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

Inside the courtyard, there was now a cacophony of wailing and howling.

Holding a feather duster, He Yuzhu moved like a wolf among sheep or a tiger descending a mountain, as if entering an empty field, accurately striking every beast that tried to escape.

Seeing that things were going badly, Liu Haizhong turned to run, but his fat body was too bulky and clumsy. He Yuzhu caught up with him in one stride and smacked him on the head and face with a duster.

"Clap clap clap!"

"Ouch! You idiot Zhu! How dare you hit your boss! You've gone too far!" Liu Haizhong clutched his head, howling in pain, and several red lines instantly appeared on his chubby face.

He Yuzhu is now completely silent, his hands never stopping, targeting the thickest spots, making Liu Hai roll on the ground and howl in pain.

Seeing his master and second uncle both taken down, Jia Dongxu was terrified and tried to run home with Jia Zhangshi. Jia Zhangshi, however, was still thinking about the roast duck. She dodged and cursed, "You little brat! You dare hit an old man! You deserve to be struck by lightning!" He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold, and he lashed out with his whip across Jia Zhangshi's plump buttocks.

"Agh!" Jia Zhangshi let out a shrill, inhuman scream, clutching her buttocks as she jumped up with unprecedented agility. In a flash, she darted toward the Jia family's door, her speed so fast it seemed she had used a pig-like charge technique.

The scene was chaotic, a cacophony of feather duster blows, the screams of the beasts, their cries, and their pleas for mercy. He Yuzhu deliberately scrutinized everyone's faces, leaving red welts as the duster swept across them. These red marks wouldn't fade for at least a month. He was intentionally trying to make these beasts look bad in the factory.

He Yuzhu didn't lay a hand on Qin Huairu or the deaf old lady, lest he accidentally get himself involved in a staged accident.

But this deaf old woman was quite interesting. The moment He Yuzhu opened the door, she started running, her reaction time almost matching Yan Bugui's. Her little feet moved incredibly fast, and she darted towards the backyard at a speed that even an average old woman might not be able to keep up with.

The beasts were beaten until they cried out in pain, scrambling and crawling back to their homes in a sorry state, tightly shutting their doors. Even the onlookers had fled, and the courtyard instantly became empty and quiet.

. . . . .

In the east wing, Yi Zhonghai was laboriously helped onto the kang (a heated brick bed) by an older woman named Zhang Guifen. The bright red welts on his face were swollen and burning with pain. He didn't need a mirror to know that he wouldn't be able to show his face to anyone for a month.

Taking sick leave was out of the question; a week at most, the factory wouldn't grant any longer. Besides, he was heartbroken about the deducted wages—that was his retirement money. But the thought of going to work with that face tomorrow filled Yi Zhonghai with shame and indignation.

Humiliation and despair welled up inside him. A man in his forties, publicly humiliated and beaten by a junior. Two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks. Was this what it meant to be without a son? No children to fetch him tea or water, no one to care for this old father; only a barren hen hovering around him!

His gaze suddenly shifted to the middle-aged woman who was pouring hot water to help him wipe himself, and he suddenly let out a loud shout.

"Zhang Guifen! You're a ruthless woman! Did you just want my Yi family line to die out?! I've ended up like this because of you! Because you can't give me a son!"

The vicious accusations pierced Zhang Guifen's already wounded heart like knives. She lowered her head, silently enduring the endless humiliation and reproach, for her inability to bear children was her original sin.

. . . .

Back in his room at the He family home, He Yuzhu felt a lingering resentment, even though he'd had a satisfying beating today. His thoughts were still unsettled, and suddenly he thought of Wang Xuemei, that haggard old woman. "That wretched woman," he thought, "I let you off the hook last time, and she dares to cause trouble again. Just wait, I'll send her a big gift tomorrow morning."

After his younger sister finished tidying up the housework, he told her to go back to her small house and go to bed early. After closing the door, He Yuzhu went to the inner room, rummaged through the things he had bought that afternoon, and found a large sheet of white paper, along with a pen, ink, and inkstone. He then began to write.

The title is—"My Great News Announcement".

The content is written in plain language and easy to understand.

My name is He Yuzhu, and I'm an ordinary worker in the canteen of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. My family has been peasants for three generations. In the old society, my family was dirt poor; we didn't own a single house or a single plot of land. Everyone in the family had to share clothes and pants when they went out. The hardship was indescribable! Thanks to the old man who came, my family was able to escape poverty and start singing songs of joy. My family was also allocated a house in Beijing, and I became a member of the glorious working class.

Perhaps it was because I had enjoyed the vanity that came with being a three-generation farmer for too long that I forgot my roots and lost the awareness that a working person should have, and thus made an unforgivable mistake.

The three stewards appointed by the neighborhood committee to manage our courtyard saw that I was living alone in three main rooms and thought it was a waste. They came to my door many times to earnestly educate me, urging me to be considerate and give one of the rooms to the Jia family, who were also working class, explaining that they had many people and were struggling financially. At the time, I wasn't very conscious of my actions and couldn't bear to part with the house that had been passed down from my ancestors. Not only did I not listen to the three stewards, but I also beat and scolded them.

Seeing that I repeatedly ignored their advice, the three old men lectured me again, saying that since I worked in the canteen, I had the advantage of bringing back leftovers every day to help the Jia family; they also said that since my salary was high, I should donate half of it to help the Jia family, who were also in dire straits. I was blinded by greed at the time, only thinking of myself and my sister, and didn't listen to them, so I beat and scolded them again!

My appalling attitude and incorrigible behavior alarmed Director Wang Xuemei of the neighborhood committee. Director Wang personally led a group of people, including one armed with a gun, to my door to arrest me and take me back to the neighborhood committee for "education." I was terrified and acted recklessly, actually arguing with such a high-ranking leader as Director Wang and even verbally abusing her. I deserve to die!

Finally, seeing that I was truly beyond redemption, Director Wang reported my situation to the steel rolling mill. The factory director, with keen insight, personally punished me severely: I was removed from my position as canteen foreman, given a major demerit, and transferred from the canteen to the most arduous and demanding foundry workshop for re-education. I deeply realized my mistake; the factory's punishment was correct and for my own good!

After deep reflection, I, He Yuzhu, solemnly declare here today that I will resolutely correct my mistakes! I voluntarily donate the two main rooms of the He family under my name to the subdistrict office, which will then allocate them to families in greater need! At the same time, I voluntarily donate half of my monthly salary to the Jia family to help them overcome their difficulties!

I beg you, sirs, have mercy on me, for the sake of my family's three generations of farmers! I have a younger sister who is still a minor to support. I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong! I don't want my sister to starve to death with me! Please!

Thus, the first great news in the world was born.