All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Yes, only Xu Xiaonuan herself can be 100% certain about her background, and in this era, this secret must be kept hidden for a lifetime. That's the reality.

After that conversation, He Yuzhu stopped caring about Xu Xiaonuan's further education. He later tried to give Qin Jingru living expenses, but she refused to accept them because Xiaonuan was now receiving subsidies for attending vocational school. With Qin Jingru's income, the mother and daughter could support themselves.

Yes, Xu Xiaonuan is no longer the chubby little cutie she used to be. In a few years, she will enter society and become an outstanding talent.

Time flies!

"Ouch!"

While lost in thought, He Yuzhu accidentally scratched his chin. Looking at the wound in the mirror, He Yuzhu didn't wipe it, but instead looked at his somewhat wrinkled face in the mirror, feeling a mix of emotions.

Life is still life, and this world has already become unfamiliar because of my presence.

The Qin Huairu family across the street has remained the same all these years. Even without He Yuzhu's help, they have managed to get by, except that they have less meat at each meal, but they still have plenty of cornbread.

Especially in recent years, her family's conditions have gradually improved. Banggeng's auto repair shop is doing quite well, and his wife is also a city resident with her own job.

Qin Huairu is still working at the steel mill, and with Xiao Dang and Xiao Kuihua now having their own jobs and lives, her family is finally free from their hard times.

Just as Qin Huairu had once thought, things would get better once she got through this.

Yes, she's finally made it through.

In fact, everyone else in this compound had also endured it.

Everyone has their own way of getting through it. The hard times are over and life is better now, but the conflicts between families have not decreased just because life is better.

The two sons of my second uncle, Liu Haizhong, got into a fight a few years ago over an illegally constructed house, which angered Old Liu so much that he ended up in the hospital.

This year, because living conditions have improved, the two brothers figured they might as well move away since they were being bullied by that old man in the compound every day.

So one dark night, the two brothers each called a car, brought people, and quietly moved the house out of everything. Not only did they take their own things, but they also packed up all of Old Liu's kitchen appliances, including the coal pots, shovels, and coal stove.

All that was left was an empty stove; the iron pot on it had been pried off. The next day, when the second uncle and his wife got up and saw this, they were so angry that they jumped up and down three times. The second aunt screamed and had a heart attack, and was taken to the hospital.

So what if they brought him to the hospital? None of the third sons came to visit him. This is a typical case of parents being unkind and children being unfilial.

After this incident, Uncle Er's family is now without even a cooking pot; they're in a terrible state!

An old man, unable to bear the sight, secretly gave him two hundred yuan and a bag of food. When He Yuzhu found out, he just smiled and didn't say anything.

If the second uncle's family is like this, the third uncle's family won't be much better off.

The third uncle was a famous shrewd strategist. His children, relying on his family's shrewdness, did indeed thrive in society, and all his sons were doing quite well.

Yan Jiecheng, in particular, now owns a restaurant. Although he is not as famous as He Yuzhu and Jingchuan, he quickly became a millionaire by being a pioneer. He wears a suit every day and carries that briefcase, looking every bit the big shot.

But this family kept their accounts crystal clear. The third uncle was now retired and could live on his pension, but he certainly couldn't indulge in lavish meals anymore. His son was so successful that he probably wanted to benefit from his son's success, but with Yan Jiecheng, that was out of the question.

The third uncle was not one to mince words. Since that was the case, then the father and son and the others would settle the accounts clearly: how much would it cost for each of them to stay at his place each month, how much would it cost for their meals, and how much would it cost for their mothers to do housework for them? They would make it all clear.

If a family can't even handle this, what's the point?

Although there are many troubles in this compound every day, it is at least relatively stable. The neighbors are generally harmonious. When someone has a happy or sad occasion, everyone gives a gift. Life is nothing more than the mundane necessities of daily life. They have lived like this for decades, noisily and peacefully.

He Yuzhu originally thought that this kind of life would continue until the day he woke up. If he was lucky and woke up later, he might still have a chance to watch the Beijing Olympics.

But life is like a mischievous little devil, playing heart-pounding games with you from time to time. This time, however, it's hard to tell whether it will be a pleasant surprise or a shock!

Chapter 107: Xu Damao's Triumphant Return

For He Yuzhu, 1983 was his first year of official retirement. However, the appearance of Lou Xiao'e made his "retirement" somewhat anticlimactic. He spent every day in "painful torment." It was all a bad fate, and he had to suffer the consequences of his own actions!

Ten days before Lunar New Year's Eve in 1984, the entire compound was busy preparing for the Spring Festival. The children were about to enjoy their happiest time of the year. Although the New Year had not yet arrived, the streets and alleys were filled with the crackling sounds of firecrackers.

That noon, a brand-new black luxury sedan was parked at the entrance of the compound. All eyes were on the car. In the past, people had only seen the yellow and green jeeps of the military. It was rare to see a brand-new foreign brand sedan like this.

