My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 24: The Deaf Old Woman's Test

When Yi Zhonghai helped the deaf old lady to the door of the back room, he saw Zhang Lei chatting and laughing with the three women.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai coughed. Zhang Lei and the others looked at the deaf old lady, but even after the deaf old lady walked up to Zhang Lei, none of them made any move to get up.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Zhang Lei, why are you still sitting there? Don't you know you should give the old lady a seat?"

Zhang Lei looked at the deaf old lady and said, "Why should I give up my seat? The four of us are sitting perfectly well on four benches."

Yi Zhonghai said angrily, "This old lady is old enough to be your grandmother. Shouldn't you offer her a stool to sit on? Don't you know anything about respecting the elderly and caring for the young?"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai constantly talking about respecting the elderly and caring for the young, Zhang Lei ignored him and said, "Yi Zhonghai, if you have something to say, just say it. If not, please leave and don't waste our time."

The deaf old lady looked at Zhang Lei's expression and then said, "Xiao Yi, go get a stool."

Then he muttered to himself, "Alas, old people are really useless. The younger generation doesn't act like younger people at all, they won't even give an old woman a stool to sit on."

Listening to the deaf old woman's sarcastic remarks, Zhang Lei said directly, "If you want to be respected, you have to do things that no one can criticize. Otherwise, if people only hear about respecting the elderly and caring for the young, won't they forget about caring for the young?"

Upon hearing Zhang Lei's words, the deaf old woman's eyes narrowed instantly, and a chill ran through her.

Although it was she who told Yi Zhonghai the phrase "respect the elderly and care for the young," she told him that if he wanted others to support him in his old age, he needed to make sure that people kept the phrase "respect the elderly and care for the young" firmly in their hearts.

Yi Zhonghai followed suit.

However, the deaf old lady's initial plan was to create a persona for herself.

After all, she was the oldest person in the entire courtyard.

If everyone were like Zhang Lei, wouldn't she just be a lonely, helpless old woman? She wouldn't have the status she has now in the courtyard house.

Soon, Yi Zhonghai brought over a stool and placed it next to the deaf old lady.

After the deaf old lady sat down, she looked at Zhang Lei and said with a smile, "Zhang Lei, I've heard about what happened to you. Don't blame your uncle for this; after all, he was just trying to do what's best for the people in this courtyard."

Zhang Lei looked at the deaf old lady and said, "Really? But I really didn't notice."

Hearing Zhang Lei's words, the deaf old lady wasn't angry. She said, "Zhang Lei, you can't be too selfish. If you're selfish, people will dislike you, and then everyone will isolate you. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Zhang Lei sensed the threat in the deaf old woman's words and said disdainfully, "Grandma, you should know about my past. The thing I'm least afraid of is being isolated is being isolated."

"However, my situation is different now. Do you see the people next to me? This is my wife, and these are her two younger sisters."

"In addition, my wife's entire village is surnamed Ye. In the Ye family, there are not only three brothers-in-law, but also a group of nephews and nieces, not to mention a group of relatives and elders in the village. There must be at least two or three hundred people."

"I don't feel lonely now, nor am I afraid of being isolated."

At this moment, Ye Shuqi leaned over and said, "Brother-in-law, don't be afraid, you have us. Besides, my dad is the village chief of Ye Family Village. There are hundreds of people in the village, and we are all related to each other in some way. Didn't my brother tell us before he came that if anyone dares to bully us, then we'll lead hundreds of people from Ye Family Village to the city to make a scene? I don't believe there's no place to reason with them."

The deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai were stunned by Ye Shuqi's words. They hadn't even said anything yet, and this girl was already thinking of bringing hundreds of people from the village over to make a scene, so that even if they were wrong, they would be able to make it seem like they were right.

At this moment, Zhang Lei smiled upon hearing Ye Shuqi's unexpected help and said, "Shuqi, don't be impulsive. I believe that Uncle will give us an explanation."

Yi Zhonghai saw Zhang Lei turn the conversation to him and just smiled awkwardly, waiting for the deaf old lady to speak.

Listening to Zhang Lei's words, the deaf old lady smiled and said, "Zhang Lei, it's just a small matter, don't worry, your uncle will take care of it for you. But I heard from Zhonghai that your family lost more than 2700 yuan, is that true?"

The deaf old woman stared intently at Zhang Lei, trying to find a flaw in his demeanor.

Zhang Lei calmly replied, "Grandma, I'm a straightforward person. What's the truth is what it is, otherwise I wouldn't have only said 2743 yuan and 5 mao."

Seeing Zhang Lei's calm expression, the deaf old lady sighed and said, "Xiao Yi, help me back."

Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady returned to her house in the backyard. Yi Zhonghai asked urgently, "Grandma, do you think what Zhang Lei said just now was true?"

The deaf old woman thought for a moment and said, "I didn't see any lying on his face, so the money must really be lost."

Upon hearing the deaf old woman's words, Yi Zhonghai immediately cursed, "That Jia Zhangshi!"

The deaf old lady looked at Yi Zhonghai and said, "Alright, you're in the wrong in this matter. If Zhang Lei really calls the police, the Jia family will definitely be in deep trouble. As for you, you'll inevitably be caught in the crossfire."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "Grandma, I understand. I'll go talk to Jia Zhangshi about the money right away."

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment and said, "Grandma, look at Zhang Lei. Now that he's made such a fuss, the prestige of the three of us stewards has also declined quite a bit."

The deaf old woman, looking at Yi Zhonghai's incompetent appearance, said, "Zhang Lei is just a little brat. He'll live as long as you. If you can't do something openly, can't you at least do it covertly? Do I need to teach you this kind of thing?"

Upon hearing what the deaf old lady said, Yi Zhonghai suddenly realized and said, "Grandma, I understand."

The deaf old woman waved her hand and said, "Alright, let's resolve this matter first."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and quickly ran back to the Intermediate People's Court.

After a series of events at the Intermediate People's Court, Yan Fugui, Liu Haizhong, Jia Dongxu, and Jia Zhangshi gathered at Yi Zhonghai's home.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the group and recounted the story of the deaf old lady visiting Zhang Lei.

Madam Jia said incredulously, "Old Yi, you're saying even the old lady couldn't see through his true abilities?"

Yi Zhonghai explained, "It's not that I didn't see through his intentions, it's that I didn't realize he was lying!"

Seeing the look in Yi Zhonghai's eyes, Jia Zhangshi immediately became anxious and said, "Yi Zhonghai, what kind of look is that? Do you think I took Zhang Lei's money?"

Liu Haizhong, standing to the side, said directly, "Jia Zhangshi, is there even a need to say anything about this? Who else could it be but you?"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Liu Haizhong and said, "Fatty Liu, who are you talking about? Who took Zhang Lei's money? I'd say it was you!"

Liu Haizhong glared at Jia Zhangshi and said angrily, "You're simply unreasonable!"

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi suddenly remembered something and exclaimed in realization, "That's not right! Liu Haizhong, Yan Fugui, when the houses were being allocated, your two families were the first to occupy the middle house. I arrived later, so the money must have been taken by your two families and then pinned on me!"

When Yan Fugui heard the topic turn to him, he immediately retorted angrily, "Jia Zhangshi, what nonsense are you spouting? When did we take any money? You've been living in the house between Zhang Lei's and Jia Zhangshi's houses all along!"