Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 248 Dragon Returns to Hong Kong
He Yuzhu nodded in understanding.

Old Wolf's choice is realistic and responsible.

"Alright. Old Wolf, come with me. Coyote, Grizzly Bear, Wild Dog, Rock, and Hammer, all five of you stay here!"

"Yes, boss!" the five replied in unison.

"Remember your mission, and remember my requirements. Integrate discreetly, safety first. Coyote is the leader, Hammer is meticulous and in charge of accounts and internal affairs. Take your time with business, prioritize connections and intelligence. If you encounter a major problem you can't solve, don't try to tough it out, try to contact your family. Remember, only by staying alive can you have a future."

"Understood, boss!" the five replied in unison once again.

He Yuzhu looked at Lao Lang: "You're coming with me to Seoul. We need to get clean identities so we can fly back. Things are probably in complete chaos over in Hong Kong."

Old Wolf's expression turned serious: "Yes, boss! I'll go prepare it right away."

In Seoul's Myeongdong district, there is an inconspicuous "International Exchange Center" (which is actually an underground organization that specializes in processing "identity documents" for special groups).

Two days later, He Yuzhu and Lao Lang came out with two brand-new Japanese passports. The photos were of themselves, but the names and resumes had changed to "Hiroichi Watanabe" and "Kenji Kobayashi", and the occupation was "mechanical equipment purchaser".

"Boss, this place is really something else," Old Wolf murmured in amazement.

“Snakes have their paths, and rats have theirs. Problems that can be solved with money aren’t really problems.” He Yuzhu put his passport away. “Let’s go to Gimpo Airport.”

Meanwhile, in Daegu, at that outpost with a warehouse facing the street.

The hyena stood at the door, watching the grizzly bear and the wild dog struggle to hang a simple sign that read "Honest Hardware Store" on the lintel.

Stone and Hammer were busy sorting and arranging the first batch of purchased screws, nuts, bearings, wrenches, grinding wheels and other spare parts on the shelves, tidying up the small shop.

"Grizzly, the sign is crooked, raise it higher on the left!" the coyote commanded.

He Yuzhu left behind a substantial amount of start-up capital, enough to sustain them for a long time.

He Yuzhu's words echoed in his mind: "Only by living can we have a future."

He clenched his fist, his eyes gradually hardening.

Hong Kong, Kai Tak Airport.

A passenger plane from Seoul roared down to land.

He Yuzhu and Lao Lang followed the flow of people out of the passage.

He Yuzhu wore sunglasses and a well-fitting trench coat, exuding a calm and reserved demeanor, a stark contrast to his previous ruthless and decisive nature in the peninsula's jungle.

Old Wolf followed behind, carrying luggage filled with local specialties that He Yuzhu had bought from Seoul.

After leaving the airport, the two hailed a taxi. Once inside, Lao Lang gave an address, and the taxi disappeared from the airport's waiting area.

On the way, He Yuzhu let Lao Lang get out of the car first and go home on his own.

Sham Shui Po, safe house.

When Bai Yifeng saw He Yuzhu, a look of relief and excitement finally appeared on his tense face: "Boss! You're finally back safe and sound!"

"Hmm, sit down." He Yuzhu took off his trench coat and tossed it onto the sofa, revealing a well-fitting dark shirt underneath that outlined his perfect muscle lines.

"Has the mess on the peninsula been cleaned up?"

"As per your previous instructions, the Sea Breeze encountered a storm and sank. The captain is a reliable old brother, and I have already arranged for him to take the other ships to the South Seas. We'll deal with it after the storm passes. Fitzpatrick's group has disappeared, and quite a few people have come to their listening point. It seems that things have gotten out of hand in Britain."

"Didn't find any clues?"

"No, we did a very clean job. Those who stayed behind have already sunk to the bottom of the sea in Tseung Kwan O for land reclamation."

"Well done, you didn't turn those devices back on, did you?"

"They've all been sealed off, in case there's any backdoor inside."

"Okay, keep someone watching and tell me about the situation at home."

