Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Once he was seated, all eyes in the courtyard immediately turned to He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e.

Lou Xiao'e shrank back under his gaze, about to speak, but He Yuzhu grabbed her wrist. He took a half step forward, his voice crisp and clear:

"Stop looking, my family isn't donating. If there's nothing else, you can leave now!"

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Everyone originally thought that with Jia Dongxu's broken leg, the old grudges should be put behind them, and He Yuzhu would at least offer some token gestures—but they didn't expect him to be so lazy as to not even bother with a perfunctory response.

"Director He, everyone knows about your grudge with the Jia family."

Xu Damao couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "But their roof has collapsed now. Couldn't you at least spare a few pounds of cornmeal, leaving them some leeway?"

Yu Li was so anxious that she kept tugging at his sleeve, but the words had already been spoken and couldn't be taken back.

"Ha, who gave you, Xu Damao, the right to play the philanthropist here?"

He Yuzhu sneered, too lazy to lift a finger, but he could make Xu Damao suffer with just a few words—as a fellow logistics director, he could easily seize Xu Damao's weakness, much easier than swatting a grasshopper.

"Alright, your overflowing compassion is my wholehearted support! After the New Year, I'll suggest to the propaganda department that we send key personnel to the countryside to promote spiritual civilization and show more good movies! You're so conscientious, you're the first choice to go—not going? That would be deserting your post!"

"you……"

Xu Damao's face turned pale instantly. He never expected that He Yuzhu would be so shameless as to say such harsh words in public.

Showing movies in remote villages? That's not work, it's torture! Last time, he and his father had to carry the projector and bicycle over the mountains. The mountain roads were so narrow that even the wheels would slip. The two of them took turns carrying it, resting twice every three miles. When they reached the village entrance, they collapsed on the earthen slope, panting for half the afternoon before they could catch their breath. After showing the film, they gritted their teeth and carried it back—if the equipment was even slightly damaged, not only would they have to pay for it, but they would also have to pack up and leave.

"What? You're unwilling to contribute to the country and foster a new social ethos?"

He Yuzhu smirked, emphasizing the word "contribution" especially when addressing someone inferior to him: "Don't want to go? Think it over."

As soon as he said that, Xu Damao broke out in a sweat, and even the back of his neck tensed up.

Several steel mill workers nearby lowered their eyes quietly, not daring to meet He Yuzhu's gaze again.

They suddenly remembered: this was the logistics director in charge of the entire factory's food, tools, and bedding; no matter how good they were at wielding a sledgehammer, they were still just following orders in front of him.

"You all know what grudges I have against the Jia family. If you want to do charity, do it yourselves, don't drag me into it."

After saying that, He Yuzhu pulled Lou Xiao'e and turned to leave, not even waiting for Liu Haizhong to finish his sentence.

Liu Haizhong opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

No matter how angry he was, he didn't dare to speak up—Xu Damao's lesson was right before his eyes. If he said another word, and two more parts were added to the forging team's work order, then he would truly be powerless against the powerful, and even if he worked himself to the bone, he wouldn't be able to finish the job.

A dozen seconds after He Yuzhu's figure disappeared, Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and said, "No one else is going to donate? Then this hospital-wide meeting is over."

He had nothing else to do, so he ended things cleanly and decisively.

Finally, they scraped together thirty-three yuan and seventy cents, several dozen kilograms of mixed grains, a few strings of dried goods, and five eggs—enough for the Jia family to have a lively New Year.

Liu Haizhong piled everything into the old lady's room and asked her to pass it on to Qin Huairu.

As for helping Qin Huairu take care of the children, no one mentioned it at all, and no one responded—in the courtyard, apart from the most enthusiastic old lady in the compound, no one else was willing to lend a hand in taking care of the Jia family's children.

Not long after the hospital-wide meeting ended, He Yushui rushed back. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she sensed that something was wrong and vaguely heard some whispers. She wanted to pull her older brother and sister-in-law aside to ask them what was going on, but He Yuzhu just waved his hand and said casually, "It's nothing serious, go get some rest."

Back inside, Lou Xiao'e frowned and couldn't help but say, "Yuzhu, even just a token donation of some old clothes or belongings would have been helpful. It's not like we can't afford it..."

"Yes, our family really doesn't need a few dollars." He Yuzhu interrupted directly, his tone steady but unquestionable. "The Zhenghe Group in Hong Kong is worth over ten million; Dad has at least a hundred million in cash on hand right now..."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Lou Xiao'e: "But I'm not willing to give the Jia family a single penny. Not a single donation, not a single cent. I'd rather persuade my father to donate millions or tens of millions to support national construction than hand over a single penny to the Jia family."

Lou Xiao'e froze, then blurted out, "Yuzhu, you and the Jia family..."

"The grudge runs too deep to be explained in a few words. Just remember one thing—the He family and the Jia family are irreconcilable enemies."

Of course, he couldn't reveal the truth about his rebirth, so he could only gloss over it.

Lou Xiao'e didn't press the matter further. She knew perfectly well that she was He Yuzhu's wife, and anyone else, no matter how close, was still an outsider. She gently held his hand and said softly, "Alright, if you don't want to donate, then you don't want to. Out of sight, out of mind, I won't say another word to them."

He Yuzhu nodded and turned to tidy up the bed: "Okay, I'll get the bed set up first. I need to pick up my dad from the train station tomorrow morning. Why don't you soak your feet to warm up and wait for me in bed?"

Lou Xiao'e's ears burned slightly, and she lowered her head, smiling with pursed lips. Although she was shy, for the sake of getting pregnant, she still whispered, "I've already boiled the water... hurry up and come."

