Chapter 128: Xu Damao Spreads Rumors

He Yuzhu did not dare to linger before the city gate, and trotted back into the Jeep.

Inside the car, the three members of the Zhao family were still sleeping; only Zhao Ying opened her eyes, staring straight at him.

"What exactly is the situation?" Zhao Ying asked with a yawn.

"The city gate is closed, and everyone going in is being checked. Your family's wanted poster is posted there. We cannot stay here; we must continue on our way."

There was silence in the car; the overnight rush had already left everyone exhausted.

He Yuzhu himself did not want to keep going; he had slept for less than two hours in a day and a night, and his temples were throbbing.

He rubbed the space between his eyebrows and said, "Zhao Ying, light a cigarette for me; I can barely hold on."

Zhao Ying put the cigarette in her mouth, lit it with a match, took two puffs, and then inserted it into He Yuzhu's mouth.

He Yuzhu took a few hard drags, and the cigarette burned to the end.

He threw the butt out of the car and cursed, "This damn thing is called a highway? It's not even as good as a village road!"

Zhao Ying mocked, "As if the village roads back where you're from are so great!"

He Yuzhu was helpless; he had brought out his modern standards again.

The Jeep drove along the bumpy road; sitting inside was like riding a roller coaster.

Meanwhile, in the Siheyuan in Beiping thousands of miles away, because the Rolling Mill had been back to work for two days and the He Family hadn't even shown a shadow, it aroused much speculation.

Xu Damao, who loved stabbing He Yuzhu in the back the most, naturally would not miss this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

He was spitting everywhere as he talked to a few old women: "On New Year's Eve, the whole He Family was walking toward He Family Village after getting off the train when they ran into bandits halfway. He Daqing and He Yuzhu were beaten to death on the spot, brains splattered all over the ground... The mountain bandit saw that Shen Guizhi still had some looks, so he didn't kill her outright... and snatched her up the mountain..."

Xu Damao did this to get revenge. When He Yuzhu was around, he didn't dare to make trouble because he really couldn't beat him, and plus, in the last year, the way He Yuzhu looked at him had changed, as if he were looking at a clod of dirt, which hurt him deeply. This time the He Family went out and didn't return, so something must have happened. He took the opportunity to spread rumors, thinking that if everyone stirred up trouble together, they might just divide up the He Family's belongings!

Liu Guangqi chimed in from the side, "Brother Damao is right! The only one left alive in the He Family is Shen Guizhi..."

Jia Zhangshi, who had just finished washing vegetables, leaned in, her triangular eyes darting around, and asked, "You two little brats, who did you hear that from?"

Liu Guangqi was stunned by the question; he nudged Xu Damao with his elbow.

Xu Damao rolled his eyes: "Auntie Jia, I ran into a fellow townsman of He Daqing from Handan when I was buying breakfast this morning, and he said it all. I reckon people from He Family Village will be coming in a few days, and they might even sell the house..."

As soon as Jia Zhangshi heard "sell the house," she immediately perked up: "Are they really selling? If the price is right, my family wants to buy it!"

Xu Damao sneered and looked her up and down: "Just based on that salary of your Dongxu's? Auntie Jia, you really dare to dream!"

As they were talking, Yan Bugui also came to watch the excitement. His shop business had been good lately, and he no longer "watched the gate." Hearing that someone was selling a house, he immediately ran over, "Whose house is being sold?"

Xu Damao got excited: "Teacher Yan, you don't know yet? He Daqing and He Yuzhu are both dead! Slashed by bandits!"

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and shook his head: "Damao, you can't just say things like that. Otherwise, if they come back, they'll come looking for you for trouble! He Yuzhu's fists are very hard!"

"People are dead, how can they come looking for me for trouble! To hell with that!"

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai came back from outside with his hands behind his back, and interrupted with a serious expression: "Xu Damao, what kind of nonsense are you spreading! A man named Chen Qingshan went to the Rolling Mill this morning to ask for leave for He Daqing, saying he fell down a mountain ravine while riding a horse-drawn carriage in his hometown and needs to rest for three months. He also said that if Boss Lou is short of people, the position doesn't need to be saved."

Xu Damao curled his lip: "I told you something happened! Fell down a mountain ravine? Who are you trying to fool!"

Yi Zhonghai glared at him, his voice sinking: "Damao! Don't spread rumors here without real evidence, disturbing the peace of the courtyard!"

