Chapter 55: Raising Another Donation for the Jia Family

It has to be said that Courtyard 95 was truly a place that loved holding full-courtyard meetings. No sooner had Silt-head brought Stick-pin back from the hospital and without even a moment to rest, First Uncle Yi Zhonghai informed him that a full-courtyard assembly was about to commence.

Silt-head placed his family's table in the middle courtyard. First Uncle Yi Zhonghai sat in the primary seat, while Second Uncle Liu Haizhong and Third Uncle Yan Bugui occupied the secondary seats. The three of them held their tin mugs and sipped their water, waiting until nearly everyone had arrived before finally speaking up.

"Is everyone here?"

After Yi Zhonghai spoke, the surrounding crowd looked around. Xu Damao smiled and piped up.

"Deputy Factory Director Wang Lin hasn't arrived yet."

Qin Huairu spoke up flatly.

"I'm right here, aren't I considered a member of the Wang family?"

Liu Haizhong spoke up for Qin Huairu at that moment. No matter what, he was still Wang Lin's lackey.

"Huairu is Wang Lin's wife, so of course she's a member of the Wang family. Xu Damao, do you want to be thrown into the dark cell again?"

Upon hearing the words "dark cell," Xu Damao instinctively shuddered. Although he had only been locked up for three hours, those three hours had nearly driven him out of his mind.

"Second Uncle, I just didn't see Qin Huairu there, that's all."

Everyone shot Xu Damao looks of utter disdain. Not see Qin Huairu? Who would believe such a line?

In the entire courtyard, everyone knew that Wang Lin had three beautiful wives. The crucial part was that neither the neighborhood committee nor the police cared, leaving all the men in the courtyard green with envy, wishing they could take his place, though they lacked Wang Lin's capability.

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong pressed his hand down and spoke again.

"Since everyone is here, let's start the meeting."

Liu Haizhong sat back down, and First Uncle Yi Zhonghai began.

"As everyone knows, neither the mother-in-law nor the daughter-in-law in the Jia family currently has a job. Now Qin Min has given birth to a son, and he fell ill today. They don't even have the money for medical treatment, so after discussion among us three elders, we've decided to help the Jia family organize a donation drive."

First Uncle Yi Zhonghai took a sip of water and continued.

"Everyone knows our courtyard values unity and mutual aid. As First Uncle, I'll set an example—I'll donate ten yuan."

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong stood up.

"As Second Uncle, I'll donate ten yuan as well."

Third Uncle Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and said with a smile.

"Everyone knows my family's situation; we aren't very well off. I'll donate two yuan."

Silt-head looked over at Qin Min and, seeing her gazing at him with big, watery eyes, hurriedly stood up and announced.

"I'll donate ten yuan too."

With that, Silt-head looked triumphantly at Xu Damao and provoked him.

"Silly Mao, I'm donating ten yuan. What about you? As a projectionist, you surely aren't so broke you don't even have ten yuan, right?"

Seeing Silt-head provoke him, how could Xu Damao take it lying down? Yet he wasn't a fool either; why would he give away his hard-earned money to someone else for no reason?

"You're an absolute idiot. Why would I donate my money to someone else? I'm not giving a cent."

Hearing that Xu Damao refused to donate, Silt-head's anger flared up instantly. If Xu Damao didn't donate, what would happen if his Qin elder sister ran out of money and went hungry?

"Hah, Xu Damao, you're nothing but a bad element deliberately undermining the unity of the courtyard. A guy like you ought to be driven out of the courtyard."

Xu Damao smiled with disdain and sneered.

"You're just a eunuch, yet you're still salivating over Qin Min's body? Even if Qin Min remarried and chose you, you wouldn't even be able to enjoy it! Am I right, everyone?"

After mocking Silt-head, Xu Damao pressed on with his ridicule.

"And you want to drive me out? My house is private property; go ask the three elders if they have the right to kick me out."

Seeing how arrogant Xu Damao was acting—and realizing he was no match for Xu Damao in a war of words—Silt-head instinctively turned to Yi Zhonghai for help.

