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

Springtime in 1946.

The snow in Beiping City has melted away, revealing the layer of grayish soil underneath, which feels soft and slippery underfoot.

The school is bustling with activity.

He Yuzhu, carrying his worn-out schoolbag, mingled with a group of teenagers as he entered the school gate. He was now a second-year junior high school student. At this age, in later times, they would still be scratching their heads over a few geometry problems, but in these days, these kids' minds were filled with national affairs.

The walls of the school campus were covered with colorful papers.

That's a bulletin board.

Democracy, peace, and opposition to civil war.

These words are written in large characters, with plenty of ink, and the brushstrokes are childish yet exude a fierce energy, piercing straight into one's eyes.

He Yuzhu didn't rush into the classroom; he stood in front of a wall and looked around.

"Brother Pillar!"

Someone slapped me hard on the shoulder.

Looking back, I saw Zhang Ming and Li Qiang. These two used to just follow He Yuzhu around, begging for food, and they couldn't resist meat. Now, they're all dressed up, with their hair slicked back and pens pinned to their chests, looking quite respectable.

Zhang Ming leaned closer and pointed to an article on the wall.

"What are you looking at? This piece is awesome! 'The Cry'! It scathes those high-ranking officials who robbed the government...it's a real bloodbath!"

He Yuzhu glanced at it and smiled.

"It may feel good to rant, but what good is just ranting?"

"How could it not work? This is called waking up the people!"

Li Qiang stuck out his neck, looking defiant, spitting as he spoke.

"Everyone's talking about forming a student council to kick out those spy students!"

He Yuzhu's eyes flickered slightly.

Student spies.

This word is taboo in school. It refers to the Three People's Principles Youth League. These guys don't really attend classes; they're always watching who says anything inappropriate or reads banned books, then they'll tattle on them, or even physically assault them.

"Keep a low profile."

He Yuzhu lowered his voice and glanced around.

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. You two have been jumping around too much lately; be careful someone doesn't target you."

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out not far away.

"Tear it up! Tear it all up!"

Several tall students dressed in Zhongshan suits and with parted hair rushed over aggressively. The one in the lead was Wang Debiao, the squad leader of the school's Three People's Principles Youth League, who usually walked as if he wanted to block the road.

They rushed to the wall covered with posters and, without saying a word, started tearing them down.

"What are you doing! What right do you have to tear down our bulletin board!"

Several female students who were putting up newspapers got anxious and went up to stop them.

"On what grounds?"

Wang Debiao sneered and shoved the girl aside.

"These are all communist statements! They're misleading and confusing! Tear them up!"

The girl was pushed and nearly fell. Students gathered around, their faces flushed, but no one dared to move. Wang Debiao and his gang were indeed carrying weapons; they were rumored to be connected with thugs.

Seeing this, Zhang Ming and Li Qiang's eyes turned red, and they rolled up their sleeves, ready to charge forward.

He Yuzhu was quick and grabbed them by the back of their necks.

"What are you doing? Sending yourself to get killed?"

"We can't just stand by and watch them bully others!"

Zhang Ming was so anxious that his face turned red and his neck bulged, and he leaned forward.

Use your brain.

He Yuzhu pointed to a corner not far away.

It was a blind spot on the playground, where a few shady-looking young men from outside the school were squatting and smoking. One of them was Xu Damao.

Ever since this kid started following He Yuzhu, he's gone further and further down the path of wickedness, but his wickedness has a method. He Yuzhu had anticipated today's performance and had Xu Damao bring some men to check it out.

He Yuzhu whistled in that direction.

Xu Damao's ears twitched. He threw the cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it with his toe, and then, along with his brothers, swayed over.

"Hey~ isn't this Captain Wang?"

Xu Damao's hoarse voice sounded particularly jarring amidst the noise.

Wang Debiao was tearing something up when he turned around and saw Xu Damao. He frowned. Although Xu Damao wasn't a big shot, his father, Xu Fugui, had some influence in the area and could talk to many people from all walks of life, so he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

"Xu Damao, this is none of your business, get out of here."

"Why isn't this related to me?"

Xu Damao grinned and approached, picking up a half-torn poster and pretending to read it aloud.

"Who is the enemy of the people? Tsk tsk, that's pretty good handwriting. Captain Wang, are you just jealous of someone's good handwriting?"

The surrounding students burst into laughter.

Wang Debiao was mortified.

"Stop being sarcastic! This is reactionary propaganda!"

"reactionary?"

Xu Damao's face hardened, and he suddenly raised his voice, the veins on his neck bulging.

"To me, this sounds like the absolute truth. Captain Wang, are you in such a hurry to tear this up because you're feeling guilty? Are you the kind of lackey who only bullies ordinary people, as described here?"

"You're asking for it!"

Enraged, Wang Debiao raised his fist to strike.

Xu Damao's brothers immediately surrounded him, each with their hats askew, hands in their pockets, and sinister eyes—they were men who would actually draw their knives.

"What's up? Want to practice?"

Xu Damao sneered.

"Wang Debiao, this is a school, not your Three People's Principles Youth League's private hall. If you're so capable, write an article to retaliate! Tearing up other people's things—that's what women do!"

That's a really hurtful thing to say.

The students around them were initially afraid, but now that someone has taken the lead, they have become bolder.

"Exactly! Let's debate if we dare!"

"What kind of hero tears things apart!"

"Get out! Get out!"

The commotion grew louder and louder, even alerting the teachers in the administration office, who were rushing over.

Looking at the agitated students and then at Xu Damao's shameless expression, Wang Debiao knew he was in deep trouble. If things continued to escalate, he wouldn't be able to handle the consequences if his superiors blamed him.

"Fine! You wait!"

Wang Debiao pointed at Xu Damao, then at the group of students who were putting up posters on the wall, gritted his teeth, threw down a polite remark, and led his men away in a sorry state.

"Oh~!"

The students cheered.

Xu Damao smugly clasped his hands in a salute to those around him, looking just like a famous actor who had just finished performing in a grand opera.

He Yuzhu stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching this scene with no expression on his face.

Just then, a timid figure approached him.

It's Young Master Sun.

Ever since his father lost power, this kid has been keeping a low profile at school, and all his former arrogance has disappeared.

"Master Zhu".

Young Master Sun's voice trembled.

"That was close... That bastard Wang Debiao really did have a switchblade in his pocket."

"I've put it on, but I don't dare to take it off."

He Yuzhu said calmly, without even lifting his eyelids.

"He's afraid of death. The more a bully a dog is, the more afraid of death he is."

"that……"

Young Master Sun swallowed hard and looked around.

"I have intelligence. Wang Debiao and his gang are currently working on a blacklist. They say they want to report the names of those leading progressive students in the school to the Special Higher Police... oh no, to the Detective Team."

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold.

Who's on the list?

"I didn't see clearly, but it was definitely that girl who led the chanting earlier, and... I think Zhang Ming was there too."

He Yuzhu turned his head.

Not far away, Zhang Ming was still excitedly discussing with his classmates, the blush on his face still lingering.

I sighed inwardly.

This silly kid, he's been sold out and he's still helping the seller count the money.

Thanks.

He Yuzhu patted Young Master Sun on the shoulder.

"Keep this to yourself. I'll treat you to tripe later."

Young Master Sun was flattered and nodded repeatedly.

He Yuzhu looked at the mottled wall and the words whose ink was still wet.

The campus, which should have been a place for learning, has now become a battlefield. There is no smoke of gunpowder, but there is bloodshed.

Since we can't avoid it, let's stir things up even more.

Only when the water is murky can you catch fish.

Those who try to drain the water will eventually find that they are facing a sea that can never be drained.