Chapter 68: Clue

"Zhuzi, are you home? Your Second Uncle is here and needs a word with you."

The Second Uncle's voice drifted in from outside, carrying an uncharacteristically warm and enthusiastic tone, as if the two of them were the closest of kin in ordinary times.

Alarm bells instantly rang in He Yuzhu's heart. He knew all too well what kind of person the Second Uncle really was. Usually wearing an aloof expression and looking down his nose at people, the Second Uncle's sudden warmth could only mean one thing: there was definitely a catch.

Filled with doubt, He Yuzhu slowly stood up and opened the door.

His gaze fell upon the Second Uncle's face, trying to capture the slightest clue from his expression. The Second Uncle was not naturally a smiley person, but right now, he was forcing out a grin, looking utterly awkward. The flesh on his face was scrunched together, and his mouth was stretched wide enough to expose his gums, making him look truly ridiculous.

He Yuzhu took just one glance before quickly looking away, finding it genuinely unbearable to watch.

"Second Uncle, please, come right in," He Yuzhu said as he pulled a chair out from under the table, gesturing for the Second Uncle to sit. "I'll pour you a cup of tea."

The Second Uncle smoothly took a seat, handed the object in his hands to He Yuzhu, and said with a smile, "What a coincidence, I brought you a box of tea leaves. Have a taste, this Longjing has a rather decent flavor."

He Yuzhu accepted the box of tea leaves, his suspicion growing even heavier. Although this Second Uncle wasn't as stingy to the bone as the Third Uncle, he was by no means a generous spender either. Relying on his status as the Second Uncle of the courtyard, he usually walked around full of himself, acting haughty and ignoring everyone he met. Today's abnormal behavior—offering courtesy for no reason—meant he was harboring either evil designs or a robbery plot. He certainly didn't dare to accept the tea leaves rashly.

"Second Uncle, let me brew you some of the family's regular tea instead," He Yuzhu said, placing the tea leaves back onto the table. "Your tea is far too precious; I'm afraid I'm not worthy of it."

Before long, He Yuzhu finished brewing the tea and poured a cup for the Second Uncle.

He had expected the Second Uncle to state his purpose immediately, but to his surprise, the man acted as if he had genuinely come just for the tea, raising the cup to sip it slowly without saying a single word.

The water in the kettle was almost running out, yet the Second Uncle remained tight-lipped. He sat there with his brows tightly furrowed, wearing a deeply conflicted expression as if he were harboring some earth-shattering secret.

He Yuzhu's patience was finally worn thin, and he spoke up first, "Second Uncle, you came all this way, surely you didn't just come here to drink tea, right? Whatever is on your mind, stop beating around the bush and just spit it out."

Even after He Yuzhu put it that way, the Second Uncle still had no intention of cutting to the chase. Instead, he beat around the bush and brought up the events of a couple of days ago.

"Zhuzi, don't you think the things the First Uncle said in front of everyone the other day went way too far?" the Second Uncle said, looking thoroughly indignant. "He kept claiming he was doing it for your own good—who could possibly believe that? Deaf Old Lady was right; he's simply harboring the intention of having you provide for his old age, but he doesn't have the guts to admit it. It's truly despicable."

The Second Uncle rambled on endlessly, striking a pose as if he were the very embodiment of justice.

Yet He Yuzhu stood by like an outsider, sitting there leisurely sipping his tea, his expression cold and his heart entirely undisturbed.

After the Second Uncle gave a long-winded speech, He Yuzhu didn't respond with a single word. True, his relationship with the First Uncle wasn't great right now, but he certainly wouldn't lower himself to gossiping behind people's backs like an old busybody.

Seeing that He Yuzhu refused to engage, the Second Uncle's voice gradually trailed off until he finally fell silent. The two of them sat there in utter stillness.

For a moment, the room grew dreadfully quiet, time seemingly coming to a halt as every second became an agonizing torture for the Second Uncle.

After quite a while, He Yuzhu broke the silence. "Second Uncle, I have a habit of taking an afternoon nap, and I'm feeling dead tired right now. If you don't have anything else pressing, perhaps you should..."

Hearing this, the Second Uncle realized He Yuzhu was about to show him the door. He hurriedly blurted out the words he had been holding back for so long: "I haven't even gotten to the main point yet! He Yuzhu, I plan to run for the position of First Uncle, and you must vote for me at the upcoming courtyard meeting."

Although He Yuzhu had long guessed that the Second Uncle was seeking a favor, hearing it aloud still came as quite a shock.

He widened his eyes and asked in sheer disbelief, "Second Uncle, you're running for First Uncle?"

Now that the words were out, the Second Uncle relaxed entirely.

He leaned back against the chair, resting his arms on the table and tapping his fingers rhythmically against the surface. With a face full of confidence, he said, "That's right, I'm going to be the First Uncle. Yi Zhonghai has too many ulterior motives and is far too selfish; he's completely unsuited for the role. If I take the position, I'll definitely do a much better job than him."

Two days prior, after Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu had a falling out in front of the entire courtyard, everyone had been whispering privately about Yi Zhonghai's selfish motives. Liu Haiching had seized the opportunity, sensing it was his prime moment to rise to power. Believing himself fully qualified to be the First Uncle, his confidence practically overflowed as he spoke to He Yuzhu.

However, He Yuzhu didn't buy into his rhetoric at all.

Upon learning the Second Uncle's true intentions, He Yuzhu didn't waste another word. He turned around and shoved the box of tea leaves right back into the Second Uncle's arms.

Accepting gifts leaves one feeling indebted, and it wasn't as if he couldn't afford his own tea; he had no desire to be manipulated over such petty favors.

"Second Uncle, I really am exhausted, so I won't keep you any longer. We can chat another day," He Yuzhu said, pushing the Second Uncle toward the door.

"Zhuzi, wait a minute, the Second Uncle hasn't finished talking yet," the Second Uncle protested, still struggling. "Just keep the tea leaves. Whatever you do, don't forget the favor the Second Uncle is asking of you. Think about how Yi Zhonghai has treated you; for your own sake, you have to support me for First Uncle."

He Yuzhu paid him no mind, successfully shoving the Second Uncle out the door. The moment he shut it, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and reclaimed a long-lost peace and quiet.

He had assumed the matter was over and didn't give it another thought.

Yet who could have expected that the courtyard meeting mentioned by the Second Uncle would be called for seven o'clock that very evening?

It was the depth of winter, and the cold wind bit to the bone.

Wrapped tightly in a thick military overcoat, He Yuzhu stood in the corner of the courtyard, still shivering fiercely with goosebumps breaking out all over his skin and his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

He inwardly lamented that these people's enthusiasm for spectating was truly boundless.

When the Second Uncle announced the courtyard meeting, not only did nobody harbor any complaints, but everyone arrived early. As soon as they got there, they gathered in huddles, whispering and chattering among themselves.

"Brother, did you know? The Second Uncle's acting like he's had a sudden surge of kindness—he sent gifts to every single household!"

He Yuzhu was already harboring a bellyful of suppressed irritation, and He Yuzhu's meddling only fueled his anger further.

He shot his younger sister a fierce glare, a look that practically said, "It's freezing outside, and you dragged me out just to tell me this?" Then, curling his lip in disgust, he averted his face and refused to utter a single word in response.