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

In Workshop Two, Liu Haizhong's work clothes were covered in grease and grime. He was panting as he dragged a small cart piled high with iron parts waiting to be processed. His chubby face was covered in a mixture of sweat and grease.

"Fatty Liu! What are you dawdling for! Hurry up and take this load of materials to workstation number three! We're waiting to unload!" A young apprentice pointed at Liu Haizhong and shouted without any politeness, his eyes full of mockery.

Liu Hai was furious. "A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs," he thought. "I, a hero for so long, have been ridden on by a mere apprentice." But he dared not speak his anger, and could only force a smile, "Yes, yes, I'll be right there."

Not daring to delay for even a moment, he used all his strength to pull the cart forward. Who would have thought that just a month or two ago, he was a highly respected level-five forging master in this workshop, with apprentices fawning over him and even the workshop director giving him some face? Now, any new apprentice who has just joined the factory can order him around at will.

His apprentices had long been scattered and transferred to other workshops. Those who remained either had suffered under his bad temper or couldn't stand his behavior. This Fatty Liu was similar to Yi Zhonghai; he also liked to act superior and boss people around. Aside from his apprentices who thought well of him, no one else had a good impression of him. Now that he was in trouble, things were terrible. He was being used like livestock every day, moving things hundreds of times a day. If it weren't for his family constantly providing him with eggs, he would have collapsed long ago.

Just as he poured a pile of iron slag into the scrap basket, exhausted and panting against the wall, a security officer appeared at the workshop entrance, scanned the surroundings, and finally fixed his gaze on him.

"Liu Haizhong! Come out here for a second!"

The machine noise in the workshop seemed to have subsided somewhat, and many eyes cast gloating glances over. The security department looking for Fatty Liu at this time couldn't be anything good! Who knew what misdeed he'd done again to deserve this commotion? Liu Haizhong, however, dared not delay. His greatest fear at this moment was the factory leadership, especially the security personnel. He immediately shouted back, "Here! Coming right now!"

As soon as he stepped out of the workshop, he saw a group of women standing there menacingly. Director Hua of the factory's Women's Federation, Section Chief Zhao of the Security Department, and Li Huaide, who had recently been promoted to deputy factory director, also rushed over upon hearing the news. Their expressions toward Fatty Liu were not very pleasant.

This scene... Liu Haizhong trembled all over.

"Liu Haizhong!" Director Liu stepped forward, his imposing manner overwhelming. "What did you do to your two sons at home last night? Why is your younger son in the hospital? Why didn't you, as his father, personally take him there?"

Liu Haizhong was honest and answered every question. He didn't think it was a big deal. "Esteemed leader, something minor happened at home last night. My child was being disobedient, and as the father, I disciplined him a little, not too severely, but somehow He Yuzhu took him to the hospital. This... this has troubled you leaders so much!"

"'Not badly hit'? He was beaten so badly he was covered in injuries and unconscious before being taken to the hospital. You call that not badly hit? Liu Haizhong, do you have any respect for the law? Do you have any humanity?"

"Boss, what you're saying..." Although Liu Haizhong was naturally afraid of his superiors, his authority in front of his son was a line he couldn't cross. For the first time ever, he retorted, "The ruler is the guide for the subject, the husband for the wife, and the father for the son. This hierarchical relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, is an unchanging principle! It's only natural for a father to discipline his son! Throughout history, which father hasn't disciplined his son? He did something wrong, so what's wrong with me, as his father, disciplining him? Is this not reasonable?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present took a step back. Several steel mill leaders present turned pale. "You've been labeled a rightist, and you still dare to utter such treasonous words? Are you insane? If this gets out, all of us steel mill leaders will be criticized! For a rightist to still utter such arrogant remarks after being reformed—what else could it be but incompetence on the part of the steel mill leadership?"

Director Liu pointed at Liu Haizhong's nose, his fingers trembling with anger. He turned to Li Huaide and the others, "Listen to this! Listen to this! What era are we living in? Liu Haizhong, a man who wore a right-wing hat and underwent reformation, still has the mindset of feudal emperors and feudal patriarchs! Unchanging principles for a thousand years? I think it's a thousand-year-old poison! His feudal ideology has been so deeply ingrained that he's unrepentant!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, "What are the leaders of your steel rolling mill doing? How do you usually manage employee ideological education? How can you allow this kind of poisonous ideology to exist? How can you let people like this work in the workshop? Is this the result of your reforms?"

Li Huaide's face was extremely ugly. To be publicly berated by the director of the street women's federation was an utter disgrace. But he couldn't refute her; Liu Haizhong's remarks were a serious political error anywhere, a blatant opposition to the new social values. He shouted at Liu Haizhong, "Shut up! You still have the nerve to spout those feudal dregs? It seems the factory's punishment of you was too lenient; your thinking hasn't been reformed at all!"

After speaking, he looked at Director Liu. Although he felt aggrieved, he still had to maintain his composure. "Director Liu, please calm down. Our steel rolling mill is responsible for this matter. We failed to discipline them properly. Liu Haizhong is a stubborn and despicable person. He is not only involved in child abuse, but also openly spreads feudal and reactionary remarks."

"I think disciplinary action at the factory level is not enough. Since the Women's Federation has intervened, our steel rolling mill will naturally fully support their work! Liu Haizhong is now being taken away by you for serious handling! Our factory will also impose further severe penalties based on the Women's Federation's decision! What do you think?"

These words were tantamount to completely abandoning Liu Haizhong. Liu Haizhong was struck dumb, collapsing to the ground. "What kind of world is this! Beating your son is now a crime? Before, the sky was dark in the courtyard house; now even the sky is dark in the steel mill. In this vast world, is there still a place for me, Liu Haizhong..."

"Hmph, take him away!" Director Liu waved his hand, and several middle-aged women immediately stepped forward and lifted up the limp Liu Haizhong.

The group, escorting the ashen-faced Liu Haizhong, left the steel rolling mill in a grand procession. Li Huaide watched their retreating figures, spitting out a curse, "Useless idiots who're more trouble than they're worth!" Turning to his men, he ordered, "Spread the word: Liu Haizhong is suspended from his duties, pending further action. Also, intensify ideological education throughout the entire factory; we can't allow such a disgraceful incident to happen again!"