Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

He Daqing ran back.

When he pushed open the courtyard gate, his cotton-padded coat was unbuttoned, and his hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat. He rushed into the middle courtyard and saw He Yuzhu squatting at the door peeling onions.

"Pillar!"

He Yuzhu looked up.

Where is your mother?

"They're asleep inside." He Yuzhu stood up. "My sister's asleep too."

He Daqing stared at him for two seconds, then rushed into the main room.

He Yuzhu continued peeling the scallions. The scallion skins were sticky, so he rubbed them off.

He Daqing's hushed voice came from inside, along with Chen Lanxiang's weak response. He Yuzhu didn't listen. He counted the scallions: five. Enough for a stir-fry.

Ten minutes later, He Daqing came out.

He walked up to He Yuzhu and squatted down. The father and son were at eye level.

"Zhu Zi," He Daqing's voice was a little hoarse, "tell your father, what happened on the way you went to fetch the doctor?"

"No," He Yuzhu said.

"Really not?"

"No, really."

He Daqing stared into his eyes. He Yuzhu didn't look away.

"Your mother said there was blood on you," He Daqing said.

He Yuzhu looked down at his cotton-padded coat. There were indeed a few dark red stains on the cuffs. He hadn't noticed them.

"I fell on the road. Just a scramble," he said.

"Where could you fall to get this color?" He Daqing reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and leaned closer to examine it. His expression changed.

He Daqing is a cook. Cooks are ruthless.

"This isn't chicken blood," He Daqing said in a low voice. "Zhu Zi, tell your father the truth."

He Yuzhu remained silent for three seconds.

"I killed three Japanese soldiers, two detectives, and a coachman."

He spoke calmly.

He Daqing's hand froze. His pupils dilated. He loosened his sleeve, took half a step back, and sat down on the snow.

"You...you say that again?"

"I killed people. Six." He Yuzhu's tone remained unchanged. "They were blocking the way. Mother couldn't wait."

He Daqing's mouth was open, but he couldn't speak. The color had completely drained from his face.

Snow fell on his shoulder, but he didn't react.

"Where is the body?" he finally asked.

"It's been dealt with."

"How was it handled?"

"Throw it away."

"Where did you throw it?"

"Outside the city."

He Daqing stared at him, as if he were a stranger.

"You...you're only ten years old." He Daqing's voice trembled.

"Even a ten-year-old can kill someone." He Yuzhu stood up. "Dad, the water's boiling, I need to cook noodles."

He turned and went into the kitchen. He Daqing was still sitting in the snow.

In the kitchen, steam rose from the kettle on the stove. He Yuzhu grabbed a handful of noodles and put them in the pot. His movements were steady, his hands didn't tremble.

The system notification was still hanging in his mind.

Should we investigate Lin Wanqiu's other identity?

【whether】

He chose "yes".

[Select Confirm.]

[You have obtained a clue fragment: [At the bottom of Lin Wanqiu's clinic drawer, there is a "Barefoot Doctor's Manual," with a yellowed group photo tucked between the pages. The photo shows five young people with the Pagoda Hill in Yan'an in the background.]]

[Follow-up association has been triggered. Lin Wanqiu's attention level towards you has increased by 10.]

He Yuzhu stirred the noodles in the pot. Yan'an. Pagoda Hill. He understood.

Just as the noodles were almost cooked, He Daqing came in. He closed the door.

"Pillar," his voice was still dry, "the police probably already know. The detectives are dead, the Japanese soldiers are dead, they'll definitely investigate."

"Mmm." He Yuzhu scooped out the noodles.

"You..." He Daqing scratched his head, "Aren't you afraid at all?"

"I'm afraid it won't be of any use." He Yuzhu ladled the noodles into a bowl, sprinkled some chopped green onions on top, and said, "Dad, give this to Mom."

He Daqing took the bowl. He didn't leave.

"Zhu Zi, if the police come, don't tell the truth. Just say... just say you went to call a doctor and didn't see anything on the way. I'll handle it."

