The Courtyard House: He Yuzhu Returns with Boundless Hatred for Revenge

Let's look at a few other places first. At the same time, in the office of the steel rolling mill manager.

"Factory manager, you have to save the old lady! She's so old, and it's such a hot day. If anything happens to her inside, we younger ones will be heartbroken..."

When Yi Zhonghai woke up in the morning, he realized that the deaf old woman's only backer was Director Wang, and also his own factory's Director Yang. So, after asking for a short leave from the workshop, he hurried to the director's office. As one of the few level-eight workers in the factory, he was at least outwardly given the respect due to his superiors, so after a brief announcement, he approached Yang Weiguo.

I briefly recounted what happened last night to Yang Weiguo, but deliberately concealed the details of He Yubing being a regimental-level officer and being beaten instead of coercing the He family. I only focused on the fact that He Yubing disrespected the elderly after returning from military service and that the police station favored soldiers.

In his view, Director Yang was the top leader of the steel rolling mill, wielding immense power. What was the police station compared to that? With just a word from Director Yang, the factory's security department could bring the woman back. The old lady had done Director Yang a favor back then, and he couldn't possibly ignore it.

Despite being a level eight worker, and despite the factory leaders treating him with respect, Lao Juehu was still just an ordinary citizen. Once he left the 95-square-meter courtyard, his horizons were limited; he had no idea that the only person in the entire factory who could effectively command the security department was the Party Secretary.

Yang Weiguo, on the other end of the line, was not as easily fooled as he had imagined. As a cadre within the system and at the deputy director-general level (since the reform and opening up), he was very familiar with the procedures involved. The deaf old woman was already so old; under normal circumstances, the police would never have bothered her, let alone arrested her. Since she had been arrested, it meant that the old woman had caused a lot of trouble, and there was solid evidence against her.

"Master Yi, don't panic. Let me make a call and ask what's going on." Yang Weiguo didn't quite believe what Yi Zhonghai said, so he made a direct call to the director of Hongxing Police Station.

After learning the details, Yang Weiguo's face turned dark.

The situation described by the police chief was even more terrifying than he had imagined. This deaf old woman and Yi Zhonghai were running their own independent kingdom in the compound, even daring to bully the families of military personnel. Last night, they ran into a brick wall, provoking a demobilized officer at the regimental level across the street. Moreover, the information the chief had just gathered indicated that this officer had a combat record. He also made it clear to Director Yang on the phone that although they had only arrested the deaf old woman for now, Yi Zhonghai and his gang would definitely not escape later, and it was good to give him a heads-up.

What the hell did that damned deaf old woman do?! She dug a bottomless pit, dragging everyone into a fire pit! Any one of these charges is enough to get you into serious trouble! What kind of world is this? With these accusations pinned on her, let alone a lonely old woman, anyone even remotely related to her would be lucky to escape with their lives!

He had indeed received a favor from the deaf old woman years ago, and out of consideration for that past relationship, he had given Yi Zhonghai various favors at the factory. He never imagined that this old favor would become his death knell. If someone with ulterior motives were to dig this up and accuse him of protecting and condoning feudal remnants, or even having business dealings with them… then his political life would be over! Thinking of this, Yang Weiguo's eyes reddened.

"Bang!" A hand slammed on the desk, making the teacup jump.

Yi Zhonghai was startled by the sudden loud noise. He looked up and saw that Yang Weiguo's face was ashen, staring at him as if he were a mortal enemy, without a trace of his usual politeness.

"Factory manager, look at this..." Yi Zhonghai still clung to his last glimmer of hope.

"What am I looking at? What am I looking at! Yi Zhonghai! Look at what you've done! Who gave you permission to act like tyrants in the courtyard, engaging in those feudal patriarchal practices and oppressing the masses?"

"Factory manager, I didn't..."

"Shut up, shut up! I don't want to hear your explanations. I'll report your problem to Secretary Tan immediately! Wait for the factory's decision! Now, get out of here right now! I don't want to see you again!"

"Factory Director! Factory Director, you can't do this! Considering how many years I've worked for the factory, even if I haven't made any great contributions, I've still put in a lot of hard work..." Yi Zhonghai was really panicked. He had come to ask Factory Director Yang to save the deaf old lady, but he didn't expect to get himself involved.

"Get out!" Yang Weiguo had completely lost his patience. Pointing to the door, he said, "Say one more word, and I'll have security escort you out!"

Seeing Yang Weiguo's bloodshot eyes, Yi Zhonghai left the factory director's office without a word, looking dejected. He knew that staying any longer would only lead to trouble. He inwardly cursed Yang Weiguo for his ingratitude and disrespect for elders, while simultaneously wishing he could slap himself. This had blown up; if it reached the Party Secretary, he didn't know what kind of punishment awaited him.

This is the director's office at Hongxing Subdistrict Office.

Gai Ziwang slammed the enamel teacup to the ground, his face contorted with resentment.

"You, Ma Dacheng! Such a big thing happened last night, and you didn't even bother to tell me?! What were you up to? Were you just waiting for me to fall so you could take my place?"

Wang Xuemei came to work this morning, leisurely sipping her tea, completely unaware of the major incident that occurred last night and its connection to her. That Deputy Director Ma was no good either; he didn't mention a word about it during the handover at the end of the day. If a clerk hadn't casually mentioned it while handing over documents, Wang Xuemei would still be completely in the dark.

With trembling hands, she picked up the phone on the table and dialed her husband's office number in the district. Her husband was the head of a department in the district, so he had some power. Otherwise, Wang Xuemei, a woman of relatively young age, wouldn't have been able to become the director of the subdistrict office so early.

"What?!" After the matter was explained, an angry question came from the other end, "Wang Xuemei! Look at the mess you've made! I told you a long time ago to cut off all contact with that aunt of yours, but you wouldn't listen! Don't you know her background? Now look what's happened! Let me tell you, I'm at a crucial moment for advancement, the organization is about to conduct an evaluation! Don't you dare ruin my chances!"

"Jianguo, listen to me, I never expected it to turn out like this. What should we do now..." Wang Xuemei cried anxiously.

"You decide what to do! Wang Xuemei, I'm warning you, you'd better clean up your own mess! If your problems drag me down and affect my progress, I'll divorce you immediately!"

"Beep, beep, beep..."

The dial tone went dead; the call was abruptly ended.

Wang Xuemei, holding the microphone, froze on the spot, utterly helpless. How could she possibly clean this up? She had done so many things for the deaf old woman over the years—just the single case of being a recipient of the "Five Guarantees" (a government welfare program for the elderly and disabled) could have been fatal—and how much bribes had she received? Everything in her household, from food to household items, had come from those bribes. Now this man wanted to sever all ties with her…

It's true what they say: "Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately."