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

After checking He Yuzhu's work ID, the police officer in charge looked at the three people on the ground. Another officer, seeing one of the middle-aged men, said, "Isn't this Gu Laosi?!"

Upon hearing his colleague's words, the police officer leading the team asked, "You know him?!"

"I know him! He used to be a carriage driver at Chunhualou in the Eight Great Hutongs. When the Eight Great Hutongs were being cleaned up, he didn't do anything wrong and was released after being educated for a while. Later, when they cracked down on gambling, they arrested him a few times. I never expected to see him here today."

The police officer in charge said, "Take them back first and interrogate them properly!" Then he looked at He Yuzhu and his sister and said, "You two come with me to give your statements."

"Okay!" He Yuzhu replied, and followed with the still-shaken He Yushui.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, He Yuzhu and his sister arrived at the police station. Gu Laosi and the other two were taken into separate interrogation rooms. He Yuzhu and his sister were taken into an empty office. After more than ten minutes, He Yuzhu and his sister came out of the office.

"Zhu Zi, what are you doing here?!" Just then, Zhang Qiang, who had come to visit his old comrade-in-arms, came out of the director's office.

He Yuzhu said, "Director Zhang, when I was taking my sister to Donglaishun for dinner after visiting the temple fair, she was targeted by human traffickers."

Hong Jianlin, who came out with Zhang Qiang, asked, "What happened?!"

The police officer who brought He Yuzhu and his sister over recounted the entire incident to Hong Jianlin. After listening to his subordinate's account, Hong Jianlin looked at Zhang Qiang and asked, "Qiangzi, do you know him?!"

Zhang Qiang said, "I know him! He's an old acquaintance!"

He Yuzhu said, "Director Zhang, I'll report to you after the New Year. We're on the same side."

Hong Jianlin asked, "Qiangzi, what's going on?!"

Zhang Qiang recounted to Hong Jianlin how He Yuzhu had discovered enemy agents and assisted in their capture. At this moment, He Yuzhu activated his divine sense and scanned the three human traffickers. These three were indeed human traffickers. However, the middle-aged man who came out with Gu Laosi was actually a lurking Japanese soldier.

Zhang Qiang noticed that He Yushui's expression was a bit off and asked, "Zhu Zi, what's wrong?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I remember who the other middle-aged man was. I saw him in front of the Japanese military police headquarters when I was selling steamed buns. He was wearing a Japanese officer's uniform at the time."

Zhang Qiang asked, "Zhu Zi, are you sure you didn't see wrong?!"

He Yuzhu answered decisively, "Definitely!"

Zhang Qiang turned to look at Hong Jianlin.

Hong Jianlin said, "Qiangzi, I won't see you off. Let's get together properly another day!" With that, Hong Jianlin left with his men. He Yuzhu saw Hong Jianlin's reaction, pouted, and then sighed.

Zhang Qiang patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder meaningfully and said, "Come report to my place as soon as possible after the New Year!"

"Oh!" He Yuzhu responded and left the police station with He Yushui.

Soon, He Yuzhu led He Yushui into Donglaishun. The siblings found a table near a corner and sat down. He Yuzhu looked at He Yushui, who had recovered, and asked, "What do you want to eat today?!"

He Yushui said, "Brother, you keep an eye on it! I'm not a picky eater!"

He Yuzhu smiled and ordered a list of dishes that He Yushui liked.

When He Yuzhu and his sister finished lunch and left Donglaishun, another middle-aged man who had been with Gu Laosi couldn't withstand the pressure and confessed. This guy's current name was Nanpu, but his real name was Nanpu Jin'ichirō. He was a spy for the Japanese military's Bamboo Agency. His mission was to find suitable test subjects and smuggle them abroad. To date, he had smuggled no fewer than a hundred children abroad.

Hong Jianlin returned to his office, immediately picked up the phone on his desk, and dialed the branch office. A short while later, Director Song Fuyong's voice rang out: "Jianlin, what brings you here today?!"

Hong Jianlin said, "Director, I have something important to report to you in person!"

Song Fuyong raised his wrist to check the time on his watch and said, "Come over right away! I'll be waiting for you in my office."

"Yes!" Hong Jianlin responded, and upon hearing the busy tone on the phone, he immediately hung up. He greeted his subordinate on duty at the door, took the statement, and rode his bicycle out.

He sped along on his bicycle, arriving at the branch office in about twenty minutes. After parking his bicycle, Hong Jianlin rushed to Song Fuyong's office and knocked on the door.

Hearing the knock, Song Fuyong called out, "Come in!"

Hong Jianlin pushed open the office door, closed it, and called out, "Director!"

"Sit down!" Song Fuyong gestured for Hong Jianlin to sit down and asked, "What's the matter that's so urgent?"

Hong Jianlin said, "Director, you'll understand once you see this." With that, Hong Jianlin took a folder out of his bag and handed it to Song Fuyong.

Song Fuyong took the folder and opened it to read. He quickly finished reading Nanpu Jin'ichirō's statement, his face turning extremely ugly. He angrily exclaimed, "Damn those Japanese devils! They really haven't given up on their desire to destroy us!"

Hong Jianlin asked, "Director, what should we do now?!"

Song Fuyong thought for a moment and said, "This matter is beyond the capabilities of your police station. Prepare for the handover. I'll report this to the ministry first. Just wait for further instructions!"

"Yes, sir!" Hong Jianlin replied, then said, "Chief, I'll head back now!"

"Wait!" Song Fuyong called out to Hong Jianlin, who was about to leave, and asked, "Have you found the hideout of these human traffickers?!"

Hong Jianlin replied, "Not yet!"

Song Fuyong said, "After you go back, immediately intensify your efforts and find the human traffickers' hideout as soon as possible."

"Yes!" Hong Jianlin replied and quickly left.

After closing the office door, Song Fuyong picked up the statement on the table and read it carefully again, then made a phone call. After hanging up, Song Fuyong left the office with the statement.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, He Yuzhu and He Yushui had just returned home when He Daqing and Liang Wanping came back. He Daqing, slightly drunk, sobered up when he heard He Yuzhu say that He Yushui had almost been kidnapped by human traffickers. At the same time, He Daqing felt a wave of fear. However, with Liang Wanping's reassurance, He Daqing quickly calmed down. After stabilizing, He Daqing immediately went to check on He Yushui. Finding that He Yushui was unharmed, He Daqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as He Daqing walked out of He Yushui's room, Jia Dongxu returned with Qin Huairu and Banggeng. Yan Bugui saw Jia Dongxu carrying a burlap sack and asked with a smile, "Dongxu, weren't you accompanying your wife back to her parents' home?! Why do you look like you're fleeing a disaster?!"