beginning to end; her ideological problems were too serious!

Chang Zhen has a gentle personality, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about anything. When it comes to matters of principle, he won't budge an inch! And he'll point out their mistakes to their faces!

Hearing Pan Songnian and Chang Zhen's reprimands, Jia Zhangshi's face turned very ugly.

More than anything, it was fear.

Having offended two leaders, is my job going to be ruined?

Wouldn't I become a public nuisance if I lived in the alley?

He Yuzhu: Don't think like that. Whether you have a job or not, you're already infamous.

Pan Songnian looked angrily at Jia Zhangshi: "You should reflect on your own problems first. We still have work to do."

"This, this..."

Jia Zhangshi stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

Chang Zhen and Pan Songnian shook their heads helplessly, wondering why they had let her take them on those home visits.

What a mistake!

The two walked past Jia Zhangshi and arrived at He Yuzhu's door: "Zhuzi, are you home?"

"I am here!"

He Yuzhu's voice rang out from inside the house, and he immediately opened the door, smiling as he said, "Cadre Chang, Cadre Pan, what brings you two here?"

He Yuzhu, Jia Zhangshi, and Yi Zhonghai all lived in the middle courtyard, and he could hear everything being said outside.

It was quite obvious that Jia Zhangshi had become arrogant.

If you get carried away, you'll become disobedient.

He Yuzhu was still thinking about how to deal with Jia Zhangshi later, but he didn't expect Jia Zhangshi to jump out on her own and run into the line of fire.

That dog's belly can't hold two ounces of sesame oil!

"Zhu Zi, we need to talk to you."

"Okay, let's go inside and talk."

The three entered the room, and Jia Zhangshi wanted to get closer to hear what they were saying.

Zhu Zi, please don't say anything bad about yourself!

Before he could get close, He Yuzhu came out of the house again. Looking at Jia Zhangshi who was approaching, He Yuzhu smiled happily, then ignored her and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle Yi, I have something to say to the two cadres who took over the house. Please have Meihe and Jiaozi keep an eye on things at the door so that no one can overhear what we are saying."

"..."

Jia Zhangshi was now completely flustered and at a loss.

Finished!

This is definitely about talking about one's own affairs.

Asking Changzhen and Pan Songnian is useless, and she won't reflect on her mistakes. If she loses her job... won't she have to stay home and make cardboard boxes again?

Thinking about her own job, Jia Zhangshi could only place her hopes on He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, your aunt usually treats you well..."

Before he could finish speaking, He Yuzhu turned his head back.

And you even said you were good to me?

Useless!

He Yuzhu ignored Jia Zhangshi, which terrified her... as if she were standing barefoot on a burning coal fire.

Coal nuggets and dumplings stood guard at the door, giving Jia Zhangshi no chance to get close.

Inside the house, Chang Zhen and Pan Songnian had already put aside the matter of Jia Zhangshi and explained their purpose for coming.

When He Yuzhu heard them say they wanted to find someone familiar with the nearby alleys to lead them on a field survey, a person immediately came to mind.

"Cadre Chang, Cadre Pan, I usually just walk around a few places like my home, Chongwenmen Market, or No. 5 Middle School. I'm really not familiar with these alleys."

He Yuzhu said he didn't have the ability, but when Chang Zhen and Pan Songnian were disappointed, he mentioned someone's name: "However, my sister Tian Zao, she's an expert in the alleys, she knows the neighborhood like the back of her hand. If it's her, she might be able to help you. As for whether it's fair or not... I can't guarantee that, but we need to find out and investigate it ourselves."