"Hehe, leave it to me!"

He laughed loudly, then turned around and went off to do his work.

In the backyard, however, the Xu family's house was eerily quiet.

Since the end of the plenary meeting, Xu Damao had been looking sullen as soon as he stepped into the courtyard and hadn't uttered a single word the entire time.

Yu Li ignored him—she was angry that he knew she had a close relationship with Lou Xiao'e, yet still insisted on walking right into He Yuzhu's trap.

Now look what happened, he's shot himself in the foot. Xu Damao didn't say anything, but Yu Li could already sense the regret in his ashen face and stiff lips.

After a long pause, Yu Li finally spoke up: "Are you planning to stubbornly resist to the end? Should I go and beg Lou Xiao'e for help?"

"Ask her? Humph, the steel rolling mill isn't something He Yuzhu can control all by himself!" Xu Damao retorted stubbornly, but his heart was pounding—he didn't believe Lou Xiao'e could influence He Yuzhu at all, and even if he went, it would probably be a wasted trip.

Besides, making Yu Li humble herself and beg for help is tantamount to admitting defeat on her knees.

It's just being transferred to a remote mountainous area. What kind of hardship didn't he endure when he was sent to the countryside?

He gritted his teeth inwardly: if he really had to choose between these two options, he would rather pack his bags and leave than back down!

"You're so stubborn!" Yu Li rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Just wait until you're so tired you can't even stand up straight, then let's see if you can still get hard!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she picked up the foot basin and went into the house. After washing her feet, she quickly made the bed and didn't even glance at Xu Damao.

After a while, Xu Damao also turned off the light and lay down.

The next day, the holiday officially began. The festive atmosphere suddenly became overwhelming—every household went to the market, prepared New Year's goods, and pasted Spring Festival couplets. The aroma of cooking wafted from the stove, the red paper-cut window decorations shone brightly, and the whole courtyard was filled with the joy of the New Year.

He Yuzhu quickly assembled the wooden bed, too lazy to even paint it, just so He Daqing could get a good night's sleep. Whether the bed would even be used was another matter entirely.

Then he grabbed his coat and prepared to go out to pick someone up. Lou Xiao'e and He Yushui didn't go with him; the two of them decided to go to the market instead—although they didn't lack New Year's goods at home, on New Year's Day, all the neighbors would be out and about, and they wanted to join in the fun.

Before He Yuzhu could even step out the door, he saw Qin Huairu directing two burly men to carefully carry Jia Dongxu, who was bandaged and had difficulty walking, into the courtyard.

The neighbors gathered around, chattering, "Huairu, why did you suddenly come back?"

"It's almost Chinese New Year, and there's no one to look after the kids at home. We can't keep Dongxu in the hospital forever. The doctor said he's in good health, so it'll be easier for him to recuperate at home..." Qin Huairu explained with a smile, though she had a clear plan in mind: the steel mill had paid a lot of medical expenses, and once he was discharged, they would get a refund of more than thirty yuan—enough for the Jia family to have a decent and prosperous New Year.

The Third People's Hospital had advised her that it would be best to stay in the hospital for observation for ten days after the amputation. But it was only the fifth day, and Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu gritted their teeth and insisted on leaving: firstly, to save money; secondly, because traveling back and forth was inconvenient; and thirdly, because Jia Dongxu himself missed home.

He Yuzhu glanced at it from afar, but his heart remained unmoved. He then stepped out of the courtyard and headed straight for the train station.

Qin Huairu glanced at him, her eyes dimming—he wouldn't even deign to look at her properly. But she was quickly brought back to her senses by a call from an older woman:

"Huairu, you weren't here yesterday, so Second Uncle held a general meeting for the whole courtyard, calling on everyone to help your family. This is what everyone chipped in; there's food and money."

As she spoke, the older woman stuffed all the donations she had collected yesterday into Qin Huairu's hand.

Qin Huairu looked down and counted: thirty-three yuan and seventy cents! Adding the thirty-odd yuan refunded from the hospital, the Jia family's New Year's feast was practically guaranteed. And the rice, flour, and other grains—though there was no meat—the money saved from the New Year's goods was enough to buy a few pounds of sweet cakes and a few strings of firecrackers.

"Thank you so much, ma'am! I'm so grateful for your help these past few days!" Her eyes were slightly red, and she casually asked, "How much did everyone in the neighborhood donate? I need to write it down so I can repay you in the future."

"Sigh, don't mention it. Your family's difficulties are clear; it's only right that we lend a hand." The older woman sighed, then listed the names and numbers of each person. Qin Huairu grew increasingly anxious as she listened, and finally, not hearing He Yuzhu's name, she couldn't hold back any longer: "Auntie, where's He Yuzhu...? He didn't come yesterday?"

"They've arrived, but they haven't donated."

The older woman didn't want to bring up yesterday's incident, but seeing Qin Huairu eagerly waiting to hear it, she hesitated for a moment, then sighed and began, "Zhu Zi said that he's gotten into a grudge with the Jia family..."

I absolutely refuse to spend a single penny of your money…

At the train station, He Yuzhu caught He Daqing steadily, but after looking around, he realized that He Daqing was all alone.

"Why are you alone? Didn't the letter say that the White Widow was coming back too?"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing waved his hand, a hint of embarrassment on his face: "Don't mention it! You find Huiyun's two children an eyesore, and this year her uncle is keeping a tight rein on things—Huiyun has no choice but to stay in Baoding to take care of them."