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

The next morning, Zhang Guifen, following Yi Zhonghai's instructions, tidied up briefly and then helped the deaf old lady out of the courtyard and headed towards the steel rolling mill.

It would take a normal person about half an hour to walk from the courtyard to the steel rolling mill. The deaf old woman, with her bound feet, couldn't walk very fast at all. The two of them walked and rested frequently, with Zhang Guifen even carrying her on her back later. After all, she was just an old woman; wasn't that what she did? Zhang Guifen was exhausted, inwardly cursing the old woman. After more than an hour of this ordeal, they finally arrived at the steel rolling mill entrance.

After informing the security guard that they were acquaintances with Factory Director Yang, they made a phone call to confirm and were granted permission to pass. The two finally arrived at the factory director's office. Factory Director Yang greeted the deaf elderly woman with a smile at the door, showing considerable respect. He personally brewed tea for her, and then the guests and hosts took their seats.

"Grandma, it's been years since we last met. How are you doing? If you need anything in the future, just have someone send a message and I'll come see you myself, so you don't have to go through all this trouble." Director Yang's words warmed the deaf old lady's heart.

"Young Yang, this old woman is still in pretty good health, but I've run into some trouble lately. I've come to you today because I have something to ask you."

"Oh, ma'am, you're too kind. Please tell me what's wrong, and I'll do my best to help."

The deaf old woman then began to recount He Yuzhu's various misdeeds, embellishing them in every way. It was nothing more than the same old story, portraying He Yuzhu as utterly wicked and a tyrant who had caused chaos in the courtyard. She ignored the background and only emphasized the result, wanting to let Director Yang know that this was a lawless tyrant in the courtyard.

"Little Yang, you have no idea, everyone in our yard is living in fear now. They've been beaten so badly they don't dare utter a sound! Keeping such a black sheep in our steel rolling mill is just a disgrace to our factory! I'm risking my reputation to beg you today, please deal with He Yuzhu severely! It would be best to transfer him to the foundry workshop, let him suffer a bit, and reform him properly!" The old beast directly revealed his true purpose for coming.

Director Yang listened, his brows furrowing slightly. He wasn't familiar with the specifics of the dispute at the courtyard house, nor did he have a deep impression of He Yuzhu, though he had shaken hands once during a meal. He was just a canteen cook; in the eyes of the director of this massive factory with tens of thousands of employees, he was indeed insignificant. If, as the old lady claimed, He Yuzhu's character was truly so despicable, dealing with him wouldn't be a problem, and he could even repay the old lady's favor.

However, being a cautious man, he naturally wouldn't act rashly based on only one side of the story. After a moment's thought, he said, "Madam, I understand the situation you've described. However, handling employees needs to be based on the factory's rules and regulations. Besides, the handling of this matter also depends on the local government's opinion. How about this: if the street office has a clear investigation conclusion on this matter and issues a notice to the factory, we will definitely cooperate actively and handle it according to regulations. What do you think?"

This was a perfectly worded statement, giving the old lady face while avoiding making an immediate promise and passing the buck to the neighborhood committee.

The deaf old lady wanted exactly this attitude from him! She immediately replied, "Good! With you saying that, Xiao Yang, I'm relieved! I'll go to the neighborhood office right away to report the situation! I'll make sure that brat receives the punishment he deserves!"

After leaving the steel rolling mill, the deaf old lady and Zhang Guifen rushed to the street office.

Wang Xuemei, the director of the neighborhood committee, was in her forties and appeared quite capable and upright. Upon seeing the deaf old woman, she also showed considerable enthusiasm. After all, this old woman held several secrets about her.

"Grandma, why did you come in person? Please have a seat." Wang Xuemei greeted her with a smile.

"Xiao Wang, you have to stand up for everyone in our courtyard! He Yuzhu is a rotten apple that spoils the whole bunch! Our No. 95 courtyard has been an advanced and civilized courtyard for several years in a row, but now he's made a mess of things! Such a bad element must be dealt with to appease public anger!" The deaf old lady resorted to her old tricks again, repeating her clichéd words.

Wang Xuemei had indeed heard rumors about He Yuzhu, and they seemed to be quite widespread. Now, with this respected old lady from the courtyard personally coming to report on it, and giving such detailed accounts, Wang Xuemei's moral compass had already been skewed. Since the public's reaction was so strong, and with the matriarch stepping in, it was her duty to handle the situation and quell the public outcry.

In her mind, everyone in the hospital said so, and even the old masters in the hospital said so, so how could it be false? Could it be that everyone in the hospital would wrongly accuse He Yuzhu? This way of thinking made her subconsciously choose to believe completely.

Seeing that the time was right, the deaf old woman then brought up Director Yang's attitude, "To be honest, I just came from Director Yang at the steel rolling mill. Director Yang also said that as long as the neighborhood committee has a result, they will notify the factory, and they will definitely cooperate fully!"

Wang Xuemei nodded upon hearing this. However, she remained somewhat wary and prepared to send someone to the courtyard to investigate with the residents. So she said, "Grandma, I understand what you've said. Rest assured, our street office will never tolerate such behavior that disrupts neighborly harmony and demonstrates moral depravity! We will verify the situation as soon as possible, and if it is true, we will deal with it seriously and notify the relevant unit."

"Good! Good! That's wonderful!" The deaf old lady was overjoyed. Seeing her goal achieved, she didn't linger and, supported by an older woman, left the neighborhood office. The old woman was in high spirits the whole way, feeling that most of the pent-up anger from the past few days had dissipated. But it was tough on her mother, Zhang Guifen. She carried the deaf old lady on her back countless times, and when they got home, she was completely exhausted, lying on the kang (heated brick bed) drawing circles and cursing incessantly.

That evening, after getting off work, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui didn't even go home; they eagerly gathered at the deaf old lady's house in the backyard.

"Grandma, how did things go?" Yi Zhonghai asked anxiously, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The deaf old lady sat in the armchair and slowly sipped the strong tea that Yi Zhonghai had personally brewed and brought to her.

"With this old woman on the case, is there anything I can't accomplish?" "Both Director Yang and Director Wang have to give me face! Director Wang has already agreed to deal with that little bastard Sha Zhu in the next few days, and then inform the steel rolling mill so he can be transferred directly to the foundry workshop! Hmph, let's see how he can act up this time!"

Hearing this, the three old bastards were overjoyed. That night, to celebrate their victory and avenge their grievances, and to thank the old lady for her life-saving grace, the three of them went to great lengths. Yi Zhonghai specially bought an old hen to make chicken soup for the deaf old lady, Liu Haizhong asked his second aunt to fry three eggs, and even Yan Bugui, that stingy old man, offered a small dish of his own pickled salted fish.