Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

For He Yuzhu, this day was harder to endure than being in prison.

He peeled two hundred pounds of potatoes until his wrists swelled up like steamed buns.

Normally at this time, he would be sitting with his legs crossed, drinking tea, but now he could only squat by the musty-smelling ditch, watching the new Chef Yang wielding his power on his own stove.

What's even more devastating is the look in the workers' eyes when they get their meals.

"Have you heard? Sha Zhu's really done for this time!"

"Serves him right! I've disliked that bastard for a long time. When he used to serve us food, his hands would shake like he had Parkinson's. Was that Parkinson's? That was just awful!"

"This new Chef Yang is truly generous; look at this ladle, it's overflowing!"

Finally, the bell rang to signal the end of the workday.

He Yuzhu dragged his leaden legs and habitually picked up the greasy net bag.

Although he was demoted, this bad habit of petty theft is ingrained in his DNA.

Just as the chaotic scene was being cleaned up, he quickly and skillfully poured the entire pot of cabbage and tofu soup that Chef Yang had ruined into an aluminum lunchbox, soup and all.

This isn't leftovers!

This was the last fig leaf he used to maintain his "steel mill tyrant" persona in front of Sister Qin!

If we can't even bring back this little bit of profit today, how will Sister Qin's family raise their pot?

Does he have no shame in front of his goddess?

"As long as I don't say it's stolen, this is an employee benefit." He Yuzhu frantically hypnotized himself in his mind, "No matter how much Fatty Liu targets me, he wouldn't dare to search me in public during rush hour, right? He may not care about his reputation, but I do."

He stuffed the net bag into his tattered cotton-padded coat, hunched his shoulders, and squeezed into the crowd toward the side door.

One step, two steps, just three meters away from the free world...

"He Yuzhu! Stop right there!"

A loud shout startled He Yuzhu, causing him to freeze and his heart to skip a beat.

Looking up, I saw Director Liu blocking the doorway like a demon, with two security officers standing beside him, their belts tightly fastened and their eyes unfriendly.

This isn't just checking up on him, this is them deliberately staking out his location!

The workers who were leaving work stopped and formed a circle.

Eating melon seeds is an instinct ingrained in our bones.

"Director Liu... Director Liu, it's freezing cold, why aren't you home with your wife and kids? Why are you training troops here?" He Yuzhu forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, but his hands were tightly clutching the net bag in his arms.

"Stop talking nonsense. Hand over that net bag." Director Liu completely ignored him. "It's public property; you can't take a single needle or thread with you."

"It's just two mouthfuls of dishwater! It's a waste to throw it in the slop bucket anyway. What's wrong with taking it home to feed the cat? This rule has been in place in the factory for ages..."

"That was before! Now the factory embraces a new atmosphere!"

Director Liu didn't bother with pleasantries and got straight to work.

He Yuzhu instinctively wanted to dodge, but how could a cook like him possibly defeat Director Liu, who had come prepared?

"Splash—"

The net bag was ripped off, and the aluminum lunchbox lid was lifted.

The cabbage soup, with tofu dregs floating on top, was laid bare before everyone's eyes.

"Caught red-handed. He Yuzhu, you're defying the law!"

Director Liu, carrying his lunchbox and wearing a mocking smile, turned and walked to the swill bucket next to him.

"No! Director! Give me some face..." He Yuzhu pleaded anxiously.

"You've already disgraced yourself."

Director Liu flipped his wrist.

"Whoosh—"

The two boxes of vegetable soup, which held He Yuzhu's last shred of dignity, traced a filthy parabola in the cold, bleak twilight, precisely landing in the stinking swill bucket.

Leftovers were mixed with real swill, becoming one with the whole.

Clang!

The empty lunchbox was thrown back into He Yuzhu's arms with a sharp, piercing sound.

"Since this is your first offense, we won't send you to the security department this time. If there's a next time, you'll be charged with theft!" Director Liu clapped his hands dismissively, glared at those around him, and said, "What are you all looking at? Don't you have time to cook? Disperse!"

He Yuzhu stood in the cold wind, holding two empty lunchboxes.

The surrounding workers suppressed their laughter.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh.

In that instant, he really wanted to rush up and crack Liu Pangzi's skull open.

