Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

Two unfamiliar police officers then entered and began the formal interrogation.

"Name?"

"He Yuzhu".

"age?"

"Twenty-four."

"Twenty-four? Doesn't seem like it."

"..."

He Yuzhu's face stiffened. "I look older than I am, but I am indeed twenty-four years old. I was born on March 10, 1935. It's clearly written on my household registration."

"Okay, continue."

Profession?"

"Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, Grade 8 cook."

……

After verifying the basic information, the police officer changed the subject and got to the main point.

"He Yuzhu, according to our investigation, no cases of syphilis have been found at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in the past year."

Moreover, no outsiders entered the factory on the day you fell into the cesspool.

"Then please explain how you contracted syphilis without a source of infection?"

"You get infected if you fall into a cesspool!"

"He Yuzhu, confess and you'll be treated leniently, resist and you'll be punished severely! At this point, are you still going to try to deny it?"

"I'm not making excuses! I'm telling the truth! Everyone in the factory knows I fell into the cesspool!"

He Yuzhu stiffened his neck and spoke in a hard voice.

"So, do you know Liu Lili?"

"Liu Lili?!"

The name was like an ice needle, piercing my ear unexpectedly.

He Yuzhu trembled violently, and the tough expression on his face instantly crumbled.

A hint of panic flashed across his face.

"I...I don't know!"

"Not sure? Let me sort it out for you."

In early June this year, Wang, the matchmaker, came to your door, saying that he wanted to set you up with Li Jianye, who lived in the same courtyard.

You nodded.

A few days later, the matchmaker brought over a pretty girl named Liu Lili.

You fell in love with it at first sight.

After that, I don't know what method you used, but you managed to persuade Li Jianye to bring Liu Lili to your side.

Because of this girl, you had a complete falling out with the respected old man and an old woman in the courtyard, and even made the old woman so angry that she vomited blood.

Am I right? Later, you sent out wedding invitations in a grand manner, inviting people to your wedding with Liu Lili.

But what happened? Liu Lili vanished without a trace, and you became the laughingstock of the entire hospital, and were gossiped about at the factory for quite some time.

Are all of these correct?

He paused, his gaze sharp as a needle.

"After Liu Lili left you, she turned around and came to us on her own initiative, explaining everything clearly."

She has now begun to receive the education and rehabilitation she deserves.

Every step of the process is documented in black and white.

"So, how about we invite her over so you old friends can see each other one last time?"

"I...I..."

He Yuzhu opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head.

He never expected that in such a short time, his entire background would be exposed so thoroughly! Even Liu Lili had become a "witness" that could be called upon at any time.

His carefully crafted explanation now seemed both laughable and futile.

"That damned Jia Dongxu... he really screwed me over!"

He gritted his teeth inwardly, "And Li Jianye! If it weren't for you, how could I have gotten involved with Liu Lili? It's all your fault!"

At this moment, his resentment towards Li Jianye was like adding fuel to the fire, along with the person who had given him the "jump into the latrine" excuse.

"Sleeping Dragon" had such a terrible idea.

Jia Dongxu was also hated by him.

Thinking that he had actually listened to that foolish plan and suffered that torment for nothing, he was filled with remorse.

"I admit it."

His shoulders slumped, and he let out a long sigh. "What you said... is all correct."

Now that things have come to this, the other party has solid evidence and can bring the person in for questioning at any time. If they continue to be stubborn, they will probably only face more serious consequences.

He remembered Yi Zhonghai's last instructions, steeled his resolve, and raised his head.

"The events are as you described."

I developed feelings for Liu Lili, and she... was somewhat reluctant to give in.

I lost control and made a mistake.

But I genuinely intend to settle down and start a family! We've already sent out wedding invitations; doesn't that prove my sincerity? How can this be considered…that kind of dirty deal? We're seriously dating!

When Director Ma stepped into the courtyard, it was already dark.

