Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Chapter 23 A Stern Rebuke to the Shrew's Fury: Her Evil Schemes Fail and She is Ultimately Puni

As evening approached and the aroma of cooking wafted from the courtyard, Jia Dongxu, his face dark, half-dragged, half-brought Jia Zhangshi back from the steel mill's security department.

Jia Zhangshi looked utterly dejected, her face ashen and sallow, her eyes sunken, and her once messy hair now plastered to her face and neck, covered in dust. She had lost all her usual energy and spirit, clearly having been thoroughly reprimanded by the security department and getting nothing in return.

"Alright, alright, stop dawdling and come inside!" Jia Dongxu grabbed her arm, his tone full of impatience, his face showing a frustrated and embarrassed expression. "All you ever do is cause trouble. Now you've messed with someone tough. Feeling good?"

"I caused trouble? If it weren't for that little bastard Sun Jingyuan's mischief, would I have been arrested and thrown in the security department?" Jia Zhangshi immediately shouted, her voice hoarse but still sharp. "Isn't it because you're useless, unable to protect me, and then you blame me!"

"You still think you're right? It's already a favor that they didn't accuse you of false accusation. If it weren't for Uncle Yi paying to settle things, you wouldn't be out of here right now!" Jia Dongxu scolded in a low voice, afraid that the people in the courtyard would hear him and make him lose even more face.

But Jia Zhangshi didn't care at all. She shook off his hand, stood at her own door, and bumped into Sun Jingyuan, who was just turning through the moon gate at the right moment.

She instantly reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her eyes turning bloodshot as she stared intently at Sun Jingyuan with a venomous look, her whole body radiating resentment.

Sun Jingyuan slowly stopped, casually putting his hands in his pockets, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. He spoke with a hint of mockery, "Oh, Aunt Jia, just came out of the security office, already in such a hurry to settle scores with me at your own doorstep?"

"You little beast! You childless little beast, you'll die a horrible death!" Madam Jia instantly flew into a rage, not caring whether anyone was around, and began to shout and curse, her shrill voice instantly echoing throughout the entire courtyard.

Hearing the commotion, the neighbors who were cooking and tidying up in the courtyard immediately put down what they were doing and came over in twos and threes to watch the excitement. In no time, they had surrounded half of the courtyard, all of them with their ears perked up, waiting to see what was going on.

"A terrible death?" Sun Jingyuan drawled, his gaze sweeping lightly over the black-and-white portrait of Old Jia hanging on the wall of the Jia family's main room. His tone was calm, yet every word was cutting. "I need to hear that carefully. Aunt Jia, who do you think deserves a terrible death?"

The onlookers gasped in shock, their back teeth aching. They looked at each other, no one daring to utter a sound.

Although it wasn't said explicitly, anyone with eyes could understand it. It hit the nail on the head regarding the Jia family's biggest taboo, and the sarcastic tone was perfectly executed.

"You damned bastard! How dare you mention him! I'll fight you to the death!" Jia Zhangshi was hit where it hurt, and instantly became furious. She put her hands on her hips, stood on tiptoe, and lunged at Sun Jingyuan with bared teeth and claws, looking ready to fight to the death.

This time, Sun Jingyuan didn't dodge at all. He slowly took out a cigarette case from his pocket, took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it with a match, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring. His tone was cold and firm: "Come on, hit me. If you dare to touch a single finger of mine, and I really hurt you, five hundred yuan in compensation won't be enough. Then I'll make sure your Jia family is completely wiped out, and you won't get a single penny left."

These words were like a spell that froze Jia Zhangshi's outstretched hand in mid-air, her forward steps came to an abrupt halt, and the fierce look on her face instantly vanished.

She knew perfectly well that although Yi Zhonghai had paid the 1,500 yuan to Sun Jingyuan on the spot, he had then forced Jia Dongxu and Sha Zhu to each write an IOU for 300 yuan. The IOU was now in Yi Zhonghai's hands, and he couldn't deny it.

