“In this whole matter, Chen Jianye benefited the most, while the Jia, an orphaned mother and son, were treated unfairly instead.”
“I agree with Zhonghai. Let the Chen Family pay some money to compensate the Jia’s losses.”
The Deaf Old Lady said clearly.
“Old Lady, you are truly a reasonable person.”
Jia Zhangshi smiled.
With the Old Lady’s support, she could rightfully demand compensation from Chen Jianye.
Why did Jia Zhangshi make a fuss? Wasn't it just to get money from Chen Jianye?
The Deaf Old Lady smiled.
“Then, Old Lady, what do you think we should do?”
“I think Lao Liu is also right. It won't be easy to make Chen Jianye pay up.”
Yi Zhonghai said worriedly.
“Hmph, it’s absolutely unacceptable for Chen Jianye to hog all the benefits for himself.”
“Zhang girl, you come with me to the Chen Family.”
The Deaf Old Lady stood up, leaning on her walking stick.
“Alright.”
Jia Zhangshi quickly helped the Old Lady.
A brilliant smile appeared on her face.
She was even closer than the Old Lady's own daughter.
Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Fugui followed behind.
These three did not stand in a single line.
Yi Zhonghai walked the fastest, closest to the Deaf Old Lady and Jia Zhangshi in front.
Liu Haizhong lagged behind Yi Zhonghai.
Yan Fugui was at the very end.
Their positions also represented their inner thoughts.
Among them, Yi Zhonghai indeed wanted to support the Jia and make Chen Jianye pay money to alleviate the Jia’s living pressure.
Liu Haizhong had the same idea, but he only talked the talk. If it came to confronting Chen Jianye, Liu Haizhong didn't think it was worth it.
Chen Jianye paying money to the Jia wasn't paying money to the Liu Family.
Why should he bother?
Not to mention Yan Fugui.
He had taken ten yuan from Chen Jianye, and his daughter-in-law, Yu Li, was still working and earning wages at the Chen Family.
Whether it was about being soft-handed after taking something or considering the long-term.
The Yan Family had to maintain a good relationship with Chen Jianye.
Therefore, Yan Fugui did not support making the Chen Family compensate the Jia. Of course, since the Old Lady insisted on leading, Yan Fugui also didn't object.
He was merely a spectator.
The group arrived at the Chen Family's doorstep.
The greasy smell of meat dishes wafted from the Chen Family.
The Deaf Old Lady couldn't help but sniff.
That little brat ate big fish and big meat every day at home, yet he didn't think of her, the Old Ancestor of the Courtyard, at all.
Coupled with the memory of being severely beaten by Chen Jianye last time.
New grudges and old hatreds were all mixed together.
“Old Lady, you stay here, I'll go call Chen Jianye.”
Jia Zhangshi rubbed her hands together.
She couldn't wait to stir up trouble.
Yi Zhonghai took the opportunity to call Sha Zhu over to stand guard nearby.
Liu Haizhong also called Liu Guangtian over.
Yan Jiecheng received the message and came to Yan Fugui's side.
As the saying goes, brothers fight tigers, and fathers and sons go into battle.
No matter when, grassroots management is ultimately built on the most primitive form of violence to establish order.
Without their own force, they couldn't speak up in major matters.
“Chen Jianye!”
“Chen Jianye, you come out!”
Jia Zhangshi came to the Chen Family's door and shouted loudly.
There was no sound from inside the Chen Family house.
Jia Zhangshi leaned into the open window of the Chen Family and continued to shout at Chen Jianye inside the house: “Chen Jianye!”
“Chen Jianye, you little brat! You talk to me! Talk!”
Chen Jianye held the spatula, patiently dealing with the situation in the pot, completely ignoring the shouts from outside the window.
Even if the sky fell, he had to finish the food in the pot and deal with things after eating.
There was no other way; Chen Family only had him.
Unlike Jia Zhangshi.
When she went to someone else's house to quarrel, Qin Huairu at home had already prepared the food, and after the quarrel, Jia Zhangshi could just sit down and eat.