Smoke rose from the stoves in each household, and the air was filled with the smells of cooking oil and coal fire.

His face was ashen, his steps were heavy and hurried, and behind him followed a dejected He Yuzhu, like a silent shadow.

As Yi Zhonghai was lifting the pot lid, he heard someone outside calling out his full name, and his heart skipped a beat.

He put down the spatula and went out to greet them, immediately noticing Director Ma's furrowed brows and He Yuzhu's ashamed expression.

In an instant, everything became clear.

"Old Ma, this..."

Yi Zhonghai swallowed back the words he was about to say.

Director Ma ignored him, only giving a cold glance to the neighbors peeking out of the yard, and said in a low voice, "Let's talk inside."

The curtain fell, shutting out the faint noise from outside.

He Yuzhu stood by the door, staring at the tips of his shoes, as if there were some patterns on them worth studying.

Director Ma didn't sit down; he stood in the center of the room, his gaze like two small awls piercing Yi Zhonghai's face.

"You raised such a good neighbor."

Director Ma squeezed out these words through gritted teeth: "It's a matter of conduct—it's all in black and white, and it's been stamped."

My face, the face of our street, were all smeared with ash.

Yi Zhonghai's back was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

He understands "moral issues" all too well.

The weight of those four words is like an indelible mark branded on this courtyard and this street.

But in a flash, other thoughts surged up—He Yuzhu used to be proud and had brought up marriage proposals two or three times, but he always brushed them off with various excuses.

Now that he's burdened with this reputation, what can he possibly choose? If we were to lend him a hand now...

Seeing that he remained silent, Director Ma's anger flared even more: "What did you promise me in the first place? You said you had to keep the people in the hospital in check, especially these young ones! And now look what's happened, they've gone all the way to the police station! Do you know what the other directors think of me?"

"It was my oversight."

Yi Zhonghai lowered his head and said sincerely, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

We will cooperate fully and do everything we can to make things difficult for you.

Director Ma stared at him for a long time before finally letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'm handing the person over to you."

Starting tomorrow, the neighborhood committee will send people to check on his thoughts regularly.

Your department should also hold a meeting to criticize those who need criticism and educate those who need education.

He paused, then added meaningfully, "Old Yi, you're the oldest man in the compound; there are some responsibilities you can't shirk."

"I see."

Yi Zhonghai should be decisive.

After seeing Director Ma off, only the two of them remained in the room.

He Yuzhu remained frozen in place, his shoulders slumped, his usual reckless spirit gone.

Yi Zhonghai didn't rush to speak. He picked up the thermos, slowly brewed a cup of tea, and pushed it to Yi Zhonghai's side.

"Pillar."

Yi Zhonghai spoke, his voice steady and devoid of emotion, "Now that things have come to this, there's no use in regretting it."

The future is long, so we need to take the first step carefully.

He Yuzhu suddenly looked up, his eyes a little red, whether from embarrassment or anxiety, it was hard to tell: "Uncle, I really didn't... I just..."

"What it is doesn't matter anymore."

Yi Zhonghai interrupted him, "What matters is what others think of you."

From today onwards, you are someone whose "work style needs improvement".

Work, going out, talking, even starting a family later on—this hurdle is always there.

"Then... what should I do?"

Yi Zhonghai picked up his teacup, blew away the floating leaves, and took a sip.

The tea was a little hot, so he slowly swallowed it before raising his eyes: "Who can live a lifetime without making mistakes? If you do, accept it."

Only by bowing your head can you see the path beneath your feet.

From now on, you have to listen to the meetings in the courtyard, accompany the people from the neighborhood committee when they come, and make self-criticisms and guarantees as required.

If you lower your stance, over time, the thorn in someone's side will gradually soften.

He Yuzhu listened intently, his fingers unconsciously digging into the rough surface of the cup.

Yi Zhonghai's words were like lukewarm water, slowly washing away the anxiety in his heart.

