Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

As soon as He Yuzhu's door closed, the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly relaxed.

The crowd looked at the people lying on the ground, exchanging bewildered glances, but no one stepped forward to help them up.

"Ouch...it hurts so much...Old Jia, come quick! Someone's trying to bully us, a widow and her child, to death..." Jia Zhangshi broke the silence first, slapping her thigh and wailing.

Everyone grimaced. When He Yuzhu was there, she was so scared that she didn't dare to utter a sound.

Jia Dongxu struggled to sit up, clutching his chest and swollen cheeks, and sobbed softly.

Yi Zhonghai didn't even have the strength to howl. After a period of rest, the excruciating pain in his lower body had eased considerably, but he still couldn't move.

"What are you all standing there for? Quick... quick, help him up and take him to the hospital!" In the end, Yan Bugui spoke up, directing several strong young men to help the man up.

Everyone then seemed to snap out of their daze and rushed forward to help.

Xu Fugui was helped up by Xu Damao, his face terribly grim. He pulled Xu Damao back down, who was still about to utter a few more harsh words, and whispered, "Let's go home first!"

Soon, Yi Zhonghai was carefully carried out of the courtyard by two strong young men using a door panel, and the group hurriedly headed towards the hospital.

After the main characters left, the residents of the central courtyard did not immediately go home. Instead, they gathered in twos and threes, discussing the events that had just occurred in hushed tones.

"My God, what's wrong with He Yuzhu today? He's gone too far!"

"Didn't you hear what he said? He's separating from He Daqing and moving into his own household. He's trying to establish his authority!"

"This isn't how you establish authority! Look at how badly Yi Zhonghai was beaten... that place..."

"Serves him right. He had a foul mouth and even called for reinforcements. Does he think He Yuzhu is the same naive kid he used to be?"

"Exactly, they want to pay someone to do it? Do they really think everyone else is stupid?"

"The Jia family is really something. They ruined the marriage due to their stinginess, and now they want to blame He Yuzhu..."

"But He Yuzhu has changed so much. That fierce look on his face sent chills down my spine..."

"You can't call him by his nickname anymore, did you see how Xu Damao's teeth were almost knocked out..."

"This is getting interesting. We've offended Yi Zhonghai, the Jia family, and the Xu family..."

"It all depends on whether He Yuzhu can withstand the retaliation that follows..."

"Revenge? Didn't you hear what he said? Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those wearing shoes. Who dares?"

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The backyard, the Xu family's residence.

Xu Fugui slumped in his chair, clutching his still aching abdomen, his face ashen.

Xu Damao, holding a wet towel to his face, muttered rudely, "Dad, this can't be left like this. Sha Zhu dared to hit me and kick you, I'll definitely..."

"Shut up!" Xu Fugui roared, interrupting his son.

He glanced warily at the closed door and whispered, "If you hadn't been so nosy, how would we have gotten involved? Didn't you hear what he just said?"

Xu Damao retorted, unconvinced, "He's just bluffing. Does he dare?"

"How do you know he wouldn't dare!" A flicker of fear crossed Xu Fugui's eyes. "Look at him today, did he look like he was just bluffing? Jia Zhangshi, Jia Dongxu, Yi Zhonghai—which one wouldn't he dare hit? Which one didn't he go easy on?"

"It seems He Daqing really was keeping him in check before. You'd better stay away from him from now on..."

He took a breath and continued, "He Yuzhu is a tough nut to crack now. He has no one to rely on. If you really push him too far, he might sneak into your door in the middle of the night and hit you with a brick. Who can you complain to then?"

Xu Damao shuddered at the memory of He Yuzhu's fierce gaze, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Then... then does that mean we hit him for nothing?"

Xu Fugui remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Of course we can't let it go like this, but a head-on confrontation is definitely not an option."

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The backyard, the home of the deaf old lady.

"Silly Zhu Zi... this is going to turn the world upside down..." the deaf old woman muttered to herself, her face revealing neither joy nor anger. "He even hit Yi Zhonghai... it seems he's really been pushed to the limit..."

She was close to Yi Zhonghai and always regarded Yi Zhonghai and the old lady as her support in her old age.

In her eyes, He Yuzhu used to be a reckless but not malicious fool who could be used as a tool to keep certain people in the hospital in check, and also the caregiver she helped Yi Zhonghai select.

But now, this foolish boy has suddenly bared his fangs, not only attacking the elderly person she had chosen, but also displaying such a domineering side, which is beyond her understanding and control.

"No... this yard can't be in chaos... we can't let this pillar go astray..." A glint of light flashed in the deaf old woman's cloudy eyes. "We have to teach him a lesson, let him know that there are people in this yard who can keep him in line!"

She began to plan in her mind. He Yuzhu was only responsive to gentle persuasion, so she could use a soft approach and leverage his affection to control him.

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He Yuzhu's home.

He Yuzhu bolted the door and returned inside, feeling more relaxed than ever before.

"Phew...that's fucking awesome!" he exclaimed with delight.

He did it all on purpose. Although He Yuzhu was strong, he couldn't fight against so many people. He had to act cautiously.

Now that he has mastered the Bajiquan style and taken some health-strengthening pills, he can easily defeat everyone in the courtyard unless they all gang up on him at once.

He wasn't worried that Yi Zhonghai, the Jia family, or the Xu family would call the police. Firstly, these days, neighborhood fights are common, and as long as nothing serious happens, the police station usually focuses on mediation.

Secondly, his final threat to Xu Fugui was a clear message to them: those with nothing to lose have nothing to fear, and they couldn't afford to gamble on the consequences of calling the police.

"Knock knock knock".

A soft knock on the door interrupted He Yuzhu's thoughts.

He frowned. Who was so blind as to knock on the door?

He asked in a deep voice, "Who?"

A slightly aged voice came from outside the door: "Zhu Zi, it's me!"

He Yuzhu's eyes flickered slightly. What was the deaf old woman doing here? Was she trying to get revenge for Yi Zhonghai?

He hesitated for a moment, then got up from the kang (a heated brick bed), walked to the door, but did not open it immediately.

"Grandma, is there something you need?" he asked in a lukewarm tone.

The deaf old woman outside the door seemed not to hear clearly, or perhaps she pretended not to, and raised her voice, saying, "Zhu Zi, open the door! Grandma needs to talk to you. My legs aren't good, and it's cold outside!"

He Yuzhu smirked coldly. "Trying to pull this on me?"

He wanted to see what this old woman was up to.

With a "click," he unlatched the door and opened the door.

Outside the door, the deaf old woman stood shakily, leaning on her cane, with a kind smile on her face and a small handkerchief bag in her hand.

"Zhu Zi, Grandma heard that you... had a little unpleasantness with someone in the yard today? Are you alright?" The deaf old lady spoke with concern, but her eyes kept scrutinizing He Yuzhu's expression.

He Yuzhu stood in the doorway, showing no intention of letting her in, and said indifferently, "Thank you for your concern. I'm perfectly fine, but Yi Zhonghai and the others might not be doing so well! If you're here to laugh at me or to interrogate me, then you can go back now."

The deaf old woman's smile froze; she hadn't expected He Yuzhu to be so direct.

She chuckled dryly twice: "Look at what you're saying, child. Do you think Grandma is the kind of person who doesn't understand reason? I've heard everything. It was Xiao Yi and the others who were in the wrong first. How could they bang on the door and yell at people?"

She abruptly changed the subject, starting to sow discord: "But Zhu Zi, we're neighbors in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time, didn't you go a bit too far?"

"Xiao Yi is, after all, your elder, and a respected figure in the community. If you do this to him, what will happen to him in the future..."