If they hurt someone again, they'll have to pay a huge sum of money. Their family is already struggling financially, and they'll really be starving.

"You...you're going too far!" Jia Zhangshi clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her flesh, but she dared not take another step forward. She could only hop on the spot, screaming in helpless rage, "You damned little beast, you deserve to be arrested, you deserve to die!"

"The damned ones are long dead, aren't they?" Sun Jingyuan flicked his cigarette ash, his tone still calm, but his eyes held a hint of coldness as he stared straight at Jia Zhangshi without backing down in the slightest.

The onlookers couldn't help but gasp again, their thoughts immediately drawn to Old Jia. They were secretly amazed; this Dr. Sun looked young, but his ability to roast people was truly remarkable, always hitting the nail on the head.

"I'll fight you to the death!" Jia Zhangshi was completely driven mad by the shock. She screamed and mustered all her strength to ram into Sun Jingyuan, wanting to die together with him.

Sun Jingyuan slightly shifted his foot to the side, easily dodging the attack.

Jia Zhangshi was too heavy to stop her momentum and rushed straight toward the courtyard gate, completely unaware of the people passing by.

"Ouch! Who dared to bump into me! Aunt Jia, are you blind?!"

A cry of pain suddenly rang out. Xu Damao, with his slicked-back hair and powdered face, was knocked off balance and fell to the ground, rolling twice. His carefully combed hair, styled with hair oil, instantly became a mess, and his jacket was covered in dust.

"So what if I bumped into you? Who told you to block the way? Didn't you know to move aside?" Jia Zhangshi herself was dizzy from the bump, but instead of showing any remorse, she stood with her hands on her hips and retorted, acting completely unreasonable.

"Aunt Jia, can't you be reasonable?! You were the one who rushed at me and bumped into me, and now you're blaming me?" Xu Damao, clutching his back and wincing in pain, scrambled to his feet and shouted, "Uncle Yi! Uncle Yi, come out and judge this! This Aunt Jia is unreasonable; she bumped into me and then started cursing!"

Sun Jingyuan saw it all clearly from the side. Xu Damao had chosen the wrong person to reason with. Yi Zhonghai always favored the Jia family. Going to reason with him was just asking for trouble and he wouldn't get any benefit at all.

Sure enough, a short while later, Yi Zhonghai came out of the house with a stern face. He first pretended to scold Jia Zhangshi a couple of times, then turned to Xu Damao and tried to smooth things over: "Damao, it's just a misunderstanding. Aunt Jia didn't do it on purpose. You're a young man, don't take it to heart. Let's just let it go."

"Just let it go? Uncle Yi, I'm sore from the impact, and my clothes are all dirty. Are you just going to let it go like that?" Xu Damao said indignantly, clenching his fists.

"What else can we do? We're all neighbors in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time, don't make things too ugly." Yi Zhonghai put on the airs of an old man, his tone was somewhat forceful, he wanted to brush things off with a few words, he had no intention of making a decision for Xu Damao at all.

Xu Damao was speechless, his heart filled with anger, but he couldn't go against Yi Zhonghai's wishes. He could only glare at Jia Zhangshi and turn to leave. When he passed by Sun Jingyuan, he suddenly stopped, extended his hand, and forced a smile on his face: "Dr. Sun, I am Xu Damao, a projectionist at the steel mill. I've seen you at the factory before."

"Brother Xu, I've heard so much about you." Sun Jingyuan smiled and shook hands with him. He then took out a cigarette, first offering one to Xu Damao, and then to Yan Bugui, who had come over to watch the commotion. Only then did he speak, "Everyone in the factory knows you, Xu Damao. Your projection skills are top-notch. You can't find a projectionist in the entire city of Beijing who is better than you."

"Haha, of course!" Xu Damao took the cigarette, his face instantly lighting up with excitement. The anger on his face vanished, and he patted his chest proudly, saying, "When it comes to projecting movies, I, Xu Damao, dare to say I'm second to none. Whether it's in the factory or showing movies in the countryside, I've never had the slightest mishap!"