“Jardine Matheson is determined to crush our market share in Kwai Chung. The price war has gone almost to a frenzy. They are willing to lose money to grab ships. Ah Lang is under a lot of pressure, but he has held on. We have an advantage in cost control, and the reputation we built up before is still there. Many old customers still recognize us. It’s just that our cash flow is tight. Ah Lang has asked several times whether we should use the reserve fund or draw funds from other projects.”

"Hmm, is there anything else?"

"Boss, it's time for you to show up and deter some of the scoundrels."

"A petty thief?"

"Those Chinese businessmen, seeing that we are not retaliating, are now leaning towards Jardine Matheson's faction."

"Oh, who are they?"

“The shipowner and his cronies are constantly making underhanded moves.”

"Tell me more." He Yuzhu nodded. It's normal for these people to be opportunists; businessmen are profit-driven.

"Bao the Shipping King's company, Global Shipping, has recently prioritized signing several bulk carriers running the European route with Jardine Matheson's Swire Shipping, causing a sharp drop in Global Shipping's European cargo volume, which used to unload at our Kwai Chung terminal. Previously, at least 30% of the cargo from Bao's fleet went through our terminal, but now there's not a single one! Ah Lang sent someone to try and talk things over, but the person in charge at Bao's only said, 'Capacity is tight, we'll stick to the contract.' But everyone knows the size of Bao's fleet, what's so tight about it!"

“It’s even more sinister over there.” A hint of anger flashed in Bai Yifeng’s eyes. “His Cheung Kong Holdings itself doesn’t do shipping, but his ‘Cheung Kong Garment Factory’ and ‘Cheung Kong Plastics Factory’ used to be major clients of our port, transporting raw materials and finished products through us. In the last two weeks, these two factories suddenly stopped all cargo passing through our port! They’ve switched to Jardine Matheson’s Swire Port! Ah Lang sent someone to inquire, but the purchasing manager there stammered and only said, ‘It was decided by higher-ups, due to cost considerations.’ He didn’t even show his face. He’s ruthless!”

“And then there’s Cheng Yu!” Bai Yifeng continued, “The gold shop business isn’t really related to the docks, but New World Development has several real estate projects, including a new development in Sha Tin that requires a huge amount of building materials. They used to use our dock for unloading. Now they’ve suddenly stopped and turned to Wharf Wharf, a subsidiary of Jardine Matheson. The Cheng family’s word is that ‘partners need to be strong, and dock services need to be stable,’ which is a veiled criticism that we’re being suppressed by Jardine Matheson and are unreliable!”

"What about Mr. Ho and Mr. Fok from Macau?"

"He Sheng's ships have increased the number of times they dock, while Huo Sheng's ships are now basically all using our docks."

"Okay, I understand. Old Wolf, you can arrange for him to be an instructor. I'll leave the rest on the peninsula."

"Boss, are you planning to get involved in the peninsula?"

"It's just a casual move; we'll see what happens next."

"Are those kids any good? Should we send a few more men over?"

"You have so little confidence in the soldiers you trained?"

"I'd trust them if it were a battlefield, but..."

"How would we know they can't do it if we didn't push them?"

"Yes, who are you planning to train?"

"Elite, have him teach them what he learned from me. After I finish dealing with other matters, I will personally train them for a period of time."

Can I participate?

"It's up to you, it depends on your schedule. But you haven't been on the front lines for so long, are you still up to the task?"

"How can a man say no?"

"Hahaha, alright, I'm going home now. I've been away from home for so long and I miss Yaozu and the other kids a bit."

"Hehe, is the boss thinking about his sister-in-law?"

"Get lost."

"Yes, Sir," Bai Yifeng gave a playful salute.

"Alright, get me a car."

"Boss, let me give you a ride."

"No need, I'll go back myself. You'll have to make a trip to those kids' homes. No need for the resettlement allowance, but you'll still get paid your wages as usual, based on the rate for fieldwork."

"Got it, boss."

The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow over the living room of the He family villa.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, mingled with the faint sounds of children playing and the television, creating a most ordinary yet heartwarming moment at home.

He Yuzhu drove back to the villa on the hillside, but he stopped the security guard at the door from going in to report.

Upon entering the villa's hall, this is the scene that greets you: the old lady is dozing in a rocking chair by the window; Grandpa Chen Jikai is watching with great interest as He Yaozu, along with his younger brother He Yaozong and younger sister He Ningxue, are playing with a set of exquisite building blocks on the carpet; Grandma Chen Lanxiang and Xiaoman are sitting on the sofa studying how to knit a sweater; and Dad He Daqing seems to be urging something in the dining room.

