In the original story, Jia Dongxu had died.
But this transmigrated world had undergone a slight change.
After several hours of emergency treatment by the doctors, Jia Dongxu had escaped mortal danger.
Though he had kept his life, he was left paralyzed from the waist down.
It was already dark when Lin Zhen returned home.
He had come back from the hospital with Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Silly Zhu, and Xu Damao.
They were all neighbors from the same courtyard and coworkers, so they had stayed until nightfall.
As soon as they returned to the Siheyuan,
Yi Zhonghai immediately began organizing a courtyard-wide meeting.
"Lin Zhen, don't be late. The meeting is about to begin."
"Got it, First Elder. We'll be there in a bit."
This was a three-courtyard Siheyuan.
Lin Zhen lived in the front courtyard, next door to Third Master Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng.
The middle courtyard housed First Elder Yi Zhonghai, Silly Zhu and his sister Yu Li, as well as the Jia family.
The rear courtyard housed Second Elder Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, and the Deaf Old Lady.
The moment Lin Zhen entered the house,
five-year-old Lin Guo and Lin Jia, along with three-year-old Lin Dong and Lin Liang, came running over.
"Dad! You're back! Bang Geng cried again today!"
Lin Zhen crouched down fondly.
He rubbed his four sons' heads and smiled. "Did you four beat him up again?"
Lin Guo pouted.
"Hmph! He said my dad was the one who got his dad hurt, so of course we beat him up!"
"Mhm, good job. A rude little brat like that deserved a beating."
"Lin Zhen, you're back? I heard you were promoted to engineer today?"
Lou Xiao'e asked with a smile as she brought dishes to the table.
"Mhm. My salary will be 126.5 yuan from now on, even higher than the workshop director's."
Lou Xiao'e said happily, "I don't care how much you make. You've become an engineer, which makes you someone the factory is focused on cultivating. Even if the times change in the future, we'll still be able to keep our footing."
Lin Zhen smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I already have a plan. Hurry and eat. Yi Zhonghai is holding a courtyard-wide meeting in a bit."
Lou Xiao'e was still somewhat worried about her background.
She feared it would bring trouble to Lin Zhen's career.
After all, being the daughter of a capitalist was hardly an honorable identity.
Back then, her mother had wanted her to live a stable life.
So she had specifically sought out a son-in-law from a poor background.
She had chosen Lin Zhen right away.
Among everyone in this Siheyuan, Lin Zhen had the poorest background.
He had suffered even more than Xu Damao and Silly Zhu.
Lin Zhen's parents had both died, and he came from the countryside.
After graduating from high school, he had only barely managed to become an apprentice at the rolling mill with a letter of introduction.
Before she was married, Lou Xiao'e had not dared imagine what her future would be like.
But the moment she first saw Lin Zhen, she fell for him.
Not only was Lin Zhen handsome and dashing, he was literate and cultured, brimming with talent.
He was practically the refined top scholar from her dreams.
Lin Zhen had also been stunned when he first saw Lou Xiao'e.
She resembled the actress from the television drama somewhat, but she was even more beautiful.
She carried the gentle, well-bred air of a refined young lady, educated and sensible.
The two fell in love at first sight and soon went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage.
The day after their wedding, they returned to her parents' home.
Lin Zhen and his father-in-law spoke privately in the study for more than two hours.
He persuaded his father-in-law to take the whole family and leave.
On the surface, they severed ties with Lou Xiao'e.
But in truth, thirty percent of the family assets had been placed under Lin Zhen and Lou Xiao'e's names, to be brought back to them once the time was right.
Compared to their actual assets, Lin Zhen's monthly salary now
was truly nothing worth mentioning.
What worried Lou Xiao'e most was the coming turmoil.
Lin Zhen understood his wife's concerns.
He comforted her, "Don't worry. I'm one hundred percent confident I can handle it easily. Don't you believe your husband?"
He was a transmigrator who knew the plot inside out, and he even had a system.
Handling it easily would not be a problem.
Lou Xiao'e smiled. "Even if I trust no one else, I have to trust you. You're my sky now."
They had been married for nearly six years.
Lou Xiao'e felt happier than she had ever been as a daughter in her parents' home.
