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

Looking at the beaten beasts all over the yard, He Yuzhu felt a little better and turned to go back inside. It was such a cold day; wasting so much time with these animals was a real waste of his life.

But I always feel uncomfortable, my whole body feels unwell, as if something is bothering me, and my mind isn't clear enough.

He frowned and scanned the courtyard, finally fixing his gaze on Yan Bugui in the corner.

The old man was sneaking away into the back of the crowd, glancing at He Yuzhu with his yellow wolf eyes every now and then, his gaze filled with a mixture of negative emotions: fear, resentment, malice, and cunning.

That old scoundrel!

If we're talking about the people He Yuzhu hates most after being reborn, those at the top of the list are naturally Qin Huairu, Bang Geng, and Yi Zhonghai—the culprits who caused him to freeze to death under the bridge. But if we're talking about the person he feels the most disgusted with from the bottom of his heart, the one who makes him feel nauseous like he'd swallowed a fly, it has to be Yan Bugui!

This guy is utter trash, a piece of garbage! He's full of bad intentions, treacherous and cunning, like a rat in the sewer. He doesn't dare to act openly, but only hides in the shadows and does bad things in a sneaky way. He'll jump out at the crucial moment and stab you in the back, and he thinks he's shrewd and clever!

Looking at Yan Bugui's old face, which panicked when he stared directly at him, He Yuzhu couldn't help but think of a figure: Ran Qiuye.

That gentle, intellectual, and scholarly female teacher.

This tragic woman, the last time she came to see him, was actually preparing to establish a relationship with him. If nothing unexpected had happened, he should have married Ran Qiuyue back then.

Unfortunately, her life was ruined by the wicked widow Qin Huairu, and she also blamed herself for her lack of resolve. It can be said that Qin Huairu and she herself led to Ran Qiuye's tragic life. Because her parents were returned overseas Chinese, she was persecuted to the point of near death after the Cultural Revolution began. In the end, she was forced to marry a forty-year-old bachelor from the countryside, simply because he was a poor peasant from three generations and could protect her from being paraded through the streets and criticized.

Such a proud and cultured woman, ruined just like that. Later, during a casual conversation, I overheard Bang Geng say that Ran Qiuye eventually went insane. Yet another woman whose family was destroyed by a poisonous widow.

If Qin Huairu hadn't interfered, and if he and Ran Qiuye had gotten together, with his family's three generations of farmers, he could at least have protected her and ensured her a peaceful life.

Every cause has its effect; everything is predetermined.

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. If he had the chance in the future, if he could make a name for himself in this life, he would definitely do his best to help her and prevent her from repeating that tragic fate. It would also be a way of atoning for his sins in his previous life.

Thinking of this, He Yuzhu felt a surge of anger, and old and new grudges welled up in his heart. His eyes sharpened, and without further hesitation, he strode towards Yan Bugui, who was about to slip away.

Yan Bugui was secretly relieved that he hadn't been beaten today, which meant he had escaped a disaster. He was also pleased that he could stir up trouble without having to be at the forefront like Yi Zhonghai and others.

Just as he was about to go home, he suddenly felt a shadow loom over him. He looked up and met He Yuzhu's icy, bone-chilling eyes, which terrified him so much that his legs went weak and he almost knelt down on the spot.

"Pillar, Pillar, what else do you want? The meeting is over! I didn't do anything to you!"

"Didn't provoke me?" He Yuzhu sneered. "I just can't stand the sight of your old face! I just want to punch you! Do I need a reason?"

Before he could finish speaking, He Yuzhu had already swung his arm.

"Clap clap clap clap!"

Four large slaps were firmly imprinted on Yan Bugui's old face.

Yan Bugui had no time to react. He felt a buzzing in his head, saw stars, and felt the world spin. The nearly broken glasses finally completed their mission, slipping off his face and falling to the ground, where He Yuzhu stomped on them until they were shattered.

Yan Bugui staggered back several steps after being hit, collapsing onto the ground with a thud. His cheeks swelled up visibly, and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth. He covered his burning face, stunned for several seconds before recovering from the immense shock and humiliation.

"Ah!" he screamed, pointing at He Yuzhu, trembling with anger. "He Yuzhu, why did you hit me again? I hadn't even said anything, and you beat an old man for no reason. You're lawless! I'm going to call the police and have them arrest you!"

This time, he truly broke down. Humiliation, anger, and fear intertwined, causing him to completely lose his usual composure. To be humiliated and beaten in front of the entire hospital—for the second time—was worse than death for him!

"Call the police?" He Yuzhu picked at his ear, looking like a thug with no regard for others. He stepped forward, looking down at Yan Bugui, who was slumped on the ground, his tone full of provocation. "Yes, I hit you for no reason, so what?"

"I don't like the look of you, so I'll beat you up whenever I want! Do I need to pick a day? You old bastard, you treacherous and cunning thing, beating you is too lenient! If you have the guts, go ahead and call the police right now, I'll be waiting right here! At most you'll just be locked up for one night and get a few words of lecture, but when I get back, you won't be any better off. I'll beat you up as soon as I see you."

Why is Yi Zhonghai still afraid of being wiped out of his family line even though it's already the new China? Why are families still desperately trying to have sons even though gender equality is being promoted everywhere? Yan Bugui's situation is the best explanation.

No one will dare to openly exploit you for having no children, but they'll constantly cause trouble over trivial matters, leading to fights over small conflicts. You have no sons, but I have three; how can you possibly beat me? You'll always be the one getting beaten. They'll keep pushing their luck, and eventually you'll find your yard slowly shrinking—the result of every failed fight. Going to the police station or the neighborhood committee won't help; they might get a reprimand or even be detained for a few days, but they'll come back and continue doing the same thing.

This situation was even more pronounced in rural areas, and it can be said that it never completely disappeared in later generations. Literature and film works from the past in Beijing often depicted this scenario: a family with only one daughter, whose father suffered internal injuries in a dispute with a neighbor and was bedridden for many years. These neighbor disputes were completely ignored; the police would come a few times and then stop.

Of course, Yan Bugui's current situation cannot fully explain the problem, because even if he has three more sons, he still can't do anything about He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu has transcended the realm of humans. All the adults in the entire courtyard combined are not enough to match He Yuzhu's strength with one hand. He is definitely an anomaly in Beijing.

But the logic is absolutely correct. Just look at Yi Zhonghai's expression; when he saw He Yuzhu, his old face was filled with terror.

He Yuzhu has become completely lawless and out of my control. This scoundrel, this unreasonable scoundrel, and he lives next door—I wonder if he'll eat my bread and leave me penniless in the future...