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

The conversation went well, with both host and guest enjoying themselves. Secretary Tan Jin greatly admired He Yuzhu's composed and reasoned manner, as well as his skill in combining medical techniques with medicinal cuisine. He did not rush to make new requests, but his words revealed that if the time was right, he hoped to ask He Yuzhu to also examine several of his old comrades who were also troubled by old injuries and chronic illnesses, and to prescribe some medicinal cuisine to improve their health.

He Yuzhu understood immediately and readily agreed, his words earnest and his attitude sincere. This was, in effect, a pledge of allegiance to Tan Jin. He knew this was both an opportunity and a way to completely bind himself to Tan Jin. But having been reborn, how could he be as timid and incompetent as he was in his previous life? At the very least, he needed to become an official, to transcend social classes. A true man born into this world, how could he be without power?

Tan Jin was extremely satisfied with He Yuzhu's performance. He recalled He Yuzhu's file; he was only a level eight chef, and couldn't help but frown slightly. Such talent, relegated to level eight, seemed a waste to him and didn't match the role he was about to play. After a brief moment's thought, Tan Jin summoned his secretary and gave the order to directly promote He Yuzhu's chef level to level six, and concurrently appoint him as the head of the first canteen. Without any announcement over the loudspeaker or discussion at any meeting, the decision was made unilaterally by the First Secretary of the Party Committee.

This is the absolute authority of the head of the steel rolling mill. Tan Jinping was low-key and did not form cliques, but he held a transcendent position within the mill. He did not belong to any faction, but the entire mill, including the mill manager, was his faction. If it weren't for his extremely strict political awareness, the entire steel rolling mill would have been his personal fiefdom if he wanted to.

But it is precisely because of his extremely high self-expectations that making an exception for He Yuzhu this time makes his significance all the more apparent. The fact that He Yuzhu wasn't immediately promoted to a higher management position like deputy director of the cafeteria is also a way of allowing for further observation and testing. Otherwise, it would have been a simple matter of a word, and no one would have dared to object. After all, in all these years, Tan Jin has never placed anyone in a position of power.

The news of He Yuzhu's promotion to Level 6 chef and appointment as shift leader of shift 1 spread like wildfire within the canteen. Although the factory hadn't made a public announcement, the personnel changes couldn't be kept secret. While the canteen staff were surprised, they were mostly happy for He Yuzhu.

"Great job, Zhuzi! You passed the CET-6 exam without a sound! And you're the class monitor now! You'll have to look out for us from now on!" Liu Lan patted He Yuzhu's shoulder, her tone unusually ingratiating. Although she didn't know the inside story, she could vaguely sense that He Yuzhu had gotten close to the higher-ups. Considering his recent act of proactively preparing medicinal meals for the leaders, she had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

Meanwhile, the uproar surrounding the courtyard meeting that night couldn't be completely contained. After all, the commotion that night was too great, and there were witnesses like Old Man Fang on both sides of the wall. After a few days of fermentation, various embellished versions began to circulate among some employees of the steel rolling mill.

The content invariably revolves around how fierce He Yuzhu is, single-handedly taking on the entire courtyard, beating several stewards and neighbors to a pulp, especially the legendary feat of slapping Liu Haizhong, who weighed 200 pounds, flying with a single blow. Although the versions differ, the core message is that He Yuzhu possesses extraordinary fighting skills, is fearless, and not to be trifled with.

This story has been distorted, and it's actually not a good thing. Chinese people have always sympathized with the weak. So many people were brutally beaten, regardless of whether they were right or wrong, which overshadows what Yi Zhonghai and others did in the courtyard.

These rumors naturally reached the workshops, including Workshop 1 and Workshop 2, and also reached the ears of Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Jia Dongxu.

The swelling on Yi Zhonghai's face hadn't completely subsided, and he constantly felt strange looks and whispers from all sides in the workshop. His former apprentices and followers, who used to treat him with utmost respect, now looked at him with different eyes. He tried to maintain his former authority by keeping a stern face, but whenever someone pointed and whispered behind his back, or when their gaze swept over him and they quickly looked away, he felt a stinging humiliation. His carefully cultivated image as a moral exemplar was beginning to crumble in the factory.

Liu Haizhong was even more distressed. He was already obsessed with officialdom and extremely concerned about his reputation, and now, he was known in the factory as the fat, stupid leader who had been slapped away by Sha Zhu, making him almost too ashamed to face anyone. In the workshop, even his imposing manner when scolding his apprentices had weakened, and he always felt that others were secretly laughing at him.

Jia Dongxu wasn't having an easy time either. Being slapped repeatedly in public by Sha Zhu and his mother almost being hanged made him the laughingstock of his coworkers. He used to have some standing in the workshop because his mentor was Yi Zhonghai, but now that even his mentor was in danger, he felt even more ashamed and dejected while working, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

After lunch, during a break, Jia Dongxu approached Yi Zhonghai, his eyes filled with resentment. "Master, are we just going to let this go like this? It's just lending Sha Zhu a room and letting him bring some leftovers, isn't it? It's just neighbors helping each other out. He Yuzhu has some good qualities, what's wrong with helping a neighbor in need? Isn't that what he should do? Everyone has their difficulties! But he not only doesn't help, he also hits so hard. He has absolutely no compassion, what's the difference between him and a tyrant from the old society!"

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. Before he could speak, one of his henchmen, who also lived in the courtyard, immediately chimed in, "Dongxu is right! This old man has been upholding justice in the courtyard for so many years, all to ensure everyone lives in harmony and helps each other. That idiot Zhu, relying on his strength, dares to be so lawless, beating his elders and bullying his neighbors. We must find a way to teach him a lesson!"

Another lackey chimed in, indignantly, "Exactly! Our compound used to have such a good atmosphere—respect for the elderly, care for the young, mutual help! It's all ruined by this one rotten apple! If you ask me, we can't be afraid of him. We have to unite and go to the factory leaders to complain! I refuse to believe the factory can tolerate this kind of violent thug!"

"Yes! Find the leaders! Arrest him! Let's see how long he can keep up his arrogance!"

The more these people talked, the more agitated they became, and their voices unconsciously rose, as if they were the ones who had suffered a great injustice. The argument that "I am poor, therefore I am right; I am weak, therefore you must help me" became righteous and self-righteous in their mouths.

However, they didn't notice that their fellow workers at other workstations in the surrounding workshop, who had been resting and chatting, turned to look at them with disbelief upon hearing this profound statement. Some exchanged glances, quietly shook their heads, and silently moved to a more distant spot. Several veteran workers frowned as they watched Yi Zhonghai and his group, as if they were listening to a fantasy.

"Are all the people in this courtyard number 95... a little bit crazy?" an older worker muttered to his companion from a distance.

"Shh, keep your voice down, stay away from them, don't get any bad luck. What kind of era is this, still having such thoughts, really..."

Soon, a vacuum zone formed around Yi Zhonghai's workstation. The workers who had been chatting and resting together all scattered far away, as if by prior arrangement.