Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

He Yuzhu stopped sharpening his knife, got up, went back into the house, took out two wooden boards, and threw them in front of Yan Bugui.

"Aren't you a teacher? Writing is your forte." He Yuzhu grinned. "You write on these two wooden boards: I spread rumors about Comrade He Yuzhu, I'm a gossip, I admit my mistake, and if I do it again, may my whole family die a horrible death."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yang Ruihua and Jia Dongxu: "Whoever spread the rumor, they shall hang this sign tomorrow and stand at the place where the rumor was spread today for a whole morning, and that will be the end of it."

Yang Ruihua's face turned pale instantly. Jia Dongxu, lying on the ground, struggled to say something upon hearing this, but could only make muffled sounds, his mouth full of blood.

Yi Zhonghai frowned deeply: "Zhu Zi, they've all realized their mistakes. If they have to stand there all morning, how will they face the world?"

"Bullshit!" He Yuzhu suddenly stood up, startling everyone again.

He pointed at Yi Zhonghai's nose and cursed, "Their reputation is reputation, but mine isn't? When they spread rumors, didn't they think about how I'd face people afterward?"

"There's no room for discussion!" He Yuzhu sat down again, picked up the axe beside him and continued sharpening it. "Either do as I say, or we'll just wait and see. I, He Yuzhu, have nothing to lose and I'm not afraid of anyone wearing shoes. Let's see who gives in first."

The crowd stirred:

"Jia Dongxu, Yang Ruihua, you've brought this upon yourselves, so you have to take responsibility for it!"

"That's right, don't drag everyone down with you!"

"Just say yes already, what are you waiting for?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed and said to He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, let's do it your way."

"Old Yan, you...you go and write it!"

Yan Bugui dared not say "no" at this moment, so he nodded quickly, hurried back to his house, and came out with a pen and ink a short while later.

"Write...write what again?" Yan Bugui's hand holding the brush trembled slightly.

He Yuzhu coldly repeated: "I spread rumors about Comrade He Yuzhu. I am a gossip. I admit my mistake. If I do it again, may my whole family die a horrible death."

Yan Bugui dipped his brush in ink and wrote the following words on the two wooden boards.

Although his handwriting was neat, the strokes appeared somewhat crooked due to his shaky hand.

After finishing writing, Yan Bugui handed the wooden board to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu took the wooden board, examined it carefully, and nodded, saying, "Alright, tomorrow morning, you two will hang this sign up and stand at the place where you spread rumors today for the whole morning."

He looked at Yang Ruihua and Jia Dongxu: "If you dare not go, or run away halfway..."

He Yuzhu didn't continue speaking, but simply swung the axe in his hand.

That means, it goes without saying.

Yang Ruihua trembled as she took the wooden board, tears streaming down her face.

Jia Dongxu was also helped up by Jia Zhangshi, and took another plank of wood, his eyes filled with resentment and humiliation.

"Let's disperse." He Yuzhu put away the kitchen knife and axe and waved to the crowd.

He was quite surprised. He had only intended to use Yang Ruihua's matter to give everyone a warning, but he didn't expect Jia Dongxu to emerge as well.

The crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon and dispersed, fearing that they might further anger this wicked star.

----------

The next morning, before it was fully light.

Yang Ruihua and Jia Dongxu each went to the place where they had spread rumors the day before, with signs hanging up.

He Yuzhu designated the alley entrance as the location for Jia Dongxu, a bustling place with lots of people coming and going.

Yang Ruihua was taken to the alleyway near the He family's residence.

The two men, with the wooden plaques bearing the inscription hanging around their necks, stood like statues in the cold wind.

Soon a crowd gathered around them, pointing and whispering.

"Hey, isn't this the Jia family's kid? What's he doing standing here with a sign on?"

"Look, what does the sign say... I'm spreading rumors about Comrade He Yuzhu, I'm a gossip... Hahaha, this He Yuzhu is a ruthless guy..."

"Is that Teacher Yan's wife over there at the alley entrance? Did she spread rumors too?"

"I heard she was caught spreading rumors about someone yesterday and was made to put up a sign apologizing!"

"Serves him right, he needs to be taught a lesson!"

"Tsk tsk, why are all the people in compound number 95 like this?"

Jia Dongxu lowered his head, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

The wound on the corner of his mouth was still throbbing, and his face was burning; he couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from embarrassment.

Not far away, He Yuzhu was carrying a cloth bag, having just returned from buying breakfast.

As He Yuzhu passed the alley entrance, he stopped, glanced at Jia Dongxu, and walked straight on.

Jia Dongxu felt a chill run down his spine from that gaze and instinctively shrank back.

When He Yuzhu returned to the compound, there were already quite a few people washing up in the middle courtyard.

When they saw him return, everyone looked at him with awe and a hint of fear.

He Yuzhu didn't care and went straight back to his house.

He's in a good mood today. Yesterday, he not only received a five million yuan reward, but also completely established his authority in the compound.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

He Yuzhu frowned. Who could it be so early?

"Who?" he asked.

"Zhu Zi, it's me, Aunt Qian." Aunt Qian's voice came from outside the door.

He Yuzhu got up and opened the door, where he saw Aunt Qian standing at the door with a bowl of steaming dumplings.

"Zhu Zi, haven't you had breakfast yet? I just made some dumplings this morning, I'll bring you a bowl." Aunt Qian said with a smile, her tone slightly ingratiating.

He Yuzhu was taken aback for a moment, then understood what she was thinking.

This is a gesture of goodwill, showing that they have established their authority.

"Aunt Qian, you're too kind. I can't accept this." He Yuzhu said, but took the bowl from her hands.

"Don't mention it, we're neighbors, it's only right to look after each other," Aunt Qian said with a smile. "By the way, Zhu Zi, about my Da Niu's matter... I'll have to trouble you to take care of him."

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Qian, as long as no one bothers me, I won't cause trouble for anyone!"

"That's good, that's good." Aunt Qian breathed a sigh of relief. "Then you can eat first, I'll come back for the bowl later."

After seeing Aunt Qian off, He Yuzhu had just sat down to eat dumplings when there was another knock on the door.

This time it was Aunt Li from the front yard who brought over some freshly baked pancakes.

Following that, several other companies delivered their items.

Some people deliver vegetables, some deliver snacks, and some deliver eggs.

He Yuzhu accepted all the gifts offered.

These people weren't genuinely kind to him; they were simply afraid of him.

But what does it matter? In this compound, being feared is more useful than being liked.

After eating and drinking his fill, He Yuzhu took a nap and didn't prepare to go out until noon.

In the afternoon, he planned to go to Lou Bancheng's place to see if there was any progress on the job matter.

As soon as I reached the front yard, I heard Yang Ruihua crying coming from inside the Yan family's house.

"How...how am I supposed to go out and face people after this...waaaaah..."

"Alright, stop crying!" Yan Bugui's impatient voice rang out. "Isn't it because you were stupid? You got caught red-handed!"

"Well... you can't make me stand there with that sign on all morning... I'd lose all face..."

"It's better for you to lose face than for me to lose my job!" Yan Bugui said in a low voice.

"He dares!" Yang Ruihua shrieked.

"What wouldn't he dare to do?" Yan Bugui sighed. "Didn't you see that cleaver grazed Jia Dongxu's face yesterday? If it had been just a little off..."

"Sigh, I was blinded by greed before. We can't afford to mess with this kid..."

After a moment of silence in the room, Yang Ruihua's crying gradually subsided.

He Yuzhu sneered and strode out of the courtyard.