Siheyuan: Silly Zhu Reborn

He Yuzhu, nicknamed Silly Zhu, spent his life wearing his heart on his sleeve for his neighbors, Qin Huairu and her children. In his younger days, he helped support their household and handed over his entire salary. To meet the needs of Qin Huairu's family, he even offended his own son, He Xiao, and his ex-wife, Lou Xiao'e. In the end, he drove them both away and transferred the ownership of a side room in the courtyard house to Qin Huairu's son, Bang Geng.

But his sacrifices brought him no reward. In his seventies, Silly Zhu was plagued by lung disease and could no longer earn money, becoming a burden to Qin Huairu's family. On a rainy night during the Double Ninth Festival, Bang Geng and his sister Huaihua brutally drove him out of the courtyard house where he had lived his whole life, claiming they needed to sell it. He eventually froze and starved to death in an abandoned woodshed on the outskirts of the city, his remains gnawed by rats. His end was utterly tragic.

After death, his spirit wandered, witnessing his former "family" turn against one another over their inheritance. He also saw his old rival, Xu Damao, living in dire straits but still coming to collect his body. Only after the courtyard house was demolished and Qin Huairu's family went their separate ways did Silly Zhu, at last overcome with regret and understanding, finally see the truth. His consciousness faded, leaving behind an endless sigh: "Kindness needs an edge, and sincerity should be given to those who deserve it."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.