Chapter 31: He Daqing Ran Away? The Siheyuan Is in an Uproar

He Yuzhu held the letter in his hand, his whole body trembling, unable to even speak.

Seeing this, He Yushui scrambled up and took the letter; as she read, her face grew paler and paler.

"No... it's impossible," He Yushui's voice trembled, "Father wouldn't abandon us; someone must have tricked him into leaving!"

He Yuzhu suddenly rushed out of the room like a madman, shouting loudly in the courtyard: "Father! Father! Where are you? Father!"

He searched every corner of the Siheyuan like a lunatic, drawing the neighbors out to open their doors and look.

Yi Zhonghai came out first, feigning a look of confusion: "Zhuzi, it's broad daylight, what are you shouting about? What happened?"

He Yuzhu ignored him and continued to search the courtyard like a headless fly, finally collapsing onto the ground, exhausted.

"Father... Father ran away," He Yuzhu's voice choked, "He said... he said he didn't want us anymore..."

As soon as these words were out, the Siheyuan exploded into chaos, and the neighbors gathered around one after another.

"He Daqing ran away?"

"How could he leave so suddenly?"

"Is it true he left with Bai Guafu?"

Rumors spread rapidly through the courtyard; He Yushui covered her face and burst into loud sobs: "Why did Father abandon us? Did we do something wrong?"

He Yuzhu's sorrow gradually turned into anger; he stood up abruptly, snatched the letter from his sister's hand, and tore it into shreds.

"He is not a human being!" He Yuzhu roared, tears of rage flashing in his eyes, "He ran off with a woman and doesn't want us anymore! We don't need him!"

The paper scraps scattered in the wind, looking particularly desolate in the morning light, just like the shattered hopes of the He family.

More and more people gathered in the courtyard, everyone chattering about this sudden turn of events.

"Who could have guessed He Daqing was this kind of person?"

"The children's father, just leaving like that, how irresponsible!"

"What are they going to do now? These two children are still so young!"

Yan Bugui squeezed to the front, pushed up his glasses, and looked on with schadenfreude: "A man like He Daqing should have been kicked out of our Siheyuan long ago! Getting drunk all day long, what kind of good person could he be!"

Jia Zhangshi chimed in: "Exactly, it's a good thing he ran; if he kept living here, who knows what he might do in the future!"

Liu Haizhong clicked his tongue in wonder while secretly feeling relieved: "This He Daqing, he usually looked honest, I never expected his heart to be so cruel, even willing to abandon his own flesh and blood..."

He Yushui cried even harder, huddled in a corner, her tears rolling down like beads from a broken string.

He Yuzhu, however, wore a grim expression, tears and fury intertwined in his eyes; he stared fixedly at the ground, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Everyone, stop gossiping," Long Laotai's voice suddenly rang out; she stood outside the crowd, leaning on her cane, "He Daqing's affairs, in the end, are his own choice; it is not for us outsiders to interfere."

The crowd quieted down slightly, but the whispering did not stop completely.

"But what about these two children?" an older woman asked, full of worry, "They are still so young, what will they do without anyone to take care of them?"

"That's right, how old is He Yushui, she still has to go to school," another neighbor echoed, "What are they going to do now?"

Just as everyone was discussing it, Yi Zhonghai walked out from the crowd with a look of deep concern on his face.

"I just went out and had a look around," Yi Zhonghai said, frowning, "He Daqing is indeed no longer in the courtyard; I even asked the neighbors nearby, and they said they saw him leave with Bai Guafu before dawn."

Once this was said, the noise in the courtyard grew even louder.

Yi Zhonghai walked up to He Yuzhu and He Yushui, his tone full of concern: "Zhuzi, Yushui, don't be sad, you still have us."

He feigned surprise, as if he had just learned the news: "How could He Daqing do this? It's too irresponsible, leaving you two siblings behind..."

He Yuzhu looked up, his eyes still filled with hatred and sorrow, but he did not respond to Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai sighed and patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder: "Zhuzi, don't worry, I will take care of you. Come live with me, I will be your elder."

He Yushui sobbed, looking at all this blankly, at a loss for what to do.

"Zhonghai is right," Long Laotai stepped forward and looked at the two children kindly, "You are still young and need someone to look after you; living with Master Yi is the most appropriate thing."

She gave Yi Zhonghai a meaningful look and continued: "Zhonghai has no children; it would be perfect for you two siblings to move in and have someone to look out for you."

Other neighbors nodded in agreement: "That's right, Master Yi is the most warm-hearted person."

"Zhuzi, Yushui, you can't go wrong following Master Yi."

"This is the best arrangement, don't be sad anymore."

Hearing these words, the corners of Yi Zhonghai's mouth couldn't help but lift slightly, but he quickly returned to his look of concern.

He leaned down and said gently to He Yushui: "Yushui, stop crying, go pack your things with your brother and me; move in today."

He Yushui cried even more heartbrokenly, looking at her brother helplessly, waiting for him to make a decision.

He Yuzhu stood where he was, fists tightly clenched, struggling internally.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai's tone became even more earnest: "Zhuzi, your father has left just like that; you have to think about Yushui, she is still young and needs someone to take care of her."

He Yuzhu was silent for a moment, finally took a deep breath, and was just about to speak—

Suddenly, the sound of a bicycle bell came from the courtyard entrance, and everyone's gaze turned in that direction.

Li Mingyuan rode his bicycle into the courtyard and immediately saw this unusual gathering.

He stopped his bike and asked in confusion: "It's so early, what is everyone doing?"

"Chief Engineer Li," Liu Haizhong hurried up to him, looking gossipy and excited, "Something big has happened! He Daqing eloped with Bai Guafu in the middle of the night!"

Li Mingyuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the people in the courtyard, finally landing on He Yuzhu and He Yushui.

Both children were covered in tear tracks; He Yuzhu's eyes were full of anger and confusion, while He Yushui was huddled in a corner, sobbing incessantly.

"Is that so?" Li Mingyuan didn't seem surprised, replied indifferently, parked his bike, and walked slowly toward the crowd.

Yi Zhonghai stood beside He Yuzhu, still wearing that look of concern, but a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes—Li Mingyuan's arrival had clearly interrupted his plan.

"Xiao Li," Yi Zhonghai smiled reluctantly, "You just got back after working all night?"

Li Mingyuan nodded, his gaze sweeping between Yi Zhonghai and Long Laotai: "Yeah, there was an emergency at the factory, had to revise blueprints all night. Did He Daqing really leave?"

"Yes," Yi Zhonghai sighed, feigning sadness, "Who could have guessed he was this kind of person? Leaving two children behind and running off with a woman..."