My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 73: The Bicycle Incident

Soon, the two became more and more skilled at riding. When they arrived at the courtyard gate, Ye Shuqin had completely mastered the technique of riding one bike while holding the other, and the two then stopped.

Just as I pushed the car into the yard, I ran into Uncle Yan Fugui.

Yan Fugui's eyes lit up when he saw the four bicycles Zhang Lei and Ye Shuqin were pushing. He quickly jogged over and asked with a look of surprise, "Zhang Lei, where did you get so many bicycles?"

Looking at Yan Fugui's scrutinizing expression, Zhang Lei gave a faint smile and said, "Third Uncle, where else could this have come from? I bought it."

"Bought them? All four are yours?" Yan Fugui's voice rose several decibels, his face full of disbelief.

Zhang Lei nodded casually, "Yeah, don't underestimate these four cars, they cost me almost five hundred yuan."

"Five hundred yuan?" Yan Fugui's head was buzzing from the number. It took him a while to come to his senses before he pressed on, "Zhang Lei, where did you get so much money to buy a bicycle?"

Zhang Lei's smile faded, and his tone turned cold, tinged with displeasure as he said, "Hey, Uncle Zhang, aren't you being a bit too nosy? Do I need to report to you where my money comes from and where it's spent?"

Yan Fugui's face flushed red and then turned pale. He waved his hands awkwardly and said, "No need, no need. Zhang Lei, don't mind me. I was just asking casually. I was just concerned about you."

While Yan Fugui and Zhang Lei were talking, the neighbors in the courtyard had already gathered around after hearing the noise.

Everyone stared at the four gleaming bicycles with shining eyes, as if they had seen some rare treasure. They couldn't help but squeeze forward, touching and looking at them, and constantly marveling at them.

Just then, two faces that Zhang Lei found utterly repulsive emerged from the crowd. Jia Zhangshi stepped forward, pushing through the throng, her voice shrill and loud: "Wow, so many bicycles! Zhang Lei, you've bought so many, you have to give me one! My son works so hard every day going to and from get off work, he really needs a bicycle!"

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's self-righteous attitude, Zhang Lei immediately frowned and started to shoo her away, saying irritably, "Go away, Jia Zhangshi, what business is it of yours? We'll give your family a car? Your son works hard and you want to take advantage of others? You're rotten to the core and blind to the truth, a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

Upon hearing Zhang Lei's words, Jia Zhangshi became so angry that her face turned a deep purplish-red. She immediately jumped up and down, shouting, "Zhang Lei, I'm doing you a favor by liking your bicycle! Don't be so ungrateful! Hurry up and bring one over to me! Besides, you have so many, what's a little bit of sharing one with me!"

Hearing Jia Zhangshi's unreasonable and domineering words, Zhang Lei's eyes instantly turned cold, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

Zhang Lei glared at Jia Zhangshi, his eyes as cold as ice, and yelled, "Jia Zhangshi, whose cage wasn't closed properly, letting this mad dog like you out? What, wasn't the lesson I taught you enough? Do you want to test how tough my fists are?"

As he spoke, he clenched his fist and gestured at Jia Zhangshi.

This immediately terrified Jia Zhangshi, who quickly shrank back several steps, fearing that the fist would actually land on her.

The onlookers, seeing this, burst into laughter. Someone pointed at Jia Zhangshi and joked, "Jia Zhangshi, you really dare to ask for a bicycle right off the bat!"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! We usually only see you stealing peppercorns, chili peppers, and scallions, but today you've really gone all out, daring to steal a bicycle!"

Just then, a sharp shout came from behind: "Stop! Zhang Lei, what are you doing? Why are you hitting someone again? You're completely lawless!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Zhang Lei knew without looking up that it was Yi Zhonghai, the self-proclaimed moral saint, back online.

Zhang Lei wasn't intimidated at all. He looked up at Yi Zhonghai, a cold smile creeping onto his lips, and shouted, "Yi Zhonghai, those two eggs hanging under your eyebrows, if they're useless, just donate them! It'll save you from lying through your teeth all day, unable to distinguish right from wrong. Keeping them is a waste!"

Yi Zhonghai trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Zhang Lei, his chest heaving violently: "You...you're absolutely outrageous! You hit someone and you think you're in the right?"

Zhang Lei raised an eyebrow and let out a sarcastic sneer: "Hit someone? I didn't hit anyone. I just wanted to chase away a barking mad dog. What, Yi Zhonghai, does that mean I can't chase away a mad dog that's howling at me?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately exploded, jumping up and down and yelling in a high-pitched voice, "Zhang Lei, you little bastard! Who are you calling a mad dog?"

Zhang Lei didn't even lift his eyelids, and slowly replied, "Anyone who answers is a mad dog."

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai looked at the four bicycles next to Zhang Lei and was immediately filled with shock and a hint of barely perceptible envy. He had been frugal all his life, and he had never spent a penny of his savings, all of which were for his retirement. But now, four bicycles, polished to a gleaming shine, were placed in front of him. To say he didn't want one was impossible.

He cleared his throat, suppressing his envy, and asked in a deliberately serious tone, "Zhang Lei, where did you get these four bicycles?"

Zhang Lei rolled his eyes, his tone full of exasperation: "Are all you meddlesome old men particularly fond of meddling? You're all chasing after me asking where I got my bicycle? What, did you think I'd just steal it? I'm telling you plainly, I bought it!"

Hearing Zhang Lei say he bought it, Yi Zhonghai looked completely disbelieving, frowning as he pressed, "Bought it? Where did you get so much money? And where did you get so many tickets?"

Zhang Lei had completely lost his patience this time. A vein throbbed on his forehead, and he said irritably, "Yi Zhonghai, what exactly do you want? Where my money comes from is none of your business! As for the ticket, let me tell you plainly, this train doesn't need a ticket. Figure it out yourself!"

As he spoke, Zhang Lei grabbed Ye Shuqin and bent down to push the car towards the backyard.

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi suddenly rushed up and blocked the way, shouting with her neck stiff, "Zhang Lei, you have so many bicycles, what's wrong with giving one to my family? Besides, my son is going to be a high-ranking official in the future. If you give my son a bicycle today, I guarantee I can help you out in the future!"

Hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Zhang Lei was utterly speechless. He thought to himself, "Where does this old hag get her confidence? How can someone like Jia Dongxu be a cadre?"

He didn't bother with formalities and retorted angrily, "Jia Zhangshi, I think you're not only heartless but also blind. Your son is a piece of trash; he can't possibly be a cadre! Unless the sun rises in the west!"