"What's a rumor? How can you prove what I said is false? If you have the ability, bring He Daqing back to confront me!" Xu Damao quibbled.

"A child who doesn't learn to be good! I'm going to find Xu Fugui to discipline you right now!" Yi Zhonghai scolded angrily.

"Hey! You old thing, who do you think you are? My dad doesn't even manage me, can you? I'm saying He Daqing is dead today... Shen Guizhi was snatched by mountain bandits to be their mistress, what can you do to me!" Xu Damao was fearless.

"Little bastard doesn't learn to be good!" Yi Zhonghai walked away angrily; he had no way to deal with a ten-year-old child who wouldn't listen to reason.

Xu Damao ran around the courtyard shouting, but just as he ran to the first courtyard, he was stopped by someone.

The person who came was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, with an apple-shaped face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a righteous air about her. She was followed by several construction workers.

"That kid, what nonsense are you spouting?" the girl asked.

"Who are you? Why should I tell you!" Xu Damao glared.

"I think you don't dare to say it, right? If you have the ability, say it again!" the girl said.

"He Daqing is dead, his wife was snatched by mountain bandits to be their mistress... so what if I said it!"

"Slap!" The girl slapped Xu Damao across the face.

"Stinking bitch, you dare hit me!" Xu Damao threw a punch at the girl.

The girl grabbed his wrist and performed a shoulder throw, slamming him directly onto the ground.

Xu Damao cried out in pain.

The people in the courtyard gathered around, and seeing an outsider hitting Xu Damao, they stepped forward to stop her.

The girl stopped and introduced herself: "My dad's name is Chen Qingshan, he is He Daqing's brother, and I am his niece Chen Wenjun. You can also call me Chen Daya. I bought the East Cross Courtyard of this place, and today I'm here to repair the house, and by the way, repair Uncle Daqing's family's too. Sorry to bother everyone! Please bear with me!" After finishing, she took out candies and distributed them to each family.

Yi Zhonghai also ran out and said: "I can testify, the one who went to the factory to ask for leave this morning was Chen Qingshan, he should be this girl's father."

Everyone took the candy and felt more favorably toward Chen Daya, only Xu Damao climbed up and ran toward the Houyuan.

Before long, Xu Fugui rushed over, pointing at Chen Daya and cursing: "You stinking bitch, you dare hit my son! See if I don't kill you!" As he spoke, he picked up a brick and rushed up.

Chen Daya dodged, tripped him with her foot, and then swung a palm, sending Xu Fugui face-down onto the ground with a "thud."

Chen Daya smiled and said: "Zhuzi often told me that in this courtyard, only Xu Fugui loves to fight, and he never wins, it seems it's true."

Xu Fugui wanted to climb up to fight, but Chen Daya stepped on his back and leaned into his ear to whisper: "Do you want me to tell everyone about you using fake money for prostitution? I have photos of you kneeling at Qianmen in my hands. If you make any more trouble, I'll show them to everyone."

Before He Yuzhu left, he specifically instructed Chen Daya to look after the house well, and told her about the affairs in the courtyard, even giving her the photos of Xu Fugui taken at Qianmen Street.

Upon hearing this, Xu Fugui's face turned white instantly, and he hurriedly begged for mercy: "Grandma, I was wrong, I won't pursue this anymore. If there's anything you need help with, just say it!"

Chen Daya smiled and said loudly: "Actually, I am an old acquaintance of Uncle Xu, it's just that he didn't recognize me."

Xu Fugui immediately apologized with a smile: "I only knew Brother Chen before, I didn't know his name was Chen Qingshan, what a mess!"

Everyone was so shocked by this magical reversal that they didn't speak.

Chen Daya took Boss to look at He Yuzhu's house and the East Cross Courtyard, and also gave him the design drawings He Yuzhu had drawn.

Boss said: "The weather is still quite cold now, I will clean up these main rooms first, and in half a month, I will clean up the rooms in the East Cross Courtyard."

On the other side, in the suburbs of Jinhua, He Yuzhu's car was stuck in the mud, and after struggling for a long time, he still couldn't get it out.

It rained all night yesterday, and while the highway was still passable, as soon as we turned onto the village road, the car couldn't move at all.

In order to push the car, the Zhao family members were covered in mud, their clothes were still wet, and they were all shivering from the cold.