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

In the summer of 1960, as night fell, the main lights of the central courtyard illuminated the courtyard. A general meeting of the entire courtyard was underway, and it seemed that someone was having a heated debate. If you were a reader familiar with the novel "Siheyuan," you could probably guess with a high degree of accuracy that the Jia family was struggling to survive in this year of famine, and Yi Zhonghai, using his old tricks, was trying to get the entire courtyard and Sha Zhu to help the Jia family.

And in fact, that was pretty much the case. Yi Zhonghai was currently employing the art of moral blackmail, launching wave after wave of attacks on Sha Zhu, who was sitting in the middle of the crowd, like a surging river, never-ending.

"Zhu Zi, you know what kind of situation your brother Dongxu's family is in now. Five people in one family, all relying on Dongxu's meager ration. Bang Geng is at the age where he's growing, Xiao Dang is still young, and Huai Ru is pregnant again... As the old saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Our courtyard is a well-known civilized courtyard in the neighborhood. We're all from the same courtyard, just like family. It's only right that we help each other out. Besides, your brother Dongxu and Sister Qin have always treated you very well! As a person, you have to know how to be grateful."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the courtyard. Seeing that they were all nodding in agreement, he felt a surge of smugness. Finally, his gaze returned to Sha Zhu's face. "In my opinion, from now on, those boxed lunches you bring back from the cafeteria should be given to your brother Dongxu's family first. Anyway, you're the cook; one person's full, the whole family isn't hungry. Giving them to Dongxu's family will make them remember you well, and it will also enhance your reputation. That's better than anything else."

Before she could finish speaking, Qin Huairu was already sobbing. She looked up, tears streaming down her face, her expression pitiful. "Silly Zhu, things are so hard for me. We're almost starving. Dongxu works himself to the bone every day but still can't feed us properly. Please, have pity on me, help me out. I'll be so grateful. From now on, I'll wash all your clothes, okay?"

Immediately, Madam Jia Zhang slapped her thigh and wailed, "Oh dear! I can't live like this anymore! Heaven, please open your eyes! Some people have no conscience! They live in the same courtyard, watching us orphans and widows suffer, and they can't even spare us a bite to eat! Ungrateful wretches! Heartless bastards! Our Jia family was so good to them before, and it was all for nothing!"

Surrounded in the middle, Sha Zhu's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. He had been reborn, and the horrific scenes of being skinned alive and frozen to death under a bridge in his previous life were still etched in his mind, as were Qin Huairu's final indifference and the ungrateful faces of Bang Geng and his gang of ingrates. He wished he could immediately sever all ties with the Jia family and never have anything to do with them again.

However, even in his previous life, this person was still a fool until death. He only knew about the evil of the Jia family and did not know that the other people in the courtyard were also plotting against him, especially the most notorious villain, Yi Zhonghai, whom he continued to regard as an elder who was good to him.

The heavy burden of Yi Zhonghai's "neighborly mutual assistance" label was suffocating him. In his previous life, he had always been a fan of Yi Zhonghai's approach, always believing that this old man was the most fair person in the courtyard. The ingrained habits formed over the past two decades were not so easy to change, and with the other residents in the courtyard making trouble, whether openly or secretly, he was now feeling extremely frustrated and passive.

"Uncle! In this year of famine, who has enough food? My family doesn't even have enough to eat! The factory canteen has rations, they calculate it all clearly. Who would dare take leftovers from the government these days? That's undermining society! If you get caught, you'll go to jail! The boxed lunches I brought back were all bought with my own food coupons! My sister Yushui is growing, I brought them back to help her get better! I can't even bear to eat an extra bite myself, how can I possibly help Sister Qin's family?"

Yi Zhonghai frowned immediately, his face showing displeasure. "Zhuzi! You're wrong about that. Rainwater has its own ration. A young lady only needs enough to eat. What does she need supplements for? These days, who can eat as much as they want? She's not a rich young lady from the old society! She won't go hungry. It's a blessing that she has a brother like you to give her food!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately jumped up even higher, pointing at Shazhu's nose and starting to curse, "That's right! A good-for-nothing, what's the use of all that studying! You still want to support her through high school? I think it's just a waste of food! If you ask me, you should just find someone to marry her off as soon as possible! Keeping her at home to eat for free and take up space!"

These words infuriated Sha Zhu. He thought, "If I don't feed my sister, am I supposed to feed this bunch of ungrateful wretches? That's exactly how I ended up in my past life—estranged from my sister. By the time everyone turned against me, it was too late to remember her kindness." He suddenly looked up, glaring fiercely at Jia Zhangshi. "Jia Zhangshi! Whether my sister goes to school or gets married is none of my business! Who are you to spout nonsense here? If you dare spew any more filth, believe me, I'll beat you up!"

"Idiot Zhu!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, his voice carrying immense pressure. "What do you think you're doing? You've gone too far! No matter what, Aunt Jia is still an elder! How dare you speak to your elders like that? Have you forgotten all the principles of respecting the elderly and caring for the young? If you dare to act recklessly again, I'll criticize you on behalf of the entire hospital!"

Yi Zhonghai, having held his position for many years, had amassed considerable power and influence. His roar, coupled with his status as an eighth-grade worker, immediately made many in the audience shrink back. Even the second and third uncles on either side sat upright, listening intently. Sha Zhu was also stunned, his breath caught in his throat, and the urge to rush forward and punch someone was forcibly suppressed, leaving his chest aching. He knew that if he really fought, Yi Zhonghai would definitely launch a public denouncement against him throughout the entire hospital, which would be even more troublesome.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai had subdued Sha Zhu, Jia Zhangshi became even more arrogant. With a roll of her triangular eyes, she launched into a tirade against the small, brightly lit side room of the He family's house.

"You little slut! What are you pretending to be dead in your room for? Don't you hear me? Your brother can barely afford to support you anymore! What's the point of a girl like you going to high school? Is that a place for you? Get out here right now! Luckily, I have a nephew in the countryside. He's over twenty and still hasn't gotten married. Even though he's from the countryside, he's the village chief's son. You can marry him and enjoy a life of luxury! You won't be a burden to your brother here, taking up space without doing anything! Do you hear me? You wretched girl! A money-loser! A jinx whose father died and mother ran away!"

Each sentence was more vicious and unbearable than the last. He Yushui, inside the side room, trembled with fear. It was the height of summer, and the room was already unbearably hot. The young girl was so frightened that sweat poured down her body, yet she dared not step out of the room.

Sha Zhu felt his blood rush to his head, and he was about to lose his mind. He could tolerate Jia Zhangshi's insults to some extent, but such vicious cursing of his sister, on whom he depended for survival, completely ignited the anger that had been suppressed for two lifetimes in his heart!

"Jia Zhangshi! I'll curse your ancestors!"

I no longer care about Yi Zhonghai, the entire college meeting, or any of that bullshit criticism! I only have one thought in my mind: tear that filthy mouth apart!