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

Sha Zhu was completely defeated this time, hanging his head and remaining silent. The onlookers were stunned; they never expected that Sha Zhu, known as the "Courtyard War God" and possessing unparalleled fighting prowess, would be like a chicken or a dog against his own elder brother, utterly powerless. No wonder he was once the eldest son of the He family, feared even by He Daqing.

Unable to bear seeing her brother, with whom she had depended for many years, in such a miserable state, Yu Shui hurriedly ran back to the main room, poured hot water, wrung out a towel, and then ran to Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu's face didn't look good at all; it was covered in bruises, and there was blood on his nose and the corners of his mouth. He looked quite disheveled. Yu Shui took a towel and carefully wiped his face, afraid of hurting him.

"Silly brother, does it hurt?"

Sha Zhu didn't say anything, just kept his head down.

"Silly brother, don't blame your older brother." Yu Shui said softly while wiping away the rain. "He served in the army for so many years, and we don't know how much hardship he suffered. He just hoped to come back and see us again. But when he came back, he saw those people blocking our door and cursing at me. He must be feeling terrible."

Sha Zhu remained silent.

"Actually, I know you're good to me. Do you think I don't know? Every time you come back, you say you've already eaten, but I know the food in that lunchbox is saved for me."

"But silly brother, I know you've always considered Uncle Yi a good person, and Grandma Yi a good person. You believe what they say. But you don't believe what I say. I don't blame you, really." Raindrops fell again. "Who told our dad to leave so early? I was only a few years old then, and you were just a boy, having to support me and go to work. Uncle Yi and the others were always talking to you like that; anyone would believe them."

Sha Zhu finally raised his head and looked seriously at his younger sister in front of him.

She was a seventeen-year-old girl, yet so thin. Just as her elder brother had said, she was flat-chested, like a man. For the first time, Sha Zhu doubted his own judgment. Besides the Jia family, were even the old man and woman in this courtyard not good people?

He Yubing watched the deep sibling affection between the two without interrupting them for a moment. In her heart, she also missed her sister from her original life, and He Yushui, whom she had raised as her daughter in her later life. They were all such distant memories, yet so precious, forever treasured deep in her heart.

He turned to face the deaf old woman, who was trembling with anger and shouting "unfilial, unfilial!" and sneered.

"You old codger, don't think I don't know anything just because I haven't been back for so many years. I've found out exactly what kind of shady things you've been up to in this courtyard all these years."

"For years you've been running rampant in this courtyard, knocking on anyone's window if they don't do what you want, always talking about 'ancestor,' 'ancestor,' who the hell gave you the guts?"

"The Qing Dynasty has been gone for so many years, how dare you still act like an old lady? Do you want to be Empress Dowager Cixi in this courtyard?"

"You, you, you..." The deaf old woman pointed her cane at He Yubing, furious. She had been ruling the courtyard for years, and who dared disobey her? Even Yi Zhonghai had to treat her with the respect due to a mother. She never expected this little bastard to point his finger at her and curse her like an old hag, truly unfilial. As expected of He Daqing's sons, none of them were good.

At this crucial moment, Yi Zhonghai, who was more resistant to reprimands than physical punishment, immediately jumped out again, "He Yubing! How dare you! You're utterly lawless! You don't even respect this old lady! She's a recipient of the Five Guarantees, and she even gave shoes to H Army. She was personally commended by Director Wang of the Street Office! How dare you disrespect such an elderly person! Tomorrow I'll go to the Street Office and your military unit to report you! I'll charge you with disrespecting the elderly and failing to maintain neighborly harmony!"

Upon hearing this, some people who had previously kept their distance, including Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, began to stir again.

Yes, the deaf old lady is a recipient of the Five Guarantees (a government-provided social welfare program for the elderly, disabled, and orphans), and she even gave shoes to the Red Army. Director Wang of the neighborhood office said it himself. He Yubing's treatment of the old lady is no small matter.

He Yubing was taken aback at first, then looked up and laughed, laughing with complete unbridled abandon.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Yi Zhonghai felt uneasy at his laughter. "What are you laughing at?"

"Five Guarantees households? Isn't that something the government only provides because it pities elderly people living alone? Are you implying that the government should be grateful to the Five Guarantees households?"

"And also, she delivered shoes to the H army? Thousands of miles away, how did this old lady with bound feet manage to travel that far? Did you, Yi Zhonghai, carry her there by air?"

"If you're going to lie, at least read some books before you start, okay?"

A murmur of discussion arose from the crowd. Yan Bugui, in particular, cowered like a quail, not daring to raise his head, inwardly cursing his impending doom. In this day and age, ordinary people might not know the flaws in the deaf old woman's scheme, but he was a primary school teacher; it wouldn't be believable if he claimed ignorance. If this came to light, his failure to report it would be enough to get him into serious trouble, let alone the impersonation of the supervisor involved.

He Yubing didn't care what these people thought and continued her attack, "And do you think I don't know this deaf old woman's background? Isn't she just a descendant of a dirty joke maker? When did she become eligible for the Five Guarantees? Nobody believes there's nothing fishy going on here! I think you don't need to go to the neighborhood committee tomorrow. Da Mao, ride your bicycle to the police station and report that there's some old geezer here trying to restore feudalism!"

"Alright!" Xu Damao, who was hiding in the crowd watching the excitement, heard He Yubing call him. He was the kind of person who loved to watch the excitement, so he went to the backyard to get his bicycle without saying a word.

"Stop! Stop!"

Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman turned pale with fright. Only they knew what kind of shady dealings they had been involved in; a lie would always remain a lie and couldn't withstand scrutiny. If this mess were exposed, all the hard work they had put into building up over the years would be ruined.

But Xu Damao didn't even turn his head; he disappeared in a flash.

Yi Zhonghai panicked and was about to chase after him. He Yubing kicked him, knocking him to the ground again.

"Damn it, why are you everywhere? You dare stop me when I call the police? Do you really think you're the local tyrant of this courtyard?"

He Yubing continued to punch and kick the old man, making him scream in pain. Only when the barren hen realized what was happening and saw her husband beaten so badly that his parents could hardly recognize him, did He Yubing stop.

When he looked up at the deaf old woman again, he was stunned. The old woman had already secretly run to the backyard, her bound feet and cane moving quickly. He Yubing was also extremely shocked. To be able to leave silently under his conscious control—this deaf old woman was the first of her kind in the entire world.