Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

The Spring Festival of 1961 had just passed, but the chill in the city of Beijing had not subsided at all.

Because of the extreme shortage of supplies, everyone had a very tight budget for the New Year.

Many families can't even afford a meal of dumplings.

But it is precisely during these times that the underground "pigeon market" becomes more prosperous.

At the same time, it is also more dangerous.

It was four in the morning, and it was still dark.

Li Xuan climbed out of his warm bed and looked at his sleeping family members.

With a thought, he took out a set of clothes that he had prepared in advance from his spatial storage.

A worn-out sheepskin coat covered in patches, and a dogskin hat that could cover half of his face.

There was also a hunchback cushion used to disguise one's physique.

After a simple makeover and makeup.

The once handsome and upright young man instantly transformed into a hunched-over, weathered middle-aged man.

Even if Su Yun were to meet him in person, he probably wouldn't recognize that this was his own son.

"Let's go!"

Li Xuan carried a heavy basket on his back.

With a flash, he scaled the wall and left the courtyard, disappearing into the night.

......

On the wasteland outside Deshengmen, shadowy figures could be seen.

This is one of the largest pigeon markets in Beijing.

Although it's against the rules, the law doesn't punish everyone.

In order to survive, both buyers and sellers tacitly abide by the rules here.

Without asking where they came from or their names, the money and goods were settled, and they went their separate ways.

Li Xuan found a sheltered corner and squatted down, lifting a corner of the tattered cloth on his back basket.

By the dim light of the flashlight, something insane was revealed inside!

Those were neatly arranged eggs, and a few pieces of juicy pork!

In an era when even sweet potato noodles are hard to come by, this is practically a top-tier luxury item!

"hiss!"

Anyone who glances at it will be completely mesmerized.

Soon, several people with some savings gathered around.

"Hey bro, how much for these eggs?"

A middle-aged man wearing glasses, who looked like an intellectual, asked in a low voice.

Li Xuan lowered his voice and said hoarsely, "We'll only exchange old items, jade, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, or gold."

"No money, no tickets required."

"I have a jade bracelet here, an heirloom from my family. What do you think?"

The man shakily pulled a bracelet from his pocket; it was of excellent quality, at least of the icy variety.

Li Xuan glanced at it and nodded: "We can exchange it for five catties of pork and twenty eggs."

"Change! Change!"

The man was so excited he almost cried.

A bracelet may be nice, but you can't eat it!

My wife and kids are starving!

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

In just half an hour, Li Xuan's basket was empty.

Instead, the space is now filled with a collection of precious antiques and calligraphy.

These things are incredibly valuable in prosperous times, but in times of chaos, they are just food to save one's life.

Li Xuan felt like he was taking advantage of someone's misfortune.

But it can be considered a win-win situation, saving a life.

Just as he was preparing to pack up and leave.

"Thump!"

A muffled thud suddenly came from not far from him.

An elderly man wearing a gray Zhongshan suit and a thick scarf fell straight to the ground.

"Ouch! Someone has fainted!"

"Hurry up! Don't get your bag on!"

When the people around saw this, they didn't come forward to help.

Instead, they scattered and fled like startled birds and beasts.

In this special era, it's better to avoid trouble.

If you get accused of something, or if it attracts the attention of the "red armband" (police officers), then you'll be in trouble.

Li Xuan originally wanted to leave, but he paused.

In the dim light of dawn, he could see the old man's face clearly.

His face was deathly pale, and his eyes were tightly closed.

But the majesty and demeanor emanating from his brows were definitely not those of an ordinary person.

Moreover, his Zhongshan suit was old.

But the material is excellent, and the shirt showing through the worn cuffs is also made of Dacron.

"This is a big shot."

Li Xuan made a judgment in his mind.

He scanned the area with his mental energy and instantly understood the cause of the illness.

Severe hypoglycemia, coupled with exhaustion caused by long-term malnutrition.

He fainted from hunger!

"Never mind, it's fate that we met."

Li Xuan sighed, quickly walked over, and helped the old man up, leaning him against the mound of earth.

He pretended to pull a military water bottle from his pocket, but actually from his storage space.

It contains diluted spiritual spring water.

He then took out a White Rabbit milk candy, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into the old man's mouth.

"Drink some water."

Li Xuan fed the old man a few sips of spiritual spring water.

The moment the spring water entered my throat, its magical nourishing power spread out instantly.

Combined with the high-sugar White Rabbit candy, it quickly replenishes the depleted bodily functions of the elderly.

"Cough cough..."

A few minutes later, the old man let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Although his eyes were still a little cloudy, they were already focused.

He felt a sweet taste in his mouth, and a warm current rippled through his stomach.

The initial feeling of panic and trembling hands has subsided considerably.

"Comrade, did you save me?"

The old man looked at the man in front of him, whose clothes were tattered and whose face was obscured, and asked weakly.

"Sir, you've fainted from hunger."

"Hurry up and eat this candy to calm down."

Li Xuan lowered the brim of his hat, not wanting to reveal his identity.

"White Rabbit..."

The old man chewed on the milk candy in his mouth, his heart filled with shock.

These days, White Rabbit candies are a rare find!

Ordinary people can't buy it at all, yet this person can just take it out and save people.

Moreover, that saliva I just drank was sweet and refreshing.

It makes you feel comfortable all over after drinking it; it's definitely not just ordinary boiled water.

This person is no ordinary individual!

Thank you.

The old man struggled to sit up. "My name is... Never mind, why bother with past acquaintances when we've met?"

"Comrade, could you help me to the side of the road?"

"My people are waiting for me over there."

It turned out that he had deliberately evaded his guards and traveled incognito to understand the people's conditions.

I never expected my body to betray me; I almost died here.

Li Xuan didn't ask any more questions, and helped him out of the Pigeon City area and onto the main road.

Sure enough, there was an inconspicuous black jeep parked in the distance.

Upon seeing the elderly man appear, two strong men immediately jumped out of the car and ran over anxiously.

"Commander! Are you alright? You scared us to death!"

"Chief?"

Li Xuan raised an eyebrow, and sure enough, he was right; it was at least at the ministerial level.

Now that he had made the acquaintance, Li Xuan did not intend to stay any longer.

"Sir, since someone is here to pick you up, I'll be going now."

After saying that, he turned around and was about to disappear into the alley.

"etc!"

The old man called out to him, took a pen out of his coat pocket, and handed it to him.

"Comrade, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace."

"I've had this pen for many years, so I'll keep it as a memento."

"If you ever encounter any insurmountable difficulties in the future, you can take this to me. Remember! My surname is Zhao!"

Li Xuan glanced back at the Parker pen, which still had his name engraved on it.

He didn't refuse; he reached out, took it, and put it in his pocket.

"Thanks, Mr. Zhao."

After saying that, he disappeared into the morning mist in a few leaps.

The old man watched Li Xuan's departing figure with a deep gaze.

"Agile and possessing scarce resources, yet never revealing their true form..."

"This city of Beijing is indeed a place where hidden talents reside."

"Sir, should we investigate?" the guard asked in a low voice.

"No need."

The old man waved his hand and got into the car. "Since he doesn't want to show his face, then we won't bother him."

"As long as the heart is red, what does it matter who it is?"

When Li Xuan returned to the courtyard house, it was just dawn.

He lay back on the bed, fiddling with the pen, a smile playing on his lips.

Old Zhao...

If he remembered correctly, this man was a powerful figure in charge of the industrial sector.

This pen may be even more useful than Mr. Chen's pass in the future.

"This positive connection was well worth it!"

......