The car slowly came to a stop at the gate of the courtyard. The breathing of the people around seemed to stop, and even the sound of firecrackers seemed to quiet down for a while. The children's eyes were filled with fear and envy as they all looked over.

As soon as the car came to a complete stop, the door opened quickly, and a young man in a suit stepped out of the driver's seat. The young man was dressed in a suit and tie, and his hair was neatly combed. He looked like a smart young man.

The young man looked around at his surroundings, then glanced at his watch. Seeing the envious looks from those around him, a slight smile appeared on his lips. Suddenly, a cough from the car interrupted his pretentious act.

He suddenly remembered something, quickly ran over, respectfully walked to the back of the car, gently opened the door, and placed his hand above the door to prevent the people inside from bumping into it.

Until the car door was fully opened, a brand new, shiny leather shoe emerged from the car, and then a pair of leather shoes touched the ground, revealing a brand new, well-tailored suit. The person bent down and slowly stepped out of the car.

When that distinctive face was revealed to the crowd, many of the local residents who were watching exclaimed in surprise.

"Xu Damao!"

Yes, the man in front of you with his slicked-back hair, shiny leather shoes, and an expensive suit is Xu Damao.

Xu Damao looked around with an air of great pride, while many of his old neighbors who knew him looked at him with complicated expressions.

Xu Damao looked up at the large courtyard in front of him. He was finally back. "I, Xu Damao, have finally come back to this day. I have returned home in glory!"

Xu Damao straightened his suit and gestured behind him. The young man behind him quickly ran to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and took out a huge box. He carried the box and followed behind Xu Damao.

Xu Damao, carrying a black leather bag, swaggered into the courtyard with a smug gait!

As soon as he entered the house, he ran into Uncle San, who was returning from playing chess in the middle courtyard. When Xu Damao saw Uncle San, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he strode towards him.

"Uncle! It's been a long time!"

When the old man saw the man in front of him, he seemed to be in disbelief. He quickly wiped his glasses and looked closely. It really was Xu Damao.

But Xu Damao was dressed in a suit and tie, and the gleaming gold watch on his wrist dazzled the Third Uncle, who seemed to be dazzled and didn't know how to speak.

Xu Damao laughed and gestured to the young man behind him. The young man put down the box and took out a beautifully packaged gift.

Xu Damao picked up the gift box and respectfully handed it to the bewildered Third Uncle, speaking with a respectful yet somewhat apologetic expression.

"Third Uncle, I have offended you in the past. Please forgive me and your family. I have turned over a new leaf and started anew. You will still be my Third Uncle. Oh, I forgot, here is my business card. You can call me anytime if you need anything. I'm here to pick up Jingru and Xiaonuan!"

As he spoke, Xu Damao took out a box of business cards from his briefcase. Even the box was gleaming gold, and the business cards themselves looked as if they were made of gold. Xu Damao handed the gold business cards and gift box to the Third Uncle, who took them in a daze, unable to utter a word, clearly shocked.

Xu Damao, however, didn't take it to heart. He smiled and said goodbye, then led the young man further inside. When they encountered an old neighbor, Xu Damao respectfully stepped forward with a gift box and business card. His attitude was completely different from the arrogant and domineering Xu Damao of the past. Many people, like the Third Uncle, were so shocked that they couldn't speak.

Upon arriving at the Intermediate Court, Xu Damao immediately noticed that He Yuzhu's gate was open. He then glanced at Qin Huairu's house across the street, which was also open, and he could vaguely make out the figure of the squinty-eyed old woman. Xu Damao's smile deepened.

Xu Damao straightened his suit and tie and strode confidently toward the Intermediate People's Court.

He Yuzhu was busy inside the house, kneading dough while humming a little tune. A pug at his feet wagged its tail at him from time to time. He didn't keep this dog often; it usually lived and ate with an old man. He Yuzhu had taken it in after the old woman passed away, as a source of emotional support for the old man.

Suddenly hearing a commotion outside, He Yuzhu, whose hands were covered in flour, didn't intend to go and see what was going on. However, he vaguely heard a hearty laugh, a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. He paused, startled, thinking it might sound like Xu Damao's voice.

Xu Damao had been gone for eight years. He Yuzhu never expected to hear his voice again. He thought he was hallucinating when he saw someone knocking on his door. He Yuzhu turned around and was stunned!

He was indeed stunned. After eight years apart, he imagined that when he saw Xu Damao again, he would definitely be in a disheveled state, at least with a stubble beard and unkempt hair.

But the person in front of me had his hair combed up and shiny, and his beard was cleanly shaved, making him look neat and presentable.

The suit and tie he wore clearly indicated that they were high-end. Most importantly, Xu Damao was smiling at him, and this smile was completely different from the arrogant mockery he used to have. It was as if he were a completely different person!

