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

But things didn't end with the deaf old woman running away. Although it was late, in the middle of summer, no one in the courtyard was in a hurry to go home. Tonight's drama was too exciting; it would be plenty of gossip for the next month or so. People gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves, waiting for the police to come and see how things would develop.

Yi Zhonghai was in a sorry state at this moment, letting an old woman wipe his face with a wet towel, but his eyes were fixed on He Yubing, his eyes filled with resentment.

He had painstakingly built up his power over many years, finally establishing absolute authority in the courtyard house. Relying on the banner of morality, he had firmly bound Sha Zhu to the dilapidated Jia family, and his retirement plan was almost complete. But then He Yubing, that jinx, returned and, with a few punches and kicks, smashed all his years of hard work to smithereens!

No, we absolutely can't let this go! Yi Zhonghai thought fiercely. He'd get through this first, and deal with it later. He was determined to drive that bastard He Yubing out of the courtyard. He wouldn't be a gentleman if he didn't avenge this!

Just as Yi Zhonghai was plotting his revenge, the sound of bicycle bells and footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

"They're here! The police are here!"

Someone shouted, and everyone's eyes turned to the front courtyard corridor.

Xu Damao led the way, pushing his bicycle in. Behind him were four uniformed police officers, the leader being a man in his forties with a serious face, who was the deputy director of the local police station, surnamed Chen.

When Xu Damao arrived at the police station, he had already given a general account of what had happened. This was why He Yubing had asked Xu Damao to report the case; he was the most clever and could explain things clearly. These days, things were getting increasingly tense, and when the police station heard that someone was planning a feudal restoration, they naturally didn't dare to be negligent. The deputy director on duty personally brought three police officers over.

Xu Damao led Deputy Director Chen to He Yubing. "Director Chen, this is Comrade He Yubing. He asked me to report the case."

Deputy Director Chen glanced at He Yubing and, seeing that he was wearing a military uniform and had the bearing of a soldier, dared not be negligent and immediately saluted, "Comrade, did you report the case? I am Chen Jianguo, the deputy director of the police station."

He Yubing returned a standard military salute, neither humble nor arrogant, "Hello, Director Chen, I am He Yubing, formerly a regimental-level officer in the XX unit, now demobilized and transferred to civilian work."

"A regimental commander?"

"My God, the eldest son of the He family has become a regimental commander?"

The crowd erupted in commotion. They hadn't expected He Yubing to hold such a high position. Even those who didn't understand much knew that a regimental commander was a formidable official; even a street office director was probably only roughly equivalent in rank. Suddenly, the way they looked at He Yubing and his sister He Yuzhu changed, filled with awe, envy, fear… and a variety of other emotions. With their eldest son, a regimental commander, returning, the He family was poised for a rise…

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong were ashen-faced, their last shred of hope shattered. They had initially thought that even if He Yubing returned from military service, he would at most be a platoon or company-level officer, and could manage a bit through his connections at the steel mill and the street office. But a regimental commander—that was a completely different level of opponent! Today, they had truly kicked a hornet's nest.

Deputy Director Chen's attitude became even more serious. A demobilized officer at the regimental level would either be placed in a major leadership position in the security department of a large factory, or in a leadership position within the public security system; either way, their future rank would definitely be much higher than his.

"Comrade He, Comrade Xu Damao has already given a brief report on the specifics. However, we still need to verify it with you personally. Please provide a detailed explanation of the situation," Deputy Director Chen said in a businesslike manner.

He Yubing nodded, his expression turning serious. He then recounted the deaf old woman's problems, temporarily omitting Yi Zhonghai and the others' issues. It wasn't out of pity, but rather because he planned an even bigger operation the next day, intending to take away everyone in the courtyard who had pressured the He family, along with that idiot, Gai Ziwang.

He spoke methodically, even adopting a questioning tone towards the end. He didn't care about anyone's opinion, nor was he afraid of offending anyone.

"This deaf old woman is actually a descendant of the Manchu imperial family, yet she has been lording it over everyone in this courtyard for years, always acting like an ancestor and even impersonating a model of supporting the military. Why hasn't your police station done anything? How could you allow her to act with such lawlessness for so many years..."

The barrage of accusations left the deputy director looking quite embarrassed. Shouldn't the primary responsibility lie with the subdistrict office? After all, managing the courtyard houses is their responsibility. But there was nothing they could say; in principle, the police station did bear some responsibility, so they could only grit their teeth and accept it.

"Comrade He, do you have any evidence for what you've said?"

"Evidence?" He Yubing pointed to the crowd in the courtyard. "Why don't you just ask them and they'll all know?"

Soon, the police took statements from everyone present, and the facts were similar to what He Yubing had said, and in many ways even more serious and excessive.

There was nothing more to say; let's just arrest them! Led by Xu Damao, the police, He Yubing, and many neighbors who had come to watch the commotion marched in a large group towards the deaf old woman's house in the backyard. Only Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, the Jia family, and Sha Zhu remained standing there, staring at each other, unsure of what to do.

The group arrived at the deaf old woman's door. Xu Damao stepped forward and tried to push the door open, only to find it firmly blocked from the inside. He shouted, "Grandma, open the door! The police are here!"

It was quiet inside, without a sound.

Xu Damao raised his voice and shouted a few more times, but still no one answered.

He Yubing scoffed inwardly. This old bastard was playing the same old trick of feigning deafness and dumbness again. But this tactic wouldn't work on the police.

Sure enough, Deputy Director Chen didn't even frown, but gave a wink to one of the police officers next to him.

The policeman understood and, without the slightest hesitation, kicked the door hard!

"Bang! Crack!"

The old wooden door swung open with a thud, the latch snapped, and wood chips flew everywhere.

Two policemen rushed in immediately. They found the deaf old woman huddled in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), her head covered by a quilt, shivering all over.

"What are you doing?! This is outrageous! The government is arresting people arbitrarily! Help! Murder!"

"Snapped!"

The world fell silent... Then, everyone saw the deaf old woman being carried out by two policemen, lying like a dead dog. She was trembling all over, and there was a faint smell of urine about her. She was a far cry from the domineering, empress dowager-like figure she once was in the courtyard.