"How will you handle this?"

"I...I'm going to find the owner of Fengzeyuan. He knows the police chief and can talk to him," He Daqing said.

"What's the price?" He Yuzhu asked.

He Daqing fell silent.

The price is that I'll have to work even harder cooking for the Japanese from now on. And I might have to do other things too.

"No need," He Yuzhu said. "The police have no evidence. They can't find the body, they can't find the gun, they can't do anything to a child like me."

"But what if they use torture..."

"They wouldn't dare," He Yuzhu interrupted him. "There are many people in the courtyard. The old lady is there. They wouldn't dare to openly torture a child."

He Daqing looked at him as if he were seeing his own son for the first time.

"Zhu Zi, how...how do you know all this?"

"I heard that," He Yuzhu said. "Dad, the noodles are getting soggy."

He Daqing took the bowl out.

He Yuzhu served himself a bowl as well. He sat down and ate the noodles. The noodles were a bit bland, so he didn't add salt.

He needs to keep a clear head.

I had just taken two bites when there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Bang bang bang. Very heavy.

He Yuzhu put down his bowl. He walked to the kitchen doorway and peeked out from behind a corner of the curtain.

He Daqing came out of the main room and went to open the door.

The door opened. Five policemen stood there, dressed in black uniforms and wearing peaked caps. The leader was a fat man with a gun holster on his hip.

He Daqing smiled apologetically.

"Chief Liu, what brings you here?"

"He Daqing," Chief Liu said without smiling, "Where's your son?"

"I'm...I'm inside. What's wrong?"

"Call him out," Sergeant Liu said. "We have something to ask him."

He Daqing turned around. He Yuzhu had already come out.

He stood at the entrance of the main house, holding a bowl of noodles in his hand.

"Zhu Zi, come here." He Daqing beckoned.

He Yuzhu walked over. He placed the bowl on the windowsill.

"You're He Yuzhu?" Sergeant Liu looked down at him.

"Yes."

"Did you go to Dongtangzi Hutong this morning?"

"I've gone."

"Where are you going?"

"Please call a doctor. My mother is having a difficult childbirth."

"Who did you invite?"

"Dr. Lin. Dr. Lin from Jisheng Clinic."

"Did you encounter any problems on the way?"

He Yuzhu shook his head.

"No?"

"no."

Sergeant Liu stared at him. He Yuzhu looked up and met his gaze.

"Kid, lying doesn't end well," Sergeant Liu said. "Someone saw you taking a rickshaw to Dongtangzi Alley. The driver's name was Li Laoshuan. He's dead. Do you know how he died?"

"I don't know," He Yuzhu said.

"He was stabbed to death with a bayonet. Three Japanese soldiers and two detectives also died with him." Sergeant Liu bent down, his face close to He Yuzhu's. "Kid, did you see the killer?"

He Yuzhu felt a sense of relief. The police had no direct evidence. They were bluffing.

"No," he said. "I was halfway there when the driver asked for more money. I didn't have any, so he let me off. I went to the clinic by myself."

"Where did you get off the bus?"

"Entrance to Coal Slag Alley"

"What time is it?"

"I don't remember. It was still daylight."

Sergeant Liu straightened up. He looked at He Daqing.

"You believe what your son said?"

"I believe you! I believe you!" He Daqing quickly said, "Zhu Zi never lies."

Sergeant Liu sneered.

"Okay. Then let us search your house. Just in case the killer hid the weapon there?"

He Daqing's expression changed.

"Chief Liu, this...this isn't appropriate, is it? My wife just gave birth, and the house can't be exposed to drafts..."

"Search!" Sergeant Liu waved his hand.

The four policemen walked toward the main house.

He Daqing tried to stop him, but Chief Liu pushed him away.

"He Daqing, don't make trouble for yourself."

He Daqing dared not move.

He Yuzhu stood to one side, not moving. He watched the police enter the house.

Chen Lanxiang screamed and a baby cried from inside the house. He Yuzhu clenched his fists, but his face remained expressionless.

