Siheyuan: Sap is the last word

He Yudong clenched his fists even tighter, his nails almost digging into his flesh. He wanted to rush up and beat Xu Damao up, but he knew that he was no match for Xu Damao. His weak body and empty stomach reminded him that he was just a poor loser.

"What's wrong with me? What does it have to do with you?" He Yudong tried to control his anger and keep his tone as calm as possible. He just wanted to protect the little girl behind him and didn't want to cause any trouble.

"Oh, you've learned to talk back?" Xu Damao grinned, raised the bottle in his hand, and pointed at He Yudong, "Do you believe me..."

"What are you doing?!" A crisp voice interrupted Xu Damao's words.

A young woman walked in from the alley. She was tall and wore a smart business suit. Her long black hair was casually draped over her shoulders. She exuded a confident and elegant temperament.

Seeing the woman, Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, then put on a flattering smile: "Qin Huairu? Why are you here?"

Qin Huairu ignored Xu Damao and walked straight to He Yudong, asking with concern: "Yudong, are you okay?"

He Yudong shook his head and said nothing. He didn't want Qin Huairu to see his miserable appearance, and he didn't want her to know his current situation.

"Why are you here?" Qin Huairu asked again, her eyes fell on the ragged little girl behind He Yudong.

"I..." He Yudong opened his mouth, but didn't know how to explain.

"He's rummaging through the trash can here!" Xu Damao said gloatingly, "Qin Huairu, don't be fooled by him, this guy is just a beggar now!"

Qin Huairu frowned and looked at He Yudong with a hint of doubt and confusion in her eyes.

He Yudong felt embarrassed. He lowered his head and wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Xu Damao, shut up!" Qin Huairu suddenly said in a harsh voice, "I know what kind of person Yu Dong is better than you!"

Xu Damao was frightened by Qin Huairu's momentum and closed his mouth in disappointment.

Qin Huairu turned to look at He Yudong and said in a softer tone, "Yudong, come with me."

He Yudong raised his head and looked at Qin Huairu blankly.

"Where?"

"Go to my house." Qin Huairu's tone was firm and unquestionable, "You can't go on like this."

He Yudong was stunned. He didn't expect Qin Huairu to say such a thing. He looked at Qin Huairu with mixed feelings.

The little girl timidly pulled the corner of He Yudong's clothes and whispered, "Uncle, let's go."

He Yudong looked down at the little girl, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He bent down, picked up the little girl, and said to Qin Huairu, "Let's go."

The three of them walked out of the alley together. The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, as if foreshadowing that their fate was about to undergo a radical change.

When they reached the alley entrance, a black car stopped there. The door opened and a man in a suit and leather shoes got out. He said to Qin Huairu respectfully, "Boss Qin, you're back."

He Yudong looked at this scene, and became even more confused. Qin Huairu, President Qin? What on earth was going on? He felt like he had fallen into a fog, unable to see the direction or find the exit.

Xu Damao staggered over, smelling strongly of alcohol. He looked He Yudong up and down, his eyes full of mockery and contempt. "Tsk tsk tsk, look at how you look now, you are so miserable! Back then, you were a big shot in the steel mill, but now you are worse than a beggar!"

He Yudong gritted his teeth and suppressed the anger in his heart. He didn't want to pay attention to Xu Damao's provocation, he just wanted to protect the little girl beside him.

"What? Are you mute? Don't dare to speak?" Xu Damao pressed on, shaking the bottle in front of He Yudong, "Would you like a sip? This is the best Erguotou, guaranteed to make you forget all your troubles!"

He Yudong stared at Xu Damao coldly and said word by word: "Get lost!"

"Oh, you have quite a temper! Do you think you are still the same He Yudong? You are just a waste now!" Xu Damao said, and smashed the wine bottle at He Yudong.

He Yudong was quick to grab Xu Damao's wrist and twist it hard. Xu Damao felt pain and the bottle in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.

"You dare to hit me?!" Xu Damao roared, raising his hand to slap He Yudong.

He Yudong grabbed Xu Damao's palm and slapped him back. "This slap is for myself!"

Xu Damao was hit so hard that he saw stars and stumbled a few steps, almost falling to the ground. He covered his face and glared at He Yudong fiercely, "You...you just wait!"

After saying that, Xu Damao turned around and ran, disappearing at the alley.

He Yudong looked at Xu Damao's fleeing figure, and his heart did not feel a trace of pleasure, but even heavier. He knew that this was just the beginning, and there would be more troubles in the future.

He turned around and looked at the little girl hiding behind him, his heart full of pity. He bent down and gently picked up the little girl, "Don't be afraid, I will protect you in the future."

The little girl hugged He Yudong's neck tightly and sobbed softly.

He Yudong held the little girl in his arms and walked out of the alley. The setting sun stretched their shadows very long.

He didn't know what the future would be like, but he knew that he had to live on bravely, for himself and for this poor little girl.

He walked aimlessly on the street, and suddenly, he saw a dumpling shop in front of him. The steaming dumplings exuded an enticing aroma, which made him and the little girl swallow their saliva.