He suddenly felt tired, a kind of exhaustion that seeped into his bones.

"besides,"

Yi Zhonghai put down his cup, his voice becoming deeper, "It's time to think about settling down."

Having a stable home will make others look at you differently.

"This matter... I'll keep an eye on it for you."

He spoke the last few words slowly and steadily, like burying a seed in the soil.

He Yuzhu's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't respond; he simply lowered his head even further.

Outside the window, dusk had completely swallowed the daylight, and every household had lit their lamps, casting a dim yellow glow that reflected the intertwined shadows and faint voices in the courtyard.

His own kind of commotion has only just begun.

Yi Zhonghai's expression, which had been somewhat somber, gradually relaxed.

"Yi Zhonghai!"

A shout suddenly came from the courtyard gate, filled with obvious anger.

"What kind of person are you, in charge? Hmm? Look at the mess you've made in your yard!"

Director Ma strode into the Intermediate People's Court with his hands behind his back, his face ashen, his voice rising higher and higher with each sentence.

"He Yuzhu committed a misconduct offense! He was brought directly to me by the police officers! Do you know how I feel about that? Huh?"

"Director, it's my responsibility."

Yi Zhonghai immediately lowered his head and said sincerely, "I will definitely make a special trip to your home on Sunday to report my thoughts to you in person and make a deep self-criticism."

"snort."

Director Ma snorted through his nose, his expression softening slightly.

He naturally understood the meaning behind the words—a visit on Sunday was not just a matter of verbal apology.

"Alright, stop standing there and hurry up and call everyone out."

Call a hospital-wide meeting!

"I'll do it right away."

Yi Zhonghai immediately got busy, knocking on doors and greeting people from house to house.

Before long, the Intermediate Court was packed with people.

This time everyone was more present than ever before, with even elderly people who rarely show their faces and children running around all over the place coming out.

Even the deaf old lady in the backyard, who rarely left her house, was carefully helped by an older woman to sit on a stool against the wall.

"Almost everyone's here."

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat. "The reason I've gathered everyone here today is because Director Ma from the Subdistrict Office has come in person."

The director has some important things to say to everyone.

After he finished speaking, he stepped aside, leaving the center of the courtyard to Director Ma.

"I am heartbroken."

Director Ma looked around, his brows furrowed, and his tone somber.

"I truly never imagined that such a decline in morale and moral conduct would occur in the area I'm responsible for! He Yuzhu, step forward!"

"Here..."

He Yuzhu walked slowly out of the crowd with his head hanging low, his face covered in dust.

"Everyone knows He Yuzhu."

But you may not know what he did.

Director Ma pointed at him, her tone growing increasingly stern, "Just a few months ago, before he and the girl he was set up with on a blind date were even discussing marriage, he crossed the line! What do you call that? This is a serious matter of conduct! It's a regression in his thinking!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the several managers standing in the front row.

"Here, I also want to criticize the three comrades in charge of the institute, led by Yi Zhonghai! As those in charge of the institute, they haven't even done a good job of basic personnel training; this is dereliction of duty! Secondly, He Yuzhu, I know you're not young anymore and you're anxious, but no matter how anxious you are, you can't go astray!"

"I'm twenty-four..."

He Yuzhu lowered his head and mumbled something indistinctly.

"What did you say?!"

Director Ma's ears perked up, and his face immediately darkened.

He didn't actually know He Yuzhu's exact age, but seeing that he looked mature, he casually said he was in his thirties or forties.

Being corrected in public like this is a bit embarrassing.

However, he was a man of experience, and after only a moment's pause, he continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.

"Regardless of age, a mistake is a mistake! This matter must be dealt with seriously as a warning to others! First, He Yuzhu, you will be responsible for cleaning the public areas of the courtyard for the next three years."

Secondly, the public toilet next to our compound will also be assigned to you for cleaning, for the same three years.