The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

He Yushui said, "Sister Xiao'e, how could I not keep my promise to you?!"

Lou Xiao'e said with a smile, "Come on in! Come on in!"

"Hey!" He Yushui responded, calling out, "Brother, hurry up!"

He Yuzhu gave a wry smile, shook his head, and followed He Yushui through the gate of the Lou mansion. Entering the small villa and passing through the entrance hall, Lou Xiao'e led He Yuzhu and his sister to the living room. Lou Zhenhua and his wife were sitting on the sofa. He Yuzhu stepped forward and greeted them, "Chairman Lou! Madam Lou! Hello!" Then, He Yuzhu handed them something he was carrying, saying, "A small token of my appreciation, please accept it!"

Tan Lingya took the things from He Yuzhu's hands and asked with a smile, "You're He Daqing's son, He Yuzhu?!"

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "Yes!"

Lou Zhenhua carefully examined He Yuzhu and silently nodded. Lou Zhenhua had met all sorts of people in his life and considered himself quite adept at judging character. He had thought he knew He Yuzhu well enough, but now that he had actually met him, he realized his understanding was far too superficial.

Lou Zhenhua said, "Xiao'e, why don't you take He Yushui out to play? I'll talk to He Yuzhu!"

"Hey!" Lou Xiao'e responded, gave He Yuzhu a look that said "good luck," and left with He Yushui.

Lou Zhenhua stood up from the sofa and said, "Come with me!"

He Yuzhu followed Lou Zhenhua out of the living room. Soon, He Yuzhu followed Lou Zhenhua into Lou Zhenhua's study on the second floor. After entering the study and closing the door, Lou Zhenhua gestured for He Yuzhu to sit down and asked, "I heard you work for the Military Control Commission?!"

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "Yes! I work as a purchasing agent in the military control commission's canteen."

Lou Zhenhua then asked, "What's your view on the current situation?!"

He Yuzhu rubbed his nose and asked, "Chairman Lou, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?!"

Lou Zhenhua, intrigued by He Yuzhu's words, asked, "What about telling the truth?! And what about telling a lie?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Even a lie isn't a lie! The war to establish the nation will soon be over. We will then enter a period of rapid economic development. The country needs you. Chairman Lou can also make great strides."

Lou Zhenhua pressed further, "The truth?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Just look at Russia. You'll understand. But it will take several more years for our country to develop to that point. Chairman Lou might as well make a few more preparations."

Lou Zhenhua lit a cigar, took a couple of puffs, and said, "I've discovered that you're quite to my liking!"

He Yuzhu said, "Chairman Lou, I'm just a lazy, ordinary person. Others shout slogans and strive hard, but I just want to lie down and relax. Maybe my ideas are out of step with this world. But I feel that this is what I can do right now."

Lou Zhenhua seemed to be talking to himself, saying, "Lying down is actually a form of self-preservation." Then, Lou Zhenhua's gaze towards He Yuzhu changed. Lou Zhenhua asked, "Are you really planning to live like this for the rest of your life?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Chairman Lou, we are both ants. It's just that you are a little stronger and I am a little weaker. If you don't want to leave because you are reluctant to leave your homeland, then you must learn to give up and choose to integrate naturally. Alternatively, why don't you think about it from another perspective? If you can't integrate, then choose to support the movement from the sidelines. Jump out of here and go to Hong Kong or Macau. Although foreigners are currently in charge there, it is still our land. The reason we don't take it back now is due to a combination of factors such as the environment. In a few years, when the time comes, they will come back automatically."

Lou Zhenhua asked, "Are you advising me to leave?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I'm not good at giving advice. I'm just expressing my own thoughts. Ultimately, it's up to you, Chairman Lou, to decide what to do. But there's still plenty of time. No need to rush."

Lou Zhenhua laughed! And he laughed so unrestrainedly. After a while, Lou Zhenhua's laughter stopped. Lou Zhenhua said, "Kid, I can't deny that your words have moved me. Since you said there's still time, then let's take our time and see." Then he asked, "Kid, do you know how to play chess?!"

He Yuzhu paused for a few seconds, then nodded and said, "It will rain a little."

Lou Zhenhua took out a Go board and pieces and said, "Play a few moves with me!"

"Okay!" He Yuzhu replied, took the chess pieces, and started playing with Lou Zhenhua.

Chess is like life. After their brief conversation, Lou Zhenhua was very satisfied with He Yuzhu's performance. Now, Lou Zhenhua wanted to observe He Yuzhu's true character through playing chess.

Halfway down, Lou Zhenhua suddenly asked, "You just said you were waiting?! Waiting for time or for an opportunity?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "I'm waiting for both time and opportunity. My small frame can't withstand big storms. I don't have the chance to make mistakes. So I can only wait! I'll make my move when the time and opportunity are right. It might take twenty or thirty years, but I'm young now. I can afford to wait."

Lou Zhenhua sensed a hint of helplessness in He Yuzhu's words, and at the same time, he realized that He Yuzhu was an ambitious person. However, he didn't want to rely on external forces, but rather on himself.

Lou Zhenhua continued, "I really didn't realize that He Daqing had a son like you."

He Yuzhu warned, "Chairman Lou, if you don't keep a close eye on this big dragon, it's going to be gone!"

Lou Zhenhua said, "Don't call me Chairman Lou anymore. Just call me Uncle!"

"Okay!" He Yuzhu readily agreed.

Lou Zhenhua then noticed that the seemingly insignificant piece He Yuzhu had casually placed had actually proven incredibly useful at the crucial moment, severing his large group of stones in half. Lou Zhenhua laughed and said, "Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"

He Yuzhu and Lou Zhenhua played two games of chess in the study until Tan Lingya called them for dinner. Only then did Lou Zhenhua reluctantly leave the study with He Yuzhu.

After having lunch at the Lou family's house and staying for a while, He Yuzhu and He Yushui said goodbye and left. However, He Yuzhu did not expect that He Yushui would actually bring Lou Xiao'e away.

He Yuzhu didn't take He Yushui and Lou Xiao'e back to their home in courtyard number 05, but instead took them to courtyard number 97. The backyard of courtyard number 97 was bustling with activity. He Daqing's sworn brothers and fellow apprentices had all arrived. He Daqing had originally intended to cook himself, but someone said something, and it turned into a cooking competition among the apprentices. He Daqing saw He Yuzhu and his sister return and was about to speak when he saw Lou Xiao'e arrive as well. He Daqing was immediately stunned. He Yushui said, "Father, this is my friend Lou Xiao'e."

Lou Xiao'e said, "Hello, Uncle He!"

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" After replying with three "okay"s, He Daqing said to He Yushui, "Yushui, take good care of the friend you invited! Don't neglect him!"

"I know, Dad!" After saying that, He Yushui pulled Lou Xiao'e and He Daqing to take the children that their brothers had brought to play.