He Yushui, He Yuxin, and He Yuyao were being directed around in circles at the restaurant.

"Father, Mother, Grandfather, Madam, Xiaoman, I'm back." He Yuzhu's voice was slightly hoarse.

Instantly, all eyes were on him.

The living room was silent for a second.

"Zhu Zi!" Chen Lanxiang was the first to speak, almost dropping the sweater in her hand. Her expression quickly changed from surprise to deep reproach. "You brat! You finally decided to come back!"

She got up and walked over quickly, her eyes instantly reddening. She reached out to pinch He Yuzhu's ear, but in the end, she just slapped his arm hard. "You've been gone for more than half a year! Not even a word! When we asked your men, they all said they didn't know. What on earth have you been doing? Are you trying to drive your family crazy with worry? Do you think our old bones can withstand this kind of scare?"

The rocking chair by the window creaked and came to a stop.

The old lady slowly opened her eyes and looked at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, you're back. Your mother is old and fell asleep without you even noticing. I don't know how much longer these old bones of mine can hold on. Please spend more time with your mother at home in the future." Her words were light and airy, but they felt like a stone hitting He Yuzhu's heart.

He knew that the old lady's words were a subtle way of blaming him for being away for too long.

He Yaozu was the first to run over and hug He Yuzhu's leg: "Dad! Dad, you're back! Did you bring any toys?" The little guy was so excited that his face turned red.

"father!"

"father!"

He Yaozong and He Ningxue also came over, but they were not as bold as He Yaozu and were a bit timid.

Chen Jikai stroked his beard, stood up, and sharply scanned He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, have you taken care of everything outside? You don't need to go out anymore, right? Yaozu, that kid, has really good bones and muscles, he's a good prospect for martial arts, stronger than anyone I've taught. Yaozong and Ningxue also seem bright. If you, as their father, don't pass on your skills to them, the children will miss the best years for learning!" The old man genuinely cared for his great-grandchildren, and also used this opportunity to express his dissatisfaction with He Yuzhu's long absence.

At this moment, He Yushui, He Yuxin, and He Yuyao, who had heard the commotion, also ran out of the restaurant.

The third brother, He Yuxin, looked miserable: "Big brother! You're finally back! You have no idea how hard it is for us to be your stand-ins! We have to imitate your tone and habits every day! We also have to deal with those old foxes, afraid of being exposed! It's more tiring than memorizing an economics textbook."

The fourth brother, He Yuyao, nodded vigorously: "That's right! If it weren't for Brother Lang and the others, we wouldn't have made it. Big brother, this job is really inhuman!"

The fifth brother, He Yuyan, came over with a grin, a little smug: "Big brother! You have to thank me properly! I take care of my nephews and nieces every day! Yaozong wanted to ride a big horse, and Ningxue wanted to hear stories, so I took care of them all! They're so close to me now!" He patted his chest, looking like he was asking for credit.

He Daqing walked out of the restaurant, suppressing his emotions, and said in a low voice, "You're back. Time to eat."

"I understand, Dad!" He Yuzhu, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. He really didn't know how to answer everyone's questions.

Then He Yuzhu patted He Yaozu's head, and then picked up He Yaozong and He Ningxue.

Then he looked at his younger brothers, with an apologetic yet relieved expression: "You've all worked hard. Third and fourth brothers, you've done a great job. Fifth brother, you've led well; your eldest brother will reward you later."

"Brother, how could you forget about your sister-in-law and me?" He Yushui said, hands on her hips.

"Oh, what merit have you made?" He Yuzhu said disdainfully.

"Hmph, don't look down on me. I helped improve the car radios at the auto factory."

"real or fake?"

"Sister-in-law, tell my brother, am I telling the truth?"

He Yuzhu's gaze fell on Xiaoman.

She stood in front of the sofa, holding a half-knitted sweater in her hand. Her eyes were slightly red, but she tried her best to smile. Her silent longing and worry, like fine needles, pierced He Yuzhu's heart, making him feel more guilty than any blame.