"I've been interested in your project of showing movies in the countryside for a long time, and I've always wanted to find an opportunity to talk to you about it, but I've just been too shy to ask," Sun Jingyuan said, his tone exceptionally sincere.

"Why wait for a specific time? Let's do it today!" Xu Damao grabbed Sun Jingyuan's arm, his enthusiasm overflowing. "I just caught a fat chicken this morning and I'm about to stew it. Come on in, brothers, have a couple of drinks and have a good chat!"

"I'm so sorry to trouble you with all this expense, Brother Xu," Sun Jingyuan said, feigning shyness as he declined.

"What's there to be embarrassed about! We're neighbors, what's wrong with having a few drinks!" Xu Damao said without waiting for a reply, grabbing Sun Jingyuan and pulling him towards the backyard. As they walked, he patted his chest and promised, "If anyone causes you trouble at the factory in the future, just mention my name, Xu Damao, and I'll take care of it for you!"

Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu, Sha Zhu and his group stood still, their faces so gloomy they could drip water, staring intently at the backs of the two men, their teeth itching with hatred.

Xu Damao was a troublemaker in the courtyard. He didn't get along with Sha Zhu and had been kept in check by Sha Zhu for many years. Now, he had actually teamed up with Sun Jingyuan, a tough guy. With these two working together, the courtyard would probably never have a good life again. It would be even more difficult for them to scheme against Sun Jingyuan.

At night, the house in Xu Damao's backyard was brightly lit, and the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter could be heard from time to time. Sun Jingyuan and Xu Damao were exchanging drinks and chatting very congenially.

Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi, and the others in the middle courtyard sat in the house, listening to the laughter and noise coming from the backyard. Their hearts were filled with resentment and hatred, but they were powerless to do anything about it.

Why should Sun Jingyuan be able to live a life of luxury and comfort after swindling them out of 1,500 yuan, while they have to swallow their anger and suffer this injustice?

This frustrating period didn't last long; the penalty notices from the steel mill and the street office came one after the other.

The next morning, the steel rolling mill's loudspeaker began broadcasting a message on a loop, the sound echoing throughout the entire factory area, even reaching the nearby courtyards: "Factory-wide notice: Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade fitter in Workshop 1, has been unable to distinguish right from wrong and has led the malicious accusation against an outstanding employee, disrupting the normal order of the factory area. After deliberation by the factory leadership, it has been decided that he will be punished by cleaning the factory toilets for one week, given a minor demerit, and publicly criticized throughout the factory."

"Liu Haizhong, a seventh-level fitter in Workshop 4, participated in malicious reporting and colluded to cause trouble. He was punished by cleaning the factory toilets for a week and was publicly criticized throughout the factory."

"He Yuzhu, a cook in the No. 1 canteen, colluded to make false accusations and spread rumors. He was punished by cleaning the factory toilets for a week and was publicly criticized throughout the factory."

The factory had heavy production tasks. Yi Zhonghai was a top-notch level eight fitter, and Sha Zhu was a key member of the canteen's small kitchen. The factory couldn't really punish them by making them stop working for a long time to clean toilets. In the end, they were only given a light punishment and their wages were not deducted. After all, they had already compensated Sun Jingyuan with a large sum of money, and it would be unreasonable to deduct their wages again.

Compared to the others in the factory, Yan Bugui suffered an even worse fate. The school directly ordered him to make a profound self-criticism at a general meeting of all faculty and staff, admitting his mistakes in front of all the teachers.

He had been stingy his whole life and valued his reputation above all else. This time, he had completely lost face and was now being pointed at and gossiped about wherever he went.

The factory's punishment had just ended when the street office's punishment followed closely behind, sending people directly to the courtyard to issue a notice: ordering Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, He Yuzhu, and Jia Zhangshi to clean the main road in their jurisdiction every day for half a month, without being absent or lazy, and to finish cleaning before residents went to work every morning. The street office would inspect the work, and if the cleaning was not up to standard, the cleaning period would be extended directly, without any leniency.

