Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

Beijing, 1988.

As China enters its tenth year of reform and opening up, Beijing's streets and alleys are undergoing tremendous changes.

Skyscrapers are springing up everywhere, and the number of private cars is gradually increasing.

At this time, Jishi Chinese Medicine Factory was already the leading company in the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

Lou Xiao, the young master of the pharmaceutical factory, was sent by his mother to Beijing to serve as the general manager of a branch company.

Lou Xiao inherited her mother's business acumen, acting decisively and managing the branch company in an orderly manner.

He was wearing a well-tailored suit and driving an imported car.

Although he wasn't considered exceptionally handsome, his refined demeanor made him a well-known "eligible bachelor" in the industry.

However, this seemingly glamorous young master Lou has recently developed a deep-seated worry.

......

this day.

As usual, Lou Xiao came to the Li residence in Nanluoguxiang to visit Li Xuan.

The car was parked at the entrance of the alley, and because the alley was narrow, he had to walk in.

I just walked to the front gate of what used to be the front yard.

Several elderly women were sitting under the wall, basking in the sun and eating sunflower seeds.

This group of people are the same old neighbors who witnessed the changing fortunes of the courtyard house back then.

Lou Xiao nodded politely as she passed by.

But he had only taken a few steps when...

He heard a low, yet perfectly audible, murmur behind him.

"Hey, did you see that?"

"That's the son Lou Xiao'e brought back!"

"Tsk tsk, he's really handsome and dressed very well."

"What a pity..."

"What's a pity?"

"It's a pity it's the root of a bad seed!"

"Take a close look at his face, especially his eyebrows, eyes, and that long chin..."

"Isn't he a carbon copy of Xu Damao, who went in back then?"

Lou Xiao suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Xu Damao.

He'd heard that name far too often lately.

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

"He's a big boss now, and also Dean Li's god-nephew. If he hears this, you're in for a world of trouble!"

"What's there to be afraid of? It's a fact!"

"Back then, Xu Damao abandoned his wife and children for his future."

"Later, we thought we could have more offspring, but it turned out we had no descendants."

"When he finally wanted a son, he ended up in jail. I think... this is karma!"

"But this child is also pitiful, having such a father."

"He probably still doesn't know that his own father is scrubbing toilets in the western suburbs prison!"

A burst of shrill laughter rang out.

Lou Xiao felt as if every gaze from behind was pricking her body like a needle.

He didn't turn around to scold him, nor did he impulsively fight like he did when he was a child.

His good upbringing allowed him to maintain a calm demeanor.

But his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched tightly.

......

The Li residence, study.

Li Xuan was wielding his brush, writing calligraphy.

"Uncle Li."

Lou Xiao walked in, her voice somewhat low.

Li Xuan put down his brush and looked up at him.

This child is usually full of vigor and high spirits.

But today he looked like a quail that had been caught in the rain, his face full of gloom.

"What's wrong? Are you having business troubles?" Li Xuan asked gently.

"It's not business."

Lou Xiao walked to the desk, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly spoke:

"Uncle Li, I want to ask you something."

"You...you must tell me the truth."

Li Xuan seemed to have guessed something, sighed softly, and pointed to the chair next to him: "Sit down and talk."

Lou Xiao didn't sit down. He took a deep breath. "Who...is my dad?"

Li Xuan fell silent.

"My mom has never mentioned my dad since I was a child."

"Every time I asked, she would say he was dead, or that he was a rotten person."

"But..."

Lou Xiao was somewhat agitated, her voice trembling, "But these past years since I returned to Beijing..."

"No matter where I go, people are always pointing fingers at me."

"They said I look like Xu Damao, that my dad is a bad seed, and that he's in jail..."

"Uncle Li, you are the person I respect the most."

"In this world, besides my mother, I only trust you."

"Tell me, is Xu Damao... really my biological father?"

Looking at the young man who had grown into adulthood, Li Xuan's feelings were also complicated.

Blood ties are a truly wondrous thing.

Even though Lou Xiao received an elite education from a young age and has a refined and scholarly temperament.

But his appearance is indeed a carbon copy of Xu Damao.

This is an indelible mark.

Li Xuan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the old locust tree outside.

Back then, Xu Damao committed all sorts of evil deeds under this very tree.

Under this same tree, he went mad, shouting, "I have a son!"

Lou Xiao, you've grown up.

Li Xuan turned around, his gaze calm and profound. "Since you've already heard it, there are some things..."

"It wouldn't be fair to you if I kept it from you any longer."

"That's right, Xu Damao is your father."

Although I was mentally prepared, I was still surprised to hear Li Xuan confirm it with my own ears.

Lou Xiao still felt a buzzing in her head, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

"It really is...him..."

Lou Xiao staggered two steps, slumped into a chair, and muttered to herself.

"A scoundrel who's in jail...it turns out to be my dad..."

This huge sense of disparity made him feel nauseous and ashamed.

"He's not just a bad seed."

Li Xuan had no intention of glorifying Xu Damao; he decided to tear away the layer of cruel truth.

"He is selfish, malicious, lecherous, and greedy."

"In order to climb the social ladder, he reported your mother's family, and even abandoned you."

"He has done countless despicable things for money."

"His current predicament is entirely his own fault."

"Your mother doesn't want you to acknowledge him because she wants to protect you."

"She doesn't want your life to be stained by that man."

Lou Xiao covered her face in anguish: "What should I do?"

"His blood flows in my veins... Will I become like him?"

"Won't."

Li Xuan walked over and gently patted Lou Xiao on the shoulder.

"You can't choose your birth, but you can choose your path."

"Your surname is Lou, and your mother raised you."

"You are honest, kind, and talented."

"You and him are two different kinds of people."

"But...I want to see him."

Lou Xiao raised her head, her eyes flashing with a complex light—a resolute desire to sever her inner demons.

"I want to see with my own eyes what the person who gave birth to me but is not worthy of being my father looks like."

"Only by seeing him can I finally give up completely."

Li Xuan looked at Lou Xiao's stubborn eyes and nodded.

This child's inner conflict has been resolved.

"it is good."

Li Xuan picked up the phone on the table. "I'll arrange it."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the West Suburbs Prison."

"I'll show you just how ugly humanity can be."

At this moment, Li Xuan decided to stop being that protective umbrella that shielded him from the wind and rain.

He wanted Lou Xiao to confront that bloody truth.

This is how he will complete the final coming-of-age ceremony of his life!

As for Xu Damao...

A cold glint flashed in Li Xuan's eyes.

It lets you see the son you've been longing for day and night, yet it also makes it impossible for you to ever recognize him again.

This might be the best punishment for you!

......