Chapter 67: The Imposter Son

"Grandmother, the First Uncle has always respected you and values your words above all else. Please help me talk to him and ask him to stop being angry with me."

Upon hearing this, Deaf Granny let out a long sigh, her eyes filled with deep concern. In an earnest tone, she said, "Zhuzi, you are simply too honest, always ending up on the short end of the stick."

Hearing these words, He Yuzhu felt a warmth spread through his chest. His eyes unconsciously grew moist as he felt the genuine care of an elder.

"I'll go find Yi Zhonghai right now, so you stop worrying," Deaf Granny said as she grabbed her walking stick, trembling slightly as she rose from her rocking chair to head toward the First Uncle's house, not forgetting to instruct He Yuzhu not to follow her.

How could He Yuzhu ever feel at ease letting Deaf Granny go alone? Pretending he hadn't heard a word, he quietly trailed behind her the entire way.

When they reached the First Uncle's doorstep, He Yuzhu supported Deaf Granny as she raised her walking stick and shouted toward the door at the top of her lungs, "Yi Zhonghai, get out here! For an elder like you to throw your weight around and bully my Zhuzi—what kind of ability is that? Let me tell you, as long as this old woman is still breathing, I will not stand by and let you bully him!"

Deaf Granny's voice grew louder with every word, ringing with absolute authority.

Standing to the side, He Yuzhu felt a tangled web of emotions.

On one hand, he was deeply moved; Deaf Granny's favoritism and fierce protection of him gave him a warmth he had never felt before. On the other hand, he felt rather helpless—he had merely wanted the old lady to help mediate, so how had it turned into someone coming to fight his battles for him?

Moreover, as more and more curious onlookers gathered around, a wave of awkward embarrassment began to well up inside him.

"How strange. Usually, Deaf Granny and the First Uncle are as close as a real mother and son, getting along wonderfully. Why on earth are they suddenly making such a huge fuss today?" a neighbor whispered, looking utterly bewildered as they asked those nearby.

Another person quickly chimed in, "Judging by Deaf Granny's tone, it sounds like the First Uncle bullied He Yuzhu, and she's here to back him up and fight the injustice."

"Yeah, everyone knows that in Deaf Granny's heart, He Yuzhu is no different from her own grandson. As for the First Uncle, he looks more like a fake son," another person joked with a smile.

"I've always felt that the relationship between the First Uncle and He Yuzhu was a bit off; I just could never figure out what was really going on."

As people chimed in one after another, the crowd outside the First Uncle's door grew denser, packing the courtyard three layers deep. The buzz of conversation rose and fell like a boiling cauldron, and the noise drifted clearly through the doors and windows straight into the room.

Inside, the First Uncle had initially intended to pretend he heard nothing and stay hidden inside, hoping that Deaf Granny would shout for a bit and then leave.

However, the idle gossip outside pierced his ears like needles. He could no longer sit still; if he kept hiding like this, there was no telling what people would think of him.

Left with no choice, the First Uncle finally opened the door. The First Aunt cautiously followed behind him as they walked out into the courtyard.

Even though Deaf Granny was still pointing fingers and angrily rebuking them at the doorway, the First Uncle forced a smile onto his face and said, "Granny, what kind of performance is this? You're getting up there in years, and your legs and feet aren't what they used to be. Standing here in the courtyard is exhausting. Whatever the matter is, let's go inside and talk it over slowly, shall we?"

The First Aunt also hurried forward, smiling obsequiously as she reached out to support Deaf Granny, murmuring, "Granny, hurry inside so we can have a proper chat."

To everyone's surprise, Deaf Granny showed no appreciation whatsoever. With a sharp swat, she knocked the First Aunt's arm away. Her expression dark and terrifying, she shouted, "We'll talk right here! Today, everyone is going to hear this and judge who is in the right! Yi Zhonghai, aren't you ashamed of the dirty tricks you've pulled? Have you no conscience? Take a good look at your own heart and tell everyone what kind of vile deeds you've done!"

In the past, Deaf Granny had always been gentle and amiable toward the First Uncle, never once using such a harsh and reproachful tone with him.

The smile on the First Uncle's face instantly froze, completely unsustainable. His face turning dark, he cast a blank, expressionless glance at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu did not back down in the slightest. Meeting the First Uncle's gaze, his eyes burned with a fearless resolve.

Catching He Yuzhu's look, the First Uncle felt his heart skip a beat, his pulse involuntarily quickening.

He took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly let it out. After calming himself for a long moment, he finally turned to the crowd and spoke in a measured tone, "All the elders, uncles, and aunts in our courtyard know very well that my wife and I are childless. Everyone has seen with their own eyes and kept in their hearts how we have treated He Yuzhu over the years."

At this point, the First Uncle paused, let out a cold sneer, and continued, "Yet I never imagined that the genuine sincerity my wife and I showed him would be viewed in his heart as a plot to make him provide for us in our old age." He curled his lip in utter disdain. "To keep people from pointing fingers at our spines and calling us names, from now on, my wife and I will cut ties with He Yuzhu. We'll each live our own lives."

Hearing this, He Yuzhu felt a mixture of fury and dread.

These words were utterly venomous—half-true and half-false, twisted entirely to the First Uncle's advantage. With just a few sentences, the First Uncle had pushed him to the forefront of public condemnation, turning him into a cold, ungrateful wretch in the eyes of everyone present.

A wave of despair washed over He Yuzhu. *It's over,* he thought. *With just these few words, how can I ever show my face in this courtyard again? People's spittle will drown me, and my reputation will be shredded beyond recognition.*

Just as He Yuzhu was drowning in despair and feeling utterly hopeless, Deaf Granny spoke up once more. "Bah! Yi Zhonghai, I really underestimated you. You certainly know how to stand truth on its head and blacken the innocent! You know best what petty calculations you're hiding in that heart of yours. Why don't you tell everyone about your obsession with matchmaking Zhuzi and Qin Huairu? Aren't you just trying to trick Zhuzi into looking after you in your old age? With such selfish motives hiding in your heart, yet lacking the guts to admit it openly—even an old woman like me despises you!"

Despite her advanced age, Deaf Granny's gaze remained as sharp as a hawk's. When she stared at someone, it felt as though she could pierce straight through the thoughts hidden in their soul.

Her words were like sharp blades driving straight into the First Uncle's chest. He felt his face burn with heat, as if he had been dealt several fierce slaps across the cheek.

Meeting Deaf Granny's piercing gaze, the final line of defense in his heart completely collapsed.

Uttering not another single word, the First Uncle turned tail in disgrace, strode quickly back into his house, and slammed the door shut with a loud *bang*.

Dragging his heavy footsteps, He Yuzhu returned to his room, collapsed onto his bed, and stared blankly up at the ceiling, his eyes filled with utter bewilderment.

As He Yuzhu huddled in his room, trying to enjoy a fleeting moment of peace, a sudden, urgent knocking shattered the silence.