He touched his pocket, but found it was empty. He sighed helplessly and was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice calling him.

"He Yudong?"

He looked up and saw a middle-aged woman in plain clothes standing at the door of the dumpling shop, looking at him in surprise.

"Are you... Auntie Thirty?" He Yudong asked uncertainly.

The third aunt walked quickly to He Yudong and looked at him carefully, "It's really you! How did you become like this?"

He Yudong smiled bitterly and shook his head without saying anything.

The third aunt noticed the little girl in He Yudong's arms and asked with concern: "Who is this child..."

"I picked it up." He Yudong explained simply.

The third aunt sighed, "Oh, what a sin! Come with me."

The third aunt brought He Yudong and the little girl to the dumpling shop and bought them some hot dumplings. The little girl devoured the dumplings, and the third aunt asked about He Yudong's situation with concern.

When she heard that He Yudong was fired from the factory and his wife divorced him, the third aunt's eyes were red. "This Qin Huairu is really heartless! You treated her so well, but she actually..."

He Yudong interrupted Auntie, "Auntie, stop talking, it's all in the past."

The third aunt looked at He Yudong's miserable state and felt full of sympathy. She thought for a moment and said, "Yudong, if you have nowhere to go, you can live in my house first. Although my house is not big, it is better than living on the streets."

He Yudong was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Auntie San to make such a suggestion. He looked at Auntie San with gratitude, "Auntie San, thank you, but I can't..."

"Don't be polite to me!" The third aunt interrupted He Yudong, "You helped me so much in the past. Now you are in trouble. I can't just stand by and watch! It's settled. You and the little girl will live in my house first!"

He Yudong looked at the sincere eyes of the three aunts and was deeply moved. He finally nodded and agreed to the three aunts' request.

He knew that this was only a temporary safe haven and he had to find a new way out as soon as possible.

After eating dumplings, the third aunt took He Yudong and the little girl back to her home. The third aunt's home is not big, with only one bedroom and a living room, but it is very clean and tidy.

After the three aunts arranged a place for He Yudong and the little girl to stay, they went out to buy some daily necessities. He Yudong looked at the busy figures of the three aunts and was filled with gratitude.

He knew that in this indifferent city, he had met someone who truly cared about him.

It was late at night, and the little girl had fallen asleep. He Yudong lay on the bed, but couldn't fall asleep. He looked at the dark night sky outside the window, feeling confused and uneasy.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door...

Xu Damao staggered over, with a strong smell of alcohol on his body. He looked He Yudong up and down, and a scornful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Tsk tsk tsk, look at your miserable state now, it really makes people feel sorry for you. Back then, you were a big shot in the steel mill, but now? You are not even as good as a beggar!"

He Yudong gritted his teeth and tried to hold back the anger in his heart. He knew that fighting with someone like Xu Damao would only make him more embarrassed.

"What? You're not talking anymore? Are you mute?" Xu Damao pressed on, shaking the bottle in front of He Yudong, "Do you want to drink? What a pity! This is good wine, and people like you can't afford it!"

As he spoke, he raised his head and took a sip of wine, then deliberately spilled the rest of the wine on He Yudong.

The wine flowed down He Yudong's cheeks, mixed with sweat and dirt, making him feel sick. But he still didn't move, just staring at Xu Damao, his eyes full of hatred.

"Hey, you still dare to glare at me?" Seeing this, Xu Damao became even more arrogant. He raised his foot and kicked He Yudong hard in the stomach.

He Yudong groaned and curled up into a ball. The severe pain made it almost impossible for him to breathe, but he still didn't make a groan.

Seeing this, the little girl was so scared that she burst into tears.

"Why are you crying! You're making so much noise!" Xu Damao roared impatiently, then grabbed the little girl's hair and lifted her up from the ground.

"Let her go!" He Yudong endured the pain, struggled to stand up, and yelled at Xu Damao.

"Oh, you're quite courageous!" Xu Damao sneered, "But, you think you can fight me?"

He threw the little girl aside, then raised his fist and hit He Yudong in the face.

He Yudong closed his eyes, waiting for the pain to come.

However, the expected pain did not come.

He opened his eyes in confusion and saw a tall figure blocking his way.

"Stop!" a deep voice sounded.

Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw a man in a black suit and sunglasses standing in front of him, staring at him with cold eyes.

Behind the man were several burly men also wearing black suits, each with an expressionless face and an intimidating aura.

"You...who are you?" Xu Damao asked guiltily.

The man didn't say anything, but slowly took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of sharp eyes.

"You...you are..." Xu Damao's face turned pale in an instant. He recognized the man. He was the famous underworld boss in the city, Li Bao, known as the "Black Panther".

Li Bao smiled coldly and said, "Xu Damao, you are so courageous that you even dare to bully my friends!"

"Friend? You...you are friends with him?" Xu Damao pointed at He Yudong and asked stutteringly.

"That's right." Li Bao nodded, "So, now you know what to do, right?"