The emotional fulfillment Lin Zhen gave her was a hundred times greater than material comfort.
And their four sons were bright and clever, polite and sensible, and exceptionally filial.
Their family was no longer merely admired within the courtyard.
They were admired throughout the entire neighborhood.
By comparison, Jia Dongxu, who had married in the same year, seemed rather lacking.
"Huh? Lin Zhen, how is Jia Dongxu doing?"
"Paralyzed from the waist down. He won't be able to get out of bed for the rest of his life."
"Ah! It's that serious? How did it happen?"
"That man spent every day holding petty grudges against this person and that person. He was full of hostility, so bad luck was bound to find him sooner or later. He was lucky just to keep his life!"
"Sigh, you even proposed to Qin Huairu back then. If Qin Huairu knew her family would end up like this, she might as well have married you."
"Heh, you're quite generous for a wife. Aren't you afraid Qin Huairu will steal your husband?"
Lou Xiao'e smiled. "I'm not afraid. Even if Yu Li and Qin Huairu came together, I still wouldn't be afraid!"
Lin Zhen laughed. "You always bring up the wrong thing. I did ask someone to propose to both of them back then, but that was only because I hadn't had a chance to meet you yet. Besides, neither of them agreed."
Lou Xiao'e giggled. "That's why I say I'm lucky."
"Huh? Is Yu Li getting married at the end of the year?"
"Mhm. After choosing for six years, she's finally done choosing. I heard she's marrying Yan Jiecheng. That way, her father-in-law will be a schoolteacher, which will make her look good."
Lin Zhen smiled disdainfully.
He may be a teacher now, but in a few years, he'll become one of the stinking intellectuals. That whole family is stingy and calculating. Yu Li will have plenty of time to regret it.
After dinner, Lin Zhen's family of six went to the middle courtyard.
Almost all the residents of the entire courtyard had arrived.
Some sat while others stood, waiting for the meeting to begin.
A large square table had been placed in the center of the courtyard.
First Elder Yi Zhonghai sat in the middle, Second Elder Liu Haizhong sat to the east, and Third Master Yan Bugui sat to the west.
The Three Elders wore different expressions at that moment.
First Elder Yi Zhonghai was deeply worried. With Jia Dongxu paralyzed for the rest of his life, his plans for someone to care for him in old age had gone down the drain.
Second Elder Liu Haizhong did not care much. This meeting was merely a formality to him.
Third Master Yan Bugui was somewhat worried, afraid that Old Yi would bring up donating money.
Once everyone had arrived,
Second Elder Liu Haizhong stood up and spoke. "Everyone already knows that Jia Dongxu from our courtyard suffered a serious workplace injury. Considering his family's difficulties, Old Yi, Old Yan, and I decided to hold this meeting to discuss helping the Jia family. First Elder can explain the details."
First Elder Yi Zhonghai shot Liu Haizhong a displeased look.
He did not stand, merely saying flatly, "That's the situation. Old Liu has already said it all, so I won't repeat it. We're all neighbors, so let's discuss how we can help the Jia family."
Before anyone could begin discussing it,
Third Master Yan Bugui hurriedly asked, "Old Yi, um, what did the factory say?"
"It only happened today. The factory hasn't given a clear answer yet."
"How about this? Once the factory approves the compensation, medical expenses, and everything else, and we know how large the Jia family's shortfall is, we can hold this meeting then. That way, if everyone donates too much, it won't go to waste, and if they donate too little, it won't be enough. What do you think?"
Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. "This help is a matter of neighborly goodwill. Everyone should give according to their own wishes. It has nothing to do with how much the factory subsidizes them."
Yan Bugui was most afraid of donating too much.
The moment he heard that everyone could give as they pleased, he immediately relaxed.
Turning around, he smiled. "That's right, that's right. If we're talking about those closest to Dongxu, it has to be this group of young fellows. But now, only Lin Zhen has settled down and built a family, and his life is the most prosperous. He'll definitely have to contribute the biggest share this time."
Sitting among the crowd, Lin Zhen could not help cursing inwardly when he heard that.
Why, you old miser Yan? I don't pick on your family, yet you're using me to shoulder the biggest share.
I'm not some sucker. Trying to flatter me into giving more? You're still too green for that.
Before you continue