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

Leaving aside the chaos at the neighborhood office, let's return to the steel rolling mill.

Yi Zhonghai arrived at the factory more than twenty minutes earlier than usual today, hoping to avoid the peak time for workers to arrive. The red lines on his face were not only bright in color but also raised high, making his whole face look rather comical.

He kept his head down, walking hurriedly, wishing he could bury his face in his collar. There were still quite a few early workers on the road, and seeing Yi Zhonghai's expression, they tried their best to suppress their laughter, pointing and whispering behind his back.

Yi Zhonghai didn't need to turn around to feel countless eyes focused on him from behind; he could only grit his teeth and endure this humiliation. He hated He Yuzhu to the core; this beast had to be eliminated!

At this point, he had given up all hope for He Yuzhu. To hell with retirement and assistance! His only thought was to make him pay the ultimate price, preferably die in the foundry workshop. Anyway, there was a death list every year in that workshop. When only He Yushui, that little brat, was left of the He family, he could team up with Lao Liu and Lao Yan, and under the guise of caring for orphans, they'd have plenty of ways to slowly plunder the He family's house and possessions!

He made a point of carrying a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes with him today. With some time still before work started, he hurried towards the foundry workshop.

Director Zhao of the foundry workshop, like Yi Zhonghai, was a veteran employee from the Lou's Steel Rolling Mill era, and they had known each other for many years. Yi Zhonghai knocked on the door, a smile plastered on his face, but the scars on his face pressed together, making his whole face look more like he was crying.

"Old Zhao, busy?"

Director Zhao looked up, saw the injury on his face, and was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained his composure: "Oh, it's Lao Yi. What brings you here? What happened to your face...?"

"Sigh, don't mention it, it's just a small matter at home." Yi Zhonghai brushed it off, took out the pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and placed it on the table. "Old Zhao, there's something I'd like to trouble you with."

Director Zhao glanced at the cigarette but didn't touch it. He knew no one gets up early without a reason, and wanted to see what this old man was up to. "We've known each other for a long time. Just say what you need, and I'll definitely help if I can."

Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, "It's that He Yuzhu, he reported for duty yesterday, right? That kid, he's a troublemaker, he's lawless in the factory. The factory leaders are wise to put him here for reform. What I mean is... Old Zhao, you should put in a lot of effort to toughen him up, to make him deeply realize his mistakes." He emphasized the words "toughen him up."

Director Zhao understood immediately; this old rascal was up to no good again. But he still said helplessly, "Old Yi, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that He Yuzhu didn't even show up yesterday."

"Didn't come?" Yi Zhonghai was taken aback.

"The notice was given yesterday, how could he not come? Did he take sick leave? Or is he just giving up and planning to quit?" he thought to himself. "No, I have to go to the cafeteria at noon to check on him!"

Since that's the case, I'll go back and find out more. It seems this kid is becoming increasingly unruly.

"Alright, then you can ask around. If they come, I'll definitely handle things the proper way." Director Zhao pushed the cigarette away. "Take this back; we don't do this kind of thing among us."

With something on his mind, Yi Zhonghai didn't refuse much, exchanged a few pleasantries, and left the foundry workshop. He Yuzhu couldn't be allowed to leave the foundry workshop; otherwise, if he really quit or was fired, his plans would be indefinitely delayed. He had to find a way to get him to work.

. . . . . .

Meanwhile, in the factory manager's office.

Yang Weiguo also received a call from Director Zhao of the foundry workshop, who reported that He Yuzhu had not reported for work on time yesterday and had not come to work today either. Director Yang's face immediately darkened.

This He Yuzhu is truly outrageous! The factory's disciplinary decision has already been broadcast throughout the factory, yet he dares to ignore it and not even come to the report? This is a blatant provocation against factory rules and regulations, and a challenge to his authority as the factory director!

In his view, such a disorganized, undisciplined, morally corrupt person who refused to obey management was simply a black sheep. If it was found that he was absent from work without cause, Yang Weiguo would not hesitate to use his power as factory director to dismiss him directly as a warning to others.

"Xiao Wang," Yang Weiguo called his secretary in and instructed, "Go to the first canteen and ask the canteen director, Li Dajun, what's going on with He Yuzhu? Is he still lingering in the canteen and refusing to leave? If so, go directly to the security department and have them send someone to the canteen. Even if they have to forcibly take him, they have to take him to the foundry workshop!"

The secretary quickly arrived at the canteen director's office and found Li Dajun leisurely smoking.

"Director Li, Factory Director Yang asked me to inquire whether He Yuzhu is still in your canteen? Why didn't he report to the foundry workshop?" the secretary asked directly.

When Li Dajun saw that the factory director's secretary had come to ask him personally, he didn't dare to hide anything and told the truth: "Secretary Wang, this He Yuzhu was personally instructed by Secretary Tan yesterday afternoon to temporarily freeze his job transfer. Without Secretary Tan's personal approval, no one can transfer him away from the canteen. I'm just following the leader's instructions."

"Secretary Tan?" Upon hearing this, the secretary's expression immediately changed. As the factory office secretary, he was far more sensitive to the factory's politics than the average person and immediately realized that there was a big problem here.

"Okay, Director Li, I understand the situation. I will report to Director Yang truthfully." The secretary didn't dare to delay and hurriedly left the canteen, walking quickly towards the director's office.

"Factory manager, I asked Director Li. He said that Comrade He Yuzhu came to work at the canteen on time today and did not go to the foundry workshop."

"What?" Yang Weiguo frowned. "Then why didn't he report to the foundry workshop? Didn't Li Dajun tell him about the disciplinary decision?"

Secretary Wang hesitated for a moment, but still braced himself and said, "He said it was Secretary Tan who personally gave the order. Without Secretary Tan's approval, no one can transfer him away from the No. 1 canteen."

"Secretary Tan?" Yang Weiguo suddenly stood up from his seat, his face full of astonishment and confusion.

Tan Jin? Why would he get involved in this matter? And after I had already issued the disciplinary decision?

Yang Weiguo quickly calmed himself down, his mind racing. He had worked with Tan Jin for many years and knew Tan Jin's character well. Tan Jin was extremely principled, upright, and intolerant of any wrongdoing. Even if He Yuzhu was truly one of his men, if the issue was genuine, he would never protect He Yuzhu, much less overturn the factory's administrative punishment. One thing was one thing, two things were two things; Tan Jin always distinguished things very clearly.

Now that Tan Jin has directly intervened, it can only mean one thing: the facts Yang Weiguo obtained are likely not the truth! Or rather, the way he handled it and the basis for his actions are seriously flawed!

Sure enough, the person who became the factory manager was no ordinary person; after careful consideration, he guessed the truth of the matter with great accuracy.