The Courtyard House: He Yuzhu Returns with Boundless Hatred for Revenge

The period from 1955 to 1971 was the most vibrant and hopeful period after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Especially in 1956, the First Five-Year Plan was completed ahead of schedule, the national economy experienced tremendous growth, and people's living standards improved significantly. The entire country was filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest. Shop shelves were overflowing with goods, and markets were extremely well-stocked, at least in Beijing. Many families began purchasing various New Year's goods in advance, preparing for a grand celebration on New Year's Eve.

However, the festive atmosphere that permeated the entire city had nothing to do with the courtyard house at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang. Inside and outside the courtyard were two completely different worlds.

The reputation of the "Beastly Courtyard" spread like a virus, quickly reaching every street and alley in the vicinity and even further afield. First, the audacious act of "reversing the three rightists" was already horrifying enough, but then the news that Jia Zhangshi and Yang Ruihua were each sentenced to two years of labor reform, officially announced by the Women's Federation and the local police station, further cemented the courtyard's infamous reputation to the point that people trembled at the mere mention of it.

Now, if you mention that No. 95 courtyard, anyone with relatives living there will want to sever all ties immediately, cutting off all contact as soon as possible. Even if a couple is on a marriage proposal, the moment the other party finds out they're from that courtyard, no matter how good their own circumstances are, the engagement immediately falls through. The reasons given are always excuses like "not suitable" or "wanting to think about it," but even a fool knows the real reason.

This caused widespread resentment among the residents of courtyards numbered 94 and 96, as many people hadn't remembered the number 95. Hearing "94," they assumed you were from that beastly courtyard. Suddenly, residents from both courtyards flocked to the neighborhood office to complain and demand a solution. The neighborhood office was thoroughly exasperated. Damn it, you can't just kick everyone out, can you? And demolish the entire courtyard? That's simply unrealistic!

The resentment within the courtyard was also growing daily. With increasing external pressure, especially after the marriage was thwarted and interpersonal isolation occurred, the resentment began to spread indiscriminately. The already fragile bonds between neighbors were completely broken, and everyone felt that they were being dragged down by the bad apples in the courtyard, and they couldn't stand anyone.

The first to succumb to this pressure and erupt was the Liu family.

On the day Liu Guangqi was expelled from school and sent home, he walked into the courtyard house in a daze. Without even saying goodbye to his mother, he went straight back to his own little house and slammed the door shut.

In the evening, Liu Haizhong returned home from get off work, intending as usual to assert his authority as the head of the household, even though that authority had long since been lost in the outside world. After a few rounds of drinks, he noticed his eldest son still hadn't come out, and grew somewhat angry. He got up to call him, but there was no response. After calling several times, Liu Haizhong, already seething with anger from the disdain and being bossed around in the workshop during the day, began banging on the door louder and louder.

The door was suddenly pulled open, and Liu Guangqi's eyes were bloodshot, like a demon, staring intently at Liu Haizhong.

"Eat? I have no time to eat? My future, my studies, all ruined! All because of you! Because you're a rightist! Because of all the shameful and heinous things you've done!"

"You little brat! Who are you talking to!" Liu Haizhong's chubby face flushed red as he raised his hand to slap him.

"Go ahead and hit me! What else can you do besides hitting people! Liu Guangqi not only didn't dodge, but stepped forward to meet him, all because of you, my father who did such a despicable thing! I've been expelled from school, and I won't even be able to become a decent worker! Who wants the son of a rightist? Are you satisfied now? Huh?"

The more he spoke, the more desperate he became. He suddenly turned around, rushed into the main room, grabbed anything he could reach, and slammed it to the ground! In an instant, the entire Liu family home was filled with the sounds of things breaking.

"I'll make you an official! I'll make you scheme! What's so great about this family? All we do is beat and yell! I've had enough! From today onwards, I, Liu Guangqi, sever all ties with you, Liu Haizhong! I'm not your son! And you're not my father!"

After shouting his last sentence, Liu Guangqi pushed aside the stunned Liu Haizhong, locked himself back in the small room, and remained silent.

Liu Haizhong stood there, looking at the mess on the ground and hearing his eldest son's resolute words, a surge of anger rushed to his head. He couldn't bear to hurt his eldest son, but he had to vent his pent-up rage.

Turning around, his gaze fell on Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangtian, who were trembling with fear in the corner. Especially ten-year-old Liu Guangfu, whose thin body huddled behind Liu Guangtian, his eyes filled with terror.

"You two useless beasts!" Liu Haizhong roared, grabbed a broom from the doorway, and lunged at his two youngest sons. Now, fueled by alcohol and having lost his senses, he went completely mad.

Broomsticks rained down on Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu. Liu Guangtian gritted his teeth, trying his best to protect his younger brother, but in the end, he couldn't stop Liu the Fatty, who was on the verge of madness. Liu Guangfu screamed in pain as he was beaten, crying out, "Dad, stop hitting me, I was wrong..."

But at this point, Liu Haizhong had lost all reason. He hit harder and harder, breaking the broom handle, and then he took off his belt.

"I'll teach you to cry! None of you will do any good! I might as well beat you all to death! You unlucky things!"

Instead of stopping or protecting her two younger sons, Gou Xianhui actually stood guard by the door, blocking their escape route. It has to be said, there's a reason people call this courtyard a "beastly courtyard"—what mother outside would do such a thing? Only in the home of these beasts. Those who sleep in the same bed are indeed the same kind of people.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Guangfu's crying had long since stopped, and he lay slumped on the ground, motionless. Liu Haizhong, panting heavily, kicked him. "Playing dead? Get up!"

Liu Guangfu did not react.

Liu Guangtian rushed over and felt that his younger brother's breath was weak! He quickly checked his body and found it covered in bruises, with blood seeping from some places.

"Dad! Guangfu is dying! He needs to be taken to the hospital!"

Liu Haizhong finally regained some consciousness, but that was all. He glanced at his youngest son on the ground, but remained unmoved. "He won't die! He'll be fine after lying down for a while! Stop making such a fuss!" After saying that, he threw down the belt, staggered back to the inner room, lay down on the bed, and soon began to snore.

Looking at his unconscious younger brother, and then at his mother who had hurriedly gone inside to check on Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangtian felt a chill run down his spine. He gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't rely on his parents. He could only seek help from others, but after much thought, he realized that given their current situation, no one in the courtyard would offer assistance. The only possible ally was He Yushui's family, his classmate and nominal enemy of the Liu family.