The police were searching through things. Drawers were pulled open, cabinets were opened, and blankets were pulled back.

They searched for five minutes. When they came out, their hands were empty.

"No," a policeman said to Chief Liu.

Sergeant Liu frowned. He looked at He Yuzhu.

"Hey kid, what are you wearing? Let us search you."

He Yuzhu opened his arms.

A policeman walked over and touched his cotton-padded coat. Outside, inside. In his trouser pocket.

There was nothing there.

Inside He Yuzhu's system space lay three bayonets, two Mauser pistols, and a pile of bullets. But they couldn't touch them.

The policeman withdrew his hand.

"no."

Sergeant Liu's face was grim. He stared at He Yuzhu, then at He Daqing.

"He Daqing," he said, "this matter isn't over yet. Your son is the only lead. He can't leave this hospital for the next few days. He'll be summoned at any time."

"Yes, yes." He Daqing nodded.

Sergeant Liu turned and left with his men. The courtyard gate closed.

He Daqing slumped onto the threshold. He was panting.

He Yuzhu went over and helped him up.

"Father, come inside."

"Zhu Zi..." He Daqing grabbed his hand, "They...they will come again."

"Come on then," He Yuzhu said. "They can't find anything."

"But...but what if..."

"There's no 'what if'," He Yuzhu said firmly. "Dad, you need to stay calm. If you panic, Mom will be even more scared."

He Daqing looked at him and then nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes. I can't panic."

They went inside. Chen Lanxiang, holding the child, huddled in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), her face deathly pale.

"Why did the Qing Dynasty have police...?"

"It's alright." He Daqing walked over and put his arm around her. "I'll ask you a few questions. It's all right now."

He Yuzhu tidied up the mess he had made. He pushed the drawer back and folded the clothes neatly.

His mind never stopped.

The police won't let this go. They need to give the Japanese an explanation. If there's no real killer, they might find a scapegoat.

He has to figure out a way.

In the afternoon, everyone in the compound knew that the police had come.

Jia Zhangshi was the first to come over. She peered through the window of the He family's house.

"Oh, Qing Dynasty? I heard the police are looking for Zhu Zi? What did Zhu Zi do wrong?"

He Daqing replied from inside the house, "It's nothing. It's a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding could bring five policemen?" Jia Zhangshi didn't believe it. "Did Zhuzi get into trouble outside? I heard that a Japanese soldier died in the city today! Could it be...?"

"Zhang Ruhua!" the deaf old woman's voice came from the backyard, "If you're so bored, come help me move this vat!"

Jia Zhangshi shrank her neck and left.

But the news got out.

By dinnertime, the way everyone in the courtyard looked at the He family had changed. Some were avoiding the question, some were curious, and some were gloating.

Yi Zhonghai came to find He Daqing and said a few words at the door.

"Daqing, we need to be careful about Zhuzi's matter. The death of a Japanese soldier is no small matter. There are so many households in our courtyard; we don't want to implicate everyone."

He Daqing's expression was not good.

"Master Yi, Zhu Zi didn't kill anyone."

"I know, I know," Yi Zhonghai said, "but the police don't believe me. You need to think of a way to prove Zhu Zi's innocence. How about... you go find the owner of Fengzeyuan?"

"We'll see," He Daqing said, closing the door.

He Yuzhu was heating up pig's trotter soup in the kitchen. He heard it.

Yi Zhonghai's words sounded like concern, but they were actually an attempt to distance himself from the situation, fearing he might be implicated.

normal.

That night, He Yuzhu lay back down in the side room.

He brought up the system panel. The event list had been updated.

[New development: Cleared of suspicion.]

[Description: The police have listed you as a prime suspect. You need to clear your name without revealing your identity.]

[Countdown: 71 hours and 59 minutes.]

Optional strategy directions:

A. Frame someone. Create evidence to shift suspicion to other targets (such as gangsters, bandits, or anti-Japanese elements).