Chen Jianye didn't have such conditions.
“Old Lady, Grandpas, Chen Jianye is ignoring me!”
Jia Zhangshi screamed herself hoarse, getting no response from Chen Jianye, and angrily turned her head to shout.
“Let me do it.”
The Deaf Old Lady stomped her walking stick.
“Old Lady, just shout, but don't break the Chen Family's window again.”
Yi Zhonghai quickly reminded her.
The last lesson was too tragic.
“I know what I’m doing.”
The Deaf Old Lady snorted.
Coming to the Chen Family window, the Deaf Old Lady looked up and saw Chen Jianye, shouting: “Chen Jianye! Open the door.”
Chen Jianye continued to ignore her.
Let alone the Deaf Old Lady, even if the King of Heaven came, he had to cook first, then eat.
Only after his stomach was full would he deal with the troublesome people outside.
After shouting several times without any movement from inside, the Deaf Old Lady retreated unwillingly.
“First Master, there are so many of us, we can't just wait for Chen Jianye.”
“How about I go and shout?”
Sha Zhu was getting impatient.
He was in the same situation as Chen Jianye; there was no one to cook at home.
Whether it was the Deaf Old Lady or Jia Zhangshi, or First Master, Second Master, Third Master, none of these people had to cook for themselves.
After quarreling and going home, they could all eat a hot meal.
Sha Zhu couldn't.
So Sha Zhu was the most impatient.
“If the Deaf Old Lady can't do it, do you think you can?”
“Will Chen Jianye give you face?”
Yi Zhonghai said irritably.
“If he doesn't answer me, I'll kick down his front door.”
A hint of ferocity flashed in Sha Zhu's eyebrows.
“And then he'll kick down your front door tonight, right?”
“And even the front doors of us Grandpas won't be safe, and you'll be happy?”
Yi Zhonghai frowned.
Based on Chen Jianye's previous retaliation, he could guess Chen Jianye's likely reaction.
Kicking down doors late at night, Chen Jianye was very good at that.
“Then we just wait like this?”
Sha Zhu asked impatiently.
“The Old Lady hasn't spoken yet, let's wait.”
Yi Zhonghai said calmly.
“I'm going home to cook first. If anything happens, you can call out again.”
Sha Zhu lost his temper and turned to leave.
Yi Zhonghai didn't try to stop him.
He guessed that Chen Jianye would probably only come out after eating.
Perhaps by the time Sha Zhu finished eating, Chen Jianye still wouldn't have finished.
“That little beast Chen Jianye really doesn't take me seriously at all.”
The Deaf Old Lady came indignantly to Yi Zhonghai, gritting her teeth and saying.
“Old Lady, how about we go home to eat first, and then come back after we're done?”
Yi Zhonghai suggested.
“Alright.”
“I want to see how long this little beast can hide.”
The Deaf Old Lady gritted her teeth.
Yi Zhonghai helped the Old Lady go home.
Jia Zhangshi also hurried home to eat.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui, of course, went back to their respective homes.
Everyone scattered like birds and beasts.
This left the Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents who had come out with their rice bowls to watch the show, empty-handed.
Half an hour passed in a flash.
Chen Jianye finished dinner and walked out of the house with an enamel basin.
“Chen Jianye is out, Old Lady, let's go.”
Yi Zhonghai quickly shouted.
He helped the Old Lady out of the house.
Jia Zhangshi of the Jia also walked out of her house.
Sha Zhu did the same.
By the time Chen Jianye placed the enamel basin in the front Courtyard and returned to the Middle Courtyard.
Four people were already standing at his doorstep, blocking the entrance.
From oldest to youngest, they were the Deaf Old Lady, Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi, and Sha Zhu.
“Chen Jianye! You're finally out!”
The Deaf Old Lady's face was grim, and she shouted sharply.
“Second Master, Third Master, quickly bring people over.”
Jia Zhangshi yelled at the top of her lungs.
The entire Courtyard heard her voice.
The Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents came out one after another, ready to enjoy the big show.