Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

The news of the flag-raising and flag-guarding activities at No. 5 Middle School, and the confrontation with the secret service agents, did not reach Qingyun Hutong, but it spread to other schools and among those with ulterior motives. Many people began to imitate it, hoping to use this opportunity to gain some leverage for acceptance by the new government.

But the first person to try something new has already appeared, and no matter what they do, they can't achieve the same impact as the Fifth Middle School.

After finishing what he needed to do, He Yuzhu quickly returned to calm. He wasn't smug because he had been given a layer of gold leaf. He knew very well that he only had a small layer of gold leaf now, and he still had a lot to do if he wanted to remain unaffected for the next thirty years.

He Yuzhu quickly calmed down and continued to live his usual routine between school and home, without even going to the market.

Lü Qinghuan and Zhang Tianyong were very excited. They received praise from the leaders of the Beiping City Working Committee, which made them a little smug. When they realized that they were getting carried away, they found that He Yuzhu was the first to calm down and continued to cook and clean the canteen on time every day.

Because of what happened last time, Jia Zhangshi was too scared to come to work at the school after receiving her salary, so now only He Yuzhu is busy working in the cafeteria.

Fortunately, He Yuzhu had established enough prestige among his classmates because of the flag-raising incident, and many like-minded classmates spontaneously went to the kitchen to help.

They believe that they were able to escape from the Secret Service's guns because of He Yuzhu's timely intervention.

He Yuzhu is a great cook, has remarkable management skills at a young age, and possesses lofty ideals. He dares to stand up for what is right in the face of power... These are all excellent qualities that we should learn from.

As a result, more and more students are willing to become He Yuzhu's friends.

That afternoon, He Yuzhu returned home. Tian Zao and the others stood beside him, not daring to breathe. They glanced at him, but before they could speak, they heard He Daqing cough and immediately swallowed back what he was about to say.

Then look at He Daqing... his face was gloomy, and his eyes were full of anger as he looked at He Yuzhu.

"What's wrong? Who made you angry?"

He Yuzhu was puzzled. "Life is getting better and better, why are you still so angry?"

He Daqing did not answer, but looked at He Yuzhu and said, "At noon, Jia Zhangshi came to my house to see me."

Hearing He Daqing's words, He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he asked again, "What is she doing here?"

"I'm giving you two eggs as a thank you."

"and then?"

Before He Daqing could speak, Tian Zao couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Dongxu's mother told Uncle He everything you did at school, and he even said he was going to beat you up!"

I said all this so that He Yuzhu would run away quickly and avoid physical suffering.

"Oh, so that's what it is."

He Yuzhu didn't take it seriously at all. "It's only natural for a father to beat his son. So be it."

It seems... that this was expected.

Instead of running away, He Yuzhu sat down next to He Daqing and said to Tian Zao and the others, "Zao'er, do you know why my father beat me? He was armed and ready to kill. My father wanted to teach me a lesson not because I stood out at this time, but because he didn't know how to hide my skills."

He Daqing watched He Yuzhu talk, but he had to admit that He Yuzhu was saying exactly what he wanted to say.

He just wanted He Yuzhu to live a peaceful life, not to become rich or powerful. Wasn't it enough for him to live a quiet life until he grew old? Why did he have to take such a risk at the age of fourteen?

Standing opposite He Yuzhu is the Secretary-General!

He Daqing had heard of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' various infamous reputations. For He Yuzhu to confront such a force was like throwing an egg against a rock.

Are you trying to die before you've even reached old age?

"Knowing it and still doing it, are you stupid?"

He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu and voiced his dissatisfaction directly: "I see you're getting more and more reckless. You're willing to do anything, aren't you afraid of implicating those around you?"

He Yuzhu dared to go against the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics because he understood certain stories from this specific historical period and was already 70% certain. Even when setbacks occurred, He Yuzhu hoped to resolve the matter in the best possible way through his own efforts.

For example, this flag-raising ceremony was fraught with twists and turns, and there were dangers along the way, but the result was good... The gold leaf that He Yuzhu was plated with also has a higher gold content.

There was no other way; life was too hard for ordinary people. He Yuzhu wanted to live a better life in this era, so he had to find ways to be opportunistic and scheming.

He Daqing, Tian Zao, Jia Zhangshi, and Lü Qinghuan did not understand He Yuzhu's speculative behavior, and most of them agreed with it. However, He Daqing, the elderly father who did not have many demands, did not understand He Yuzhu's actions.

Life is getting better and better, so why take any risks?

Unfortunately, I couldn't tell him the real reason.

He Yuzhu remained silent. He Daqing felt helpless. His son was becoming more and more cunning, and he kept some things to himself.

He's his biological father, what could be better than a relationship between a father and son?

Unfortunately, He Yuzhu didn't believe anyone except himself.

He Daqing approached He Yuzhu, and when he raised his hand, He Yuzhu was startled: "What do you want to do?"

"Mrs. Jia said you have a head injury, let me take a look."

He Daqing removed He Yuzhu's hat and saw the wound on his head where he had been hit by the butt of a gun. Because the hat had been covering it, some of the scabbed areas had started to fester. Enraged, He Daqing slapped He Yuzhu on the back of the head again: "You brat, you didn't even bother to treat your wound! It's already festering!"

As he spoke, He Daqing pulled He Yuzhu to treat his wounds. Tian Zao wanted to go with them, but seeing He Daqing's gloomy face, she gave up.

Brother Zhu, it's not that Sister Zao'er is heartless, just as you said... it's only natural for a father to beat his son.

We were at our wits' end...

He Yuzhu's head was shaved into a monk's head, with even the last bit of skin scraped off, leaving a scar that looked very unsightly.

He Daqing did it on purpose; he used this scar to make He Yuzhu remember this lesson.

He Yuzhu: I've learned my lesson, but I'll do it again next time.

They found a Western doctor and paid him two silver dollars to see him. The doctor took the money and worked very efficiently, squeezing out the pus from the festering wound, peeling off the scabs, and re-stitching the wound... It took more than half an hour to finish. He Yuzhu didn't grimac, but He Daqing, watching from the side, was heartbroken.

Applying medicine, wrapping it with gauze, and putting on a hat... He Yuzhu is still a young man full of energy.

When He Yuzhu got home, He Daqing took off his shoes and started hitting him, yelling, "You little brat, you dare ignore me... You think you're all grown up now?"