But the next second, his gaze fell on the dark rubber baton in the hand of the security officer.

For some reason, Zhou Jianguo's cold face suddenly popped into my mind.

In the end, this former "courtyard war god" lowered his head, clutched the two light, empty lunch boxes, and slunk out of the steel mill gate.

……

The sun sets in the west, at the entrance of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

He Yuzhu walked dejectedly, the empty lunchbox jingling in the mesh bag, creating a mournful melody.

A chain whirred past.

Zhou Jianguo.

He was dressed in a crisp navy blue overalls, pushing that old-fashioned bicycle, exuding energy and spirit.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, instinctively wanting to lash out, wanting to rush up and grab the other person's collar like before, and use his fists to get back at them.

"Zhou Jianguo! You son of a bitch..."

Before he could even utter a word of abuse, Zhou Jianguo stopped the car.

He held the handlebars with one hand, his eyes giving He Yuzhu a brief, indifferent glance.

What kind of look was that?

There was no anger, no mockery, and they didn't even treat him like a human being.

Disregard. Utter disregard.

He Yuzhu's mind flashed back to the crossbow bolt that had driven three inches into the wall bricks, to Deputy Factory Director Li's signature, and to the dark sticks of the security department.

The profanities he wanted to utter were swallowed back down, turning into muffled gurgling sounds in his throat.

Even more honestly, his body was more observant than his mind—he instinctively shrank back against the wall, making way for Zhou Jianguo.

Zhou Jianguo didn't bother to say a word of nonsense. He pushed off with his foot, and the wheel rolled over the bluestone slab, heading straight into the courtyard.

He Yuzhu was left standing alone in the wind, his thick cotton-padded coat soaked with cold sweat, and the wind chilled him to the bone.

He stood at the door for a full half minute before wiping his face and forcing himself to cheer up.

"It's okay... I still have Sister Qin. Sister Qin isn't the kind of person who's materialistic. As long as I'm back, she'll definitely feel sorry for me."

Clinging to this pathetic illusion, he dragged his heavy steps into the central courtyard.

Just past the moon gate, that figure I'd been longing for came into view.

Qin Huairu was standing at the Jia family's door, her hands tucked into her sleeves, her nose red from the cold, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

The moment Qin Huairu saw He Yuzhu, her previously gloomy face blossomed into a smile.

This speed at changing faces would make even a master of Sichuan opera exclaim in admiration.

"Zhu Zi! Why are you only just getting back?"

Qin Huairu hurried over, her voice soft and sweet, but her eyes, like radar, were fixed on the net bag in He Yuzhu's hand. "Banggeng was in pain today and had no appetite, so he kept asking for the braised pork you brought back. It's only because you, his silly uncle, take care of him..."

She skillfully reached out and grabbed the net.

However, the next second.

My hand felt lighter.

The light, airy touch froze the charming smile on Qin Huairu's face.

She looked down.

Through the mesh of the bag, the two aluminum lunch boxes were cleaner than her face; there wasn't a single drop of oil, let alone braised pork.

Qin Huairu slowly raised her head, and her once affectionate peach blossom eyes gradually turned cold.

The expectation in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by an undisguised disdain, disappointment, and even... disgust.

"Sis... um, today in the kitchen..." He Yuzhu panicked, trying to explain incoherently.

"Why did you come back empty-handed?"

Qin Huairu interrupted him, her voice no longer soft and sweet, but icy cold, "My dog's legs are like that, he needs nutrition right now. Didn't you brag that you're the head of the cafeteria? You can't even make something to eat?"

She loosened her grip on the net and wiped it disgustedly on the hem of her clothes, as if it had some bad luck on it.

"No, Huai Ru, listen to me, something unexpected happened today, Fatty Liu, he..."

"Alright, stop explaining." Qin Huairu took a step back, creating distance between them. "If you're incompetent, just say so. You've even learned to make excuses. I have to go back to see the kids. The house is a mess, so don't come and make things worse."

After saying that, she turned and left without even leaving a trace.

"Clang!"

The door to the Jia family's house was slammed shut, almost hitting He Yuzhu on the nose.

He Yuzhu stood in the middle of the courtyard, looking at the tightly closed door, feeling as if all the cold wind of the day had seeped into his heart.

When your heart grows cold, the pain subsides.