He put down the two children, strode over, ignoring the fact that his family was still there, and reached out to hug Xiaoman tightly.

"Xiaoman, I'm back." His voice was deep and hoarse, and Xiaoman could hear the apology and deep longing in it.

Xiaoman's body stiffened slightly at first, then went completely limp, burying her face in his firm chest and softly humming in agreement.

All the grievances, worries, and constant longing melted away in this embrace.

Then, remembering that they were in the living room and everyone was watching, she quickly pushed He Yuzhu away.

She said coquettishly, "There are so many people here, why did you..."

"What's wrong with me hugging my wife?" He Yuzhu said shamelessly.

"Oh!" Several younger siblings joined in the commotion.

Xiaoman's face was as red as a ripe apple.

The three little ones looked at their parents with curiosity.

The elders looked on with satisfaction.

Seeing that Xiaoman was really embarrassed, the old lady spoke up.

"Alright, didn't the Qing Dynasty say it's time to eat? Of all things, eating is the most important. Zhu Zi must be hungry after rushing back all this way."

He Daqing immediately got to work: "Yes, yes, dinner's ready! Zhu Zi's back, perfect timing to try my new recipe! Everyone go wash your hands!"

Xiaoman went over and helped the old lady, and the whole family bustled toward the restaurant.

At the dinner table, He Yuzhu became the absolute center of attention.

The children eagerly talked to him, showing off their newly learned characters and drawings; the old lady squinted at him, constantly putting food on his plate; Grandpa Chen began to enthusiastically recount the amazing endurance and coordination that He Yaozu displayed when practicing his horse stance and boxing moves; He Yushui, He Yuxin, and He Yuyao also chattered about the various interesting and stressful things about being "Boss He's" stand-in.

Xiaoman sat next to He Yuzhu, saying little, only occasionally adding soup and serving him food, her gaze always following him tenderly.

He Yuzhu responded to her care in kind, occasionally asking her in a low voice about her family's recent situation. Their eyes met and a silent warmth flowed between them.

This long-awaited family dinner was filled with the warmth of everyday life, dispelling the gunpowder and hostility that He Yuzhu had brought back from Myanmar and the Korean Peninsula.

He listened patiently, smiled, responded, and enjoyed this long-lost warmth and tranquility.

In the stillness of the night, the children and elders were all asleep.

He Yuzhu and Xiaoman returned to their bedroom.

"Are you tired? Let me draw you some water so you can take a bath and relax," Xiaoman asked softly.

He Yuzhu shook his head, pulled her to sit down on the edge of the bed, cupped her face in his hands, and examined her closely in the dim light of the bedside lamp.

After a few months apart, she had lost some weight, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, traces of worry.

"You've worked so hard, Xiaoman." He gently stroked the corner of her eye with his thumb. "While I was away, I made you worry about things at home, outside, and at the company."

Xiaoman shook her head and leaned into his arms: "Everyone at home is fine, but I'm worried about you. Ah Lang and Lao Gu are holding things up at the company, but things aren't going well there right now." She paused, not wanting to upset He Yuzhu, who had just returned.

He Yuzhu tightened his grip on her hand: "He's just a clown, don't take him to heart. I'm back, and these things will be resolved soon."

The certainty in his tone completely relaxed Xiaoman's tense nerves.

"I know."

She unconditionally trusted her man.

"Xiaoman, let's rest."

"it is good."

When the first rays of morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains, He Yuzhu's biological clock had already woken him up.

He didn't get up immediately, but just turned to the side and quietly looked at Xiaoman, who was still fast asleep beside him.

She was sleeping soundly, with a hint of weariness in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were immersed in a peaceful dream.

He Yuzhu's gaze traced her features, from her smooth forehead to her delicate nose, then to her slightly swollen lips, and finally landed on her slender, white wrist peeking out from under the thin blanket.

She seemed to have lost some weight in the months since I last saw her.

A feeling of heartache and guilt welled up inside me.

He carefully withdrew his arm, which Xiaoman had been using as a pillow, and slowly got up without disturbing her.

Barefoot on the soft carpet, I walked to the window and gently opened it a crack.

The air on the hillside was fresh with the morning dew. Looking down, Victoria Harbour was faintly visible in the thin mist, and the outline of the city gradually came to life.