B. To confuse. To create new chaos and divert the police's attention.

C. Persuasion. Find key figures (police chief, Japanese military officer, etc.) and resolve the issue through an exchange of benefits.

D. Endure the situation. Take no action and rely on existing preparations to deal with the investigation.

Please select a strategy direction (Note: Selecting a strategy will trigger a specific decision branch).

He Yuzhu read it once.

He wouldn't frame someone. He wouldn't harm innocent people.

Confusion. Possibly, but with high risks, potentially harming civilians.

Persuasion. Resources are needed. He doesn't have them right now.

To tough it out. The most passive approach.

He thought for a moment and chose C. Persuade. But not now. He needed to build up his leverage first.

[Strategy direction confirmed: Persuasion.]

[You have received a clue: [Wang Kui, the deputy captain of the detective team, has recently incurred gambling debts and urgently needs money. He is in charge of the peripheral investigation of this case.]]

[Follow-up Task: Obtain a sum of money (no less than 50 silver dollars) and find a safe way to contact Wang Kui.]

Fifty silver dollars. The He family can't afford it right now. He Daqing's money is all with Chen Lanxiang, totaling less than twenty dollars.

He Yuzhu needs to make money.

How do I do it?

The system space contained guns, bullets, a pocket watch, and military scrip. But these things couldn't be spent directly. They could be exchanged for money on the black market, but for a child like him to go to the black market was tantamount to suicide.

He needs help.

He thought of someone.

Xu Damao.

Xu Fugui is a projectionist who often deals with all sorts of people. Xu Damao is only six years old, but he's shrewd and clever. And right now, Xu Damao is trying to curry favor with him.

You can try.

The next morning, He Yuzhu waited in the courtyard.

Xu Damao did indeed sneak out. When he saw He Yuzhu, his eyes lit up, and he ran over.

"Brother Pillar!"

"Da Mao." He Yuzhu waved.

Xu Damao leaned closer.

"Brother Zhu, did the police come to arrest you yesterday?"

"It's not an arrest, it's a questioning," He Yuzhu said. "Da Mao, I have a question for you."

"you say!"

"Does your father... know any way to turn these things into money?"

Xu Damao blinked.

"What is it?"

"For example... pocket watches. Foreign ones," He Yuzhu said.

Xu Damao thought for a moment.

"My dad knows a watch repairman who also buys watches. Brother Zhu, are you selling a watch?"

"Hmm. Could you ask for me?"

Xu Damao hesitated.

"My dad won't let me get involved in these things..."

"I'll give you ten percent of the money from the sale," He Yuzhu said.

Xu Damao's eyes lit up.

"real?"

"real."

"Then...then I'll go ask!" Xu Damao said, "But Brother Zhu, where did you get the watch?"

"My dad gave it to me. It's New Year's money," He Yuzhu said.

Xu Damao believed him. He Daqing was a cook, and he was rich.

"Okay, I'll go ask at noon."

Xu Damao ran home.

He Yuzhu continued peeling the scallions. This time he peeled them a little slower.

At noon, Xu Damao sneaked over and pulled He Yuzhu to the corner of the wall.

"Brother Zhu, I asked. The watch repairman said he needs to see the watch. If it's a good watch, he can offer thirty silver dollars."

Thirty yuan. Not enough.

"Are there any other options?" He Yuzhu asked.

"My dad also said... the black market price is higher, but it's dangerous." Xu Damao lowered his voice, "Brother Zhu, if you urgently need money, I... I can steal from my dad. He has some in his closet..."

"No need," He Yuzhu interrupted him. "Thanks. Don't tell anyone about this."

"I know!" Xu Damao nodded.

He Yuzhu went back into the house. He needed to think of another way.

In the afternoon, the opportunity came.

The deaf old lady told him to go to the backyard.

He Yuzhu entered the room. The old lady was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a small hand warmer in her hands.

"Pillar, close the door."

He Yuzhu closed the door.

"Sit down," the old lady said, pointing to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

He Yuzhu sat down.

"The police came yesterday," the old woman said.

"Um."

"They searched your house."