Sweeping the streets is a tiring and shameful job. You have to get up at four o'clock every morning to start work. You have to be busy with your broom before dawn. You can't be delayed no matter if it's windy or rainy. Jia Zhangshi is not a factory worker, so the factory can't control her. The street office will not tolerate her bad temper and has not shown her any leniency.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Sun Jingyuan stepped out of the courtyard and bumped into Yi Zhonghai and his group, who were dragging their tired bodies, carrying brooms and dustpans, and looking dejected as they swept the streets back.

They were all covered in dust, their hair was covered in leaves and dirt, and their faces were haggard and ugly, completely lacking their usual arrogance.

"Hey, everyone, you just finished your work? You've worked hard. The street looks pretty clean. You've really done a great job." Sun Jingyuan walked up with a smile, his hands in his pockets, his tone full of teasing, and took the initiative to greet the group.

"Sun Jingyuan! Stop talking nonsense and shut up!" Sha Zhu instantly lost his temper. He was already full of anger, and Sun Jingyuan's mockery made him raise a broom on the spot, shouting angrily, his eyes red.

"What? I praised you for being hardworking and capable, and you think I'm wrong?" Xu Damao's voice suddenly came from the side. He had been waiting at the door for a long time, wanting to see Sha Zhu make a fool of himself. He and Sha Zhu were mortal enemies, and he would never miss such an opportunity to kick someone when he was down.

"You can't say that. Laborers are the most honorable, and we must respect their efforts." Sun Jingyuan immediately stopped smiling, put on a serious expression, and said loudly to the neighbors who had gathered to watch the excitement, "Don't underestimate them. Not only do they have to sweep the streets early in the morning, but they also have to clean the toilets when they get back to the factory. The toilet floors are so clean that they shine brightly, even cleaner than the mirror in your house. You can all go to the factory and see for yourselves when you have time."

The onlookers were stunned at first, then burst into laughter. As they laughed, they remembered the scene in the toilet and covered their mouths, looking disgusted.

"Dr. Sun, please don't say that so early in the morning, it's disgusting!"

"Exactly, exactly! We still need to go home for breakfast, we can't afford to lose our appetite!"

"Is it really that clean? I'll have to go to the factory and see for myself!"

Many neighbors gathered around. They only knew that Yi Zhonghai and the others had been punished, but they didn't know exactly what the punishment was. They all started to chatter, each offering their own opinion and having a great time.

"Get out of here! What's it to you? Stop watching the show!" Sha Zhu's face turned a deep shade of liver from the crowd's words. He was both ashamed and furious, and he immediately flew into a rage, waving a broom to drive away the onlookers.

"I think it must be really clean, otherwise how could it be so shiny? Brother Shazhu, your cleaning skills are truly extraordinary." Sun Jingyuan stroked his chin, pretending to be serious but uncertain, every word hitting Shazhu's sore spot.

"Hahahaha! Okay, I'll go to the factory after get off work today and see for myself how Sha Zhu cleaned the toilets!" Xu Damao laughed so hard he almost fell over, completely ignoring Sha Zhu's trembling with anger.

"What are you all doing here? Don't you have to go to work or cook? Disperse!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, his face dark, as he sternly dispersed the crowd. He was in his fifties and got up at four in the morning every day to sweep the streets. He also had to go to work in the factory during the day. He was already exhausted, but he was still being ridiculed in public. His hatred had not diminished at all. He was secretly holding back his anger and plotting to find an opportunity to make Sun Jingyuan suffer so badly that he would never be able to recover.

Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu stood aside, watching Xu Damao and Sun Jingyuan walk arm in arm toward the steel mill gate. The two men clenched their fists so tightly that their knuckles turned white, their chests heaving violently with anger, and they almost fainted on the spot.