The hustle and bustle were right beneath his feet, but at this moment, all he felt was the tranquility of this bedroom.

Wearing comfortable loungewear, He Yuzhu quietly left the bedroom.

He walked to the door of the children's room and gently pushed it open a crack.

He Yaozu was indeed awake and was lying on the bed flipping through a comic book. His little brows were slightly furrowed, and he seemed to be reading very carefully.

He Yaozong and He Ningxue were sleeping soundly in their respective beds.

A smile unconsciously crept onto He Yuzhu's lips. He walked in quietly and sat down beside Yaozu's bed.

"What are you looking at?" He Yuzhu asked in a low voice.

"Dad!" He Yaozu looked up in surprise, immediately put down his book and rushed into his arms. "I was looking at the illustrations for 'Journey to the West'! Sun Wukong is so amazing!"

"Yes, he's very impressive." He Yuzhu rubbed his son's head. "You like Sun Wukong?"

"I love it! He can fight monsters!" He Yaozu's eyes lit up. "Dad, you can fight bad guys too, right? Uncle said Dad is the best!"

He Yuzhu chuckled. It seemed that He Yuyan had been instilling his "glorious deeds" in the children quite a bit.

"Daddy wants to protect you and Mommy, and protect this family." He pinched his son's cheek. "Do you want to come practice martial arts with Daddy?"

"Yes!" He Yaozu immediately jumped off the bed and quickly started getting dressed, his little face full of excitement.

He Yuzhu tucked the blankets to the sleeping Yaozong and Ningxue, and then led Yaozu, who was already dressed, downstairs.

In the backyard, Grandpa Chen Jikai was already practicing Tai Chi, dressed in his training clothes.

Seeing He Yuzhu bring Yaozu out, a hint of relief flashed in the old man's eyes.

"Zhu Zi, you're here." The old man's voice was loud and clear, coming from his diaphragm.

"Grandpa," He Yuzhu greeted respectfully.

“Come here, Yaozu, let your father see how well you’re doing.” Chen Jikai gestured for Yaozu to stand next to him.

"Yes, Great-Grandpa." The little guy immediately assumed a horse stance, looking quite professional.

"Why are you doing the horse stance? Do a full round and let your dad see."

"Yes, Great-Grandpa."

At Chen Jikai's prompting, He Yaozu took a deep breath, his face tense, and began to practice each move.

He was practicing the introductory routine of Chen Family Boxing. His movements were still immature but already quite skillful. His footwork was steady, and his punches and palm strikes were delivered with a seriousness that clearly showed he had received the true teachings of Chen Jikai and had a very solid foundation.

He Yuzhu stood to the side, arms crossed, his gaze calm and serene as he looked at his son.

The little guy played meticulously, striving for perfection in every movement, showing a tenacious spirit, which brought a sense of satisfaction to He Yuzhu's eyes.

Grandpa Chen nodded repeatedly, clearly very satisfied with He Yaozu's performance.

However, as he looked at him, a faint, almost imperceptible disappointment gradually surfaced in the depths of his eyes, which had been tempered into the sharpness of an eagle through countless life-and-death battles.

"Something's missing," He Yuzhu thought to himself.

This set of boxing techniques was originally a method of killing, but after Grandpa came to Hong Kong, he felt less threatened, and his boxing became somewhat weak.

It has become a martial art for strengthening the body and cultivating one's character, emphasizing the smooth flow of energy and the long duration of breath.

"Perhaps it would be better to have my uncle teach me." He Yuzhu shook his head.

"Zhu Zi, is there something wrong with what Zu'er is practicing? Why are you shaking your head?" Old Master Chen asked when he saw He Yuzhu shaking his head.

He Yuzhu said, "Very good, Yaozu practiced very diligently, and Grandpa taught him well."

He acknowledged his son's efforts and his grandfather's guidance, then changed the subject, his voice low and calm: "However, I'm going to teach him something different today."

He Yaozu's eyes lit up instantly, filled with anticipation: "Dad, are you going to teach me how to fight bad guys?"

"You've mastered the boxing manual? Then let me see your Tai Chi." Old Master Chen also became interested.

(End of this chapter)