"What's wrong? It's only been a few years, and you don't recognize your buddy, Zhu Zi? We grew up together, and I can tell what you mean by that look in your eyes right away. Are you surprised and shocked? Hahaha, the past is the past. The present and the future are what matter most, aren't they?"

How could He Yuzhu not be shocked?

His attire wasn't the most shocking thing; the real problem was Xu Damao's arrogant tone—it was nothing like his former self.

Since Xu Damao had said that, what could He Yuzhu do? He couldn't refuse someone who was smiling, so he could only give an awkward smile and say...

"Um... Da Mao, where did you strike it rich?"

Xu Damao laughed heartily, took a few steps forward, took out a business card box from his pocket, and handed one over. He Yuzhu wanted to reach out to take it, but then remembered that his hands were covered in flour, so he smiled helplessly.

"Put it aside, I'll wash my hands and get it later!"

Xu Damao didn't hesitate at all. He placed the business card on the counter, his face still bearing a kind and generous smile, and patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder naturally.

Chapter 108: A Ghostly Encounter

Seeing that He Yuzhu was still in shock, Xu Damao smiled and shook his head, speaking in a kind and magnanimous tone.

"I brought you a small gift, I just left it on the table. Zhu Zi, if I've offended you in any way about what happened before, please forgive me!"

He Yuzhu nodded blankly, utterly shocked by this scene. The transformation effect of this great furnace was so good.

It's possible to transform someone who was once selfish and self-serving to the core into the generous and polite person they are today.

He Yuzhu couldn't believe it, and didn't want to believe it, but the facts were right in front of him!

"Then you go ahead and get busy. I haven't gone home yet. I'll go home and check on things. I probably won't have time tonight. How about tomorrow, tomorrow noon? I'm at the Jingchuan Restaurant, hosting a banquet for all the men in our compound, young and old, to apologize for all the stupid things I've done. Zhu Zi, you must bring your wife. There have been too many misunderstandings between us brothers in the past. Every time I reflect on the stupid things I've done in the past, I feel like slapping myself!"

Xu Damao's words struck He Yuzhu like lightning, leaving him completely disoriented. Even after Xu Damao left, he remained standing there dumbfounded, motionless. The pug at his feet seemed to smell the aroma of other people's food and ran away as well.

He Yuzhu couldn't describe Xu Damao's change in words. His mind was filled with Xu Damao's insidious tricks in the past, but no matter how insidious the tricks were, they just didn't match his sunny and magnanimous face now.

"This is unbelievable!"

He Yuzhu murmured for a long time before remembering that he was still cooking. He quickly continued to work, but his eyes kept glancing at the gold business card on the counter.

"Xu Damao, General Manager of the China Branch of Japan Health Treasure Group, has a landline number below him!"

"Oh, so he's some kind of general manager. And what the heck is this 'Health Code' thing? A Japanese company."

He Yuzhu couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it. Regardless of whether Xu Damao had really changed for the better, a kind, sunny, and generous Xu Damao was better than the Xu Damao who used to scheme behind people's backs every day.

Xu Damao finally entered the inner courtyard. His previously smiling face was now somewhat stiff. From the moment he entered the inner courtyard, his eyes did not look anywhere else, but remained fixed on his home, which he had been away from for eight years.

Unfortunately, he was disappointed; the door was tightly shut. What he didn't know was that Xu Xiaonuan was at school, while Qin Jingru was at work.

Just as he was lost in his memories of the past, a flash of hatred crossed his face, when suddenly a figure appeared in his eyes. His expression instantly vanished, and his smile returned as he called out to the person who had appeared.

"Second Uncle, it's been a long time!"

Uncle Liu Haizhong has been retired for many years now. In recent years, he has been to the hospital several times because of his sons. In addition, he is obese, has high blood pressure and diabetes. A few days ago, he was still upset by his two sons. When he heard Xu Damao's shout, he was stunned like a block of wood for a while before he realized that someone was calling him.

"Oh! Who are you?"

Seeing Liu Haizhong's appearance, Xu Damao immediately smiled broadly, stepped forward, reached out and shook his hand, and said kindly.

"Second Uncle, it's me! Xu Damao, Xu Damao!"

Liu Haizhong finally saw clearly who the man in the suit was. He tried to pull his hand away from Xu Damao's as if he had been electrocuted. Who was Xu Damao?

Although Liu Haizhong's eyesight was failing, he was still terrified of Xu Damao, even more so than he hated him. Seeing Xu Damao's smile made the Second Uncle tremble!

Upon seeing his second uncle's actions, Xu Damao laughed heartily and patted Liu Haizhong on the shoulder.

"Second Uncle, don't be afraid. What happened back then was something I, Xu Damao, did wrong to you. I apologize to you here! Come, Dongzi, bring the gifts over and give Second Uncle two sets!"

Liu Haizhong was stunned by Xu Damao's words and was a little confused. He dazedly accepted the two beautifully packaged gift boxes and Xu Damao's signature gold business card.