Kill the beasts in the courtyard, I fled to Hong Kong, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

Chen Fei took the sweet potato; it was still warm.

"Thank you," he said softly.

The old man waved his hand, munching on the other half of a sweet potato: "You're from Nanluoguxiang, right? I think I've seen you before."

"Mm." Chen Fei nodded.

"Your surname is Chen?" the old man suddenly asked.

Chen Fei looked at him warily: "How did you know?"

"I know your father," the old man said. "Chen Jianguo, the sixth-level fitter at the steel rolling mill, right?"

Chen Fei sat up straight: "You know my dad?"

"I knew him." The old man sighed. "What a good man, what a pity."

Chen Fei's heart skipped a beat: "You know about my father?"

The old man glanced at him and lowered his voice: "A few days before your father's accident, he came to see me for drinks. He said... someone wanted to get him."

Chen Fei's heart skipped a beat: "Who?"

"Yi Zhonghai," the old man said, "your father said that Yi Zhonghai wanted him to give up his level six worker position to his apprentice, Jia Dongxu. Your father disagreed, so Yi Zhonghai threatened him."

Chen Fei clenched his fist: "And then?"

"Then your dad said he had some dirt on Yi Zhonghai," the old man recalled. "Yi Zhonghai worked in a capitalist's factory before liberation. Back then, he colluded with the foreman to deduct workers' wages. If this got out, Yi Zhonghai could forget about being a grade eight worker."

"What leverage?" Chen Fei asked hurriedly.

"I don't know the specifics," the old man shook his head. "Your father didn't say. But he did mention that the evidence is hidden somewhere only he knows."

Chen Fei's mind was in turmoil.

Did Father have leverage over Yi Zhonghai? And what about Father's death...?

"Was my father's death related to Yi Zhonghai?" Chen Fei asked.

The old man was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know. But the day your father had the accident, Yi Zhonghai was the workshop supervisor. According to regulations, the supervisor should be present to supervise the hoisting of steel ingots. But that day, Yi Zhonghai wasn't there."

Chen Fei's eyes turned cold.

In the original owner's memories, Yi Zhonghai was indeed not at the scene when his father had the accident. He only rushed over after the accident happened.

"Why are you telling me this?" Chen Fei asked the old man.

The old man gave a bitter smile: "I owe your father a favor. The winter before last, I fainted from the cold by the roadside, and your father carried me to the hospital and even paid for my medical expenses. It's a pity that good deeds don't always go unrewarded."

He stood up, slung his bamboo basket over his shoulder, and said, "Young man, that's all I have to say. Your father is a good man, you... take care of yourself."

After saying that, he walked away unsteadily.

Chen Fei sat on the stone bench, holding the half-eaten sweet potato in his hand, and didn't move for a long time.

My father's death was indeed not an accident.

Yi Zhonghai killed his father in order to seize his job and to silence him.

What about Mother? What about Sister?

Chen Fei dared not think any further.

He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his whole body went cold.

It turns out that from the very beginning, this was a murder. A murder committed for profit, where three lives were taken.

And Yi Zhonghai, that seemingly respectable old man, was the murderer.

Chen Fei stood up and walked towards the courtyard.

His footsteps were heavy, but his eyes were cold.

Afternoon: Sha Zhu's provocation

It was already past three in the afternoon when we got back to the courtyard house.

In the courtyard, Sha Zhu was bragging to a few young men. Seeing Chen Fei enter, Sha Zhu grinned, "Hey, isn't this the tough guy from our courtyard? What's up, back from begging?"

Chen Fei ignored him and walked straight to his room.

"Hey, don't go!" Sha Zhu blocked his way. "I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?"

Chen Fei stopped and looked at him: "Is something the matter?"

"Can't I talk to you if there's nothing wrong?" Sha Zhu crossed his arms. "Chen Fei, let me tell you, don't think you can scare people just because you acted tough yesterday. In this courtyard, the old man makes the decisions. You'd better be smart and listen to me."

Chen Fei looked at him and suddenly laughed: "Silly Zhu, you listen to Yi Zhonghai so much, what benefits has he given you?"

Sha Zhu was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Chen Fei said slowly, "you're working so hard for Yi Zhonghai like a dog, what has he promised you in return? Help you get married? Or give you a raise?"

"You fucking..." Sha Zhu was furious and reached out to grab Chen Fei's collar.

Chen Fei took a step back and dodged it.

"What, did I hit a nerve?" Chen Fei sneered. "Shazhu, you're over thirty and still haven't gotten married. Why? Because you're Yi Zhonghai's henchman, your reputation is ruined inside and outside the compound. What girl would want to marry you?"

