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

Seeing Ran Qiuye's expression, He Yuzhu roughly knew what she was thinking, so he didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Teacher Ran, you're not young anymore, have you never thought about your marriage?"

Ran Qiuye's heart tightened; they had indeed arrived.

He raised his head, gave a bitter smile, and said with a weary expression, "Director He, look at my social class now, do you think anyone would want to marry me? Who would want to marry the daughter of a capitalist roader?"

He Yuzhu looked at her, a sigh escaping his lips. The person before him, the one he last met in his previous life, was radiant and beautiful, gentle and elegant, a bright red scarf accentuating her intellectual charm. But now, her face was sallow, her hands cracked and calloused from the cold, her body thin and frail—not a trace of her former self remained.

"What if I were to act as a matchmaker for you?" He Yuzhu stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Don't worry, it will definitely be a respectable family, and they won't tarnish your reputation."

Ran Qiuye was visibly taken aback. The phrase "a family of impoverished character" sounded both familiar and strange to her. Once upon a time, she herself was the daughter of a family of impoverished character; her parents were professors who had returned from abroad, and she herself was a respected teacher. But now, those words felt so distant from her.

"Director He, what kind of clean family are you referring to...?" Ran Qiuye was a little incredulous. With her current background, what kind of clean family could she possibly be considered?

"He's my apprentice at the steel rolling mill, named Ma Hua. He's 28 years old and works as the deputy director of the canteen. He's from a good family background, honest and hardworking. He's been learning from me for over ten years and is now a level six chef."

He Yuzhu paused, letting Ran Qiuye process the words, before continuing, "His family has a heavy burden; he has grandparents and younger siblings, about ten people in total. But he's a capable man with a decent salary, and with my help, they manage. Most importantly, he's kind-hearted and knows how to care for others. If you marry him, he won't let you suffer."

Ran Qiuye listened quietly, but her mind was racing.

These labels might have seemed ordinary to her in the past, but now they represent conditions she never dared to dream of! At least, with such a status, she could be protected and would no longer be watched or harassed every day, no longer living in constant fear.

But. . .

Ran Qiuye felt another wave of bitterness wash over her. She came from a scholarly family; both her parents were university professors who had returned from studying in the US, and she had grown up in luxury. Now, suddenly, she was to marry a cook—it was all too sudden.

He Yuzhu saw the struggle in her eyes, but he wasn't in a hurry to urge her. He took out a cigarette and slowly smoked it.

After a moment, Ran Qiuye bit her lip and finally made a decision, "Director He, is this person you mentioned willing to marry me? Given my family background..."

He Yuzhu laughed, "Don't worry about that. My apprentice is honest, and he wouldn't dare disobey me. Besides, he knows his own situation. With such a heavy burden on his family, he's already lucky to be able to get married, so how could he dare to be picky?"

Ran Qiuye lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Marrying herself like this? Marrying a complete stranger? This was worlds apart from the marriage she'd dreamed of since childhood. But reality was cruel; did she have any other choice? Continuing like this, she'd eventually be ruined by those corrupt officials, or sent to an even worse place, like her parents...

Thinking of her parents, Ran Qiuye almost burst into tears again.

Seeing that she was still hesitating, He Yuzhu decided to take drastic measures.

"Teacher Ran, I heard that your parents were sent to a farm in Northwest China for labor reform?"

Ran Qiuye trembled, raised her head, her eyes filled with pain and worry. It was the deepest pain in her heart; she didn't know when she would see her parents again, or even if she would live to see them again.

"You may not know much about the Northwest Farm. Even in the freezing winter, they still have to dredge rivers and mountains. They do all kinds of heavy physical labor, and the food is really the worst. Not to mention the elderly, even young and middle-aged people don't often live for three to five years."

Ran Qiuye finally couldn't hold back her tears. How could she not know those places were hell on earth? But what could she do? She couldn't even protect herself, so how could she save her parents?

He Yuzhu watched her cry without saying a word, just waiting quietly.

Once Ran Qiuye's crying subsided a bit, she spoke calmly, "What if I could release them?"

Ran Qiuye suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Director He, what... what did you say?"

"I said, what would you say if I could bring your parents back from the Northwest farm and let them spend their old age peacefully in Beijing?"

"Director He, are you telling the truth?" Ran Qiuye's voice trembled. "You really have a way to save my parents?"

He Yuzhu looked at her and said calmly, "Of course I have a way. But... all of this is based on the premise that you and my apprentice get married. Because saving people comes at a price, and I only have this one precious apprentice. For him, I am naturally willing to pay this price. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ran Qiuye understood.

This is a deal.

She married a member of the MCA, and He Yuzhu saved her parents.

But for her, this deal was like a windfall. Trading her own life for her parents' lives was totally worth it.

"I do! I do!" Ran Qiuye almost shouted, as if grasping at a lifeline. "Director He, as long as you can bring my parents back, I'm willing to do anything! I'll marry you! I'll marry you right now!"

"Don't rush," He Yuzhu waved his hand. "These things have to be done step by step. In a couple of days, I'll arrange for you two to meet. After all, you're going to spend your lives together, so there has to be mutual affection. I don't want to force anyone. If you don't like my apprentice after meeting him, or if my apprentice doesn't like you, then we'll just pretend this never happened."

Ran Qiuye quickly shook her head, "No, Director He, I won't look down on anyone. You've already done me a huge favor by introducing me to someone, how could I possibly be picky..."

He Yuzhu raised his hand to interrupt her, his expression becoming even more serious. "Teacher Ran, but I have to say something unpleasant beforehand."

Ran Qiuye felt a chill run down her spine and quickly sat up straight, listening attentively.

"If you agree to this marriage, then you should live wholeheartedly with my apprentice. He is honest and upright, and he will not mistreat you. His family has heavy burdens, so you will have to share them with him. He cares for you, and you should care for him too. In a marriage, no one owes anyone anything; it's all about mutual support."

As she spoke, her eyes turned terrifying. "But if after you get married, you're still resentful and dissatisfied, feeling that marrying my apprentice is beneath you, or looking down on him because his family is poor or uneducated, then I won't agree to it."

"You should know that I can bring your parents back from the Northwest, and I can send them back again. I can even send you there too. You should know my methods..."