The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

Xu Wude said, "Zhu Zi, Da Mao told me what happened just now. Uncle Xu, thank you for saving Da Mao."

He Yuzhu said, "Da Mao and I are childhood friends. I couldn't just stand by and watch him die." Then, changing the subject, he continued, "But on another note, Uncle Xu, you should also advise Da Mao to keep his mouth shut. He was just lucky this time. He can't be so lucky every time."

Xu Wude nodded in agreement, gave Xu Damao a look of disappointment, and said, "Zhu Zi, it's getting late, let's go to the police station!"

"Yes!" He Yuzhu responded and followed Xu Damao and his son out the door.

Upon arriving at the police station, Xu Damao and his son, along with He Yuzhu, were taken to separate rooms. A brief statement was taken. He Yuzhu was released quickly. About ten minutes later, Xu Damao and his son also emerged. He Yuzhu greeted Chief Zhang and then went back with Xu Damao and his son.

On the way home, He Yuzhu asked, "Da Mao, did the police say anything?! What happened to those people?!"

Xu Damao glanced at his father furtively and said, "The police said those guys were lucky. The crackdown just ended. If this had happened a few months ago, the ringleader would have been out of commission, and the others would have faced at least five years in prison. But two of them are from the compound. I reckon their families will come back and ask us to mediate."

He Yuzhu then asked, "Da Mao, what are you thinking?!"

Xu Damao sighed and said, "You can't fight city hall. What can I think?!"

He Yuzhu patted Xu Damao on the shoulder and winked at him. Xu Damao instantly understood and said, "No matter what, I'll listen to my dad. I don't mind suffering a little grievance, but it can't affect my dad."

Upon hearing that his son was thinking of him, Xu Wude felt a warm glow in his heart. Xu Wude said, "Da Mao, just focus on your studies. Don't worry about anything else. I'll handle it. Also, be careful what you say. You must watch your mouth from now on!"

"I understand!" Xu Damao replied dejectedly, silently following his father and He Yuzhu toward the courtyard.

A little after six o'clock in the evening, He Daqing returned home from get off work with He Yushui and Liang Wanping. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they smelled the aroma of food. He Yushui dashed into the kitchen and asked, "Brother, what delicious food are you making?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Spicy hot pot. Eating something spicy in the summer helps you sweat and improves your appetite."

He Daqing parked his bicycle and went into the kitchen, asking, "Zhu Zi, what is Mala Xiang Guo (Spicy Stir-Fry)?"

"It's Sichuan and Chongqing style cuisine. I visited my master a few days ago, and he was making hot pot broth. I brought some back with me. Today I went next door and saw that the lettuce was ready to eat. I was thinking that eating stir-fried or cold lettuce all the time is getting boring, so I decided to try something different today." As he spoke, He Yuzhu tossed the wok a couple of times and scooped the food out. He Yushui eagerly carried the plate of food to the table.

He Yuzhu lifted the steamer basket, pressed down on the two-component steamed buns, and seeing that they were cooked, put them directly into the pineapple.

"Eating?!" Just as the He family was preparing for dinner, Xu Wude arrived with a bottle of Fenjiu liquor.

He Daqing asked with a smile, "Old Xu, what brings you here?! Please have a seat!"

He Yushui immediately took her bowl and chopsticks and sat down next to He Yuzhu, making room for him. Xu Wude sat down and said, "I've been wanting to have a couple of drinks with you for a while now. But I've been busy showing movies lately and haven't had a chance. Today, Zhuzi helped my Da Mao out. So I took this opportunity to come over and have a proper drink with you."

Liang Wanping took a bowl, chopsticks, and a glass from the cupboard and placed them in front of Xu Wude. Xu Wude unscrewed the bottle cap, poured wine into the glasses in front of He Daqing and himself, then raised his glass and said, "Come on! Let me toast you!"

He Daqing picked up his glass, clinked it against Xu Wude's, and downed his drink in one gulp. Xu Wude put down his glass, refilled He Daqing's and his own empty glasses, and then asked, "Old He, I heard our factory is going to expand?! How many people do you think we'll be hiring?!"

He Daqing said, "Everyone's been talking about this lately. Although the higher-ups haven't explicitly said anything, I reckon they'll expand our factory to at least six thousand people." Then He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu and asked, "Yuzhu, are you really planning to stay at the Military Control Commission as a purchasing agent?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "I think it's pretty good working in the Military Control Commission. Even if the Military Control Commission is dissolved, other departments will take over its work. I can't possibly lose my job."

"Since you've thought it through, just pretend I asked for nothing," He Daqing echoed, and continued to urge Xu Wude to drink.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, He Daqing and Xu Wude had each drunk about seven or eight ounces of liquor. Slightly tipsy, the two began to chat about things in the courtyard house. Their conversation then turned to the deaf old lady. Xu Wude said, "Old He, do you remember that representative surnamed Yang from the factory right after Liberation?!"

He Daqing thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I remember! How could I not remember! That guy came here and started making empty promises. He was trying to fool Chairman Lou like he was an idiot. But speaking of which, I haven't seen him for a while."

"You can't see him anymore," said Hugh Wood. "He's connected to that old deaf man in the backyard."

"What?!" He Daqing exclaimed in surprise, "How did he get involved with that old deaf man?!"

Xu Wude said, "According to rumors, the man surnamed Yang was captured by the Japanese during the War of Resistance. Everyone captured with him died at the hands of the Japanese. He was the only one who survived. It is said that the old deaf man saved him from behind."

He Daqing said, "Last time they came to inform us that Old Deaf Man and Yi Zhonghai were sentenced to death. When will they be executed?! Why haven't we heard anything about it?!" Then He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu said, "Old Deaf Man is involved in many things. Although he's been sentenced, the matter isn't over yet. We should have news soon. As for Yi Zhonghai, he's only alive for now because of Old Deaf Man."

Xu Wude continued, "Our factory's transport team went to the Northeast to pick up goods last week. I heard from Old Zhang, the head of the transport team, that he saw Yi Zhonghai's wife in Fengtian. It seems she got married and is pregnant."

He Daqing said with a smile, "Even if you're shitting behind someone's back, the truth will come out eventually. Yi Zhonghai and Zhao Shufen have been married for so many years, and while Yi Zhonghai hasn't said it openly, he's been spreading rumors that Zhao Shufen is the reason they can't have children. Now the truth has finally come out."

Xu Wude said, "Yi Zhonghai has never done anything good, but he's done a lot of bad things. It's normal that he's childless."