Chapter 56: Settlement
In the afternoon, as soon as the heat subsided, a table was set up in the backyard, and there were a bunch of women in Yu Zhiyuan's house.

When Yu Zhiyuan tasted the dishes cooked by He Daqing, he found them to be much better than those cooked by Sha Zhu.

Seeing that Xu Damao could still talk, laugh, and curse with Sha Zhu, you knew that the two of them had become much better.

He Daqing raised his wine cup and said, "That's right, Zhuzi, our family has no grudge against the Xu family. Let's live a good life together and not be like Ma Zhangfei all the time. Come, Damao, have a drink with uncle."

"Da Mao, are your parents doing well in the countryside?"

"It's good, just a little tiring, but very comfortable."

He Daqing nodded, looked at Yang Zhiqiang and said, "How is it? Is it better than the pillars?"

Yang Zhiqiang said: "This is the best meal I have ever had in the city."

"Marry Yu Shui and I'll teach you."

Sha Zhu said anxiously, "Dad, don't match people up randomly."

"Master, I'm already engaged."

He Daqing shook his head regretfully.

We had eaten and drunk until nine o'clock, but the three uncles still didn't come.

He Daqing finished his last glass of wine and said, "Let's go. The four of you should follow me."

Yu Zhiyuan followed Sha Zhu in confusion, and looked at Xu Damao, who also shook his head.

As soon as he entered the middle courtyard, Yan Bugui shouted while putting on his clothes: "Lao He, Lao He, don't be impulsive."

When they reached the door of Yi Zhonghai's house, Yan Bugui grabbed He Daqing and said, "Old He."

"What do you know? Go away. If you want to listen, just keep quiet. Yi Zhonghai, do you want to open the door, or do you want me to kick it open?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai opened his door and made room.

A few people went into the house and sat down, and the old lady left the house and closed the door.

Seeing that no one was saying anything, Yu Zhiyuan gave everyone a cigarette and lit it up.

He Daqing took two puffs of his cigarette before speaking, "This courtyard belongs to the Tan family. I started working as a kitchen maid here when I was fifteen. The old lady had two sons, both of whom were active students. The head of the family died in the chaos caused by foreigners, and the old lady raised the two young masters with the family savings and a few shops."

"When the Japanese occupied Peking, the two young masters couldn't stand it and fled to Shaanxi. After that, there was no news. Before the Japanese came, the steel mill was Lou's Steel, which was just a small company. Japan took a fancy to Lou's Steel and invested in it to add equipment to make it bigger. The Lou family had received favors from the Tan family. After the young masters left, the Siheyuan was taken care of by the Lou family. The old lady was disheartened and moved to the backyard. Seeing that I was about to get married, she vacated the room where Zhuzi lived and gave it to me."

"After the young master left, the servants of the Tan family dispersed, and I went out to work in the restaurant, bringing meals to the old lady every night. Not long after Zhuzi was born, the old lady rescued a couple who fainted outside the gate. They were Yi Zhonghai. Seeing that Yi Zhonghai had no way to survive, the old lady asked the Lou family to arrange for him to work in the steel factory. He learned a lot of skills from the Japanese. I don't know why the Japanese targeted me and insisted that I cook for them."

Hearing this, Yu Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat. What He Daqing meant was that Yi Zhonghai was the one who brought this down.

"I was forced to go because I had a young child and an old lady. The Japanese used the Lou family's name to grow bigger and bigger, interfering in everything, and that's how Lou Bancheng came into being. The Lou family didn't want to, so they secretly gave things to the Communists and sent their teenage son away."

"The Japanese were defeated, the Nationalist Army entered Peking, the steel mill was taken over, and the Lou family had a hard time. The Xu family and their spouses moved into the courtyard with Damao. The old lady didn't like the Xu family because the Lou family arranged for the servants to live in the backyard. Originally, there was only the old lady in the backyard. Yi Zhonghai had skills, but he couldn't be found even if we talked about traitors in the factory. I was in more trouble. I could only cook for the Nationalist commander who entered Peking. The Liu and Ma families moved into the backyard. The Jia family and my Yi family were in the middle courtyard, and there was no one in the front courtyard. My wife died two years after she gave birth to Yu Shui while she was out buying vegetables because of the chaotic soldiers."

"After Peking was liberated, we changed our property deeds. The old lady's son had no news at all, so the house and shop were donated by the old lady. The Lou family took back the steel mill. I also worked in the steel mill cafeteria. The Yan family came in 55. In , I was afraid that the matter would be investigated, so I asked Sha Zhu to take my place at the steel mill and entrusted the two children to Yi Zhonghai. I didn't bother the old lady because I was afraid of her old age. Yi Zhonghai said that Zhu was too young to work in the factory, so he asked him to learn skills for two years. I was afraid of implicating the two children, so I didn't keep a penny and ran to Baocheng."

"Zhuzi brought Yushui to find me, but I didn't dare to open the door. I often asked about the things in the courtyard, but I was powerless. Did Zhuzi secretly raise Yushui to learn skills? I felt relieved when Zhuzi joined the factory. Since I left, I sent Zhuzi ten yuan every month and a letter every two months. He never replied. I thought he hated me, as long as his brother and sister were alive and well. Zhuzi found me two months ago and said that his grandson was about to be born and asked me to name him. Then I knew that they almost starved to death. Zhuzi didn't get a penny."

After saying that, He Daqing stood up and shouted: "Yi Zhonghai, it was the old lady who saved you, but I cooked the meals. I entrusted the children to you, and this is how you treat them." Everyone was stunned, except Yu Zhiyuan and Sha Zhu.

He Daqing spoke again: "I came back this time to settle accounts with you. I have no regrets after seeing my grandson."

Yan Bugui has become stupid. What does it matter what he has calculated all day?

Yi Zhonghai went into the inner room, took out a handful of money and handed it to He Daqing.

He Daqing handed it to Sha Zhu.

He Daqing left Yi Zhonghai's family.

Several people looked at Yi Zhonghai and walked out of the house.

Yu Zhiyuan was walking at the end. Just as he stepped over the threshold, he felt something behind him and heard Sha Zhu's voice.

"This is for my sister."

Yu Zhiyuan turned around and saw Yi Zhonghai holding his left chin with one hand and looking at Sha Zhu with a guilty look on his face.

He Daqing in front shouted "Zhu Zi", and then Sha Zhu walked out of Yi Zhonghai's house with a snort.

Yu Zhiyuan thought he had seen it wrong, but he actually saw guilt on Yi Zhonghai's face.

Yu Zhiyuan shook his head, left Yi Zhonghai's house, and signaled to Yang Zhiqiang to go home and sleep.

Yu Zhiyuan returned to the backyard, walked to the stone table, and saw that the table had been cleaned.

Just as I was about to go back to the house, the old lady on the recliner spoke unexpectedly.

"He Daqing said that?"

Yu Zhiyuan was shocked that the old lady was still awake.

"Old lady, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Hey, I remembered what happened before. Come and help me go back."

Yu Zhiyuan helped the old lady up.

"Shazhu is a fool, and his father is not much smarter! Alas,"

"Are you afraid that Yi Zhonghai will control He Daqing again?" Yu Zhiyuan thought.

"Old lady, if you always watch people from the dark, you will be the first to be in the dark before others. Some things should be exposed to the sun. Some secrets are afraid of the scorching sun. The more you try to hide something, the more likely it will be exploited by someone with ulterior motives."

The old lady patted Yu Zhiyuan's hand.

After waiting for the old lady to rest, Yu Zhiyuan returned to the yard and sat down.

Who can explain clearly what happened during the war years?

(End of this chapter)