Sha Zhu's face flushed red: "You're talking nonsense!"

"What nonsense?" Chen Fei stared at him. "Then tell me, why is Qin Huairu keeping you hanging on? She washes your clothes, cleans your house, but won't marry you? Because she knows you're a fool, being used as a pawn by her mother-in-law and as a dog by Yi Zhonghai. Once you're no longer useful, she'll kick you aside."

Those words were so harsh, hitting Sha Zhu right where it hurt.

Sha Zhu was trembling with rage, and threw a punch, yelling, "I'll kill you!"

Chen Fei was prepared and dodged to the side. However, he was weak and his movements were a beat too slow, so his shoulder was still grazed and burned with pain.

"Shazhu! Stop!" Yi Zhonghai's voice rang out.

Sha Zhu ignored everything and was about to attack again.

Chen Fei suddenly pulled the stone out of his pocket—he always carried it with him.

"Come on," he said, holding up the stone, "try moving it again. Let's see if your fist is harder, or the stone."

Sha Zhu stopped.

He wasn't afraid of fighting, but the scene of Chen Fei threatening suicide yesterday was still vivid in his mind. That kid was crazy; he was really willing to risk his life.

"Zhu Zi! Come back!" Yi Zhonghai walked over, his face grim.

Sha Zhu glared at Chen Fei and retreated behind Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the stone in Chen Fei's hand, then at the injury on his shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Chen Fei, put the stone down."

Chen Fei did not release him.

"Put it down!" Yi Zhonghai emphasized.

Chen Fei stared at him, then suddenly laughed: "Grandpa, tell me, what would happen if I hit myself on the head with this rock?"

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not lying," Chen Fei said. "Anyway, I'm not going to survive. I'll die of starvation or be beaten to death, so I might as well end it all. But before I die, I need to take someone down with me. So, who do you think I should take?"

His gaze swept over Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai, so cold it sent chills down one's spine.

For the first time, Yi Zhonghai felt afraid.

Chen Fei has truly gone mad. A madman is capable of anything.

"Chen Fei, calm down." Yi Zhonghai's voice softened. "Put the stone down and let's talk this out."

"There's not much to say," Chen Fei said. "I'll just say one thing: whoever messes with me again, I'll fight them to the death. Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those wearing shoes; you should understand that."

He put the stone back in his pocket and turned to go back into the house.

Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu stood there, their faces grim.

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

"Chen Fei has really gone mad..."

"I'd go crazy too, my house would be robbed of everything."

"Keep your voice down, don't let the old man hear you..."

Chen Fei returned to the house, closed the door, and leaned against the door panel, panting.

He had only managed to put on a brave face just now. He was completely powerless now, and if he really wanted to fight, he wouldn't stand a chance against Sha Zhu.

But we can't lose our momentum.

He walked to the bedside and sat down, feeling his shoulder hurt even more. He lifted his clothes and saw that it was bruised and purple.

That bastard Sha Zhu really went all out.

Chen Fei gritted his teeth and pulled out a half-empty bottle of safflower oil from under the bed—it was left behind by the original owner's father. He poured some into his palm, rubbed it on his shoulder, and felt a burning pain.

After rubbing the medicine on his face, he lay on the bed and looked at the roof beams.

too tired.

My body is tired, but my mind is even more tired.

In this era, he was isolated and helpless, controlled at every turn. Those beasts, with their so-called "rules," "human relationships," and "for your own good," drove him to the brink of despair.

Can he really get revenge?

Chen Fei began to have doubts for the first time.

Perhaps he really will starve to death here. Or perhaps he will be driven to his death by those beasts.

What about the revenge for my parents and sister? Who will avenge them?

He closed his eyes, feeling a stinging sensation in his eye sockets.

"Dad, Mom, Xiaoyu..." he whispered, "I'm sorry, I might... not be able to get revenge."

The room was completely silent.

Only his own breathing could be heard.

Evening: Awakening of the Golden Finger

It got dark.

Chen Fei lay in the dark without turning on a light. His stomach started to rumble with hunger again, but he didn't want to move.

There was still cornmeal left, but he didn't want to eat it. What good would it do? Live a few more days? And then what?

Despair overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

He thought of his life in modern society. Although he was still a hoodlum, at least he was free. He could eat when he wanted, sleep when he wanted, and even get into a fight if he was unhappy.

But here? Even survival depends on the whims of others.

"Fuck him..." Chen Fei cursed.

The sound echoed in the empty room.