By this point, Yi Zhonghai had no tricks left to deal with Xu Damao either, so he could only signal Silt-head to resort to physical force.

Receiving Yi Zhonghai's signal, Silt-head felt confident and lunged directly at Xu Damao.

"Silly Mao, I think you're just begging for a beating."

Xu Damao had long since figured out the habits of Yi Zhonghai and Silt-head. Seeing the eye exchange between them, he knew Silt-head was about to get physical, so the moment Silt-head turned to chase him, Xu Damao spun around and bolted.

Lou Xiaoe whispered softly into Qin Huairu's ear.

"It's a good thing I didn't marry this Xu Damao, or my life would have been ruined."

She had already seen through the fact that Xu Damao was not a good person at all. Wang Lin had just cured his precious treasure, and yet Xu Damao turned around and reported her father.

Moreover, in Lou Xiaoe's eyes, the Jia family was genuinely in a difficult spot, so chipping in some money was only natural.

Qin Huairu smiled and said to Lou Xiaoe.

"Now you know how wonderful Brother Lin is, hehe."

There was a hint of pride in Qin Huairu's voice; after all, Wang Lin was her man.

Chen Xeru couldn't resist chiming in with a teasing jab.

"Yeah, yeah, he's great all right, just way too lecherous."

The three women exchanged glances and covered their mouths with their hands, giggling softly.

By this time, Xu Damao had already been caught by Silt-head, who rained punch after punch onto Xu Damao's stomach, making him howl in pain.

Actually, Silt-head had half a mind to deliver a groin kick to Xu Damao right then and there, but for some inexplicable reason today, he subconsciously felt a strange reluctance—almost as if Xu Damao's nether regions ought to belong to him.

Seeing Xu Damao beaten until he was gasping for breath, Yi Zhonghai finally spoke up.

"All right, Zhuzi, that's enough. Stop hitting him."

Obeying Yi Zhonghai's command, Silt-head immediately let go of Xu Damao while still tossing in a parting insult.

"Silly Mao, let's see if you dare act arrogant again. Are you going to donate this money or not?"

Just at that moment, Wang Lin strolled in. His tone was utterly calm, yet it sent a cold sweat surging all over Silt-head's body.

"Silt-head, forcing donations like this is illegal, you know. Be careful—Xu Damao might just donate the money and then sneak off to report you to the police. When that happens, not only will you be in deep trouble, but the Jia family and the three elders will all go down with you."

"Ah? This..."

Silt-head was scared out of his wits. Clueless as to what to do next, his gaze snapped toward First Uncle Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai felt a throbbing headache coming on as well. He never could have imagined that Wang Lin would return right at this very moment.

He resented Wang Lin even more now. If not for Wang Lin, under the threat of Silt-head's fists, Xu Damao definitely would have coughed up the money. But now things were uncertain, and they might even face trouble themselves.

Liu Haizhong wore an indifferent expression. Not only was he a workshop director now, but he was also the head of the inspection team; he no longer cared all that much about the title of Second Uncle in the courtyard.

Third Uncle Yan Bugui, however, panicked. He still relied on his status as Third Uncle to squeeze out small advantages in the courtyard. Without that status, feeding his family might become a genuine problem.

Yan Bugui looked nervously at Yi Zhonghai, his meaning crystal clear: you were the one who brought this up, so you'd better fix it.

Yi Zhonghai looked sternly at Silt-head and said.

"Zhuzi, donations aren't compulsory. Since Xu Damao doesn't want to donate, let's drop it."

"Oh, right, okay."

Silt-head hurried back to his seat, completely ignoring Xu Damao, who was left slumped and groaning on the ground.

Seeing this, Wang Lin smiled, walked over, and sat down beside the three women—Qin Huairu, Lou Xiaoe, and Chen Xeru.

Though unhappy at heart, Yi Zhonghai decided he didn't want to provoke Wang Lin right now; he still vividly remembered that the last time he had tried to organize a donation drive, it was Wang Lin who had ruined it.