"Um."

"We didn't find anything," the old woman said, looking at him. "You hid it well."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything.

"Zhu Zi, tell your wife the truth," the old woman said in a low voice, "Did you kill him?"

He Yuzhu remained silent for three seconds.

"Yes."

The old lady nodded, as if she already knew.

Why kill?

"They're blocking the way. Mother is dying."

"Good for him," the old woman said.

He Yuzhu looked up.

"The Japanese soldiers deserve to die." The old woman's face was expressionless. "The detectives, the traitors, deserve to die even more. The rickshaw driver... he was greedy, he deserves to die."

He Yuzhu did not respond.

"But you're in trouble now," the old woman said. "The police won't let this go. They need to give the Japanese an explanation."

"I know."

"Do you have a solution?"

"I'm thinking about it."

The old lady pulled a small cloth bag from under the kang mat. Inside were five small yellow croakers.

The golden light was dazzling.

"Here, take this." The old lady pushed it over.

He Yuzhu was stunned.

"Madam, this..."

"I didn't give it to you," the old woman said. "It was left to you by your grandfather."

"My grandfather?"

"Yes." The old lady nodded. "Your grandfather was a comrade-in-arms with my husband. They fought together against the Eight-Nation Alliance. After he died, he left these things to me for safekeeping, saying they would be useful if the He family were in trouble."

He Yuzhu looked at the five small yellow croakers. Each one was worth at least a hundred silver dollars.

"These are tough times," the old woman said. "Take this. Use it to bribe the police, or better yet, take your parents and sister and leave Beiping."

He Yuzhu didn't take it.

"Madam, I can't leave."

Why?

"If I leave, what about you? The people in the compound will be implicated. The police will investigate you," He Yuzhu said. "Besides, I haven't done anything wrong. I'm not leaving."

The old lady looked at him and then smiled.

"Like your grandfather." She stuffed the small yellow croaker into He Yuzhu's hand. "Then take it and get on with your business. Remember, money is inanimate, but people are alive. Spend it when you need to."

He Yuzhu gripped the cloth bag tightly.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"No need to thank me," the old lady waved her hand. "Go on. Be careful."

He Yuzhu got up and walked to the door.

"Pillar," the old lady called to him.

He turned around.

"Your grandfather used to say that the He family has a strong backbone," the old lady said. "I think you haven't lost your way."

He Yuzhu nodded. He opened the door and went out.

He returned to the side room and put the small yellow croaker into his system space.

Now he has the resources.

Fifty silver dollars? A small yellow croaker is enough.

But he couldn't use gold directly. He had to exchange it for silver dollars, and he couldn't arouse suspicion.

He needs information on Wang Kui, the deputy captain of the detective team.

How do I do it?

He thought for a moment, then went out again to find Xu Damao in the front yard.

Xu Damao was playing marbles in front of his house.

"Da Mao, do me another favor."

"What kind of help?"

"Help me find out about someone. The deputy captain of the detective squad, named Wang Kui. Where does he usually go, what does he do, and what does he like?"

Xu Damao opened his mouth wide.

"Brother Zhu, why are you asking about him? He's a traitor!"

"Something's wrong," He Yuzhu said. "Can you help?"

Xu Damao hesitated.

"My dad... might know someone in the detective squad. But he won't let me find out about these things..."

"I'll give you two small yellow croakers," He Yuzhu said.

Xu Damao's eyes widened.

"Small...small yellow croaker?"

"Um."

"Brother Zhu, where did you come from...?"

"Don't ask. Are you in or not?"

"Damn it!" Xu Damao gritted his teeth. "I'll find out tomorrow!"

He Yuzhu patted him on the shoulder.

Be careful. Don't let anyone know.

"Know!"

Xu Damao ran home. He Yuzhu stood in the yard.

The snow has stopped. The sky is overcast.

He looked towards the main house in the middle courtyard. Inside, Chen Lanxiang and He Yushui were sleeping.

He had to let them sleep peacefully.

No one can wake them up.