Jia Dong Xu hesitated, then said: "Master, we really can't make ends meet at home. Huai Ru is pregnant with our third child now, and we have absolutely no food left. Our home has been empty for days. Could you lend me some grain or money?"
Yi Zhong Hai had always been using Jia Dong Xu. As an eighth-level machinist at the steel mill, he didn't take on many apprentices, because he held the belief that teaching a student is like feeding a tiger. He'd rather starve his apprentice than see him thrive.
Furthermore, if Jia Dong Xu actually became a third or fourth-level machinist, or even a higher level, he'd have the means to support his family and would no longer need him. Who would he choose then, Qin Huai Ru, the woman he shares a bed with, or him, despite his older age and higher income? The answer is obvious!
Hearing Jia Dong Xu's request for money and grain again, Yi Zhong Hai simply pulled out five yuan from his pocket, handed it to Jia Dong Xu, and said: "Dong Xu, take this five yuan for now. Your family's situation is always in my thoughts. These days, everyone is struggling. With the drought, even if you had money, you couldn't buy grain. I've already spoken to Zhuzi, and he'll bring home any leftover food from the canteen to help your family. Don't be picky. You should also try harder to learn the machinist's craft and improve your skill level. Once you get promoted, your family's life will be much easier."
Taking the money, Jia Dong Xu was filled with gratitude. In his eyes, Yi Zhong Hai was the best master he could ask for. He had never considered that his master was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He had been working at the steel mill for eight years now. Even a pig would have learned the machinist's skills by now. Yet, his skill level hadn't improved.
Yi Zhong Hai had told Jia Dong Xu on numerous occasions that he wasn't cut out for the machinist's work, leading to increasing mental pressure on Jia Dong Xu. He wondered if he was really just a useless person. Why was he the only one among his peers who hadn't advanced? Others had reached level two, level three, even four. He had the best master in the whole steel mill, yet his skill level remained stagnant.
Hearing Yi Zhong Hai mentioning leftover food from Sha Zhu, he couldn't help but think, what era was this? Having something to eat, not starving to death, was already a blessing. Hadn't they seen more and more people fleeing from other areas due to famine? Haven't they seen the number of people dying of starvation rising?
The government wasn't unwilling to help. It was just that they couldn't manage it. The number of victims was simply too large. The local authorities had done everything they could, yet people still perished from hunger.
"Master, what are you saying? Having something to eat is more than enough. What's there to be picky about? Thank you for your concern."
Yi Zhong Hai said kindly: "Dong Xu, you're being too polite. You're my apprentice, helping you is only natural. Now, you go home."
After Jia Dong Xu left, Yi Zhong Hai couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This was his skill. He manipulated everyone in the courtyard, using them for his own gain. He sold them out and helped himself count the profits.
Like Jia Dong Xu, he had been cuckolded yet still expressed gratitude. He had manipulated Sha Zhu into supporting his son and helping Jia's family, yet he still listened to him.
The rest of the courtyard were just his pawns: Liu Hai Zhong, Yan Fu Gui, the second and third elders of the courtyard. What power did they have? He ruled this courtyard with an iron fist. Who would dare oppose him?
After sending He Yu Shui back to her room, He Yu Cheng felt the smugness in Yi Zhong Hai's heart and let out a sinister smile.
"You old geezer, so full of yourself! You were powerless to handle me before, so you could only endure it. Now that you consider yourself invincible, you dare to scheme? You don't know how many eyes the Heavenly Horse has! Today, you'll pay the price, with interest!"
Killing Yi Zhong Hai was as simple as a thought for him, but actually playing him to death would be so much more enjoyable. If he were to actually get rid of Yi Zhong Hai, the whole courtyard would be a mess. Would the Jia family still dare to act so cocky? Would Sha Zhu still dare to hit whoever he pleased? Would the old deaf lady still be so revered? And those brats, Bang Geng and Jia Zhang Shi, would they still dare to be so arrogant once they were sent to the police station for any wrongdoing? Someone needed to keep them in line.
Yi Zhong Hai took a sip of water, put his hands behind his back, and then left his room.
"Old Yi, why aren't you sleeping? Where are you going?"
Yi Zhong Hai replied: "Mind your own business, I'm going to the bathroom."
Once outside, Yi Zhong Hai didn't go to the bathroom. He went straight into the alleyway, ready to relieve himself. He Yu Cheng had already deployed several clones, waiting in ambush.
Yi Zhong Hai was about to urinate when He Yu Cheng suddenly rushed out, yelling: "Where are you peeing? Can't you use the toilet?"
“Slap!”
“Bang!”
“Ah!”
He rained a flurry of blows on Yi Zhong Hai.
Yi Zhong Hai hadn't expected to encounter someone in the dark alley, let alone someone who would attack him without warning.
He Yu Cheng's clones, of course, didn't use any real force. He wanted to torment his enemy, to slowly play with him until he died. If he had killed him outright, it would have been too boring in this era of limited entertainment.
Though most of the residents of the courtyard had already eaten and were in their rooms, not everyone was fast asleep. Hearing Yi Zhong Hai's screams, people from their courtyard and the neighboring one came out to investigate.
Seeing people approaching, He Yu Cheng's clones shouted: "Hey, we're outta here! Someone's coming!"
Several figures dashed out of the alleyway and vanished into the night. He Yu Cheng had withdrawn his clones.
He felt a sense of exhilaration after beating the living daylights out of Yi Zhong Hai. Whenever his mood dipped, he'd just give this bunch of animals a good thrashing. It was quite satisfying.
Liu Hai Zhong, Liu Guang Qi, Liu Guang Tian from the back courtyard, Xu Da Mao and his son from Xu Da Mao's house all rushed out with their flashlights after hearing Yi Zhong Hai's screams. At that moment, He Yu Cheng opened his door, and the residents of the back courtyard saw him.
"Second Elder, Uncle Xu, who is that? Why aren't they sleeping this late at night?"
Liu Hai Zhong shook his head: "I don't know. But that voice sounds like Old Yi's."
In just a few minutes, almost all the able-bodied men in the courtyard had gathered.
When they reached the alleyway, they found Yi Zhong Hai lying there, covered in mud.
Xu Fu Gui said gleefully: "What happened? Why is Old Yi beaten up like that?"